BusinessMirror June 15, 2022

PHL backs WTO fund for fisheries subsidies

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE Philippines backs the creation of a World Trade Organization (WTO) fund that would support developing countries’ capacity to implement the draft agreement on fisheries subsidies.

Agriculture Undersecretary for AgriIndustrialization and for Fisheries Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said the Philippines shall benefit from such a funding mechanism in improving its capacity and technical knowledge in managing its fisheries resources.

“The Philippines has undertaken initiatives and research on sciencebased approaches to sustainable

fisheries management and will benefit from funding grants that will enhance its capacity and technical knowledge towards ensuring up to date resource management mechanisms,” NatividadCaballero said in a press conference at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva on Tuesday.

“As the Philippines enhances our capacities, we stand ready to collaborate and cooperate with other WTO membercountries for holistic fisheries management anchored on an ecosystems-based approach and which promotes the latest technologies on fisheries stock assessment and tools for data collection,” she added.

‘SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE’ BusinessMirror Editor in Chief Lourdes M. Fernandez (right) and Science Editor Lyn Resurreccion pose with Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña after receiving awards for Outstanding Media Partner (Institution and Individual categories) in the Department of Science and Technology’s “Science for the People Awards,” part of the 64th anniversary celebration of the department at Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City on Monday, June 13, 2022. Story on page A2. BERNARD TESTA

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BusinessMirror BusinessMirror

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DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS

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Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 250

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 22 pages | 7 days a week

COMPETITIVENESS INDEX: PHL MOVES 4 PLACES UP n

By Andrea E. San Juan

PHL start-up ecosystem value up at $2.1B–GSER

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HE Philippines moved four notches up in the 2022 World Competitiveness Yearbook, as it saw improvements in its economic performance.

In a statement released by Asian Institute Management (AIM), the Philippines saw a four-place improvement in the 2022 World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY), from 52nd out of 64 economies in 2021, to 48th out of 63 economies in 2022.

However, in the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines remained at the 13th spot out of 14 economies for five consecutive years.

The WCY has been published by the International Institute of Management Development (IMD) since 1989. It gauges competitiveness using 333 criteria spread across four Competitiveness Factors, namely, Economic Performance, Government Efficiency, Business Efficiency, and Infrastructure.

About two-thirds of the indicators are based on hard data gathered from national sources, while the remaining are perception-based indicators derived from an Executive Opinion Survey (EOS) of mid- and upper-level managers in each country covered.

This year’s results reflect the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as many of the statistical data used for this year’s edition are from 2021. Further, from the 64 economies covered in the previous year, the WCY now covers 63—while Bahrain was included this year, Russia and Ukraine were booted out due to the difficulty

T An attendant reaches for a dangling fuel pump at a gas station in Quezon City on June 14, 2022. Oil companies increased the pump prices of gasoline

by P2.15 per liter and diesel by P4.30 per liter on Tuesday. NONOY LACZA

OIL SPIKES PUSH TRANSPORT INTO ‘A DEADLY SPIRAL’

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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HE continuous oil price hike has brought the transport sector into “a deadly spiral,” according to the Move as One Coalition, and the incoming administration may be able to prevent a so-called “transport inflation” through a 10-point agenda.

The transport sector, according to the coalition, is seeing a “collapsing “supply” due to the unsustainable spikes in oil prices. Commuters are at the losing end of the game, as they are forced to queue for long periods, only to ride crowded, enclosed vehicles

that brings extreme discomfort and risk of Covid infections.

“The only sustainable way to address the sharp rise in transport prices and lower pressure on fare hikes is for the government to wean our economy’s dependence on oil,” the policy paper read.

It added that the government must manage transport demand by investing in infrastructure to help people shift to walking and cycling. The coalition also advised the government to increase transport supply by properly implementing service contracting to expand public transport supply.

The government, it added, must also decisively give strategic social support

to our public transport sector, which has not yet recovered from the pandemic.

Move as One provided a 10-point agenda that the government may use as a template to implement the three overarching solutions to the transport inflation.

Active transport

The coalition said economic managers should prioritize active transport and road-based public transport options. This, according to the group, is the “fastest, most-effective, and the only sustainable way” to fight transport inflation.

To supplement this, the coalition advised the government to tap resources in the 2022 General Appropriations

Act to rapidly expand the network of protected bike lanes and safe and accessible pathways.

Economic managers were also urged to encourage local government units to apply for the P10.6-billion local government support fund to install protected bike lanes, develop pedestrian infrastructure as well as open spaces and public parks.

Move as One likewise recom mended the provision of incentives to companies that encourage remote work arrangements “to relieve the pressure on collapsing public transport supply.”

Aside from this, the coalition is also

HE 2022 Global Start-up Ecosystem Report (GSER) revealed that Manila’s Ecosystem Value strongly improved this year at $2.1 billion from $548 million last year.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Manila is highlighted in the world’s paramount report on enriching startup and economic growth—ranking as a Top 20 Global Ecosystem and Top 10 Asian Ecosystem in Affordable Talent.

The pandemic transformed the Philippine start-up ecosystem and served as a “catalyst” which drove the country to rapidly innovate and adopt new technologies. This, the Trade department noted in a statement on Tuesday, led to the emergence of new players, a broader universe of start-ups, larger venture rounds, more frequent fund-raising and progressive industry growth.

As the focus shifts towards digital transformation, a more dynamic approach is adopted, placing the start-up scene at the center of innovation-based programs and projects.

Aside from the gain in ecosystem value, Manila’s total early-stage funding showed similar gains with an increase to $292 million this year from $ 101 million last year.

See “Oil,” A2

See “WCY,” A2

PESO exchange rates

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n US 53.2490 n japan 0.3962 n UK 64.6283 n HK 6.7837 n CHINA 7.8852 n singapore 38.1850 n australia 36.8803 n EU 55.4269 n SAUDI arabia 14.1941

Source: BSP (14 June 2022)

A2

BusinessMirror receives DOST ‘Science for the People’ awards

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BusinessMirror

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

HE BusinessMirror bagged two awards—the Outstanding Media Partner (Institution category) and Outstanding Media Partner (Individual category)—from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) during the latter’s celebration of its 64th anniversary tagged, “DOST@64: Gabi ng Parangal at Pasasalamat” at a hotel in Pasay City on June 13.

B usiness M irror Editor in Chief Lourdes M. Fernandez received the “Science for the People” award for the Institution category, while Science Editor Lyn Resurreccion received the award for the Individual category. The DOST explained that the award was in recognition of the consistent work of B usiness M irror in “making sense” of often esoteric science subject matter to deepen public understanding.

The DOST gave awards to its partners—industry, media, academe, local government, among others—in recognition of their support to and partnership with the DOST in the advancement of science, technology and innovation (STI) in the past six years under the administration of Science Secretary. In his keynote speech, National Scientist Dr. Emil Q. Javier, himself a former Science Minister, lauded the achievements of the DOST under the helm of de la Peña.

He highlighted the projects and purchase of equipment that helped improve the country’s disaster resiliency led by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Javier also cited the dispersal of researches in STI to the provinces outside the National Capital Region through the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D, and the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy.

Also awarded were the DOST’s partners in academe, industry, local government units, S&T foundations, national government agencies, bilateral diplomatic partners, legislators, and nongovernment organizations.

At the same time, also recognized were the outstanding research and development projects, technology commercialization, start-ups, enterprise productivity, community development and DOST agency governance innovations.

Germany to welcome more PHL nurses, hotel workers

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

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ERMANY is opening its doors to more Filipino nurses and other health care professionals like physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists.

This after Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Germany’s Federal Health Secretary Dr. Karl Lauterbach signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will further facilitate the entry of Filipino healthcare professionals to Germany through private sector recruitment.

Bello and Lauterbach signed the bilateral agreement last June 3 in Berlin.

Labor Department spokesman Rolly Francia clarified, though, that this newest PhilippineGermany bilateral labor health agreement does not exempt Germany from the annual cap of 7,000 imposed on the deployment of Filipino nurses worldwide.

According to the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, the MOU will complement the ongoing project of the Philippine government to send Filipino workers to Germany through the Triple Win Project (TWP).

Under the TWP, Filipino nurses wishing

GSER. . .

Continued from A1

Fintech and e-commerce also remain the country’s top-performing sectors due to their density of talent, support resources, and startup activity. All these developments may be attributed to the emergence of innovative and enterprising talent, complemented by enabling laws, and the development of high-impact policies, fostering a more conducive business environment where start-ups can thrive.

In particular, Manila’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, based on the GSER 2022 Report, bagged numerous accomplishments such as Top 20 Global Ecosystem and Top 10 Asian Ecosystem in Affordable Talent; Top 25 Asian Ecosystem and Top 15 Asian Emerging Ecosys-

to work in Germany will apply through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Nurses are required to undergo intensive German language courses in the Philippines before deployment.

Around 2,000 Filipinos were deployed to Germany under the Triple Win Project. There are now 6,000 Filipino nurses in Germany.

Faced with a shrinking and aging population, Germany is facing an acute shortage of nurses who will work in hospitals and nursing homes for the elderly. However, the pandemic further exacerbated this problem. According to the German Hospital Association, there were 14,000 positions vacant for registered nursing staff in clinics and 8,000 in intensive care units in 2021. The German Embassy in Manila said demand estimates would reach 150,000 -200,000 professional nurses over the next 10 years.

Starting salaries of trainee nurses range from 1,040-1,200 euros (P57,200-P66,000) per month, while fully qualified nurses’ starting salary is 2,500 euros (P137,500) per month.

Meanwhile, another agreement was signed during Bello’s visit that would pave the way for

the entry of Filipino skilled workers from other sectors into Germany.

Initially, filipino electronics and electrical mechanics, plumbers, pipe fitters, cooks, waiters and hotel receptionists will be allowed to work in Germany, too.

The agreement was contained in the Letter of Intent between the Philippines and Germany.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, on behalf of POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia who was on official leave at that time; and Federal Employment Agency of the Federal Republic of Germany, together with Mr. Alexander Wilhelm, Director of International Cooperation of Germany’s Federal Employment Agency, signed the LOI. “The two instruments exhibit both countries’ commitment to expand cooperation in the area of recruitment, deployment and employment of Filipino professionals and skilled workers to Germany, and their adherence to the principles of fair and orderly migration,” the Philippine Embassy said in a statement.

Germany needs an estimated 400,000 new workers from various professions and skills, every year.

tem in Funding; Top 30 Asian Ecosystem in Bang for Buck; Top 30 Asian Ecosystem and Top 20 Asian Emerging Ecosystem in Performance; Top 30 Asian Ecosystem and Top 20 Asian Emerging Ecosystem in Talent & Experience.

Meanwhile, it’s noteworthy that tax incentives and support for foreigners are cited as reasons a start-up should move to Manila.

With the above-mentioned key accomplishments, the Trade department emphasized that the Philippines remain steadfast in its push toward sustaining the gains and keeping the momentum toward economic recovery. As the country shifts to a new administration, a call for a united front and aggressive development of the Philippine start-up ecosystem is needed to keep up with rising and emerging ecosystems highlighted in the #GSER2022 Report.

The DTI, in collaboration with other host agencies of the Innovative Start-up Act, continues to develop the competitiveness framework for the Philippine Start-up Development Program.

In fact, several projects are currently in line to help start-ups from ideation to commercialization, aiming to develop hyper growth start-ups and provide structure to the ecosystem to ensure strategic and steady growth. Andrea E. San Juan

www.businessmirror.com.ph

WCY. . .

Continued from A1

of gathering accurate data, considering the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

The Philippines bared improvements in its Economic Performance, wherein the country currently sits at the 53rd spot, a jump from 57th in 2021.

The country’s infrastructure ranking, meanwhile, moved two notches up from 59th in 2021 to 57th in 2022. However, infrastructure remains the weakest competitiveness factor for the Philippines, particularly on health and education indicators.

Meanwhile, the Philippines saw declines in the two other competitiveness factors. The country unveiled its largest drop in Government Efficiency, with the Philippines sliding down from 45th in 2021 to 48th in 2022.

Under this competitiveness factor, one of the WCY sub-factors that contributed to this decline is Public Finance, which dropped from 42nd in 2021 to 51st in 2022. Indicators under Public Finance include government budget surpluses/deficits and the real growth of total general government debt, which both declined last year.

The Business Efficiency area also plunged from 37th in 2021 to 39th in 2022, with the Productivity and Efficiency subfactor as the culprit behind the drop from 50th in 2021 to 56th in 2022. Under this subfactor, indicators include overall productivity (PPP)—real growth, which substantially dropped from 10th in 2021 to 57th in 2022.

The said indicators reflect the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Philippine economy.

Among the challenges that the Philippines faces this year are: implementing effective

WTO. . .

Continued from A1

The “envisioned” fisheries funding mechanism, she stressed, is “important” for the “effective implementation” of the Article 7 of the draft fisheries agreement seeking to make available technical assistance and capacity building assistance to developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs).

“The Philippines, on its part, will endeavor to integrate elements included in the concept note as priorities in its trade-related technical assistance projects and sustainable fisheries management programs,” said Natividad-Caballero, who was named by the government to engage in the fisheries negotiations at the four-day high-level MC12.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said “many” WTO member-countries are in need of capacity building and technical assistance in order for them to “better manage” their fisheries and implement the disciplines under the draft

post-pandemic economic recovery strategies while strengthening fiscal responsibility; regaining lost momentum in poverty reduction and inclusive economic development; promoting innovative governance and a smooth post-election transition of power; building resilient and future-ready health and education systems; and investing in sustainable infrastructure and reducing climate change vulnerability.

The top 3 most competitive economies in this year’s WCY rankings are Denmark, Switzerland and Singapore.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the top 3 most competitive economies are Singapore (3rd), Hong Kong (5th), and Taiwan (7th).

Denmark, which ranked third last year, took the top spot this year due to improvements in its Government Efficiency factor and consistent outstanding performance in the Business Efficiency f a c t o r, s p e c i f i c a l l y i n t h e s u b f a c t o r s on productivity and efficiency and management practices.

Switzerland, which held the top spot last year, was dethroned this year and settled for second. However, the country ranked first in Government Efficiency and Infrastructure factors and ranked fourth in the Business Efficiency factor.

Singapore, which slipped to fifth place last year, recovered by two places due to improvements in the domestic economy, employment, public finance, and productivity and efficiency, among others.

The Asian Institute of Management Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness (AIM RSN PCC) has been the Philippine partner institute of the IMD in producing the Yearbook since 1997. The AIM RSN PCC assists IMD by supplying data from national sources and helping distribute the Executive Opinion Survey (EOS).

fisheries agreement. “ We a l l k n o w t h a t a h e a l t h y productive and sustainable blue economy is one where our oceans are replenished, where our fish stocks are also healthy, and where fishermen and fisherwomen who depend on such resources continue to earn a decent living,” Okonjo-Iweala said at the press conference, a few hours before the negotiations on the draft fisheries deal that would curb harmful subsidies among WTO member-countries.

Okonjo-Iweala revealed that the WTO fisheries funding mechanism has received $5 million in informal pledges, half of the initial $10 million in targeted funds. “ We ’ v e b e e n d i s c u s s i n g a n d progressively refining this idea with a sizable group of members from both sides, both from potential donors and potential beneficiaries. The response from both sides is taking some time to get clarity, and is now promising,” she said.

“In addition, quite a few delegations have informed us that they are favorable towards pledging, even if they are not ready today,” she added.

The European Union, Germany and Japan expressed support for the fisheries funding mechanism.

Article 7 of the draft fisheries agreement stipulated that targeted technical assistance and capacity building assistance must be provided

to developing countries and LDCs. Furthermore, Article 7 orders the creation of a voluntary WTO funding mechanism in cooperation with relevant international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and International Fund for Agricultural Development once the draft fisheries deal gets consensus approval.

“The contributions of WTO Members to the mechanism shall be exclusively on a voluntary basis and shall not utilize regular budget resources,” the draft text read.

The WTO is already way beyond the 2020 deadline set by the Sustainable Development Goal 14.6 to eliminate harmful illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF) subsidies.

SDG target 14.6 sets a deadline of 2020 for eliminating IUUF subsidies and for prohibiting certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, with special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries.

The negotiations on harmful fisheries subsidies at the WTO have been ongoing for more than two decades now.

No less than Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that the passage of a fisheries subsidies deal at the MC12 is a “litmus test” of the multilateral body to “deliver meaningful multilateral agreements.”

Oil. . .

of Covid-19,” the policy paper read.

The government could also arrest the transport inflation by instituting exclusive lanes for public utility vehicles or giving them set hours to the exclusive use of such lanes.

“The government can implement these PUV-only lanes today because the Department of Transportation has a special provision under the 2022 budget which requires 50 percent of road space to be allocated for walking, cycling, and public transport.

With reduced motor vehicle use due to high fuel prices, the time is ripe for transforming road space for cars into space for the most efficient and sustainable travel modes,” the policy paper read.

Furthermore, Move as One urged the government to give “urgent social support for transport workers hit hard by the oil crisis and the pandemic.” This includes tricycle drivers and operators, whose livelihood has also been disrupted by the skyrocketing prices of fuel.

Lastly, the government would do well to understand that the Philippines is still reeling from a pandemic and that all public transport modes should follow standards to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“We look forward to working with the incoming economic team in our shared interest to fight transport inflation and to provide an equitable recovery for commuters, transport workers, and citizens, from Covid-19 and the oil crisis,” Move as One said.

Continued from A1

asking the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow all public utility vehicle units to operate and authorize more vehicles on routes where operators have consolidated.

The two agencies must also authorize more vehicles on routes where operators are consolidated or committed to working under common leet management arrangements.

Another point in the agenda, and possibly a very controversial one, is the removal of the “flawed free ride program,” while expanding the number of public transport units. The government, Move as One said, should “adopt a proper service contracting program and speed up its implementation.”

“A genuine service contracting program, as legislated under the 2022 budget, includes the following provisions: greater involvement of local government units in collecting fares, micro-financing, and co-implementing the program; and the set-up of the multisectoral governance committee where civil society organizations can directly participate and give real-time feedback to ensure the program is used to improve service levels for commuters and minimum public health standard compliance to prevent the spread

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DOJ issues ILBO vs owner of SUV in hit-and-run incident

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HE Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against the owner of a sportutility vehicle (SUV) who allegedly ran over a security guard in Mandaluyong City last June 5.

This was confirmed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday following a request from the Office of the City ProsecutorMandaluyong City where a complaint for frustrated murder and abandonment of one’s victim under Article 275 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) was filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against the suspect identified as Jose Antonio San Vicente last Monday.

“Yes, the DOJ has issued the ILBO at noon today [Tuesday],” Guevarra said.

Guevarra added that the justice department would check from the records of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) if San Vicente is still in the country.

Meanwhile, DOJ-National Prosecution Service (DOJ-NPS) Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said a request for the issuance of a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against San Vicente has yet to be filed.

“Complaint, [police or the representative of the complainant]… should trigger that. We are waiting

for these procedural requirements,” he added.

The ILBO directs immigration officers that if any of the respondents attempt to leave the country via any of the international airports and seaports, the information should be immediately relayed to the Office of the Secretary of Justice and the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The PHDO, on the other hand, is a written order issued by a court directing the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to prevent a person suspected of a crime from leaving the country.

The PNP had filed complaints of frustrated murder and abandonment of one’s victim against San Vicente who reportedly ran over 31-year-old security guard Christian Floralde while directing traffic at an intersection near a shopping mall in Mandaluyong City.

The complaint is now undergoing preliminary investigation.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) had also revoked San Vicente’s driver’s license and perpetually disqualified him from securing a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle.

San Vicente, who had been apprehended for reckless driving several times, has failed to show up in the hearings scheduled by the LTO last June 7 and 10. Joel R. San Juan

De Lima’s prosecution will proceed despite retractions, Guevarra says

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By Joel R. San Juan

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we’ve seen over 35,000 cases in a day in the past,” wrote Dr. Salvaña, who is also a member of the government’s Technical Advisory Group. “[It’s] very unlikely we will have to escalate to Alert Level 2 as long as hospital capacity remains good,” said Dr. Salvaña. The opinion was echoed

by Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during the Laging Handa Public Briefing last Monday, saying, “Let us not look at the number of cases, we need to look at the hospital capacity because this is more important to our health-care system.”

“The basis should always be the health-care utilization rates,” said Concepcion. “The medical experts themselves are saying that it is still possible to be infected with Covid even after you’ve been vaccinated and even with acquired immunity. What the vaccine prevents is severe illness and death, and that should be the metric by which we decide whether or not to raise alert levels,” he said.

Concepcion has been appealing for less mobility restrictions as he emphasized that the focus should

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra issued this statement on Tuesday following the DOJ’s review of de Lima’s drug cases, which showed the prosecution still has a strong chance to secure her conviction despite the series of recantations of witnesses.

“The panel of prosecutors in the de Lima cases has advised the justice secretary that, after a thorough review of the evidence already presented as well as evidence still to be presented, there is good reason to continue the active prosecution of the senator,” Guevarra said.

“As far as the ‘retractions’ of certain persons are concerned, the prosecution takes the position that

now be on preserving the health of the economy. “The situation has changed. Stagflation can become a reality at this point,” he said. The Russia-Ukraine crisis has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, causing a cascade of increases in the prices of commodities and consequently, basic goods. This latest crisis is threatening to cripple businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises, which are now only starting to recover from the pandemic.

“The conflict in Europe will cause everyone so much pain—the manufacturers, retailers, consumers. It will become worse if it drags on. We could have food shortages,” he said.

“This is why we can’t increase our alert levels. Our domestic production, specially in the agri sector, should be strengthened to help the consumers,” he added.

“We need to change our mindset,” said Concepcion. “We can’t go into panic or be paralyzed again when we see infection rates going up. This is not the way we are going to learn to live with Covid.”

US ditches Covid-19 test for travelers; Pinoys need to wait for ’23 to get visa appointments

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

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HE United States is no longer requiring incoming travelers to test negative for Covid-19 effective Sunday 12:01 am ET (Monday 12:01 p.m. Philippine time).

However, Filipinos who don’t have valid tourist or business visas and wish to travel to the US would have to wait sometime early 2023 to secure visa appointments.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has now shifted to a new phase, due to the widespread uptake of highly effective Covid-19 vaccines, the availability of effective therapeutics, and the accrual of high rates of vaccine and infection-induced immunity at the population level in the United States. Each of these measures has contributed to lower risk of severe disease and death across the United

States. As a result, this requirement which was needed at an earlier stage in the pandemic may be withdrawn,” the CDC said in a news statement.

Non-US citizens, except permanent residents and immigrants, traveling to the US are still required to present Covid-19 vaccine certificates before boarding their flights.

There are more than 4.2 million Filipinos or Americans with Filipino ancestries in the US. In 2019, there are 332,000 visitors to the US flying from the Philippines.

As travel restrictions were eased worldwide as well in the Philippines two weeks ago, there has been an increase of application for visas to the US Embassy in Manila.

“Due to a high volume of applicants and consular staffing shortages, wait-times for many visa classes are longer than the pre-

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Department of Justice (DOJ) will proceed with the prosecution of the drug cases filed against former senator Leila de Lima despite retractions of several persons, including witnesses vital to the litigation process.

Concepcion: No need to adjust AL at low hospitalization rates MID concerns about a possible return to an Alert Level (AL) 2 status for the National Capital Region (NCR), Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said that higher ALs may not be necessary if hospitalization rates remain low.

“If our Covid cases are not ending up in hospitals, then there is no need for higher alert levels,” he said.

His statement followed reports of a gradual uptick in Covid infection rates when, as of June 13, the Philippines recorded 386 new cases, with almost half, or 188, in NCR. However, ICU rates are at a low 20 percent, and health-care utilization rate is at 16.6 percent for the entire Philippines.

“Don’t look at the percentages, look at the numbers,” said infectious diseases expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña in his Facebook post on Monday following media reports about the slow rise in cases, specifically in the NCR. “A 100 percent increase from a baseline of 100 cases is only 200 cases. Remember

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, June 15, 2022 A3

pandemic norm,” the US Embassy said in its web site. The Embassy said they would prioritize those applications with “urgent” travel needs, which are “matter of life or death,” of students and exchange visitors and temporary employees.

They have also waived the interviews for those who are renewing their business/tourism (B1/B2) visas, and offer appointments for biometrics processing only for those who received their last visa prior to age 14.

“Many visa applicants paid a visa application fee and are still waiting to schedule an interview appointment. The validity of your payment [known as the MRV fee] is extended until September 30, 2023, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule an appointment the opportunity to do so,” the Embassy said.

until these persons are actually presented in court for examination to ascertain their truthfulness, their alleged recantations have no probative value whatsoever,” he added.

Among the personalities who have recanted their statements implicating de Lima in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa during her term as justice secretary were former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, a key witness in one of her cases; selfconfessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa; Marcelo Adorco; and de Lima’s co-accused and former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan.

It can be recalled that Ragos ex-

ecuted an affidavit on September 5, 2016, claiming that in November 2012, as Bureau of Corrections officer in charge and together with aide Jovencio Ablen, they delivered a black bag containing P5 million to Dayan and de Lima at the latter’s residence.

He added that they made another delivery of money contained in a plastic bag in December 2012 to de Lima and Dayan.

In 2016, Ragos testified before the House Committee on Justice hearing on the NBP drug trade where he reiterated his previous affidavits.

But last month, Ragos, who served as deputy director for intelligence of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), claimed that he was forced to execute false affidavits and issue false testimonies before the House of Repre s e nt at i v e s a nd t he cou r t against de Lima and Dayan by several personalities led by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. Aguirre, however, denied coercing Ragos into testifying against de Lima and questioned the timing of his recantation since it was made a few days before the May 9 elections where the latter ran but lost in the senatorial race.

He also claimed that Ragos has an ax to grind because his request to be appointed to some government post was ignored.

Prior to Ragos’s recantation, Espinosa retracted all his statements linking de Lima in the illegal drug trade inside the NBP but the DOJ said it would have no bearing on the case since he was not utilized as prosecution’s witness.

With all these developments, Guevarra said it would still be up to the trial court whether it would consider the recantations or not in resolving the cases.

“In any event, the final say on the disposition of the cases rests on the judge alone and no other,” the DOJ chief added.

Guevarra also noted that his successor, Cavite Seventh District Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, has been briefed on the status of de Lima’s drug cases during their meeting last week.

“I think he will also be guided by the assessment of the panel of prosecutors who are actually handling the trial of the cases,” Guevarra stressed.

Remulla earlier said the retraction of some witnesses against de Lima is “a red flag.”

He also expressed readiness to conduct a review of the said cases once he assumes his post on June 30.

A4 Wednesday, June 15, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Low-cost feed to cut milkfish, tilapia price by P10/kg–DA

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has developed a cheaper aquaculture feed product, which uses locally produced raw materials, that could bring down the production costs of tilapia and milkfish by as much as P10 per kilogram amid soaring prices of imported feed products.

In a news statement, the DA said a joint project by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Division (SEAFDEC-AQD) and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) has formulated a locally-sourced “efficient, sustainable and low-cost” aquaculture feeds.

The formulated feed, which was developed

by Dr. Roger Edward Mamauag of SEAFDECAQD, uses by-products from corn and poultry abattoirs as well as coconut-fermented copra meal, replacing imported fishmeal as a protein source.

The feeds will be field tested for milkfish and tilapia, which are the top aquaculture commodities in the country. The field tests were conducted by SEAFDEC-AQD and NFRDI in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

“The ongoing crises, Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict, have a ripple effect in the whole seafood value chain. So it’s not just food and fuel, it also affects feed both for livestock and aquaculture since the majority of our feedstuff is being sourced outside the country,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said.

“What we need are sustainable technologies and interventions that can provide our fishing communities locally-available ingredients providing added benefits of cost savings and reduced imports, at the same time,” Dar added.

The DA said initial trial results showed that the SEAFDEC-AQD formulated aquaculture feed can “compete with the commercially-fed

in terms of growth performance and other biological parameters.”

“One of the major problems that we wanted to address through this project is to lower the cost of feeds, which comprises 50 percent to 70 percent of the production cost. By making the feed cost-effective and sustainable it will increase profits and encourage more fish farmers to venture in aquaculture,” said NFRDI Director Lilian Garcia.

The DA said the use of locally-available raw materials made the SEAFDEC-AQD formulated feeds cheaper compared to commercially produced ones, especially since protein sources abroad have become more expensive due to ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.

“Commercial fish feeds usually consist of fish meal, which is both expensive and resource-intensive since it requires harvesting fish from the oceans for feed production,” it said. “While plant-based protein sources like soybean meal and wheat gluten can provide lower-cost alternatives, the

ongoing Ukraine crisis has made prices of imported feedstuff volatile and therefore unsustainable,” it added.

Mamauag said the SEAFDEC-AQD feeds cost about P27 per kilogram for milkfish and P24 per kilogram for tilapia. “Commercial feeds cost P33 to P35 per kilogram for milkfish and P32 to P34 per kilogram for tilapia.

From this price, a reduction of P6 to P8 per kilogram or 18 to 23 percent for milkfish and P8 to 10 per kilogram or 25 to 32 percent for tilapia in feed cost were obtained,” he added.

In a related development, local aquafeed manufacturers reiterated their call to the DA to lift the import ban on porcine processed animal protein (PAP) from Italy to avert further increase in the prices of domestic aquafeed products. (Related story: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2022/04/25/dapressed-to-lift-ban-on-processed-animalprotein-from-italy/) “PAP is a vital ingredient in aquafeed, serving the bulk of its protein requirement. Tila-

pia, bangus, shrimps, they require a high protein diet compared to hogs and poultry, which only require low protein in their feeds,” Chris Co, Vice President for Marketing of Oversea Feeds, said in a recent news statement.

“One good source of protein, aside from fishmeal, is PAP. Fishmeal price is increasing and there is not enough of it to go around,” Co added.

Advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan said the closure of Italy, which accounts for 70 percent of the country’s annual 150,00-metric ton imported PAP, might derail the growth of the aquaculture industry and result in job losses.

“The aquaculture industry has paved the way for roads and livelihood even to the remotest area one could imagine. If production is derailed, this can be detrimental to the source of income of people working in the aquaculture sector,” it said.

“We hope that the government will immediately act on this problem and base their decision on science,” it added.

Solon warns of tougher times in coming months

A

HOUSE deputy speaker on Tuesday said Filipinos should be prepared and must wisely plan on how to budget their income and expenses for the next several months, as the country braces itself for turbulent economic times ahead.

This is the economic alert warning of House Deputy Speaker and Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro T. Ungab, saying a worldwide increase in inflation, skyrocketing gas prices, looming food shortage, prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, and on top of all these, another possible spike in Covid-19 cases is projected.

“We foresee difficult times ahead... and it is up to us if we can safely ride it through and survive or go unprepared and succumb to the strong financial distress, being experienced globally,” Ungab warned in a news statement.

While Filipinos tighten their belts, Ungab said, they should also explore and look for other sources of income and become innovative in times like this.

At present, Ungab said the rise in prices of food and basic commodities is outpac-

ing wages, which is becoming a growing household concern.

Ungab has recently aired his support for President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s plan to set a stimulus package in the 2023 national budget.

Ungab, a former House Appropriations chairman and former banker, said a stimulus package would show the Presidentelect’s clear determination to rebuild the country’s economy.

“I urge everyone to unite and help the incoming administration. Let us come together and work for our country to be able to overcome these economic woes and adversities,” Ungab said.

Apart from the government’s plan to manage the rising inflation, Ungab recommends for the incoming administration to prepare and update the MediumTerm Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028, since it will become the basis of budgeting the expenditures in the coming months and years of Presidentelect Marcos’ administration.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

PHL receives ₧700-M Jica grant for BARMM’s socioeconomic devt

By Cai U. Ordinario

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@caiordinario

HE Philippines has received a 1.8 billion yen grant from the Japanese government to create jobs and boost the socioeconomic development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) signed the agreement this week.

Through the grant, which amounts to roughly P700 million, the Philippines will be able to undertake urgent reconstruction of the Provincial/City Manpower and Development Center (PCMD) in Marawi City and other socioeconomic infrastructure improvements.

“The signing of the Grant Agreement for the Programme for the Urgent Improvement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure in Bangsamoro will further strengthen the cooperation between our two governments,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said in a news statement.

“Through the rebuilding and improvement of the techno-vocational training centers and the construction of farm-tomarket-roads, we expect more accessible economic opportunities as people are empowered through skills development and enrichment and improvement of market trade,” he added.

Sites of the subprojects include Marawi City, the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat and Basilan among other conflict-affected areas.

The Bangsamoro Infrastructure Needs Survey, conducted from December 2018 to February 2019 by Jica, served as the basis for the potential socioeconomic infrastructure projects that the grant will support.

“We hope that this grant assistance project generates economic growth in the midst of changing times, which contributes

to the stability and prosperity of the whole Philippines. Jica has been and will always be the closest and the most reliable partner of the people in the Philippines,” said Jica Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto.

Chua said at the end of the first quarter of 2022, the partnership has resulted in the completion of eight projects, with a total cost of P1.14 billion.

The projects were under the JapanBangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD), while four more projects began implementation in the previous Japanese fiscal year.

“As we transition into a new administration, the Philippine government maintains its steadfast commitment to fully realize the gains of our partnership with the Government of Japan,” Sakamoto said.

“We look forward to implementing future projects and peace initiatives in pursuit of our goal of peace and development under the Bangsamoro Development Plan 2023-2028,” he added.

Jica has been supporting the peacebuilding process in the Bangsamoro with the Government of the Philippines and Japan through the J-BIRD since 2006.

The recent projects for peace and development in Mindanao include the Comprehensive Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro (CCDP), Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro (CDPB) for building the foundation of governance, strengthening public service delivery and community development and dispatch Jica experts as special advisors.

Jica has also emphasized on economic development through loan and grant projects such as $202-million Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) linking Mindanao’s key cities as well as the program for support for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi City and its surrounding areas.

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BusinessMirror

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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BusinessMirror

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1, Pitx Kennedy Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

TRINH THANH THU Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 1.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking.

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

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

AMERICAN EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 15th, 25th To 30th/f Bonifacio One Technology Tower (e-square Information Technology Park), 3030 Rizal Drive, West Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig JAMIE AZMAN BIN AZLAN Vice President - Commercial And Merchant Servicing Network (APAC) 2.

Brief Job Description: Ensure ongoing delivery of all key operations metrics across shareholder, customer and colleague deliver “best in class” recommend to friend (RTF) scores leading to greater advocacy in our client base and ensure the strengthening of customer first for business ethos in operations.

Basic Qualification: Highly developed leadership and engagement skills with the ability to collaborate and influence across the matrix and without direct authority across a geographically disturbed team.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque LIONG SHENG XIAN Malaysian Customer Service Representative 3.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NONG THI PHUONG THU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

4.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

5.

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

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

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

6.

Brief Job Description: Analyzes data gathered and develop solution, highly organized and able to multitask

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Excellent Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CASPO INCORPORATED 43/f, 45/f, 49/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Corner V.a. Rufino Street, Bel-air, City Of Makati

HIEW THIAM FATT Operations Team Lead 7.

Brief Job Description: Provide and lead analytical job in actual business operation for the Company and its worldwide client

Basic Qualification: Has extensive experience in software systems and business solutions; is proficient and able to communicate in Mandarin or any Chinese language Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

CHINA CONSTRUCTION FRONT GENERAL DEVT. CORPORATION Unit 3001, Atlanta Center, 31 Annapolis St., Greenhills, City Of San Juan LI, TIE Quantity Surveyor Manager 8.

Brief Job Description: Calculate and Manage All Cost Related Aspects In Construction Projects

Basic Qualification: Fluent In Mandarin And English Both Verbal And Written

NGHIEM HUE QUAN Bi-lingual Speaking Data Analyst Officer 9.

Brief Job Description: Interprets SATA, analyzes results using statistical techniques and provides ongoing reports

Basic Qualification: Fluent and proficient in writing and speaking at least 2 of the ff languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WALLACE CHAN MENG FEI Bi-lingual Speaking Data Analyst Officer 10.

Brief Job Description: Interprets SATA, analyzes results using statistical techniques and provides ongoing reports

Basic Qualification: Fluent and proficient in writing and speaking at least 2 of the ff languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent and proficient in writing and speaking at least 2 of the ff languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese

No.

ARJUNAN, RAGUL Sr. Associate – Projects 12.

Brief Job Description: Manage and lead the team and act as the unix / solaris sme for the production batch and first level technical support

Basic Qualification: Unix administration, unix shell scripting, knowledge of solaris and aix server and commands; creating unix shell programs; knowledge on annuities application and process flow Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

22.

13.

WANG, MIN Chinese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

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

23.

14.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction.

Basic Qualification: Expert in Chinese language.

24.

LU, SHIWEI Mandarin Site Technical Officer 15.

Brief Job Description: Preparing and following general maintenance schedule

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Speaking, Reading and Writing in Mandarin

25.

26.

16.

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

27.

JEONG, HU YEONG Foundation Manager 17.

Brief Job Description: Supervise organize and plan activities to ensure smooth fabrication and construction of structures within the stipulated schedule.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of experience in the related field.

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

DYNAMIC STUDIO TECHNOLOGY INC. 5th To 10th/f Platinum Tower Building, Aseana Ave. Cor. Fuentes Street, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

LI, YANGYANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 18.

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written.

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

19.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs

28.

LENNY MARLINA Bilingual It Support Specialist 20.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs

STEVEN Bilingual It Support Specialist 21.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs

Brief Job Description: Design for highway and railway projects

LI, DAN Mandarin Speaking HR Manager Brief Job Description: Manages the talent acquisition process

Brief Job Description: The Human Resource Senior Director will be over responsible for the plan, lead, direct, develop and coordinate the policies, activities, and staff of the Human Resources (HR) department, ensuring legal compliance and implementation of the organizations mission and talent strategy both for the Philippines and globally. Should be able to manage the overall profit and loss and labor cost of the site and overall spending of the administration. Will be the front-line decision maker for the administrative decisions of the management.

IWAKI, TETSUO Department Manager 29.

Brief Job Description: Manage and supervise the operation of energy and chemicals department

BUI THANH VINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 30.

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

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

Basic Qualification: 5-10 years experience in Geometric and pavement design of highways expertise in transport Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

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

Basic Qualification: Must have experience on overall handing sites profit and loss and global employee organizations HRIS and talent management systems and talents.

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

Basic Qualification: Graduate of buss. Course with 10 yrs. Experienced in Japanese trading Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

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

DO MANH TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 31.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

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

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

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

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

JIU ZHOU TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. U-2801 28/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

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

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

ITOCHU CORPORATION 16/f Oledan Square, 6788 Ayala Avenue, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

GIMENEZ BENITEZ, LETICIA JAZMIN Civil Engineer Expert In Highway Design

JEYASANKAR, MANOJ VICTOR Senior Director - Human Resources

EASYTECH SUPPORT INC. 9-11/f, 14/f Capella Bldg., Asean Drive Filinvest, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa CARLES LEVIN Bilingual It Support Specialist

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

IOPEX TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES, INC. Unit 12b, 12th Flr, Net Lima Bldg., E Square, 5th Ave. Cor. 26th St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

DL MANILA BRANCH 12th Flr. Menarco Tower, 32nd St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg., 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

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

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

IDOM CONSULTING, ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, SOCIEDAD ANONIMA UNIPERSONAL Rm, 802a 8/f Rci Bldg.,, 105 Rada St.,, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

DIGITAL DECODER TECH. INC. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg., Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati CHEN, ZHENGHANG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs VU THI UYEN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

CURRENTCORE SERVICES INC. Unit 2c, Flr. No. 4f, One Ecom Center Bldg. Ocean Drive St., Barangay 76, Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs NGUYEN THI HUYEN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

COTECH CONSULTANCY CORP. 9/f 6780 Bldg., 6780 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati ZOU, JIAWEN Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs HA XUAN BINH Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

COMMERCE INGREDIENTS INC. Unit 4 Southway Condo., Yakal Cor. Mayapis Sts., San Antonio, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHEN, XINYANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. 2nd, 3rd, And 4th Floors, Science Hub Tower 4 Bldg., Mckinley Hill Cyberpark, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

CHROMELAB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 25/f Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Interprets SATA, analyzes results using statistical techniques and provides ongoing reports

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

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

BIGCON CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Unit 3b, 2nd Floor, Rayco Tower, Doña Soledad Ave., Don Bosco, City Of Parañaque ZHONG, SI Management Support Analyst

11.

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

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. Eastfield Center, Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City

HTET HTET MOE Myanmari Customer Relations Officer

CHIENG MING CHUO Bi-lingual Speaking HR Officer

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NGUYEN THI THANH MAI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 32.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

NGUYEN VAN CHINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 33.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

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

NGUYEN VAN DUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 34.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

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

PHAN VAN NHON Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 35.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

No.

46.

TRAN NGUYEN HAI NAM Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 36.

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

TRAN XUAN TRUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 37.

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

47.

TRINH THUY TIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 38.

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

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

48.

39.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to end to end sales process, sourcing new customers, scooping customer requirements providing unique solutions quotes & liaising with the relevant department to ensures successful delivery

40.

41.

42.

Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

LIU, YANGTIAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

ZHENG, TUO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

49.

43.

Brief Job Description: Review statement of account and ensure appropriate attention to detail and that they fall in line with the slas and client requirements.

50.

44.

Brief Job Description: Handles overall finance matter

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with 10 years’ experience in the same field with strong negotiation skills, works independently and has excellent communication skills

51.

45.

Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LI, QIAOFENG Chinese Customer Service Representative

52.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LIU, YANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

53.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

SONG, KAIHUA Chinese Customer Service Representative

54.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires YOU, XUGUANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

55.

56.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese)

57.

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

INOUE, MEGUMI Sales Executive Japanese Accounts 58.

Basic Qualification: Actively follow up with payments and assist with the disputes handling process.

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

Basic Qualification: Experienced

59.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible in maintaining contact with Japanese customers through regular visits.

TSAI, CHING-CHUN Mandarin Finance Specialist Brief Job Description: Records accounts payable and accounts receivable

QIAO, HUI Mandarin Human Resource Specialist 60.

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

Brief Job Description: Head hunting interviewing and assessing prospective and matching them with vacancies

DIANA LYN SYLVESTER Front Office Manager 61.

Brief Job Description: Overall in charge of front office operations. Handle customer complaints and special request, schedule staff shifts and managing other HR related tasks

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

CHIN HUAN SIN Customer Service Representative 63.

62.

Brief Job Description: Deal with all customer queries / complaints should be fluent in Thai & English speaking

Brief Job Description: Provide specialized services to assist end-users in technology needs DING, XIAOJUN Mandarin Technical Support

64.

Brief Job Description: Provide specialized services to assist end-users in technology needs LI, LEI Mandarin Technical Support

65.

Brief Job Description: Provide specialized services to assist end-users in technology needs

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

KHONGMA, PIYAKAN Data Analyst Officer 66.

Brief Job Description: Multilingual customer support, specifically for other Asian language

GAO, MINGJUN Mandarin Project Planner

67.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Project Planner is responsible for planning and scheduling various workloads.

Gathers and analyzes information to prepare status report. Evaluate current procedures and recommends changes to improve the efficiency of planning and scheduling of projects.

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

LIN, XUEHONG Marketing Specialist 68.

69.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language.

70.

71.

Basic Qualification: Ability to retain and develop Japanese customers.

Brief Job Description: Report directly to the manager and fulfilling the manager’s duties in their absences; should also be well-versed in internal operations, take minutes at meetings, forward and distribute mail as required and prepare and file relevant documents.

LIN, WAN-TING Sales Consultant

72.

Brief Job Description: To guide clients through all procedures required and responsible for furnishing clients with relevant information.

WANG, YANPING Sales Consultant

73.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in human resources management or any related field of study

Brief Job Description: Reports directly to the manager and fulfilling the manager’s duties in their absence; should also be well-versed in internal operations, take, minutes at meetings; forward and distribute mail as requires and prepare and file relevant documents.

PENG, LEI Operation Assistant

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or any related field of study

Brief Job Description: To guide clients through all procedures requires and responsible for furnishing clients with relevant information.

HUANG, YAOGAO Operation Assistant

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language.

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

Brief Job Description: To guide clients through all procedures required and responsible for furnishing clients with relevant information.

XIE, XIAOMEI Marketing Specialist

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin, both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be 21 years old and above; Graduate of any Vocational or Bachelor’s Degree Course; At least 1 year experience as Data Analyst or Customer Service; With good oral and written

Basic Qualification: In-depth understanding of construction procedures, materials and project management principles.

Must have understanding in cost planning and contracts administration.

Familiarity with construction/project management in Mainland China and the Philippines.

RESCORE BUSINESS CONSULTANCY INC. 255 A&a Bldg., Unit B Rome St. Cor Vatican,, Merville, City Of Parañaque

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin, both oral and written

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

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

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

POWERCHINA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2101 21/f Bdo Equitable Tower, 8751 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin, both oral and written

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

PACIFIC SEA BPO SERVICES, INC. 16/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

Brief Job Description: To guide clients through all procedures required and responsible for furnishing clients with relevant information.

TUNG, NI-MING Visa Consultant

74.

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

Brief Job Description: To guide clients through all procedures required and responsible for furnishing clients with relevant information.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business management, excellent communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business management, excellent communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business management; excellent communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business management, excellent communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business management; excellent communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business management; excellent communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business management; excellent communication skills.

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

RUNNINGMAN CORPORATION 8/f Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Must Have an Excellent Experience in Client Services or Management Experience

EVELYN Indonesian - Language Customer Support Staff 75.

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

NOVATECH (PASAY) LIMITED, INC. 4th Flr. W Mall Bldg., Diosdado Macapagal Ave. St., Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

INSAI, NONRAPUNCH Thai Speaking Customer Service Representative

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

NEW RIVIERA HOTEL DEV. CORP. (HOTEL JEN) House No. 3001, Roxas Blvd. St., Barangay 1, Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak Chinese / Mandarin Fluently

No.

MYSTIC REALTY DEVELOPMENT CORP. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg., 197 Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language.

MOL LOGISTICS PHILIPPINES, INC. Ech Plaza, 8006 Dr. A. Santos Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese)

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

HUA THI HIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1, 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati MOC TU NGOC Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

LI, CHEN Chinese Customer Service Representative

MARINA SQUARE PROPERTIES, INC. 5/f Ag New World Manila Bay Hotel 1588, 1588 Mh Del Pilar Cor. P Gil., 076, Barangay 699, Malate, City Of Manila LIU, MAOQIANG Finance Director

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

JIN, ZHENHE Chinese Customer Service Representative

MAERSK GLOBAL SERVICE CENTRES (PHILIPPINES) LTD. Levels 6-8 North Wing, Estancia Offices, Capitol Commons, Meralco Ave., Oranbo, City Of Pasig OSORIO CRUZ, ZULEYMA BEATRIZ Collector

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

ZHANG, HUAN Chinese Customer Service Representative

MACH 86 TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 6th-13th Flr. Workspace Bldg., 1419 Industry St. Corner Finance St. Mbp Ayala, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa GAO, XIFAN Customer Service Representative

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

JIN, WANQIAN Chinese Customer Service Representative

JOHN CLEMENTS CONSULTANTS, INC. 14/f Lkg Tower, 6801 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati KRISHNAN PARAMESWARAN Technical Consultant For Sales

Brief Job Description: Provide operational and technical support to the business development of MCNK JV Corporation

CHEONG, KA IAN Chinese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

Basic Qualification: Confidential Employee

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Barangay 76, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

ISHIDA, MASAHIRO Representative To MCNK JV Corporation

CHEN, XIANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

MARUBENI CORPORATION 8/f L.v Locsin Bldg., Ayala Cor. Makati Aves., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for; fluent in chines/mandarin is an advantage.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Basic Qualification: Preferably with 6months - 1year experience with customer service representative

PRISCILIA Indonesian - Language Customer Support Staff 76.

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering customer complaints and work assignments.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A native speaker of the Indonesian language (spoken and written).

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

SHANG SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 11/f Pbcom Tower, Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Bel-air, City Of Makati DEDI SETIAWAN SIMBOLON Bahasa Indonesian Language - Trade Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 77.

OCTAGON PRIME OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg., Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering customer complaints and work assignments.

Basic Qualification: A native speaker of the Indonesian language (spoken and written).

Brief Job Description: Ensure all price changes and deliver of events are timely and accurate

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing and Other Relevant Courses Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

A6 A8

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

SHANXI HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION BUREAU CO., LTD. Unit 2608 26/f Cityland 10 Tower 1, 156 H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

78.

79.

80.

81.

82.

83.

84.

85.

86.

87.

CHENG, LONG Deputy Project Manager Brief Job Description: Execute And Monitor Project Activities HU, DONG Deputy Project Manager Brief Job Description: Execute And Monitor Project Activities WANG, ENSHUAI Deputy Project Manager Brief Job Description: Execute And Monitor Project Activities WANG, WEI Deputy Project Manager Brief Job Description: Execute And Monitor Project Activities ZHAO, ZHIJIA Deputy Project Manager Brief Job Description: Execute And Monitor Project Activities

BAI, YANFEI Project Manager Assistant Brief Job Description: Project Manager Assistant

FU, JUNWEI Project Manager Assistant Brief Job Description: Project Manager Assistant

LI, WENQING Project Manager Assistant Brief Job Description: Project Manager Assistant

XING, JILIANG Project Manager Assistant Brief Job Description: Project Manager Assistant

ZHANG, LEI Project Manager Assistant Brief Job Description: Project Manager Assistant

Basic Qualification: Graduate Of Any Bachelor’s Degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Graduate Of Any Bachelor’s Degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LE THI TRANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 95.

SHIGEI, KENTARO Country Head And Managing Director And Resident Agent 96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

101.

102.

88.

Brief Job Description: Handles a range of frontline customer enquiries, Performs compliance checks on fraud and manual data quality control.

103.

104.

SKYLUSTER TECHNOLOGY, INC. 28/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati FANG, XINMIN Mandarin Customer Service Specialist 89.

Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer’s account information YANG, PEIRONG Mandarin Customer Service Specialist

90.

Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer’s account information

SUN, ZHIXIANG Mandarin Human Resource Specialist 91.

Brief Job Description: Head hunting interview and assessing prospective and matching them with vacancies

92.

Brief Job Description: Support the development and implementation of HR initiatives & system.

DANG VAN TAI It Officer 93.

Brief Job Description: Installs and configures computer hardware operating systems and apps.

NGUYEN VAN TU Vietnamese Customer Service 94.

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

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

LI, YINJUAN Mandarin System And Support Specialist

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in mandarin

105.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in mandarin

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in human resource management or any related field of study

106.

107.

108.

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

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and / or customers through mandarin to English translation.

MAN, XIN Mandarin System And Support Specialist

109.

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

QIN, KAIYAN Mandarin System And Support Specialist

110.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

MAN, JUNJIE Mandarin System And Support Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and / or customers through mandarin to English translation.

LU, XIANGYU Mandarin System And Support Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills).

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

LO, MING-HAO Mandarin System And Support Specialist

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

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS, INC. 10/f Tower 2 Double Dragon Plaza Bldg., Edsa Corner Macapagal Ave. St. Zone 10, District 1, Barangay 76, Pasay City

NGUYEN THI PHUONG HONG HR Officer

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

GOU, YU Mandarin System And Support Specialist

Basic Qualification: Native French Speaker Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

CHE, MILI Mandarin System And Support Specialist

SHELL SHARED SERVICES (ASIA) B.V. 16/f-25/f Solaris One Bldg., 130 Dela Rosa St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati KABWE, EVARISTE DJO KISEBWE Customer Success Specialist (French Speaker)

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

WONG CHIN YIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relation Representative

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

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

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

TRAN VINH TIEN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relation Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Responsible For Managing Technical Issues On Materials & Equipment Being Used

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

NGUYEN THI THUY HANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relation Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Responsible For Managing Technical Issues On Materials & Equipment Being Used

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

DAO THU TRANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relation Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Responsible For Managing Technical Issues On Materials & Equipment Being Used

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

CHONG KAH SIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relation Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Responsible For Managing Technical Issues On Materials & Equipment Being Used

Brief Job Description: Contribute to over-all growth of the bank by supervising and directing subordinates in achieving bank’s goals and objectives and by enhancing business performance.

CHEW SHI YEE Mandarin Speaking Customer Relation Representative

Basic Qualification: Graduate Of Any Bachelor’s Degree

Basic Qualification: Responsible For Managing Technical Issues On Materials & Equipment Being Used

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

QIU, JINGBIN Mandarin System And Support Specialist

111.

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

No.

Basic Qualification: At least 30 years of banking experience, at least 10 years of leadership experience.

112.

113.

114.

Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

115.

116.

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

118.

Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Through, extensive & fluency in mandarin language and characters.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information

Brief Job Description: Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information

Brief Job Description: Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analysing customer information

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices; fluent in mandarin and English speaking.

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages

CHANHOM, APICHAYA Bilingual Marketing Specialist 119.

Brief Job Description: Conduct market research to find answers about consumer requirements, habits and trends.

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

ZHONG, HONG-KAI Mandarin-speaking Customer Service Officer 120.

Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information

121.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malaycustomers through email and chats

Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages

Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malaycustomers through email and chats

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages

MA THI LOAN Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer 123.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malaycustomers through email and chats

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages

MARIA CRISTINA TRAN ANAYA Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer 124.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malaycustomers through email and chats

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages

TRAN VAN PHUONG Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer 125.

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

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

HOANG LE GIANG Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer 122.

Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages

Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages

DINH VAN TOAN Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer

Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malaycustomers through email and chats

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

WISHLAND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INC. 28/f Techzone Condo Corp., 213 Buendia Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati HUANG, YUJUN Chinese Language - Marketing Staff 126.

Brief Job Description: Providing details to clients relative to services being offered.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese.

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

WNS GLOBAL SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. 9/f 1880 Bldg., Eastwood City Cyberpark, Bagumbayan, Quezon City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and / or customers through mandarin to English translation.

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Through, extensive & fluency in mandarin language and characters.

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

Basic Qualification: Through, extensive & fluency in mandarin language and characters.

DIEP VAN HAI It Specialist

Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

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

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

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St., 072, Barangay 669, Ermita, City Of Manila

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and / or customers through mandarin to English translation.

TRAN NGOC PHUONG QUYEN Bilingual Customer Service Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

Basic Qualification: Through, extensive & fluency in mandarin language and characters.

NGUYEN TRANG NGOC DIEM Bilingual Customer Service Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

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

NGUYEN HOANG MINH ANH Bilingual Customer Service Officer

117.

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

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients / customers through mandarin to English translation.

TOTAL CREST BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 26/f & 27/f Alphaland Corporate Tower, Ayala Ave. Extn. Cor. Malugay St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

ZHANG, SEN Mandarin System And Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WU, CHIA-WEI Mandarin System And Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & proficiency in mandarin language and characters.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SU, QIAN Mandarin System And Support Specialist

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

TECHMAVE SERVICES INC. 11/f Liberty Plaza Bldg., 102 H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Graduate Of Any Bachelor’s Degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION - MANILA BRANCH 21/f Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Ave., Cor. Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Graduate Of Any Bachelor’s Degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

HANCHINAMANI, SACHIN CHANDU Sr. Group Manager - Operations 127.

Brief Job Description: Work closely with operations process owners and support function owners to ensure smooth and consistent delivery of good service at all points in time.

Basic Qualification: Mi. relevant experience (years): 8 Educational + Professional qualifications: Graduate / Post graduate.

Prior call center business experience.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 *Date Generated: Jun 14, 2022

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on June 14, 2022, the position of BRIAN SIM JIA HOW of CHROMELAB TECHNOLOGIES INC., should have been read as BI-LINGUAL SPEAKING DATA ANALYST OFFICER and not as published.

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

Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph Republic of the Philippines

16

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

PORTAL STEELS INC.

LIU, DE

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Electrical Quality Assurance

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

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

17

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

1

ESTABLISHMENT AIYOH INDUSTRIES PHILIPPINES, INC. Block 6-5 & 6-7, Amplefield SME Park, Bugtong na Pulo, City of Lipa, Batangas

2

BROTHER INDUSTRIES (PHILIPPINES), INC. Lot 1-B-2, FPIP-SEZ, Ulango, City of Tanauan, Batangas

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Design and install communications and control networks

Salary Range:

PORTAL STEELS INC.

ZHOU, KE

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Electrical Quality Assurance

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CHUKA, KENJI

Basic Qualification:

Vice President

Must be fluent in Japanese speaking and writing.

C.K. GALVANIZING CORPORATION B-5 L-6A, FCIE, Langkaan I, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite

Install and repair all electrical wire system

FUJI PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Lot 1 Blk 6, CPIP I, Batino, City of Calamba, Laguna

18

Brief Job Description:

PORTAL STEELS INC.

SU, JINBANG

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

General Manager

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

Supervise and review sales performance of the corporation

Salary Range:

Brief Job Description:

Php90,000 - Php149,999 Basic Qualification:

Oversee daily business operations and trains low level managers and staff.

Salary Range:

KIKUMA, HISASHI Manager-Purchasing Production Control Department

at least 8-10 years of work experience in solution industries

PORTAL STEELS INC.

ZHANG, FUHONG

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

19

Salary Range:

Brief Job Description:

Php150,000 – Php499,999

Salary Range:

KUA WEN QI

Basic Qualification:

Provide technical assistance in installation and maintenance of company equipment

General Manager

PORTAL STEELS INC.

LIN, MINGZHONG

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Lathe Machine Operator

Brief Job Description:

Degree in business administration and fluent in English and Mandarin language

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

Oversee galvanizing operations and finances

Salary Range:

20

Fuso Axis Depot Inc., FCIE, Langkaan II, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite

Basic Qualification:

Chief Technical Advisor

Extensive experience and deep knowledge in Fuji SMT Equipment

Setup, control and adjust machine settings

Salary Range:

21

PORTAL STEELS INC.

SUN, YUNHUI

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Machine Technician

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

HITACHI CABLE PHILIPPINES, INC. Lot 2 Blk 7, LTC-SEZ, Bugtong na Pulo, City of Lipa, Batangas

Basic Qualification:

Deputy Manager Brief Job Description:

With the ability to assist in initiating and developing corporate objectives and policies

Manage the operation of the office to ensure that it runs fairly and smoothly

Salary Range:

YAMASHITA, YOSHIAKI

Basic Qualification:

General Manager

Graduate of industrial chemistry and with specialty in soft ferrite materials

Brief Job Description:

7

KINPO ELECTRONICS (PHILIPPINES), INC. Lot 11, FPIP II-SEZ, Santa Anastacia, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas

8

LEADING SUCCESS (PHILS.) GARMENTS INC. Bldg. 1, 2 & 3, GMBP, Maduya, Carmona, Cavite

Guarantees the operation of mechanical equipment and machinery to maintain the quality of the production

Salary Range:

PORTAL STEELS INC.

TANG, XIAOCHENG

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Machine Technician

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

Php150,000 - Php499,999

KAWAMATA, SANAE

Provide ideas and solutions on manufacturing issues based on observations and analysis.

Salary Range:

MAKONG, LAMAI

Basic Qualification:

Planning Specialist

Can plan and schedule all planning activities across various sites.

Php150,000 - Php499,999

22

Salary Range:

XIA, YONGQIAN

Basic Qualification:

Embroidery Supervisor

Well versed in embroidery technique/CAD designs

Php30,000 - Php59,999

23

Guarantee the operation of mechanical equipment and machinery to maintain the quality of the production

Salary Range:

PORTAL STEELS INC.

SUN, BO

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Mechanical Expert

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

LEADING SUCCESS (PHILS.) GARMENTS INC. Bldg. 1, 2 & 3, GMBP, Maduya, Carmona, Cavite

24

Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions

Salary Range:

PORTAL STEELS INC.

HUANG, ZHENGKUAN

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Quality Control Inspector

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

11

Perform assessment, documentation and organization tasks to support the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization supply chain.

Salary Range:

25

PORTAL STEELS INC.

ZHOU, CHUNPING

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Quality Control Inspector

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

Responsible for embroidery details including intricate designs.

ZUO, GUOLIANG

Basic Qualification:

Packing/pressing Supervisor

With minimum of 5 years supervisory level

Perform assessment, documentation and organization task to support the efficiency and effectiveness

Salary Range:

PORTAL STEELS INC.

WU, NENGXING

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Technical Support

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

Php90,000 - Php149,999 26

Responsible to over-all shipment schedule MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

WIN NAING

Basic Qualification:

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Binakayan-aplaya, Kawit, Cavite

Burmese Customer Service Representative

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language.

Brief Job Description:

Salary Range:

Manage, maintain and repair IT system

Salary Range:

KOZAI, MASASHI

Basic Qualification:

Deputy General Manager

Business course graduate

Brief Job Description:

Salary Range:

Manage overall business operations

Php90,000 - Php149,999

SERCOMM PHILIPPINES INC.

FAN, LICHEN

Basic Qualification:

Lot 15, Road 3, CIP, Canlubang, City of Calamba, Laguna

Operations Manager

Experience in management, operations and leadership

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000 - Php59,999

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

DUY, HUA THIEU

Basic Qualification:

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Binakayan-aplaya, Kawit, Cavite

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Must be good in identifying and assessing customers’ needs.

Lot 5 Block 7, American Avenue, Greenfield Automotive Park, Don Jose, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Salary Range:

MAESHIRO, YU

Basic Qualification:

Senior Sales Manager

Graduate of BS Marketing, Commerce or equivalent.

Must have 3 to 5 years of experience in sales and marketing

Brief Job Description: Direct and coordinate the company’s sale and operation (delivery and inventory production management)

Php60,000 - Php89,999 27

SATO PHILIPPINES AIDC SOLUTIONS, INC. Bldg. 8, Panorama Compound, Mampalasan, City of Biñan, Laguna

28

Brief Job Description:

Php30,000 – Php59,999

Salary Range: Php60,000 - Php89,999

13

PORTAL STEELS INC.

PI, SHUANGYAN

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Accounting Analyst

Must have five (5) years of experience in the same field.

Brief Job Description:

14

Prepare and examine financial reports with an eye on accuracy and compliance

Salary Range:

PORTAL STEELS INC.

WANG, ZUWEI

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Casting Machine Operator

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

Php30,000 - Php59,999

29

SHIN-ETSU MAGNETICS PHILIPPINES INC. 125 East Main Avenue, SEPZ LTI, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

Set policies and procedures for training, coaching, counselling and career development for staff

Salary Range:

KURIBARA, YUTA

Basic Qualification:

Production Manager

Must have Bachelor’s degree.

Brief Job Description: Prepare reports regarding machine, production problem and quality issues.

30

TOYOTA TSUSHO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Blk. 4 Lot 2, Main Road, CPIP, Batino, City of Calamba, Laguna

Sets up and operates continuous casting machine to produce tubes and rods

Salary Range:

PORTAL STEELS INC.

KONG, XIANGWEI

Basic Qualification:

9039, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

Electrical Quality Assurance

Must have five (5) years of work experience in the same field

Design and install communications and control networks

Salary Range: Php60,000 - Php89,999

Salary Range: Php90,000 - Php149,999 Basic Qualification:

Sales Coordinator Brief Job Description:

With at least 5 years work experience in sales and sales administration in machinery equipment.

Create strategies to achieve corporate goals

Salary Range: Php500,000 and above

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

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

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description:

Php60,000 - Php89,999

GONDA, NAOKI

Brief Job Description:

15

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description: Salary Range:

NITTO DENKO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description: Salary Range:

Brief Job Description:

12

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description:

Brief Job Description:

10

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description:

Brief Job Description:

9

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description:

Brief Job Description: Maintain all employee profiles and assist to allocate all resources efficiently.

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description:

Salary Range:

Php60,000 - Php89,999 6

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description:

TAKAHASHI, AKIRA

Support the Service Manager in supervising, overseeing and ensuring quality technical deliverables from the service team to customers.

HANAMURA INDUSTRIES CO. LTD. PHIL. OFFICE

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Promote and control department KPI, and able to grasp and evolve on technological advancement

Brief Job Description:

5

Salary Range: Php60,000 - Php89,999

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 4

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Brief Job Description:

Brief Job Description:

3

A9

Brief Job Description:

June 15, 2022

NO.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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

TheWorld BusinessMirror

A10 Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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

High-level US, China meeting seen leading to Biden-Xi call

T

op US and China officials discussed Taiwan, Ukraine and other security issues in Luxembourg, in the latest sign that leaders of the world’s two largest economies are trying to keep highlevel communications open despite simmering tensions.

The meeting between National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, on Monday “included candid, substantive, and productive discussion of a number of regional and global security issues, as well as key issues in US-China relations,” according to a White House statement that didn’t elaborate. The meeting lasted for four and a half hours, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters afterward.

The two men discussed Taiwan, the South China Sea, the war in Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear program, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.

While Yang said Beijing was ready to work with Washington to find

ways of cooperating, the Politburo member complained that “the US side has been insisting on further containing and suppressing China in an all-round way.” He warned the US “should correct its strategic perceptions of China.”

The talks may fuel speculation that President Joe Biden and counterpart Xi Jinping will speak again soon. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe agreed to further discussions after their first face-to-face encounter Friday in Singapore. Recent in-person meetings between Sullivan and Yang in Europe—in October and again in March—led to calls between Biden and Xi. C h i nese Foreig n Mi n i st r y

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan underscored the importance of maintaining open lines of communication.

Bloomberg photo

spokesman Wang Wenbin said Tuesday at a regular press briefing in Beijing that he had no information about a potential call involving the presidents. “Both China and the US believe that to keep the line of communication open is necessary and beneficial,” he said.

In the Luxembourg meeting Monday, “Mr. Sullivan underscored the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to manage competition between our two countries,” the White House said.

He reiterated the US’s “one China” policy on Taiwan and China and

expressed concern about Beijing’s activities in the Taiwan Strait, according to the senior administration official, who asked not to be identified as a condition of participation in the briefing.

US officials have grown alarmed at assertions by Chinese military officials in recent months that the Taiwan Strait isn’t international waters, Bloomberg News reported Sunday, citing a person familiar with the situation. Yang again said that the US must prudently handle the Taiwan issue, according to Xinhua, which didn’t mention the strategic waterway.

Tensions have grown in recent years over the democratically governed island, which Beijing regards as its territory. The Chinese military has regularly probed Taiwan’s air defenses with flights into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, and Austin said in a speech Saturday in Singapore that the US had observed a “steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan.”

Sullivan also expressed US concern about China’s veto of a UN Security Council resolution last month that would have imposed new sanctions on North Korea over Pyongyang’s recent ballistic missile tests, the official said.

Bloomberg News

South Korea says North completed preparations for a new nuclear test

By Matthew Lee

AP Diplomatic Writer

W

ASHINGTON—South Korea’s top diplomat s a i d Mo n d a y t h at North Korea has completed preparations for a new nuclear test and that only a political decision by the country’s top leadership can prevent it from going forward.

After talks with Secretar y of State Antony Blinken in Washington, South Korean Foreign M i n i s t e r Pa r k J i n s a i d t h e North would pay a price if it goes ahead, as feared, with what would be its seventh nuclear test in the coming days.

“North Korea has completed preparations for another nuclear test and I think only a political decision has to be made,” Park said.

Prior to Monday, US and South Korean officials had said only that the North was nearing completion of such preparations.

“If North Korea ventures into another nuclear test, I think it will only strengthen our deterrence and also international sanctions,” Park said. “North Korea should change its mind and make the right decision.”

Apart from sanctions, Park did not say what that price the North

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference after meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin at the US State Department in Washington on Monday, June 13, 2022. Roberto Schmidt/Pool via AP

would pay or outline how the deterrence policy would change, but Blinken said the United States and treaty allies South Korea and Japan could adjust their military postures in response.

“We’re preparing for all contingencies this in very close coordination with others and we are prepared to make both short and longer-term adjustments to our military posture,” Blinken said.

He added that in addition, “the pressure will be sustained, it will continue and, as appropriate, it

will be increased.”

Both Park and Blinken men stressed the door to negotiations without any preconditions remains open for North Korea.

But Blinken, repeating comments from numerous US officials in recent days, lamented that North Korea continues to ignore overtures for dialogue.

On Sunday, North Korea testfired what appeared to be artillery shells toward the sea, according to South Korea’s military, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

called for greater defense capability to cope with outside threats.

The North ’s artiller y tests draw less outside attention than its missile launches, of which it has conducted more so far this year than in any previous year.

But its forward-deployed longrange artillery guns are a serious security threat to South Korea’s populous metropolitan region, which is only 40-50 kilometers (25-30 miles) from the border with North Korea.

The suspected artillery launches were the latest in a spate of weapons tests by North Korea this year in what foreign experts call an attempt to pressure its rivals Washington and Seoul to relax international sanctions against Pyongyang and make other concessions.

In March, North Korea testlaunched an intercontinental ba l listic missi le capable of reaching the mainland US in breach of a 2018 moratorium on big missile tests.

A possible new nuclear test by North Korea would be the seventh of its kind. Some experts say North Korea will likely use the test to build warheads to be mounted on tactical nuclear weapons aimed at hitting targets in South Korea.

Australia set for consecutive half-point interest rate hikes

A

ustralia’s central bank is poised for its first ever consecutive 50 basis-point monthly interest-rate increases as policy makers intensify efforts to rein in escalating inflation, economists and traders predict.

The Reserve Bank of Australia will raise its cash rate to 1.35 percent next month from a current 0.85 percent,

according to 19 of 24 economists surveyed by Bloomberg between June 9 and 13. They have been revising up their forecasts following Governor Philip Lowe’s bigger-than-expected hike last week.

Lowe is scheduled to speak in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corp. television at 7:30 p.m. Sydney time Tuesday, in his first public appearance since last week’s rate hike.

The RBA is among more than 50 monetary authorities to have raised rates by at least a half-point in one move this year. Australia’s power prices are soaring and labor costs are also pushing higher, exacerbating

offshore pressures from Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s virus lockdowns.

Goldman Sachs Inc., which c o r r e c t l y p r e d i c t e d l a s t w e e k ’s 50-basis-point rate increase, is among those forecasting the RBA will follow up with another halfpoint hike in July and keep raising the benchmark to 2.6 percent by year’s end.

“We view risks as skewed to an even faster pace of tightening, including a material risk of an additional 50-basis-point hike in August,” said Andrew Boak, chief economist at Goldman in Australia.

“While this represents a rapid policy tightening over the coming year, our recent analysis suggests the Australian economy will be able to absorb materially higher interest rates in the near-term,” he said.

To date, firms have managed to cope with rising costs, though a private survey by National Australia Bank Ltd. released on Tuesday showed sentiment easing.

It also highlighted price pressures were increasing in May with retail inflation jumping to 3.1 percent in quarterly terms, suggesting another high inflation reading for the three months through June. Bloomberg News

Members of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions gather in front of a shipping port in Gwangyang, South Korea on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. A weeklong strike by thousands of truckers in South Korea has triggered major disruptions in cargo transport and production that have caused 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in damages, officials said Monday. Kim Dong-ju/AP

PM says strike poses ‘irrecoverable’ damages to South Korea’s economy

S

EOUL, South Korea—South Korea’s prime minister warned Tuesday that the disruption of cargo transport could cause “irrecoverable” damages on the country’s economy, as a nationwide truckers’ strike entered its eighth day.

About 6,840 truckers were rallying Monday at 14 sites across South Korea, continuing to trigger a delay in the shipment and delivery of key items like steels, cement, petrochemicals and tires, the Transport Ministry said in a statement.

The statement said some steel and cement-related factories halted their operations. It accused some striking truckers of obstructing cargo transports at some major southeastern ports.

During a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s No. 2 official, said the “illicit activities” by the striking truckers will never receive public support, according to Cho Yong-man, the No. 2 vice culture minister who serves as a government spokesperson.

Cho cited Han as saying that the disruption of cargo transport could pose “a big irrecoverable blow” to South Korea’s economy, which already faces other difficulties.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a statement Monday that the first six days of the strike caused an estimated 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in damages.

Truckers are on a strike, calling for an extension of temporary measures guaranteeing minimum wages amid soaring fuel prices. They met government officials several times but each meeting ended without any breakthrough.

In a statement Monday, the Cargo Truckers Solidarity issued said the Transport Ministry lacked the resolve and capacity to narrow differences over the truckers’ demand. The Transport Ministry said it’s seeking to continue talks to address the issue.

South Korean officials and experts say the strike’s damage has so far been limited to the country’s domestic industry, though a prolonged strike may undermine the global supply chains already hit by Russia’s assault on Ukraine and China’s Covid-19 restrictions. There have been no reports of substantial disruptions of key South Korean export items such as semiconductors and automobiles yet, Industry Ministry officials said. AP

Chinese city mayor apologizes over Covid lockdown response

B

EIJING—The mayor of a northeastern Chinese city on the North Korean border that has been under lockdown for more than 50 days has apologized for failures in his administration’s work amid widespread—but often disguised— dissatisfaction over the government’s heavyhanded approach to handling the pandemic.

Dandong Mayor Hao Jianjun gave no specifics, but said government work and basic services had been “unsatisfactory,” for which he offered his apologies, according to a statement issued by the city government late Monday.

It is highly unusual for a ranking Communist Party official to publicly concede errors, particularly regarding the hardline “zero-Covid” policy that has been repeatedly endorsed by top officials under President and party leader Xi Jinping.

Despite reporting only a handful of cases, Dandong had seen one of the strictest lockdowns in China, with even deliveries of food and other necessities banned, according to unconfirmed reports.

In his reported comments at a meeting with residents, Hao acknowledged the sacrifices made by the city’s 2.4 million citizens, along with the “complaining voices” among them over the government’s work. Dandong would now be moving into a stage of pandemic control that would be “more proactive, more active and more effective,” Hao said.

Unable to root out the source of new cases, Dandong officials took increasingly extreme measures, some of them of questionable scientific merit. That included recommending residents close their windows to prevent the virus being blown in from North Korea, even though its ability to spread through the air is extremely limited.

Authorities have also cracked down on smuggling across the Yalu River with North Korea, offering cash incentives for information on those involved. China has long held that the virus is spreading through packaging and other surfaces, despite little evidence showing that is a significant factor.

Officials at one point also transported residents of an entire apartment block to quarantine in the city of Shenyang, about 250

kilometers (150 miles) north of Dandong.

Upon their release, it was discovered the positive case sparking the move had been in a resident of a neighboring building, leading to an angry confrontation between the residents and authorities.

Residents have been permitted out to shop, but no word has yet been given on when normal work can resume, said Li Yueqing, the owner of a wood-processing factory in Dandong reached by phone. Rules still demand that any building where a positive case is found will be sealed off, Li said.

“We understand the epidemic situation in the city is still unstable. We don’t know when exactly we will be allowed to resume production,” he said.

A restaurant worker said the 50 days of closure is majorly affecting incomes.

“Up to now, we still haven’t received any instruction from the government on restarting business and our incomes have been affected by doing nothing,” said the worker, who gave only her surname, Guo. A staffer at a maritime training academy who gave just his surname, Zheng, said they remained shuttered as a precautionary measure.

“The government feels it is better for us to remain closed longer, given the large number of trainees we have had. We have no idea when we will reopen,” Zheng said.

Lengthy lockdowns have become the norm in China’s Covid-19 response, with Shanghai’s ongoing predicament gaining the most notoriety. Most of the 25 million residents of China’s largest city and key financial hub were confined to their homes or immediate neighborhoods for two months or more and hundreds of thousands continue to remain under restrictions.

The severity of the Shanghai lockdown and the apparent lack of preparation by authorities prompted confrontations at checkpoints between residents and officials, and a series of nightly sessions of banging pots and screaming from balconies. Criticisms of the government’s policy were posted online, often in formats designed to thwart censorship software. AP

TheWorld BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 A11

Bucolic Ukraine forest site of mass grave exhumation

By Oleksandr Stashevskyi The Associated Press

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President Joe Biden at the Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

Canadian PM Trudeau tests positive for Covid a 2nd time

T

ORONTO — Canad ian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time and just days after he met in person with US President Joe Biden.

The announcement came in a tweet Monday in which he urged everyone to get vaccinated. Trudeau said he feels OK and said that’s because he’s been vaccinated.

The positive test comes after he met with US President Joe Biden and other leaders at the Summit

of the Americas in Los Angeles.

Biden took a “family photo” with Trudeau on Friday and met with him on Thursday.

Trudeau also tested positive in January.

The prime minister also had isolated at home in the early months of the pandemic after his wife tested positive.

Canada has one of the world’s highest rates of vaccinat ion against the coronavirus—shots that are primarily designed to keep those who become infected from falling seriously ill. AP

Safeguard measures meant to buy time for local cement makers Continued from A14

Sibala claimed cement imports adversely affecting the local manufacturers. Still, she said her company remains committed to completing their adjustment plans, but they need the “breathing spac,” which the safeguards could provide, to complete these.

At Friday’s hearing, data presented showed the steady rise of cement imports despite the safeguards imposed on importations.

According to the Staff Report, the share of imports to domestic production in terms of volume increased steadily from zero in 2013 to 5.3 million metric tons (MMT) in 2019, increasing further to 6.88 MMT in 2021.

Sibala said the conditions which justified safeguard measures against cement imports almost three years ago remain unchanged, prompting the call for an extension.

Republic Cement reported last week that their volume of sales as well as pricing were severely affected

by cement imports from Vietnam.

Republic added that the industry’s recovery rests on the safeguard.

Republic Cement’s Vice President for Strategy and Business Development Reinier Dizon also noted that local manufacturers do not enjoy the advantages of imports, for instance, from Indonesia which has abundant coal resources; or from Vietnam where their electricity cost is subsidized—information that is based on the Philippines’s cement industry road map by LEK Consulting.

The commission’s Friday hearing was concluded on the plea of local cement manufacturers for an extension of safeguard measures which is set to expire in October this year.

Opposing parties have until June 20 to submit their respective final memoranda or position papers to the commission. The commission has earlier concluded the public hearings on the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duty against Vietnam’s Type 1 and Type 1P cement imports.

Flexiwork bid must consider govt workers’ needs–Poe Continued from A14

Even with a number of mass transportation projects still in the works, Poe noted reports that the available public utility vehicles “barely meet the needs of the commuting population especially in the metropolis.”

The long lines of passengers waiting at the hubs of government’s freeride program indicate how the people are struggling to make ends meet.

Moreover, the senator agrees that the flexible work arrangement is also a mechanism at the disposal of government agencies to curb demand for oil and help the populace cope with back-to-back difficulties, stressing that: “Flexibility is the future of work, and for many workers including those in the private sector, it could mean staving off hunger while still doing their job well.”

Invoking the Telecommuting Act for private sector employees that she supported, the senator earlier

renewed calls “for the suspension of fuel excise tax collection amid the skyrocketing prices of oil in the world market.” This, as data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the value of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials imported in the country soared by 148 percent to $2.58 billion in March this year from $1.04 billion in March 2021. From January to March this year, mineral fuel and lubricant imports jumped by 133.8 percent year on year to $5.8 billion from $2.48 billion.

“If we really want to encourage our people to leave their homes, go to the office and stimulate the economy, then we also need to provide them the means to get there without making them spend the bulk of their money on transportation... otherwise, we will be turning a blind eye to the woes of our ordinary citizens,” Poe said. Butch Fernandez

B

UCHA, Ukraine—The lush green beauty of a pine forest with singing birds contrasted with the violent deaths of newly discovered victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine, as workers exhumed bodies from another mass grave near the town of Bucha on Kyiv’s outskirts.

The hands of several victims were tied behind their backs. The gruesome work of digging up the remains coincided with the Ukrainian police chief’s report that authorities have opened criminal investigations into the killings of more than 12,000 people since Russia’ invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Workers wearing white hazmat suits and masks used shovels to exhume bodies from the soil of the forest, marking each section with small yellow numbered signs on the ground. The bodies, covered in cloth and dirt, attracted flies.

“Shots to the knees tell us that people were tortured,” Andriy Nebytov, head of the Kyiv regional police, said at the scene. “The hands tied behind the back with tape say that people had been held [hostage] for a long time and [enemy forces] tried to get any information from them.”

Since the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region at the end of March, authorities say they have uncovered the bodies of 1,316 people, many in mass graves in the forest and elsewhere.

The horrors of Bucha shocked the world after Russian troops left. The mass grave that reporters saw Monday was just behind a trench dug out for a military vehicle. The bodies of seven civilians were retrieved. Two of the bodies were found with their hands tied and gunshot wounds to the knees and head, Nebytov said.

National police chief Igor Klimenko told the InterfaxUkraine news agency on Monday that criminal investigations into the deaths of more than 12,000 Ukrainians included some found in mass graves. He said the mass killings also were done by snipers firing from tanks and armored personnel carriers. Bodies were found lying on streets and homes, as well as in mass graves.

He didn’t specify how many of the more than 12,000 were civilians and how many were military.

Complete information about the number of bodies in mass graves or elsewhere isn’t known, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the American Jewish Committee on Sunday. He cited the case of two children who died with their parents in the basement of an apartment building in Mariupol in a Russian bombing. Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and lost relatives in the Holocaust, asked: “Why is this happening in 2022? This is not the 1940s.

How could mass killings, torture, burned cities, and filtration camps set up by the Russian military in the occupied territories resembling Nazi concentration camps come true?”

Other developments:

Russians driven out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had driven the Russians out of more than 1,000 settlements since the war began, and he vowed Monday they would liberate all occupied territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

In his nightly video address, he said the battle over the Donbas “will surely go down in military history as one of the most brutal battles in and for Europe.”

“The price of this battle for us is very high,” he said. “It’s just terrible.”

The total war front in the country, he said, is now 2,500 kilometers long (1,550 miles).

Russia uses banned munitions Amnesty International, in a report Monday, accused Russia of indiscriminate use of banned cluster munitions in strikes on Kharkiv, killing and wounding hundreds of civilians.

K harkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest cit y, has been subject to intensive shel ling since Russia began attack ing U k raine.

“The repeated use of widely banned cluster munitions is shocking, and a further indication of utter disregard for civilian lives,” said Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s senior crisis response adviser. “The Russian forces responsible for these horrific attacks must be held accountable for their actions, and victims and their families must receive full reparations.”

The report cited doctors in Kharkiv hospitals who showed researchers distinctive fragments they had removed from patients’ bodies, as well as survivors and witnesses of the attacks.

Fierce fighting in Donbas Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai told The Associated Press that fierce street fighting continued Monday in Sievierodonetsk, one of two large cities in the Donbas region still to be fully captured by Russian troops.

During the day, Haidai updated his estimate of how much of the city Russians control from 70 percent to 80 percent. Ukrainian forces are fighting the enemy “block by

block, street by street, house by house with a varying degree of success,” he told The AP. More than 10,000 people remain in the city. Haidai said efforts to evacuate them have been halted because Russian troops destroyed two of the three bridges connecting Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, the second city in Luhansk not yet overrun by Moscow. The remaining bridge is old, decrepit and unsafe, the governor said.

Lysychansk remains under Ukrainian control, but is regularly shelled by the Russian forces. On Sunday, Haidai said, the shelling killed three civilians in the city, including a 6-year-old boy.

Eduard Basurin, an official of the Russia-backed separatists in Donetsk, claimed Monday that Sievierodonetsk has been blocked off and Ukrainian fighters have no choice but to surrender. Haidai dismissed that as “a lie.”

“There is no threat of our troops being encircled in the Luhansk region,” he said.

Russia-backed separatists in the Donetsk region said Monday that the Ukrainian forces shelled a market in the city of Donetsk, killing three civilians and injuring

18 more. It was the fiercest shelling by Ukrainian forces since 2015, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

The head of the Russianbacked government in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, also cited heavy shelling, and said on his Telegram channel that more forces—especially Russians—were being called in to help.

Russia says it destroyed US weapons The Russian military said Monday it destroyed “a large number of weapons and military equipment” that Ukrainian forces had received from the US and Europe.

Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said “high-precision air-launched missiles” hit the supplies near the Udachna railway station in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. Konashenkov also said “a temporary deployment point for foreign mercenaries” and a Ukrainian radar station of the Buk-M1 antiaircraft missile system were destroyed in the neighboring Luhansk region.

Two batteries of multiplelaunch rocket systems were destroyed in the Luhansk and

Kharkiv regions, Konashenkov said.

There was no immediate confirmation of the Russian claim from Ukraine.

Ministerial conference The Dutch government said it will host a ministerial conference next month on accountability in Ukraine aimed at strengthening and coordinating war crimes investigations.

Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said Monday that the international community already has taken swift action to investigate alleged atrocities in Ukraine but there is “an urgent need to further coordinate existing efforts on this front.”

The July 14 meeting in The Hague will be hosted by the Dutch government, International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan and European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders.

Khan already has launched an investigation and deployed his largest ever team of prosecutors to Ukraine to gather evidence, including to Bucha, near the capital of Kyiv, where bodies littered the streets after Russian forces retreated early in the war.

A12 Wednesday, June 15, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Strengthening PHL agriculture sector

T

he Thai prime minister recently floated the idea that Thailand and Vietnam should jointly raise rice prices to boost their bargaining power in the global market (See, “Rice giant Thailand wants to coordinate price hikes with Vietnam,” in the BusinessMirror, May 28, 2022). Thai Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha said the move will benefit millions of rice farmers in the two countries who have struggled with rising input costs amid the relatively stable prices of the grain. Bloomberg reported that Vietnam’s Deputy Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Tran Thanh Nam met with Thai officials to discuss a framework for cooperation.

The plan of the two top rice-exporting countries raised alarm bells in the world, particularly in the Philippines, which sources a big chunk of its imported rice requirements from Vietnam. If it pushes through, the planned cartel could cause spikes in international rice prices and make the staple more expensive (See, “Viet-Thai tandem rice price hike to hurt PHL,” in the BusinessMirror, May 30, 2022). Vietnam alone shipped 2.36 million metric tons of rice to the Philippines last year, according to official data.

The envisioned cartel underscores the fact that the Philippines is at the mercy of food exporters like Vietnam and Thailand. And during times of crisis, food sellers will always prioritize the needs of their citizens and the welfare of their own farmers and traders. International trade agreements give them that leeway, particularly when their own food security is under threat due to natural disasters and external factors, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, which has caused commodity prices to rise to unprecedented levels.

Meanwhile, food buyers like the Philippines can do nothing but wring their hands and appeal to exporters to keep their agricultural markets open to prevent inflation from accelerating further. Manila urged the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to “spearhead another global appeal to various countries to keep unhampered the movement of food and agricultural inputs.” The government made this appeal after food-exporting countries, such as India, banned the export of wheat, which the Philippines imports in huge quantities simply because the crop cannot be grown in the country.

Rice, however, is grown in almost all regions in the Philippines and the country has the potential to further increase its output, particularly if the sector is given the support it requires to improve productivity. Shooting for a higher rice self-sufficiency rate may be an expensive proposition now, given the current fiscal situation of the government. This, however, may no longer be avoided due to the climate crisis that has put crop production at risk.

Apart from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which consists of tariffs collected from rice imports, the incoming administration must consider setting aside more resources to improve the sector’s productivity. Importing may be cheaper, but the pandemic and the conflict in Eastern Europe have shown the perils of relying too much on other countries for our food requirements. Strengthening the agriculture sector is the way to go as this would help cushion the impact of pandemics, the climate crisis and the presence of cartels that control local food prices.

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Entrepreneurs’ Footprints First of 2 parts

T

his is an article that I adopted from the prologue written by the late Perla Rizalina M. Tayko for my book Entrepreneur in 12 Days. It was about the Whole Brain Literacy (WBL) mindset for entrepreneurs in going MAD (Making a Difference). I found this very appropriate for our current times and for the intra-pademic and post-pandemic times.

What makes the world of business or service flourish differently with innovations and distinctions in changing and challenging times?

Where does “ET” come from? Surely, the extraordinary feat of an entrepreneurial mind that gets into the world of possibilities does come from right at the start outside the mindset of the normal curve or the average thinking of business as usual or of the so-called comfort zone. Why is this so? The ET mindset takes leaps and bounce, making breakthroughs right in exploring possibilities and opportunities that others do not see in the horizon of their own thinking.

Lynch’s quotable quote is apt to explain this phenomenon that states,

“You do not see the world the way it is. You see it the way you think.” Yes, it is in the way we think, our mindset, that defines what we see in the world. For the ET, he sees the world beyond and more than “what is.” In fact, “ET” sees more “what might be,” “what could be” and “what he wants to be.” The “ET in ET” dares to SOAR and soar with the challenges to think differently, enabling him go through the process of entrepreneurship, effortlessly.

The entrepreneur in ET and Whole Brain Literacy

Let me start with the premise and a firm belief that anyone and everyone born into this world is gifted with

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whole brain intelligences—the gift of NATURE to the human species.

This capacity to THINK is the greatest potential resource for “thinking through” any opportunities and possibilities. When a baby is born into this world, he cries, screams, scrambles, crawls, reaches out to the world of great possibilities for him “to feel, know and do” whatever there is in his new world, now that he is outside the walls of his mother’s womb. His brain must be “surfing and morphing” for possibilities to get to know this new world. He must be an entrepreneur at heart as a baby, even if his main thinking faculty is made possible through his sensorimotor skills. In one of Piaget’s cognitive stages of development (1983) describes this stage of thinking as “preoperational thinking” through the senses and movement.

This disposition and propensity to explore the world is innate in every human being. However, through cultural and socialization practices of significant others, this exploring mindset is tempered and tailored to the norms of acceptability and approvals of the immediate environment. Thus, the “do’s and don’ts” of thinking, relating and doing are defined by the norms for compliance and conformity to what is acceptable modicum of behavior.

To the “ET in ET” he takes the exception and goes beyond to chart

a new path, create a new norm, a different enterprise.

How can the “ET in ET” make a difference in changing and challenging times?

This is when the entrepreneurs of today need to discover further, deeply, consciously to think in tapping and tipping the whole brain intelligences through a process that is called “whole brain literacy.”

This is the third literacy learners of all ages can develop for the 21st century. This is “a thinking skills set of competencies” to lead and manage change in fast changing times.

It has been established that the left brain is more inclined for logical and sequential thinking, with preference for language and words.

It responds to verbal instructions, solving problems logically by looking at similarities. Left-brainers are planned and structured and more in control of feelings. The right brain is more inclined into processing thoughts randomly and intuitively. Right-brainers prefer visual images and look for differences but are more fluid and spontaneous.

They are freer with feelings and prefer elusive uncertain information but respond to demonstrated instructions.

Since centuries past and even until today, the thinking process that gets the highest premium in formal See “Balita,” A13

A tribute to the five UP 2022 National Artist awardees

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

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The challenges of ‘ET’ (Entrepreneurial Thinking) in the ‘ET’ (Exponential Times)

Kuwentong Peyups

T

he UP Naming Mahal overture was played as a tribute to the five 2022 National Artist awardees from University of the Philippines during the recent open air concert by the UP Symphony Orchestra.

The concert was part of the 124th Independence Day celebration.

Five of this year’s eight awardees are UP alumni, achieving the highest honors given to practitioners in the arts and culture: Ricky Lee for film and broadcast arts, Fides CuyuganAsensio for music, Tony Mabesa for theater, Gemino Abad for Literature, and Agnes Locsin for Dance.

The other awardees are Nora Aunor and Marilou Diaz-Abaya for film and broadcast arts, and Salvacion Lim-Higgins for Design (Fashion).

Since the National Artist Award was established through Proclamation No.1001 dated April 2, 1972 by

then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos, 29 UP alumni have received the highest distinction bestowed upon Filipino artists.

In 2018, the National Artist awardees coming from UP are Larry Alcala (Visual Arts); Ryan Cayabyab (Music); Eric “Kidlat Tahimik” de Guia (Film); Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio (Theater); and Resil B. Mojares (Literature). Bonifacio died two years later, on December 29, 2020.

The Order of National Artists (Order ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant

contributions to the development of Philippine arts.

For film, the awardees are Ricky Lee (2022) and Kidlat Tahimik (2018).

For architecture, the awardee is Ildefonso Santos Jr. (2006).

For literature, the awardees are Gemino Abad (2022); Bienvenido Lumbera (2006); N.V.M. Gonzalez (1997); Virgilio S. Almario (2003); and Carlos Romulo (1982).

For theater, the awardees are Tony Mabesa (2022); Amelia LapeñaBonifacio (2018) and Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (1997).

For dance, the awardees are Agnes Locsin (2022) and Francisca Reyes Aquino (1973).

For visual arts, the awardees are Larry Alcala (2018); Benedicto ‘Bencab’ Cabrera (2006); Jose Joya (2003); Napoleon V. Abueva (1976); Guillermo Tolentino (1973) and Fernando Amorsolo (1972).

For music, the awardees are Fides Cuyugan-Asensio (2022); Ryan Cayabyab (2018); Francisco Feliciano (2014); Ramon Santos (2014); Andrea Veneracion (1999); Jose Maceda (1997); Lucio San Pedro (1991); Antonino Buenaventura (1988); Jovita

Fuentes (1976); and Antonio Molina (1973).

Starting in 1973, Ricky Lee has written more than 180 film screenplays, including Himala with Nora Aunor, which earned him more than 70 trophies from various awardgiving bodies.

As a screenwriter, he has worked with many Filipino film directors, most notably Lino Brocka, Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Ishmael Bernal. Many of his films have been screened in the international film festival circuit.

During my several conversations with Lee during Cinemalaya, his thoughts on the future of young moviemakers are essentially captured by his speech at a commencement exercise: “Magkaroon ka ng boses. Ng opinyon. Mundo mo ito. Di ka parang hanging nagdaan lang. Mag-iwan ka ng marka. Huwag kang matakot magkamali. Kahit mabigo ka, huwag kang mag-alala. Sa paulit-ulit na pagkabigo ay mas matututo ka. Para kang sinusulat na nobela na kailangang paulit-ulit na i-revise. Hanggang sa kuminang.”

With her smile, Fides CuyuganAsensio fondly refreshed my memory See “Gorecho,” A13

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Opinion

The Philippines in the 21st century

President Duterte must veto this unconstitutional, unjust and unwise bill

BusinessMirror

By Reynaldo Guioguio

T

he national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, in his perceptive essay, “The Philippines: A Century Hence,” cast a long look at what was then the future fate of the six million Filipinos living in the archipelago at that point. It was a time of turmoil; with dissension and disaffection among the native populace boiling under the surface of what was to be the last decade of Spanish rule after three centuries of colonization. Perhaps following from that distant scenario that Rizal envisaged more than a hundred years ago, it may be opportune to look also past these present times and to look forward to the next 100 years and the prospects for the Philippines, which has grown to 110 million people since Rizal’s days.

Historians would probably refer to the last couple of years as the “lost period” not only for the country’s economy but for the individual lives that have been turned topsy-turvy by the Covid-19 restrictions and enforced homestay, which left Philippine society in disarray. For many young people who were just entering adulthood, this interregnum meant the loss of their adolescence—a period that would never be replicated for the absence of memories experienced during our youthful years. And into this dire mix is the hopelessness and despair that affected so many of our friends and relations: the seemingly endless reports of deaths of people we know due to Covid, the absence of significant persons in our life’s celebrations, the numbness of electronic greetings and hellos that leave one yearning for a hug, a pat in the back, a firm handshake to assure us that real contact was made with the other person.

The pandemic has brought about changes far beyond what we can comprehend, but one basic fact remains: that whatever dislocations to our lives, to our relationships, to our institutions that have been wrought by this crisis, we can surmount these difficulties as our predecessors have done before as they built an independent nation from the shambles of colonial Spain that Rizal witnessed in his life—a nation that went through American rule, a devastating World War, the halcyon days of post-independence, the dark years of Martial Law, the demise of the two-party system, etc. Proof of that is our recent national election, which, for observers both here and abroad, is as credible and free as any other. We have achieved the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another. A political event that for a number of countries is a delicate moment fraught with danger and violence; and yet we are able to do that in a peaceful and convincing manner.

It is this political maturity and the stability of our political norms and institutions that would keep us going in the coming years and decades.

There is resilience in our national character that enabled the country to surmount the numerous crises that buffeted the nation from time to time, and still for the most part, here we remain able to assert our place not only in this part of the world but as a free and self-governing member of the world’s family of nations.

In part, Rizal’s vision of a Philippines that is free and master of its own fate has been realized in what the country had achieved at this point. What will become of us now is something that our national hero would have never contemplated or imagined. Now it is our turn to add a new page in that continuing saga of what the Philippines could become a hundred years from today.

The Philippines, with its 7,000 islands, is rich in natural resources. But its most valuable asset is its people, particularly its young population with more than half under 25 years of age. In a world where many countries are seeing a steady increase in the ageing population groups, the country’s youth provides a great potential to propel the economy forward; if, and when they are fully mobilized and their skills and labors utilized for the common good. There is a big if there, considering that the Philippines has gone through economic and industrial turmoil over the last several years, aggravated by

Today, our present generation has fulfilled in part Rizal’s dream for an independent and self-governing nation. Yet a lot still has to be done by way of realizing his dream to unbound our poverty-stricken masses from the shackles of ignorance and helplessness. Our descendants and their children will, hopefully, fulfill the remaining segments of this epic journey that Rizal has dreamt about the Philippines in the 19th century. the pandemic that has left a number of vital sectors paralyzed.

With the momentum for social and economic change being kept for the next 20 years or so, the country could attain a semblance of “pax Filipina” that will enable most of our people to emerge from the throes of poverty into a new age of economic growth and social stability.

The other impulse that could move the country forward is the growing presence of information technology in every aspect of our daily lives. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a sine qua non for most business transactions, and the financial and trade processes that made the world into one intertwined network with speedy and reliable channels by which we communicate, move money, transact business, perform our jobs, spend our leisure hours, etc. But the true potential of such electronic transformation of our environment could only be realized if the people factor becomes integrated with the direction by which the 21st century is going to evolve. We are speaking here of the combination of human and artificial intelligence (HAI) in which these two dynamic forces are combined to maximize the power that each sector brings into the amalgam. This brings me to my personal memory during my student days when I would spend an entire day just to compile the various research and book materials into my note cards so that I can then analyze them and make sense of what they would contribute into the making of a research paper for submission in class.

This is what AI could do best and at the speed and efficiency that no human being could accomplish. Combine this with our own mental and cognitive acuity, which nature has endowed every human being since the evolution of our ancestors from across the millennia, and you have HAI that makes sense of the world, guide us to best case solutions, lead us to better understanding, makes us more aware of ourselves and our surroundings—in a sense more intelligent, more adept, more affective than our ancestors have ever been.

This is what we envisioned as the new generation of Filipinos that will emerge to populate this archipelago a century from now. It is the culmination, in a way, of Rizal’s call for the youth to respond to the cause of the motherland when he called them our country’s only hope.

Today, our present generation has fulfilled in part Rizal’s dream for an independent and self-governing nation. Yet a lot still has to be done by way of realizing his dream to unbound our poverty-stricken masses from the shackles of ignorance and helplessness. Our descendants and their children will, hopefully, fulfill the remaining segments of this epic journey that Rizal has dreamt about the Philippines in the 19th century.

The writer is a retired professor of the UP College of Mass Communication.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

MAKE SENSE

T

he upcoming June 30, 2022 turnover of the presidency from outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte to incoming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the deliberations on Senate Bill 2425 and House Bill 10696 by a bicameral committee to reconcile and harmonize the provisions of the two bills that seek to amend certain provisions of Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, presented to me a dilemma.

For days, I was left in a quandary deciding whether to write an appeal to outgoing President Duterte to veto the reconciled version of the two bills, which, as of this writing, might already be an enrolled bill, knowing that the letter could already be late because by the first of July President Duterte will become a former president. But I thought that writing him was timely as well because those pushing for the passage of the bill could still take that crucial lastsecond shot to have the measure signed into law and my letter could help elucidate critical issues, and explain why the President must veto

this unjust and unwise bill.

Finally, after days of soul searching as chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), I sent an appeal to President Duterte on May 24, 2022, for the sake of the local manufacturers, and the business community that would be most affected by the bill. My letter was received by the Office of the President on June 2, 2022.

What worries me about the bill is its proposal that manufacturers of products be made responsible in collecting and disposing the packaging materials used for such products, including those discarded as waste

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 A13

from homes of consumers and communities. This proposal will adversely affect local manufacturers, even as it will also dampen investor interest to locate in the country.

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also voiced his opposition to the bill. In our radio program, “Dito sa Bayan ni Juan,” Senator Enrile explained the bill’s adverse impact on foreign investors: “Iniimbita natin ang mga investors, pero gagawin pala natin silang mga basurero.”

The bill raised these concerns: The Eco Solid Waste Management Act gives the government the power to allocate funds and utilize its assets and manpower resources to implement its solid waste management program. But after 20 years of the law and the government’s failure to successfully implement its solid waste management program, the reconciled Senate Bill 2425 and House Bill 10696 now want to relinquish the government’s responsibility to collect and dispose waste, and pass the burden to the private sector.

It puzzles me how the proponents of the bill could have thought that the private sector can handle the responsibility to collect and dispose the country’s solid waste for five years when the government, with its vast resources, miserably failed to manage the task in 20 years.

I don’t think the government has the moral ascendancy to pass the burden of collecting garbage to the private sector. Moreover, the passage of the reconciled Senate and House bills that require manufacturers to collect and dispose solid waste runs counter to the provision of the Constitution, which states that the prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people.

The manufacturers continue to suffer from the harrowing effects of the pandemic, despite the government’s recent decision to relax its virus regulations. Requiring the manufacturers to collect and dispose garbage will only aggravate their precarious situation. The President needs to veto this anti-business measure because it sends the wrong message to both foreign and local investors.

We are hoping and praying that in his last 15 days in office, President Duterte will veto this unconstitutional, unjust and unwise bill.

Let’s not send the wrong message to investors planning to locate in the Philippines.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.

War in Ukraine takes toll on East Asian economies

By Shantanu Mukherjee

I

N today’s hyper-connected world, with our interlinked economies, migrant diasporas and 24-hour news channels, it’s no surprise that the war in Ukraine is being felt across the globe. The war has upended the fragile economic recovery from the pandemic, not only triggering a devastating humanitarian crisis, but also increasing food and commodity prices and globally exacerbating inflationary pressures.

A new forecast released this week by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) shows how far global prospects have declined.

According to the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) as of mid-2022, the global economy is now projected to grow by only 3.1 percent in 2022, down from the 4.0 percent growth forecast released in January. Global inflation is projected to increase to 6.7 percent in 2022, more than twice the average of 2.9 percent during 2010-2020, with sharp rises in food and energy prices.

Overall, the deterioration of growth prospects is broad-based, including for the world’s largest economies, the United States, the European Union, China, and the majority of developing economies.

Why is this happening? Rising geo-

Balita. . .

continued from A12

and informal education is the ability to think critically and logically in getting things done and delivering results. Unless one can clearly illustrate his thinking in ways that conform to this high standard of critical and logical thought, he stands out on the side and at times considered as differently endowed with artistic and creative thought patterns. To the minds of many, it is a clear divide between those who

Gorecho. . .

continued from A12

that she was part of Oro Plata Mata, a 1982 multi-awarded Filipino film directed by Peque Gallaga.

“Narape ako doon.” A performance well done for a film she made four decades ago. I again saw her in films in Cinemalaya: Nino (2011) and Aparisyon (2012).

In Nino, she sings opera songs for her bedridden comatose brother Tony Mabesa, She even organized a

political and economic uncertainties are dampening business confidence, and increasing borrowing costs are weakening investment prospects. Additionally, there are major downside risks from further escalation of the war in Ukraine, new waves of the pandemic and faster-than-expected monetary tightening in developed economies.

All of this puts our efforts to achieve the world’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) further off the 2030 target.

For China, growth prospects have been clouded by the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases and the corresponding measures put in place. The economy is now set to expand by 4.5 percent in 2022—0.7 percentage point lower than the previous forecast, and lower than its 8.1 percent growth in 2021.

Prolonged supply chain disruptions, and soaring commodity prices have contributed to higher manufacturing costs across the region, making it tougher for people in many countries to get the goods they need.

Furthermore, while China has been actively easing its monetary stance, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Singapore have already entered or are expected to enter a tightening phase in 2022. Other central banks remain hesitant to tighten policy, taking into account that higher interest rates will likely negatively impact growth and

recovery. With the exception of Lao PDR, Mongolia, and Myanmar, inflation in the region is projected to remain below 5 percent.

However, the expected rebound of the Chinese economy by the end of 2022, and a recovery in international tourism, should bolster growth in the region in 2023. Developed East Asian economies, while still lagging behind other countries in the region, are forecast to register resilient economic growth in 2022, with GDP increasing by 2.7 percent in Japan and 3.1 percent in the Republic of Korea.

As ever, it is the most vulnerable people in Asia and around the world who suffer greatest from slow growth, rising inflation, and the energy and food system disruptions stemming from the war in Ukraine. The decline in real incomes is particularly worrying in developing countries where poverty is more prevalent, wage growth remains constrained, and fiscal support measures to alleviate the impact of higher oil and food prices are more limited.

In these countries, many of which are still struggling to recover from the economic shocks of the pandemic, food insecurity is getting worse, and many risk falling into poverty. In these situations, women and children are often the most vulnerable, particularly when poorer nutrition results in life-long impacts to health and well-being.

To counter this, governments need to provide targeted support to alleviate the effects of higher food and fuel prices on vulnerable populations, while pursuing medium-term fiscal and debt sustainability. This will require strengthening social protection, accompanied by comprehensive debt restructuring and debt relief for poorer countries, particularly the least developed countries. Bridging the finance divide, while ensuring that resources catalyze the necessary transformations will be key for putting the SDGs back within reach.

Finally, the war in Ukraine unfolds at a time when global CO2 emissions have reached a record high. The conflict will significantly impact the global fight—for better or worse— against the climate emergency by driving up energy prices and placing energy security at the heart of policymaking in many places.

Asian countries are well positioned to be leaders in climate action by accelerating the adoption of renewable energy sources, reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing energy efficiencies—moves that would benefit their economies in the long run, and secure their energy futures.

exhibit logical and methodical and those that are creative and artistic, as if it were separate thinking capabilities.

The accelerated changes in the global environment with the exponential advances of information, communication and digital technologies have challenged existing mindsets affecting functional processes as thinking, learning, creating, caring and connecting.

Knowledge workers, characteristic of the information age, have been defined as those who “create and manage information massaging

it into intangible knowledge goods.”

The “web workers of the connectivity age” are those who “create and manage relationships across knowledge goods, hardware and people.”

Whether one is a knowledge or web worker, the whole brain potential is at work for the tapping.

In the new waves of development, be it Toffler’s, information age (1980), Pink’s conceptual age (2005), and/or Zelenka’s connectivity age (2007), today, the entrepreneur in exponential times must be mindful not just of his keen drive, passion and vision to explore possibilities and

opportunities for new businesses but also and more importantly to take consciously the whole potential of his brain capacity and capability to perform and excel with savvy skills in what he wants to do and what he does. This is where and when, “ET in ET” can use the Whole Brain Literacy (WBL) competency to go M.A.D. (make a difference).

In the next issue, we shall explore Whole Brain Literacy in Entrepreneurial Decision Making.

“jamming” session of their theater friends as they serenade Mabesa.

“Gigising si Gaspar! Gigising si Gaspar!”

Thus the dreamish words of the classical music legend.

During my college days at UP Diliman, I was able to watch several plays that starred either Cuyugan-Asensio or Mabesa.

Over the course of his career, Mabesa directed and produced over 170 productions. He also founded the theater groups Dulaang UP (DUP) in 1976 and the UP Playwright’s Theater in 1980.

Before Mabesa died on October 4, 2019, I was able to watch his last film, Rainbow Sunset, the story of an 84-year-old retired senator, who temporarily leaves his wife of six decades to take care of his gay best friend/lover who is dying of cancer.

Abad was formerly the Director of the UP Institute of Creative Writing.

For many years, he also taught English, comparative literature and creative writing.

Locsin, who is also part of the UP faculty, is known for developing the “neo-ethnic” Filipino dance choreog-

Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee is the Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

For feedback, please send e-mail to drcarlbalita@yahoo.com.

raphy, which is done by “blending indigenous themes with Western classical and modern techniques.”

The artist does not simply express his/her own individual inspiration but articulates the deeper aspirations of history and the soul of the people (Almario vs Executive Secretary GR No. 189028, July 16, 2013).

Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.

A14 Wednesday, June 15, 2022

PHL clears sugar imports from Thailand as prices rise

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Philippines greenlighted the importation of 18,294 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar from Thailand to boost domestic supply and temper rising prices of the sweetener that have continued to skyrocket to all-time highs in recent weeks.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has cleared the importation of 6,485 MT of bottler’s grade refined sugar and 11,809 MT of premium refined sugar, all coming from Thailand, the world’s second largest exporter of the sweetener.

The approved importation covered the period of May 26 to June 13 and is under the 200,000-MT import program of Sugar Order (SO) No. 3, series of 2021-2022.

“Some shipments have started to arrive in Philippine ports.

These sugar shipments shall be subjected to reclassification to be approved by the Sugar Board, before these can be used by the industrials,” SRA Administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica told the BusinessMirror.

“The SRA shall closely moni-

tor these shipments of imported sugar,” Serafica added.

The SR A resumed the implementation of SO 3 last May 2 after facing legal debacles that temporarily halted the import program. The current sugar import program is only accepting applications from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao except in Region VI, where a writ of injunction was issued by a regional trial court against SO 3.

The arrival of refined sugar imports come at a time of unabated increases in the local prices of the sweetener.

The average price of refined sugar reached a fresh record high of P71.86 per kilogram in Metro Manila supermarkets and P70.50 per kilogram in public wet markets.

The wholesale price of refined sugar recorded a new all-time high average of P3,295 per 50-kilogram bag while raw sugar has peaked at P2,655 per 50-kilogram bag.

The inflation rate of sugar, confectionery and desserts in May was at 8.2 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Monetary Board member V. Bruce J. Tolentino said the sugar import program is “very important” to arrest the rising prices of the sweetener, now affecting both manufacturers and consumers. “[The arrival of imports] is very important in the case of sugar, as it is also very important across all commodities where the domestic price exceeds border prices,” Tolentino told the BusinessMirror.

“Sugar is an important input into manufacturing, and when its domestic price exceeds international trade prices, the products that use sugar as an input will be uncompetitive and [such] also disadvantage domestic consumers,” Tolentino added.

Documents obtained by BusinessMirror showed that the SRA Board, voting 2-1, approved the reclassification of 500 MT imported bottler’s grade refined sugar from “C” sugar or reserved to “B” sugar or for domestic consumption.

Serafica and Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, who chairs the SRA board, voted in the affirmative while SRA board member Roland B. Beltran did not vote on the reclassification, citing the temporary restraining order issued by competent courts against SO 3.

Serafica earlier told the BusinessMirror that the “runaway sugar prices” could have been prevented if the government’s import program had not been stalled by legal challenges.

“This would have been addressed earlier by the stalled implementation of the SO [sugar order 3]. Be that as it may, it is hoped that this importation will cushion the skyrocketing prices of sugar,” Serafica said last month.

The country’s refined sugar demand outpaced local production in the current crop year 2021-2022 due to easing of Covid-19 restrictions that led to economic improvements, coupled with lower sugarcane output.

SRA data showed that as of May 29, sugar refined production fell 2.11 percent year-on-year to 688,927.15 MT while demand rose by 5.28 percent on an annual basis to 785,261.4 MT. Raw sugar output, meanwhile, declined 15.25 percent year-on-year to 1.772 MMT.

U.K. KEEN ON SEEING PHL JOIN RCEP, SAYS EXEC

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HE British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) said the United Kingdom is keen on the Philippines joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) because they want to engage with the trade bloc.

In a televised interview on Monday, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines Executive Director Chris Nelson noted that although UK is not part of the trade bloc, its government is “looking at trade agreements around the world” and wants to “have some link with RCEP,” stating that “obviously it would like to see the Philippines there.”

RCEP is a free trade agreement among Asean countries and their trading partners Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, representing 30 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) or $26.2 trillion.

Nelson said that “RCEP is actually a great opportunity, it’s going to be the largest free trade market.” With this, he said, “this is something we strongly believe the Philippines needs to do, all the chambers.”

In a news statement last month, seven other foreign chambers urged the 18th Senate to ratify the regional trade deal, pointing out that many of its members invested in the Philippines because of the expanding access they can enjoy under trade agreements which the Philippines has with its Asean and regional neighbors and other countries.

However, the 18th Senate adjourned on June 2 sine die without

Safeguard measures meant to buy time for local cement makers

By Andrea E. San Juan

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HE relief provided by safeguard measures should be used by affected sectors such as the cement industry to make the adjustments that allow them to be competitive, according to a former Tariff Commissioner.

“For all industries, competitiveness is key,” former Tariff Commissioner George N. Manzano told BusinessMirror in a text message, adding that such may be attained via “investment in better technologies, [reaping] economies of scale in production, sourcing of inputs, training of staff and workers.”

For his part, University of the Philippines (UP) School of Economics Professor Ramon L. Clarete noted that the rules on safeguards can be prolonged.

“First there are temporary safeguards which the [Department of Trade and Industry] DTI secretary decides. It’s temporary while the Tariff Commission reviews the decision of the DTI secretary,” Clarete explained.

Further, Clarete said, “If the [Tariff Commission] TC affirms the decision of the DTI secretary, then the safeguards duty becomes final for a number of years to be decided by the TC up to 10 years.”

However, if the TC doesn’t affirm the DTI, he said, “then the safeguards duty is lifted.”

The UP Economics professor said the tariff body may recommend other measures alongside the safeguards duty to boost the industry’s ability to compete with imported cement.

Moreover, Clarete said the Trade department can check if Vietnamese cement meets the local standards.

Through Department of Trade and Industry Administrative order (DAO) No. 19-13 which took effect on October 22, 2019, DTI imposed a safeguard duty on imported ce-

putting the treaty to a vote.

Still, the BCCP chairman said, “Obviously what we’re hoping is that with the new Congress, the new Senate, there will be a lot more time to discuss it and the Philippines will ratify and join RCEP.” On the local industry’s potentially losing its capacity to compete, the BCCP Executive Director said that “Yes, we have to support local industry but we have to see RCEP as an opportunity and one that we must seize.”

Meanwhile, on the issue of UK being keen on the Philippines and other Asean countries’ membership to the regional trade pact, Nelson, on behalf of the United Kingdom, said the UK sees Asean as “very important” and sees the Philippines and other countries in the region as “the gateway for companies.”

In fact, the 2021-2022 Investing in Asean Report backs this claim, noting that Asean continues to be UK’s second largest export destination in Asia.

The report shows Asean provides enormous opportunities for UK companies. Specifically, it noted, “UK-Asean trade is worth nearly £42 billion with real potential for further growth.”

“There is phenomenal support for UK businesses looking to expand across the Asean region.

Britain in Southeast Asia (BiSEA) is a grouping of British Chambers of Commerce across the Southeast Asia region in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam,” the report added.

Andrea E. San Juan

Flexiwork bid must consider govt workers’ needs–Poe

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ment effective for an initial period of three years. It is set to expire in October this year, prompting the current call of local cement manufacturers for an extension amid unabated cement imports.

In accordance with Republic Act No. 8800 or the Safeguard Measures Act, the safeguard measures may be filed by domestic producers, the DTI Secretary or the President or the House or Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, as long as certain elements are established in the investigation.

These elements should be present: they should be directly competitive products; there must be recent, sudden, sharp and significant increase in imports; there must be serious threat or injury (i.e. impacted overall performance of the local industry), and the serious injury to the domestic industry is directly caused by the imported product.

In a TC hearing last Friday, Holcim Philippines, Inc., one of the leading building solution companies in the country, warned that without any relief against the influx of cement imports, local cement manufacturers may find it hard to meet the challenge of global competition.

“Based on import data from the Bureau of Customs and as can be gleaned from the Staff Report (of the commission), the volume of imported cement continues to increase and at lower prices in the retail level notwithstanding the increases in the prices of fuel and energy,” said Zoe Sibala, Holcim Philippines, Inc. Vice President for Sustainability.

Holcim Philippines, Inc. is among the local cement firms affected by the influx of cement imports. Aside from Holcim Philippines, witnesses from other locals like Republic Cement and Cemex Holdings Philippines testified to affirm the necessity for a safeguards extension.

ENATOR Grace Poe prodded the Duterte administration Tuesday to lead the way in adopting “flexiwork” options for government workers, but stressed that the arrangement must first ensure its implementation will “not inflict injury to public service” in both national and local government units.

The senator suggested that concerned government agencies themselves come up with alternative options and lead the way in implementing truly beneficial work-from-home arrangements for civil servants amid increasing transport woes, “without compromising prompt and reliable delivery of services to all citizens.”

Citing the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) adoption of a recent policy institutionalizing an adaptable setup in government as the country transitions to the new normal, Poe pointed out that “as frontliners in the delivery of basic services, our government workers need as much support to deal with the soaring prices of essential goods and the current lack of public transport.”

The senator added: “We hope that agency heads, in consultation with stakeholders, can sit down and formulate vetted guidelines in order to give our state employees greater flexibility in doing their jobs with the same, if not greater productivity and efficiency.”

At the same time, she reminded all concerned that the CSC resolution allows for work arrangements such as “flexiplace, compressed work week, skeleton force, work shifting and flexitime” or a combination of the schemes.

She added that the policy requires “strict monitoring mechanisms for daily or weekly reports, use of communication platforms and appropriate security measures to ensure the delivery of quality government services.”

Continued on A11

Continued on A11

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Balai ni Fruitas cuts price of initial public offering

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By VG Cabuag

@villygc

alai ni Fruitas Inc., a company engaged in fruit-based beverages and desserts and baked goods, has reduced the price of its initial public offering (IPO) to P0.70 per share.

The said price is slightly lower than its indicative price of P0.75 per share.

The company will still sell 325 million primary common shares, 50 million in secondary common shares to be offered by parent firm Fruitas Holdings Inc. and 37.5 million in over-allotment option. The company will raise some P288.75 million from the offer.

The company will list on the small, medium and emerging (SME) board of the Philippine

Stock Exchange under the trading symbol BALAI. “We are on track to have the most number of SME Board listings in a year with the IPO of Balai ni Fruitas. The company’s debut will also expand the mix of SME firms listed as Balai is the first food and beverage business to list on this board,” PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon said earlier.

Net proceeds from the sale of the primary shares offering will

Photo from www.balainifruitas.com

be used for store network expansion, commissary setup and introduction of new concepts and potential acquisitions.

The PSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission approved last month the planned IPO of the company.

Balai is a wholly owned subsidiary of listed food and beverage kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings.

The company offers coconutbased beverages and desserts across three brands, Buko ni Fruitas, Fruitas House of Desserts and Balai Pandesal.

Cebu Pacific adds flights to Singapore

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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ebu Pacific (CEB) said it will ramp up its flights to Singapore from Manila and Cebu starting next month.

In an advisory, Cebu Pacific said it will double the daily frequency of its Manila-Singapore operations starting July 1, while its thrice weekly Cebu-Singapore route will reopen on July 15.

Flight 5J 813 is scheduled to depart Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at 5:35 a.m., and is set to arrive at Changi Airport at 9:20 a.m. Its return flight, 5J 814, is scheduled to leave Singapore at 10:15 a.m., and arrive in Manila at 2:00 p.m.

On July 15, CEB said it intends to restart its flights between Cebu and Singapore, beginning with a

BUSINESSMIRROR FILE PHOTO

thrice weekly frequency (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Flight 5J 547 is scheduled to depart Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 at 11:05 p.m., and is set to arrive at Changi Airport by 3:00 a.m. the following day. Its return flight, 5J 548, with flights every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, is scheduled to leave Singapore at 4:00 a.m., and arrive in Manila at 8:05 a.m.

“We are delighted to continue ramping-up our international flight frequencies, not only in Manila, but also in Cebu. We know majority of the traveling public have been looking forward to travel internationally again, especially since a lot of countries have eased their restrictions.

We continue to work towards the expansion of our international network while we maintain operating

over 100 percent of our pre-pandemic domestic capacity,” said Xander Lao, CEB Chief Commercial Officer.

Fully vaccinated travelers flying to Singapore are no longer required to submit a pre-departure Covid-19 test. They must instead present their proof of full vaccination (VaxCertPH or BOQ Yellow Card), and fill out a Singapore Arrival card 3 days before arrival. For more information, the airline said passengers may refer to CEB Travel reminders page for the latest updates and complete travel guidelines to their destination.

CEB continues to offer its guaranteed low fares to stimulate travel across its flight network. It continues to implement a multi-layered approach to safety, while it operates with a 100 percent fully vaccinated crew, 95 percent of whom have been boosted.

Geely takes More buyers keen on luxury homes over Meizu

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hejiang Geely Holding Group Co., the satellite-to-automobile group controlled by billionaire Li Shufu, has purchased a majority stake in Chinese smartphone maker Meizu Technology Co., according to a Caixin report that cited an announcement from the State Administration of Market Regulation.

Geely unit Hubei Xingji Shidai Technology Co. bought a 79-percent interest in Meizu from Meizu’s founder and a unit of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the report, which didn’t give a value of the transaction, said on Tuesday.

Speculation that Geely was in talks to acquire the mobile phone maker surfaced earlier this year.

For Geely, adding a smartphone maker to its stable comes as cars morph from mere forms of transport into electric, internet-connected and autonomous vehicles powered by highly sophisticated technology. Xingji Shidai, which counts Li as its main investor, announced its entry into the mobile devices sector in September last year, setting out its intention to “focus on integrating global technologies and resources to develop premium smart devices including smart phones to global consumers.” Bloomberg News

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EAL ESTATE portal Lamudi revealed that more prospective homebuyers searched for luxury properties in January to March.

Based on its latest quarterly report, the P12 million to P20 million price range posted the highest lead growth by 18 percent from the fourth quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022.

In terms of properties for rent those leasing for P30,000 to 60,000 attracted the highest increase by 40 percent during the periods in review.

Meanwhile, at least four cities in Metro Manila were among the top 10 most searched places across the country from January to March of this year.

Home seekers from the National Capital Region (NCR) still preferred to stay within the metropolitan areas as nine cities within Metro Manila attracted the majority of their leads—from Quezon City to Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Parañaque, Manila, Mandaluyong, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, respectively— except for Antipolo at the bottom of the list.

Nearly a third of all leads from Luzon-based house hunters went to

cities within the NCR, with the first top five being Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, and Manila, as Mandaluyong settled at the ninth spot.

Outside of Metro Manila, they chose to reside in Antipolo, Baguio, Santa Rosa and Dasmariñas.

The Queen City of the South took most of the leads in the Visayas region, with Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue being the top three sites, as Talisay at the seventh place.

Anurag Verma, director of broker classifieds and partnerships at Lamudi, said this could be attributed to the recently completed infrastructure developments in the province, including the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, which is by far the longest bridge nationwide.

The top executive said it is worth highlighting modern infrastructure in locations to enable property seekers to ascertain how much time and money they can save by investing in a particular area.

The remaining six cities were split between cities in Metro Manila (Makati, Quezon City, Taguig and Manila) and neighboring islands in Visayas (Bacolod and Iloilo).

Leads from those in Mindan-

ao consistently look for housing units located in Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Quezon City, Makati, Manila, Taguig, Pasig and General Santos City from the fourth quarter of 2021 to first quarter of 2022.

Pasay was the new addition to the in-demand cities from home seekers in the southern part of the country during the period.

By and large, condos and apartments saw the biggest hike in leads for types of property in the first three months of the year, which stood at 29 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

Per island group, the former garnered most of the leads in Metro Manila and Mindanao, while the latter had the highest number of inquiries or searches in Luzon and Visayas.

Overall, other estates also got strong interest nationwide, such as land (14 percent), commercial (13 percent), and house (five percent), the Lamudi study showed.

The property marketplace attracts more than two million potential property seekers every month.

That generates about 10 percent conversion into inquiries.

Roderick L. Abad

B1

Sea cuts jobs in shopping, food S

ea Ltd. is making its first major job cuts in areas spanning shopping and food, joining other tech firms downsizing this year in anticipation of unprecedented market and economic volatility.

Southeast Asia’s largest tech firm plans to let employees go across its e-commerce division Shopee, Chris Feng, the unit’s chief executive, said in an email to employees seen

by Bloomberg News. It will reduce headcount across its ShopeeFood and ShopeePay divisions in Southeast Asia. The cuts will also extend across its Mexico, Argentina, and Chile teams, as well as the crossborder team supporting Spain.

Sea faces increasing pressure to slash costs as growth in its main commerce business comes off a pandemic-era high. While mobile gaming has proven more resilient, the company has lost about $160 billion of its market value since an October high as investors begin to scrutinize its longer-term trajectory.

“Given elevated uncertainty in the broader economy, we believe that it is prudent to make certain difficult but important adjustments to enhance our operational efficiency and focus our resources,” Feng said in his email to staff. He emphasized that the job cuts are to ensure that the business remains

in the “best possible position” to continue scaling sustainably.

Sea representatives weren’t immediately available to comment.

Consumers emerging from prolonged lockdowns are cutting back on online purchases, especially with the war in Ukraine and rising interest rates clouding the global economic outlook. More than 132,000 tech jobs have been cut since the start of the pandemic, according to tracking site Layoffs.fyi.

The dismissals come after Sea revised its full-year outlook for ecommerce sales, its main source of revenue, to $8.5 billion to $9.1 billion from its previous guidance of $8.9 billion to $9.1 billion. The company also posted a wider loss for the first three months as expenses soared.

The Singaporean giant is now gradually reducing its overseas footprint and periphery businesses as competition takes a toll. That’s a stark shift from the e-commerce and gaming platform’s previous stance of continued spending for global growth.

“This reallocation of resources to further focus on our priorities will help us grow our business even better,” Feng said in his email. “While we need to continue to optimize our efficiency, we are also generally still growing and hiring as needed to support that growth.” Bloomberg News

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

RLC enrolls in Meralco’s interruptible load program

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By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

he Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has included Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) in its Interruptible Load Program (ILP), bringing to 122 the number of companies within the utility firm’s franchise area that are currently enrolled in the program.

Under the ILP, Meralco will ask big load customers to temporarily de-load from the grid and use their generator sets when there is supply deficiency and power interruptions are imminent.

Meralco and RLC signed on Tuesday a deal for the ILP enrollment of 10 Robinsons Malls, which have

a total committed capacity of 31 megawatts (MW) that can potentially spare around 124,000 households and small businesses from the inconvenience of unplanned power interruptions.

The participating malls are Robinsons Place Malolos, Robinsons Town Mall Malabon, Robinsons

Place Manila-Main, Robinsons Place Manila-Midtown, Robinsons Place Las Piñas, Robinsons Place Antipolo, Robinsons Magnolia-Extension, Robinsons General Trias, Robinsons Galleria South, and Robinsons Tagaytay Summit.

With RLC included, the combined de-loading capacity of Meralco’s ILP participants is around 583MW. “Robinsons Malls has always been a steadfast partner of the government and fully supports the ILP program to help address power and energy contingency requirements, should the need arise,” RLC Executive Vice President Faraday D. Go said.

Meralco continues to encourage customers to enlist in the ILP. With commercial and industrial segments accounting for a huge part of Meralco’s customer base, which stood at 7.46 million as of end-March this year, the utility firm stressed that

cooperation and support of its bigload customers are crucial to the success of ILP. “We continue to enjoin our large load customers to participate in ILP so that, in the eventuality of a crisis, we have the contingencies in place to prevent brownouts. Fortunately, the projections on the dips in power supply did not affect much of our customers, as we always find ways and means to anticipate our customers’ needs,” Meralco Chief Commercial Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz said.

Meralco said there are no immediate threats of supply deficiency. However, in the event that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines places the grid on red alert, Meralco has put in place contingency measures that include the ILP to ensure the delivery of continuous, stable, and reliable electricity service to the customers within its franchise area.

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

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athay Pacific Airways Ltd. flagged it will post a narrower first-half loss than the previous year on continued strong cargo demand and costcutting measures.

“Our consolidated losses in the first half of 2022, while substantial, are expected to be lower than the consolidated losses reported in the first half of 2021,” Ronald Lam, the airline’s chief customer and commercial officer, said in a statement Tuesday. Cathay reported a HK$7.6

billion ($968 million) deficit for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

The Hong Kong-based carrier also said it expects the number of destinations it operates to will double by the end of the year from 29 in January, as the Asian financial hub dials back some of the world’s most restrictive Covid-19 measures. The airline flew to just over 100 destinations prior to the crisis.

Cathay is also benefiting from significant pandemic easings around the world, like the removal of quar-

antine periods and testing, which are making travel easier for most passengers and flight crew.

Hong Kong, however, is sticking to a seven-day quarantine for now, limiting any upside for the carrier and containing capacity in May at 4.1 percent. Singapore Airlines Ltd., by contrast, aims to be operating at 67 percent of its pre-Covid capacity

by September. On an adjusted basis, SIA reached 63.3 percent of prepandemic levels in April, Bloomberg calculations show. Bloomberg News

mutual funds

June 14, 2022

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D

per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 208.72 -6.3% -7.96% -5.4% -10.46% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.3718 1.11% -5.64% -2.76% -17.57% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.8718 -5.99% -11.63% -7.95% -11.3% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7133 -8.45% -9.19% n.a.

-5.71% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6582 -9.59% -9.48% n.a.

-14.62% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.6915 -3.49% -5.51% -3.15% -9.48% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.6964 -1.35% -7.94% -6.1% -11.09% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 78.59 -19.29% -13.66% n.a.

-16.77% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 42.7485 -6.04% -7.02% -4.01% -11.18% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 447.58 -6.58% -6.75% -3.95% -10.61% -6.39% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.2697 11.05% -1.89% -0.63% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 32.6302 -4.11% -6.16% -2.97% -10.83% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.846 -4.63% -7.39% n.a.

-10.13% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.4244 -5.07% -6.35% -3.39% -10.81% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 737.14 -5.55% -6.42% -3.46% -11.03% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6628 -6.58% -10.82% -6.11% -11.93% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.3151 -6.23% -9.06% -4.82% -12.19% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8392 -5.88% -6.71% -3.71% -11.15% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.0984 -4.94% -6.49% -2.61% -9.86% Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a 1.0518 -1.65% n.a. n.a.

-9.54% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 898.42 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 99.3723 -5.14% -6.2% -3.06% -10.86% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $0.9542 -25.29% -0.75% -0.7% -15.3% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.5078 -14.99% 5.66% 5.52% -18.34% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.5645 -7.01% -3.76% -2.65% -7.54% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.1109 -6.26% -3.39% -2.33% -7.48% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5251 -2.77% -1.98% -0.77% -6.16% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.1948 0.1% n.a. n.a.

-6.79% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.8892 -3.34% -1% -0.22% -6.32% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.4679 -6.04% -2.69% -1.51% -7.89% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 15.5333 -6.2% -2.85% -1.58% -7.79% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 1.9857 -3.79% -2.86% -1.6% -6.4% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.3288 -5.45% -5.26% -2.58% -8.73% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8662 -1.92% -4.9% -2.14% -9.22% Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a 0.9007 -8.73% -4.22% n.a.

-9% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a 0.8356 -7.96% -6.58% n.a.

-11.53% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a 0.8239 -8.03% -6.93% n.a.

-11.78% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.0334 -12.59% -3.44% -1.38% -11.97% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $0.9567 -16.64% -0.52% -0.32% -10.35% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.0457 -13.88% 2.97% 3.51% -15.75% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.0314 -13.71% -0.77% 0.43% -13.95% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 372.23 0.13% 2.1% 2.24% -0.55% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.8895 -1.9% -0.01% 0.04% 0.25% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2298 0.09% 1.99% 3.35% -0.44% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.1763 -3.69% -0.02% 0.69% -3.34% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.3959 -1.82% 1.32% 1.59% -1.24% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.1966 -6.73% 0.43% 0.64% -4.53% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.3092 -1.24% 2.65% 2.64% -0.75% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.8665 -2.72% 1.81% 2.29% -2.5% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0068 -2.9% 2.43% 1.69% -2.08% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.137 -2.28% 2.16% 2.65% -1.58% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.6964 -2.96% 1.21% 1.94% -1.98% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $481.78 -0.84% 1.77% 1.82% -1.59% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є212.24 -3.58% -0.68% 0.05% -3.53% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.0778 -9.18% -2.94% -0.79% -10.47% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0244 -6.51% -1.46% -0.4% -6.15% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $0.9135 -13.2% -5.44% -3.24% -10.69% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.2175 -11.7% -1.52% -0.08% -11.5% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0608885 -3.32% 1.28% -2.25% 1.11% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.7532 -13.69% -3.38% -1.66% -13.86% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 131.91 1.3% 2.29% 2.52% 0.55% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0631 1.03% 1.6% n.a.

0.51% Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3248 1.55% 2.17% 2.48% 0.7% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0635 0.59% 1.17% n.a.

0.27% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a 42.947 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.2023 -3.51% n.a. n.a.

-13.06% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a $0.8293 -17.07% n.a. n.a.

-14.51% 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 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa. com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

June 14, 2022

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK COMMERCE BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG MANULIFE NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH VANTAGE

305,900 240,550,657 225,872 157,070,422.50 1,258,105 744,665 236,220,061.50 752,338 14,795 121,778 74,152,461 4,420,425 8,086,960 10,450 2,140 8,700 10,030 14,300 33,830 770

183,540 -85,750,502 -47,500 -53,218,369 801,665 -214,421 -95,251,754 113,850 7,621,818 -42,936.50 47,500 7,960 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 7.35 7.38 7.5 7.56 7.17 7.35 11,151,200 81,756,016 ALSONS CONS 0.96 1 1.02 1.02 0.96 1 122,000 118,610 ABOITIZ POWER 29.95 30 29.8 30.2 29.3 30 2,006,700 60,137,735 RASLAG 1.73 1.75 1.72 1.76 1.68 1.75 13,388,000 23,056,800 BASIC ENERGY 0.375 0.385 0.39 0.39 0.375 0.38 6,430,000 2,448,300 FIRST GEN 17.38 17.5 17.8 17.8 17.1 17.38 817,400 14,198,338 FIRST PHIL HLDG 66 67 66 67 65 66 4,780 315,088 357.8 360 360.2 360.2 357 360 72,350 25,993,440 MERALCO 17.38 17.5 17.66 17.66 17.14 17.38 202,300 3,496,758 MANILA WATER 3.21 3.25 3.21 3.27 3.21 3.21 1,022,000 3,304,960 PETRON 4.68 4.98 5.07 5.08 4.68 4.68 4,400 21,949 PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM 9.39 9.84 9.16 9.85 9.16 9.85 21,400 210,363 SYNERGY GRID 11.96 11.98 12.08 12.2 11.94 11.98 1,945,100 23,375,084 PILIPINAS SHELL 18.4 18.6 18.98 18.98 18.4 18.4 22,900 424,112 SPC POWER 8.6 8.65 9.1 9.1 8.5 8.6 914,600 7,980,486 SOLAR PH 1.57 1.58 1.55 1.59 1.53 1.57 28,216,000 44,133,510 AGRINURTURE 4.6 4.7 4.61 4.79 4.6 4.71 532,000 2,502,130 AXELUM 2.25 2.3 2.25 2.3 2.22 2.3 95,000 215,590 CENTURY FOOD 21.7 21.85 21.85 21.9 21.6 21.7 592,900 12,858,475 13.2 13.3 13.3 13.3 13.08 13.3 6,900 91,308 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 6.8 6.82 6.84 6.85 6.77 6.8 4,916,900 33,471,884 17.08 17.48 17.4 17.52 16.9 17.48 498,700 8,665,432 EMPERADOR 57.35 58 57.3 58 57.1 58 71,120 4,112,226.50 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.52 0.54 0.52 0.55 0.52 0.52 4,245,000 2,264,250 FIGARO COFFEE 0.56 0.59 0.56 0.59 0.56 0.56 159,000 89,070 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.1 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.1 1.13 7,962,000 8,911,510 GINEBRA 108 109 108 109 108 109 17,970 1,940,780 JOLLIBEE 199.1 199.5 199.8 200 196.8 199.5 372,010 73,997,815 KEEPERS HLDG 1.16 1.18 1.18 1.2 1.16 1.16 2,041,000 2,395,270 MAXS GROUP 5.11 5.2 5.27 5.3 5.2 5.2 145,000 758,110 MG HLDG 0.117 0.119 0.12 0.12 0.119 0.119 1,570,000 187,080 13.92 14.1 14.12 14.24 13.84 14.1 7,831,800 109,752,900 MONDE NISSIN 6.8 6.88 6.75 6.8 6.7 6.8 153,000 1,040,070 SHAKEYS PIZZA 0.52 0.53 0.54 0.55 0.52 0.54 359,000 191,590 ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP 3.97 4 3.99 4 3.99 4 560,000 2,239,990 99.9 100 100.8 100.8 99.75 100 1,546,940 154,678,533.50 UNIV ROBINA 0.6 0.63 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 456,000 273,600 VITARICH CEMEX HLDG 0.69 0.7 0.69 0.71 0.69 0.69 780,000 542,130 EAGLE CEMENT 12.14 12.38 12.52 12.52 12.52 12.52 100 1,252 EEI CORP 3.26 3.33 3.45 3.45 3.22 3.33 213,000 693,930 HOLCIM 5.2 5.32 5.35 5.5 5.17 5.32 74,300 390,964 MEGAWIDE 3.81 3.86 4.1 4.11 3.8 3.81 1,212,000 4,735,610 PHINMA 19.02 19.74 19.74 19.74 19.72 19.74 5,700 112,418 0.84 0.85 0.85 0.86 0.84 0.85 2,469,000 2,096,460 VULCAN INDL CHEMPHIL 130.2 151.7 130.2 130.2 130.2 130.2 500 65,100 EUROMED 1 1.06 1.01 1.01 1 1 211,000 211,290 MABUHAY VINYL 5.03 5.29 5.05 5.05 5.04 5.04 200 1,009 CONCEPCION 18.02 19.46 19.48 19.48 19.46 19.46 800 15,574 GREENERGY 1.62 1.63 1.62 1.69 1.56 1.63 10,901,000 17,930,110 INTEGRATED MICR 6.67 6.68 6.73 6.73 6.67 6.7 162,900 1,093,178 IONICS 0.56 0.59 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.58 100,000 58,000 PANASONIC 5.85 6.06 5.85 6.17 5.85 6.08 10,200 60,902 SFA SEMICON 1.02 1.09 1 1.09 1 1.09 78,000 82,120 CIRTEK HLDG 2.81 2.82 2.72 2.81 2.69 2.81 2,170,000 5,897,800

29,703,846 -47,010 -38,847,570 59,610 22,900 -4,382,708 -167,908 -583,416 -772,966.00 -622,160 -3,375,684 7,384 47,130 1,261,420 -324,320 -34,300 1,118,085 -20,055,365 -2,607,508 -1,960,708.50 52,000 -20,411,647 972,870 -588,971 11,900 -33,204,098 -782,725 -1,620,000 -50,555,878.50 79,300.00 -10,600 -1,073,790.00 1,580,530 261,280 -233,000

HOLDING & FRIMS

Cathay H1 loss to narrow as airline plots recovery

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ABACORE CAPITAL AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

43.7 123.8 9.4 92.95 26.6 7.13 49.6 18.32 56.5 19.82 89.7 80.15 2.56 3.48 2.14 0.28 880 0.62 194 0.72

1.28 641.5 49.1 9.82 8.77 0.83 0.45 4.4 8.52 7 482.8 50.6 0.55 2.98 8.18 0.305 3.68 2.63 0.84 810 102.5 0.26 0.17

43.8 124.4 9.45 93.45 26.75 7.14 50 18.34 56.9 19.98 90 80.2 2.6 3.53 2.49 0.31 1,004 0.65 199 0.77

1.29 642 51.1 9.83 8.89 0.86 0.46 4.45 8.54 7.08 500 51 0.56 3.05 8.3 0.355 3.69 2.65 0.85 830 103 0.3 0.175

43.7 123.8 9.5 92 26.5 7.16 50 18.6 57 19.98 91 80.4 2.5 3.49 2.14 0.29 1,003 0.65 199 0.77

1.25 639 48.75 10 8.9 0.86 0.445 4.45 8.32 7 489 51.05 0.55 2.98 8.21 0.315 3.62 2.45 0.84 807 104.5 0.26 0.175

43.7 126 9.5 93.45 26.75 7.16 50.4 18.6 57 19.98 91 81.85 2.6 3.49 2.14 0.29 1,003 0.65 199 0.77

1.32 646.5 51.1 10 8.9 0.86 0.46 4.45 8.63 7 500 52.6 0.59 2.98 8.3 0.315 3.7 2.67 0.84 830 104.5 0.26 0.175

43.7 123.6 9.4 90.5 26.5 7.13 49.5 18.3 56.9 19.82 88 80.05 2.35 3.48 2.14 0.29 1,003 0.65 199 0.77

1.23 633 48.5 9.75 8.89 0.86 0.44 4.31 8.32 7 480 50.45 0.55 2.98 8.16 0.305 3.6 2.38 0.84 796 102.1 0.26 0.175

43.7 124.4 9.45 93.45 26.6 7.14 49.6 18.32 56.9 19.98 90 80.15 2.6 3.48 2.14 0.29 1,003 0.65 199 0.77

1.28 642 51.1 9.82 8.89 0.86 0.45 4.4 8.52 7 500 51 0.56 2.98 8.3 0.305 3.69 2.63 0.84 830 103 0.26 0.175

7,000 1,936,200 23,800 1,697,840 47,300 104,200 4,740,670 41,000 260 6,100 826,870 55,080 3,201,000 3,000 1,000 30,000 10 22,000 170 1,000

5,986,000 192,720 1,253,900 1,481,800 1,500 142,000 1,750,000 355,000 8,188,400 53,800 96,580 905,820 76,000 100,000 5,047,500 100,000 13,045,000 2,467,000 8,000 397,790 170,000 50,000 100,000

7,590,670 123,664,370 62,919,265 14,545,463 13,349 122,120 780,400 1,558,840 69,281,395 376,600 47,366,160 46,017,973.50 43,190 298,000 41,696,665 31,100 47,742,410 6,368,630 6,720 321,346,655 17,534,477 13,000 17,500

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.54 0.55 0.56 0.56 0.54 0.54 13,000 7,040 AYALA LAND 29.35 29.4 29.3 29.65 29.05 29.35 26,460,800 777,372,290 AYALA LAND LOG 3.65 3.69 3.89 3.89 3.6 3.69 954,000 3,574,060 ARANETA PROP 1.89 1.9 1.72 1.9 1.65 1.89 4,369,000 8,026,460 AREIT RT 38.25 38.3 39 39 38.15 38.3 581,400 22,428,240 A BROWN 0.75 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.77 0.77 11,000 8,570 CITYLAND DEVT 0.69 0.7 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.69 11,000 7,590 0.083 0.087 0.088 0.088 0.083 0.087 1,070,000 89,900 CROWN EQUITIES CEB LANDMASTERS 2.62 2.64 2.69 2.69 2.61 2.61 473,000 1,245,790 0.39 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 300,000 120,000 CENTURY PROP 2.42 2.43 2.42 2.45 2.4 2.42 12,246,000 29,525,820 CITICORE RT 7.71 7.73 7.78 7.78 7.7 7.71 293,800 2,265,424 DOUBLEDRAGON 1.5 1.51 1.49 1.51 1.47 1.49 1,734,000 2,592,540 DDMP RT DM WENCESLAO 6.78 6.82 6.75 6.82 6.75 6.82 14,100 95,565 EMPIRE EAST 0.205 0.209 0.205 0.205 0.205 0.205 90,000 18,450 EVER GOTESCO 0.28 0.285 0.275 0.295 0.275 0.285 22,320,000 6,384,650 FILINVEST RT 7.15 7.16 7.13 7.15 7.08 7.15 600,800 4,275,493 FILINVEST LAND 0.88 0.89 0.9 0.91 0.89 0.89 11,449,000 10,238,180 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.84 0.87 0.84 0.89 0.84 0.89 155,000 130,250 10.4 10.5 10.5 10.58 10.5 10.5 26,200 275,680 8990 HLDG 1.06 1.08 1.03 1.09 1.03 1.08 1,316,000 1,418,090 PHIL INFRADEV 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.75 0.79 182,000 138,900 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 2.48 2.49 2.51 2.58 2.45 2.48 16,951,000 42,168,760 0.204 0.207 0.206 0.207 0.203 0.207 4,450,000 908,250 MRC ALLIED MREIT RT 16.06 16.08 16.1 16.14 16.02 16.06 902,800 14,529,584 PHIL ESTATES 0.385 0.4 0.385 0.39 0.38 0.39 1,160,000 446,450 PRIMEX CORP 2.06 2.07 1.94 2.06 1.94 2.06 2,485,000 4,917,280 RL COMM RT 6.64 6.7 6.74 6.74 6.6 6.64 2,852,900 18,914,230 ROBINSONS LAND 17.6 17.8 17.8 18.38 17.54 17.8 849,300 15,056,176 PHIL REALTY 0.214 0.24 0.215 0.215 0.214 0.214 230,000 49,320 ROCKWELL 1.24 1.36 1.22 1.25 1.22 1.25 27,000 33,720 2.86 3.08 3.1 3.12 3.1 3.12 2,000 6,220 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 37 37.2 36.6 37.5 36.6 37.2 16,416,900 610,465,015 0.55 0.61 0.55 0.61 0.55 0.61 104,000 57,320 SOC RESOURCES VISTA LAND 2 2.01 2.12 2.14 2 2.01 4,588,000 9,312,910

SERVICES ABS CBN 8.82 8.83 9.36 9.36 8.82 8.83 105,600 935,093 GMA NETWORK 11.62 11.64 11.54 11.62 11.46 11.62 588,900 6,798,990 MANILA BULLETIN 0.345 0.37 0.345 0.38 0.345 0.38 30,000 11,050 MLA BRDCASTING 7.77 8.3 7.77 8.5 7.77 8.3 900 7,457 GLOBE TELECOM 2,298 2,310 2,290 2,314 2,264 2,298 59,895 137,160,140 PLDT 1,834 1,850 1,785 1,852 1,761 1,850 78,350 142,605,390 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.042 0.043 0.043 0.044 0.042 0.042 209,700,000 8,883,600 22.15 22.3 22.5 23 22 22.15 9,213,000 206,915,565 CONVERGE 3.2 3.34 3.13 3.39 3.13 3.34 248,000 815,790 DFNN INC 3.76 3.77 3.85 3.85 3.71 3.76 7,449,000 28,177,680 DITO CME HLDG 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.3 1.24 1.24 1,396,000 1,742,630 NOW CORP 0.275 0.28 0.28 0.285 0.27 0.275 9,470,000 2,618,600 TRANSPACIFIC BR 7 7.1 7.25 7.25 7 7.2 1,200 8,635 2GO GROUP CHELSEA 1.3 1.35 1.26 1.35 1.26 1.35 262,000 346,570 CEBU AIR 42.55 42.6 43 43 42.5 42.55 138,500 5,901,430 INTL CONTAINER 195 195.3 196 196.2 192.2 195 3,084,170 600,897,311 MACROASIA 4.37 4.5 4.6 4.65 4.37 4.37 641,000 2,870,900 PAL HLDG 5.99 6 5.99 6.07 5.99 6 51,500 308,694 HARBOR STAR 0.92 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.94 0.95 30,000 28,480 0.093 0.094 0.092 0.095 0.09 0.093 127,690,000 11,804,820 BOULEVARD HLDG 1.66 1.74 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.66 11,000 18,260 DISCOVERY WORLD IPEOPLE 6.55 7.96 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 10,000 72,500 STI HLDG 0.335 0.34 0.345 0.345 0.335 0.34 1,760,000 594,500 1.23 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.23 1.23 378,000 465,350 BELLE CORP 6.05 6.06 6.27 6.27 5.88 6.05 7,969,200 48,020,527 BLOOMBERRY PACIFIC ONLINE 1.35 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 2,000 2,760 LEISURE AND RES 1.35 1.39 1.32 1.39 1.32 1.39 9,538,000 12,920,780 PH RESORTS GRP 0.94 0.95 1.01 1.01 0.91 0.94 8,018,000 7,689,730 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.4 0.405 0.405 0.405 0.4 0.4 1,870,000 750,200 PHILWEB 4.61 4.62 4.07 4.62 4.01 4.61 13,674,000 59,486,420 ALLDAY 0.335 0.34 0.33 0.34 0.32 0.335 19,170,000 6,269,750 4.74 4.75 5.11 5.11 4.7 4.75 694,000 3,323,491 ALLHOME 1.44 1.45 1.4 1.45 1.35 1.44 878,000 1,256,790 METRO RETAIL 31.1 31.2 31.1 31.15 30.5 31.1 1,099,500 34,028,820 PUREGOLD 49.5 49.6 49 49.95 48.5 49.5 320,200 15,829,175 ROBINSONS RTL 51.5 53 51 53 51 53 540 28,220 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.27 1.22 1.24 4,316,000 5,350,070 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 26 26.05 26.2 26.5 25.95 26.05 1,801,200 47,116,770 APC GROUP 0.21 0.211 0.211 0.211 0.21 0.21 1,160,000 244,020 EASYCALL 3.88 4.69 4.05 4.05 4.05 4.05 4,000 16,200 IPM HLDG 5.5 7 6.7 7 6 7 32,100 198,100 MEDILINES 0.65 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.65 0.66 767,000 503,590 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.465 0.47 0.455 0.48 0.455 0.47 6,440,000 2,993,300

MINING & OIL ATOK 6.82 7 7.02 7.24 6.81 6.82 224,700 1,584,019 APEX MINING 1.54 1.55 1.54 1.55 1.54 1.55 1,061,000 1,640,120 ATLAS MINING 5.79 5.82 5.79 5.86 5.79 5.82 207,000 1,201,588 BENGUET A 6.79 6.8 6.85 6.85 6.75 6.79 116,300 785,486 BENGUET B 6.8 6.95 6.76 6.95 6.5 6.8 62,600 422,315 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.218 0.234 0.217 0.217 0.217 0.217 10,000 2,170 2.65 2.74 2.6 2.74 2.6 2.74 30,000 80,310 CENTURY PEAK 2.43 2.45 2.41 2.45 2.39 2.43 1,963,000 4,731,640 FERRONICKEL 0.177 0.18 0.175 0.179 0.174 0.176 270,000 47,580 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.138 0.14 0.139 0.139 0.137 0.138 2,880,000 399,310 LEPANTO B 0.135 0.139 0.136 0.136 0.136 0.136 100,000 13,600 1.61 1.63 1.51 1.65 1.43 1.61 5,227,000 8,009,450 MARCVENTURES NIHAO 0.98 1.01 1.07 1.08 1.01 1.01 467,000 489,540 NICKEL ASIA 6.7 6.71 6.5 6.77 6.5 6.7 5,487,600 36,357,837 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.7 0.71 0.73 0.73 0.67 0.71 2,773,000 1,941,490 PX MINING 4.28 4.36 4.34 4.34 4.24 4.28 213,000 913,070 SEMIRARA MINING 34.5 34.55 33 34.5 33 34.5 3,030,000 102,894,775 UNITED PARAGON 0.006 0.0065 0.0063 0.0063 0.0063 0.0063 1,000,000 6,300 9 9.13 9.25 9.3 9 9 421,700 3,836,316 ACE ENEXOR 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 15,300,000 168,300 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.011 7,300,000 83,700 PHILODRILL 0.0089 0.0091 0.0089 0.009 0.0089 0.009 3,000,000 26,800 PXP ENERGY 4.54 4.6 4.55 4.6 4.5 4.6 183,000 825,530

PREFFERED AC PREF B1 501 502 502 502 501.5 501.5 5,250 2,633,000 AC PREF B2R 500 502 502 502 502 502 1,000 502,000 CEB PREF 42 42.5 43 43 41.5 42.4 18,400 774,310 DD PREF 98.55 98.95 99 99 98.75 98.75 600 59,375 EEI PREF A 101 101 101 101 101 2,300 232,300 EEI PREF B 105 106.5 107 107 105 106.5 13,120 1,387,935 GTCAP PREF B 1,022 1,030 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 100 102,200 968 989 989 989 989 989 500 494,500 JFC PREF B 97.5 99.6 99.8 99.8 99.8 99.8 500 49,900 MWIDE PREF 4 PNX PREF 3B 90.9 101 100.3 101 100.3 101 780 78,248 PNX PREF 4 978 980 975 978 975 978 2,250 2,193,780 SMC PREF 2F 76.5 76.95 76.95 77 76.95 77 15,010 1,155,568.50 SMC PREF 2H 75.4 76 76.05 76.05 76.05 76.05 900 68,445 SMC PREF 2J 74.25 75.8 75.6 75.95 75.6 75.85 21,100 1,601,965 SMC PREF 2K 74.3 74.35 74.35 74.35 74.3 74.3 12,500 929,350 TECH PREF B2D 54.85 57 54.8 54.8 54.8 54.8 7,900 432,920

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS GMA HLDG PDR 11.2 11.5 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.2 24,000 268,800

WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.5 0.52 0.51 0.52 0.5 0.52 770,000 385,250

536,430 -49,887,570 -13,004,600 -6,054,816 -799,180 -3,321,069 -6,969,806 -19,269,176 -22,259,790 -7,891,270 5,985,230 -4,718,117 -416,078,680 -114,020 8,650 947,530 592,940 -20,000 -5,260 -59,292 -1,460 958,000 30,305 -9,182,590 -126,000 31,500 -252,100 434,490 -1,855,228 15,200 2,156,668 -4,856,156 33,682,275 -2,636,620 -60,780,060 22,450,885 42,000 -74,001,460 23,520 1,007,920 6,090 302,750 -166,600 -361,900 -245,919,296 183,294 53,200 6,900.00 -38,440 -6,699,574 -4,179,050 586,670.00 729,200 -1,605,694 -72,000 -15,747,435 730,995 -15,330 2,728,000 4,589,580 29,400 -65,050 -741,560 -32,862 35,356 80,310 633,320 -13,600 86,730 202,800 -2,999,939 4,260 184,700 9,261,455 -689,893 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

CTS GLOBAL HAUS TALK ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART XURPAS

0.84 0.98 0.78 2.58 1.38 0.31

0.86 0.99 0.8 3.1 1.39 0.325

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

99.3

103

0.87 0.98 0.8 2.6 1.45 0.335

0.88 0.99 0.81 2.6 1.45 0.335

0.84 0.98 0.75 2.6 1.37 0.31

0.86 0.99 0.8 2.6 1.38 0.31

7,094,000 185,000 445,000 5,000 3,165,000 1,400,000

6,058,390 181,370 345,920 13,000 4,402,680 440,350

502,000 99,990 53,500 494,500 134,400 108,530 58,480 30,500 131,550 -

99.5 99.7 99 99.3 20,670 2,053,260.50 268,887

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Investors continue to demand high yields

T

HE Bureau of the Treasury settled to partially award P19.55 billion of its P35 billion reissued 7-year Treasury Bonds offering as investors continued to demand higher yields on the back of rising consumer prices.

With a remaining term of 6 years and 11 months, the security capped at an average rate of 6.74 percent, still higher than the comparable secondary market benchmark rates.

This is up by 24.6 basis points than the Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL) reference rate for the 7-year tenor at 6.494 percent.

Likewise, this is also above by 34 basis points compared with the BVAL rate for the security itself at 6.4 percent.

Had the auction committee fully awarded the bids for the debt paper, the average rate would have gone even higher at 6.815 percent.

Rate hike signals from both the US Federal Reserve and the Ba ngko Sent ra l ng Pi l ipina s (BSP) were priced in by the market, National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon said.

“Markets remain defensive with slew of news both from the Fed and the BSP to take action to fight surge in prices,” De Leon told reporters adding that the auction committee “decided to align rates with prevailing market rates.”

The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier reported that inflation quickened to 5.4 percent in May, the fastest pace since 6.1 percent in November 2018.

With this, the average inflation for the year has already reached 4.1 percent, breaching the government’s original target band of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

Meanwhile, inflation in the United States hit a 40-year-high of 8.6 percent in May. Nonetheless, the tenor attracted P62.3 billion in total bids, making the auction oversubscribed.

For this month, the Treasury is set to borrow P250 billion from the domestic debt market, of which P175 billion is expected to come from auctioning off Treasury Bonds and another P75 billion through its sale of T-bills.

Since the start of June, the Treasury has raised P91.95 billion out of its P150 billion offering.

As of end-April, the national government’s outstanding debt hit another record-high at P12.76 trillion, just two months before President Duterte steps down from office.

The national government’s debt-to-GDP ratio as of the first quarter of the year rose to a 17-yearhigh at 63.5 percent, above the internationally recommended 60-percent threshold by multilateral lenders for emerging markets like the Philippines. It is also the highest since the country’s debt-toGDP ratio hit 65.7 percent in 2005 under the Arroyo administration.

Bernadette D. Nicolas

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

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PHL borrows ₧17.39 billion from China

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By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Philippines borrowed 2.34-billion renminbi (about P17.39 billion or $362 million) from China to fund the construction of a 2-way, 4-lane bridge expected to cut travel time from Davao City and the City of Samal in Mindanao.

The concessional loan for the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) project is also the first renminbi-denominated loan secured from China under the Duterte administration.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and Chinese Am-

bassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian exchanged the loan documents on Monday afternoon at the Department of Finance (DOF) as the two countries recently celebrated the 47th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 21st commemoration of the

Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day last June 9.

The concessional loan will cover 90 percent of the P19.32-billion worth of financing needed for the SIDC project’s design-and-build contract. With an interest rate of 2 percent per annum, the loan is payable in 20 years, inclusive of a 7-year grace period.

The construction of the 3.86-kilometer SIDC bridge is expected to reduce the dependency of commuters on ferry services between Davao City and Samal Island.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, the main project implementor, entered into an agreement with the China Road and Bridge Corp. for the bridge construction, according to documents from the DOF. To date, China’s total financing commitments to the Philippines

now amount to $1.1 billion. These include loans for the following: Chico River Pump Irrigation project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA); the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS); and, the Project Management Consultancy (PMC) of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The DOF said the SIDC project complements the “Mindanao Spatial Strategy/Development Framework 2015-2045,” the “Davao Regional Development Plan” and the “Davao Gulf Area Development Plan 20112030.” These, the DOF said, aim to facilitate commerce and trade, generate jobs, create wealth among the local government units in Mindanao, and share the benefits of its growth

to more remote municipalities, including Samal Island.

Also expected to benefit from the SIDC project is the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area Cooperation (BIMP-EAGA), which aims to promote economic development in underdeveloped and geographically remote regions in its member countries.

The loan from China was announced after the Department of Foreign Affairs said it has lodged a diplomatic protest with the Chinese Embassy in Manila to officially complain against the so-called “interference” in the “legitimate” activities of the Philippine government in the Ayungin Shoal. (See related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2022/06/13/afp-backs-dfaprotests-over-china-reef-swarmblockade/)

Firms to pay for half of ex-employees’ PhilHealth share in Jan-May

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TATE-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) said it will no longer collect the employees’ share or half of their 1-percent premium rate differential from January to May this year if they have resigned, separated or retired from their company during the period.

Speaking before a virtual forum last Monday, PhilHealth Division Chief of the Employed Segment Jennifer F. Enriquez said only the employers of these employees at that time are required to pay their share in the rate differential for the covered months.

According to Enriquez, they presented such proposal to the board on account of the employee has already resigned and there’s no means of locating again the employee and be asked to pay for the half of the 1 percent. She said the PhiliHealth board decided to forgo the resigned employee’s payment. To note, PhilHealth premium contributions of employed members are equally shared by the employer and the employee.

“They approved it na hindi na obligated si resigned employee na magbayad,” Enriquez said.

She added, however, that employers have until December 31 this year

to settle their share in the 1-percent differential of the premium contributions of their employees without interest.

To note, PhilHealth announced last month it will increase the premium contribution rate to 4 percent from 3 percent starting June; but the increase would be retroactive from January this year.

In the same forum, PhilHealth Senior Manager Rex Paul Recoter revealed that incoming Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan V. Ople met on Monday morning with PhilHealth President and CEO Atty. Dante A. Gierran to appeal the

deferment of the hike in premium contribution this year.

“The message was to really to understand the plight of OFWs. And of course, most of us relatives who are also OFWs so the appeal was to maintain the status quo of 3 percent,” Recoter said during the forum hosted by American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines North Luzon chapter.

Pressed on the possibility of the deferment of the increase in the premium contributions, Recoter said he personally believes that this matter still lies in the hands of Congress since PhilHealth is bound to implement what is stated under the law.

Under the Universal Health Care law, premium rates should gradually increase starting from 2.75 percent in 2019 until it reaches 5 percent for both 2024 and 2025.

PhilHealth last year agreed to postpone the premium hike to 3.5 percent from 3 percent in 2020 under an “interim arrangement” that will be good only until Congress passes a new law allowing for the deferment.

However, Congress was not able to pass a new law, prompting the PhilHealth to push through with the retroactive implementation of the premium hike starting January this year. Bernadette D. Nicolas

The Philippines, our Country

“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of.

In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”

—Confucius

PILLAR OF STRENGTH

In the recent “Bloomberg Philippines: NEXT Summit,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno emphasized that banks continue to serve as a pillar of strength for the Philippine economy. Bank loan growth expanded at a faster rate of 10.1 percent year-on-year in April, up from 8.9 percent in March, the governor said. Bank loans finance business growth and household consumption, both of which support the economy. Diokno also cited the Philippines’s first quarter economic expansion of 8.3 percent, which exceeded growth figures posted by Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand during the same period. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

LandBank, SSS ink deal for digital system

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HE Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) announced it entered into an agreement with the Social Security System (SSS) “for a safer and more convenient disbursement and payment collection for SSS members, employers, pensioners and claimants.”

Under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the SSS will be utilizing Landbank’s Bulk Credit System (LBCS) and the Link.BizPortal digital platforms to ensure the timely delivery of social assistance to local and overseas Filipino workers and their beneficiaries.

LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo and SSS President and CEO Mi-

chael G. Regino led the signing of the MOA last June 1.

“Our collaboration today is timely and relevant as we continue to leverage on technology to meet the growing demand for digital payments and financial solutions,” Borromeo said. “Our combined efforts will ensure the delivery of convenient and uninterrupted service to SSS members nationwide.”

Through this partnership, Landbank will facilitate the electronic bulk disbursements of retirement funds, benefits, and investments to qualified SSS payees through the LBCS. This will be coursed via PESONet,

InstaPay, or the LandBank Crediting Facility for the timely crediting of SSS pay-outs.

The SSS will also integrate their Electronic Collection Service to the Landbank Link.BizPortal for real-time posting of contributions including loans, PESO funds, and other fees from their members.

The Link.BizPortal is a web-based payment channel that allows clients to pay for products and services online to over 870 private and government partner merchants nationwide.

With this initiative, the SSS joins the roster of 550 national government agencies supported by the Link.BizPortal.

Business tax assessment, payment in QC now online N addition to the online business permit application, business owners can now also request and pay for their business tax assessment without making a trip to the city hall through the QC E-Services platform.

Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte said this move is part of the streamlining efforts of the city along with the online business permit application, which was previously launched in October 2020.

Belmonte said both online systems are expected to make the paying of taxes easier and less stressful for business owners.

“We are returning the favor to our

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Wednesday, June 15, 2022

business owners who are among the primary drivers of our growth,” the mayor added. “By delivering efficient systems and services, the city government can help them save time and focus more on growing their businesses.”

According to City Treasurer Edgar T. Villanueva, all business owners who wish to request their local business tax assessment may now do so via the QC e-Services portal under the “pay business tax” menu.

Businesses registered and not registered in the Bureau of Internal Revenue may use the online application.

Taxpayers are reminded to prepare all applicable documents which should

be uploaded to the system. These include the following: notarized monthly gross sales; proof of authority; certificate of authority from the Department of Trade and Industry; and, Mayor’s permits of other branches outside Quezon City.

Once all necessary information is supplied and documents are submitted, both the tracking number and acknowledgment receipt will be sent via the registered email address.

After being evaluated, depending on the completeness of documents and complexity, the City Treasury will send the final tax assessment bill through the portal. A “pay” button will

also appear on the user’s business tax payment page.

Taxpayers can choose between online payment or via manual payment. Belmonte, likewise, reminded taxpayers to be vigilant and to report fixers via the “People’s Corner” on the official website of the Quezon City Government.

“We hope our business owners will take time to familiarize themselves with our online system which eliminates the need for middlemen or fixers,” Belmonte said. “At the same time, we call on QC [residents] to help us apprehend fixers who try to extort from them their hard-earned money.”

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story was once told.

When God created the world, He specifically considered the Philippines very special. He made it a tropical country, endowed it with rich natural resources, planned its history with various interventions from the different rulers of the world, provided its people with good intellect and features and gave the people free will.

After several centuries and turn-over of presidents, beset with a lot of crises and problems, the Filipinos prayed so hard and asked God for good government.

In his usual gentle manner, God replied: “You are so special that I provided you with all the things you need. I am sorry but governance is the only thing you have to do!”

The story has a lot to say. We have used and abused our natural resources. It is because of this that we have caused a lot of disasters. From the different foreign rulers, we learned the bad habits and chose to keep them.

We got the religion but do not practice it. We got the education and the intellect but selfishly use them to the detriment of the majority. We pride ourselves of having democracy but it looks like we do not know how to handle it.

Patriotism seems to have taken the backseat.

Once in a trip, I was seated beside a bureaucrat from Taipei. He relayed to me that in the sixties, he made his first trip to the Philippines as his government’s delegate to an international meeting. He was amazed at the Philippine development then.

He thought the organizers of

Finex free

enterprise Conchita L. Manabat the meeting extremely valued his presence that they arranged for glass doors to open as soon as he approached the front doors of the venue of the meeting. He had his first paper napkin from Philippine Airlines and embarrassingly asked for some more from the stewardess so that he could share them with his colleagues back home.

The Filipinos could manage English very well and could be at par with the world’s top businessmen. The Philippines seemed to have everything.

Then he said, his country now has more than automatic glass doors and paper napkins. I died a little when he compared our development to Taiwan’s, a jurisdiction that once looked up to the Philippines.

Yes, we have wealth, yet it is with a few. And yes, we have poverty among the majority of the populace. We just celebrated our independence day. As a people we should discern more and work together for our dear country, the Philippines.

It is the only country we have.

Dr. Conchita L. Manabat is the President of the Development Center for Finance and a Trustee of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines Research & Development Foundation. A past chairman of the International Association of Financial Executives Institutes (IAFEI), she now serves as the chairman of the Advisory Council of the said organization. She is also a member of the Consultative Advisory Groups of the International Auditing & Assurance Standards Board and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants. She can be reached at clmanabat@gmail.com. Know more about #FINEXPhils through www.finex.org.ph.

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Show BusinessMirror

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Neil Patrick Harris, 49; Ice Cube, 53; Courteney Cox, 58; Helen Hunt, 59.

JURASSIC World: Dominion took a mighty bite out of the box office in its debut weekend, with $143.4 million in North American ticket sales.

BABY NO. 2

THIS actor and actress have not even admitted that they already have a child—and another one is reportedly on the way. The actress is said to be pregnant again. Nothing wrong with this because the actor and the actress are both single. It’s just that the former is known to be a really private person and doesn’t like others speculating about his life. This is also good news for their fans because the couple’s relationship, at one point, was said to be on the rocks.

It’s just too bad since the actress will have to put her career on hold again. She’s a really talented artist and viewers have missed her. They were glad to see her back recently but now, it seems that she’ll have to prioritize her family again.

IS HE A CHEATER?

SO finally, the separation of this showbiz couple is becoming clearer. They were together for a long time before people suddenly noticed that they’ve stopped posting about each other. There have been so many speculations about what happened but according to sources, the truth is that the wife discovered that the husband got someone pregnant and also that he had a one-night stand with another woman. The wife had always trusted the guy even before they got married because he did not seem to be the philandering type.

Well, he apparently is, if the rumors are true.

With ‘Jurassic World 3,’ dinosaurs rule again at box office biggest screens possible. Globally, IMAX showings of Jurassic World: Dominion represented $25 million of the total. The 3D format also accounted for around 25 percent of worldwide ticket sales.

“The appetite for the colossal creatures in this franchise is still voracious, and the way audiences want to experience this movie is in 3D,” said Travis Reid, the CEO and president of Cinema for RealD, in a statement.

Both Top Gun: Maverick and Jurassic World: Dominion are an important caveat for an industry that continues to learn new lessons about pandemic-era moviegoing every week. Although both films are legacy sequels, neither are of the superhero variety, which, for a long time, had seemed like the only pandemic-proof genre.

Top Gun: Maverick is still coasting in rarefied skies too: It fell only 44 percent in its third weekend with an estimated $50 million to take second place, bringing its North American total north of $393.3 million.

Doctor Strange 2, in its sixth weekend, was a distant third with $4.9 million.

This weekend is only the third of the pandemic era in which the total domestic box office surpassed $200 million, according to box-office tracker comScore. The others were Spider Man: No Way Home, in December, and Doctor Strange 2, in May. But this is the first time there has been space for two movies to do well.

“Pretty much all the big blockbuster weekends that we’ve had over the pandemic have been dominated by one movie,” Dergarabedian said. “In this case, we have two big blockbusters in theaters at once. This is the recipe for success that theater owners have been waiting for over the course of the pandemic. It’s an important milestone.”

Dominion, a coproduction of Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, is the third film in the Jurassic World trilogy, which began in 2015 and introduced characters played by Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. The newest installment brings back actors Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum from Steven Spielberg’s 1993 Jurassic Park.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US and Canadian theaters, according to comScore.

1. Jurassic World: Dominion, $143.4 million 2. Top Gun: Maverick, $50 million 3. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, $4.9 million 4. The Bob’s Burgers Movie, $2.3 million 5. The Bad Guys, $2.3 million 6. Downton Abbey: A New Era, $1.7 million 7. Everything Everywhere All At Once, $1.3 million 8. Firestarter, $820,000 9. Sonic the Hedgehog 2, $710,000 10. Ante Sundaraniki, $620,000. n

STAGE DAD

THE young star and her brother, also a celebrity, are not only good-looking but also very friendly and easy to work with. However, we heard that one of the reasons why their careers won’t take off is that their dad is quite the stage father and makes so many demands. For instance, if a certain brand wants to get his daughter as a brand ambassador, he will demand an astronomical amount as professional fee and this will be way higher than what they are usually prepared for. He usually also demands that certain conditions be met before they say yes. He also has objections to things that aren’t paid, such as interviews and photo shoots for newspapers and magazines.

PHOTO BY TOWFIQU BARBHUIYA ON UNSPLASH

BAD CONDITION

WE’VE received a report that the celebrity, who is sick and is receiving treatment abroad, is in a really bad condition right now. It’s not that celebrity is dying because her condition is still stable. But she isn’t getting better and her condition is slowly deteriorating. Her family members and friends are still hoping for a miracle because the celebrity is still relatively young and a recovery, with the help of proper health care and maintenance, is still possible.

The celebrity has reportedly put all her financial affairs in order just in case anything bad happens, so her kids are well taken care of.

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By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press

OVE over Maverick, the dinosaurs have arrived to claim their throne.

Jurassic World: Dominion took a mighty bite out of the box office with $143.4 million in North American ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. Including earnings from international showings—the film opened in various markets last weekend—Jurassic World: Dominion, released globally by Universal Pictures, has already grossed $389 million. And it’s just getting started.

“We couldn’t be happier,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s head of domestic distribution. “Jurassic World: Dominion had a very broad and ridiculously enthusiastic audience.”

The hefty haul is yet another sign that the box office is continuing to rebound this summer. With the blockbuster successes of films, like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Top Gun: Maverick and now Jurassic World 3, audiences are coming back to movie theaters more consistently.

The film, which had a reported $185 million price tag not accounting for marketing and promotion costs, opened on 4,676 screens in the US and Canada, starting with preview showings Thursday. Audiences were 56 percent male and 54 percent over the age of 25, according to Universal.

Critics were not kind to the dino extravaganza, but audiences seem to be enjoying themselves based on exit polls. Moviegoers gave it an “A-” CinemaScore and an 81 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that word-of-mouth will be strong in the coming weeks.

“You want to see dinosaurs on the big screen, it doesn’t matter what critics thought,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for comScore. And many moviegoers did opt for the

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Keep life simple and affordable.

Refuse to let others coerce you into participating in things that don’t interest you. Discipline and hard work are the best ways to reach your goals and comfort your soul. Knowing that you’ve done your best will help you go above and beyond to fulfill your wish list. Your numbers are 5, 17, 20, 24, 31, 37, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Back away from drama, and focus on what you need to accomplish. Overreacting will put a costly dent in your reputation, position or status. Think before you act, and say only what’s necessary. Pay attention to detail. HH

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Change what isn’t working for you. Don’t put up with people or situations that drain you and take away from your chance to reach your expectations. Don’t dismiss or hide your ideas. Look for an affordable way to achieve your objective. HHHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Apply for something, take advantage of an opportunity, mix business with pleasure and network your way up the ladder. Don’t believe everything you hear, and get what you want in writing. Don’t hold back; say what’s on your mind. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Adjustments geared toward cutting back, minimizing your expenditures and doing the work yourself will put your mind at ease and give you the wiggle room you require to invest in raising your earning potential. Selfimprovement is encouraged. HHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): An emotional situation will wreak havoc on what you want.

Don’t overspend, exaggerate or let anger set in when moderation and peace of mind will make things better. Avoid situations that are health risks or those that can damage your reputation. HHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pay attention to making changes that showcase how versatile you are. How you present yourself to those around you is indicative of what you can expect in return. Love yourself, and others will see you through the same lens. Romance is encouraged. HHHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Make your surroundings more comfortable, but don’t overspend. You’ll find a discrepancy in your financial papers or when sharing expenses. Catch up; leave nothing to chance or unfinished. An opportunity will require honest and open discussion before you proceed. HH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Travel, sign up to learn something new or update your image. Making a change will encourage you to get out more. Don’t take on any responsibilities you can’t handle. Get out and be happy. HHHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll attract interesting people, but don’t put your trust in them. Show your intelligence, and know when to decline or move on to more critical tasks. Consider changes at home that will make your life easier. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Tiptoe through any situation that is sensitive. Put your energy into something that encourages better health and self-improvement. A physical change will help you leave the past behind. Choose peace and love over chaos.

HHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t let anyone ruin your plans. Keep your intentions a secret until you are confident that nothing will stand in your way. Dig in and do the groundwork first, and move on to enjoy the success that follows. Home improvement is encouraged. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Stop dreaming and start doing. Get your to-do list and push forward. Call in those you can trust to do things your way. A change of heart will give you a different perspective regarding lifestyle and love. Embrace what feels right. HHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are thoughtful, flexible and strong-willed.

You are resourceful and generous.

‘universal freestyle’ BY BILLY BRATTON The Universal Crossword/Edited by Amanda Rafkin

ACROSS 1 “Yeah, right!”

5 Real bores 10 Move slowly (along) 14 Quick snack 15 Accumulated, as charges 16 Qatar’s fastest-growing city 17 Drawing out one’s feelings?

19 Send forth 20 Cloth in a British kitchen 21 Bricklayers 23 “A ghost!!”

24 Feminist slogan created by the band Bikini Kill 26 McGregor of Christopher Robin 28 Mountain whose Tibetan name is Qomolangma 31 PictureMate printer maker 33 Country hidden in “Somalia” 35 MTV show where Olivia Rodrigo won Best New Artist in ‘21 36 Fly sky-high 37 Sample 38 Bombeck who wrote If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the

Pits?

Tyler’s presidential successor Jumping skills, in slang Less coarse Bill with a large contract, say?

Chase rival, for short “C’mon, tell me!”

Crow’s sound Exclusive stories Catwoman or Harley Quinn, e.g.

Drive-___ voting Young person who spends hours scrolling social media, often 58 Food, or has food 59 A8 and Q8, for two 60 Littlest of a litter 61 Learned 62 How deadpan humor is delivered 63 Legend DOWN 1 Ease up 2 “No ___, Bob!” 3 “Hey, everyone’s different” 4 Boba from the planet Kamino 5 Lured 39 40 41 42 44 45 48 51 53 55 56

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 25 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 37 41 43 44 46

Less common As a whole Baby otter Film with plants and bugs?

Justification for treating oneself “That’s the last straw!”

Take it on the ___ Bowlers, but not archers Sacred Navajo home Dazzled feeling Pummels with snowballs, say Office BFF “I totally agree!”

Pre-1917 Russian ruler Channel for Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest “It just vanished!”

New Zealander in Keri Hulme’s The Bone People Egyptian cobra “So tragic” Conform socially Piece of advice A bit too precious Late to school

47 Buck who was the MLB’s first Black coach 49 “You ___ kidding!”

50 Value 51 Chili con carne, e.g.

52 Masala ___ (spiced milk tea) 54 Damage 57 Aggressive dog Solution to today’s puzzle:

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LARRY ALCALA’S LIFE, WIT AND HUMOR HONORED

AS part of the recent National Heritage Month celebrations, mallgoers had the rare opportunity to have a glimpse of the life and works of National Artist Larry Alcala in an exhibit at the SMX Convention Center at SM Aura Premier.

The exhibition Larry Alcala: Slices of Life, Wit and Humor featured a collection of archival reproduction of Alcala’s works alongside works in drawing, print and digital media of selected artists influenced by Larry Alcala, including members of the organization Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (INK), which thrives to this day.

The event was a partnership of The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (M) and the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. (FHFI), with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and SM. It explored Filipino comics and illustrations as popular and enduring art forms that channel humor alongside hard-hitting commentary about Philippine society, a testament to the endurance and timeliness of Alcala’s observations, candor and wit through visual form.

At the height of his career, Larry Alcala was part of every Filipino’s life. Picture a day in the life in the Philippines: the bright pops of color brought on by passing jeeps and tricycles on Manila’s busy streets, the chitter-chatter of neighborhood gossips outside their houses, children climbing trees and playing wherever they can, and the warmth of the tropical sun shining down on all of this. Of all the Filipino artists who worked with these subjects, perhaps none was more prodigious or influential for generations to come than Larry Alcala.

The exhibition received curatorial guidance from visual communications educator and award-winning illustrator Professor Ruben “Totet” de Jesus of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Fine Arts.

The exhibition at the SMX Aura is complemented by the M’s education and public programs ongoing until July: including an M Collab participatory project, inviting participants age 18 to 25 to share “à la Alcala” digital art contributions online.

For more information, e-mail info@metmuseum.ph.

NATIONAL Artist for Music Dr. Ramon Santos

KOREAN Cultural Center director IM Young-A with SM senior vice president for marketing communications Group Millie Dizon

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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Miserable at work PHOTO BY ROSTYSLAV SAVCHYN ON UNSPLASH

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HERE are days when work needs to be jolted with a cup of coffee or two to get you going.

But when your workday is no different from the one yesterday, or even weeks or months before that, you might want to think hard if you really are where you want to be. Some people are fine doing the same thing every day for the rest of their lives. But if you find yourself constantly dissatisfied at the end of your workday, you need to seriously consider what is causing your misery.

There are fortunate people who make a living out of their hobbies. But most people will find themselves employed for the most part of their lives and deal with their workload, their coworkers, their manager, and the inevitable office politics. And since we spend most of our waking moments at work, it is important that you find employment where you feel most fulfilled.

And when you start becoming dissatisfied with your work, you need to address the main cause. Otherwise, it might snowball into burnout or aggressive behavior.

Below are reasons why you might be miserable at work and what you can do when it happens.

You might be miserable because you do not believe in the work you do or the vision of your organization.

Just like the coffee commercial asking your reason for getting up in the morning, your sense of purpose is a significant factor in being satisfied with what you do. If you are miserable at work, start with asking yourself if your work now serves your life purpose.

When you do not find meaning in what you do, you will end up working for people who do.

You might be miserable because of the work you do. As a neophyte in whatever industry, you will have to start at the bottom because you need to know the fundamentals of your craft and most of the time, you will have to do grunt work. However, if you have been in the basics for too long without any foreseeable improvements in the immediate future, you might have to look for opportunities in other teams, a different organization, or even another industry.

Especially so if there is no professional growth, career path, or a chance to improve your earnings. While your personal purpose serves as your motivation, your career goals will serve as your compass.

You might even be miserable because of your mindset or attitude. There are some people who think that everyone and everything is always going against them, when in fact these people do not look for opportunities to help themselves and improve.

And what is more, they blame events, people, and just about everything else except themselves. So, examine yourself carefully and focus your efforts on what you can improve about yourself to effectively do your work. You may not have any influence on how people think or even on some events, but you can influence how you react to them.

You might also be miserable because of your working environment. There are workspaces where people are not appreciated at all because everyone is expected to work as hard as they can. There are even

workplaces where there are hostile coworkers who gossip and malign you. And then there are those that do not fit your personality such that you do not have any friends at all. If you find yourself in any of these workspaces, chances are you will find it difficult to work. Weigh those working conditions against your purpose and your career plans so you can focus on the skills you need to develop before you look for your preferred working environment. Focus on learning as much as you can and develop the skills you need for your professional growth.

A top reason for being miserable at work is excessive overtime and being overworked unnecessarily. Add to that is being underpaid and being asked to take more responsibilities without the commensurate compensation. If your organization keeps looking for ways to increase productivity and profit without any improvement in your earnings, you might need to start looking for other organizations which know how to appreciate their employees. But in the meantime, you can look for ways to lessen overtime or being overworked by looking at your internal processes and analyzing which can be improved or shortened.

You might also be miserable because of your boss. Your direct supervisor has a significant impact on your job satisfaction. If you do not get along

with your manager, analyze where the disconnect is. You can start by managing how you react by being professional and doing the best you can.

This way, you can rule out inefficiency as a reason why your manager does not like you. If the issue is your personality, you may want to adjust your attitude toward them because you may be at fault, or you simply cannot work with how they behave.

Remember, they will be the one to evaluate you in your performance, so you need to understand how to manage your manager. If you cannot work with your manager for whatever reason, you may want to talk to them or their manager. If the issues between the two of you cannot be resolved, start looking for another team to join.

But before starting to look for greener pastures, make sure you have exhausted all possible remedies to address your job dissatisfaction. If the problem is your skills or mindset and you do not do anything to address them, you will end up in an endless cycle of dissatisfaction where you go from job to job.

You need to start with what drives you, and then focus on improving yourself every day. As author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek once said, “Working hard for something we do not care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.” n

their day with a breakfast immunity drink.”

Barcia drew the line between Redoxon and Berocca, another effervescent tablet from Bayer.

The difference lies in the combination of vitamins, he said, wherein Berocca is for individuals who need an extra jolt of energy and mental sharpness, while Redoxon deals more with immunity-boosting and protection with its high-dose vitamin C component at 1000 mg.

Getting that amount equates to eating 20 oranges in a day, Manio said.

“Our bodies do not produce vitamin C, that’s why

we need to take it from our diet and supplementation,” she added, saying drinking Redoxon is a “wonderful habit to start in the morning.”

Present at the launch to discuss their own morning habits was celebrity couple Megan Young and Mikael Daez. They were joined by Chef Ed Bugia, who led a cooking demo of an avocado toast to promote a healthy breakfast.

“Living a healthy lifestyle for us as a couple really starts in the morning, because that sets you up for how you feel the rest of the day,” Mikael said. “In the morning pa lang, we try to take care of ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally.”

When it comes to managing stress, the couple said they deal with it as partners. “When I reach that point of stress, [Mikael] pulls me to the side, tells me to analyze the situation—and that we’re going to figure it out together,” Megan said.

For Chef Ed, it’s yoga. “It helps me get to my center.

It helps me meditate a bit more because cooking in a restaurant is such a high-stress environment, with all the shouting and banging of the pots and pans, and a lot of stuff not working,” he said.

Manio added that managing stress is indeed different from person to person, and that it is crucial in observing a healthier lifestyle.

“At the backbone of [living healthy] is nutrition,” she said. “It is very important for us to get the proper vitamins and minerals for our immune system to function optimally.”

‘Strengthen your immunity day-by-day’

By Jt Nisay MANY remain guilty of having a “reactive or seasonal approach” when it comes to boosting one’s immunity.

The idea of drinking a warm cup of calamansi juice, for example, no matter how healthy and easy to prepare it is, often only comes when one already feels an incipient cold.

“Whenever we would have a decrease in our immune system, that’s the only time we want to strengthen it,” said Dr. Leah Manio, Bayer country health medical lead. “In truth, we should strengthen our immunity year on year, day by day.”

Manio said there are a lot of factors that can affect our immunity, ranging from lifestyle choices to environmental setups. To fortify one’s protection from illnesses, Manio reiterated the importance of healthy diet and exercise, alongside the value of taking essential vitamins and minerals to fully support the immune system.

Manio was a featured speaker at Manila House during the recent launch of Redoxon in the Philippines. Tagged as “the world’s pioneer immunity brand since 1934” that integrates more than 80 years of vitamin C expertise, Redoxon presents tripleaction multivitamins and minerals in a sugar-free effervescent tablet. It is formulated with three-in-one nutrients, including Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), which protects the body’s cells from oxidative stress that can cause cell damage; Zinc, which produces cells

that defend the immune system; and Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), which strengthens immunity with antibodies.

“With our global immunity expertise, we want to be able to fill the gap of addressing Filipino household’s concern of facing year-round immunothreats, most especially during times when diseases and viruses are at an all-time high,” said Alek Barcia, Bayer associate marketing manager. “Our advanced formulation offers confidence and peace of mind to parents, breadwinners, and other heads of the household in protecting their families by starting

DR. Leah Manio, Bayer country health medical lead; Alek Barcia, Bayer associate marketing manager; celebrity couple Megan Young and Mikael Daez; and Chef Ed Bugia at the Redoxon media launch

B6 Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Home Credit donates 100 computer units to 14 national high schools in Capiz

REPRESENTATIVES from Home Credit Philippines, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and DepEd Division of Capiz during the turnover ceremony of 100 computer units in Panit-an, Capiz

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O enable more Filipino students to benefit from digital mode of learning, the country’s leading consumer finance company Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) has partnered with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and the Department of Education - Capiz Division in order to equip 14 national high schools with 100 computer units for their blended and distance learning set-ups last May 31, 2022.

“As the country further progresses towards its digital transformation journey, it has only become more crucial for educational institutions to closely collaborate with organizations for support in upgrading capacities and develop a

digitally empowered workforce ready to excel in the emerging digital economy,” shared Susana Ong, HCPH Chief Information Officer.

“Through this partnership with ABSCBN Foundation, we at Home Credit hope to push for a more ideal and conducive learning environment for Filipino students,” shared Kenneth Lerona, HCPH Head of PR. This effort is also in line with Home Credit’s thrust of championing ESG (environmental, social, and governance) programs along with ABS-CBN Linkod Kapamilya Foundation's Programa Genio by providing underserved education

sectors access to tools that can enrich their learning experience. Moreover, it hopes to strengthen Information and Communications Technology senior high school programs in the country through training and programs for teachers and learners and partnerships with education stakeholders.

“With a long-term goal of honing young individuals to become competent drivers of the country’s workforce, one of Programa Genio’s efforts is to partner with like-minded organizations in providing learners with ICT gadgets and equipment. We are grateful to Home Credit Philippines for the support and we look forward to our beneficiaries taking advantage of the tools provided to them,” shared Teacher Maricar Estole, Program Head of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Programa Genio.

“The power and importance of technology in education are evident now more than ever, as Filipino students need access to education even during crisis and more so now that the country is emerging from it. Home Credit Philippines’ assistance will indeed be advantageous for our division as it will enable us to offer education that is more relevant and serving to what the nation needs,” shared Jose Niro Nillasca, DepEd Capiz Asst. Schools Division Superintendent.

EastWest‘s Komo app assures easier digital banking and more

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ASTWEST'S Komo is paving the future of digital banking for individuals seeking to have better control of their finances.

Launched at the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, digital banking has become a priority where people may opt not go to banks and instead manage their money right on their phones.

The official media launch of Komo was recently held with Business Head Isabelle Yap pointing out that people are comfortable doing their banking online, “[People] are ready for a digital future, even before the pandemic [happened].”

Yap shared that in the two years of Komo's launch, they learned that people do not find managing finances and savings a chore, and that people would prefer to handle their bank accounts on their own.

This is what makes Komo stands out from other digital banking services according to Chief Product Officer Krisia Cruz, “We can do whatever a bank does, and more.”

Some features that Komo has is a 2.5 percent interest rate, no InstaPay fees (at least until July 31), no maintaining balance needed, and one will have unlimited free withdrawals at any EastWest ATM and up to four free withdrawals per month for other BancNet ATMs. Cruz also said that having a parent company, in Komo's case EastWest, assures their clients that their money won’t be taken away.

Banking and more

WHILE most, if not all, digital banking services allow users to do banking online. Komo also has features that help people monitor their self-imposed budgets.

Komo has a budgeting option where all expenses are tracked

AT KOMO LAUNCH, FROM LEFT: Chief Commercial Officer Harvey Libarnes, Chief Product Officer Krisia Cruz, and Business Head Isabelle Yap. and put into graphs in order to show how much spending a user is doing over a given time. There’s a goals tracker too so that users can set personal goals for themselves if they are eyeing a purchase or high expense. “[Komo is] not just a normal service, [we want to] be true to our name na 'Kontrol Mo Pera Mo’ and that security is taken into account,” explained Cruz.

She clarified though that the two trackers currently only monitor expenses that are done through the Komo app, but they are working on including physical transactions and transactions done in other banks.

Though digital banking on Komo is almost within the management of users, realtime customer support who are actual persons (and not bots) are available via hotline, email and social media for individuals experiencing issues.

Cropin partners with True Digital Solutions to accelerate digital transformation, future-proof farming in PH

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ROPIN, the agritech pioneer who has built the first global Intelligent Agriculture Cloud, and True Digital, a leading telecommunications and digital services provider, have partnered to help accelerate much needed digital transformation of the agricultural ecosystem in Philippines and other South-East Asian countries.

Cropin and True Digital have identified the Philippines as a core growth market as the country’s agriculture economy is grappling with a host of challenges. The partnership will formulate digital strategies to redefine the legacy agri-food value chain and empower agri-businesses and farmers in the country to improve efficiency, productivity, profitability, and sustainability of their farming operations.

Philippines agriculture segment has a huge potential to scale up the existing agricommodity produce and multiply the current $7 billion agriculture export. In order to accelerate the country’s vision to achieve self-sufficiency in major agriculture crops and scale exports, farmers in the country need to be empowered with tech enabled modern agriculture and Climate Smart practices. Cropin has digitized 16 million acres of farmland globally, improving the livelihoods of more than 7 million farmers.

The sector is beset by various challenges including shrinking rural population, resource use inefficiency, post-harvest losses, poor quality of produce, climate change, pandemic induced challenges, and unsustainable farming practices-all resulting in low productivity and

incomes. Leveraging the Cropin platform, Philippines’ rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut, pineapple, banana, mango and other agriculture sub-segments can increase farm productivity by 20% to 30%, resulting in significant improvements in farmer income and profitability. This can have a significant impact on the region's economic progress, social upliftment, food security, and futureproof farming in the Philippines.

According to Sujit Janardanan, Chief Marketing Officer at Cropin, “Agriculture in Southeast faces critical challenges on account of social and economic trends, climate change, and other factors. Through our partnership with True Digital, our objective is to expand the reach and impact, and accelerate digital transformation that will benefit all stakeholders in the agriecosystem. We are committed to delivering a positive impact on the lives of farmers, supporting the government’s vision and becoming a partner of choice for the agrifood businesses in the region” Sulabh Dhanuka, Head of International Digital Solutions, True Digital Group, said, “By combining Cropin’s technology with our existing digital innovation and deep understanding of the local market requirements, we intend to bring a positive impact on the country’s agriculture landscape.”

DFA fosters friendship, holds international minibazaar and Asean food fest at SM Mall of Asia

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ALLGOERS recently had the rare opportunity to Shop, Taste, and Celebrate with 26 countries during the recent International Mini-Bazaar and ASEAN Food Fest at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. A joint project of The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the International Bazaar Foundation, Inc. (IBF), and the ASEAN Ladies Foundation (ALF), in partnership with SM, the event aimed to foster and strengthen the friendship shared between the Philippines and other countries through sumptuous food,

music, and signature products. Meanwhile, the ASEAN Food Fest showcased signature dishes and various cuisines from the 10 ASEAN member states.

DFA Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Mrs. Maria Lourdes Locsin led the festivities together with (from left) ALF President and Malaysian Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires Nurriha Ahmad; IBF President Consul Betty Ang; SM's Millie Dizon; and Spouses of Heads of Mission (SHOM) representative and wife of EU Ambassador Luc Véron, Mme. Nicole Weismann.

CCP presents hybrid VLF‘s Playwrights Fair

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ITH the return to the live stage of the well-loved CCP Virgin Labfest this June, the Playwrights Fair, a staple in the Festival, goes onstage and online for lively round of panel discussions from June 17 – July 3, 2022.

Here is the schedule of the onsite sessions that will be held at the CCP's Tanghalang Manuel Conde: On JUNE 17, 5pm, in Critics’ Choice, two critics, Gibbs Cadiz and Chunchi Cabasaan, share their list of the top ten plays of VLF from its inception in 2005 to the present.

On JUNE 18, 5pm, in Playwrights in the Academe, writers Guelan Luarca, Vladimeir Gonzalez and Urie Clamor share their thought and processes on writing plays in university theatres.

On JUNE 24, 5pm, in Adapting Literature/ Fiction to Stage, playwrights Alvin Dacanay, Eljay Deldoc, and May Cardoso share their experiences/creative process in adapting fiction to the stage.

On JUNE 25, 5pm, in Scriptwork: Directors Take on New Work by Playwrights, directors Tuxqs Rutaquio, Roobak Valle, Issa Manalo Lopez talk about their processes and approaches to directing new works by playwrights.

Here is the schedule of the premiere streaming of the online sessions through the following Facebook Pages: Cultural Center of the Philippines (https://www. facebook.com/culturalcenterofthephilippines), CCP Intertextual Division (https://www. facebook.com/CCPIntertextualDivision), and The Virgin Labfest (https://www.facebook.com/ thevirginlabfest):

On JUNE 29, 7pm, in Hango sa Totoong Buhay with playwrights Dustin Celestino, Layeta Bucoy and Nicolas Pichay. At 8:30 pm, in Folklore in Playwriting, playwrights Jerry Respeto and Carlo Vergara share their experiences, processes, and insights in writing folklore plays.

On JUNE 30, 7pm, in Playwriting for Children and Young People, writers Luna Inocian and Christine Bellen share their wonderful journey in writing plays for children and young people. At 8:30 pm, you can watch the live recorded session of Critic’s Choice by Gibbs Cadiz and Chunchi Cabasaan.

On JULY 1, 7 pm, in Remembering Rene Villanueva, writers Luna Sicat-Cleto and Jun Lana reminisce about their memories of Rene Villanueva and how he inspired and influenced them. At 8:30 pm, online streaming of Playwright in the Academe with playwrights Guelan Luarca, Vladimeir Gonzalez and Urie Clamor.

On JULY 2, in Writing Musicals, musical director Ejay Yatco talks about his ideas and inspirations in writing music for theater musicals. At 8:30, you can watch the online stream of Adapting Literature/Fiction to the stage with playwrights Alvin Dacanay, Eljay Deldoc and May Cardoso.

On JULY 3, in Teaching Playwriting, playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas discussed the approaches to teaching playwriting both in academe and non-academe settings. At 8:30 pm, online streaming of Scriptwork: Directors Take on New Work by Playwrights with directors Tuxqs Rutaquio, Roobak Valle and Issa Manalo Lopez.

FINEX, MBC, and MAP reiterate call for PH membership in the world‘s economic bloc

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HE Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), the Makati Business Club (MBC), and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) would like to reiterate our call for the Senate to ratify the Philippine membership in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the largest economic bloc in the world’s history.

RCEP’s 15 member economies, which consist of the ten ASEAN members plus Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and South Korea, account for 30 percent of the world’s population and of global GDP. As such, it is a huge market that Filipino producers would gain preferential access to via membership in RCEP. Like any free trade agreement, RCEP provides wide economic opportunities for our country, and will provide overall economic gains in terms of net job creation, economic growth and price stabilization.

The government has the responsibility to assist those adversely affected meaningfully and effectively, to allow them to achieve competitiveness or adjust to alternative products or livelihoods.

RCEP will help MSMEs expand market

access, especially with more liberal rules of origin on traded products to qualify for trade concessions. It will also provide broader and cheaper alternative sources for inputs and reduce costs of doing business through improved trade facilitation, especially customs and trade clearance procedures.

Exclusion from RCEP would be immensely costly to the economy and the people. The country can anticipate a significant decline in exports to RCEP countries, which now account for nearly two-thirds of our total exports, as trade with the country will be diverted to other members. It would also make the country even more unattractive to job-creating investments, as these would best be located in RCEP member countries to take advantage of free access to its vast market.

RCEP only reaffirms existing trade concessions with fellow members via the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) the ASEAN-Plus Free Trade Agreements.

Tariff elimination will take up to 20 years, giving ample time for the economy to shape up and achieve the competitiveness that will allow local producers to take full advantage of the vast market opportunities RCEP offers.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 B7

Imperial Homes launches first-ever solar net-metered community

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

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roperty technology (proptech) developer Imperial Homes Corp.

(IHC) launched on June 2 the country’s first-ever solar net-metered community in its Via Verde Trece Martires development in Cavite.

In her remarks, IHC Chairperson and CEO Emma Imperial thanked Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Agnes Devanadera for her support to the project.

“As a pioneering PropTech developer, we are more driven to integrate modern and efficient technologies into property developments to promote inclusive growth in our communities. The net-metering system is another proof that real estate and renewable energy and green resilient building materials are potent partners in addressing the concerns of poverty alleviation, climate change and housing backlogs.

None of this is possible without the leadership of ERC chairperson Devanadera,” Imperial said.

Imperial added the pioneering solar net-metered community features residential houses that generate optimal solar energy and

Ceremonial net-metering energization for 550 houses of Via Verde Trece Martires. From left:Aldren B. Samson, President and CEO, Enfinity Imperial Solar Solutions Inc; William Pamintuan, SVP and Chief Legal Counsel, Manila Electric Company; Agnes Devanadera, Chairperson and CEO, Energy Regulatory Commission, and Emma M. Imperial, Chairperson and CEO, Imperial Homes Corporation

Tiarra Townhouse Units installed with 2.7 kWp Grid-Tied System with Net-Metering

export excess electricity to the grid in exchange for net-metering credits. She also said this will be considered as a move that contributes to a more stable grid in Luzon.

Under ERC’s program, Devanadera said net-metering allows solar owners with less than 100 kWp (kilowatts peak) capacity to export their excess electricity to the grid in exchange for electricity bill credits.

“As the head of ERC, this pivotal occasion is a significant landmark. The energy industry, as we know it, has totally changed with

the net-metering program. From the one-way flow of electricity, to a two-way flow of electricity. It empowers consumers to become ‘prosumers,’ with the ability to generate their own electricity for their own consumption, and as well as export any excess generation to the distribution grid,” Devanadera explained.

The ERC chair attributed this milestone to the amendment of net-metering rules which happened under her watch.

“During the initial implementation of the net-metering rules,

participation in the program was heavily skewed towards industrial and commercial businesses who can afford to install solar panels on their rooftops. Taking advantage of the significant reduction in the cost of panels in the world market, the ERC timely included in the amended net-metering rules the simplified procedures for community housing developments’ participation, thereby allowing residential customers to access the program. This is indeed a landmark decision of the ERC, which gave rise to solar powered

community housing such as this,” the ERC chair added.

The 50,000-sq.m Via Verde Trece Martires development is targeted for completion in 2025 and is expected to serve as a “model” for all affordable, resilient and sustainable projects in Cavite.

Devanadera also cited significance of convergence among stakeholders such as property developers, local government units (LGUs), power utilities and other relevant organizations.

“I always give importance to events like this. We would like to have this as a project model for ERC to point to and Imperial Homes will take on another role—a teaching role because they will be sharing this—that there are different agencies which enable programs like this and that is important. ERC can just come up with rules but beyond that, we need the private sector to put life to what ERC and other government agencies are talking about. I’m really grateful that Trece Martires hosted this. The call really is for every city so that we can address the backlog in housing, for every

city and province to at least have a model community for renewable energy,” Devanadera said.

Among the organizations present at the launch include International Finance Corp. (IFC), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), Board of Investments (BOI), PropTech Consortium of the Philippines (PropTech), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA), Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), National Real Estate Association (NREA) and the Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

Aside from the Net-metering rules amendment, Devanadera also led the fast-tracking of resolutions of verification cases of passthrough charges, empowering consumers through the expanded coverage of retail competition and rate mitigating measures, and transitioning to electronic processes amid the pandemic.

Charming tourists back to Subic

GUESTS can take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool seated at the hotel’s rooftop overlooking the scenic views of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and surrounding mountains.

LE Charmé’s spacious, well-appointed room Story & photos

by Roderick L. Abad

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S the country’s economy reopens due to the constant decline in Covid-19 cases not only in Metro Manila but in other parts of the country, tourism industry follows with travel-related businesses now back in operation as people begin to go out again and explore various destinations—a perfect respite from the stress and anxiety brought about by the pandemic over the last two years.

Leading the pack in the revitalized local hospitality industry is Le Charmé Suites located within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, which has already been on track to recovery even prior to the current easement of health restrictions.

“I did not expect it’s tourism that will bounce back first,” Le Charmé Suites Managing Director Josephine Floresca told reporters at the recent 1st FRIKE (Fun. Ride.Bike) Enduro Challenge they organized in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Subic EnerZone, Lagoon Restaurant and local indig-

enous groups. “Actually, it’s better than before. It’s better than the prepandemic.”

The four-star hotel owned by realestate firm Grand Pillar International Development Inc. (GPIDI) has been a proof of the improving industry’s current performance with its roughly at least 70-percent occupancy rate since it’s reopening for the leisure market in September of last year, according to her.

“We’ve been under quarantine hotel operations from October of 2020 up to August of 2021,” she said of their sudden transition as a chosen accommodation initially for the employees of factories within the freeport zone and later on the returning overseas Filipino workers at the height of the ensuing health crisis. Pre-pandemic, we were at around 40 to 50 [percent only—occupancy-wise], and now the rate is really good.”

Floresca attributed Le Charmé’s strong business, not to mention that of both the travel and hotel sectors in general, to revenge tourism and the growing preference of local tourists, especially from Manila, to come

to Subic since it’s merely two hours away from the country’s capital via the Skyway.

In keeping the momentum, she noted that they “keep on creating events” and “more active in collaborating with other establishments.”

Inaugural fun race

THE FRIKE was the first activity that the hotel has had since the relaxation of mobility and health protocols in most parts of the country—a welcome development and sort of relief not only to its guests but the bikers to revisit Subic anew after the lockdown periods.

As a headstart, the organizer intentionally had it small with a total of 50 participants coming mostly from the locality itself and other areas like Manila as well as the provinces of Bataan, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga and Rizal.

Thirty of them joined in the full suspension category and 20 in the hard tail segment of the competition held at the 3-kilometer long Paco 55 Track of the Pamulaklakin Forest Trail inside the Aeta tribal reservation in SBMA.

Kimi Grande, an off-road mountain biker from Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, won in the former challenge with a time of 5 minutes and 39.9 seconds. On the other hand, Jeffrey Tendero, who hails from Porac, Pampanga, lorded over the latter race in 6 minutes and 15.8 seconds.

Both of them, likewise, bested their rivals in the jump competition of their respective categories. Together with other winners, they took home cash prizes, trophies, medals, certificates, vouchers and finisher shirts.

“One of the reasons why we organized this event is for us to reopen after the pandemic,” the managing director said. “So we aim to have a lighter race rather than enduro or something very hardcore game. That’s why this game is really for fun.”

More than just being a competition, the FRIKE was conducted also in an eco-friendly and image-enhancing manner.

“Since we opened our economy late last year, many have come out. They went here in the trail, but they left their wastes. There’s really an advocacy for this event. It’s really more

A COMPETITOR shows his endurance while cycling uphill during the First FRIKE (Fun. Ride. Bike) Enduro Challenge at the Paco 55 Track of the Pamulaklakin Forest Trail inside the Aeta tribal reservation in Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority grounds. on creating awareness to the public that there is such kind of a trail, but we really hope to encourage everyone to pick up and bring back home their wastes, or throw them in a proper disposal area,” she pointed out.

“For a long time, Subic and Olongapo have this image of a red light district. So we really tried our best to turn around the image that this is actually a family destination, an athlete destination, a more wholesome destination that could cater not only for fun but also for business. If you notice, our concept is ‘BLeisure’—business and leisure,” she added.

Proud of the event’s success, Floresca bared their plan to hold it on the 30th day of April annually. She said: “Maybe next year, we will do it more of like a corporate activity. So there are going to be companies sending their representatives more than individual [participants].”

Accidental yet charming

LE Charmé is an “accidental project” of GPIDI, a group of Taiwanese investors in Subic engaged in residential and commercial developments.

This European-inspired boutique hotel, which originally was designed as a furniture mall, opened in March 2017 to complement the rising meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry in the former military base of the United States in the country during the time.

It boasts of its being the first steel structure building in Subic, housing 45 spacious, well-appointed and equipped rooms, plus topnotch facilities and amenities akin to high star-rated hotels, such as a spa, a gym, a pool, food and beverage outlets, as well as meeting and function rooms.

Supposedly intended as a showroom and storage for furnitures imported from China, Le Charmé is known for its high-ceiling lobby and accommodation spaces, complemented by a roomy elevator with a couch. What also separates itself from the competition is its provision of bike racks along the wall of every hotel room, thus making it fit not only for the BLeisure market, but also to athletes like the bikers.

“So that made us very, very popular,” Floresca stressed. “This is really an unplanned, accidental success.”

THAILAND BEATS CANADA IN 3 SETS IN VNL OPENER

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HAILAND overcame a stiff challenge from Canada in the third set to carve out a 25-19, 25-22, 26-24 win for a successful Week 2 start of the Volleyball Nations League on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pimpichaya Kokram came through with 20 points on 19-of-34 attacks while Chatchu-On Moksri had two service aces to finish with 17 points and went 15-of-29 spikes for the Thais.

Improving its record to 4-1, Thailand was able to buck the loss of middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang, who suffered an injury in the opening week in Ankara, Turkey, with Hattaya Bamrungsuk taking charge in the frontline.

“We play the best that we can. We will try our best,” said Pimpichaya through an interpreter.

Emily Maglio’s back-to-back kills forced the match’s last deadlock at 24-24, but the Canadians were not able to catch a break when needed.

Canada’s net fault challenge was proved unsuccessful that put Thailand at match point before an attack error ended the one-hour, 21-minute contest.

The Canadians committed 27 errors compared to the Thais’ 11.

“I think we were disappointed what we what showed up today,” said Alexa Grey, who finished with 13 points.

Kiera Van Ryk scored 20 points, including nine in the third set, while Maglio added eight markers for Canada, which fell to 2-3 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist and reigning VNL champions United States will make its debut at 3 p.m.

Wednesday against Bulgaria at the Big Dome.

Setter Micha Hancock, libero Justine Wong-Orantes, outside hitter Kelsey Robinson and middle blockers Chiaka Ogbogu and Haleigh Washington are the 2020 gold medalists on the roster, as opposite spikers Annie Drews and Jordan Thompson, who both competed in Shreveport in Week 1, were not field in.

THE Thais are now up there in the world volleyball hierarchy. NONIE REYES

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AN FRANCISCO—For the first time in his career, Stephen Curry couldn’t get a three-pointer to fall in a National Basketball Association (NBA) postseason game.

Curry was 0 for 9 behind the arc in the Warriors’ 104-94 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.

The drought ended a streak of 233 postseason and regular-season games in which Curry had made at least one 3-pointer, a run that lasted three and a half years.

The most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history was 7 for 22 overall, finishing with 16 points while the Warriors moved within a victory of another championship.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier after a 0-for-whatever type of night,” Curry said, “just knowing the context of the game, the other ways you tried to impact the game and the fact that, you know, you had four guys step up in meaningful ways to help us win offensively.”

Curry, who was coming off a 43-point performance in Game 4, hadn’t gone without a three-pointer in a game since November 8, 2018. His 233game run topped his previous record of 196 straight games and is more than twice as long as any player ever.

Curry also had made a 3 in all 132 of his postseason games, easily another record. That streak began in 2013.

He had made 25 3s in the first four games.

“Steph is the best to ever shoot it. And I’ll tell you what, everyone in the building, including the fans and those watching, believe the ball is going in when it leaves his fingertips,” teammate Klay Thompson said.

“So we’re never stressed or worried about No. 30. He has done so much and elevated this franchise to a place where it was hard to even imagine that he has leeway, and he can have a bad night. I just know he’ll respond.”

CURRY’S 3S GO DUD, BUT GSW NEARS TITLE

Sports BusinessMirror

B8

| Wednesday, June 15, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

WIGGINS DELIVERS ON BOTH ENDS

EXHIBITING a determined confidence and grit all game, Andrew Wiggins singlehandedly took the pressure off Stephen Curry and delivered the best game yet of his eightyear career.

Now, the

THE drought ends a streak of 233 postseason and regular-season games in which Stephen Curry had made at least one 3-pointer, a run that lasted three and a half years. AP first-time All-Star is on the cusp of becoming a first-time NBA champion—and helping Curry capture yet another title.

“It’s something I dreamt about for sure, being in the league, and this is

the ultimate stage,” Wiggins said. “It doesn’t get bigger than this.”

Wiggins had 26 points and 13 rebounds, Klay Thompson scored 21 points for the Warriors.

“Coming into this year, he was

PSC chair Ramirez to successor: Concentrate on grassroots sports

By Josef Ramos

W

ILLIAM “BUTCH” RAMIREZ is on the final two weeks of his term as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) but besides leaving behind a legacy that sparkles with an Olympic gold medal, he wants the next man at the helm to put more weight on developing homegrown athletes.

“Look at Hidilyn Diaz,” Ramirez told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum that went faceto-face for the first time in more than two years, but perhaps his last appearance as PSC chairman in the weekly public forum.

Diaz, of course, is the country’s

first Olympic gold medalist who topped the women’s -55 kgs class in Tokyo last August. She is a fullblooded Filipino coming out of far-flung Barangay Mampang in Zamboanga City where weightlifting is now a must if another local would want to be where Diaz is right now.

“We have to rely on our grassroots programs. Hidilyn [Diaz] is a hardworking girl…the process is very, very long,” said Ramirez who was in his first tour of duty as PSC chairman when Diaz was an innocent Olympics first timer in Beijing 2008.

“There’s nothing wrong with foreign recruitment, but you just can’t be proud of that.”

It has become a practice among

national sports associations to recruit heritage athletes, a band aid solution if a national federation wants to win medals outright.

“I’m a believer of the Filipino athletes and coaches,” Ramirez said in the forum he amusingly described as his “exit interview.”

Diaz was a prized find from the PSC’s Batang Pinoy, a sports competitions among Filipino athletes who are no older than 15.

Diaz, Ramirez said, is “just like one of the many seeds planted by the PSC throughout the years in collaboration with the Philippine Olympic Committee and NSAs that grew up as elite athletes.”

“If you don’t plant anything, you

Top guns seek strong kickoff at Pradera golf

T

HE International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Pradera Verde Ladies Classic unfolds on Wednesday in Lubao with 19 pros all set for a strong start and four amateurs out for another surprise on a course which puts premium on power and putting for its

Warriors win despite Curry having a day off NOT to brag, but I know they are going to win. The Golden State Warriors, I mean. They beat the Boston Celtics with plenty to spare yesterday, 104-94, to move one game shy of winning their fourth National Basketball Association (NBA) title in seven Finals in their last nine seasons.

Applause, applause.

The win became too obvious when Boston coach Ime Udoka pulled out his first stringers with still nearly two minutes left, the Warriors enjoying a 16-point 104-88 lead.

an All-Star starter for a reason,” Draymond Green said. “... The bigger the challenge has been that we’ve thrown in front of him, the bigger he’s responded. You want a guy like that.

When the stage gets big, they respond and play their best basketball, and that’s what he’s been doing.”

Capping his brilliant performance on both ends, Wiggins drove through the lane for an emphatic one-handed slam with 2:10 left.

“Bottom line is he’s just having fun playing basketball,” Curry said.

The Warriors can win their fourth title in eight years when the series resumes in Boston on Thursday night.

If the Celtics can win at home, the series will return to the Bay Area for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday. All five games so far have been decided by 10 or more points.

Jayson Tatum had 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who lost consecutive games for the first time in the postseason. Marcus Smart was whistled for a technical foul then an offensive foul in a one-second span early in the fourth. He overcame a slow start to score 20 points.

Jordan Poole knocked down a 33foot 3 from the left wing to beat the third-quarter buzzer as the Warriors took a 75-74 lead into the final 12 minutes after the Celtics roared back in the third.

The Celtics found their own thirdquarter magic that has long defined Golden State’s success in the second half. Boston trailed 51-39 at the break before charging back with a 35-point outburst in the third.

Al Horford hit a go-ahead threepointer with 6:28 left in the period that made it 58-55 as the Celtics finally found their shooting groove from deep.

Boston made eight straight made 3 after missing the initial 12.

“Definitely we weren’t as sharp as we needed to be during times there.

Just tough,” Horford said. “Definitely now, our backs are against the wall, and we have to see what we’re made of.” AP

A pedigreed coach himself, Golden State mentor Steve Kerr responded by also recalling his starting crew.

That’s it for now, fellas. Your day is done. Rest your weary mind, knead your achy bones.

My Game Five prediction of a Warrior win was as natural as the flow of a river. I predicated that on Golden State’s masterful 107-97 Game 4 victory in Boston behind the 43-point masterpiece by Steph Curry, tying the best-of-seven Finals at 2-2.

Curry had “only” 16 points in the Warriors’ 3-2 clincher on home court yesterday. But four of those came to push his team away from harm’s way—twice.

A Curry floater from outside the lane gave Golden State a 12-point 91-79 lead with under five minutes left.

A Curry drive with his left hand laying it up gave Golden State a 13-point 97-84 lead before Andrew Wiggins dunked at the two-minute mark.

Oh, yes, Wiggins, the bearded Warrior guard who made Jayson Tatum labor for his 27 points in 44 minutes.

Wasn’t Wiggins also the last one to get vaxxed to beat the deadline for his Warrior stint in the nick of time?

With Curry silent as a lamb with his 16 points yesterday—superstars are also entitled to a dayoff, you know—Wiggins took the unselfish chore of stepping up by banging home a team-high 26 points on top of 13 rebounds.

length and sleek surface.

The three-week break after amateur Mafy Singson upended top guns Chanelle Avaricio, Sunshine Baraquiel and Harmie Constantino by one at Splendido Taal has given the pros time to further hone up and polish their respective games that

It was the second straight game that Wiggins scored a double-double after firing 17 points and snaring 16 boards in the Game Four victory for Golden State.

The Warriors face the daunting challenge of wrapping it all up via a 4-2 clincher at Boston territory on Friday.

When they won Game Four at the TD Garden, the Warriors got seven threes from Curry.

Yesterday on his own backyard, Curry was 0-for-9 from three-point country, marking the first time since 2018 that he failed to sink a single triple.

He did take the day off. Called in sick.

And yet, the Warriors won—running away.

Is there still someone out there doubting another Golden State championship victory?

THAT’S IT South African Charl Schwartzel won the money-rich, Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf inaugural tournament last weekend in London. The novel rebel event, lasting only 54 holes, featured players abandoning the PGA of America, including Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, obviously in pursuit of the record $4 million staked for each of the eight legs calendared. Ah, the color of money. It attracts—no, traps— even the best and the brightest.

CHANELLE AVARICIO has her sights on the title.

won’t harvest anything,” the 72-yearold Ramirez said. “Achievements aren’t done by magic.”

He added that the PSC invested P600 million in elite sports at the start of his second term in 2016, P800 million in 2017 and more than P1 billion in 2019.

Ramirez started as commissioner in 1998 under the late chairman Carlos “Butch” Tuason and was named chairman from 2004 to 2008.

He was re-appointed PSC chairman in 2016 by President Rodrigo Duterte.”

“I’m ready to return to Davao [his hometown] but I’m willing to be an adviser and share my experience and knowhow with the incoming PSC leadership,” he said. could lead to another frenetic finish the way it was the last time out.

Redemption is more than enough motivation for the three pros although the rest are keen on putting up solid starts to fuel their respective title drive in the 54-hole championship serving as the sixth leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT).

They put premium on driving and putting on a flat, well-kept course that repels anything less than accurate shots.

“I focused on driving and putting during the break and hopefully, correct my mistakes,” said Avaricio, easily the marked player with two victories and a couple of runner-up finishes in the last four tournaments of the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized circuit.

But Baraquiel, whose bid for a followup to her breakthrough win at Tagaytay Highlands last year got stymied by late-hole mishaps at Splendido which she had led in the stretch, is also going flat-out to get another shot at the crown, along with Constantino and multi-titled Chihiro Ikeda “If my ball striking clicks, I’ll have a good chance,” said Baraquiel, adding that putting also holds key to one’s title bid at Pradera Verde.

Focus will also be on Constantino, who has served notice of her resurgence from a mini-slump with a third-place effort at Mt. Malarayat and a joint runner-up finish at Splendido, while Ikeda, who foiled Avaricio’s three-peat bid at Mt. Malarayat, is eager and ready to strike back after struggling to joint fifth at Splendido.