BusinessMirror June 19, 2020

23K Saudi-based OFWs want to return

By Samuel P. Medenilla

A

T least 23,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are now seeking aid from the government to be repatriated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The mass exodus of OFWs comes as the Saudi government imposes its own quarantine protocols, which disrupted business operations, to contain its spreading novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said most of the affected OFWs were victims of companies that were forced to stop operations because of the quarantine restrictions in KSA.

However, Labor Attaché for KSA Naser Mustafa said these also include those who were required to undergo a “no work, no pay” arrangement, as well as undocumented and runaway OFWs.

JEEPNEY drivers show their phones installed with the Lalamove delivery app at the launching of Lalajeep, a partnership between the local government of Quezon City and Lalamove to help unemployed jeepney drivers earn from an alternative source of income through delivery service in the time of pandemic. NONOY LACZA

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Exit visas

OF the 23,000 OFWs, 5,900 were able to secure exit visas.

“We were able to send home more than 2,700 through special flights and chartered flights of DOLE, DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] and their companies,” Mustafa said during an online press briefing on Thursday.

Mustafa noted they are having difficulty bringing home the other OFWs because of the unavailability of regular flights.

He noted they are now hoping to repatriate the affected OFWs either through flights chartered by the Philippine government or with help from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Mustafa said flights to and from KSA are expected to normalize by next year.

Temporary suspension

ASIDE from the lack of regular flights and business closures, Mustafa said the growing

number of Covid-19 cases in KSA also prompted them to temporarily suspend the verification of the employment contracts of OFWs bound for the Middle East country.

This in effect will prevent new OFWs from going to KSA, which has been the top destination for OFWs for decades.

Based on latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO), there were already 136,315 confirmed Covid-19 cases in KSA.

“So how will we allow our countrymen to work here if this is the current situation in Saudi Arabia?” Mustafa said.

Mustafa said they will only consider resuming the contract verification once Covid-19 infections in KSA start to decline.

“Here in Saudi Arabia, the way I look at it, they are still not ready [to accept] foreign workers. In fact, they are encouraging [foreign workers] to go home [to their countries] for now,” Mustafa said.

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Friday, June 19, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 253

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 16 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

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A MOTORCYCLIST takes the lane intended for buses as traffic builds up at the Kamias Flyover on Edsa in Cubao, Quezon City, a scene that some motorists say signals a return “to the old ways.” BERNARD TESTA

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By Cai U. Ordinario

HE Philippine economy is projected to post a deeper contraction this year due to the slower-than-expected growth of household consumption and investment, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In an Asian Development Outlook Supplement, the ADB said the economy is expected to contract 3.8 percent this year. This is lower than the 2-percent growth initially forecasted by the Manila-based multilateral development agency.

The new forecast of ADB is also lower than the government’s own outlook which projects Philippine GDP to contract anywhere from 3.4 percent to 2 percent this year.

“The forecast for 2020 is re-

vised down to 3.8 percent contraction because household consumption and investment have slowed more than expected. The contraction in the global economy will continue to drag external trade, tourism and remittances,” the ADB said.

The ADB, however, maintained its growth outlook next year at 6.5 percent, as well as its inflation forecast of 2.2 percent this year and 2.4 percent in 2021.

ROSS Revenue Index (GRI) contracted 49 percent in the first quarter of 2020 on the back of double-digit declines in mining and quarrying and manufacturing, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PSA’s Quarterly Economic Indices (QEI) showed mining and quarrying recorded the largest contraction in gross revenues at 22.7 percent, followed by manufacturing at 13.2 percent.

The data likewise showed that the GRI of transportation, storage and communication also contracted at 4.6 percent followed by other services at 3.4 percent.

“Gross revenue refers to the value of receipts from the shipment of goods produced, resale of goods and services rendered,” according to the PSA.

The data also showed the Total Employment Index (TEI) contracted by 1.7 percent in the first three months of the year.

Industries with the highest decline in employment were mining and quarrying with a contraction of 7.3 percent; manufacturing, 3.7 percent; and other services, 3.4 percent.

The PSA said the Total Compensation Index (TCI) also contracted 1.3 percent due to the decline in finance, as well as mining and quarrying.

Also contributing to the decline is transportation, storage and communication, which contracted 5.8 percent.

“Finance and insurance activities, and mining and quarrying had the biggest declines at 8.5 percent,” the PSA said.

Meanwhile, with the TEI and TCI contracting, the Compensation per Employee Index grew by 0.4 percent.

At constant prices, the Compensation per Employee Index declined by 2.2 percent during the first three months of the year.

The QEI is a compilation of indices on the volume of production, revenue, employment, compensation, and compensation per employee.

It points out the change of direction in the performance of the industries and, as such, identifies the trend of the variables in the indices across industries over time.

These indices are used in policy setting, monitoring and analysis, as well as identifying the trends in revenue, employment and compensation of the industries. Cai U. Ordinario

Continued on A2

Meat importers to DA: Recall CAS rule M

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

DIZON: “The problem with this order is that we were not consulted. We can only speculate that this was an action taken by the good Secretary as he was subjected to pressure by local poultry raisers.”

EAT and cold storage operators are appealing to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to rescind its order imposing additional requirements for the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) pending necessary industry consultation.

The Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) told the BusinessMirror that they were not consulted prior to the issuance by the DA of Administrative Order 24, which affects their industry

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.1370

and businesses.

Under DA AO 24 Series of 2020, meat importers are now required to secure a certificate of availability of space (CAS) of accredited cold storage warehouses (CSWs) from the National Meat Inspection Service and submit this when applying for an SPS-IC.

SPS-IC is a required document before importers bring in foreign meat products to ensure the food safety of these goods.

“The problem with this order is that we were not consulted. We can only speculate that this was an action taken by the good Secretary

as he was subjected to pressure by local poultry raisers,” CCAP President Anthony S. Dizon told the BusinessMirror.

Dizon said cold storage facilities nationwide are currently operating at near full capacity as meat stocks, both imported and local, have been stored for months now due to lack of demand.

Dizon pointed out that AO24 is just an unnecessary additional regulation since the meat industry players and cold chain firms have been operating in a healthy business environment that ensures See “Meat,” A2

PEOPLE claiming they were affected by the pandemic and without financial support beg from passing motorists in Parañaque City. Life for a majority of Filipinos took a turn for the worse the past year, according to a Social Weather Stations poll released Thursday. NONIE REYES

n JAPAN 0.4686 n UK 62.9570 n HK 6.4694 n CHINA 7.0780 n SINGAPORE 35.9844 n AUSTRALIA 34.5043 n EU 56.3791 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.3681

Source: BSP (June 18, 2020)

News BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, June 19, 2020

Meat…

Continued from A1

that new imported stocks would enter the country when there is available cold storage space.

Dizon explained that the cold storage situation in the past two months is abnormal since Covid-19 disrupted the country’s food trade.

But in normal situations, cold chain operators and meat importers, including processors, have a smooth coordination in timing the entry of new shipments with the unloading of existing stocks from CSWs, he added.

“You just add another layer in the bureaucracy. It is unnecessary and has no useful purpose,” he said. “It only adds layers of processing undertaken by the private sector and therefore in violation of the ease of doing business law,” he added.

Dizon explained that the DA’s new order burdens meat importers and processors to reserve cold storage spaces and pay cold chain firms in advance even if their imported meat products will arrive months later. Dizon said there is a usual two-month lead time in importing meat products.

Dizon said CCAP submitted a letter containing their comments regarding AO24 to Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar a few weeks ago.

The AO 24 was issued by Dar on June 2 and stipulated that the order must take effect immediately. However, Dizon said—a matter also concurred in by meat importers—the new order has not taken into effect.

In fact, the DA last week just notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) member-countries regarding the additional requirements for meat importation.

Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) President Jesus C. Cham supported the position of CCAP, arguing that the industry has created a healthy working business environment to ensure imported products are stored in cold storage once they enter the country.

“We told the DA that there’s no value in that order. The industry with its decades of experience with cold chain maintenance is already experienced,” Cham told the BusinessMirror.

“We have no worries about power outages, unloading of stocks, among others. We see this as a trade barrier. It is very clear that this is a protectionist measure against meat imports,” Cham added.

Cham wondered aloud why the government does not apply the same order to imported ice cream, vegetables, french fries and fish products that also occupy cold storage spaces.

The DA, Cham said, should also require local poultry raisers to secure CAS before storing their dressed chicken in cold storage spaces to make it fair.

“We appeal that they rescind this straight away, then we can talk,” he said.

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DOH taps experts on Cebu virus cases hike; PHL total is 27,799

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By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

regions logged 22 cases.

On Thursday, three offices of the Department of Justice and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) had to shut down for disinfection and quarantine after certain staff tested positive for the virus.

Vergeire said during the DOH Beat Covid televised press conference on Thursday that they are closely looking and studying the situation in Region 7.

On July 17 a total of 4,015 confirmed Covid-19 cases were recorded in Cebu City. Its mayor had explained earlier that the number of cases is high in Cebu City since it hosts most of the tertiary medical facilities that infected people from around the region go to for treatment.

The city was also placed under

HE Department of Health (DOH) is coordinating with the National Task Force against Covid-19 and some experts following a rapid spread of the virus in Region 7, particularly in Cebu City.

This, as Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reported that as of 4 p.m. of June 18, the confirmed cases have risen to 27,799.

On Thursday, 562 additional

cases were recorded.

The DOH said that of the additional cases recorded, the highest number came from Region 7 with 273 cases, followed by the National Capital Region with 120, and other

enhanced community quarantine.

Meanwhile, of the additional cases recorded as of Thursday, 481 were detected as fresh cases and 81 were validated as late cases. The fresh cases are based on the daily accomplishment reports submitted by only 45 out of 59 current operational labs.

The DOH also announced 270 recoveries. This brings the total number of recoveries in the country to 7,090.

Nine deaths were recorded.

The death toll stood at 1,116.

Vergeire reminded the public of their responsibility to observe preventive measures as protection against Covid-19.

“Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Vergeire stressed.

Makati City Hall workers to get P3K anniversary bonus

M

AKATI Mayor Abby Binay said on Thursday that around 7,310 city hall employees are set to receive P3,000 each as anniversary bonus on Monday, June 22, in line with the 350th Araw ng Makati foundation day celebration.

The mayor said all regular, casual and contractual employees of city hall are entitled to the anniversary bonus. The recipients consist of 3,425 regular employees, 3,876 casual, and nine contractual.

“This is our simple way of giving back to our valued employees who have been our reliable partners in delivering services to our constituents for the past years. We appreciate how readily they have

responded to the call of duty during this pandemic, putting public welfare before their own,” Mayor Abby said.

She also noted that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all activities scheduled for this year’s anniversary celebration have been cancelled.

“At this time of uncertainty, we give priority to initiatives aimed to help Makatizens, including our city hall employees, cope well with the challenges brought on by the ongoing crisis,” Mayor Abby said.

The city government in April granted hazard pay and special risk allowance to all qualified city hall frontliners who have reported for duty during the enhanced

community quarantine period.

Through City Ordinance No. 2020-092, the city has been authorized to allocate P124,453,000 to fund the said compensation.

Previously, City Ordinance No. 2018-013 has granted duty risk pay for eligible city government personnel rendering hazardous or perilous work relating to disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).

The benefit was extended to regular, casual and contractual personnel of the city government who were exposed to great danger. Occupational risk, perils of life and physical hardship were also considered in granting occupational duty risk pay.

In lieu of the traditional fes-

tivities marking Araw ng Makati on June 1, the city presented Mga Kwentong Pamana (Stories of Heritage) series on its social media platforms. The historic accounts posted with a collection of centuries-old photos highlight the city’s rich cultural heritage and remarkable achievements for the past three-and-a-half centuries.

San Pedro de Makati was founded in 1670 as a “visita“ of Santa Ana de Sapa under the Franciscans. In 1901, it was included in the province of Rizal as “Makati” and became part of Metro Manila in 1975. On January 2, 1995, Makati became a city by virtue of Republic Act 7854.

SC to BIR: Condo homeowner fees are not VAT-able Continued from A8

It added that under Section 22, of RA 4726, the condominium corporation, as the management body, “may only act for the benefit of the condominium owners in disposing tangible and intangible personal property by sale or otherwise in proportion to the condominium owners’ respective interest in the common areas.

Thus, the SC said it cannot give weight to BIR’s argument that amounts paid as dues or fees by members and tenants of a condominium corporation form part of the gross income of the latter and are thus subject to income tax, value-added tax and withholding tax.

The BIR had argued that a condominium corporation furnishes its members and tenants with benefits, advantages and privileges in return for such payments.

Consequently, the tax-collecting body said, these payments constitute taxable income or compensation for beneficial services it provides to its members and tenants.

However, the SC said Section 32 of Republic Act 8424 or the Tax Reform Act of 1997 does not include association dues, membership fees and other assessment charges collected by condominium corporations as sources of gross income.

Even the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law which amended RA 8424, the SC said, replicates the provisions in Section 32 of RA 8424.

“Clearly, RMC No. 65-2012 expanded, if not altered, the list of taxable items in the law. RMC No. 65-2012, therefore, is void.

Besides, where the basic law and a rule or regulation are in con-

flict, the basic law prevails,” the SC declared.

“Similarly, therefore, association dues, membership fees and other assessments/charges are not subject to income tax because they do not constitute profit or gain. To repeat, they are collected purely for the benefit of the condominium owners and are the incidental consequence of a condominium corporation’s responsibility to effectively oversee, maintain, or even improve the common areas of the condominium as well as its governance,” it added.

Likewise, the SC said association dues, membership fees and other assessments/charges are not subject to VAT because these fees do not come from transactions involving the sale, barter, or exchange of goods or property.

“Both under RA 8424 (Sec-

tions 106, 107,and 108) and the TRAIN Law, there, too, is no mention of association dues, membership fees and other assessments/ charges collected by condominium corporations being subject to VAT. And rightly so. For when a condominium corporation manages, maintains and preserves the common areas in the building, it does so only for the benefit of the condominium owners. It cannot be said to be engaged in trade or business…,” the SC explained.

The High Tribunal also reminded the BIR that while it is empowered to interpret tax laws and decide tax cases, it cannot issue circulars inconsistent with the law to be implemented.

Concurring in the ruling were Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta and Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, Jose Reyes Jr. and Mario Lopez.

ADB cuts PHL growth forecast on pandemic Continued from A1

The Manila-based multilateral development bank’s GDP outlook for next year is also slower than the 8 percent to 9 percent forecast of the national government.

The inflation outlook of the ADB, meanwhile, is within the government’s estimates.

For 2020, the government projects inflation to be around 1.75 percent to 3.75 percent and for 2021, 2 percent to 4 percent.

“The forecast for 2021 is maintained at 6.5 percent, supported by public infrastructure spending and anticipated recovery in consumer and business confidence,” ADB said.

“Inflation forecasts for this economy are maintained, however, as lower oil prices offset possibly higher prices for food

from feared domestic supply disruption,” it added.

The ADB also revised downward its growth projections for the whole of Southeast Asia. The regional economy is expected to contract by 2.7 percent this year before growing by 5.2 percent in 2021.

Contractions are forecast in key economies as containment measures affect domestic consumption and investment, including Indonesia at 1 percent and Thailand at 6.5 percent.

Thailand will post the steepest GDP contraction among Southeast Asian countries. This will be followed by Singapore with a contraction of 6 percent and Cambodia at 5.5 percent.

ADB data showed that Vietnam, which is forecast to grow 4.1 percent in 2020, will be the

fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia this year.

This is followed by Brunei Darussalam at 1.4 percent and Myanmar at 1.8 percent. These countries, including Vietnam, are the only countries in Southeast Asia that will post a growth in 2020.

“Economies in Asia and the Pacific will continue to feel the blow of the Covid-19 pandemic this year even as lockdowns are slowly eased and select economic activities restart in a ‘new normal’ scenario,” said ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada.

“While we see a higher growth outlook for the region in 2021, this is mainly due to weak numbers this year, and this will not be a V-shaped recovery.

Governments should undertake policy measures to reduce the negative impact of Covid-19 and

ensure that no further waves of outbreaks occur,” he said.

The supplement to the ADO 2020 released in April forecasts growth of only 0.1 percent for the entire developing Asian countries in 2020.

This is down from the 2.2-percent forecast in April and would be the slowest growth for the region since 1961. Growth in 2021 is expected to rise to 6.2 percent, as forecast in April.

The ADB said GDP levels in 2021 will remain below what had been envisioned and below pre-crisis trends.

Excluding the newly industrialized economies of Hong Kong, China; the Republic of Korea; Singapore; and Taipei, China, developing Asia is forecast to grow 0.4 percent this year and 6.6 percent in 2021.

Boracay…

Continued from A8

As of June 17, only eight resorts on Boracay had received their CAO: Coast Boracay Isles, Henann Palm Beach Resort, Henann Prime Beach Resort, Henann Regency Resort and Spa, Paradise Garden Resort Hotel and Convention Center, Red Coconut Beach Hotel, Seawind Resort, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa.

Meanwhile, primary tourism enterprises (PTEs) whose accreditations have been revoked by the DOT may reapply, according to Undersecretary for Tourism Coordination and Resource Generation Arturo P. Boncato Jr. “There is a reapplication process,” he said in a Viber message to this paper, but failed to expound on the reapplication procedure.

He added, before any accreditation is revoked, the agency first has to write a “show-cause” letter to the PTE to give it a chance to explain why no punitive actions should be taken against it.

As per the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9353, the DOT can, “after due notice and hearing, impose fines, downgrade, suspend or revoke the accreditation, for violation of the terms thereof; issue public notices and advisories pertaining to tourism enterprises found to have violated the terms of their accreditation; and notify the LGU concerned when a tourism enterprise [located] in their area fails to obtain or loses its accreditation and monitor the appropriate action taken by the LGU concerned.”

The DOT on Wednesday revoked the CAO of HUE Hotels and Resorts Boracay, after it accepted a booking for 26 personnel from the BFP office in Iloilo, who allegedly used the visit of BIATF officials on June 11 and 12 as cover for their trip to the island, but instead, held a party. The Covid-positive staff, along with 27 other personnel including the BFP regional director for Western Visayas, have since been put on preventive suspension, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año in an interview on ANC.

According to Boncato, “We revoked the CAO, and initiated accreditation revocation procedures” against the hotel. The DOT already sent HUE a show-cause letter.

Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

MRT… Continued from A8

Director Capati added that depotwide disinfection, the most recent having been done on Monday, will be repeated.

The MRT-3 management will also implement additional health and safety protocols to further limit the interaction between depot and stations personnel. It is noted that there is very limited interaction between maintenance personnel at the depot and personnel at stations.

“We have the best interest of our passengers and employees at heart. We want to immediately address the situation to prevent more people from contracting the disease,” Capati said.

On June 11 Sumitomo-MHI-TESPI reported that one of its depot personnel underwent a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. The employee was then confirmed Covid-19 positive on June 14. The depot personnel’s last day to report at the depot was on June 8.

On the same day, contact tracing was done for the Covid-19-positive Sumitomo-MHI-TESPI depot worker, with 32 depot personnel being identified to have made contact with the worker. The contacts underwent RT-PCR testing the next day, and 14 were confirmed to have contracted Covid-19.

Contact tracing is ongoing for the 14 Covid-19-positive depot personnel.

Identified contacts have been advised to undergo self-quarantine and RT-PCR testing before going back to work at the MRT-3 depot.

These measures are being done to contain the transmission of the novel coronavirus at MRT-3 facilities. Other measures that continue to be implemented pursuant to DOH guidelines include screening for symptoms for every entry into MRT-3 facilities, mandatory wearing of face masks, alternative work arrangements to reduce the number of people in the workplace, regular disinfection of facilities, setting up of sanitation stations, hygiene promotion, and physical distancing at the workplace.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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Pampanga TV network’s help sought for DepEd’s ‘blended learning’ plan

By Ashley Manabat | Correspondent

C

ITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A public hearing was held to solicit the support of television networks, cable, and Internet providers in Pampanga to implement the “blended learning” scheme during this time of pandemic.

During the public hearing, Gov. Dennis “Delta” G. Pineda said utilizing both mass media and social media is the most viable solution to address distance learning, especially in the remote areas of the province.

“It is high time that we recognize the role of mass media and even the Internet, as we look for alternative modalities to the face-to-face interaction in schools,” Pineda said.

In response to this, regional TV network, CLTV 36, has proposed “Teleskwela,” to maximize the Department of Education’s (DepEd) virtual learning program for students in the province.

“All grade levels will be given an hour free airtime in our station from Monday to Friday to ensure the continuous learning of our students,” CLTV 36 General Manager Sonia Soto said.

For its part, DepEd, with the help of the provincial government, will subsidize the company’s electrical cost to operate for this initiative.

Aside from this, the provincial government assured the public that it is doing its best to provide interventions for the students this school year.

“Right now, we are awaiting DepEd’s final plan so we know how we can help. We also requested them to come up with a standard approach on how to efficiently proceed with the blended learning to maximize students’ learning and education,” Pineda said.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, June 19, 2020 A3

Manila RTC judges, court personnel to go under quarantine until June 30

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By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE executive judge of the Regional Trial Court of Manila City on Thursday ordered all its judges and court personnel to undergo selfquarantine until June 30 after learning that two court employees were in contact with relatives who tested positive for Covid-19.

In a memorandum issued on Thursday, Executive Judge Virgilio Macaraig said the order has the approval of Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Assistant Court Administrator Maria Regina Adoracion Filomena Ignacio.

Macaraig also advised the judges and court employees to avoid contact with the public and to conduct tracing of all persons they may have in contact with at the court premises for the last two weeks.

“Should any person develop symptoms, please report your condition to [your] respective barangay health worker[s] and report to the undersigned as soon as possible,” Judge Macaraig said.

He added that affected courts may still conduct hearings through videoconferencing from home and accept pleadings, motions filed electronically during the period of self-quarantine pursuant to cir-

culars issued by the Supreme Court.

Judge Macaraig said the Manila City government has been requested to conduct disinfection and sanitation of the court premises located at the Manila City Hall.

This developed as the Department of Justice has sought the assistance of the Department of Health (DOH) in contact tracing of individuals who may have interacted with their five employees who were confirmed positive for Covid-19.

“We have enlisted the help of the DOH in contact tracing.... With this in mind, contact tracing is being conducted in close coordination with the DOH following established health protocols,” DOJ Undersecretary and spokesman Markk Perete said.

Of the five persons who tested positive in the confirmatory swab test for Covid-19, three of them were employees assigned at the main office, one employee assigned to a field office and one outsourced security guard.

“We leave it to the DOH to determine the parameters of the contact tracing now being conducted. I understand, though, that all persons that have had [previous] interaction with those who turn positive are being traced to determine possible exposure,” Perete added.

Perete noted that since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), they have implemented measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus by providing sleeping quarters for their frontliners, such as security guards and maintenance personnel.

“Those who worked at the DOJ frontlines, outsourced personnel such as security guards and janitors, were either housed within the DOJ compound, or fetched by the DOJ shuttle,” he said.

DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra has placed the DOJ main headquarters in Padre Faura Street, Manila City under lockdown from June 18 to until June 28, a Sunday, to give way to the disinfection of their offices.

But Guevarra assured they would continue to operate since the employees could work from home, while documents submitted would be received at the frontlines.

briefs SC GIVES IMPRIMATUR TO PROSECUTE HILMARC’S EXEC THE Supreme Court (SC) has given the Sandiganbayan the go signal to prosecute for graft the top executive of a controversial construction firm accused of complicity in the overpriced contract of the Makati City parking building amounting to more than P800 million.

In a nine-page resolution, the SC’s Second Division junked the petition filed by Hilmarc’s Construction board Chairman Efren Canlas seeking the reversal of the resolutions issued by the Sandiganbayan dated September 25, 2017, and November 30, 2017, denying his motions to quash the two graft cases filed against him in connection with the anomalous construction of Phase IV and V of the parking building.

The Court did not give weight to Canlas’s arguments that as private individual, he cannot be charged for violation of Section 3 (e) Republic Act 3019, or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which declares as unlawful the giving of any “unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference” to a private party by any public officer. Joel R. San Juan

E. VISAYAS LAWMAKERS SEEK ADDL BUDGET TO CONTAIN VIRUS LAWMAKERS from Eastern Visayas are seeking additional budget to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the region.

With this, lawmakers, in a joint statement on Thursday, also suggested a review of the government’s Hatid Probinsya program and the health protocols being implemented for locally stranded individuals returning to the provinces.

The House members said their region has been coronavirus-free until the first case of Covid-19 was recorded last March 23 in Catarman, Northern Samar. The patient arrived in Catarman on March 4 after residing in San Juan, Metro Manila, for about two months. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

A4 Friday, June 19, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

PSA data outlines extent of damage wrought by virus on PHL economy

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

P

RIOR to the onslaught of the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the tourism sector was one of the pillars of the local economy, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA), the average share of tourism to gross domestic product (GDP) is 7.4 percent between 2000 and 2018.

This was largely due to domestic tourism expenditures which posted the highest average growth at 17.8 percent. “[The] PTSA was revised following the Overall Revision and Rebasing [ORR] of the Philippine System of National Accounts. The PTSA revised series spans the period 2000

to 2018,” PSA said.

Data showed that between 2000 and 2018, domestic tourism expenditures peaked in 2010 with a growth of 35.1 percent to P609.155 billion from P450.559 billion in 2009.

Foreign tourists or inbound tourism, meanwhile, posted an average growth of 9.7 percent between 2000 and 2018. Outbound tourism growth also increased by an average of 9.4 percent.

“In 2018, the main contributors to domestic tourism expenditure growth are Accommodation Services for Visitors, Miscellaneous, and Country-specific Tourism Characteristic Services with 21.6 percent, 21.1 percent, and 19.4 percent growth, respectively,” PSA said.

Meanwhile, PSA said the share of tourism to total employment was at 11.1 percent. The highest share to total employment of the tourism sec-

DA and DTI seek imprimatur to import 300,000 MT of rice

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

& Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are now seeking authorization from President Duterte to push through with the government’s pending importation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice.

In an online news briefing on Thursday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque disclosed Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez have submitted their request to the Office of the President.

This comes after BusinessMirror reported the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) questioned the legality of the tender by Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), which is an attached agency of DTI. The online bidding under a government-to-government (G2G) scheme was held earlier this month and was participated by India, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar.

DBM maintained that DA and DTI cannot import rice without the necessary approval of the President.

“When we consulted DA, DTI, and PITC [on the matter], they answered DTI and PITC will not import without the authorization from President Duterte,” Roque said.

He noted the said agencies justified the conduct of the bidding ahead of the permission from Duterte so they could start the importation by next month.

“A documented bid process was conducted ahead of time to ensure

the importation of rice will be completed by July 15 [2020],” said Roque citing the explanation from DA and DTI. As of this writing, Duterte has yet to approve the request of DA and DTI.

In DTI’s hands

THE DA, meanwhile, said the decision to pursue the 300,000 MT rice importation is now in the hands of the DTI, the mother agency of the PITC, which conducted the tender last week.

In a virtual news briefing, the DA explained that the G2G rice importation was approved by the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force.

But if there is no “cover” for the transaction, then it is up to Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and the DTI if they want to push through with the rice importation, the DA said.

In April, the DA disclosed that the rice importation via G2G was its brainchild as a “contingency” effort to ensure that the country has sufficient stockpile amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DA and the National Food Authority are providing technical advice to the PITC regarding the G2G importation since they have been involved with rice importation, especially G2G, prior to deregulation of the rice industry.

The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) said the DA should “at least help” the DTI to “cleanly get out of the mess” created by the complications surrounding the importation since it was their initiative in the first place.

“It does not look good that DA now appears to be abandoning PITC and DTI,” FFF National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said.

tor was in 2017 with 13.1 percent of total employment.

In 2018, there were 5.4 million employed persons in various tourism industries. Passenger transport employed the most number of tourism workers at 2.05 million followed by accommodation and food and beverage at 1.729 million.

In May, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and the Department of Finance (DOF) shared the results of a survey they conducted to measure the impact of the pandemic, which included tourism.

In terms of income, the survey results showed the industry that was most affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) regime were in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector which saw sales decline by 82.3 percent.

It is estimated that 18,661 firms

in the sector were closed due to the ECQ and only 1,874 firms were open during lockdown. It is expected that the firms in this sector will be closed for nine months this year.

This was followed by tourism which saw revenues plunge 81.9 percent with 29,147 firms closed during the ECQ and only 2,686 firms were closed during the lockdown. It is also expected that firms in this sector will remain closed for nine months this year.

In terms of job losses in the top 10 hardest hit sectors, the construction and education sectors were the most affected with 689,974 and 130,514 jobs lost, respectively.

This was followed by the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, tourism, and finance and insurance activities which recorded 74,758; 51,446, and 41,027 job losses during ECQ, respectively.

IATF retains restrictions on deployment of PUVs and ride-sharing bikes in NCR

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ROVINCIAL buses, traditional jeepneys, and ride-sharing motorcycles may still not be allowed to operate in Metro Manila next week with the start of the second phase of the resumption of public transport in the region.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is still studying if it would allow provincial buses to enter the National Capital Region (NCR) after it remained under a general community quarantine (GCQ).

He noted the Department of Transportation (DOTr) originally intended to reintroduce provincial buses in the region during the second phase, which will start on June 22, 2020.

“But that is on the assumption that Metro Manila will be placed under MGCQ [modified GCQ]. So we should wait for the announcement of DOTr if they will allow provincial buses in the second phase,” Roque said.

The IATF decided to retain the GCQ classification of NCR amid still rising number of new novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.

Roadworthy

FOR traditional jeepneys, he said they will only be allowed to operate in NCR by Monday if there will still be insufficient number of “modern” public-utility vehicles (PUV) to accommodate commuters.

He added that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will only allow

“roadworthy” traditional jeepneys to ply routes in NCR. As for ride-sharing motorcycles, Roque said the Department of Health (DOH) is still assessing the measures on how to prevent possible Covid-19 transmissions for its drivers and passengers.

He explained the Department of Health conducted a formal study to determine if the proposal of Angkas, a local motorcycle ride-sharing and delivery service company, for its drivers to wear “special suits” would be enough to protect them and their passengers from Covid-19 infection.

“This is still being studied [by DOH],” Roque said.

Insufficient capacity

SINCE public transportation resumed in NCR this month, DOTr has allowed 18,813 transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) units; 16,701 taxis; and 271 point-to-point buses units to operate in the region.

This was on top of the resumption of train operations in Metro Manila, as well as the 90 buses, which augmented the diminished capacity of the said train units.

Despite the availability of these PUVs, many commuters in NCR still have difficulty commuting.

Roque said the government hopes to minimize the inconvenience by next week by making available more PUVs. “I would like to repeat, we are still in GCQ [in NCR]. Our strategy for public transportation is for [resumption] which is calibrated, partial, and in phases,” Roque reiterated.

Samuel P. Medenilla

Mango competitiveness measure gets House panel nod 10 years after filing

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

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HE House Committee on Agriculture and Food has recently approved a bill seeking to bolster the global competitiveness of the Philippine mango.

AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. Sharon Garin said House Bill 3393, otherwise known as the Philippine Mango Development Act, was approved at the committee level last Wednesday, a decade after it has first been filed.

The bill will be transmitted to the plenary for another round of deliberations.

HB 3393 also seeks to decrease postharvest losses, reinforce modernized techniques and technologies and introduce international

marketing strategies for Philippine mango.

A key feature of the bill is the fiveyear Philippine Mango Framework for Development that shall serve as a guide to the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects for the production, marketing processing and distribution of Philippine mango for food and commercial needs.

The bill also provides P500 million as Philippine Mango Development Fund for production, marketing, processing and distribution of Philippine mango.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall also play an active role in investment promotion, facilitation, market production, and development of the

mango industry.

This includes setting up links between stakeholders of the mango industry and financial cooperatives, establishing reasonable and innovative investment incentives, and facilitating the participation of local growers and producers in local and international conferences, trade fairs, and exhibits.

“Mango is one of our major assets and it’s something that we can be very proud of. It’s not called our national fruit for nothing. We need to strengthen the industry. We need the proper R&D [research and development],” said Garin, the principal author of the bill.

According to Garin, the country’s lack of streamlined process is hampering the potential of the industry.

Moreover, she sa id , si nce around 70 percent of mango production is done through backyard farming, the cost of production is higher compared to non-backyard production.

During the hearing, DA Undersecretary Evelyn Laviña and Undersecretary Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also expressed support for the bill’s passage.

Laviña said the proposed law shall reinforce good agricultural practices among stakeholders.

“This [bill] will really be a great help for the stakeholders and the government to produce mangoes with good quality for local consumption and for export,” she said.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

NHA cuts housing production goal by hefty 32% in 2020 D ELAYS due to the unavailability of construction materials and restricted mobility of workers have prompted the National Housing Authority (NHA) to cut its mass housing production targets by 32 percent this year.

In a recent presentation to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Urban Development hearing, NHA Group Manager-Management Services Group Marissa B. Maniquis said the NHA now targets to complete 68,095 from an original initial target of 99,510 houses.

The number of mass housing projects that will be started this year will also be 9.48 percent lower at 51,543 units from the initial target of 56,942 this year.

“There had been, understandably, project delays, work suspensions, biddings have been delayed, carryover projects have requested suspensions to the restrictions in mobility of people, including developers and unavailability of materials,” Maniquis said.

Affected by the delay in implementation, Maniquis said are the Armed Forces of the Philippines/ Philippine National Police Housing Program and permanent housing projects from the Yolanda Housing projects.

Data showed 318 projects, which accounted for 75 percent of total completion projects covering 47,055 units were delayed.

In terms of construction “starts,” 98 projects are delayed accounting for 61 percent of total new units covering 34,528 units.

In terms of cost, the target cost of the 68,095 units that can be completed this year is P24.291 billion while for starts, the cost of the 51,543 units will amount to P45.085 billion.

Further, due to the moratorium imposed on housing payments, the agency now projects its collection to drop by 55.67 percent to P1.25 billion from the target collection of P2.82 billion.

“Based on our projected collection, there will be an increase also in delinquent accounts by some 20 percent,” Maniquis said.

Meanwhile, in a separate presentation, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said that

apart from NHA operations, the lockdown also affected housing projects nationwide.

However, a total of 209 developers working on 776 projects nationwide have since returned to work sites. Around 55,546 workers are now working in 319,509 units nationwide.

DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario assured that the agency and the Key Shelter Agencies (KSAs) have resumed operations with a skeletal work force while under general community quarantine (GCQ).

Del Rosario and KSA officials assured lawmakers that continued public service is being delivered while at the same time, proper health protocols are observed.

Del Rosario was also asked on the latest developments related to the rehabilitation efforts in the war-torn Marawi City. He said construction of vertical projects, including key public facilities, inside the so-called most affected area will go on full-blast starting in July this year.

He also assured lawmakers that the government’s December 2021 target timeline is still within reach.

“The TFBM [Task Force Bangon Marawi] and its implementing agencies remain steadfast in hastening Marawi City’s rehabilitation. We will work double time to fulfill President Rodrigo Duterte’s pledge of completing the city’s recovery by December 2021,” del Rosario said in a news statement.

The DHSUD and the K SAs updated the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, chaired by Rep. Strike Revilla, on the various measures implemented by the department, as well as its KSAs in support to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act provisions addressing the adverse effects of Covid-19.

Del Rosario outlined DHSUD’s proactive steps such as imposing a three-month moratorium on housing loans and short-term loans, as well as in-house financing payments, by the KSAs, namely, the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Housing Finance Corp, National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. and NHA. Cai U. Ordinario

Mati City mayor warns market stall owners vs sublease deals

By Manuel T. Cayon

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@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—The mayor of Mati City has warned market vendors against subleasing of stalls at the public market, saying it wanted to ensure that only city residents would stand to benefit from the local market project.

During the Mati Public Market Board meeting on June 17, Mayor Michelle Nakpil-Rabat emphasized the prohibition of subleasing stalls in the market and of illegal fish vendors, warning she will file charges against violators.

The board discussed about filing lawsuit against stallholders who have subleased their stalls within the public market.

Rabat said the public market is owned by the local government and not by the stallholders and “the Mati Public Market stalls are only for Matinians and not for outsiders.”

She disclosed the case of a stallholder who subleased her

stall and who approached her to seek reconsideration of the warning.

The mayor ordered City Administrator Al Aquino to issue a “warning case” against the unnamed stallholder.

During the board meeting, it was agreed that once caught, illegal fish vendors along the highway would be, likewise, warned and the fish they are selling confiscated.

The mayor said she would issue an executive order soon to form a team to monitor illegal fish vendors along Dahican, Magsaysay, and Chan Village to Bagsakan.

Meanwhile, health authorities in the city announced that its lone confirmed positive of coronavirus (Covid-19) had recovered as of Thursday after more than two weeks of quarantine.

“Thus, the City of Mati is again free from Covid-19 infection with four recovered in total since the pandemic started.

We have one new suspect case today bringing to two the total PUIs [persons under investigation] for today,” the city information office said.

Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World BusinessMirror

US seeks lower tariffs, fewer duty-free imports

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A S H I N G T O N —T h e Tr u mp ad m i n ist ration plans to carry on with its confrontational approach to world trade, pressuring other countries to lower their tariffs on US products and perhaps making it harder for imports to enter the United States duty free.

In testimony before Congress on Wednesday, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the administration would push for more changes at the World Trade Organization, the Geneva-based enforcer of global trade rules that the administration has accused of anti-US bias.

“The WTO is a mess,” Lighthizer told the House Ways and Means Committee. “The WTO has failed America, and it’s failed the international trading system.’’

Under WTO rules, Lighthizer complained, other countries levy tariffs—import taxes—“far above’’ the tariffs the US imposes.

Lighthizer’s comments suggest that “he wants to force others to lower their tariffs to our levels, and he will threaten to raise ours to theirs if they do not,” said William Reinsch, a former US trade official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

But Reinsch noted that the United States agreed to the existing tariffs in past negotiations.

If the Trump administration wants to change tariff rates it will face hard choices. To get other countries to lower their tariffs, it will have to negotiate—and make

concessions. If the US raises tariffs on its own instead, it will likely face retaliation from its trading partners. “ There is no free lunch,’’ Reinsch said.

In another ef for t to pressure the W TO to reform, the United States has blocked new appointments to the organization’s Appellate Body, its top trade court. W hen the terms of two judges expired last year, the court ceased to function, leaving trade disputes without an ultimate arbiter. Lighthizer told lawmakers on Wednesday that he’d be “ fine’’ if the Appellate Body never resumed business.

Lighthizer also said the administration would consider lowering the $800 threshold for bringing products into the United States duty free. In written testimony, he noted that the European Union’s so-called de minimis threshold, above which duties can be imposed, is $150, and China’s is just $7. That disparity puts US exporters at a disadvantage.

President Donald Trump took office in 2017 determined to upend seven decades of US policy in favor of ever-freer trade and to bring down America’s persistent and massive trade deficits.

He has slapped tariffs on about $360 billion worth of Chinese imports in a dispute over the aggressive tactics—including, the US says, cyber theft and forcing foreign companies to hand over trade secrets—Beijing has used to challenge Western technological dominance. AP

Beijing outbreak tops 150 in China’s worst Covid-19 flare-up since Wuhan

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coronavirus outbreak continued to spread in Beijing, with 21 new cases announced on Thursday, presenting the biggest challenge yet in China’s efforts to prevent a second wave of infections.

The total number of infections in China’s capital is now more than 150. While the daily count of new infections is slowing from previous days, health officials have warned that the outbreak stemming from the city’s largest wholesale fruit and vegetable market is expected to continue growing.

Beijing has vowed to make every effort to contain the epidemic, which has already spread to at least four other provinces. The city has ramped up containment measure—canceling flights, closing schools and restricting residential compounds—though the actions so far aren’t as harsh as those taken recently to control smaller flareups in other parts of the country.

Activity in the city has slowed considerably as residents fear the spread of infection. According to data published by social network Weibo, daily passenger counts fell sharply this week after increasing steadily since volumes went to zero during the initial outbreak. That’s a reminder that the nation’s economic recovery remains vulnerable to setbacks until the virus is eradicated.

The resurgence is shaping up to be a sobering warning to other nations about the difficulty of eradicating the pathogen that has infected more than 8.3 million people worldwide. Japan has also seen a flare-up of new cases in its capital of Tokyo, while New Zealand’s brief period of being virus-free was interrupted this week by travelers who were improperly quarantined. In the US, states like Texas and Arizona are reporting record-high new infections.

Bloomberg News

Honduras president hospitalized with pneumonia, Covid-19

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EGUCIGALPA, Honduras—The hospitalization of Honduras’ president with Covid-19 and pneumonia on Wednesday has drawn attention to another country struggling under the pandemic’s strain as cases rise sharply in the capital.

President Juan Orlando Hernández announced late Tuesday that he and his wife had tested positive for the virus. Just hours later he was hospitalized after doctors determined he had pneumonia.

From March to June 7, Honduras confirmed 6,327 coronavirus infections. In the 10 days since, it added 3,329 more, a surge that has come after the government began a gradual reactivation of the economy.

The northern business hub of San Pedro Sula still accounts for the majority of the cases, but the capital, Tegucigalpa, is the focus of new infections.

Health Minister Alba Consuelo Flores confirmed that hospitals in those cities are nearly full, but said the government had to begin loosening restrictions. Many businesses closed since March have been allowed to reopen, though with reduced capacity. Those companies provide passes to their workers allowing them to avoid a national curfew that has been extended to June 28 and only allows people to leave home for essentials on certain days based on their national ID number.

“If we don’t activate the economy we’re going to have another kind of pandemic that is hunger, malnutrition and probably social crises,” Flores said.

She said if the people continue to be disciplined they will be able to manage the

epidemic. The country made wearing masks obligatory and businesses are reopening with just 20 percent of their personnel.

But Suyapa Figueroa, president the Honduras Medical College, said hospitals are already being overwhelmed. The School Hospital, the capital’s largest public hospital, has already outfitted additional rooms for Covid-19 patients, but they haven’t kept up with the demand, she said.

Several dozen people were awaiting space to be hospitalized, she said.

The hospital did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

A local news station circulated video on Tuesday of more than a dozen bodies wrapped in black bags scattered through hallways and rooms in the hospital’s overwhelmed morgue.

Figueroa said that due to a shortage of pressure gauges, oxygen is shifted from patient to patient in turns.

The School Hospital is one health center where the International Committee of the Red Cross is supporting the country’s health system.

The organization has established a dual triage system that allows it to isolate those arriving with Covid-19 symptoms and try to refer them to other hospitals where there is bed space, said Karim Khallaayoun, mission chief for the Red Cross in Honduras. The group has also supplied personal protective equipment for hospital staff, training on how to use it and counseling as the physical and psychological strain of the work takes its toll. AP

Friday, June 19, 2020

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India cautions China against untenable sovereignty claims

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EW DELHI—India on Thursday cautioned China against making “exaggerated and untenable claims” on the sovereignty of the Galvan Valley area even as both nations tried to end a standoff in the high Himalayan region where their armies engaged in a deadly clash.

Twenty Indian troops were killed in the clash on Monday night that was the deadliest conflict between the sides in 45 years.

China has not disclosed whether its forces suffered any casualties.

Responding to China’s claim to the valley, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said both sides have agreed to handle the situation responsibly. “Making exaggerated and untenable claims is contrary to this understanding,” he said in a statement.

Both sides accused each other of instigating the clash between their forces in the valley, part of the disputed Ladakh region along the Himalayan frontier.

Media reports said senior army officers of the two sides met on

Wednesday to defuse the situation, but there was no confirmation from either side.

Indian security forces said neither side fired any shots, instead throwing rocks and trading blows.

The Indian soldiers, including a colonel, died of severe injuries and exposure in the area’s subzero temperatures, officials said.

The clash escalated a standoff in the disputed region that began in early May, when Indian officials said Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring warnings to leave.

That triggered shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights, much of it replayed on television news channels and social media.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang

Yi warned New Delhi not to underestimate Beijing’s determination to safeguard what it considers its sovereign territory. His comments came in a phone call on Wednesday with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Wang said China demanded that India conduct a thorough investigation and “harshly punish” those responsible.

“The Indian side would best not make an incorrect judgement of the situation, would best not underestimate China’s strong determination to safety its sovereign territory,” Wang said in a statement issued by the foreign ministry.

He repeated China’s claims that India was solely responsible for the conflict, saying Indian forces had crossed the Line of Actual Control that divides the thousands of troops from both sides deployed in the area.

Jaishankar, in turn, accused China of erecting a structure in the Galvan Valley, which he called a “premeditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties,” according to a statement.

He added that the incident would have “serious repercussions” on India’s relationship with China, but that both sides were committed to further disengaging on the remote plateau of the Himalayan terrain.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the soldiers killed in the clashes.

“Their sacrifices won’t go to waste,” he said. “For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country is the most important thing. India wants peace, but when provoked, it is capable of giving a fitting reply, be it any kind of situation.”

While experts said the two nations were unlikely to head to war, they also believe easing tensions quickly will be difficult.

China claims about 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) of territory in India’s northeast, while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the Himalayas, a contiguous part of the Ladakh region.

India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory while separating it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019. China was among the handful of countries to strongly condemn the move, raising it at international forums including the UN Security Council.

Thousands of soldiers on both sides have faced off over a month along a remote stretch of the 3,380-kilometer (2,100-mile) Line of Actual Control, the border established following a war between India and China in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce. AP

Trump signs rebuke of China over Muslims amid Bolton book claims

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resident Donald J. Trump signed a measure punishing Chinese officials for imprisoning more than one million Muslims on the same day a new book alleged Trump encouraged Beijing to build internment camps to house them.

The legislation—signed by Trump on Wednesday after winning broad bipar tisan support in Congress—requires Trump to sanction any officials found responsible for oppression of Uighurs and members of other Muslim minority groups and revoke their visas.

Signing the bill marks a shift for Trump, who has been reluctant in the past to act against China over human rights. Beijing on Thursday threatened to retaliate if the US were to move ahead with the bill, without offering further details.

“We urge the US side to immediately correct its mistakes, and stop using the bill to damage China’s interests and interfere in China’s internal

affairs,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. “Otherwise China will resolutely take countermeasures.”

The bill has “revealed its malicious attempts to endanger China’s sovereignty and security, to sow discord among China’s ethnic groups, to destabilize Xinjiang and to contain China’s development,” the ministry said.

The legislation continues an escalation of tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Trump has blamed Beijing over the spread of the coronavirus, calling it the “plague from China.” The Trump administration has also faulted China over the country’s move to pass national security legislation expected to curb freedoms in Hong Kong.

Also on Wednesday, excerpts from the book

by Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton were published, saying Trump had told Chinese President Xi Jinping in June 2019 that he

should go ahead with building camps in Xinjiang province to hold the Uighur people, a minority ethnic group who are mostly Muslim, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“Xi had explained to Trump why he was basically building concentration camps in Xinjiang,” according to a book excerpt in the Journal. “According to our interpreter, Trump said that Xi should go ahead with building the camps, which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do.”

‘Clear message’

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the legislation “sends a clear message to the government of China that we are well aware”of abuse Uighurs have suffered.

Trump and China have traded insults and blame for the coronavirus pandemic, which began in the Chinese province of Hubei. But the illness has killed more than 117,000 Americans, far more deaths than

China has reported, and Trump has sought to shift blame to Beijing as his administration’s handling of the crisis has come under intense criticism.

The human rights measure passed the House last month on a vote of 413-1 and passed the Senate by unanimous consent. It condemns the internment of Uighurs and members of other Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang region of China. The legislation calls for closing the camps where they are being held.

China has said it’s fighting separatism and religious extremism among Uighurs. It has threatened similar retaliation against the US in the past without taking any action.

Before the pandemic, Trump had been loath to denounce China in order to preserve his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his trade deal with the country. Trump, for example, only offered lukewarm support for pro-democracy protests that swept Hong Kong last year as the deal was being negotiated. Bloomberg News

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Friday, June 19, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Taking precautions to maximize safety

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he Covid-19 pandemic is arguably the worst disaster that ever happened to the global tourism industry. As the pandemic keeps billions of people at home, the $8.8 trillion industry that created 319 million jobs around the world grounded to a halt. The shadow of the global pandemic made all hopes of a sustained growth for the Philippine tourism sector evaporate.

Even before the imposition of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the country stands to lose at least P43 billion in tourism revenues because of Covid-19.

When Malacañang announced on June 1 that all residents living in areas under modified general community quarantine will be allowed to leave their homes as long as they observe minimum health standards, tourism destinations under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) rejoiced.

Acting on a resolution of the Aklan provincial government headed by Gov. Florencio Miraflores, the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force declared on June 11, 2020: “Boracay is now open for business.” BIATF Chair and Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said Boracay will be open to tourists from Western Visayas, under phase one of its gradual reopening, starting on June 16. The local tourists allowed include visitors from Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.

Cimatu, however, clarified that only tourists from the ages of 21 to 59 are allowed to enter the island, which is still under the MGCQ status. “The tourists will be accommodated in hotels accredited by the Department of Tourism,” he added. According to BIATF Co-Chairman Tourism Secretary Romulo-Puyat, there are 390 DOT-accredited hotels and resorts in Boracay, and all of them are required to secure a certificate to operate based on the guidelines set out by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for accommodation establishments returning to business.

It was not the big reopening that was expected, but tourism establishments in the island were happy to note that they can at least start serving local tourists once more. Then the bad news came: Authorities found out that a Boracay hotel hosted a group of travelers to Boracay on June 12 that stayed up to June 14, when the island was not yet officially open for tourism. (See, “Boracay hotel under fire from DOT, LGU” in the BusinessMirror, June 18, 2020).

BusinessMirror’s Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo reported that the Department of Tourism moved to revoke the accreditation of the hotel that accommodated 24 outsiders, one of whom tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force decried the entry of the group of travelers to Boracay when the island was not yet officially open for tourism.

Arnaldo’s report: “The revocation stemmed from a widely reported incident wherein 28 employees of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Iloilo traveled to Boracay on June 11 and June 12, supposedly for the visit of BIATF officials led by Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año, and DOT’s Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. It was later found that the group actually held a birthday party. One of the BFP employees who joined the group on June 12, according to Iloilo news reports, was supposed to have been on home quarantine for 14 days, while waiting for her Covid-19 test results. On June 13, said employee was found positive with the dreaded virus. According to the DOT, provincial and local government officials have already been able to trace all the contacts of the 28 personnel and have advised them to undertake necessary health and safety measures.”

Given their huge losses, tourism establishments understandably need to reopen. But the Covid-19 pandemic is still with us, and, sadly careless—nay, criminaly reckless—individuals as well. Timely moves by the Malay town LGU and the DOT are laudable, but authorities must throw the book at all those who sabotaged Boracay’s soft reopening.

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Better Days

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ducation is key for generations of Filipinos to become full-fledged, productive members of society. This is why we should be looking at how the nation will go back to school this coming August.

We are beset by challenges as we come closer to that date. As of the recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, 10 million learners—or 36 percent of potential enrollees— have signed up for the school year 2020-2021.

To address quarantine issues, the Department of Education (DepEd) will implement online learning resources such as the DepEd Commons website, which already has 8 million users. Concurrent with this, TV and radio-based solutions will also be launched in areas with limited access to the Internet, through the implementation of RA 8375, which allots 15 percent of the total daily air time in a broadcast network to childfriendly content. Teachers will also be trained to use these new avenues

for education starting in July.

However, while we are preparing for a massive shift in education, a big question to ask is if we actually should continue with the school opening this August. When I was interviewed on this subject matter recently, I communicated that perhaps, it would be better to push back the opening of classes to November, or even as far as January, if need be.

And it all comes down to two major concerns: Internet connectivity, and the issue of the curriculum and educational materials that have to be adapted for use with a blended learning environment. Access to educational materials through the Internet isn’t worth much if the Internet itself is inaccessible due to lack of service or network infrastructure.

Be it through provisions for bud-

get, equipment, and commercial access to the Internet, much has to be done to improve digital connectivity throughout the country. It would also be important to fast track the implementation of RA 10929, the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, which mandates that public basic education institutions, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and Tesda technology institutions to have free Wi-fi access.

As for the case of improving how blended learning can be unpacked for our children, we have to call on and support an integral resource for the family: the parents. Indeed, parents—and guardians—must be empowered to help the learning process of the students.

Fortunately, the Unicef has some helpful tips on how parents can help their children learn. The first is that parents can be the ones to set a routine that integrates time for studies and education through online and media sources, while balancing it with other social and play activities that a child also needs. Next, parents should keep open lines of communication, particularly if children are linking what they are learning to what is happening right now in our world. Parents can help their children process what they are learning. Parents can also be the ones to train their children to get into the swing of longer and

longer educational sessions, and at the same time, they can monitor their children’s online activity, and what resources they are accessing. Finally, parents and teachers should communicate with one another—just as the teacher is now the one who creates the learning modules that students will use on a local level, so it is that parents should also be aware of how to maximize learning from these educational packages.

All these issues should be carefully and properly built into the educational system for the new normal.

And while I applaud the determination and dedication of our education sector, if it cannot be done by August, then the opening of school should be postponed until such time as all these changes can be implemented.

After all, we will be dealing with the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic for some time. And just as the adage goes that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so it is that more time for preparation can prevent larger educational issues from happening in the future.

Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 15 years—nine years as representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and six as senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He recently won another term in the Senate.

E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com|Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @sonnyangara.

Questionable acts have been made on ‘humanitarian grounds’

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

Chairman of the Board & Ombudsman President VP-Finance VP Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Sonny M. Angara

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

The challenge of education in the new normal

Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

SERVANT LEADER

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rothers and sisters, because of their violation of the ordinance prohibiting protests while the general community quarantine is still being implemented in Metro Manila, six jeepney drivers were apprehended by the police in Caloocan. This occurred two weeks ago, in the first days of the implementation of the GCQ in Metro Manila where some modes of public transportation were allowed to operate, but not the jeepneys. The six members of the transport Group PISTON (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide) were calling for the government to allow jeepneys to operate. And since they refused to stop their small movement, the police took them to the precinct.

Those apprehended include 72-year-old Elmer Cordero. However, he was not part of the first group released after their five-day arrest, after they posted bail of P3,000. It was discovered in court that Elmer had a pending case of estafa, but he insisted that he never was charged before, and the accused may just be his namesake. When Elmer saw the

status of the prison cell he was held in, he asked the police to just tie him in a tree instead. He was scared of being infected while inside the overcrowded cell. But he remained inside the cell for a week until some goodhearted people pooled funds to pay for his bail in the estafa case that was still unverified by the court whether or not Elmer was

truly the one accused.

In his first day of arrest, the calls to free Elmer on “humanitarian grounds” poured in. Was it not on humanitarian grounds that the police gave as reason for not arresting a lawmaker charged with multiple cases of graft? Even the chief of the PNP said they considered the age and health of the 89-year-old former first lady in not arresting her. It was also on humanitarian grounds that the Supreme Court allowed a former senator considered as the architect of martial law during the Marcos regime to post bail amounting to 1 million pesos in a case of plunder. It may be recalled that this senator is one of the many lawmakers allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam. When the senator was allowed to post bail, he was 91 years old.

These people mentioned never experienced being behind bars for even one day despite stealing billions from the nation’s coffers. While it took poor Mr. Cordero one week before being freed from prison because he had the courage to amplify the voice of 500 million jeepney drivers who lost their livelihoods because of the

lockdown. Truly, many questionable acts have been made on “humanitarian grounds.”

In the social teachings of the Church, it was emphasized that the government with authority must enforce equal and fair laws; laws that uphold the dignity of man. But if those who implement our laws have their own prejudices, can we say that they are capable of uplifting human dignity? Can we be sure that their implementation of laws will be fair and just?

Brothers and sisters, we are warned in the book of Isaiah 10:12, “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” In our case, it is saddening that the law is not used to protect and care for the weak and powerless.

Make it a habit to listen to Radio Veritas 846 Ang Radyo ng Simbahan in the AM band, or through live streaming at www.veritas846.ph, and follow its Twitter and Instagram accounts @veritasph, and YouTube at veritas846.ph. For your comments, e-mail veritas846pr@gmail.com.

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Friday, June 19, 2020

Online learning: A line of one’s own Overhauling land transportation in the new normal and beyond Tito Genova Valiente

the sources, approaches and methodology of the materials culled from the Internet.

There is a vast difference though in the traditional printed materials and what we already know as soft copies from the Net. Libraries are old. Archaeological data tell us that libraries began as archival records,

allows such process. The teacher can organize with amazing speed blocks of information and create a full essay by the act of cutting and pasting.

The sites from which one can collate data are malleable and open. If one is lucky, one can communicate with the writer/author who may be residing on the other side of the globe. The wide horizon of the Internet allows us to inspect papers and writers.

For anyone who has regularly used the Internet and collated data from the same, he must be aware by now that papers, which are part of university or institutional journals do not come free anymore. One must be ready to pay for them. Schools and libraries must set aside a fund so that students and teachers can search through those sites. The rest of the Internet remains gratis, gracefully.

The Internet-savvy individual knows the wealth of materials available online. The word “massive” covers just a wee part of the collections online. The available documents that can make any lesson plan and lecture look monumental and scholarly outside our human imagination.

found in Sumerian civilization dating back to 2,600 B.C. The mindset that goes with libraries are not old, but ancient. Compare that to online data and you find a wealth of information vastly different and easily within the reach of anyone who has an Internet connection.

There is a stronger and more direct human engagement with online data. One can tweak—and twist— the data. The student can print anything online so long as the site

The PowerPoint presentations of yore pale beside galleries and museums where the “visitor” can have a close-up view of artefacts or a closer, more intimate appreciation of paintings and other visual arts. There are lectures from experts on any kind of art—from Byzantine to Bagobo art, from Impressionism to Expressionism.

There are interviews of artists.

Where the artists have long passed on, documentaries about these dead

annotations

Jedd Ugay, Monica Lavares, Jerik Cruz and Marjorie Muyrong

EAGLE WATCH

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ost Filipinos in the labor force are commuters. In the “old normal,” we have been travelling via buses, jeepneys, tricycles, pedicabs and UV express vehicles. Based on Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) reports, around 70 percent of 11.5 million to 12 million people hitting the roads each day in Metro Manila are regular public transport users.

Yet today, as the Philippines transitions into the “new normal” of the coronavirus pandemic, the government has drastically curtailed supply of public transport services.

This has been in spite of warnings of a looming “transport crisis” that may soon become “catastrophic” at a critical period for the Philippine economy.

Our Covid-19 context makes an overhaul of the Philippine transport system necessary—not only due to longstanding market and government failures that have besieged Filipinos with “commutes from hell,” but also due to the fallout caused by anti-pandemic measures for the transport sector. Based on our recent ADMUEcon-ACERD working paper, we outline a number of critical strategies needed to promote truly inclusive, efficient, and Covid-resilient transport services in the country.

Route rationalization

Even with transport sector representatives warning of an impending collapse given Covid-19 restrictions, our present conjuncture presents a “golden opportunity” for rationalizing redundancy-prone transport routes plied by PUV operators—a major source of traffic congestion in the country’s metro areas.

Last May 23, for instance, the LTFRB had unveiled its Rationalized Bus Transit Maps in Metro Manila as part of its Route Rationalization Program. According to LTFRB, the rationalized routes will significantly reduce Metro Manila’s bus routes from 96 to 31. While this would also mean limiting franchises to operators who have financial capacity to meet health standards, it can also lead to the promotion of economies of scale that can benefit commuters with lower fares, and afford transport providers better access to financing. For this, rationalization should not focus on reducing public transport, but on providing optimal supply to meet demand.

Nonetheless, an efficient Metro Manila bus system would be only one, though an especially critical, component of the public transport system. For streamlining other transport modes, both in Metro Manila and elsewhere, our policymakers would do well to adopt the following strategies: n Identify spatial mismatches between places of residence and work in order to identify demand for public transport; n Harness studies on optimal routes (e.g. ideal travel time, number of stops) across urban and periurban areas; n Prioritize movement of PUVs over private cars to maximize efficiency and capacity; and n Account for the implementation of social distancing measures in transport design, including through cashless fare collection systems and Covid-19-compliant PUV stops and terminals.

Service contracting agreements

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, PUV drivers earned their daily incomes as the total of passenger fare collected minus their gasoline and maintenance costs and the daily

rental fee of vehicles. Unfortunately, ear ning incomes f rom these schemes are dependent on the number of available passengers and the number of completed trips.

The system has hence encouraged dangerous on-the-road competition among drivers as well as hazardous commutes for the general public.

In order to provide sufficient public transport services while complying with health and safety guidelines, the “new normal” calls for a shift to service contract agreements between transport operators and the Department of Transportation.

In this new arrangement, transport operators will be contracted to deliver services on a “fee per day” or “fee per kilometer” basis with government, while drivers will be employed under a fixed daily wage by operators.

Beyond these, contracts with operators can also include obligations (e.g. observing prescribed schedules, reducing emissions, utilizing cashless fare collection systems, adopting social distancing protocols) and incorporate incentives/penalties to enhance standards and curb on-theroad competition.

Build better BIYAHEnihan

Rationalizing road transport also requires infrastructure investment for more efficient and inclusive commuting systems. As part of its post-pandemic response, the Duterte administration should refocus its infrastructure program on providing cost-effective Covidresilient infrastructure, such as protected bike lanes, improved and widened sidewalks, bus/PUV priority lanes, and Covid-compliant stops/depots/terminals.

These could be in lieu of multibillion big-ticket projects such as mega-rail, mega-expressway, mega-airport, and mega-bridge BBB projects whose viability after Covid-19 is now in question.

Even in the context of the pandemic, these Covid-resilient investments are attainable. Estimates by the MoveAsOne Coalition indicate that developing 1,600 kilometers of sidewalk improvements and bike lanes, 100 km of bus/PUV priority lanes, 20 bus/PUV depots, 16 intermodal terminals, and 1,600 bus stops would cost P78-billion. This initial amount can be readily covered by either re-designating several BBB projects for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) development or temporarily suspending viability-constrained mega-projects and reallocating their budgets to more urgent cost-effective infrastructure.

The Philippine road transport sector has been in chaos for years, and Covid-19 has thrown it into a crisis of unparalleled proportions.

With our “commutes from hell” poised to worsen further, building a more rational, humane, and inclusive public transport system should be among our foremost priorities as we move toward economic recovery and the new normal.

The authors are students, graduates, or faculty of the ADMU Department of Economics and are advocates of sensible and humane transport policies.

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wo words define education in these days of quarantine and virus: Online and offline. Whoever came up with these terms must be aware that the two concepts placed side by side cancel each other. Online, the more functional and accessible word connotes the use of technologies that links people to each other in virtual mode. In classroom setting, this means the absence of classroom or the negation of place. One accesses the Internet and finds a program that connects him to his class and/or to a university or a department, as represented by a professor or moderator. Given this, what does offline mean? It means one has removed himself from the virtual space of learning and tuned out?

Where does one go when one goes offline? Nowhere, I suppose. One goes off-campus even though no one has entered a campus physically, or one starts going through the modules given by the teacher. With the module and materials, the student or pupil begins to partake of what is called “blended” teaching and, it follows, learning.

Welcome to online learning.

There are definitions and definitions and there are generalizations.

Broad strokes paint this new paths to knowledge. The angel is there in the hopes that something yet untried would work, but we need the devil this time. Remember the devil is in the details.

The Internet is the library of this new kind of learning. Contrary to what parents think, online learning does not mean teachers of professors are not needed. They are necessary.

In the ideal classroom setting of preCovid days, teachers are expected to read more than their students.

They need to source the library way ahead of those expecting to learn from them.

Under the new dispensation, the teachers should have already started accessing papers in Portable Document Format or PDF. In the older system of learning, this is equivalent simply to teachers reserving books for class, with the assumption that he is way familiar and knowledgeable with the content of the books assigned to students. The same attitude applies to online materials: the teacher should be familiar with

The First Filipino Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

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oday is the 159th birth anniversary of the greatest Filipino—Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Rizal did not bear arms and engage in arm struggle against the foreign tyrant. By the power of his pen, he opened the eyes of his countrymen to the abuses of the Spaniards and inspired them to aspire for freedom.

Rizal’s family was a wealthy landowner in Laguna, which enabled him to attend the best schools in Manila. He even went abroad for further study where he completed his medical degree at the Universidad de Madrid. While abroad, he became involved in the Propaganda Movement, together with other Filipino nationalists like Marcelo del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena and Jose Ma. Panganiban. The group advocated social and political reforms in the Philippines, although Rizal did not seek independence from Spain. He demanded equal treatment for the Filipinos, representation in the Spanish Cortes, Filipinization of the clergy and curtailment of the abusive power of the local Spanish authorities. He wrote several articles in La Solidaridad, which the group published in Barcelona, denouncing Spain’s tyrannical rule in our country. His novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, exposed the despotic regime of Spanish government and the religious authority in our country. He was acknowledged

as the leader of the Filipino reformists in Spain and his countrymen recognized him as the inspiration of the reform movement. He helped prepare the ground for revolution.

Upon his return he founded a nonviolent organization of Filipinos, the La Liga Filipina, to pursue the peaceful reforms he envisioned. The Spanish government became suspicious of his activities and it decided to exile Rizal to Dapitan. When the SpanishAmerican War broke out in Cuba, he volunteered his medical services but he was arrested on his way to Cuba and deported back to the Philippines.

By then, the Katipunan founded by Andres Bonifacio had started its uprising against Spain. He was arrested and tried for sedition by the Spanish authorities although he was against staging a revolution against Spain.

He was found guilty and executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896.

His death further galvanized the Filipinos and widespread revolt erupted resulting in the Philippine Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.

Rizal had produced volumes of works—novels, essays, fables and poems—and even wrote a masterpiece of a poem on the eve of his execution but one work which had drawn less attention was a short letter that he addressed to the 20 young women of Malolos. During Rizal’s time, women’s education was limited to basic primary instruction where the 3 Rs, religion and needlecraft were taught. Secondary and tertiary levels were the exclusive domain of the male students. The traditional role reserved for women was to raise children and become homemakers, but the young women of Malolos dreamed of getting higher education. The women personally delivered a written petition to the Spanish Governor General on his visit to Malolos seeking the governor general’s approval to open up a night school at their expense where they could learn Spanish under Teodoro Sandiko. Sandiko had been teaching the language secretly but only to very few people as it was outlawed. Sandiko wanted to serve more students by making it legal. Upon being informed of their brave efforts, Rizal wrote a letter to the women and supported their position that women were not just destined for motherhood and confined at home. He upheld their view that women were at par with men in all other endeavors. Understandably, the women wanted to learn the language since Spanish was a powerful medium in government, business and society. However, the friars were afraid that acquiring the language would open their minds to the world of liberal ideas

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geniuses are there for Humanities teachers to learn from and assign to their students.

The proverbial yellowing lecture notes of an old professor shall remain proverbial. There is dynamism in the online transaction: the lecturer has to keep in pace with new developments. This online universe is a world transacted deftly by younger users.

Online, there are no dead authors or distant wise men and women. The Internet has made available living voices of thinkers and pundits. Derrida is alive in the Net. He does not lecture always; he also rambles on and on, with his thoughts gathered like magical bloom by a student or an individual asking the question.

He talks in French but that is alright: the generations of today are to subtitles born.

Derrida talks about love by not talking about it. Noah Chomsky speaks how life is empty without love.

Gayatri Spivak, difficult and complicated when read, is mighty lucid in lectures punctuated by amusing denials and confident claims: I am not an anthropologist. I am a Europeanist.The videos produced out of Spivak’s lectures are lengthy in the most useful and beautiful way.

She cracks jokes, which lighten the mood of the talk; she dismisses other thinkers even as she seems to complement them.

She talks about the subaltern and then proceeds to explain her latest version of subalternism. This is a luxury that no generation in school until the 90s had—to “face” authors and thinkers and grasp their thoughts as primary data.

I am afraid, authors and those magisterial thinkers will doubly be more interesting than any good teacher behind a lesson. Where does this leave the esteemed professor or lecturer? He is now the facilitator actualizing what has been talked about but never accomplished—a studentcentered learning.

For all the ease in this talk about online learning, we still have to contend similarly with what the woman in Virginia Woolf’s essay has to contend—that we can only, paraphrased, learn and really learn if we have money, a room and a line of our own.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

since most books were written in Spanish. Women would demand greater rights, which would pose a threat to their power and authority. So the local friars opposed this.

Eventually, through constant lobbying, the petition was granted in February 1889. This was Rizal’s legacy to womanhood. Rizal was among the first to recognize the rights of Filipino women to education. The women of Malolos ignited the women’s movement in our country and they championed the women’s rights for education and equal treatment in society.

Rizal was a man of thought and ideas. Unlike Andres Bonifacio, the founder of Katipunan, who advocated revolution against the foreign oppressor, he merely wanted peaceful change. However, we cannot ignore Rizal’s valuable contributions to the cause of our freedom. His writings enkindled our people’s yearning for liberty and independence, which the more radical forces led by Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo boldly and relentlessly pursued. In a sense, he “midwifed” our independence. And his dramatic death at the hands of the colonizers, capped by his writing of a masterful verse in Spanish, “Mi Ultimo Adios,” on the eve of his execution, elevated him to the pantheon of our heroes. His birth, gift of intellect and language, education, literary achievements, fervent nationalism and background, including his rich love life, had romanticized his life. He was revered in life and idealized in death by his beloved countrymen who regarded him as their preeminent hero and the First Filipino.

A8 Friday, June 19, 2020

Boracay hotel may lose biz permit for hosting partying staff of BFP

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O more accreditation, no more business permit.”

This was Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat’s response to a question on whether the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was inclined to cancel a Boracay hotel’s business permits and licenses, after the Department of Tourism (DOT) moved to revoke the establishment’s accreditation.

I n a p h o n e c o n v e r s at i o n with the BusinessMirror late Wednesday, the DOT chief expressed disappointment at the incident on Boracay Island involving Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel who checked into HUE Hotels and Resorts Boracay, ostensibly to render service during the official visit of Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) officials on June 11 and 12. One of the staff had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

“First of all, those employees arrived on Boracay after we [BIATF] left,” said Romulo Puyat.

“We were there on June 11 and left after lunch on June 12. They said they were going there for our conference.” Also, “Boracay was still not open to tourists.

We said June 16 pa. The hotel had no certificate of authority to operate.”

She stressed, “I think it’s very

unfair to the other hotels on the island who went through the process of securing their certificate of authority to operate (CAO).

Everyone was excited that the island was reopening, then this happened. So we revoked their [HUE ’s] accred itat ion.” (See, “DOT to revoke accreditation of hotel which housed ‘tourists,’” in the BusinessMirror, June 17, 2020.)

Romulo Puyat was also incensed that even DOT staff who had gone to the hotel to check its health and safety protocols before a CAO was issued, “are now in quarantine as well. Nadamay pa sila!” The DOT has four teams on the island to check accredited hotels for their safety protocols in preparation for Boracay’s reopening to Western Visayas tourists, which has since been reduced to three due to the quarantining of one team.

As of press time, HUE Hotel had yet to send this paper a copy of their news statement, as promised by its management.

Under Republic Act 9353 (Tourism Act of 2009), local government units can only issue business permits and other licenses to tourism enterprises and establishments after these secure accreditation from the DOT. Continued on A2

INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE (ITCZ) AFFECTING VISAYAS AND MINDANAO as of 4:00 am - June 18, 2020

SC to BIR: Condo homeowner fees are not VAT-able

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By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court (SC) has declared invalid an eight-year-old Bureau of Internal Revenue imposing a 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) and 32-percent income tax on association dues, membership fees and other charges collected by condominium operators from its members and tenants. The high court said the activities of these sectors, such as the upkeep of homeowners’ common areas, are not for profit, and therefore should not be taxed.

In a 33-page decision released on Wednesday, the SC’s First Division through Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier affirmed the resolution issued by the Regional Trial Court of Makati City Branch 14 and its order dated December 18, 2013, granting the plea of First E-Bank Tower Condominium Corp. to void BIR Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 65-2012 issued on October 31, 2012.

In resolving the issue, the SC noted that the validity of the BIR circular which has been pending for six years now, from the time it was filed before the trial court then with the Court of Appeals and now with the SC, “is imbued with public interest.”

It acknowledged that RMC No. 65-2012 has far-reaching consequences among condominium corporations which have proliferated throughout the country.

“For numerous Filipino families, professionals, and students have, for quite sometime now, opted for condominium living as their new way of life. The matter of whether indeed the contributions of unit owners solely intended for maintenance and upkeep of the common areas of the condominium building are taxable is imbued with public interest,” the SC said.

“Suffice it to state that taxes, being the lifeblood of the government, occupy a high place in the hierarchy of State priorities, hence, all questions pertaining to their validity

must be promptly addressed with the least procedural obstruction,” it added.

In nullifying RMC No. 65-2012, the SC pointed out that a condominium corporation is not designed to engage in activities to generate income or profit that would warrant the imposition of VAT and income tax.

The SC explained that condominium corporations are sanctioned by Republic Act No. 4726 SC to BIR: Condo (The Condominium Act).

The SC pointed out that under that law, a condominium is an interest in real property consisting of a separate interest in a unit in a residential, industrial or commercial building and an undivided interest in common, directly or indirectly, in the land on which it is located and in other common areas of the building.

To enable the orderly administration over these common areas which the unit owners jointly own, RA 4726 permits the creation of a condominium corporation for the purpose of holding title to the common areas.

The law states that unit owners automatically become members or shareholders of the condominium corporation.

Furthermore, the High Tribunal said under Section 10 of the said law, the corporate purposes of a condominium corporation are limited to holding the common areas, either in ownership or any other interest in real property recognized by law; management of the project; and to such other purposes necessary, incidental, or convenient to the accomplishment of these purposes.

Continued on A2

Ping refutes ‘mistaken’ Carpio view on terror bill

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ENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Thursday allayed apprehensions aired by ex-Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio over the Anti-terror bill, now awaiting presidential signature.

Lacson assured the magistrate that the remedial legislation updating the law penalizing terrorist acts provides for swift and effective delivery of justice to all concerned, and has enough safeguards against abuse, contrary to fears aired by human- rights lawyers and leaders of various sectors.

“With all due respect to former Justice Antonio Carpio, who I continue to admire and respect, he is mistaken on several material points in his interpretation on the contents of the AntiTerrorism Bill,” Lacson said. Carpio had said he would join in questioning the bill in the SC, on constitutionality issues, if it is signed into law.

The senator assured the public he had already addressed many of the concerns raised over the bill in a letter-reply to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

“I hope those who share his [Justice Carpio’s] concerns take time to read it,” Lacson said, providing the link to whoever is interested at https://pinglacson.net/2020/06/16/lacsonrectifies-ibp-misconceptions-anti-terrorism-billswift-effective-constitutional/.

The lawmaker said that after reading the transcript of Justice Carpio’s remarks before the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Wednesday,“I think he has made up his mind on his interpretation, so in the meantime I will leave it at that.”

But not one to readily give up, Lacson is looking forward to an upcoming forum where he expects to further explain the need to update the law to boost government’s capability to combat terrorism.

“That said, I am scheduled to speak before the same Management Association of the Philippines membership meeting on June 24, and I will have the opportunity to respond point by point to the constitutional issues and concerns that he raised as guest speaker of the same forum,” the senator added.

Lacson and lawmakers standing squarely behind the controversial ATB insist that the Human Security Act of 2007, which the pending ATB law seeks to amend, has proven not enough to fight terrorism. They said a new, tougher law with sharper focus on terrorist targets, could reduce the risks of another Marawi Siege happening. Butch Fernandez

MRT-3 depot workers undergo tests after 15 staff get Covid-19

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LL depot personnel of the MRT-3 line were to undergo rapid antibody testing on Thursday, as a health and safety measure after 15 workers of Sumitomo-MHI-TESPI, the rail line’s maintenance provider, recently tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

As a precautionary measure, all MRT-3 and Sumitomo-MHI-TESPI

depot personnel will undergo rapid testing to be conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Those who will test positive in the rapid antibody testing will be required to undergo RT-PCR confirmatory testing and to go on self-quarantine while waiting for the results of the confirmatory test.

“The health and safety of our employees and passengers are

primordial to us. All employees will be required to undergo testing. We have been conducting disinfection in the depot, at stations, and in trains. We will continue to implement these and other measures to contain the spread of the virus in our workplace, stations, and trains,” said MRT-3 Director for Operations Michael J. Capati.

Continued on A2

PHL EMBASSY IN AMSTERDAM HELPS STRANDED SEAFARERS

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HE Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands extended assistance to 13 Filipino seafarers who were stranded at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on June 15.

Initially, 12 seafarers were stranded at Schiphol when they were not allowed to board their flight to Manila, which had imposed a daily limit on passengers allowed to enter the Philippines.

After receiving information from the Filipino community about their situation, the Embassy immediately sought assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Office of Migrant Workers’ Affairs and the Intelligence and Security Unit. The latter coordinated with the government authorities in Manila to ensure the immediate repatriation of stranded seafarers.

An Embassy personnel also visited the seafarers inside the airport to check on their situation allowed the entry of a flight carrying the 12 seafarers. Another seafarer also stranded at Schiphol Airport at about the same time was allowed and to extend financial assistance.

The next day, June 16, Philippine authorities to board the said flight. Recto L. Mercene

Companies BusinessMirror

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Friday, June 19, 2020

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ICTSI still keen on expanding portfolio

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

nternational Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) is keen on investing in new ports that make business sense in the new normal, as it moves to further expand its operations portfolio amid the pandemic.

During the company’s annual stockholders meeting, ICTSI Chairman Enrique K. Razon Jr. said his group is scouting for more opportunities to capitalize on the need for healthier global supply chains, which have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Even during this crisis, we are still keenly on the lookout for opportunities to expand our portfolio and continue to be very active in seeking out potential acquisitions or new projects whose potential or valuation makes sense in this environment,” he said in a livestream

of the meeting on Thursday.

Razon said the pandemic has caused disruptions in the global trade flows, as China and the rest of the world started to impose strict restrictions on global traffic to curb the spread of the virus.

“But I can tell you that the impact has not been as severe as we ourselves expected, proving once again the tremendous resilience of our business.”

The global port operator, Razon said, responded to this by cutting capital expenses from $270 million to $160 million.

Mega Global Corp. gears up for hike in food demand due to PHL recovery

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

ne of the country’s leading sardines brands has invested P500 million for expansion projects this year and next year, as it looks to augment its fishing and canning capacities in anticipation of higher demand for its offerings.

In a virtual news briefing on Thursday, Mega Global Corp. COO Michelle Chan said the firm has injected P500 million for increasing production output in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. She said Mega is eyeing to improve its fishing and canning capacities both by 20 percent this year to fill in the growing demand for its products.

As a producer of basic goods, Mega is one of the few firms benefitting from the health crisis, as requirement for canned items that are included in relief bags are high at the moment.

“We are allocating at least P500 million for expansion this year and next year. I think it’s around 20 percent increase for our canning capacity, as well as for fishing,” Chan said.

Aside from bolstering production output, Mega is considering to acquire fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands, according

to President and CEO William Tiu Lim. “We are on the lookout for broadening our horizons through acquisitions and mergers by taking in FMCG products where we have a networking from north to south. That’s one of the plans we are looking at in the near future,” he said.

“The growth is there, but we are looking at other prospects, especially in the FMCG sector, as this business move [acquisition] has yet to be explored before thoroughly.”

However, the firm, which is celebrating 45th anniversary this year, is taking its expansion plans slowly but surely, particularly at a time when business uncertainty is at its highest. Lim, for one, said increasing the capacity on one sector—say, fishing—would require the firm to increase the capacity as well for canning, logistics, distribution and marketing.

Everything entails a cost, and costs are becoming difficult to overcome lately, Lim admitted.

“The production site is suffering because a lot of our manpower cannot go to work [due to the restrictions on public transport]. As much as fishing is hitting its targets, production is having a little bit of prob-

GCash platform gets upgrade

PSE halts trading of Pepsi shares

@alyasjah

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F

INANCIAL technology (fintech) player GCash has upgraded its online payment platform to a new system, which would allow it to handle higher volumes of users, increase security, and improve efficiencies in transactions.

Called A+, the new platform was deployed in partnership with Ant Financial, which runs the world’s largest digital wallet Alipay. The new system is a cloudbased technology that will ensure “a better and more seamless experience” for GCash users.

“By migrating GCash into the best-in-class platform of Ant Financial, we have successfully boosted our capacity to help accommodate the growing demand for digital financial services in the Philippines. This will provide our customers with a faster, better and more stable experience with the GCash app,” said GCash Chief Technology and Operations Officer Pebbles Sy. There are three key benefits of A+, Sy explained, listing them as rapid scalability, improved service quality, and better risk and security management.

As a cloud-based platform, A+ allows GCash to expand its capacity. Through the new platform, it can now serve more than 50 times its current capacity.

The platform employs New technologies that allow GCash to better understand its customers through the quick processing of data, making it more responsive to the growing and evolving demands of consumers.

It likewise added more layers of security and enhanced risk management capabilities, which allows it to have intelligent risk controls that utilize historical transactions for a more precise and quicker identification of risk.

“Today, we are truly seeing a growth in demand and usage, as Filipinos turn to cashless options to safeguard themselves from the pandemic. We at GCash believe that this migration will help us better serve our users and encourage more Filipinos to go cashless. This move is only one of the many enhancements we plan on doing as we continuously improve our services.” Lorenz S. Marasigan

“Given the great uncertainty of many economies and the global economy itself, we have shored up our balance sheet, and we will continue to seize every opportunity to further strengthen our finances going forward.”

The port operator saw its profits declining by almost a fifth in the first quarter of 2020 as it posted lower revenues due to the Covid-19 pandemic and because of the increases in its expenses related to concession rights During the said period, the global port operator recorded a net income

Pandemic pushes back Bloomberry’s Solaire North completion to 2023

By VG Cabuag @villygc

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Photo from www. megalobal.com.ph

lems,” the Mega chief said.

“When we expand by that much, we have to change a lot of things like logistics. However, we have to invest in this time as well. It is like preparing yourself to grow again once the economy recovers and picks up.”

As part of taking expansion slow and steady, Mega is shunning the option of filing for an initial public

offering this year to secure the firm’s continuous growth. However, if opportunity shows up in the next five years, Lim said Mega might just go public.

Mega Global Corp. is one of the country’s leading manufacturers and distributors of canned goods behind the brands Mega Sardines, Mega Tuna and Mega Prime Canned Vegetables.

attributable to equity holders of $59.6 million, an 18-percent reduction from the $72.4 million it netted the year prior, as revenues from port operations declined by 2 percent to $375.8 million from $383.8 million while its cash expenses rose by 6 percent to $119 million from $112 million.

Also, consolidated financing charges and other expenses for the quarter increased by 17 percent from $28.3 million in 2019 to $33.2 million.

Traffic volume, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), was flattish at 2.51 million TEUs in March.

loomberry Resorts Corp., the gambling arm of billionaire Enrique K. Razon Jr., has pushed back the completion of its Solaire North in Quezon City due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the company’s stockholders’ meeting conducted online, Razon said the company will complete the 40-story integrated gaming and resort facility by the end of 2022 or early 2023, which he said is “just right.” “Construction has partially restarted and the period of lockdown can be reasonably added to the completion date. We strongly believe that the timing of Solaire North could well coincide with a full economic recovery,” he said.

Its flagship Solaire Resort and Casino in Entertainment City in Parañaque has recently opened to a limited capacity on June 15, and Razon said it is too early to give an indication of how the business will perform.

“Our number one priority now is to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests and employees. We have invested heavily and have gone to extreme lengths to make Solaire and our guests as sanitized and safe as possible. We have taken every precaution and beyond with meticulous attention to the most minute detail to achieve this,” he said.

“We have acquired and installed the most technologically advanced

cleaning and disinfecting devices, materials, and equipment globally available. We are testing and training all our employees, suppliers, contractors three times a month in our own adjacent testing facility, and will continue to do this for the foreseeable future. I am confident when I say that there is no safer facility for the public in the country today then Solaire."

He said the company may not be able to replicate its performance in the previous year “until the pandemic is over, in one way or another, whether it runs its course, or a vaccine is created in mass quantities.”

Solaire was shut down when the government placed the National Capital Region under lockdown starting mid-March. The hotel part remained open to house long term staying guests who elected to stay in the country rather then fly out once the lockdown was implemented.

Bloomberry said its net income fell 38 percent to P1.4 billion in the first quarter, from last year's P2.2 billion. Revenues declined as the lockdown halted its operations.

Consolidated net revenue in the first quarter was down 13 percent to P9.4 billion, from P10.8 billion in the same period last year.

Total gross gaming revenues at Solaire were down 10 percent to P12.2 billion, from last year's P13.6 billion.

VIP revenues fell 21 percent to P4.7 billion, while mass table gambling and electronic gaming machines dipped by 2 percent to P3.9 billion and P3.6 billion, respectively.

Power plants boost Alsons income in Q1

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

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BusinessMirror file photo

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he Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Thursday suspended the trading of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc.'s stocks after South Korean firm Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. completed the tender offer for the bottler's shares.

Lotte Chilsung, whose parent firm already own a minority stake in the bottler, has made a tender offer on the remaining shares of Pepsi Philippines. It bought some 1.13 billion shares in the exercise, or equivalent to 30.7 percent of the company, it said.

As a result, Pepsi Philippines’s public ownership will fall to 2.1 percent, or below the 10-percent minimum

public float requirement by the PSE. “Quaker Global Investments B.V., the wholly-owned subsidiary of PepsiCo Inc., did not participate in the tender offer. The company remains the exclusive bottler in the Philippines of PepsiCo’s beverage brands Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Sting and Aquafina,” it said. Lotte last year began its tender offer for the shares of Pepsi Philippines and has asked for an exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PSE since it has no plans to de-list the company from the local bourse.

The Korean company said it has no plans that would result in any merger,

reorganization or liquidation of the company, or that would result in a material change to the company’s corporate structure or business.

Lotte Corp. already owns at least 42.22 percent of Pepsi Philippines.

Lotte Chilsung, the owner of brand such as Milkis aside from other popular Pepsi-Cola brands, is buying some 2.13 billion common shares of the local bottling firm, or about 57.78 percent, for P1.95 per share.

The company's share price close on Wednesday at P1.70 apiece. “The company will disclose in due course its plans with regard to its compliance with the minimum public ownership requirement,” it said. VG Cabuag

lcantara led Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. (ACR) reported a net income of P310 million in the first quarter as against P104 million in the same period a year ago.

ACR’s revenue also grew to P2.21 billion in the first quarter, from P1.22 billion in the same period last year.

Revenue and income for the period were driven primarily by the continuing operations of the company’s power plants including the 210-megawatt (MW) Sarangani Energy Corp. (SEC) coal-fired baseload power plant located in Maasim, Sarangani Province.

The power plant began operating at full capacity when the second 105MW unit commenced operations in October last year.

The company’s net earnings attributable to the parent also climbed considerably in the first quarter to P55 million from P6 million in the first quarter of 2019.

ACR—the first private sector power generator in Mindanao—earlier reported that their power plants continued operating despite the ongoing enhanced quarantine of many areas in the country including areas in the region where the group has set up power facilities.

“Our operations are ongoing and we continue to dispatch power to our

various customers in Mindanao,” said ACR Executive Vice President Tirso G. Santillan, Jr. The company currently has a portfolio of four power facilities with an aggregate capacity of 468 MW serving over eight million people in 14 cities and 11 provinces including key urban centers such as Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iligan, and Zamboanga City ACR is currently building a P4.5-billion 14.5 MW run-of -river hydroelectric power plant at the Siguil River basin in Maasim, Sarangani Province. This is the company’s first foray into renewable energy (RE).

The Siguil Hydro power plant is expected to begin commercial operations in 2022 and will provide power to Sarangani Province, General Santos City and key municipalities of South Cotabato.

Another project in ACR’s pipeline is the 105-MW San Ramon Power, Inc. (SRPI) baseload coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City, which is slated to begin operations in 2023.

Apart from power generation, ACR is also engaged in property development.

The company is in partnership with Ayala Land, Inc. in the development of Azuela Cove, a 26-hectare mixed-use township project in Davao City. The first two Ayala Land Premier towers were successfully launched in 2018 and are currently under construction.

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Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, June 19, 2020

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

June 18, 2020

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

46.65 99.95 72 20.25 7.75 38.15 9.32 21.2 47.5 17.9 103 54.25 17 2.49 0.28 0.56 165.9 1700

47 100 73.95 20.3 7.76 38.2 9.87 21.3 48.75 18 103.2 54.8 17.2 2.55 0.295 0.59 169 1760

47 101.2 73 20.05 7.6 38.8 9.86 21.5 47.15 18.04 103.5 55.3 17.2 2.4 0.295 0.58 165.9 1760

47 101.9 73.95 20.3 7.79 38.85 9.87 21.5 47.5 18.12 103.9 55.4 17.2 2.49 0.295 0.59 170 1760

46.7 99.8 70.95 20.05 7.4 38 9.32 21 47.15 17.98 100.5 54.25 17 2.4 0.28 0.56 165.9 1760

47 100 73.95 20.25 7.75 38.2 9.32 21.2 47.5 18 103 54.8 17 2.49 0.28 0.59 169 1760

9500 1997480 599190 766800 2087500 4222600 900 1221200 200 6100 584660 59370 3200 46000 1940000 164000 120 15

444580 327450 199914848 -64069011 43568766 -2478272 15383655 15872088 -2212426 161,445,570( 113,923,589.9997) 8713 25683080 -23046175 9465 109846 -7248 59766199 -18755225 3251675.5 -48450.5 54820 111490 547300 70000 93680 -11399.9999 20135 26400 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 2.24 2.25 2.28 2.29 2.22 2.25 6024000 13585750 1.02 1.03 0.9 1.02 0.9 1.02 1439000 1408440 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 27.9 28 27.8 28 27.5 28 485300 13500050 BASIC ENERGY 0.152 0.157 0.16 0.16 0.142 0.158 3510000 532980 21.1 21.15 20.95 21.2 20.8 21.1 522700 10995365 FIRST GEN 58.85 58.9 60 60.5 58.7 58.85 37490 2205409 FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO 276.2 276.6 278.2 280 276.6 276.6 257520 71422924 MANILA WATER 12.32 12.36 12.6 12.7 12.2 12.36 1203200 14846056 3.09 3.1 3.11 3.13 3.09 3.1 1014000 3146320 PETRON 2.75 2.93 2.99 2.99 2.92 2.93 30000 88670 PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM 10.94 11.2 10.64 11.2 10.64 11.2 118800 1319810 PILIPINAS SHELL 18.2 18.22 18.9 18.9 18.02 18.2 470600 8,605,694( 8.06 8.09 8.1 8.1 7.95 8.06 97400 780261 SPC POWER 7.11 7.19 7.15 7.28 7.1 7.19 231200 1663427 AGRINURTURE AXELUM 2.61 2.63 2.64 2.65 2.55 2.61 29092000 75641060 CNTRL AZUCARERA 12.5 12.88 12.06 12.88 12.06 12.5 1400 17128 14.92 15 15 15 14.92 14.92 295200 4413654 CENTURY FOOD 4.22 4.49 4.49 4.49 4.4 4.4 3000 13290 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 5.09 5.1 5.35 5.35 5.09 5.1 1159200 5962852 EMPERADOR 8.09 8.1 8.14 8.2 7.9 8.09 45143700 364730308 68.3 68.5 68.8 68.9 68 68.3 52220 3567809.5 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.6 0.57 0.58 1622000 944750 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.3 1.31 1.31 1.32 1.28 1.3 6839000 8824960 GINEBRA 33.85 34.7 35 35 34.8 34.8 84900 2955280 149.8 149.9 145.1 150 145 149.9 2089330 311657927 JOLLIBEE 6.45 6.78 6.39 6.78 6.39 6.45 2600 16926 MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP 5.9 5.91 6 6 5.85 5.91 634200 3739970 MG HLDG 0.124 0.139 0.116 0.13 0.116 0.12 190000 23090 6.19 6.2 6.3 6.31 6.17 6.19 543400 3372179 SHAKEYS PIZZA 1.79 1.82 1.89 1.89 1.79 1.79 1777000 3234900 ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG 1.61 1.67 1.62 1.65 1.62 1.62 18000 29310 0.105 0.11 0.106 0.106 0.105 0.105 2770000 291690 SWIFT FOODS 128.5 129 130 131 126.4 129 1433490 184542171 UNIV ROBINA 0.9 0.91 0.8 0.9 0.79 0.9 386952000 323176490 VITARICH CONCRETE B 56.35 63 64.4 64.4 64.4 64.4 20 1288 1.12 1.13 1.11 1.12 1.1 1.12 6290000 6971810 CEMEX HLDG 4.02 4.47 3.57 4.46 3.57 4.46 7000 26860 DAVINCI CAPITAL 10.5 10.52 10.8 10.84 10.5 10.5 185800 1954532 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 5.03 5.04 5.18 5.18 5.01 5.03 5707800 28814170 HOLCIM 7.05 7.07 7.36 7.4 7.02 7.05 2097000 15008146 7.05 7.06 7.26 7.26 7 7.06 4251300 30029810 MEGAWIDE 8.34 8.98 8.96 8.98 8.96 8.98 1100 9876 PHINMA TKC METALS 0.72 0.74 0.72 0.74 0.72 0.72 70000 50460 0.74 0.76 0.82 0.82 0.74 0.74 1088000 838260 VULCAN INDL 110.8 146.9 131 131 131 131 210 27510 CHEMPHIL CROWN ASIA 1.92 1.93 1.98 1.98 1.92 1.93 140000 269010 2.25 2.27 2.27 2.35 2.21 2.25 706000 1585390 EUROMED 4.11 4.18 4.18 4.18 4.1 4.1 124000 509480 PRYCE CORP 20.3 21.45 21.5 21.5 20.2 20.3 12900 275980 CONCEPCION GREENERGY 1.63 1.64 1.6 1.65 1.57 1.64 5996000 9656240 INTEGRATED MICR 5.82 5.86 5.92 5.99 5.75 5.86 131900 771215 1.09 1.1 1.15 1.15 1.1 1.1 522000 576470 IONICS 4.02 5.99 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 8000 32800 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.36 1.39 1.39 1.43 1.33 1.39 2424000 3309800 8.4 8.44 8.4 8.9 8.18 8.4 9651000 82561960 CIRTEK HLDG

122299.9999 15320 -4455555 -312290 -1089900 -1963933 -34274620 1590162 -1805950 -554820 1,161,449.9997) 12105 -21659 -46970 1250 -165588 -2987683 -363609424 -413143.5 -10730 2428939.9993 103935195 833990 1578461.9997 -284270 -86089905 885010 -134070 51620 95205 -2899882 -4311602 280730 -50160 -275980 272970 191025 508241.0004

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.49 0.495 0.5 0.5 0.49 0.49 5767000 2844000 9.2 9.3 9.12 9.49 9.08 9.2 44400 412220 ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP 783 790 791 794.5 775 790 310010 244677500 ABOITIZ EQUITY 46.95 47 46.8 47.4 46.6 47 730500 34346550 7.05 7.06 7.2 7.2 7.02 7.06 28917400 205809267 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 1.71 1.74 1.74 1.76 1.7 1.74 1257000 2165680 AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR 6.21 6.22 6.2 6.22 6.2 6.22 2400 14914 0.5 0.51 0.5 0.52 0.5 0.51 153000 77570 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.55 0.57 0.57 0.57 0.55 0.56 3045000 1686460 ATN HLDG A 0.59 0.61 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.54 1000 540 ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL 5.4 5.41 5.4 5.41 5.39 5.41 238000 1285351 DMCI HLDG 4.25 4.26 4.3 4.31 4.22 4.26 20070000 85457190 8.39 8.5 9 9 8.5 8.5 36900 317221 FILINVEST DEV 3.1 3.79 3.02 3.85 3.02 3.1 16000 55020 FJ PRINCE A FORUM PACIFIC 0.185 0.19 0.185 0.185 0.185 0.185 60000 11100 481 482 485 485 470 482 190250 91166594 GT CAPITAL 3.32 3.39 3.36 3.39 3.36 3.39 19000 63870 HOUSE OF INV 61.35 64.3 61.05 64.3 59.3 64.3 1595030 99483689.5 JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A 5.16 5.5 5.14 5.5 5.14 5.5 122100 633324 0.64 0.65 0.66 0.69 0.62 0.65 19656000 13190150 LODESTAR 2.63 2.67 2.63 2.69 2.62 2.63 774000 2046880 LOPEZ HLDG 8.88 9 8.9 9 8.73 9 657600 5864061 LT GROUP METRO PAC INV 3.59 3.6 3.5 3.59 3.44 3.59 66474000 234919360 PACIFICA HLDG 2.89 3.2 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 10000 28900 0.75 0.76 0.83 0.83 0.76 0.76 88000 68080 PRIME MEDIA 2.14 2.69 2.65 2.65 2.5 2.5 43000 108340 REPUBLIC GLASS SOLID GROUP 0.94 0.98 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 10000 9600 157 167 155 167 155 157 520 81193 SYNERGY GRID 953 963 931 963 925 963 1154530 1077519295 SM INVESTMENTS 103.5 104.9 105 105 102.6 104.9 147290 15303547 SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES 0.62 0.65 0.63 0.65 0.62 0.65 217000 138970 TOP FRONTIER 134 137.9 136 137.9 134 134 100 13636 0.185 0.195 0.185 0.185 0.185 0.185 100000 18500 WELLEX INDUS 0.141 0.149 0.146 0.15 0.141 0.149 790000 114350 ZEUS HLDG

-947990 9119.9999 -13838800 -5611955 -3085964 10440 1064948 -31886470 -76721 2019080 -67282684.5 -173820 -2430382 16066880 900838080 -1236121 -78000 -1360 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.56 0.57 0.55 0.58 0.54 0.57 896000 494290 8.5 8.87 8.7 8.99 8.51 8.51 6300 53893 ANCHOR LAND AYALA LAND 36 36.45 35.75 36.45 35.05 36.45 5948900 213442380 ARANETA PROP 1.02 1.06 1.05 1.06 1 1.05 71000 73460 1.4 1.41 1.4 1.42 1.4 1.4 70000 98530 BELLE CORP 0.61 0.63 0.59 0.65 0.56 0.63 6571000 3943500 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.74 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.73 0.75 40000 29560 CROWN EQUITIES 0.121 0.127 0.121 0.127 0.121 0.127 90000 11210 3.9 3.94 3.82 3.95 3.82 3.94 907000 3569920 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.39 0.395 0.39 0.395 0.385 0.39 11890000 4610500 CENTURY PROP CYBER BAY 0.27 0.29 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 400000 108000 17.2 17.4 18.5 18.5 17.02 17.2 1703300 29789498 DOUBLEDRAGON 6.38 6.5 6.6 6.69 6.38 6.38 84700 543236 DM WENCESLAO 0.265 0.275 0.27 0.275 0.265 0.265 980000 262500 EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO 0.11 0.116 0.12 0.12 0.11 0.116 6460000 744990 FILINVEST LAND 1 1.01 1.01 1.02 1 1.01 27077000 27224180 0.85 0.86 0.9 0.91 0.84 0.85 389000 345820 GLOBAL ESTATE 9.9 10.1 10 10.1 9.8 10.1 17200 172330 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 0.86 0.88 0.86 0.87 0.84 0.87 814000 693250 KEPPEL PROP 3.39 3.73 3.4 3.4 3.39 3.39 8000 27170 3.31 3.34 3.36 3.36 3.29 3.34 8330000 27651980 MEGAWORLD 0.15 0.152 0.154 0.155 0.149 0.152 6460000 974920 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.3 0.31 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 20000 6000 1.41 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.45 6000 8700 PRIMEX CORP 17.88 18 18.02 18.18 17.62 18 1359700 24440982 ROBINSONS LAND 0.235 0.245 0.236 0.236 0.235 0.235 140000 32940 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.51 1.54 1.55 1.55 1.54 1.54 35000 54040 2.7 2.72 2.7 2.72 2.7 2.72 33000 89200 SHANG PROP 1.82 1.83 1.92 1.92 1.81 1.83 116000 212260 STA LUCIA LAND 31.8 32 31 32 31 32 3223200 102304710 SM PRIME HLDG VISTAMALLS 3.75 3.79 3.7 3.89 3.7 3.75 161000 609300 1.23 1.25 1.24 1.26 1.22 1.25 2058000 2540650 SUNTRUST HOME 3.96 3.99 4.06 4.06 3.95 3.99 733000 2929130 VISTA LAND

-20363015 -18330 7300 -3078140 19500 5375163.9997 -8016 13160 -9522200 -99350 7560 -1001930 -45300 -8700 -6891914 -59400 -31509070 -358350

SERVICES

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

15.32 5.19 0.365 13.28 2206 1236 0.052 2.92 3.1 1.22 0.075 1.65 2.1 0.188 2.33 10.3 4 42.95 100.1 13.5 6.39 2.4 6.8 0.85 1.15 0.026 0.385 6.31 800 8.02 0.31 2.07 7.18 2.05 1.56 2.71 2.66 0.335 7 1.67 46.1 66.8 130 1.18 15.72 0.325 7.5 291 4.52 0.206 5.02

15.34 5.2 0.38 14.68 2208 1241 0.054 3.05 3.11 1.39 0.076 1.8 2.11 0.189 2.34 10.38 4.03 43 101 13.98 6.4 2.44 6.88 0.86 1.2 0.027 0.395 6.4 847 8.85 0.315 2.18 7.3 2.14 1.58 2.8 2.79 0.34 7.02 1.68 46.4 66.9 130.1 1.19 15.8 0.34 7.69 303 5.5 0.207 5.18

15.3 5.21 0.365 13.04 2190 1230 0.053 2.9 3.15 1.22 0.076 1.45 2.2 0.191 2.31 10.3 4.06 44.6 102 13.5 6.84 2.45 6.8 0.88 1.15 0.027 0.385 6.3 801.5 8.02 0.305 2.1 7.49 2.17 1.55 2.8 2.7 0.335 7.22 1.7 45 67 134.5 1.17 16 0.32 8 290 4.5 0.203 5.02

15.48 5.29 0.38 14.68 2224 1241 0.054 3 3.37 1.22 0.076 1.65 2.22 0.191 2.37 10.4 4.17 44.9 102 13.98 6.9 2.48 6.9 0.88 1.15 0.027 0.39 6.3 801.5 8.84 0.31 2.19 7.5 2.17 1.62 2.8 2.94 0.34 7.22 1.74 46.4 67.6 134.5 1.18 16 0.34 8 315 5.7 0.207 5.02

15.24 5.18 0.36 13.04 2162 1215 0.052 2.88 3.02 1.22 0.075 1.45 2.1 0.185 2.23 10 3.92 42.05 98.7 13.48 6.3 2.36 6.75 0.84 1.15 0.025 0.38 6.3 800 8.02 0.3 2.07 7.12 2.02 1.55 2.8 2.61 0.33 7 1.57 44.55 66.6 127.1 1.15 15.68 0.32 7.1 251 4.5 0.2 5.02

15.34 5.2 0.365 14.68 2206 1241 0.054 3 3.1 1.22 0.075 1.65 2.11 0.189 2.34 10.3 4 43 101 13.98 6.4 2.4 6.88 0.86 1.15 0.027 0.385 6.3 800 8.84 0.31 2.18 7.3 2.05 1.58 2.8 2.79 0.34 7 1.67 46.4 66.9 130 1.18 15.8 0.34 7.69 292 5.5 0.206 5.02

225000 1730600 730000 3100 74305 121900 13380000 42000 94242000 5000 980000 13000 4161000 400000 1945000 199100 2697000 713600 1579470 47000 6492500 1598000 27100 212000 70000 19500000 620000 400 50 1400 34280000 49000 5241800 88000 396000 3000 714000 9220000 6559700 9031000 968300 411110 301120 2213000 2332800 250000 201200 1450 11000 4150000 11400

3445476 9042436 266150 41700 163961840 150612330 698890 122690 303304220 6100 74410 19390 8928100 74870 4460210 2026330 10798290 30680225 157984473.5 635214 42673317 3851920 184760 180710 80500 508500 238550 2520 40045 11802 10301100 103000 38033128 183340 627020 8400 2000830 3090400 46265754 14884040 44282465 27525534.5 40345769 2581600 36930136 80800 1522235 397492 56780 840720 57228

-52985590 -66102035 76470 243450 167400 -37000 2044 86570 -6775360 -69885347 -62100 -2886771 5200 2520 -9326850 -3384959 52000 1005000 10177656 1680100 6043250 -23362922 -9990 -205270.0001 -9750220 21600 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 9.82 10.1 10 10.16 10 10.16 2800 28228 APEX MINING 1.01 1.02 1.04 1.04 0.99 1.01 2269000 2278070 -20200 ABRA MINING 0.0009 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.0009 0.001 20000000 19300 0.189 0.196 0.19 0.196 0.189 0.196 420000 81570 COAL ASIA HLDG 2.67 2.7 2.67 2.7 2.67 2.7 53000 141810 27000 CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES 7.69 7.7 7.84 7.97 7.68 7.69 517000 3972760 1540 FERRONICKEL 0.89 0.9 0.9 0.92 0.86 0.9 3941000 3479650 593000 0.225 0.227 0.223 0.232 0.221 0.227 1070000 237920 GEOGRACE 0.077 0.079 0.082 0.082 0.077 0.077 4020000 315680 LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 0.08 0.086 0.086 0.086 0.08 0.08 620000 49660 0.007 0.0083 0.0067 0.007 0.0067 0.007 4000000 27700 MANILA MINING B 0.58 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.56 0.59 717000 422390 4800 MARCVENTURES 1.22 1.26 1.32 1.32 1.22 1.25 850000 1078190 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 1.88 1.9 1.9 1.93 1.84 1.88 6023000 11283750 -2059490 OMICO CORP 0.36 0.395 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 50000 20000 0.5 0.51 0.5 0.51 0.49 0.51 170000 84235 ORNTL PENINSULA 2.37 2.44 2.41 2.41 2.4 2.4 33000 79390 -24010 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 13.02 13.04 13.2 13.2 12.9 13.04 2477200 32059740 774634 UNITED PARAGON 0.0038 0.0039 0.0039 0.0039 0.0039 0.0039 2000000 7800 6.4 6.54 6.66 6.7 6.4 6.54 55200 354497 3200 ACE ENEXOR 0.0085 0.0095 0.0095 0.0095 0.0085 0.0085 22000000 198000 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL 0.0076 0.0077 0.0078 0.0078 0.0077 0.0077 4000000 31100 4.87 4.9 4.99 4.99 4.82 4.87 1154000 5622050 -786410.0003 PXP ENERGY

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 98 99 99 99 99 99 120 11880 ALCO PREF B 100.5 101.5 101 101 100.5 100.5 1530 154520 502.5 503 503 503 502.5 502.5 1140 572870 AC PREF B2R 99.5 100.4 100.1 100.1 99.2 99.2 20000 1989576 CPG PREF A 100.5 101.5 101.3 101.5 101 101.5 23600 2386550 DD PREF GTCAP PREF B 1011 1015 1011 1011 1011 1011 50 50550 99.7 100.5 100 100.5 99.75 100.5 101030 10111588.5 6018788.5 MWIDE PREF 99.5 100 100 100 100 100 1650 165000 150000 PNX PREF 3A 1003 1019 1000 1000 1000 1000 435 435000 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 2B 1000 1035 1030 1030 1030 1030 120 123600 1035 1050 1050 1050 1050 1050 1940 2037000 PCOR PREF 3A 1050 1065 1065 1065 1065 1065 170 181050 PCOR PREF 3B 1.4 1.69 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 2000 2800 SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C 77.5 78.5 77.5 78.5 77.5 78.5 1770 138495 77 78 77 77 77 77 1000 77000 SMC PREF 2F 75.05 76 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.5 20000 1510000 SMC PREF 2G 75.05 76.35 76 76 76 76 5030 382280 SMC PREF 2H

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 14.52 14.6 14.6 14.7 14.6 14.6 542700 7962560 -1881940 GMA HLDG PDR 4.85 4.9 4.95 4.95 4.85 4.85 2111000 10300960 -10296060

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.74 0.75 0.74 0.75 0.74 0.75 7000 5190

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 1.85 1.86 1.88 1.88 1.78 1.86 3630000 6681350 148140 KEPWEALTH 6.27 6.4 6.49 6.49 6.25 6.4 31200 196558 2.75 2.76 4.5 4.5 2.72 2.75 512715000 1647365290 -48818420 MERRYMART 0.58 0.59 0.6 0.6 0.57 0.58 798000 464680 29000 XURPAS

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 96 96.8 95.5 96 94.5 96 13990 1330923.5 101811

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DNL: Coconut oil gaining traction in foreign markets

C

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

hemical manufacturer D and L Industries Inc. (DNL) said its exports, particularly coconut-based products under food and oleochemicals, remained relatively resilient during the first quarter.

DNL said the strong demand for its coconut-based products may offset some of the losses from the domestic market caused by the lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The company said interest in coconut oil continues to gain traction in foreign markets due to its

perceived natural antiviral and antibacterial properties. It is also an organic and a sustainable substitute for many petroleum-based raw materials used in personal and home care products.

The company said it sees continued strong coconut oil exports, which should offset some of the weakness in

the domestic market in the near term and it said it will capitalize on this trend as it develops more products and penetrates more markets globally. “The past couple of months have been extremely challenging due to various operational restrictions and as demand dried up in many industries. The month of April is likely the worst month as it’s the only month that was under 100 percent ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] to date. In May, we saw a pick up in activity due to pent-up demand and as some restrictions were eased by the middle of the month. We expect further recovery in June as more and more of our customers are ramping up operations,” said DNL President and CEO Alvin Lao. “We saw steep declines in most of our businesses in the first quarter when we only had two weeks of quarantine. It is likely that the sec-

ond quarter will not be any better considering strict lockdown measures were in effect for the months of April and May.” Lao said the company is optimistic that improvements might be seen in the third quarter, but may still be below pre-pandemic levels.

There’s a probability of a “reasonable recovery” in the fourth quarter as Christmas period in the Philippines sets in as early as September.

“In addition, Filipino culture is very social. We love gatherings and meeting up with friends and family. I can sense that there’s still a lot of pent-up demand right now. So this could be positive once restrictions are eased further. This should help the country recover faster than most countries. A possible monkey wrench, however, is a second wave that can return us to a stricter quarantine,” said Lao.

Holcim customer engagement goes digital

P

UBLICLY listed Holcim Philippines Inc. has turned to digital tools to sustain customer service and engagement safely amid closures of most businesses as part of the safety measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Easybuild, the company’s online customer service web site allows it to safely and easily transact with business partners even though travel and interactions are restricted by quarantine protocols.

As of May, the portal’s usage rate has grown to 91 percent compared with 56 percent during its launch last year as more clients moved to the platform given its advantages in transacting with Holcim Philippines.

Available as a mobile app, Easybuild gives partners a 24-hour connection with the cementmaker and solutions for a hassle-free experience in placing orders, checking delivery status and reviewing account history and credit standing, among others.

It also has an ePayment facility that can be ac-

cessed anytime and anywhere, allowing patrons to keep up with any business situation wherein conventional types of transaction are not doable.

The firm has also launched E-KONEKTA, an online customer engagement program that provides updates on its directions, share knowledge and best practices on health and safety and to bond with business partners while lockdowns are being implemented.

To date, four E-KONEKTA sessions have been conducted to engage with close to a hundred customers, who have welcomed the company’s digitalization to maintain engagement.

According to Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President for Sales William Sumalinog, E-KONEKTA is the first of several upcoming customer engagement activities that they have lined up to adjust to the new normal.

“Particularly in times of crisis, a customer’s interaction with a company can trigger an immediate and lingering effect on his or her sense

NGCP turns over testing kits, booths to QC govt

T

he National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has turned over 50 units of testing booths and 10,000 rapid test kits to the Quezon City local government.

The testing booths and rapid test kits, including test administration and results interpretation, are part of the company’s continuing initiatives to support the national and local government’s Covid-19 response efforts.

As of June 16, the Department of Health has recorded the most number of Covid-19 cases in Quezon City with 2,689 confirmed cases, 953 of which are considered active or recovering.

“NGCP understands that this will be a long and hard-fought battle. We want to make sure that our donations will help ease the burden on LGUs [local government units] and that our support will translate to direct results such as identification of Covid-19 cases. In this way, the process from identification to response and treatment will be expedited,” it said.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, testing will begin on June 22.

NGCP’s Covid-19 donations include a P1-billion donation of grocery items to over 1,000 LGUs and medical equipment to more than 300 hospitals and city/municipal/rural health units.

The medical equipment donation includes ambulances turned

over to UP-PGH, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Quirino Memorial Center, Philippine Heart Center, and Biñan Doctors Hospital.

PCR machines, SteraMist disinfection/decontamination units, and closed suction systems were also given to various hospitals.

NGCP w i l l bu i ld donn i ng and doffing chambers, which are sterile holding areas used by medical frontliners to equip themselves with PPEs prior to entering isolation wards, within the hospital facilities of Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Rizal Medical Center, and East Avenue Medical Center.

Isolation rooms with negative pressure will be constructed for Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Three Class N isolation rooms and two Class Q isolation rooms with negative pressure will be used for mild and severe Covid-19 cases, respectively.

NGCP also launched earlier its Meals on W heels feeding program for indigent communities. It also donated P5 million to Project Ugnayan which distributes supermarket vouchers to economically displaced families in Metro Manila.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. Lenie Lectura

of trust and loyalty. It is vital for us to keep our warm ties with customers so they continue to feel being part of the Holcim family,” he said.

E-KONEKTA has three components. The first is Kumustahan, an online dialogue on relevant updates on the business between key customers and Holcim’s top leaders.

Second is Customer Safety Engagement, a Web-based orientation and training by sales on

mutual funds

key health and safety practices at the firm’s sites as well as recommendations for enhancing sanitation and social distancing at partners’ hardware stores or project sites.

Finally, Excellent Squad is a per area or cluster engagement utilizing Facebook to create groups or communities where online contests, trivia, throwback photos, inspirational videos, and industry updates are shared. Roderick L. Abad

June 18, 2020

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 205.27 -22.32% -9.49% -5.09% -18.51% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.0424 -35.82% -12.95% -6.16% -24.57% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.7887 -32.1% -13.82% -7.57% -24.18% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7157 -23.79% n.a. n.a. -20.22% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6887 -21.07% n.a. n.a. -18.91% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.4076 -19.42% -7.24% -4.77% -17.28% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6978 -20.42% -9.94% n.a.

-18.25% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 80.69 -32.92% n.a. n.a. -21.91% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 41.4027 -20.67% -7.76% -4.03% -19.26% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 440.36 -19.01% -7.14% -4.46% -17.35% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5 0.8973 n.a. n.a. n.a. -12.89% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.0413 -21.34% -7.51% -3.94% -19.08% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 30.7049 -21.01% -6.97% -3.6% -18.98% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8141 -22.09% n.a. n.a. -20.04% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.2191 -20.29% -7.25% -3.28% -19.23% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

705.86 -20.13% -7.23% -3.48% -19.06% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6475 -30.18% -10.81% -7.44% -23.95% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2586 -24.94% -8.55% -4.74% -22.58% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8106 -20.19% -7.36% -3.42% -19% United Fund, Inc. -a 2.9721 -20.5% -5.8% -2.78% -18.65% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 94.7678 -19.92% -6.72% -2.64% -18.97% ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$0.9456 -1.04% -1.38% -1.86% -8.05% -0.75% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.3684 7.34% 5.63% n.a.

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.5598 -9.85% -4.57% -3.65% -0.19% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.0866 -9.99% -4.24% -1.81% -4.33% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.4451 -7.69% -2.39% -2.95% -7.08% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1901 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-16.81% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.8534 -4.23% -1.13% -0.38% -5.59% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.5053 -6.01% -2.29% -1.58% -7.49% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 15.638 -6.88% -2.54% -1.73% -7.8% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 1.9454 -9.39% -3.41% -1.28% -8.49% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.3338 -14.04% -4.3% -2.59% -13.72% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9477 -6.32% n.a. n.a.

-6.69% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8624 -14.37% n.a. n.a. -13.45% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.842 -16.15% n.a. n.a. -15.22% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8193 -17.57% -5.38% -3.89% -15.95% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03833 3.54% 2.23% 1.58% 0.26% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $0.9765 1.29% 0.09% -0.19% -5.92% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $3.845 3.94% 3.91% 3.34% -1.68% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.1074 1.47% 1.86% n.a.

-1.9% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 364.94 4.36% 3.06% 2.51% 2% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9379 2.12% 0.93% -0.04% 1.89% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.1835 4.54% 5.12% 5.08% 2.16% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2816 5% 2.68% 2.24% 2.54% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4327 5.95% 3.15% 1.84% 3.12% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.5511 9.88% 3.72% 2.36% 4.08% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.2885 6.42% 3.88% 2.11% 2.53% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9094 6.55% 3.85% 2.06% 3.2% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0222 9.34% 3.25% 1.6% 6% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1575 7.37% 4.62% 2.9% 2.65% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7328 6.05% 3.92% 2.35% 1.86% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $472.88 3.41% 2.38% 2.7% 1% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є215.31 -0.67% 0.54% 0.95% -2.01% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.212 2.75% 2.62% 2.44% 0.4% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0259 1.57% 1.32% 1.2% 0.39% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.067 -1.48% -0.43% 0.1% -2.57% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4316 4.68% 2.88% 3.07% 1.16% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0604287 2.52% 1.88% 1.84% 0.19% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1629 3.51% 1.69% 2.4% -0.39% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 127.98 3.8% 3.17% 2.4% 1.75% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0403 2.59% n.a. n.a.

1.36% 3.2% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2822 3.03% 2.57% 1.39% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0444 1.66% n.a. n.a.

0.69% Feeder Fund Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.94 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-5.05%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019.

4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund).

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa. com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Customs begins purging list of ‘fly-by-night’ importers

T

he Bureau of Customs announced it is currently conducting verification, inspection and investigation of registered brokers, importers and warehouses throughout the country to weed out individuals the BOC alleges are using their accreditation for illegal activities.

Customs Assistant Commissioner and Spokesman Vincent Philip Maronilla told the BusinessMirror the BOC is aiming to clean their list for “possible fly-by-night importers” and those who only intend to comply with regulations during the accreditation process but shortly after will have serious compliance issues.

In a statement on Thursday, the BOC said its Enforcement Security Service and Customs Intelligence Investigation Service personnel were tasked to physically visit and verify registered offices and warehouses. They also coordinated with local barangay units to ascertain the legitimacy of accredited stakeholders.

Of the 3,175 consignees or importers listed by the BOC Account Management Office, 1,829 were so far inspected. The BoC said its team found 212 with misrepresented information.

Those who did not meet the BOC requirement or were verified to have misrepresented information face

sanctions that may include the revocation of their accreditation with the BOC, the bureau’s statement said.

Sought to clarify whether those found to have misrepresented information were considered as flyby-night importers, Maronilla said: “Not necessarily.”

“They may be legitimate importers but they need to comply with our requirements like proper maintenance of offices,” he added.

Maronilla said the BOC hopes this move will provide the bureau “a better idea” on the number of possible fly-by-night importers. He added, however, there are only a few compared to those who haven’t complied with the bureau’s requirements, including signages or proper declaration of transfer of office.

He also stressed the importance of verification and inspection of registered brokers, importers and warehouses to ensure the plugging of revenue leakages.

Asked how much could be the revenue leakages due to the existence of fly-by-night importers, Maronilla said he couldn’t provide “exact figures.”

“It depends on the existence [of] fly-by-night importers [whether or not they are] rampant,” he said. “But so far we have been able to prevent this through these kinds of programs.” Bernadette D. Nicolas

All-star cast on association membership

W

hen three well-known American book authors and speakers par excellence on association management got together for the first time in a webinar series, I did not hesitate to attend this “can’tmiss” event.

The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE), through its CEO Toni Brearley, did a great job in getting all three to speak on a topic most dear to the hearts of association executives: membership.

As an association executive myself and long-time member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), I have known these three talented and entrepreneurial women— Mary Byers, Sheri Jacobs and Sarah Sladek—through their books and articles they wrote.

Mary, author of seven books, is co-author of “Race for Relevance: Five Radical Changes for Associations” and “Road to Relevance: 5 Strategies for Competitive Associations.” She is a certified association executive and a member of the National Speakers Association.

Sheri is the author of “Pivot Point: Reshaping Your Business When It Matters Most.” She is an association management veteran with nearly 20 years of experience, and founder of Avenue M Group, a full-service market research and consulting agency.

Sarah’s five books include “The End of Membership As We Know It” and “Talent Generation.” She is the founder and CEO of XYZ University, a futurefocused management consulting firm.

She is also the founder of the Save the Associations, a virtual conference and web show.

The three panelists shared many great ideas and stories but this column won’t be able to accommodate all of them. Here are a few that resonated with me: All three were optimistic that associations will continue to grow despite the disruptive effects of the coronavirus pandemic. However, they believe associations will need to innovate and try new things, collaborate more to accelerate opportunities, and review

Association World Octavio Peralta their value proposition and membership models.

One membership model given was “B1G1,” or “Buy one, give one” in which one joins as a member, and the association will give one free membership to whomever it thinks will benefit or to an unserved or underserved constituency, e.g., a young professional.

There was also consensus on the need for associations to develop an “embracing” mindset rather than being threatened by the current crisis and focusing on how to deal with it.

This is true in terms of technology adaptation and digital transformation for associations.

In her parting words of wisdom for associations, Sheri mentioned that pandemics are “mothers of inventions” in the context that there will be new opportunities for innovation in associations. Sarah encouraged associations to be “Day 1” organizations as if they are just starting today with a clean slate, getting rid of mediocre things and aspiring to being the best.

Mary urged associations to have their own “North Star” to guide their decisions whether one for the whole organization or one for each aspect of operations, e.g. staff, budget, etc.

I enjoyed the webinar and was awed by the great minds of the all-star panel!

The column contributor, Octavio “Bobby” Peralta, is concurrently the secretary-general of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific and the Founder & CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives. PCAAE is holding the Associations Summit 8 on November 25 and 26, 2020 at the Philippine International Convention Center which is expected to draw over 200 association professionals here and abroad. The two-day event is supported by Adfiap, the Tourism Promotions Board, and the PICC. E-mail inquiries@adfiap.org for more details on AS8.

Friday, June 19, 2020 B3

DOF chief turns to small investors to plug deficit

F

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

inance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III urged Filipinos to invest in the government’s domestic bond offerings to help the Duterte administration cover its budget deficits and help the ailing economy to recovery.

Citing the success of small investor-targeted “Premyo Bonds,” Dominguez said these products would also provide small savers a safe investment opportunity while protecting them from spurious business schemes and onerous lending practices.

“Investments in government bonds such as this one will help us cover our deficits brought about by the [public hea;th] emergency and prepare our economy for recovery,” the Department of Finance chief said. “Because of the fiscal discipline we have exercised over the past few years, the Philippine government found financial strength in the midst of a global health, and now economic, crisis.”

Dominguez issued these statements during the first two major Premyo Bonds raffle draws held Thursday afternoon at the main office of the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) in Manila.

Budget deficit

Dominguez blamed the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic as bringing to bear on the national budget.

He said government had to scale up expenditures to strengthen the

public health system and provide relief to the vulnerable sectors hardest hit by the lockdown to stem the contagion.

The country’s budget deficit this year is also expected by the government’s economic team to widen to 8.4 percent of gross domestic product or P1.613 trillion due to a drop in revenues and increase in disbursements.

This is significantly wider compared to the country’s budget deficit of 3.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) or P660.2 billion.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee is expecting the country’s budget deficits for 2021 and 2022 to be at 6.6 percent of GDP or 1.429 trillion and 5 percent of GDP or P1.181 trillion, respectively.

A budget deficit occurs when disbursements exceed revenues.

A strong rebound

Moreover, the country’s finance chief also encouraged the lucky winners of the Premyo Bonds to use the money to start small businesses or reinvest in government bonds. Doing so, he added, would help fund the pandemic response measures and create new jobs to replace those that were lost from the economic fallout triggered by

BPI to float Covid-19 bonds for lending to small business

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

T

he Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) announced plans to raise funds aiding the recovery of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) via the bond market.

In a disclosure on Thursday, the Ayalaled bank said that it was eyeing to issue the country’s first Covid-19 Action Response (CARe) bonds to help eligible MSMEs under its newly-established Sustainable Funding Framework (SFF).

The Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed that such bonds qualify as social bonds under the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) Social Bonds Standards in the Philippines.

“MSMEs account for a relatively small percentage of total bank borrowings but a very large percentage of total nationwide employment,” BPI President Cezar P. Consing said. “Loans to MSMEs go a long way to keeping Filipinos working.”

BPI said it is set to make further announcements regarding the offering soon.

Included in BPI’s initiative are loan payment deferral program, waiver of fees for online fund transfer and refining of loan products for qualified clients.

This is in addition to the efforts of its parent company, Ayala Corp., to uplift the sector by launching the Ayala Enterprise Circle network, BPI said. The bank

the 75-day lockdown.

“Investments that will lead to employment opportunities will be the key drivers in our economic recovery,” Dominguez said. “Let me assure you that this government is doing its best and its utmost to protect our people’s health while at the same time preparing our economy for a strong rebound.”

He noted that investments like Premyo bonds also expanded financial inclusion among Filipinos and improved the government’s borrowing mix in favor of domestic sources.

Dominguez, assisted by National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon, drew the winning electronic rewards numbers for the major prizes of the Premyo Bonds consolidated raffle draws.

The rewards include P20,000 each for 200 winners, P100,000 each for 30 winners and a house and lot for each of the two major winners of P1 million each. These rewards are net of all applicable taxes, fees and charges.

De Leon’s hope

For her part, De Leon said they are hoping to have more offerings of Premyo Bonds in the future.

“Seeing how Premyo Bonds support the government’s funding program and help Filipinos by giving an investment outlet that lets their money work for them even while staying at home, as well as the opportunity to win prizes, we hope this instrument will now be part of our ‘new normal’,” De Leon said. “Meaning, we hope to have more offerings of Premyo Bonds and be made more accessible to our kababayan [compatriot], taking advantage of the wonders of technology.”

The BTr increased the rewards pool from P3 million to P4.5 million after the overwhelming

explained the program provides MSMEs access to Ayala Group’s solutions and offerings, mentorship, online dialogues and master classes and business-matching opportunities.

Earlier this month, BPI launched its SFF for the issuance of green, social or sustainable bonds or loans. The bank said the SFF is part of its Green Finance Framework, or GFF, which was launched in June last year to fund environmental initiatives. The bank said the GFF underscores the inclusion of projects that address social issues.

The GFF details the use of proceeds from the issuance, review and selection of projects, fund management and reporting, the bank said.

BPI explained that the said framework is also in line with the International Capital Market Association Green and Social Bond Principles, the Loan Market Association Green Loan Principles and the Asean Green, Social, and Sustainability Bond Standards.

In September last year, BPI priced its $300-million senior unsecured fixed-rate Asean green bond, proceeds of which will be used for financing and refinancing off eligible green projects. The bonds carry a coupon rate of 2.5 percent and reoffer yield of 2.577 percent.

BPI shares climbed 1.30 percent, or 95 centavos, to end at P73.95 apiece amid the 1.06-percent hike for the benchmark index on Thursday.

reception last year for the Premyo Bonds, which was offered last November 25 up to December 13.

That bond sale received wide participation after its launch among small savers and overseas Filipinos.

From the original target of P3 billion, the BTr was able to raise P4.961 billion from the one-year bonds, which carry a coupon rate of 3 percent per annum paid out per quarter, on top of having a chance to win cash and other rewards for just a minimum investment of P500 in Premyo Bonds.

Close to 20,000 new investors in the Premyo Bonds accounted for 77.56 percent or P3.85 billion of the amount raised from the offering.

About 2,883 existing accounts made up 22.44 percent or P1.11 billion of the bond sale.

Succeeding draws

The draw for last year’s offering was originally scheduled in March this year. It was postponed because of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine that was imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The draws for the first and second quarters have been consolidated in the Thursday event.

Proceeds from Premyo Bonds, which are now part of the national government’s proactive financing strategy, will help fund the country’s health and educational programs, among other priority initiatives.

The Development Bank of the Philippines and LandBank of the Philippines were the joint lead issue managers for the first Premyo Bonds offering. BDO Capital & Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp. and First Metro Investment Corp. were named as joint issue managers.

The next Premyo Bond draws for this year are targeted to be held in September and December.

RCBC looking to tap bond market again

T

he Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) announced on Thursday it is braving the domestic bond market anew despite measures against the coronavirus pandemic potentially dampening investor appetite.

In a disclosure, the Yuchengcoled bank announced it plans to issue fixed-rate peso bonds within the year.

This would be RCBC’s fifth tranche under its P100-billion bond and commercial program.

“The final terms will be determined prior to the launch of the issue depending on market and other conditions,” the listed bank said.

The allocation of proceeds was not yet disclosed as well.

In April, the bank listed its P7.05-billion fixed-rate bonds in Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp., noting that a strong demand from investors allowed its offering to be oversubscribed by more than two times. Proceeds of the fixed rate bond offering are allocated to finance asset growth, maturing obligations and other general corporate matters.

Each bond has a tenor of two years and carries a coupon rate of 4.848 percent per annum.

Since RCBC launched its bond

program—which is aimed at diversifying its funding base—last year, the company has raised a total of P37.55 billion already.

The Yuchengco-owned lender first participated in the local bond market through its P15-billion Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) green bond issuance last year. This was followed by two more Asean sustainability bonds amounting to a total of P15.5 billion in the same year.

RCBC reported its net income grew by 77 percent to P2.3 billion while gross revenues rose by 23 percent to P10 billion in the first three months.

Its topline figures were driven by net interest income and noninterest earnings, which climbed by 19 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

The bank increased its nonperforming loan coverage ratio to 76.2 percent in the first three months from 67.3 percent year-on-year to provide enough buffer for potential losses amid the pandemic.

RCBC did not disclose how much reserve was set aside for the period.

Shares in RCBC slid by 1.10 percent, or 20 centavos, to close at P18 each amid the 1.06-percent rise for the benchmark index on Thursday.

Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

China Bank declares ₧2.68B cash dividends; total assets expanded 10% despite ECQ

C

hina Banking Corp. (China Bank) announced it has declared P2.68billion cash dividends, 14-percent higher than the previous year. The announcement was made at the bank’s annual stockholders’meeting last Thursday conducted virtually.

Stockholders on record as of July 3, 2020, are entitled to a cash dividend of P1 per share, equivalent to a cash dividend yield of 4.9 percent based on the bank’s closing price of P20.25 as of June 18, 2020, China Bank said. Payment will be on July 17, 2020, it added in a

statement. “We are pleased that China Bank’s sustained financial strength allowed us to once again return earnings to our shareholders,” President William C. Whang was quoted in a statement as saying. Since its stock rights offer in 2014, the bank said its total cash divi-

dend payments would be in excess of P14 billion, including this year’s cash dividends. In his report to stockholders, Whang emphasized that China Bank continues to be liquid, well capitalized and profitable. On the back of robust core business growth, China Bank’s

net profits jumped 24 percent to P10.1 billion in 2019, and rose 19 percent to P2.2 billion in the first quarter of 2020.

Throughout the various states of community quarantine, China Bank said it focused on business continuity while ensuring the safety and well-being of

employees and customers.

“Despite the scaled down operations during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, total assets expanded 10 percent to P984 billion,” the bank’s statement said. “Net loans grew 15 percent to P584 billion.”

B4

Friday, June 19, 2020

Relationships BusinessMirror

Female matters

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

z

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Macklemore, 37; Zoe Saldana, 42; Jean Dujardin, 48; Paula Abdul, 58.

Happy Birthday: Take the initiative. Forge into the future with optimism and enthusiasm. Look for new ways to use your skills, experience and knowledge to fit the changing times. A trendy twist to something you are good at and enjoy doing will turn into a lucrative alternative. Put everything in its place, and don’t look back. Do your best to achieve stability and security.

Your lucky numbers are 4, 16, 21, 24, 32, 39, 43.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): What you find out from someone you have worked alongside in the past will help you decide your future and how best to proceed. A change of plans will help you move forward with greater optimism. HHHH

M

EDIA time with cabinet secretaries and other government officials can be a most illuminating experience, especially when they elucidate further about their respective agencies’ policies.

At last week’s Kapihan sa Manila Bay, hosted by Marichu Villanueva of the Philippine Star, reporters not only received helpful information about how the tourism sector has been dealing with Covid-19 and what steps are being undertaken for it to recover, but we also got an insight into the “state of health” of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat.

Oh, no, she’s not sick, although I know some women in her place would probably feel like they are given her symptoms.

As Secretary Puyat talked about the health and safety protocols implemented by local governments in dealing with Covid-19, she said, “Kasi minsan naman [pagkuha] ng temperature, nilalagnat lang naman, mainit [lang ang panahon], or gaya ko may hot flushes na ako, may [high] temperature na pala ako, tapos menopausal lang pala.” She then let out a laugh.

Her remark amused Manay Ichu and another webinar speaker, but the rest of the guests were either unperturbed, not listening, or tried to ignore what the good secretary had just admitted to. Well most of them were men, and I guess this was one of those female matters they felt uncomfortable publicly acknowledging or commenting on.

At home, diligently taking notes while watching the online kapihan, I had to pause and laugh out loud too. This is not to suggest that menopause is a frivolous matter to joke about, especially if you’re undergoing the same, but no one certainly saw it coming, and the remark was so candidly dropped that it suddenly made menopause seem like an ordinary, normal subject to discuss.

And it should be. After all, close to 11 million Filipino women are currently dealing with menopause symptoms, if government’s population data are to be used. The early symptoms of menopause can manifest in women in their mid-40s to their early 50s. The bleeding which happens every month becomes less and far apart.

With hormone levels now fluctuating, there is a tendency for some women to be highly irritable. I remember angrily snipping off the electric cord of a refrigerator to spite my mother’s friend (short story: the friend was terribly annoying). Most people know

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look at what’s possible, and put your energy where it will count the most. Don’t limit what you can do.

If you are willful, you’ll find a means to reach your goal.

Use your imagination, and you’ll come up with a plan that is acceptable and lucrative. HHH

c my penchant to become louder than usual when pissed, resorting to colorful verbiage that would shame even a fishmonger’s wife. But I never take it out on anyone or any object, physically. Well, until THAT happened.

Then my skin started breaking out, as if I was a teenager. I have always cared for my skin diligently, washing and cleaning my face upon waking up, and removing every trace of makeup before retiring. I put on sunblock in the daytime and a moisturizer at night, but I still get tiny pimples on my forehead, or sometimes on my cheek. Ugh. These days I have to contend with bouts of insomnia or restless sleeping. I love sleeping, and especially sleeping in. But now it’s impossible for me to peacefully slumber straight through eight to 10 hours, without waking up in the middle of night. It happens about two to three times toward the early hours, just as a new day begins, but old me is still struggling to get the rest I need. And, yes, there is the weight gain too, although the lack of exercise may be a contributory factor there.

But what’s super annoying are the hot flushes (also, “hot flashes”), that creeping sense of heat which starts from a woman’s crown to the entire body. Ergo, a flush. It happens even in air-conditioned rooms, or after one has just bathed, when the surroundings are cool. And yet, when the hot flush begins, the entire face and body perspires. So I find myself sometimes, after taking a bath, having to jump right back in the shower quickly after an episode. (I recommend women tour Central Europe in winter, which was the only time I ever felt any relief from my hot flushes. It was too cold for me to notice them.)

These hot flushes are also the cause of my sleeplessness in the evening. I switch on the air con, and it gets cold and comfy enough for me to sleep with

the duvet over me. Then sometime in the middle of the night, the hot flush comes, and the duvet is off, and I’m splayed out spread-eagled on the bed, trying to absorb every bit of cool air. If the high temperature becomes unbearable, I get up to switch on the ceiling fan as well.

When the event passes, I’m back under my comforter again, trying to get back to sleep. This cover, uncover, cover, uncover routine happens all throughout the night until the next day, when I have to force myself to get out of bed to finally get to work, or have lunch.

My OB-GYN initially advised taking herbal supplements like black cohosh for the night sweats.

It didn’t work. I also used to drink soy milk a lot because supposedly, the isoflavones in the milk mimic estrogen that is lost when a woman becomes menopausal. I also didn’t notice any difference.

She likewise suggested I avoid beef, which heats up the body. I try hard not to include it in my grocery list, but there are just so many beef dishes that I enjoy like steak, burgers, tacos, beef bourguignon and the like.

The doctor then said I could probably go the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) route, since my mammography and breast ultrasound didn’t show any propensity for tumors. But I have yet to take her up on it as the medical literature still suggests HRT as a strong contributory factor to breast cancer.

So what should I do? Tiis, I guess. Suffer, just like many other women out there. My older friends say all the physical discomforts, which menopause brings, will be around for a long period time.

In the meantime, I always carry an abanico in my hand bag, and sit in front of an air conditioner or electric fan when I’m out. At home, well, you can guess my Meralco bill has reached stratospheric heights with the aircon going full blast. Woe is me. n

0.5 percent only with a grace period of six months on principal payments.

The senator suggested further that the Department of Social Welfare and Development can provide emergency assistance to affected individuals belonging in these industries through their Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations Program.

Live events organizing is a multibillion industry that provides

employment to several thousands of people. The National Live Events Coalition (NLEC) says the industry is composed of 30,000 MSMEs. Yet, due to the health crisis and the protocols in place, such as social distancing and prohibition against large crowd gatherings, the industry suffered huge losses, displacing thousands of its workers while the country continues to fight the pandemic.

“This is definitely a huge blow to our economy and the huge

contribution it could have brought.

More importantly, maraming Pilipino ang mawawalan ng kabuhayan,” Go said.

Although the live events industry sector is not specified in the latest Senate version of the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, Go is urging the country’s economic managers to look into the matter and explore more opportunities for the government to extend help to this sector in these trying times.

“May mga provisions sa Senate

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t fall for a scam. Listen to the voice of reason when you receive an offer or warning from someone unfamiliar. Revealing personal information over the phone or online will put you in a compromising position.

A creative outlet will ease stress. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take pride in what you do for others. Don’t make a big splash; it’s what you do behind the scenes that will have the biggest impact. A token of affection is encouraged. HHHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refrain from revealing information prematurely, given the restrictive circumstances. You want to do ample preparation before you present what you intend to do. Discipline, time and effort will help you surpass any competition or rival who tries to outdo you. HH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll stand out for your efficiency. Whether it’s a domestic or work-related responsibility, the way you handle situations will reflect the accolades you receive for your expertise. Personal achievement, physical enhancement and home improvements will have profound influences on your life. HHHHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your experience, knowledge and skills will help you bring about positive change. Handle others with courtesy, but don’t give in to manipulation or interference. Question anyone who is going against the regulations set by rulers or those in authoritative positions. HHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Put more effort into meaningful relationships. Spend more face time with someone you love, or show more affection if you cohabitate with that special person in your life. Refuse to let outside influences dictate how your personal life will unfold. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Taking a cautious approach to the way you confront people who are not following the rules will help you avoid ending up in an unsavory situation. HHH

Bong Go reminds agencies to provide support for live events workers, other nonoperating industries Continued from B5

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take one day at a time, and stay focused on whatever will bring the highest return. Don’t depend or rely on someone to do things the way you want. Be responsible, and you’ll feel good about what you accomplish. HHH

version ng Bayanihan to Recover as One Act [Bayanihan 2] para sa mga subsidies, loan programs at iba pang social assistance na pwedeng makatulong sa mga empleyado ng ganitong industriya,” Go said.

Go, a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee monitoring the progress of the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, had earlier appealed to the government to provide help and additional support to MSMEs.

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take advantage of the alone time you have. Put together a routine that is sure to get you in shape and looking your best. An emotional connection you have with someone will require a heart-to-heart discussion to avoid a misunderstanding. HHHHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Keep your distance, abide by the rules and avoid getting into a predicament that is damaging emotionally or physically. If you want to, help others find a way through an organization that is structured to take on such responsibilities. HH Birthday Baby: You are playful, appealing and ambitious.

You are smart and influential.

‘the last ward’ by michael s. gerber The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Little Women or Wonder Woman 5 Hooks a worm on, say 10 Scottish group 14 Region 15 Helpful symbol on a map 16 LP player 17 Jealous kid’s look on Halloween?

19 All-in-one Apple computer 20 Win over 21 Place for campers 23 Dad’s den, perhaps 27 Uber alternative 30 Cluster of warehouses?

35 Mexican food truck orders 37 Stomach, to a toddler 38 Half of a record 39 Home delivery?

40 Old record label hidden in The Miracles 41 Blow like Eyjafjallajokull 42 Susan’s All My Children role 43 Cheap beer letters 44 Secluded valleys 45 Real estate transaction in Delaware’s

capital?

7 Pigpen 4 48 Clinton campaign figure whose emails were leaked in 2016 51 Tremble 55 Like Fifty Shades of Grey 60 Actress Dunham 61 Especially violent slapstick production?

65 Quaker grains 66 Enjoy home cooking 67 Bugs or Daffy 68 Ink stain 69 Swarms (with) 70 Clue DOWN 1 Confront 2 Persia, today 3 Give temporarily 4 Created 5 Major port in Iraq 6 Apt word within “cartooning” 7 Nest egg choice, briefly 8 Raptors, on scoreboards 9 Veer

0 Monte Carlo currency?

1 11 Capital of Peru 12 In the distance 13 Shaving accident 18 Orange Thanksgiving food 22 Experienced (in) 24 Place to jot things down 25 Fall apart 26 Looks up to 27 Capital of Egypt 28 Second-to-last part of Othello 29 Italian lawn game 31 Axes 32 Grown-up 33 Email option 34 Gym floor covers 35 “Decorated” on Halloween, informally 36 Former wide receiver Sterling (PHRASE anagram) 46 Frozen dessert that’s dairy-free 49 New drivers, usually 50 Canine sound 51 One may leave many things out 52 Recuperate 53 Enthusiastic about

54 Expansive 56 Inauguration Day pledge 57 Counselor on the Enterprise 58 Screen image 59 Small change?

62 Actress Charlotte or Issa 63 Sport-___ (versatile ride) 64 Beetlejuice director Burton Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Show BusinessMirror

Friday, June 19, 2020

B5

Grandly and personally, Anita Linda THE author with the legendary multi-awarded actress Anita Linda.

L

ino Brocka once called her “The Face.”

I do not remember what the great directors said about that title, but when I first met in person Miss Anita Linda, and asked her why she was called that, she looked at me and with those famous eyebrows of her, she quizzed if Brocka did call her that. “I do not remember,” she said, her voice trailing, as I guided her down the steps of a studio where we would be shooting the Manunuri Project called “The Living Voices.” “I have vertigo,” she confessed.

The project was a film documentation of living cinema stalwarts, from actors to soundmen and editors. We were with our first batch of “senior” stars.

The name of Anita Linda was the one I picked. And that afternoon, I was ready for the interview, armed I was with a notebook on which were written notes and guide questions for that session.

As we sat down and readied for the interview, Anita Linda glanced at me and the notebook propped on my left leg, and said: “Are you going to use that?” I looked up at Gigi Alfonso, the director of the project, who immediately said, “Drop it, Tito.”

That afternoon, without the notebook, we sailed through a conversation that brought us back to the prewar days when Anita Linda was first invited to join the entertainment industry. She was in Avenue Theater watching a bodabil. Lamberto Avellana was directing the show and onstage was Leopoldo Salcedo.

She recalled how the two were focusing on her. I told her: “You must have been so beautiful.” She replied: “No, it must have been the red bandana I was wearing that caught the attention of the comedian, Lopito.” The Great Profile, as Leopoldo Salcedo was called then (in Hollywood, it was Robert Taylor who held that title), commanded the stage crew to aim the spotlight on her, this young Alice Lake, not knowing yet she would command more of the spotlight for several decades.

The war cut short whatever dream was started that night. After the war, Anita Linda would be back in several films.

In 1951, Anita Linda would be Sisa, a chapter in the novel of Dr. Jose Rizal, a book on acting in the short history of cinema in the country insofar as the young actor’s performance is concerned.

In bad or remastered copies, Anita Linda as Sisa is a luminous presence. Her face opens the film, the brows furrowed, a furtive glint in those sad eyes the only hint of a mind gone wild and mad. It is the grandest entrance a beginner can wish for: with the camera trained from below looking up, Anita Linda’s Sisa is made to tower over us. It is also an exposure a newbie should be terrified of. She is given no line as she stands there for a few seconds as one of the most famous women characters in literature and film.

Please watch the film if you have the chance, because in the years to come—in school programs and beauty pageants—Sisa would be the favored piece from which the most vulgar elocutions or monologues would be constructed. In Gerardo de Leon’s film, however, Sisa is a study in nuances and passion, the madness not at the core of the character but an eruption of her rage and quest for justice.

Anita Linda as Sisa would win the Maria Clara Award, an award-giving body founded by the Manila Times Publishing Co. The awards body would not last long. After two years, it would be “replaced” by Famas in 1952. During that year, Gerardo de Leon would direct a film, called Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo. Anita Linda would be there, ravishing in a dress that always threatened to fall of that soft shoulder. She would not win the Best Actress—Alicia Vergel, another feisty actress, would get it for Basahang Ginto—but Anita Linda would be

part of another first: Sawa would be go on record as the first Famas Best Picture.

Famas would be the standard against which excellence in the local film industry would be judged. In this context, it is interesting to note how the career of Anita Linda fared after that grand entrance. It would take 10 Famas nights before her name appeared again as a contender, this time for Best Supporting Actress. The film was Nag-uumpugang Bato in 1962.

Nineteen seventy-five would be a golden year for the Philippine movie industry, and Anita Linda would be part of this turnaround. New names in filmmaking seared the screen—Elwood Perez, Celso Ad. Castillo and Joey Gosiengfiao. A relatively new name, Lino Brocka, would direct a film called Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang. The film would go home with four major awards, which included Best Picture, Best Director, and two acting laurels: Best Actor for a discovery, Christopher de Leon, and Best Actress for one making a comeback, Lolita Rodriguez.

There was, however, one more actress making an appearance after being obscure for many years.

This was Anita Linda, in a monumental comeback in another Lino Brocka opus, Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa. An omnibus film, Anita Linda was in the second episode, titled Hello Soldier.

Many things have been written about the work

of Anita Linda as a mother awaiting the arrival of an American who fathered her daughter, played

by Hilda Koronel. Many were polite not to ask who was this magnificent face onscreen, the eyebrows forever creased to meet above the nose—grief and grit personified. By the end of that story, viewers would not be able to shake off the discomfort and enlightenment in being witness to the most naked and brazen baring of emotions from this actress. By the end of the episode, lovers of good films knew they had an acting icon back for good.

Anita Linda would stay on and see the growth and evolution of cinema. She would be part of the resurgence of independent cinema, those films that never bothered to please a general audience so long as it could tell the tales of truth. She was one of the greatest narrators of life and death. Or near death, as in Adela.

The Adolf Alix Jr. film had us accompanying Anita Linda’s Adela walk through and visit the life of others.

Whether shielded by an umbrella or watching over the birthing of a baby, Anita Linda was a presence so quiet in aloneness we feared any sound would dissipate her. The film would be screened in Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters of the Museum of Modern Art under its ContemporAsian Series. Stephen Holden of the New York Times would describe Anita Linda as giving a “quietly transfixing performance.”

The Manunuri would honor her with the Natatanging Gawad Urian, the equivalent of a Lifetime Achievement Award. She would appear in more films and win more awards.

Last year, 2019, I would see Anita Linda again after that long interview. She was being honored by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in connection with the centenary of Philippine cinema.

She was in a holding room with relatives and friends when I entered. Reminded how she gently scolded me for bringing a notebook, I knew she would recognize me. She did. She held my hand when I sat down beside her. She was in a wheelchair.

From that interview, I got to know how fond she was of buko pie. On my way to that meeting, I scoured the area looking for the most elegant buko pie befitting a grand lady of cinema. I could not find one; instead I bought a box of fancy merengue. She liked it. With me was a photo of one Gawad Urian night where she was a presentor. I showed it to her.

She looked at the photo intently, then turned to me and asked: “What do you think?” I answered “We all looked young.”

Well, where you are now, Miss Alice Lake, you will be eternally gorgeous and young. May I gently remind you not to wear a red bandana around that lovely face? That is a sight no one, not even an angel, is ever ready to see in heaven. n

‘Prima Donnas’ stars reunite for special online show EVERY Friday beginning today, viewers are in for a treat as the cast of top-rating GMA afternoon series Prima Donnas comes together for a special livestream, dubbed as Prima Donnas: Watch From Home, on the network’s official socialmedia accounts.

Prior to the suspension of tapings due to the Covid-19 pandemic, viewers were on the edge of their seats following the riveting and shocking plot twists in the family drama.

Kendra’s (Aiko Melendez) dirty antics to earn Jaime (Wendell Ramos) and Lady Prima’s (Chanda Romero) trust continue to put the life of Lilian (Katrina Halili), who was arrested for allegedly stealing the Donarian necklace, in great danger. Out of desperation and without Jaime’s permission, Donna Lyn (Sofia Pablo), Donna Belle (Althea Ablan) and Donna Marie (Jillian Ward) sneak out to visit Lilian who has an important revelation to the three Donnas.

As a surprise treat, the cast treats loyal viewers with exciting and fun online shows to look forward to this month.

Jillian, who breathes life into the character of the kindhearted Mayi, is delighted to share what they have been

working on these days to their avid supporters: “What truly matters to me is making our viewers happy. I know how much they miss our show, the actors in it, and so much more.

So this is a gift for all of them, and to us, our team. It’s just so refreshing to finally be working with my coactors after such a long time.”

Althea, who portrays the ambitious and strong-willed Ella, hopes for the continuous support from fans: “Excited po ako dahil maraming nag-aabang sa pagbabalik ng Prima Donnas at magsasama-sama kaming muli online para maghatid ng saya sa inyong lahat. Patuloy n’yo po sana kaming samahan at suportahan sa aming journey.”

Sofia, who plays Lenlen, the youngest of the bunch, is also beyond thrilled to be working with her costars once again, and Elijah Alejo, who has done justice to her kontrabida role as Brianna, also expresses her excitement to spread happiness among their fans who missed seeing them on television. Aside from the four girls, joining the muchawaited grand reunion are Melendez, Halili, Ramos, Benjie Paras, and director Gina Alajar.

Viewers from across the globe can also catch GMA shows on the network’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International.

For more information, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

Bong Go reminds agencies to provide support for live events workers, other nonoperating industries SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealed to the government to also provide support for displaced workers affected by the Covid-19 crisis, especially those in industries whose nature of business cannot operate because of social distancing and community quarantine measures currently imposed throughout the country.

“Dahil sa Covid-19, may mga industriya talagang hindi makapag-operate ngayon. Bawal ang pagtitipon kaya tulad nung mga nasa live events organizing, kailangan maghanap ng ibang pagkakakitaan,” he said.

Go said that among displaced workers, those who are engaged in live events or ordinary workers in the entertainment industry, as well as those engaged in businesses that cannot operate at this time, must be given utmost attention by the government.

“Bukod pa diyan, ang mga tao sa entertainment industry ay apektado rin po, lalong lalo na ’yung

ordinaryong manggagawa tulad nung parte ng mga production crew bilang halimbawa. Ito po ’yung mga kababayan nating bumubuhay sa industriya ng sining na ngayon ay hirap makabalik sa kabuhayan nila,” he explained.

The live events industry consists of events, such as meetings, conferencing, exhibitions, concerts involving international and local artists, theatrical productions, corporate, social, cultural, fashion, sporting, and club events, weddings and family celebrations, trade fairs and exhibits, and on-ground activation and sampling activities.

“Tulungan nating mapagaan ang pinapasan ng mga nasa ganitong uri ng industriya. Wala pong dapat mapabayaan sa panahon ngayon. Magbayanihan tayo para malampasan ang krisis na ito at makabangon agad ang bawat Pilipino,” Go added. Go also hopes that once data shows more recoveries and the spread of Covid-19 is eventually

controlled, more provinces and cities under modified general community quarantine can provide guidelines for these industries to resume operations in accordance with required health protocols.

The senator urged concerned government agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment, to look into the situation of these displaced workers and ensure that there are programs that can assist them in overcoming the burden caused by the ongoing crisis.

“May mga existing programs naman po ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno para sa displaced workers.

Siguraduhin po natin na hindi mapabayaan ang mga nasa industriyang ito,” he urged.

Go also suggested that businesses engaged in this particular industry may be able to avail of emergency loans and financing program for micro, small and

medium enterprises.

DTI is presently implementing Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) program under the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program, which aims to help enterprises stabilize or recover from losses due to the health crisis.

Through DTI’s Small Business Corporation, CARES Program is part of the government relief effort for micro and small enterprises affected by Covid-19. MSEs operating for at least a year prior to March 16 and with assets not exceeding P15 million can avail of it. Micro enterprises with an asset size not exceeding P3 million may borrow from P10,000 to P200,000 while small enterprises with assets not more than P15 million may apply for a loan not exceeding P500,000. Discounted interest is at

Continued on B4

6 B6 Friday, June 19, 2020

Give your Dad a day he deserves

Valenzuela City recognizes Top Businesses and Employers of 2019

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ALENZUELA City finally gets to honor the 20 Top Taxpayers and 23 Job Providers for 2019 starting June 16, 2020, delivering and handing out the trophies to the awardees right at their very own doorsteps.

With high recognition and gratitude to Valenzuela City’s vibrant business industry, Mayor Rex Gatchalian affirmed that the taxes will surely go a long way in funding and strengthening the City’s COVID-19 response while also hoping to retain more businesses and be a competitive business hub in the future.

Honored this year were the Micro Scale Category (up to PhP 3 million in assets): Uni Elements Enterprises, Line of Business: Contractor/Sub-contractor.

Contract Packaging Corporation of the Philippines, Line of Business: Contractor/Sub-contractor and Importer. VA Tech Wabag (Philippines), Inc., Line of Business: Services. Innovative Packaging Industry Corporation, Line of Business: Contractor/Sub-contractor, Exporter, Importer, and Snack Food Manufacturer. Grand Chamonix Marketing, Inc., Line of Business: Services Small Scale Category (more than PhP 3 million to PhP 15 million in assets): We Enterprises and Contractors, Inc. Line of Business: Contractor/Sub-contractor, Importer, Retailer/Trading, and Wholesaler without Machinery.

Suncrest Foods, Inc., Line of Business: Manufacturer with Machinery, Exporter, and Importer. Fiberline Industries, Inc., Line of Business: Textile, Knitting, and Dye Manufacturer. Mega Masterlink Fabricator and Electrical Service, Line of Business: Supplier, Services, and Importer.

Industrial Welding Corporation, Line of Business: Welding Electrode Manufacturer, Importer, and Exporter, Medium

Scale Category (more than PhP 15 million to PhP 100 million in assets): Unicorn Metal Corporation, Line of Business: Trading, Importer, Exporter. Canteen, and Steel Bars, GI Pipes and Sheets Manufacturer, Peerless Products Manufacturing Corporation, Line of Business: Importer and Detergent Soap Factory. Mayer Steel Pipe Corporation, Line of Business: Importer and Steel Bars, GI Pipes and Sheets Manufacturer.

Tiger Machinery and Industrial Corporation, Line of Business: Importer and Contractor/Sub-contractor with Machine. Maxima Steel Corporation, Line of Business: Steel Bars, GI Pipes and Sheets Manufacturer. Large Scale Category (above PhP 100 million in assets): Manila Electric Company, Line of Business: Electric Company.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Line of Business: Shopping Centers. Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Line of Business: Services. San Miguel Foods, Inc., Line of Business: Manufacturer with Machinery Storage. Powertrac Inc., Line of Business: Office Area Maintenance and Heavy Motor Vehicles Retailer. The Top Job Provider 2019 Awardees chosen were: Direct Hires (Valenzuela-Based or In-City) Category: Pandayan Bookshop, Inc., CDO Foodsphere, Inc., SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Suncrest Foods, Inc., Donutification Corporation (Dunkin’ Donuts).

Direct Hires (Non-Valenzuela-Based) Category: Republic Biscuit Corporation, Robinsons Supermarket Corporation, Savory Fastfood, Inc. (Classic Savory), M. Consunji, Inc., Concentrix Philippines. Manpower Agencies Category: Fineco Management Corporation and Elite Jinzai Marketing Services, Inc. Overseas Category: East West Placement Center, Inc. Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES)

AWARDING WITH A 'TWIST': Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) Head Atty. Ulysses L. Gallego personally hands out the trophies to last year's Top Taxpayers and Job Providers in Valenzuela City. The awarding and concert was supposed to be held last February 14, also the City Charter Day, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Clinton Ramos/VC PIO)

Category: Fresh N’ Famous Foods, Inc. (Chowking Valenzuela), Fujiweld, Inc., McMagik Corporation (McDonald’s Valenzuela), Donutification Corporation (Dunkin' Donuts), Lamco Paper Products. Persons with Disability (PWD) Employment Category: Suncrest Foods, Inc., JBC Food Corporation, and Sunwalk, Inc. Special Awards Category: Service to Employers Award: Human Resources Management Association of Valenzuela City, Inc. (HUREMAVI) Outstanding Humanitarian Service for Inclusive Employment Award: Humanity & Inclusion (Forward Together: Empowering Youth with Disabilities in Asia).

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ATHER’S Day may look a little different this year because of the general community quarantine, but that doesn't mean you can't still devote the day to Dad. Got a special dad who deserves a special meal? Show him your appreciation with an exceptional family lunch or dinner with his favorite dishes. Whether you’re planning to fire up the grill or set up a sit-down meal indoors this Father’s Day, The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang Ilang Takeout service is here to help you create the perfect menu.

Express your gratitude and admiration to the greatest man in your life with an exceptional Father’s Day meal which you can easily make at home. Delight your dad with any of our Home Buffet options or A La Carte menu. Because the best dad deserves only the best, let him indulge with an enticing main course of any of our new Sous Vide Steaks offerings.

Eating steak is a sensorial gustatory experience: from the visual delight of seeing the marbling on your steak to the sizzle you hear as it cooks to the sensational smell of grilled meat.

Dads will surely delight in our special imported meats. It's value-for-money, too. The cuts are enormous and good enough to share, for those who aren't voracious carnivores. Marbling is the main contributor of beef juiciness, flavor and tenderness. The steaks are superb, juicy, perfectly tender, and so good.

Our cooked sous vide steaks, with easy to re-cook instructions, are: *U.S. Beef Rib Steak, 500 grams— Php2,300 nett *U.S. Beef Tenderloin with Black Peppercorn Sauce, 180 grams—Php1,500 nett *Prime U.S. Beef Striploin, 280 grams— Php2,100 nett *Black Angus Beef Rib Eye, 340 grams— Php1,900 nett Enjoy 20% discount if you make an advance order with a minimum amount of Php2,500

nett from our Home Buffet or A La Cart menu or any of our new Sous Vide Steak Offerings from now until June 19,2020 (Friday) for pickup or delivery on Father’s Day (June 21, 2020).

End the meal on a sweet note with any of our Cake Creations: trio of chocolate mousse layered Opera Cake, Mango Cheesecake and Ohaina chocolate gateau -- alluring desserts that your dad will surely love.

Enjoy a 10% discount on our Cake Creations if pre-ordered with our Father’s Day promo.

Additional fee for delivery within Metro Manila only. Other discounts are not applicable for this promo.

Call us now at 85270011 or SMS/Viber at 0998-950-1912 for your pre-orders.

PINAS MUNA TAYO I

By Stephanie Joy Ching

N an effort to jump start the economy from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, various members of both the public and private sectors have joined hands to form #PinasMunaTayo.

Described as both “a campaign and a movement”, #PinasMunaTayo is spearheaded by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alliance Global Group Inc., and Resorts World Manila. It aims to advocate Bayanihan through the patronization of local products and destinations in order to stimulate the growth of domestic consumption.

The campaign has three main objectives, namely, TriPinas, to revive local tourism, ShoPinas, to encourage the patronization of local retail brands and LasaPinas,which stirs local interest in different local delicacies.

#PinasMunaTayo was launched online via a youtube livestream held last June 12 on Resorts World Manila’s youtube channel. Having the launch be on the same day as Independence day was no mere coincidence. Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, who served as one of the panelists during the launch, noted that holding the launch of this project during Independence day shows that “Filipinos are a tough breed” who are all more than ready to face the challenges that come with rebuilding the economy.

“Time and time again we have overcome the toughest of odds, the most difficult of situations.” said Ms. RomuloPuyat, “I’m certain we will bounce back from this and the PinaMunaTayo campaign is a step in the right direction.”

During this time of quarantine, when some businesses

were forced to shut down completely, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Benedicto Yujuico likened the Philippine economy to an emergency room patient “intubated but breathing and still fighting for life.” However, both he and the other panelists expressed hope that the economy could recover much faster if more local goods are circulated in the market. During the launch, they reasoned that since the economy is largely driven by consumption, the best course of action for now is to simply display the beauty and quality of Filipino goods.

“By reviving the economy, our goal is to move our patient from the emergency room to a regular room. That is what we are trying to do in restarting the economy. If we can do that, people will have the confidence again, whether they are consumers or business owners, and then we [can] start the ball rolling towards reopening the economy,” said Mr. Yuijuico.

“Lahat tayo gustong makatulong. And so, together with our partners in government and the private sector, we thought of a campaign to make people aware that yes, we all can help. At simple lang ang kailangan nating gawin; spend your money here in the Philippines,” emphasized by Kingson Sian, President and CEO of Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc.

Utilizing the power of social media, the #PinasMunaTayo campaign’s first step was to encourage people on their official facebook page to share their pre-quarantine travel or food photos and bring to light lesser known destinations and delicacies. People were encouraged to use the hashtag #PinasMunaTayo and to share their thoughts on what makes the Philippines so special. By putting these photos and statements

Coach Rio dela Cruz

up, AGI CEO Kevin Tan noted that the campaign served as an “informal market place and gather Filipino products from all over the country into certain destinations so that they can be readily available to the public.” He also revealed that they were working closely with some of these businesses to open delivery services for people who are still afraid to go out. In addition to that,bringing these lesser known vacation spots into the limelight will encourage domestic tourism in these areas as travel restrictions slowly ease.

“I think this is a good opportunity to forge a partnership with some of the various airlines to really promote local travel when the restrictions ease. I really think it’s a great opportunity to be able to see the true beauty of the Philippines,” he added.

Through the advocacy of #PinasMunaTayo, everyone is able to contribute to helping the economy recover its rapid but steady growth prior to the pandemic. Although the Philippines is the second fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia, the pandemic has greatly disrupted the growth as millions of Filipinos were left unemployed due to some no work no pay policies. Despite the great fall the economy has suffered for this year, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez is confident that through the movement, the economy could still be able to catch up to its targeted growth rate.

“We believe we can rise and get back on the fast growth rate, We can still achieve a nine-percent growth rate especially in 2021 if we rise above this pandemic,” he stated. “Through this advocacy, I am certain our economy will bounce back.”

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña

Ina Raymundo

KC Montero

Sports BusinessMirror

B7 Friday, June 19, 2020

SEVERINO CHESS CHAMP

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IDE Master Sander Severino brought his act to the world stage with a flourish as he ruled the International Physically Disabled Association Online Chess Championship on Thursday to become the first Filipino to win a world title in the sport.

The 34-year-old Severino, who is handicapped by muscle dystrophy, showed the four gold medals he clinched at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta were a prelude of bigger things to come his way.

Severino amassed 8.5 points on eight wins and a draw to run away with the crown. He drew his last match with International Master (IM) Igor Yarmonov of Ukraine on Thursday.

Seeded second with an ELO of 2373 in rapid chess, Severino was 1.5 points clear of second placers IMs Andrei Gorbanov of Israel and Andrei Obodchuk of Russia.

“Another dream come true,” Severino said.

Luck played a major role in Severino’s title conquest. He wrapped up his drawn final match just minutes before the power was shut in his native Silay City in Negros Occidental.

The Philippines’s Jasper Rom and Henry Lopez wound up in a tie for sixth to eighth places with 6.5 points each.

Severino was diagnosed with a muscular disability and was confined to a wheelchair at a very young age. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

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

PSC vows full support for qualifiers, would-be qualifiers for Olympics

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HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) would go as far as scraping the bottom in fulfilling its support for athletes who have either qualified for the postponed Olympics or are still trying to earn their tickets to Tokyo.

“The PSC board will support the athletes for as long as the agency can,” PSC Chairman William Ramirez said on Thursday, “The investment of both government and the athletes for their Olympic dream couldn’t be set aside that easily.”

The PSC is cash strapped by the Covid-19 pandemic because casinos remain shuttered.

Malacañang also redirected the budget from

Severino

general appropriations of all government agencies—the PSC’s P1.3 billion funds included—back to the Department of Budget and Management for the campaign against the pandemic.

The PSC draws much of its funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., but without the casinos, the gaming agency’s monthly remittances drastically dropped from an average P150 million to only P9 million last month.

Four Filipinos already qualified for the Tokyo Games reset for July 23 to August

8, 2021. They are pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno.

“We will not waiver in our quest to fulfill the country’s Olympic dream and we are very hopeful that more athletes will be able to qualify once the situation gets better,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez added that Rio 2016 weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez and karateka Junna Tsukii are still in the running for the Olympics.

“It’s a tough situation but we understand the priorities of the national government. We will do what we can to continue the support we give to our athletes especially those vying for an Olympic slot,” Ramirez said.

POLITICS, SPORTS MIX IN TOKYO POLLS T

THE five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo could only stand at midfield and watch as Napoli wins the shootout, 4-2. AP

Ronaldo can only watch as Napoli wins Italian Cup title

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OME—Cristiano Ronaldo never had a chance.

Arkadiusz Milik converted the decisive spot kick in a penalty shootout as Napoli won its sixth Italian Cup following a 0-0 draw with Juventus on Wednesday.

Ronaldo was likely Juventus’s last penalty taker but after Paulo Dybala had his shot saved and Danilo blasted high over the goal, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could only stand at midfield and watch as Napoli won the shootout 4-2.

Afterward, Ronaldo appeared on the verge of tears.

“He was a little sad at the result,” explained teammate Juan Cuadrado. “It’s always a lottery when it goes to penalties.”

Ronaldo had a good look at the goal five minutes in but his effort was pushed away by Napoli’s second-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret. As the match wore on, he made less of an impact.

Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri said Ronaldo is struggling to regain his famous acceleration speed after the shutdown forced by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Unfortunately that’s normal when you’re not playing games,” Sarri said.

The game went straight to penalties without extra time being played—a precautionary measure for players still getting back into shape in only their second match of the restart.

In the first half, Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne hit the post with a free kick.

Juventus controlled most of the possession but Napoli had the better chances as Juve’s 42-year-old goalkeeper Gianlugi Buffon made a series of difficult saves—until the shootout.

Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso, still mourning the recent death of his younger sister, was visibly emotional afterward.

Napoli was in complete disarray when Gattuso was hired in December amid a player mutiny over a forced training camp ordered by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

“Life and especially football has given me so much more than I gave to it,” said Gattuso, who besides a trophy-laden career with AC Milan also played on the Italy team that won the 2006 World Cup. “In life, you always think of your parents and family first, so naturally what happened is hard to accept.

“I have such passion for football, I know that I can’t let go even for a second.” AP

OKYO—The contentious issue of the billions being spent on the postponed Tokyo Olympics has entered the debate in the race for governor of Japan’s capital.

Incumbent Yuriko Koike is a strong favorite to be reelected—and a strong supporter of the Olympics—in a field of more than a dozen candidates. The campaign officially opened Thursday.

Taro Yamamoto is a popular actor, turned politician who has entered the fray. He said in a debate this week that the Olympics should be called off and the billions redirected to help people struggling with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Olympics should be canceled,” Yamamoto told Koike. “There is no guarantee

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to hold the games safely in Tokyo, and we don’t have a vaccine yet” for Covid-19.

Yamamoto and others have warned about bringing in 11,000 Olympic athletes from 200 nations and territories, 4,400 Paralympians, and thousands more staff, technical officials, broadcasters and journalists. Add to this fans—if they are allowed—who have bought more than 4 million tickets, up to 80,000 volunteers, and questions about the need for quarantines.

“Tokyo will turn into a Petri dish by having so many people coming from around the world,” Yamamoto said. “We should notify the International Olympic Committee that Tokyo cannot hold the event safely.”

Another candidate, well-respected lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya, also supports calling off the

ANCHESTER, England—Players kneeled in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and victims of the coronavirus were remembered as the Premier League made a somber return on Wednesday from a 100-day shutdown that deprived England of its national sport.

Back on the sideline at Manchester City was Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, whose positive Covid-19 test in March led to the longest suspension of the top-flight competition since World War II. Fans are still prohibited from attending stadiums.

Britain is still trying to contain one of the world’s worst outbreaks of the coronavirus while also convulsed by a reckoning over racial injustice that roused the campaigning passion and anger of Premier League players following the death of George Floyd.

“I’m embarrassed, I am ashamed for what white people have done to black people,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said. “We have to do a lot of things for black people we have not done so far.”

The message “Black Lives Matter” replaced player names on jerseys during City’s 3-0 victory over Arsenal and Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw with Sheffield United. The symbolic move that will continue in this weekend’s round of games is being accompanied by demands from players for substantive changes to end discrimination and promote diversity.

After the opening whistle blew in the first game at Villa Park, every player took a knee in a tribute to Floyd, who was killed by a policeman in Minneapolis last month. In Manchester, the same gesture took place just before kickoff.

“We’d seen the other teams do it in the earlier kickoff and we thought we have to do it as well,” said Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, who is at the forefront of the campaign against racism in soccer and wider society.

“Little by little, we are seeing change and that’s what everyone is hoping for, not just black players but the majority of the country.”

The power of footballers to use their platform to bring about political change was shown this week when Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford forced the government to reverse its decision to halt school lunch vouchers for poor students over the summer holidays.

The government was keen to see Rashford, Sterling and the rest of the Premier League stars back in action as the lockdown is eased. But games cannot be watched in pubs nor in stadiums because of ongoing concerns about gatherings spreading the coronavirus.

“There’s no doubt that this is a hugely symbolic moment,” Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said about the restart at the

Olympics based on the judgment of infectious disease experts. Two other candidates have proposed a 2-year to 4-year postponement.

Koike, the International Olympic Committee, and local organizers say they are trying to scale back, downsize, and simplify the Tokyo Games, which have already been pushed back by 12 months. They’ve revealed no specifics so far, with hints about cutting back the opening and closing ceremonies, or the torch relay.

More questions than answers remain. Officials have said the events and athlete quotas will not be touched, and there is no talk of cancellation, with the Olympics set to open on July 23, 2021.

Soaring bills are an issue. Estimates in Japan say the one-year postponement will cost $2 billion to $6 billion. Koike has declined to give an

official estimate, as have the IOC and the local organizing committee. They say it’s too early to know, but Japan is slated to pay most of the costs.

“We must gain the understanding of the residents of Tokyo and citizens,” Koike said, referring to costs and the budget, in a separate interview with the Associated Press.

Overall, Tokyo says it’s spending $12.6 billion to organize the Olympics, although a government audit last year said it was twice that much. All but $5.6 billion is public money.

Tokyo estimated the Olympics could cost $7.3 billion when the city was awarded the games in 2013.

“While many children and athletes are earnestly looking forward to the Olympics, we

English soccer returns and takes a knee

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must keep the coronavirus under control, and the question is if a vaccine will be ready by then. It’s a race against time.” Koike said.

Koike, like the IOC, is betting the Olympics can be framed as a victory celebration over the pandemic, and the public will forget the tax bill.

“There are many issues to be resolved,” Koike said. “But when we have a major global goal and share it, and when it becomes a proof of victory in our fight against the coronavirus, what a meaningful event it will be.” AP

IATF defers action on GAB’s request

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MANCHESTER City’s Kevin De Bruyne (center), Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) and even the referee takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. AP

government’s daily briefing an hour before the games, “an important step forward in our careful journey back towards normality.”

The resumption of the Premier League comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government faces criticism for not ordering a nationwide lockdown until March 23 and for easing restrictions in England too soon given still-high levels of new cases and deaths.

During the lockdown and with the resumption of the season in doubt, the league had feared it could lose more than $1 billion for failing to meet broadcasting commitments.

Of the five biggest soccer leagues in Europe, England is the fourth to get back on the field. Germany was first last month, while Spain and Italy resumed this month. France canceled the remainder of its season while the virus was still peaking—as did England’s neighbor, Scotland.

The Premier League plans to finish the remaining 92 games of its season by July 26 and the FA Cup final is now due to be staged a week later on August 1.

The Champions League plans to complete the competition in an abbreviated final eight tournament in Lisbon, with the final on August 23. AP

World’s fastest man Coleman suspended for missing tests HE likelihood that the world’s fastest man, Christian Coleman, might miss the Olympics next summer increased Wednesday when he received a provisional suspension for failing to be home when drug testers showed up last year.

Coleman, the reigning world champion at 100 meters, said his latest flare-up with the anti-doping system stemmed from a miscommunication that could have easily been resolved with a phone call from the doping-control officer who came to his house on December 9. It was his third whereabouts infraction in a 12-month span and could carry a ban of up to two years.

His path to the starting line at the Tokyo Games may now be through a hearing room.

YURIKO KOIKE, who is running for reelection as governor, favors the conduct of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. AP

Coleman’s argument is being undercut, in part, by the fact that he was well aware of the ins and outs of the “whereabouts rule” because of a case against him that was dropped last year, before this latest incident.

“I think I can just be more mature about it,” Coleman said last year in discussing his close call.

The Athletics Integrity Unit, which handles anti-doping cases for World Athletics, said phone calls are not part of its testing protocol because they can make it easier for athletes to manipulate the testing process.

“Any advanced notice of testing, in the form of a phone call or otherwise, provides an opportunity for athletes to engage in tampering or evasion or other

improper conduct which can limit the efficacy of testing,” the AIU said in an e-mailed statement.

Coleman’s status going forward remains murky. According to the AIU website, his provisional suspension is listed as May 14, 2020—13 months before the start of US Olympic Trials. The Tokyo Olympics, postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, are scheduled to open July 23, 2021.

An email to his agent and his sponsor, Nike, weren’t immediately returned.

Last season, Coleman got ensnared in doping drama after word of his whereabouts failure leaked to the media. The US Anti-Doping Agency ended up dropping the case over a

technicality in a very confusing rulebook.

He went on to capture 100-meter gold at the world championships in Doha, Qatar, last September. AP

HE Games and Amusements Board’s (GAB) effort seeking the return of professional sports amid the relaxation of protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic would have to wait awhile more.

The GAB earlier submitted a 59-page document to the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Infectious Diseases. The document suggested medical and safety protocols drawn by the GAB’s Medical Section, Boxing and combat sports and other divisions.

The agency also demonstrated four different virtual simulators containing its proposed health and safety procedures on individual workouts and games involving the Philippine Basketball Association and the Philippine Football Federation.

But the IATF instructed GAB Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra to coordinate with Department of Health’s (DOH) Technical Working Group for the drafting of a Joint Administrative Order for the promulgation of health and safety protocols for professional sports in accordance with the existing minimum health and safety guidelines published by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH recommended to the IATF to limit contact among participants in sports tournaments in the absence of vaccine against Covid-19.

“Whatever decision that the IATF will make, we will surely support and follow,” Mitra said.

Motoring BusinessMirror

B8 Friday, June 19, 2020

Completed TPLEx opening soon; New Wigo here Mayor Ed’s 3 Bs

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efore the month ends, travel will become faster than usual going up north from Metro Manila with the opening of the Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, to Rosario, La Union, TPLEx stretch.

The 11.45-kilometer stretch completes the TPLEx (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway), a billion-peso highway built by Ramon S. Ang, the president-CEO of San Miguel Corp.

Developed to ease traffic, make every trip comfortable and speed up travel to the country’s summer capital that is Baguio, the 89.3-kilometer road wonder stretches from Balint-

awak to La Union.

Tim Orbos, the Transportation undersecretary, said he couldn’t wait to negotiate the Balintawak-to-Baguio span, saying: “This time, I can cover it in probably two hours and 45 minutes from the usual three-anda-half hour trip.”

Why not? From Tarlac alone up to Rosario would now take only an hour from the usual 2.5 hours.

ED Pamintuan, the jolly former mayor of Angeles City, exclaimed: “And so, I could now motor up to Baguio from Clark in just two hours!

Baguio, here I come!”

An avid outdoorsman who loves exploring the country by manning the wheel of his own muscle himself, Mayor Ed boasted of negotiating recently the 40-km plus Clark-to-Subic expressway in just about 35 minutes.

“I was doing 120 kph!” said Mayor Ed, whose love of the Three Bs is legend: Beatles, Beach Boys and Balvenie (make that Triple Cask 18). “But I won’t drive that fast again. Never!”

This early, even as the Rosario, La Union, TPLEx exit is yet to be unfurled, Ang—fondly called RSA by his friends and admirers alike— is planning to extend the TPLEx all the way to Laoag, Ilocandia’s major city alongside the historic metropolis of Vigan.

Once that plan is realized, hopes for a sustained commercial boom will surge in “Ilokoslovakia,” where economic activity is sure to spike up all the more with unabated infrastructure development.

Hasn’t Rene So, the indefatigable owner of multiple Toyota dealerships up North (Dagupan, Baguio and San

Fernando, La Union) just opened a Toyota branch in Laoag City?

Suddenly, Honda in nearby San Nicolas has got company.

Historic Wigo launch for Okamoto-san

THE launch last week of Toyota’s new Wigo has made a dramatic impact on the life of Atsuhiro Okamoto as it was his first major vehicle event since he assumed the presidency of the Toyota Motor Philippines just before Covid-19 struck the world. Read his speech and soak up on his feelings: “To our media friends, partners, and dealers, thank you for joining us for yet another Toyota Milestone.

“I hope everyone joining us today is healthy and doing well.

“We all know that life in general has been drastically changed over the past few months. And like many companies, Toyota Motor Philippines is one with the country in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are glad that despite our own difficulties, TMP, TMP Foundation, the Toyota dealer network, and even our Team Members have been able to provide valuable assistance through various CSR projects, to our healthcare workers, frontliners, and to the communities where our manufactur-

ing plant and dealerships are located.

“Team Toyota’s bayanihan spirit is something I am truly proud of.

“Of course, we also extended assistance to our customers in order to help them cope with these difficult times. This pandemic has physically confined us and has forced everyone to change the way we do things and adapt to the ‘New Normal.’

“Today, we are more than ready to embrace innovations in the digital world, and prove that even in crisis, we can still move forward and drive towards a better future.

“Today, I am happy to celebrate a new milestone with all of you—the official launch of the new Toyota Wigo. “I must say that my first car launch as TMP President is quite an extraordinary experience. As we adapt to the new normal, we bring you TMP’s very first official interactive digital vehicle launch.

“In the past, we can only gather a small number of guests to witness our event, but now in cyberspace, we are able to reach hundreds of thousands of people in the country to witness the unveiling of Toyota’s most loved entry-level passenger car—the Toyota Wigo.

“As it appeals to a broad spectrum of customers, the Toyota Wigo enjoys

a market share of 69 percent in the low-cost passenger car segment as of the end of 2019. It has been the car of choice for young professionals, young couples just starting a family, and even university students.

“The new Wigo remains an iconic car that offers the same familiar feeling of practicality and reliability; but made: n More advanced; n More convenient and safe; n And more fun with its sleek and sporty TRD Styling “Let me not keep you further with much suspense.

“Ladies and gentlemen… Introducing the Philippines’s best-selling entry-level hatchback: The new Toyota Wigo! Go for It!” It comes at very affordable prices: TRD variant at only P700k, G AT P658k, G MT P623k and E MT P568k.

PEE STOP SMC-Petron’s fuel assis-

tance to the government’s “Libreng Sakay” program for vehicles used by frontliners in the fight against Covid-19 ended in flying colors on June 15, with fuel donation amounting to nearly P10 million. This is on top of some P11 million in free toll from SMC for frontliners that used Slex, Star, Naiax and TPLEx. Cheers!