BusinessMirror March 13, 2020

‘PANDEMIC’ TAG HITS MARKETS; 7-YR LOW

By VG Cabuag

S

HARE prices plunged on Thursday after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a pandemic, further souring investor sentiment, with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) halting trading for a few minutes after the main index dropped more than 10 percent to reach the 5,700-point level and triggered the circuit breaker rule.

The benchmark Philippine Stock

Motoring » D2-D3

BMW Brings in all-neW 1 series and neW X1

w

@villygc

Exchange index (PSEi) ended the day 616.99 points, down 9.7 percent, to close at 5,736.27 points.

The last time the main index was in this position was on December 18, 2012, when it closed at 5,636.59 point.

“This is only the second time that the circuit breaker was triggered since the measure was adopted in September 2008. First instance was on October 27, 2008,” the PSE said.

This is the PSEi’s biggest single drop in terms of points and second in

n Friday, March 13, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 155

terms of percentage, which was also on October 27, 2008, when it fell 12 percent.

The main index fell 10.33 percent in the afternoon trade on Thursday, less than an hour before the close, and trading was halted at 2:53 p.m. and resumed at 3:08 p.m.

According to the rule, trading will be halted for 15 minutes if the main index falls at 10 percent.

The main index slightly recovered with the lifting of trade halt.

See “Pandemic,” A8

P25.00 nationwide | 4 sections 32 pages |

Special session on Covid relief pitched

T

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Thursday asked the Executive and the lower chamber to convene a special session to enact special health emergency powers for President Duterte and issue temporary tax relief measures amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Run after hoarders, DTI urged

See “Hoarders,” A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n

Estimated worth of temporary spending and tax relief measures pushed by House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Salceda In an aide memoire addressed to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda recommended that the President convene a special ses-

spending and tax relief measures amounting to an additional deficit spending of 1.5 percent above the 2019 deficit of 3.55 percent. He said this translates to P292.5 billion.

“They would directly provide relief to the most adversely affected sectors of the economy, and the relief would prevent layoffs,” he said.

“Spending and tax relief would, over the medium term, boost the productivity of these sectors, and subsequently, broaden the taxable portion of the economy,” Salceda added.

See “Special session,” A2

PNB team tracks listed firms’ risks in ‘lockdown’

T

HE chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry on Thursday called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor and penalize hoarders of basic necessities and prime commodities amid the implementation of national health emergency due to Covid-19.

Valenzuela Rep. Wes Gatchalian, the panel chairman, also asked DTI to ensure strict implementation of the Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act. “Just like the monitoring that the DTI conducted during the Taal Volcano disaster, I urge the DTI to once again mobilize its agents to monitor claims of alleged hoarding of goods in light of the spread of Covid-19,” said Gatchalian.

“I have received reports that some basic goods in major supermarkets, like alcohol, masks, instant noodles, and canned goods are out of stock for a period of time now.

This, despite reports from manufacturers that the supply of goods is enough to meet the increased demand caused by the public health crisis faced by the country, raising concerns of hoarding,” said the lawmaker.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian warned the public that hoarding is illegal and punishable by a fine or imprisonment.

₧292.5B

sion of Congress to ensure that, if necessary, decisive policy action, including funding adjustments, can be made to effectively combat Covid-19.

“This will allow Congress to make such policy actions as may be required to grant the Executive with special powers, appropriations, and other tools whose grant fall exclusively within Congress’s jurisdiction, for the immediate containment of the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

Also, Salceda said the Committee on Ways and Means recommended that Congress issue temporary

C

EVEN key economic institutions have been forced to do telecommuting for their workers, as the spread of Covid-19 prompted time-bound closures to allow for a thorough disinfection of premises. From top left, clockwise: the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Senate, both in Pasay; the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Mandaluyong City, which implemented work from home earlier than others; the Department of Finance, and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in Pasig City. NONIE REYES/ROY DOMINGO/NONOY LACZA

ITING the possibility of a “widespread lockdown scenario” because of Covid-19, the Philippine National Bank (PNB) Research Team conducted a rapid risk analysis of the major sectors represented in the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi).

Gaming and port operations are seen to be the most affected in that scenario, and telecommunications, the least affected, according to the report, which drew in inputs from PNB’s covered companies and its resident economist Jun Trinidad.

Covered by the rapid risk analysis are banks (18 percent of index weight), consumer (8 percent), power (4 percent), property (23 percent), telco (4 percent), and gaming/port operations (4 percent). For conglomerates (38 percent), the risk exposure depends on the respective business mix of the holding companies.

Explaining why telcos will be the least affected, the PNB research team said, “In our view, business continuity plans and requiring more people to stay at home might increase the demand for call/text/data. It also seems capex and tower rollout plans are maintained since suppliers can source from other countries unaffected by the virus. If supply of new equipment is affected, we believe this may reduce the quality of service and not the quantity.”

See “Lockdown,” A2

US 50.5070 n JAPAN 0.4838 n UK 64.7601 n HK 6.5014 n CHINA 7.2564 n SINGAPORE 36.2213 n AUSTRALIA 32.7689 n EU 56.8911 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4567

Source: BSP (12 March 2020)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, March 13, 2020

China’s new envoy: Ready to help PHL contain virus

T

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE Chinese government said it is ready to help the Philippine government in its efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

China Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian made the pronouncement during his meeting with President Duterte on

Wednesday.

“Huang expressed solidarity with the Philippine government in its efforts to contain the spread

Special session. . .

Salceda also recommended that the speaker designate a small group to come up, in consultation with public health experts and economists; with Legislative measures to prevent mass transmission, contain the disease, and mitigate its socioeconomic impacts.

For the safety of lawmakers and staff, the lawmaker said that House rules be amended temporarily to accommodate a virtual convening of session and virtual voting, in line with social distancing measures in place.

“There are policy levers that are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Congress, such as appropriations and granting special powers to the President. We will need to convene at some point before May 4, the original resumption of session,” Salceda said.

Lockdown

SALCEDA said the next two months will be extremely critical in ensuring the virus is contained.

“It is also encouraged that the House leadership request the public health authorities, primarily the Department of Health, to identify triggers for a lockdown of strategically identified areas,” he said.

“The earlier the lockdown, the smaller the final number of infections are over an extended period. The key is to get the infection rate to approach from exponential growth to logarithmic as soon as possible, and lockdowns are able to do that,” he said.

Lockdown. . .

Continued from A1

Consumer staples are next after telcos to be least affected, because they “might get a sales increase from stockpiling (i.e., less trips to the supermarket but higher basket size).”

The PNB research added, “It seems there is limited impact on inventory so far, except for items like rubbing alcohol and masks. Some imported fruits and canned good products face supply issues, but these can be substituted with local products. We believe retailers of mostly imported

Hoarders. . .

Continued from A1

“To this end, I urge all retailers to immediately restock and resupply their inventory to put to rest any concerns of hoarding. As for our consumers, I urge them to remain calm and avoid panic buying of supplies. There is more than enough for everybody,” he said.

Under the Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act, hoarding is considered an illegal act of price manipulation and is defined by the said law as “the undue accumulation by a person or combination of persons of any basic commodity beyond his or their normal inventory levels or the unreasonable limitation or refusal to dispose of, sell or

Continued from A1

Salceda said Congress may enact broad measures to empower public health authorities to impose a lockdown once these triggers are met.

LGU discretion

HE added the House of Representatives may also supplement existing powers in the Local Government Code for local government units (LGUs) who may opt, upon the advice of public health authorities, to impose a lockout and restrict entry into their jurisdictions.

Without meaningful intervention, Salceda said the number of infected persons could swell up to 50,300 persons by May 4 when Congress resumes session.

“With a lockdown this week, that number is reduced to 23,900 persons. In other words this will, by any standard, be a large public health emergency requiring significant resources, but an early lockdown will be literally lifesaving.... So Congress needs to be ready to back up the executive in the crucial two months,” Salceda said.

“Of course, we need to convene Congress in session to make sure we are equipped with the necessary policy tools to end this Covid,” he said.

Salceda said he also drafting a supplemental appropriations bill that will prioritize Filipino workers and families in responding to the economic impacts Covid-19.

Also, he recommended that Congress, upon being convened in special session, adopt the special powers contained in House

products have higher supply risk.

Elevated days inventory, which is typically not ideal under normal circumstances, can be advantageous under a lockdown scenario.”

“Demand from commercial and industrial customers may weaken in a lockdown situation, although this may be partly offset by stronger residential consumption [e.g., work from home],” said the PNB assessment of the third least affected sector, power.

“At least for Meralco’s franchise, demand split is 31 percent residential, 39 percent commercial, and 29 percent industrial. In our view, generation companies with mainly local fuel distribute the stocks of any basic necessity of prime commodity to the general public or the unjustified taking out of any basic necessity or prime commodity from the channels of reproduction, trade, commerce and industry.”

The penalty imposed for the act of hoarding is imprisonment for a period not less than five years nor more than 15 years, and a fine of not less than P5,000 nor more than P2 million.

“In this time of crisis, I hope everyone is mindful of other people who only have enough money for their daily sustenance. Let us not purchase more than what we need in order to afford others who have the same need as you and I. Our collective effort is needed if we are to survive this crisis as one nation,” he said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

of Covid-19. The Chinese ambassador also conveyed China’s readiness to extend assistance,” Malacañang said in a statement.

Xilian also acknowledged the assistance provided by the Philippine government in China’s own campaign against Covid-19 in the form of 52 boxes of emergency medical and food supplies, which was sent to Wuhan, ground zero of the disease.

Duterte noted the handling of the Chinese government of its own Covid-19 incidents. He also expressed his condolences to the families of Chinese Covid-19 pa-

Bill 6096, which is more commonly known for creating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but also creates a comprehensive health emergency management framework.

He said relevant powers contained therein include: ■ the power “to purchase, store or distribute antitoxins, serums, vaccine, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies that it considers advisable in the interest of preparing for or controlling a public health emergency, with the right to take immediate possession thereof;” ■ the power to “control, restrict, and regulate by rationing and using quotas, prohibitions on shipments, price fixing, allocation or other means, the use, sale, trading, distribution, or transportation of the relevant product necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people;” ■ special powers to control the disposal of waste and human remains; ■ special powers to procure, ration and distribute health-care supplies; ■ special powers to compel persons to be isolated, vaccinated or treated; and ■ special powers by the Secretary of Health to quarantine, apprehend, or examine persons believed to be infected ; and ■ comprehensive powers over reporting and tracking.

Temporary quarantine

MEANWHILE, Sen. Nancy Binay suggested that the Department of Health, as well as local health units, could consider converting hostels into “temporary quarantine centers” for Covid-19 patients.

“Should cases of Covid-19 become

source [e.g. local coal, natural gas, geothermal, hydro] may relatively have lower supply concerns.”

For banks, the focus risk areas are borrowers with these linkages: tourism, shipping, travel, OFWs and SMEs, according to PNB Research. The sector could be impacted by “slower loan growth and possibly higher NPLs,” while “downward pressure on NIMs due to rate cuts is also a key concern.”

For the consumer discretionary class, PNB Research sees “no major impact...so far,” but added it is “more susceptible to a lockdown scenario than staples.”

Food supply. . .

Continued from A8

Enough rice stocks

IN a related development, the National Food Authority (NFA) on Thursday assured the public that it has sufficient rice stocks in the National Capital Region (NCR) to fill the demand of the metropolis for 40 days should a lockdown be imposed to control Covid-19.

“We have 455,000 bags of rice in Metro Manila. This is good for 40 days, at 10 percent market participation. Of course, there are still rice stocks in the households and the commercial sector, which comprise the great portion of rice stocks in the market,” NFA Administrator Judy Carol L. Dansal said.

tients who died from the collapse of a quarantine facility in Quanzhou, Fujian, last week.

“He [Duterte] conveyed his wishes for the swift recovery of those who were injured,” Malacañang said.

Duterte and Xilian also talked about strengthening PhilippineChina economic relations.

Xilian reiterated China’s commitment to establish “deeper cooperation with the Philippines especially in infrastructure development.”

For his part, Duterte recognized “the improved access for Philippine exports to the Chinese market.”

prevalent in the provinces, local government units may need to come up with strategies that will help abate the spread of the virus,” said Binay, suggesting that the DOH and local health officials may explore the possibility of tapping hospitality establishments as alternative quarantine centers.

The senator noted, “it is only a matter of time when LGUs will be overwhelmed with many Covid-related concerns. Perhaps, they can explore and study the possibility of engaging local hotels, and establishments, of similar nature and convert them as temporary quarantine centers,” she said.

In a statement, Binay suggested that “LGUs also need to anticipate the unlikeliness of the situation.”

She said that “because of the limited bed capacity, local private and government hospitals cannot accommodate the PUIs,” the senator said, adding, “It is for the best interest to have a designated quarantine center in order to isolate patients from the rest of the population.”

She proposed that provincial governments could follow the lead of Albay where a hotel in Tabaco City was repurposed as quarantine center for cases of Covid-19. “As a precautionary and preventive measure, LGUs may lead the creation of strategies to proactively respond to a public health emergency. Kailangan ng preemptive response—and having a controlled clearing house ensures the public that the government is on top of the situation,” the Senator said, noting: that “by having a controlled quarantine facility, LGUs can achieve minimal community transmissions, thereby, ensuring the public’s health and safety.” With Butch Fernandez

For the Property sector, hotels will be hit the most. “We believe a lockdown situation will hurt both offices and malls. Those with fixed leases and high pre-termination penalties may be more resilient, while variable leases linked to revenues will be hurt more. Residential already seeing some cuts in pre-sales,” said the PNB team.

In tagging the gaming and port operations sectors as “most affected,” the researchers noted that this group was “already affected even without a lockdown.” It added that, “cost control is the main tool to reduce bottomline impact.”

NFA said it is also fast-tracking the transfer of 2.224 million bags of rice or about 11,206 metric tons (MT) to NCR from nearby rice-producing regions.

“This is to ensure the rice sufficiency level of NCR at all times,” it said.

The NCR will receive 311,920 bags (15,596 MT) from Region 01; 1,000,000 bags (50,000 MT) from Region 2; and 912,200 bags (45,610 MT) from Region 3, according to NFA. “The total government rice stocks is 9.636 million bags or 481,800 MT. This is equivalent to 14.5-day rice consumption requirement of the whole country at 661,930 bags,” the NFA said.

“They are stored in different strategically located warehouses in all provinces,” it added.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSA suspends work, but surveys to go on

By Cai U. Ordinario

A

@caiordinario

MID work suspensions and efforts to streamline government operations due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) disclosed that it will continue its field operations to conduct surveys.

National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Claire Dennis S. Mapa told the BusinessMirror that while PSA is suspending work on Friday, its ongoing field operations, including the preparations for the decade Census on Population and Housing (CPH), will continue.

The PSA will be closed on Friday to sanitize its Centris and East Avenue offices while it will have a skeletal force for civil registration services (CRS). However, Mapa advised that clients use alternative modes of applications, such as thru its online services, to obtain information.

“The field operations for our surveys, including the preparation for the CPH, are still ongoing —you will still get your inflation report and others,” Mapa said via SMS. “[We decided to continue field operations] because it is our job to report the statistics.”

Mapa said some of the ongoing surveys include the Consumer Price Index; agricultural statistics such as price of rice; and Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries.

Quarantine. . .

Continued from A8

They were led by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, subsequently followed by Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin Diokno, Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar.

Among local governments, Mayors Isko Moreno of Manila, Sara Duterte of Davao and Toby Tiangco of Navotas went on quarantine.

‘Restricted access’

MEANWHILE, Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday clarified the Senate is not on lockdown but is enforcing restricted access to certain areas of its building.

“I have issued a directive to the Senate Sergeant at Arms to put the Senate “under Restricted Access,” not a lockdown as the term lockdown has been misinterpreted and abused. Officials and their staff who have work to do and complete are required to report for work,” Sotto said.

The move came after senators were informed that a resource person who attended a recent Senate committee hearing had tested positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay, who had direct contact with the patient, and their office staff are now on self-quatantine.

Sotto said the entire Senate premises will be cleaned and disinfected following these developments.

Offices or areas scheduled for cleaning and disinfection will be cordoned off and will not be accessible to any Senate employee, except for the cleaners who have been required to wear protective clothing.

“The Senate has to continue to function. The Filipino people need us today and we cannot let the threat and scare of an infection to distract us from work. However, I have given strict instructions that all employees should exercise extreme preventive practices as they go about their daily tasks. It is of utmost importance that everyone observe proper hygiene and follow protocols as a precaution against contamination,” Sotto said.

The Senate chief said any employee who feels any of the symptoms of

He added that the list includes the Quarterly Survey of Philippine Business and Industry which is an input to the country’s GDP.

By April, the PSA will conduct the Labor Force Survey and Consumer Expectations Survey. The decade census, meanwhile, is poised to begin on May 4.

Meanwhi le, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia and the entire National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) are taking the necessary precautions and risk management measures on the possible spread of Covid-19.

Neda self-quarantine

PERNIA and other employees of the Neda have gone on self-quarantine as a precaution.

While Pernia had no close contact with the person who tested positive for Covid-19, they were in two separate meetings last week.

“All concerned Neda officials and employees who came in close contact with [were within 1 meter from]the said virus-infected persons were also advised to go on self-quarantine,” Pernia said in a statement.

Pernia said work at the Neda Central Office will be suspended until Friday to complete the disinfection and sanitation procedures.

Regular operations will resume on March 16, Monday. However, Pernia said Neda will be adopting flexible work arrangements to limit staff exposure to health risks.

Covid-19, or those who have recently travelled to countries with high contamination rates, or those who had exposure to local patients should voluntarily go on self-quarantine but continue to work from home.

House ‘virus-free’

THOUGH several lawmakers have started self-quarantine, House Secretary General Atty. Jose Luis G. Montales on Thursday said the House of Representatives remains Covid-19 free.

“There are no confirmed cases.

Neither are there Persons Under Investigation [PUI], nor Persons Under Monitoring [PUM]. The health and safety of everyone in HRep continues to be our priority,” he said. Montales said the chamber’s premises shall undergo thorough cleaning and disinfection on Friday until Sunday.

Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, meanwhile, started his self-quarantine on Thursday as a precaution.

“I was at the Senate with Mayor Inday Sara [Duterte-Carpio] yesterday [Wednesday] and I interacted as well with Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

Although he looks very healthy and asymptomatic, the most responsible thing to do is to subject myself to home quarantine and make sure that I won’t be spreading the virus in case I got it,” he said.

“But I want to assure my constituents that I will continue to work and serve them through electronic communication, such as phone, emails, teleconference and videoconferencing,” he said.

Ungab and Mayor Duterte-Carpio attended the plenary session of the Commission on Appointments at the Senate. The CA confirmed them as Army reservists with the rank of colonel.

Ungrab said the President’s daughter has started her home quarantine last Wednesday. She said he had lunch apparently on Wednesday with Gatchalian, who took the quarantine precaution after a resource person who attended his committee on basic education hearing last March 5 tested positive for Covid-19.

Besides Ungab, some lawmakers are also considering safety measures as they interacted with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who was reportedly exposed to a Covid-19 patient . Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz, Butch Fernandez

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

SC suspends court hearings until March 18 as virus cases rise

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

T

HE Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of all court hearings in light of the continued rise in the number of persons infected with Covid-19.

The suspension will take effect today (Friday, March 13) until March 18.

“In furtherance of Administrative Circular 26-2020 earlier issued today [Wednesday], upon the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator, based on its monitoring of the situation and consultation from executive judges, presiding judges and court personnel, including officials of the Supreme Court, all court hearings in the first, second and collegiate courts are hereby suspended beginning 13 March 2020 until 18 March 2020,” Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said.

During this period, the Court directed justices, and judges, to reset hearings and inform parties of the new schedule; disinfect court premises; pen orders and decisions; and act on other matters pending before their respective courts.

Justices and judges are, likewise, expected to continue to report to the Office of the Court Administrator any development or circumstance regarding the spread of Covid-19.

In its original order, the Court merely directed all judges and court personnel to allow only entry to halls of justice and court rooms of those with official business in the courts.

Those experiencing fever, flu, colds and coughs shall be barred from court premises.

It also required executive judges and presiding judges to monitor the conditions of their respective personnel and workplaces to control the spread of Covid-19 in the halls of justice and courtrooms.

“Everyone must exercise caution and prudence in sharing, forwarding, or disseminating unverified or inaccurate news regarding the spread of the Covid-19, which only tend to cause unnecessary fear and panic,” the circular read.

PNP: No lockdown order in NCR; DILG: Careful with use of terms

T

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM & Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) clarified on Thursday that it has not issued any directive putting Metro Manila on a lockdown over the Covid-19.

“Contrary to some reports circulating in the social media, please be advised that the PNP has not issued any order for a lockdown in the NCR. It is only the NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council] that can issue such an order to address the current public health emergency,” the PNP said in a statement issued through its acting spokesman Major General Benigno Durana Jr. “Nonetheless, the PNP is continuously enhancing its preparations to address any contingency. We will update you of any development as the need arises,” It added.

Caution

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), meanwhile, has cautioned media on using the word “lockdown” as it might create fear and panic in light of the increasing number of confirmed cases of Covid-19.

So far, the Department of Health (DOH) said the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is up to 49 with two incidents of death, a Chinese national and a 67-year-old Filipino woman. The surge in the number of positive cases has reportedly triggered panic buying, with some netizens reporting shortages of alcohol supply in grocery stores and even pharmacies.

A source from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said a proposed measure to limit the purchase of alcohol, or liquid disinfectants, has gained the nod of President Duterte and that an executive order will be drafted to enforce it soon.

The supposed lockdown, order, emanated from a memorandum issued by a PNP Director for the Operations Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, calling for a meeting among police officials that will be presided by Licup, an advance copy of which was leaked to the media.

Covid-19 spread ‘wake-up call’ on illicit wildlife trade–Cimatu

T

HE coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), which was recently declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), should serve as a wake-up call to unscrupulous individuals who continue to engage in the illegalwildlife trade.

“The ongoing Covid-19 global outbreak should serve as a stark reminder of the dire consequence for humans of the illegal-wildlife trade, which has been pushing endangered and vulnerable wildlife species toward extinction,” Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said in a news statement.

The DENR recently led the local celebration of World Wildlife Day (WWD) with a renewed call to end illegal wildlife crime amid the spread of Covid-19.

The virus is believed to have originated from wild animals sold at a wet market in Wuhan City, China.

The first cases of infection were traced to the Wuhan market that was reportedly selling meat from a wide range of exotic wild animals, including snakes, bats and pangolins.

Since the outbreak, the Chinese government has banned the trade of wildlife, suspecting that exotic animals infected humans, a move welcomed by wildlife conservation advocates.

Just recently, Chinese researchers claimed they had found a coronavirus in smuggled pangolins that have a 99-percent genetic match to the virus circulating in people.

Environment Undersecretary Ernesto D. Adobo Jr. expressed hope that the findings pointing to pangolin as a “potential” intermediate host for Covid-19 virus would sound the death knell for the commercial trade of the insect-eating mammal and all other wild animals.

“Such findings are very important and the public must be aware of these,” Adobo said. “We should stop patronizing and buying wildlife species,” he said.

Pangolins, also called scaly anteaters because of their preferred diet, are the most trafficked mammal in the world prized for their meat and scales. There is a total of eight species of pangolins in the world and four of them are found in Asia—Chinese, Sudan, Indian and the country’s very

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, March 13, 2020 A3

own Philippine pangolins (Manis culionensis), which are endemic in Palawan province.

All these pangolin species are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, as critically endangered. Other than pangolins, bats are also being suspected as the potential “culprit.”

China’s reported declaration to impose an immediate and comprehensive ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals will drastically cut the demand for exotic animal meat and other animal by-products.

Environment Assistant Secretary Ricardo Calderon, the concurrent Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) said in an earlier interview that the move will have a big positive impact on the effort to curb illegal-wildlife trade, not only in the Philippines but in the Asean region.

Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim agrees with his observation.

A former DENR-BMB Director herself, Lim said China’s move is commendable.

“We commend China for issuing such a policy. The closer interaction between wildlife and humans through unabated wildlife collection, consumption, and trade is already believed to be linked to the increasing occurrence of new and emerging diseases,” she said.

The move by China will not only help prevent future global health issues but, in the long run, also allow the populations of endangered species that are in demand for food, medicine, pets and trophy, such as pangolins and elephants, to recover, and continue to deliver the ecosystem services they are meant to provide, she said.

For his part, Calderon said: “It’s a good development if they will enforce it because of the study, allegedly, that coronavirus is caused by consumption of exotic animals,” he said.

According to Calderon, exotic food, more often than not, are illegally traded.

Both a source and consumer of wild-caught animals, whether they are for food, medicine, or the pet trade, the Philippines continue to struggle to curb the illegal-wildlife

trade, especially of its critically endangered species like the Philippine tamaraw or the Mindoro dwarf buffalo, the Palawan pangolin, fruit and insect bats, marine turtles, whale shark, locally called butanding, sharks and stingrays.

The DENR-BMB has been focusing its information, education and communication effort to combat illegal-wildlife trade because many Filipinos still hunt exotic animals, either for food, including their consumption, and medicine, and pet trade.

“We discourage eating wild animals because they are not safe to eat. They are not domesticated animals. They are hosts to many bacteria which can be transferred to humans if not cooked properly,” said Calderon.

While he said the Philippines allow trading of wild animals to a certain extent, these are guided by international treaties and agreement, such as CITES, or Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, of which the Philippines is a signatory.

“We allow trading being member of CITES. But others are circumventing the law. No quarantine procedure, no sanitary permit. No meat inspection. No phytosanitary….

This is really unregulated,” Calderon lamented.

Worse, he said, it causes the extinction of species and added that illegal hunting also causes habitat destruction. “Instead of increasing number, illegal hunting cause our threatened species to go extinct, and it also destroys habitats,” he added.

The Philippine celebration of the World Wildlife Day on March 3 highlighted the government’s effort to curb illegal-wildlife trade.

WWD marks the day the landmark Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was adopted in 1973.

This year’s theme is “Sustaining all life on Earth.”

The annual celebration, which started in 2014 following the declaration by the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 2013, aims to raise awareness on endangered animal and plant species, and ways to fight wildlife crime. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Other officials invited to the meeting were the intelligence chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, officials from the five police districts of Metro Manila, the military’s Joint Task Force NCR, the NDRRMC and the DOH. The meeting scheduled at 1 p.m. on Thursday was confirmed by PNP Deputy chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

“One of the items to be discussed is the lockdown scenario if ever there is a need to do it. It’s just for planning,” Eleazar said.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said that if ever a lockdown would be imposed in any area, they would just restrict the movement of people.

Public reaction

THE spread of an impending lockdown on social media, however, apparently fanned public anxiety, prompting a second day of panic buying in supermarkets—with long lines to cashier booths running to an average 60 to 90 minutes wait for many—as well as drug stores. Some bank officers worried that the lockdown talk would also spur panic withdrawals.

No extreme measure

DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, in a news statement, believes the media is partly to be blamed for the panic buying for using the word

lockdown.

He explained that when the word lockdown is used, it means that people are confined in one area, or place, and they are not allowed to leave by authorities, which is not the case.

“That’s why the word lockdown is usually used in relation to prisoners.

So when China declared a lockdown in Wuhan, its citizens are not allowed to leave [the city] and the highways were closed. That’s a lockdown,” he said.

According to Malaya, a lockdown is an “extreme measure,” which may be adopted “if we are already on Code Red Sublevel 2 when we have contained community transmission.”

“But since we don’t have those conditions yet, there is no compelling reason to place any place under lockdown,” he said.

Malaya said that when a building, or a compound, is closed for disinfection, it is not under lockdown.

“That only means that the building, compound or place is closed and, therefore, we should accurately describe it as such. It’s just closed,” he said.

Malaya said the constant use of the word lockdown has triggered panic buying and other unnecessary acts brought about by fear.

While the DILG and PNP are ready to implement a lockdown, he clarified that the situation on the ground does not warrant its enforcement or implementation.

A4 Friday, March 13, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

DOT says govt rehab efforts on Boracay Island ‘on track’

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

B

ORACAY ISLAND, Aklan— Government’s rehabilitation efforts for this key Philippine destination, known as among the best beaches in the world, is on track.

That was the statement of Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation Arturo P. Boncato Jr. at a news briefing during the turnover of emergency equipment and medical supplies to the island on Thursday at the Movenpick Resort & Spa. “ T he Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force has a life of two years given the executive order,” he said. “...[And] our inter-agency task has committed to accomplish certain milestones within that two-year period. Phase 2 of the road network construction, coming from Seawind (in Station 1) to Barangay Yapak to where we are (Movenpick) it’s supposed to be completed by the end of the validity of the task force (April 26, 2020). And based on the report of our partner, the DPWH (Department of Public Works And Highways), we are on track.”

Boracay was closed for six months in 2018 for the rehabilitation efforts.

He added, “The infrastructure of the Department of Tourism [DOT] [through] Tieza [Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority] is…investing in the drainage system, but it’s done in parallel with the road network of the DPWH. Based on the plan of commitment, that too will be finished before the validity of the task force,” Boncato said.

“…The road network in Boracay is so much better and much appreciated.

When the road construction was just being started, people were complaining about the roads and ditches, the water, the flooding, but when you see the result, it erases everything. This is exactly the vision of the task force, to offer the best kind of experience to the tourists and locals.” —Boncato

He noted that “the road network in Boracay is so much better and much appreciated. When the road construction was just being started, people were complaining about the roads and ditches, the water, the flooding, but when you see the result, it erases everything. This is exactly the vision of the task force, to offer the best kind of experience to the tourists and locals,” Boncato remarked.

But interviews by the BusinessMirror with several island residents indicated the rehabilitation and improvements have been sluggish, and that the construction of the road network, lighting of Bulabog beach, closure of ditches were only fast-tracked in the last few weeks, because President Duterte was supposed to visit on Thursday. (See, “Govt agencies rush projects for Duterte arrival,” in the BusinessMirror, March 11, 2020.)

Boncato also disclosed that arrivals in Boracay Island have dropped to about 1,000 a day starting March, from an average of 5,600 last year, due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. “That is a decrease that is real, that is why we are responding to it. But this is

not exclusive to Boracay. You know this is happening globally. And the other strategy we are looking at, is improving the product itself....

And what we are doing today, is just that [turnover of medical supplies and emergency equipment], making sure that when everything has been solved, when you come back to Boracay, we have all the systems in place. From the destination’s medical services will be much better than it used to be.”

Meanwhile, foundations under the Manuel V. Pangilinan Group of Cos. donated hospital equipment, medical supplies and satellite phones to the island, through a memorandum of agreement with the DOT. Marge M. Barro, executive director of the Makati Medical Center Foundation, said her institution is “working to strengthen hospitals via skills upgrade.” She said they are working to help Ciriaco Tirol Hospital, currently at infirmary level, to receive any patient such as trauma cases, and make it a tertiary level 1 hospital.

Also, automated hand sanitizers stations will be installed around the jetty port for tourists. The PLDT Smart Foundation will also donate about 60 satellite phones to help the DOT in disaster preparedness and recovery.

Foundation President Esther O. Santos said these satellite phones would be pre-loaded, with three phones initially turned over to Boracay. The DOT will identify the other destinations that will receive the phones.

Barro emphasized, “The virus really doesn’t thrive under the sun. So please don’t be scared to go to the beaches, but of course, always take safety precautions.”

www.businessmirror.com.ph

NWRB hikes water allocation for NCR

T

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

HE National Water Resources Board (NWRB) will increase the water allocation for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)—from the current 42 cubic meters per second to 46 cms beginning today, Friday, to ensure a steady supply of water for Metro Manila residents.

Sevillo David, executive director of the NWRB, in a text message, said the move is in light of the declaration of the state of public health emergency and the importance of water in undertaking the preventive measures against the coronavirus disease

2019, or Covid-19.

He also assured the public that there will be adequate water that would last throughout the year.

“The NWRB is assuring that water will be sustainably available throughout the whole year. The pub-

lic is similarly asked to avoid wastage and to use water responsibly,” David said in a text message.

In an earlier interview, David said the water level at Angat as of January failed to reach the 212 meters above sea level mark, which will compel the NWRB to further adjust water allocation if the dry season continues to deprive Angat Dam the much-needed replenishment.

NWRB is working closely with the country’s water bureau, which he said gave an encouraging forecast for rain in the next few months.

Asked if there will be sufficient water considering the increased demand for water during the dry season, he said: “as per our scenarios and Pagasa’s [Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration] climate projection, there’s sufficient supply to address water need for the next months.”

ADB opens $200-M loan fund for pharma firms

F

IRMS involved in the manufacture and distribution of medicines and other items can tap into a $200million fund from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help them cope and cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in their business.

In a news statement, ADB said the fund will be made available through its Supply Chain Finance Program provided to selected companies manufacturing and distributing medicines, and protective equipment within weeks.

The support from ADB, working in partnership with commercial banks, will provide such companies in Asia and the Pacific with additional working capital to meet expansion and other requirements.

“The support will target companies in the supply chain that are critical to fighting the virus,” said ADB’s Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance Steven

Beck. “We’re looking to support companies that want to ramp up production and, therefore, need to engage suppliers.”

Given that a single pool of supply chain finance is typically used for a subsequent delivery over a period of 120 to 180 days, the $200-million facility could support more than $400 million of financing over the next 12 months.

ADB said there is a 50-50 risk sharing from partner commercial banks could boost support under the facility to $800 million over the same period. The Manila-based multilateral development bank is closely monitoring the impact of Covid-19 on trade finance and is in regular contact with client banks to assess whether additional support is required.

Meanwhile, staff at the ADB headquarters are temporarily working from home following advice that a visitor to the bank has tested positive for the virus.

The ADB headquarters facility was

closed on Thursday to undertake cleaning and disinfecting. Bank operations will continue. ADB management will make a decision in coming days on when to reopen the bank premises. “The safety of staff, visitors to the bank, and their families is of utmost importance to us.

We are providing support to staff who interacted with the visitor,” said ADB Vice President for Administration and Corporate Management Deborah Stokes.

ADB’s response to Covid-19 to date has reached $4 million for China and the Greater Mekong Subregion, as well as the rest of its developing member-countries.

It has also extended a CNY130 million or $18.6 million worth of private sector loan, signed on February 25, to Wuhan, China-based pharmaceutical distributor Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. to support the continued supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment. Cai U. Ordinario

Bayer bares plan to enter Mindanao corn seed market

B

AYER Philippines Inc. (Bayer) said it plans to penetrate the Mindanao market by promoting genetically modified (GM) corn that is known to be resistant to the devastating fall armyworm (FAW), a company official said.

Bayer Head of Communications and Public Affairs & Sustainability Bryan Rivera said the multinational is eyeing to expand its presence in Mindanao corn seed market, which is currently absent.

The venture comes after Bayer has completed its local integration with Monsanto Philippines Inc. following its global acquisition in 2018.

“For a long time, I believe we did not have a corn presence in Mindanao even during the time of Monsanto. The reason for that, is it is challenging to come up with a corn seed product for that market,” Rivera told reporters in an interview on Wednesday.

Rivera explained that compared to

Luzon, Mindanao is more susceptible to pests due to its weather conditions.

Rivera said they are optimistic that they will be able to get a substantial portion of the Mindanao market as they are banking to convert corn farmers in the region to use their FAW-resistant seed variety.

“The plan is to aggressively launch two products this year. The advantage of these products is that they are adoptable in all conditions in Mindanao and the only products approved by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority [FPA] for control against FAW,” he said.

“We have an official document that we are the only pesticide-incorporated plant that has approval for control of FAW,” he added.

Rivera is optimistic that corn growers in Mindanao would shift to using Bayer GM corn seeds to combat the devastating FAW as they want to minimize potential losses from the pest. Aside

from their FAW-resistance, Rivera said the seed varieties are also high yielding at an average of 11 metric tons to 14 MT per hectare and their market price is the same as the non-FAW resistance seeds sold in the market today.

Rivera noted that the FAW is capable of destroying as much as 50 percent of the farmers’ yield.

With their seed varieties, Rivera said corn growers could save as much as P6,000 per hectare since they will not anymore need to spray pesticide against FAW. Aside from the corn seed varieties, Rivera disclosed that they will also introduce in Mindanao a crop protection product that would protect sweet corn and white corn against FAW. Mindanao is the country’s top corn-growing island region accounting for more than half of the country’s

annual output at an average of 4 million MT. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

CSC cancels eight licensure exams in March, April amid virus pandemic

M

ORE government events were canceled as authorities stepped up measures to stop the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Upon the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) canceled eight of its scheduled licensure exams originally set from March 15 to April 27.

The affected events include the Qualifying Assessment for Foreign Medical Professionals (March 14, 2020); Physician Licensure Examination (March 15 and 16, 2020); Medical Technologists Licensure Examination (March 18 and 19, 2020); Licensure Examination for Professional

Teachers (March 29, 2020); Licensure Examination for Electronic Engineers and Electronic Technicians (April 1 to 3, 2020); Licensure Examination for Midwives (April 5 and 6, 2020); Licensure Examination for Registered Electrical Engineers and Registered Master Electricians (April 14 to 16, 2020); and the Licensure Examination for Pharmacists (April 26 and 27, 2020).

“Announcement on the new schedules of the affected licensure examinations will be posted on the PRC web site and/or PRC social-media accounts,” the commission said.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) earlier announced the suspension of the scheduled pen and paper test Civil Service Exams, which was supposed to be

held on March 15, also due to Covid-19 in 66 testing sites nationwide.

The suspension affected 295,711 examiners. Of which 253,811 were supposed to take the Professional Level exam, while the remaining 41,900 were going to attempt to pass the Sub-professional test. CSC said the affected examiners can get additional information from the CSC’s Public Assistance Center at (02) 8951-2575 or 8951-2576, as well as visit its official web site.

On Tuesday, the Commission on Elections also temporarily suspended its nationwide voter registration in “response to the growing threat to public health” of Covid-19.

The voter registration is set to resume on March 31, 2020. Samuel P. Medenilla

The World BusinessMirror

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

Friday, March 13, 2020

A5

WHO declares Covid-19 a pandemic

G

ENEVA—The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic and urged aggressive action from all countries to fight it, as US stocks plunged into bear market territory and several American cities joined global counterparts in banning large gatherings.

By using the charged word “pandemic” after shying away from calling it so earlier, the UN health agency sought to shock lethargic countries into pulling out all the stops.

“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,” WHO’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

“All countries can still change the course of this pandemic. If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response,” he said. “We are deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction.”

After downplaying the threat of the virus for days, President

Donald Trump announced in an Oval Office address he is sharply restricting European passenger travel to the US and moving to ease the pandemic’s economic costs.

The NBA became the first major American sports league to suspend play, which raised questions about college basketball ’s championships, which for now will be played without fans attending. In Italy, soccer club Juventus said defender Daniele Rugani tested positive.

Iran and Italy are the new front lines of the fight against the virus that started in China, the WHO said. “ T h e y ’r e s u f f e r i n g b u t I g uarantee you ot her countr ies w i l l be in t hat situation soon,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, the W HO’s emergenc ies c h ief.

SCANDINAVIA IN LOCKDOWN AFTER SPIKE IN VIRUS CASES

D

ENMARK’S government is taking the drastic step of closing down all state schools and telling workers to stay at home, while Norway is shutting its borders to places worst hit by the coronavirus. In Sweden, the first fatality has prompted the government to warn of even tougher measures ahead.

“We’re in uncharted territory here,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at an emergency press briefing convened late on Wednesday.

“We’ve never tried anything like this before.”

The Danish government is telling all citizens to do what they can to isolate themselves to prevent the virus from bringing down the country’s health-care system. State schools will remain shut for two weeks from Monday, but pupils have been instructed to stay home from Thursday.

The decree came not long after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic, and urged governments to step up their efforts to fight the contagion. The number of cases across the Nordic region jumped sharply on Wednesday, with Norway, Sweden and Denmark together now having registered about 1,500 people with the virus.

“A l l p r i v a t e - s e c t o r e m p l o y e r s a r e encouraged to ensure that as many employees as possible are able to work from home,” Frederiksen said. “We need to limit activity in society as much as possible, without letting

our society grind to a halt.” All state-sector employees are being forced to stay home, though emergency personnel will continue to perform their duties, she said.

Sweden and Norway have banned public gatherings of more than 500 people, while in Denmark groups of more than 100 people are now being discouraged. The decree has hit corporate annual general meetings, with the country’s biggest lender, Danske Bank, announcing it doesn’t want shareholders to attend its March 17 AGM. To help companies cope with the fallout of the virus, Denmark has agreed to about $20 billion in tax breaks. In Sweden, the government of Prime Minister Stefan Lofven is exploring an increasing palette of stimulus measures to shield exporters from any damage the virus causes to trade.

In Norway, authorities said on Wednesday they now expect a “relatively sharp increase” in the number of cases, after registering a 77 percent spike to 489 people infected with the virus.

“We expect more hospitalization in the days and weeks ahead, and also gradually a higher number of intensive-care patients,” the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s Director General Camilla Stoltenberg said at a press conference. “We must also expect deaths in the time ahead.” Bloomberg News

Oil resumes drop after Trump limits travel from Europe to US

O

IL resumed declines after President Donald Trump said the US would restrict travel from Europe for the next 30 days to try and contain the coronavirus, pummeling fuel demand even further.

Futures in London fell as much as 7 percent after being up shortly before Trump began a highly anticipated address on the White House’s response to the virus. The president also called on Congress to pass immediate payroll tax relief, but he stopped short of offering a detailed economic rescue package.

The briefing failed to soothe broader markets, with the global stock rout deepening.

Crude has lost around a quarter of its value this week as the deteriorating demand outlook due to the virus, which the World Health Organization has now deemed a pandemic, coincides with a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. The battle for oil market share intensified on Wednesday

as Saudi Aramco announced plans to boost oil production capacity to 13 million barrels a day and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. vowed to pump as much as possible next month.

“We are now staring at the whole world going into a lockdown,” said Vandana Hari, founder of energy consultancy Vanda Insights in Singapore.

“Oil demand can be expected to crash through the floor and all previous projections on oil consumption are now out the door.”

As demand craters, Saudi Arabia is unleashing a wave of crude on Europe, traditionally the backyard for Russian sales, pledging to supply refineries with as much as triple their usual intake from the kingdom. Russia’s low production costs, flexible tax system and free-floating ruble means its producers are able to respond, analysts from Bank of America Corp. to Raiffeisenbank said.

Bloomberg News

For the global economy, virus repercussions were profound, with increasing concerns of wealth- and job-wrecking recessions. US stocks wiped out more than all the gains from a huge rally a day earlier as Wall Street continued to reel.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,464 points, bringing it 20 percent below its record set last month and putting it in what Wall Street calls a “bear market.”

The broader S&P 500 is just 1 percentage point away from falling into bear territory and bringing to an end one of the greatest runs in Wall Street’s history.

WHO officials said they thought long and hard about labeling the crisis a pandemic—defined as sustained outbreaks in multiple regions of the world.

The risk of employing the term, Ryan said, is “if people use it as an excuse to give up.” But the benefit is “potentially of galvanizing the world to fight.”

Underscoring the mounting challenge: soaring numbers in the US and Europe’s status as the new epicenter of the pandemic.

While Italy exceeds 12,000 cases and the United States has topped 1,300, China reported a record low of just 15 new cases on Thursday and three-fourths of its infected patients have recovered.

China’s totals of 80,793 cases and 3,169 deaths are a shrink-

ing portion of the world ’s more than 126,000 infections and 4,600 deaths.

“If you want to be blunt, Europe is the new China,” said Robert Redfield, the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With 12,462 cases and 827 deaths, Italy said all shops and businesses except pharmacies and grocery stores would be closed beginning Thursday and designated billions in financial relief to cushion economic shocks in its latest efforts to adjust to the fast-evolving crisis that silenced the usually bustling heart of the Catholic faith, St. Peter’s Square.

In Iran, by far the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, the senior vice president and two other Cabinet ministers were reported to have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Iran reported another jump in deaths, by 62 to 354—behind only China and Italy.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said it was necessary to “go another step’’ in toughening the already unprecedented travel and social restrictions that took effect on Tuesday by shuttering pubs, restaurants, hair salons, cafeterias and other businesses that can’t operate with a meter (yard) of space between workers and customers.

“In this moment, all the world is looking at us for the num-

ber of infections, but also...see great resistance,” Conte said on Facebook Live.

These measures are on top of travel and social restrictions that imposed an eerie hush on cities and towns across the country.

Still, the effectiveness of travel restrictions and quarantines will likely drop substantially as Covid-19 spreads globally, making it impossible for countries to keep out the virus. Health officials will also need to be more flexible in their coordinated response efforts, as the epicenters are likely to shift quickly and dramatically.

For most, the coronav ir us causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia. But the vast majority recover: People with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while more severe illness may take three to six weeks, WHO says.

In the Mideast, most of the nearly 10,000 cases are in Iran or involve people who traveled there.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency said they include Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri. Iran’s ministers for cultural heritage, handcrafts and tourism, and for industry, mines and business were also infected, the agency said.

The United States snapped to attention with its spreading caseload and the impact of canceled events. The NCAA said it would play March Madness with no fans, and the NBA said it would suspend its season until further notice. Cities canceled St. Patrick’s Day parades, and several colleges shut down. Actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson said they had the virus. He had been working in Australia when they felt ill with slight fevers, his statement said.

Officials in Seattle announced that public schools would close for about 53,000 students and large gatherings were banned in San Francisco and in Washington state, the hardest-hit US state, with 29 deaths.

T he v irus upended the US presidential campaign, with US Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders canceling rallies and leaving open the possibility that future campaign events could be impacted. Trump’s campaign insisted it would proceed as normal, although Vice President Mike Pence conceded future rallies would be evaluated “on a day to day basis.”

And at a Congressional hearing in Washington Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, sounded an alarm: “Bottom line, it’s going to get worse.” AP

Facing virus outbreak, Trump’s tactics fall short N E W YORK—The esc alating coronavirus crisis is presenting Pre s i d e nt D o n a l d Tru m p w i t h a challenge for which he appears ill equipped, his favorite political tactics ineffective and his reelection chances in jeopardy.

A rare crisis battering the White House that is not of the president’s own making, the spreading coronavirus has panicked global financial markets and alarmed Americans, many of whom have turned to the Oval Office for guidance and reassurances. But what they have found is a president struggling for a solution, unable to settle Wall Street and proving particularly vulnerable to a threat that is out of his control.

In an address to the nation on Wednesday night, Trump announced a sweeping travel ban for much of Europe as well as a package of proposals to help steady the teetering economy. But he continued to play down the severity of the situation, painting it as a foreign threat that soon will be banished rather than focusing on managing the growing number of cases at home.

“This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history,” Trump declared.

Addressing the economic costs, he added, “This is not a financial crisis, this is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.”

But the virus has appeared impervious to the president’s bluster.

The virus does not have a Twitter account and, unlike so many previous Trump foes, is resistant to political bullying or Republican Party solidarity.

It has preyed on his lack of curiosity and fears of germs while exposing divides and inadequacies within senior levels of his administration. It has taken away Trump’s favorite political tool, his rallies, from which he draws energy and coveted voter information.

And eight months from Election Day, it has endangered his best reelection argument—a strong economy—just as Joe Biden, the candidate emerging from the Democratic field, seems poised to take advantage of a political landscape upended by the virus.

“Crises of varying degrees produce fascinating and often consequential elections: Think 1860, 1932, 1968, 2008.

PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump speaks in an address to the nation from the Oval Office at the White House about the coronavirus on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Washington. DOUG MILLS/THE NEW YORK TIMES VIA AP

Such races turn on questions of chaos versus order and favor the candidate who seems to offer the best chance of bringing order to the country in times of uncertainty,” said presidential historian Jon Meacham. “What’s interesting about those examples is that incumbents, or candidates of the incumbent party, lost all of them.”

One of Trump’s most potent political assets is his ability to read a room, or a moment, often eschewing long-term planning for instantaneous reaction.

But he was slow to come to grips with the threat posed by the coronavirus as it exploded in China, distracted by impeachment and unwilling to scare the markets by stirring panic or upsetting his trading partner in Beijing, Xi Jinping.

The virus first spooked Trump while he was in India two weeks ago, as a 1,000-point drop on Wall Street caused him to pepper aides with questions about the markets even as he was feted in New Delhi. But after he returned to the states, Trump continued to play down the virus, lashing into officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, for talking up the possible severity of the threat. He urged other aides, including Kellyanne Conway and senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow, to go on television and preach confidence, according to five White House officials and Republicans close to the White House. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations.

And as he has so often done before, Trump believed that through his force of will and ability to dominate a news cycle,

he could alleviate the crisis, taking to both Twitter and the White House briefing room podium to dismiss the threat.

“It will go away, just stay calm,” Trump said on Tuesday after visiting Capitol Hill.

“Be calm. It’s really working out. And a lot of good things are going to happen.”

The markets, unlike traditional political foes, have not listened.

And while Trump deemed the media coverage of the virus “a hoax” meant to create hysteria and tank his poll numbers, it is a harder sell to ask his supporters to dismiss media reports when they see people in their own communities getting sick, schools closing and local drug stores unable to keep hand sanitizer on the shelves.

Infighting erupted within the administration, as Trump blamed and then sidelined Azar, relegating the health secretary to a secondary role behind Vice President Mike Pence on the coronavirus task force. But while Trump empowered Pence and respected medical professionals to take the lead on briefings, he ignored his advisers’ advice to let the vice president be the public face of the administration’s response, according to the officials.

Unable to cede the spotlight, Trump spoke extemporaneously to reporters at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Friday, requiring the vice president, who addressed the media in Washington moments later, to correct the president’s misstatements about the availability of testing kits and the fate of a cruise ship filled with coronavirus patients.

It was only on Monday, as he was flying from Florida back to Washington, that the

economic severity of the crisis hit home for Trump, according to three of the officials and advisers.

In one cabin on Air Force One, Matt Gaetz, a Florida GOP congressman who had accompanied Trump to a series of Orlando fundraisers, had isolated himself after learning he’d come into contact with someone infected by the virus. And on the TV in Trump’s aircraft office, Fox News was broadcasting dire graphics illustrating the single worst day for stock markets since the 2008 financial crisis.

By the time the plane touched down at Joint Base Andrews, Trump told aides he would change tactics and propose a broad economic stimulus to reassure investors. But the fate of his plan, which included a suspension of the payroll tax, remained unclear as the week went on and the markets’ roller coaster ride continued.

“I think that in many ways this has made Trump a wartime president,” said former campaign communications director Jason Miller. “This virus has no borders, doesn’t discern between allies and foes and attacked the nation’s health security and economic security. It is going to take continued bold action from the president.”

After surviving impeachment, Trump has in earnest remade his White House staff to focus on reelection, prioritizing loyalty over experience. Increasingly focused on his campaign, Trump pushed aides to continue scheduling massive rallies, even as his Democratic foes had begun canceling theirs.

But late Wednesday, the White House announced that a trip to Colorado and Nevada had been cancelled. At least for now, no rallies were scheduled as a means to blunt the momentum of his likely general election foe, Biden, who offers himself as someone uniquely positioned to respond to the coronavirus.

A s vice president, B iden helped manage the Ebola outbreak and has long shown an ability to comfort rattled voters. Moreover, the Trump campaign believes that scuttling normal political activity benefits Biden, who tends to draw small rally crowds and has had some eyebrow-raising moments when interacting with voters.

“This is something that doesn’t hurt and probably actually helps Joe Biden,” said Eric Trump, the president’s son and frequent campaign surrogate. “This works for him on all fronts.” AP

A6

Friday, March 13, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Covid-19: Follow the advice

O

N January 30th, two cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Chinese tourists visiting the northern Italian area of Lombardy where the city of Milan is located. The region has a population of approximately 10 million, with the secondmost populous city in Italy after Rome—Milan—holding some 4 million.

Six weeks later, the entire nation is on lockdown with virtually all businesses closed. The Italian coronavirus cases surged from hundreds to thousands within two weeks, from a few hundred in the third week of February to more than 3,000 in the first week of March and crossed 10,000 on March 10. Currently 12,000 cases are confirmed.

On March 8, the Italian government announced quarantine of the affected regions in the northern part of the country to avoid spread to the rest of the country. Within two days, the quarantine was extended to the whole of Italy, as Covid-19 cases were detected across the country.

The number of fatalities is over 800 and mortality rate in Lombardy has hit 8 percent, higher than in Wuhan, China.

Italy currently has the highest number of cases in Europe, as well as outside China. Further, confirmed Covid-19 cases in at least 27 countries can be traced to either people visiting Italy or Italians visiting those nations.

Milan is a widely popular destination, after Rome and Venice, and is one of the world’s four fashion capitals. The Lombardy region accounts for more than 20 percent of the total Italian economic output. There is large foreign community, including at last count some 58,000 Filipinos.

Milan is well known in Europe for its nightlife and more or less institutionalized the “Happy Hour.” The “Milanese nightlife” spans from about 11 p.m. until 4 in the morning.

The reason we mention this is because reports from Milan locals say that, at the beginning, people did not take the virus nor the health department warnings seriously.

Social activities were not curtailed and life went on as usual, until it didn’t. The results of treating the Covid-19 outbreak as someone else’s problem that required no personal lifestyle change or responsibility could be disastrous.

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.

If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Actually carrying and using alcohol is probably the easiest thing you can do.

Stay away from close contact with other people. It is like this idea: when you have sexual relations with someone, you are having relations with the people that your partner was with before.

We are told only to wear a mask if we are coughing or sneezing. We prefer to wear a mask to avoid being coughed or sneezed on by someone who is not wearing a mask. Before putting on a mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands again.

Covid-19 is not the end of the world, but it must be taken seriously.

Just ask the Italians.

Follow the health professional’s advice. Do not be casual about this, not only for your own personal benefit but also for the health of the Philippines.

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

The economics of Covid-19 John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

W

HILE personal caution is critical, it is difficult to separate the fact from the fiction about Covid-19.

For ordinary people like you and me, trying to pin down the important factors is almost impossible.

What are the odds of contracting the virus if you come in close contact with an infected person?

How severe will the illness be if you do catch it? What are the chances of dying?

Compounding the scientific information gap is that the global media is fueling hysteria with the same enthusiasm as if they discovered there was a “Buy 1, Take 1” promo at the nearest nude bar or brothel.

The political opposition—read losers in the last election—in many countries are convinced that Covid-19 has been sent from heaven to overturn the last election or at least sway the next if this viral outbreak lasts long enough.

Speaking of the potential time frame for a return to some normality, history gives some clues.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was first discovered in February 2003 right here in Asia.

The outbreak lasted approximately for six months as the disease spread to more than two dozen countries in North and South America, Europe and around Asia before it stopped in July 2003.

Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus was first identified in September 2012 with 2,494 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection. The fatality rate was 34 percent. MERS stopped in June 2013. There was a second

Addressing Covid-19 in the Philippines

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder Publisher Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor

Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

Online Editor

Ruben M. Cruz Jr.

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

Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes Judge Pedro T. Santiago (Ret.) Benjamin V. Ramos Adebelo D. Gasmin Marvin Nisperos Estigoy Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025.

(Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807.

(Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news@businessmirror.com.ph.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Printed by BROWN MADONNA Press, Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila MEMBER OF

BETTER DAYS

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

Sonny M. Angara

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

outbreak in May 2015 in South Korea and the government estimated that the outbreak ended in July 2015.

Since Covid-19, SARS, and MERS are all coronaviruses—and discounting the latest conspiracy theory— despite all the gloom and doom, we should see this subside probably no later than July 2020. It clearly spreads easier and faster than SARS or MERS, but it is about on a par with the version of influenza that mutates each year. Keep your fingers crossed that Covid-19 peaks out in April or May. On the economic front, parallels are being drawn to the global financial crisis of 2008. That is not accurate.

All economies function based on supply and demand for goods and services. This is not about prices. The 2008 crisis was one of a demand shortage as the initial housing crisis stopped consumer spending. Lack of spending (or demand) forced “suppliers” to reduce production, which created job losses, further reducing demand. Economic stimulus in various forms helped spur demand and, eventually, equilibrium returned.

However, this Covid-19 situation,

O

NE of the risks of having an interconnected world is that a serious concern in one part of the world can easily spread to another. This certainly is the case with Covid-19, the new coronavirus strain. Given how fast it has spread, it was only a matter of time before local cases would appear, given the number of people who travel in and out of our country regularly.

However, it is certainly not the time to panic, especially in the face of an overabundance of information, both accurate and otherwise. It is best to let the Department of Health (DOH) be our primary source for updates in the Philippines, and the World Health Organization for news everywhere else on the matter.

This is why recently, I advised the DOH to be transparent in reporting local updates, and for the appropriate government agencies to assist in disseminating information about local cases, safety precautions, and other related information, such as the use of social distancing, which are community guidelines for social interaction.

I would have to say, too, that as the

chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, all agencies involved in containing the disease should make known if they need any budgetary adjustments to pursue their efforts in minimizing the impact of the coronavirus. Thankfully, there are funds in the 2020 General Appropriations Act that can be used. If these are not enough, then the DOH and other agencies must tell us immediately, so we can study how we can allocate more funds to this serious matter.

Thankfully, we have mechanisms in place that can streamline the process. The Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, or Republic Act 11332 allows for the funds from other involved agencies, such as those for agricultural,

veterinarians, environmental agencies, law enforcement entities, and transportation and communication agencies may be used to address issues related to the Covid-19 outbreak. The consultation for the law’s implementing rules and regulations are still ongoing. Hopefully, Covid-19 will speed up matters.

On PhilHealth’s side, Circular 2020-004, released on February 10 this year, has specified that P14,000 will be released per individual—or patients under investigation (PUI)— as an added isolation package, and P4,000 for the initial management, stabilization, and proper transit of the patient to the referral hospital.

Alternatively, existing case rate packages, such as P32,000 for Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ICD Code J80) and other applicable packages can be claimed instead of the isolation package. Furthermore, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles recently gave assurances that PhilHealth will also cover the testing costs for Covid-19.

Such developments should be well communicated, if only to get more people to have themselves tested.

Any widespread effort to contain the virus would be for naught if ordinary citizens are themselves not transparent about their condition.

The Covid-19 is, without a doubt, difficult to contain. With its long incubation period, and ability to

as illustrated in China, is affecting both supply and demand equally and concurrently. Therefore, it is much more serious. Giving money to factories to produce products does no good if consumers are locked in their homes. Likewise, handing out money to consumers to buy products is worthless if people cannot get to their jobs at the goods producing factories.

Therefore, the worst-case scenario is that government action, including lower interest rates—possibly going negative in the US—will not have any substantial positive effect.

“Japanification” when low interest rates fail to provide economic growth is the worst-case fear.

Ultimately, the key to Covid-19 both health-wise and economically is the question of how long the viral crisis lasts. The clock is ticking and let’s pray that it is ticking toward the end of the virus.

(Editor’s note: This column should have been published on Thursday, March 12, 2020).

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

make its host infectious without showing any symptoms, it can cause chaos not with its fatality rate, but mostly because of the potential for widespread infection before a virus carrier finally becomes sick and is identified. Even worse, it presents itself with symptoms that are easily mistaken for the common cold, influenza or pneumonia. It has the potential to hit home for familyoriented Filipinos, as those most susceptible to it are our elders, and those who have medical issues, such as hypertension, heart problems and diabetes.

This outbreak presents the country with an opportunity to finally come up with protocols for health events that can seriously affect our local communities, and our economy. We should keep ourselves properly informed. Now is not the time to lose our nerve and give in to panic induced by too much information. What we should be doing now is internalize health precautions that will protect us and make sure that our loved ones will learn to be careful, too.

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.

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, March 13, 2020

A7

On the edge of desperation Singing and writing plagues Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

Tito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

SERVANT LEADER

B

ROTHERS and sisters, the 10-hour hostage taking by a security guard in a San Juan City mall last week was alarming.

Armed with a gun and a grenade, the hostage-taker held some 55 people captive—most of them being mall employees. He only set his hostages free after the heads of the security agency that fired him apologized. The security agency said that it did not take away the hostage-taker’s job; it only transferred him to another location.

Many of us cannot sympathize with the former guard. If he lost his job, people say he could still find another one and he has no reason to endanger the lives of others just so he can express his grievances. Cruelty can never be justified, but if we broaden our understanding on what happened and leave out our perception of this incident as if it’s part of an “action-packed drama,” we get to see the cruel experiences suffered by the former security guard. We do not condone hostage taking, but let us not consent to the abuse that ordinary Filipino workers, like him, have to go through.

If we recall from the news reports, one of the former guard’s wishes is for the superiors of the security agency that employed him to apologize and ask for his forgiveness because of the way they treat him like trash—thrown away after being used. He also challenged his former superiors to resign, in his desire for them to experience how it feels to lose a job. Again, if we broaden our understanding, most likely he was pushed by his desperation, but any attempt to harm other people is the wrong approach. It is easy for most of us to condemn those who are forced for place the law in their hands—like the hostage-taker in Greenhills—because we don’t know what hopelessness means for someone who lost his job. Surely, many people like him experience the same situation wherein their lives, as well as their families’ lives, are placed at the mercy of employers. Nobody wants to lose his or her livelihood.

The country’s employment system is truly unfair to people who have no other means in life but their

livelihood, especially those who have no education, and those without influence who live at the fringes of society. They are the workers who can be retrenched anytime, when business slows down.

In the encyclical Caritas in veritate, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said that violating the dignity of human work results to poverty, and this happens because work opportunities are limited or because a low value is put on work and the rights that flow from it— such is the case of this poor security guard. These circumstances transgress not only the rights of the workers for just wages, but also their right to their personal security, including members of their families. According to the book of Sirach 34:26-27, “To take away a neighbor’s living is to commit murder; to deprive an employee of wages is to shed blood. When one builds and another tears down, what do they gain but hard work?”

Brothers and sisters, although the employment rate in our country is getting high—almost 95 percent in 2019—this does not guarantee humane treatment of our workers.

Many of them still lose their jobs because of ending five-month contracts. Again, we are not saying that the hostage-taker’s actions are just, but we should see that incident as an eye-opener. We should all start treating poor workers with dignity.

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.

Bank of England and UK show how to deal with virus

By Mohamed A. El-Erian Bloomberg Opinion

D

ESPITE losing an empire and the sterling as the world’s reserve currency, the United Kingdom managed for years to punch well above its weight on international economic and financial issues, often critically informing and influencing key decisions and policy pivots. The policy announcements by the Bank of England and the UK Treasury on Wednesday suggest that this is still possible despite concerns about the unintended negative consequences of Brexit. In the process, they have set an important example for other central banks.

Let’s start with the Bank of England.

In an emergency meeting responding to the cascading supply and demand destruction caused by the coronavirus—not to mention the fear, unusual uncertainty, economic paralysis and balance sheet pressures—the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee followed counterparts in Canada and the US by cutting its key rate by 50 basis points, to 0.25 percent from 0.75 percent, and joining in a “whatever it takes” narrative. But unlike other central banks, it didn’t stop there. In addition to relaxing the countercyclical buffer requirement imposed by banks, it did two notable things that I argued earlier the European Central Bank should do.

First, the Bank of England deployed measures targeting small and midsize businesses to specifically relieve pressures that would undermine growth and expose to harm some of the vulnerable segments of the population. Second, it signaled it was coordinating its actions with the UK Treasury, or what I refer to as a “whole of government” response.

Later on Wednesday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced £30 billion ($34 billion) of fiscal stimulus. He also pledged to spend £600 billion by 2025 on a huge infrastructure program.

Such actions are an important step both in designing a policy response to the particularly tricky challenges posed by the economic sudden stops caused by the coronavirus and in starting to pave a better path for enhanced productivity and growth over time. They are part of the necessary comprehensive response, and not just because of the speed with which economic interactions are coming to a halt. Policy problems are compounded by the lack of good data—the current set of data releases are immediately outdated—policy tools ill-suited for the task at hand, ballooning demands for bailouts, lagging global policy coordination and political complications in some countries.

The best way of getting to a desired destination is to take the first few steps. The Bank of England showed on Wednesday how this can be done.

The blankets they give the Indians Only make them die From “Antonio’s Song”—By Michael Franks

H

IDDEN in the cool, breezy, and languid jazz of Michael Franks’ bossa nova are the sad lessons of colonization and mass murder. The Europeans came to the New World; they brought with them new faiths, new politics and new viruses.

It was called the “Columbian Exchange,” referring to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas and “the exchange of diseases, ideas, food, crops and populations between the New World and the Old World,” to borrow the words of Nathan Nunn and Nancy Qian.

In their paper, “The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas,” published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives (Volume 24, Number 2—Spring 2010) of Harvard, we learn about other sides of conquest and colonization. To be fair to the narrative, historian of economics would point out that colonization was not pure evil intention. For Nunn and Qian, the Columbian Exchange brought gains and losses: “European contact enabled the transmission of diseases to previously isolated communities, which caused devastation far exceeding that of even the “Black Death” in 14th-century Europe. Europeans brought deadly viruses and bacteria, such as smallpox, measles, typhus and cholera.” Unfortunately, the Native Americans, as histories would show, possessed no immunity against the new diseases.

The same paper would underscore the exchange trait in this point of history: “On their return home, European sailors brought syphilis to Europe.” We do not know how accurate the depiction of this exchange but syphilis would be the scourge that would alter the social fabric of Europe.

As this investigation would also prove, color-coding is not this century’s discovery. As early as the 1400s,

diseases and plagues were already given tones and hues. The Black Death referred to is the recently resurrected “bubonic plague,” an affliction caused by infected fleas attacking small animals, like the rodents.

The Columbian Exchange, by hindsight, does not look harmful anymore perhaps. But consider this: before the coming of the Europeans, Native Americans lived in an environment where there was no flu, no cholera, no typhus, no malaria, among the many other diseases that became the features of the health and sanitation landscape in the New World. Take note also that the same diseases would form the list of dreaded contagion identified with the underdeveloped world.

There was also the matter of depopulation. Quoting other sources, Nunn and Qian would write how it was estimated that more than 80 percent to 95 percent of the Native American population was wiped out within the first 100 to 150 years following the arrival of the Europeans in 1492. It was also documented that some 50 years following contact with Columbus and his crew, the native Taino population of the island of Hispaniola—presently found in the Caribbean and part of the Greater Antilles—which had an estimated population between 60,000 and 8 million, was virtually extinct. Even Central Mexico’s population went down from under 15 million in 1519 to about 1.5 million a century later, to cite an example.

If there was Columbian Exchange, was there also a “Magellanic Exchange?”

Abuses of colonizers have formed the staple historical news from states conquered and dominated by outside forces. Depopulation, however, remains a vague area of specialization, with the theme viewed as less exciting than the battles involving arms and ideas. But when depopulation is talked about between the Americas and the other areas, it is usually about the level of immunity the natives have formed in relation to the invading bodies.

In a book, Conquest and Pestilence in the Early Spanish Philippines, written by Linda A. Newson, the author mentions Southeast Asia as part of the Eurasian disease pool. This means that as trading between Southeast Asian territories increased, Old World diseases spread to the neighboring countries. In the process, the Southeast Asian region and its inhabitants, including the Philippines, managed to develop immunity to some of these contagions.

As Newson puts it, “the lower level of depopulation in the early colonial Philippines compared to the Americas is often attributed to its populations having acquired some immunity to Old World diseases, such as smallpox and measles, prior to Spanish arrival.”

Population density is also one of the factors to which is attributed the diminished spread of diseases, like cholera and dysentery, in pre- and Spanish Philippines. The fact that there are more than 7,000 islands in the archipelago makes the transmission of contamination difficult.

The level of development also had an impact on the spread of germs and viruses. In Newson’s study, it appears that water-borne enteric diseases like dysentery and typhoid fever,

came with the onset of agriculture and must have been present already in the region long before the arrival of the Spanish.

Newson also suggests that the presence of the words for worm infestations and severe diarrhea in early colonial Bicol, Visayan, Tagalog and Ilokano dictionaries indicate their prevalence. There are also data that could help us understand what is happening now in our cities in the book, Conquest and Pestilence in Early Spanish Philippines. There was the dispersed settlement pattern in early Philippine societies that would have “limited the buildup of refuse and, hence, the contamination of food and water.” In the same book, it says: “The Filipino habit of frequent washing would also have created more hygienic conditions that discouraged the spread of some infections.”

History can make odd events familiar. On June 28, 1913, Dr. A.P Goff, chief of San Lazaro Hospital Division and president of the Board of Medical Examiners of the Philippine Islands, reported of the return of bubonic plague to Manila after six years in 1912. The account of the American doctor sounds familiar even more now: “The way in which the disease entered Manila is not known certainly, but as there had been a good deal of plague in China for some time before June 1912, it is presumed that an infected rat came ashore from some boat from the mainland.”

History can indeed plague the present. And gifts, as well as good intentions, kill.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

A quo warranto can steal the thunder from Congress Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

E

L Salvador has a unique way of getting government-sponsored legislation passed. President Nayib Bukele, who at 38 years old, is the second-youngest head of state in the world, appeared in the National Assembly on February 9, accompanied by soldiers fully armed with machine guns, and planted himself on the seat reserved for the presiding officer. Bukele, who enjoyed a trust approval rating of 90 percent, was widely criticized for his stunt. A popular web site labeled his action as “the lowest moment that Salvadoran democracy has lived in three decades.”

Unfortunately for Bukele, while he won the presidency handily by popular votes, his political party did not win enough seats in Congress, which is dominated by the left-wing and right-wing parties. While he has succeeded in getting most of his pet legislations enacted in the past, he has failed to get Congress’ support to pass his pet security measure requiring the enactment of a budget and a foreign loan to finance a strategy to fight gangs and their extortion activities. Eventually, Bukele withdrew the military when the Constitutional Court ordered him to remove his soldiers from Congress. In the Philippines, we don’t need the army to make Congress toe the line. Atty.

Larry Gadon can take care of that. If that’s not enough, a quo warranto can steal the thunder from Congress. nnn

THE fight against Covid-19 has reached a new level now that the

Department of Health has confirmed its local transmission. The World Health Organization considered the fifth Covid-19 patient as a case of local transmission. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, likewise, attested to this after verifying from the Bureau of Immigration that the patient had no recent travel history abroad. In view of this, the DOH had recommended to President Duterte to declare a public health emergency in the Philippines. Such declaration facilitated the deployment of resources and simplified the processes, including the implementation of mandatory reporting and quarantine measures, to control and prevent the spread of coronavirus. It is laudable that the President had acted swiftly by signing Proclamation 922 declaring a public health emergency in light of the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the country. It was a timely pronouncement issued shortly be-

fore the WHO declared Covid-19 as a pandemic. Other countries, like China and Italy, have adopted more draconian measures, such as lockdown and strict travel restriction, to contain the disease. Let’s hope that our existing actions and policies will be adequate to address this health exigency. nnn

JOSEPH BIDEN JR. had two previous disastrous bids for the US presidency.

He dropped out on his first quest in 1987 after it was shown that he had plagiarized part of a speech that he used in his campaign. Then his doctors diagnosed that Biden had two life-threatening brain aneurysms where he underwent a complicated brain and lung surgeries. After staying in the hospital for several months, he exhibited extraordinary resilience and toughness by recovering and returning to his Senate seat.

Two decades later in 2007, Biden again pursued his presidential ambition, but his campaign wilted in the face of more formidable opponents.

His unsuccessful campaign, however, bore fruit when Obama tapped Biden as his running mate. He was the vice president until 2016.

After a disappointing performance in the early caucuses and primaries, Biden orchestrated his own version of the “political come-back kid.” He notched his first-ever primary win since he took part in a presidential contest in South Carolina by leading the field by a wide margin. On Super Tuesdays I and II, he stunningly won most states and claimed the majority of the delegates at stake.

Biden is one of the most prepared person to aspire for the presidency

of his country. Before he became vice president, he was the longest-serving senator of Delaware. Despite the personal tragedies and the political losses he suffered, Biden has displayed sheer grit and determination—virtues that he learned early in life. As a child, whenever he came home browbeaten by a school bully, his mother would egg him, “Bloody their nose so you can walk down the street the next day.” In life and in politics, Biden’s nose had been bloodied a number of times but he remained unbowed. At 29, he was elected to the US Senate.

Before he could take his oath of office, a tragic car accident killed his wife and daughter, and severely injured his two sons. Biden was so devastated that he considered committing suicide and abandoning his elective post.

However, he was prevailed upon by his family and friends, and elder partymates, like Sens. Mike Mansfield and Hubert Humphrey, to serve and represent the people of Delaware and, thus, started his distinguished Senate career. He served as chairman of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee where he made his mark as a foreign policy expert and nemesis of crimes.

While contemplating for a third bid for the presidency in 2016, his son Beau died of cancer. Biden has been involved in US politics for the past 50 years. He has been enamored with public service, which he describes in his own words, “I remain captivated by the possibilities of politics and public service. In fact, I believe that my chosen profession is a noble calling.” Well said, Biden. When you get the nomination, go ahead and trump the president.

A8 Friday, March 13, 2020

DA preps for worst in food supply gaps as virus spreads

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is still crafting a plan to ensure food stocks are sufficient in Metro Manila amid rising coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said he has instructed his officials to craft an “action plan on the food availability and supply” as a “preemptive intervention” if the country’s Covid-19 situation worsens.

Dar noted that if the situation turns out to be worse than expected, then Covid-19 could potentially disrupt food supply chain in the country, particularly if lockdowns would be in place among cities or

“We are anticipating something that might cause the disruption of food supply.

Strategically positioning means ensuring that supply is available and enough.”—Dar

provinces.

“Let’s have a plan on how to sustain the food supply for Metro Manila initially, and the whole country, eventually. You have to look at various scenarios. Let us plan proactively and food supply will always be one of those that needs to be properly managed,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

“We are anticipating something

that might cause the disruption of food supply. Strategically positioning means ensuring that supply is available and enough. Sapat ba ang bigas dito sa Metro Manila [is rice supply enough in Metro Manila for] say, for the next one month?” he added.

Dar pointed out that food supply stocks, particularly basic commodities, such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish, pork, should be prepositioned by the DA and be available for immediate deployment to the public during emergency situations.

But, last Tuesday, Dar told reporters that the DA has already crafted a food supply prepositioning plan should the Covid-19 situation worsen.

See “Food supply,” A2

Duterte, Bong Go undergo testing for Covid-19

P

RESIDENT Duterte underwent testing on Thursday to determine if he was infected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Duterte together with Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go went through the screening after it was

reported that some of his Cabinet members may have been exposed to a government official, who tested positive for Covid-19 infection earlier this month.

Other members of the Cabinet, who underwent self-quarantine due to possible exposure to a Covid-19

EASTERLIES AFFECTING THE WHOLE COUNTRY as of 4:00 pm - March 12, 2020

positive patient include Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez; Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade; Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones; and Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado.

Go underwent the testing after it

was reported that a source person, who attended a Senate hearing, also tested positive for Covid-19.

In a press statement, Presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said Duterte did not exhibit any symptom related to Covid-19, such as coughing and fever, but the Chief Executive and Go decided to take the test as precaution.

“They are undertaking this preemptive step as per advice of health officials given that they have regularly engaged with Cabinet officials, some of whom have opted to undergo self-quarantine as they were exposed to those infected with Covid-19,” Duterte said.

The result of the test is expected to be released after two days.

In response to the possible exposure of Duterte to Covid-19, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) announced all of the Chief Executive’s foreign travels, especially to those countries with confirmed cases of the disease, have been suspended. Samuel P. Medenilla

Pandemic. . .

Continued from A1

“It was another day of harsh sell-offs for local equities as WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic,” Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp., said.

“Investors reacted to the possibility of a lockdown in Metro Manila to contain the Covid-19 before we have a massive outbreak.

The sudden selling coupled with a lack of buying, sent prices into a freefall, something we have not seen since the last financial crisis.

The general sentiment has gone from fear to hysteria which may continue until we see more evidence that the virus can be contained,” Christopher Mangun, head of research of AAA Securities Inc., said.

Total volume of trade reached P7.96 billion, with foreign investors ended up net sellers at P773.9 million.

Decliners outnumbered gainers 226 to 7 and 25 shares were unchanged.

All other subindices ended in the red, falling an average of 7 percent.

The broader All Shares index was down 315.96 points to close at 3,492.77, the Financials index fell 153.50 to 1,364.01, the Industrial index dropped 481.38 to 7,117.18, the Holding Firms index declined 624.21 to 5,600.90, the Services index shed 87.91 to 1,148.31, the Mining and Oil index plunged 725.77 to 4,961.75, and the Property index retreated 371.53 to 3,061.86.

Mall operator SM Prime Holdings Inc. was the day’s top traded stock and it fell P3.90, or 11 percent, to close at P30.90, parent firm SM Investments Corp. shed P110 to P790, Ayala Land Inc. dropped P4.30 to P33.90, BDO Unibank Inc. retreated P16 to P120, Ayala Corp. was down P40.50 to P600 and International Container Terminal Services Inc. declined P10 to P80.05.

THE QUICK JU SOLON FILESBROWN P108-B FOX FISCAL OVER THE PACKAGE LAZY DOG. THE STIMULUS FOR LAZY DOG COVID-AFFECTED SECTORS

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

O keep the economy on track and to mitigate the impact of Covid-19, an economistlawmaker on Thursday filed a bill reallocating P108 billion to fund a fiscal stimulus package.

In House Bill 6606 or Economic Rescue Plan for Covid-19, Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo of Marikina, a member of the House Committee on Economic Affairs, said the stimulus package will be the main economic measure to address the current public health emergency.

Quimbo said the monies shall be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury, as additional funding and budgetary requirements for the fiscal year 2020.

“A P108-billion stimulus to the economy will compensate for the expected losses from Covid-19. This package may be funded through the GAA contingency fund and unspent funds from the previous year,” Quimbo said.

“A stimulus package of P108 billion will compensate for this expected loss, considering multiplier effects, and help keep our economy on track throughout the year,” she said.

The bill provides for the government to allocate P108 billion for a fiscal stimulus package, broken down as follows: P43 billion for assistance and promotion of the tourism sector, P15 billion for unemployment assistance, and P50 billion for assistance for business, particularly MSMEs, which includes loan packages and subsidies.

The bill also creates the Inter Agency Task Force for the 2020 Fiscal Stimulus Package to manage the use of the fund. The task force will be composed of the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Tourism, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance, and Department of Budget and Management.

“As we take precautions to contain this disease, our economy is expected to take a hit due to lower

economic activity. In particular, the Department of Tourism estimates that the tourism sector will lose P42.9 billion in revenue from February to April,” said Quimbo.

Earlier, the Department of Finance warned that the revenue of the national government may decline by P91 billion in 2020 if the Covid-19-induced disruption lasts until June of the same year. For its part, Neda has stated that should the outbreak persist for the entire year, it may reduce the economic output of the Philippines by 0.3 to 1.0 percentage point for 2020.

“The estimated effects of the crisis on labor include rendering more than 30,000 to 60,000 workers unemployed in the tourism sector. The Department of Labor and Employment reported that more than 300 workers have lost their jobs since February 2020 and that 47 companies with more than 4,000 workers have implemented flexible work arrangements, such as short hours and reduced working days,” she said.

With this, Quimbo said there is a need to help businesses that have experienced or are expected to experience substantial losses as a result of Covid-19, and provide sufficient safety nets and immediate assistance to workers who have lost their livelihood from the aforementioned losses.

According to Quimbo, certain industries are expected to suffer most gravely from the outbreak, such as the travel and tourism sector.

She said the DOT foresees that the tourism industry may lose P42.9 billion in revenue, taking note of the fact that China has the secondbiggest share of tourist arrivals to the Philippines.

If the Covid-19 lasts until June, the Neda projects a 1.42 million reduction in tourist arrivals.

“The economic impact of the disease may only be nursed if we maximize Congress’ power of the purse,” she said.

Earlier, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the chamber is ready to hold a special session during its seven-week break to measures needed to address Covid-19.

Lawmakers, Executive officials on quarantine as precaution vs virus

S

EN. Panfilo Lacson confirmed Thursday at least three senators, along with their Senate staff, are “going on self-quarantine” as a Covid-19 precaution as several government officials from the Executive took the same tack after unknowingly interacting with persons who later turned out to be infected with the virus.

“Better safe than sorry for others,” Lacson said, as Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay announced their move to go into self-imposed quarantine. Lacson followed their lead, as he had interacted with Gatchalian.

He added other senators also agreed to disinfect the entire multistory Senate premises on learning that a recent Senate visitor he did not identify was found to be “positive for Covid-19.”

“There is every reason to be concerned as far as the Senate is concerned, since an invited resource person who has been tested positive for Covid-19 had not only entered the Senate premises, but even interacted with

at least two senators and their staff,” Lacson said in a statement Thursday.

He recalled sharing the elevator with Gatchalian Wednesday afternoon “on our way to the session hall,” adding that “I am taking precautions by doing selfquarantine while waiting for the result of his test. If he tests positive, I will have to undergo the test myself.”

At the same time, Lacson confirmed that the senators agreed to “disinfect the Senate starting today.”

“I would encourage my fellow senators who may have interacted with our two colleagues, Senators [Nancy] Binay and Gatchalian, to follow their lead and do self-quarantine for two weeks, as well, not only for our sake but for others,” added Lacson.

In the Executive branch, several members of the Cabinet’s economic development cluster went on selfquarantine on learning they had interacted with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

See “Quarantine,” A2

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Friday, March 13, 2020 A9

A10 Friday, March 13, 2020

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Friday, March 13, 2020 A11

A12 Friday, March 13, 2020

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Friday, March 13, 2020 A13

A14 Friday, March 13, 2020

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Friday, March 13, 2020 A15

A16 Friday, March 13, 2020

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Friday, March 13, 2020 A17

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

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

BusinessMirror

A18 Friday, March 13, 2020 Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362 March 13, 2020

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

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position/s

www.businessmirror.com.ph

34

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. RONGJIE LIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

35

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YANG WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

36

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QI ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

37

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YAXU GAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

38

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YANGMING CAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

39

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. KE ZENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

40

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YOUJIAN LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

41

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. SHIXIANG XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

42

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. LING PAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

43

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHENGZE LIAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

44

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DAIMING DENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

45

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZEKAI WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

46

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. GUOWEI LIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

47

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZILIANG ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

48

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZETAO HE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

49

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WOO CHEE WAI / Malaysian

Chinese Customer Service Representative

50

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SONG YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

51

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SONG YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

52

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YALANG CHENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

53

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LIXIN LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

54

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HAO WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

55

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. QINGQING CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

56

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIAOLONG JING / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

57

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. MIN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

58

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JINGLONG YAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

59

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YUNTING DU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

60

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HAILONG HOU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

61

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. PENGPENG BAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

62

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WENBO MA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

63

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUAJIE YUN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

64

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JUNSHENG SONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

65

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LIN LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

66

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HAIYANG YU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZHIWEI JIN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

2

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. CAIHUA LIU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

3

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. QINGYAN WU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

4

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. XIAOXIONG DAI / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

5

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YINHUI ZHOU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

6

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. WEIWEN DENG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

7

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. CHENGKANG LIN / Chinese

8

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YOUYAN XING / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

9

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. KE DENG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

10

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZHIGANG LAN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

11

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HUANGJIAN LI / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

12

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZIREN YANG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

13

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. WEI CHEN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

14

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YANYUN LU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

15

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YUSHENG LU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

16

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JUNJIE TIAN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

17

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YU YE / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

18

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HESHUAI QIU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

19

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZHONGSHAN WEI / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

20

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HAO SHEN / Chinese

21

TECNIMONT PHILIPPINES INC. Brgy. Simlong , Batangas City, Batangas

Mr. NAOKI TERAO / Japanese

Specialist and Deputy General Manager for Civil Department

22

JAPAN EXCELLENT TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS, INC. PEZA, CEPZ, Rosario, Cavite

Mr. CHUNG-HSUN YANG / Taiwanese

Executive Vice President

23

YAMAHA MOTOR PHILIPPINES, INC. Lima Technology Center, Malvar, Batangas

Mr. ZIHAO GUO / Chinese

Logistics Adviser

24

DS INNERWEAR PHILIPPINES CORP. Parian, Calamba City, Laguna

Mr. ZHIJIN YAO / Chinese

Vice President for Operations

67

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YONGSHENG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

25

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHIHUI CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

68

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WEI CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

26

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YU LIN / Chinese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

69

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QIQI CAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

27

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YUANGUI DING / Chinese

70

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JINYI LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

71

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIAOFENG TIAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

72

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XINXIN TIAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

1

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. NINGNING DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

29

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHEZHE DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

73

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DONGDONG YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

30

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DONG XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

74

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. PENGLIN SONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

31

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WENLONG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

75

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XIAOJIA ZHENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

32

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YONGZHONG GAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

76

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QUANMING SU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

33

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. TAO HU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

77

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YINGWEI LIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

28

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position/s

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Friday, March 13, 2020 A19

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position/s

78

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YUZHOU MAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

115

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WEI LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

79

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUANYOU MAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

116

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. LAN LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

80

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. RUICHAO WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

117

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIAHAO DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

81

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YUNPING QU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

118

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZUYUAN ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

82

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DINGQIAN SUN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

119

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DAYU ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

83

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIULONG SUN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

120

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MINGHUI MI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

84

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JUNHAO WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

121

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. PEIYU WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

85

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. PINGPING CUI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

122

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. QIANQIAN ZHU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

86

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUI CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

123

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHUNHUA MA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

87

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XUNENG XIAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

124

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHAOQIANG WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

88

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DAREN NG KAI LUN / Malaysian

Chinese Customer Service Representative

125

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HONGWEI LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

89

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SIMON SAW KA HOE / Malaysian

Chinese Customer Service Representative

126

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. RUI CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

90

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MENGYU CAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

127

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIANQIANG LIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

91

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. TEOH AI LING / Malaysian

Chinese Customer Service Representative

128

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. BINGYING LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

92

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHAOXU FU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

129

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QINGYUAN SU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

93

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. SHUIYING FU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

130

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YUJIN GUO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

94

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HENG JIAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

131

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. LINYING MA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

95

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JUNQUN NI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

132

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JUN WEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

96

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YONG JIANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

133

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QIANG HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

97

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YOUYANG YUAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

134

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BO XIA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

98

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MAOJUN RAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

135

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BENRONG GUAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

99

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XIAOLING SU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

136

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XIA QIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. MINGQIU SU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

137

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XIAOYAN HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 100 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite 101

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. JINGJING GAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

138

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. FENZHONG YU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

102

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. TIANLI QIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

139

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QIANG LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

103

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BIN WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

140

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SHIXING YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

104

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHENGYI GAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

141

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUAMING LEI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

105

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YE HTUT AUNG / Burmese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

142

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHAOYUE ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

106

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHEN NIE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

143

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SHUNPING SHI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

107

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. GUANGZE YU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

144

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SHUANGLONG LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

108

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIE ZHOU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

145

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XIAOLI ZHAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

109

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JUNHONG DING / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

146

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YU ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

110

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. SHUANG LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

147

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HAIJUN SU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

111

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. SHIDAN HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

148

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. CHANJUAN LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

112

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHAOXIN NONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

149

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LEI HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

113

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. FENGQI LU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

150

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. ZHEN ZHENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

114

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. FUYANG HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

151

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIANBIN HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position/s

152

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. PING LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

153

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. TING ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

154

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QIANG TANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. RONGZHI HONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

155

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position/s

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 169 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. FAN DU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 170 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YUFEN LU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 171 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. GUOTONG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 172 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YIBING QIAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 173 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YANLING NONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 174 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YINGJUN CHAI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 175 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JUNLIN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 176 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HAO WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 177 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. TIAN DUAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 156 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. HONGXU WANG / Chinese

Test Pack Coordinator

SANAC PHILIPPINES INC. 157 FCIE, Langkaan, Dasmariñas City, Cavite

Mr. CAIYONG ZHOU / Chinese

Sales Manager

Mr. TUN TUN NAING / Burmese

Manufacturing General Manager

AMKOR TECHNOLOGY 159 PHILIPPINES, INC. LEPZ, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. MEI YANG / Chinese

Vice President/P1 Plant

YUTAKA FINEPACK PHILIPPINES CORP. 160 Brgy. Don Jose, Santa Rosa City, Laguna

Mr. DONGLEI XIE / Chinese

General Manager

PHILIPPINE ADVANCED 161 PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY, INC. CEPZA, Rosario, Cavite

Ms. BIXIA ZHU / Chinese

Sales Consultant

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 178 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YULIAN LU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

TECHNOL EIGHT PHILS. CORP. 162 Laguna Technopark, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. CHUN PENG / Chinese

Vice PresidentManufacturing & Engineering/ Treasurer

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 179 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZHIWEI LIANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 163 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JINZHONG ZHAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. LIANG LIANG / Chine®se

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 164 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 180 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. MULEI WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 165 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. CHENGCAI ZHAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. JINJIN LIANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 181 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 166 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. XIAOYAN ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 167 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. SHUIMING ZHONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 168 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. LIEQIANG JIANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

158

CRONICS INC. Brgy. Batino, Calamba City, Laguna

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

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

HENRY JOHN S. JALBUENA Regional Director

To avail of free job referral, placement, and employment guidance services, visit the nearest Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) or log on at http://www.philjobnet.gov.ph AEP20201007363

Companies BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, March 13, 2020 B1

Ayala income down by 24% as water and electronics businesses take a hit

By VG Cabuag @villygc

A

YALA Corp. net income fell 24 percent last year to P41.98 billion from the previous year’s P55.06 billion, as its core businesses of water and manufacturing plants of electronics and automotive parts overseas took a hit.

“The events of the past year have challenged the stability of our corporate momentum over the last decade. This ability to deal with adversity has been built on our fundamental strengths

of adhering to the highest standards of corporate governance, always looking to develop value over the long term, remaining flexible to adjust to changing circumstances and constantly align-

ing our business objectives with the broader development needs of the country,” Ayala Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said.

“Notwithstanding the challenges faced by our water and global manufacturing businesses in the past year, our real estate, banking, telco, and power units continue to ser ve as engines of growth. This validates the strength of a diversified portfolio and the expansion strategy we put in place a decade ago,” said Ayala President and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

The company’s attributable income was higher at P35.27 billion, up 11 percent from the previous year’s P31.81 billion, but mainly as a result of its divestment gains of P23.6 billion from AC Education and AC Energy.

The company said it made a

remeasurement loss of P18.1 billion for Manila Water, while the slowdown in AC Industrials, which owns Integrated Microelectronics Inc., resulted in a net loss of P2.4 billion.

Revenues were up 4 percent to P295.26 billion, from P283.8 billion the previous year.

Its property development, telco and banking arms all reported positive results.

Last year, the company said it sent some P215 billion in capital expenditures, more than half or about P109 billion were spent by property developer Ayala Land Inc., and P51 billion by its telco Globe Telecom Inc. “Ayala has programmed close to P275 billion in group capex, of which P20.8 billion has been earmarked under the parent to support the emerging businesses in its portfolio,” the company said.

SBMA puts up ₧5-M supplemental fund vs Covid-19

By Henry Empeño Correspondent

S

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—Officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) approved on Tuesday a P5million supplemental fund to sustain health safety measures here and make its health and safety personnel better armed in the fight against the new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the supplemental fund will be used to purchase additional spraying equipment and disinfecting agents to sustain a twice-a-day spraying schedule, as well as protective gears like hazmat (hazardous materials) suits, and a new ambulance.

Part of the supplemental fund will also go to maintaining a quarantine facility at the Subic Bay International Airport complex, added Eisma, who vowed to “do everything to keep Covid-19 out of Subic Bay and protect our stakeholders here.”

The agency’s board of directors authorized the appropriation during its meeting on Tuesday after the SBMA began its disinfection protocol in offices and other public areas in the free port over the weekend.

SBMA Director Marvin Macapagal said the board unanimously approved the supplemental budget because it was important to maintain Subic’s safety and security to keep it attractive to investors and secure for its stakeholders.

“We are residents here and our families live here, so we fully support this move to heighten the preparedness of our medical team and facility,” Macapagal explained.

Aside from beefing up the anti-Covid war chest, Eisma said the SBMA board also resolved to suspend mass gatherings for SBMA-sponsored events, as well as thirdparty events in SBMA-owned facilities this month; encouraged free port stakeholders to

@llectura

T

HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is currently assessing the impact of Covid-19 on the implementation of its projects across the country.

In fact, the grid operator said it has put on an extended hold the delivery of critical construction and transmission equipment from vendors and manufacturers in the countries affected by the Covid-19.

Among the major transmission projects cited by the NGCP include the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection, Western Luzon 500kV

ATI reports cargo uptrend with signs of pickup in vessel calls from China

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

A

SIAN Terminals Inc. (ATI) hopes that the cargo upt r e n d c o nt i n u e s t h i s month, after recovering from a sluggish performance in February that was caused by a regional holiday and disruption triggered by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a statement, the listed port operator said it has seen “signs of trade improvement headed into midMarch” in both the Manila South Harbor and the Batangas Port.

This development came as vessel calls, especially those from Chinese ports, started to pick up

with inbound and outbound container flows speeding up in pace and more container inventories being recorded at the terminals.

“Ports in China have also resumed operations, which is consistent with the pattern observed in ATI, coming off a sluggish start after the Chinese New Year, traditionally a lean season for global trade,” the statement read.

It added that the group “hopes that the cargo uptrend continues.”

The port operator noted that both its international gateway terminals in Manila and Batangas are business as usual, with contingency measures in place to ensure unimpeded cargo flow and the safety of its stakeholders.

San Miguel income, sales come flat in 2019, pulled

by Petron, food unit

By VG Cabuag @villygc

C

Thermal scanning is undertaken at the gates and building entrances in the Subic Bay Freeport.

also suspend mass gatherings; and encouraged schools to suspend classes from March 10 to 14 subject to guidelines on educational requirements.

The board also asked the SBMA management to propose alternative working arrangements to impose social distancing among employees, and require all business locators to disinfect their facilities.

According to the Subic agency, it has already spent almost P1 million for the initial purchase of face masks, thermal scanners, goggles, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) even before the board greenlighted the additional P5-million fund.

SBMA Deputy Administrator for Public Health and Safety Ronnie Yambao said the Subic authority has also mobilized a 24/7 medical team to coordinate with the Department

of Health (DOH) and its accredited referral hospitals and the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit; prepared a nine-bed quarantine facility; set up a 24/7 telephone helpline to answer Covid-related inquiries; and established a report and contact-tracing system manned by personnel who monitor the 14-day quarantine requirement for travelers here.

Last Sunday, Eisma ordered the start of a disinfection protocol in SBMA offices and public areas in the Subic Freeport after President Duterte declared the country in a state of public health emergency with the confirmation of the first case of communitybased infection.

Eisma said business locators and other Subic stakeholders are now also implementing their own safety measures in the fight against Covid-19.

She also reminded the public on Monday

that the health safety protocols announced by the SBMA previously will remain in force.

These include the ban on entry of people, ships and aircraft coming from Covid-hit countries, as well as voluntary quarantine of those who recently traveled abroad and thermal scanning at Subic Bay Freeport gates for foreign visitors.

Meanwhile, SBMA Director Brian Gordon clarified that despite the urgency with which the agency responded to the virus threat, there has been no reported cases of Covid-19 infection here so far.

“But we are not waiting for that to happen, so we go ahead and implement measures to keep this free port safe,” Gordon said. “It is in the interest of the SBMA and the free port to be equipped, and prepared and we hope the locators and businesses will follow suit,” he added.

NGCP assesses Covid-19 impact on projects, ops

By Lenie Lectura

FILE PHOTO

Backbone, Mindanao 230kV Backbone, San Jose-Quezon 230kV transmission line and various projects aimed at addressing low voltage in all the grids.

To mitigate further the impact of the disease on project deadlines and its overall effect on power transmission operations, the NGCP cited a contingency plan that includes the use of existing NGCP equipment in stock and resort to other suppliers not affected by Covid-19.

NGCP is also evaluating the implementation of the following additional measures: maintenance rescheduling, except for Grid Operating and Maintenance Program (GOMP); isolation of entrance to

control centers, substations, and backup control centers; and provision of transportation, board, and lodging for dispatchers and substation engineers.

Antivirus steps

Meantime, the grid operator is implementing these measures: cancellation of official travels to affected countries and non-essential large events, protocol on employees returning from abroad, stricter procedure on entry of guests, and introduction of alternative approach to meetings, such as video conferencing, Skype/MS Teams call.

NGCP is also conducting regular

sanitation of all workplaces, temperature checks prior to entry in its offices, and providing alcohol/hand sanitizers in all facilities’ points of entry. “Sanitation of frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, elevator buttons, and light switches will be done every hour, while surfaces like walls, doors, floors and ceilings will be sanitized after office hours. All work tools, including keyboards and telephones, meeting rooms, hallways and pantries will be cleaned and sanitized after office hours,” it said.

NGCP will continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation and provide updates for any significant development, it added.

ONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. reported flat net income and sales last year, despite the plunge in profits of Petron Corp. and its food unit.

The company said its net income reached P48.57 billion, slightly down from the previous year’s P48.64 billion. Consolidated income from its operations fell 1 percent to P115 .71 billion from the previous year’s P117.08 billion.

Net sales were also flat at P1.02 trillion.

San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc.’s net income last year grew 6 percent to P32.28 billion from the previous year’s P30.55 billion, on the recovery of its food unit and strong beer sales.

Consolidated revenues rose 9 percent to P310.79 billion from the previous year’s P286.37 billion due to higher volumes and average selling prices across key products, the company said.

Its beer business continued to drive the company’s results as revenues grew 10 percent to P142.27 billion from P129.25 billion in the previous year due to higher domestic beer volumes.

“We continue to remain confident in the strength of the Philippine consumer and resilience of the economy. We believe we have the ability to overcome the challenges we now face as we continue to expand the breadth of our product offerings and reinforce our presence in markets. We remain focused on delivering the best products, and providing improved results to all our stakeholders,” Ramon S. Ang, the company’s president and CEO said.

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. ended the year with consolidated offtake volume of 28,112 gigawatt hour, some 18 percent higher than in the same period last year.

This was the result of higher bilateral sales volumes and longer operating hours for the Sual and Ilijan power plants, it said.

The full year operation of Unit 2 of the Malita, Davao plant and Unit 3 of the Limay plant, along with added capacity from Unit 4 of Limay, also boosted the power unit’s performance.

Power revenues and operating income rose 12 percent and 8 percent to P135.1 billion and P36 billion, respectively. Net income was higher by 73 percent to P14.4 billion, the company said.

“Petron faced many challenges throughout the year: volatile international prices that resulted [in] significantly weaker margins, a major shutdown of its Bataan Refinery due to an earthquake, the implementation of the second tranche of the excise tax increase, and the continued proliferation of white stations,” the company said.

Petron’s consolidated revenues amounted to P514.4 billion, down 8 percent versus 2018 on account of lower average selling prices of fuels and a slight decline in consolidated volumes. Petron Malaysia’s domestic volumes grew 3 percent, helping offset the decline in domestic volumes.

Net income was settled at P2.3 billion, down 67 percent from the previous year’s P7.07 billion.

Meanwhile, SMC Infrastructure’s operating toll roads posted a combined 5-percent growth in vehicular traffic volume.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, March 13, 2020

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

March 12, 2020

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

ASIA UNITED 43.75 47.75 43.65 44 43.65 44 1,100 48,365 - BDO UNIBANK 120 120.4 132.1 132.1 120 120 4,319,940 537,339,057 (164,632,950) BANK PH ISLANDS 65.5 66.15 71 71.1 65.1 65.5 2,933,630 196,707,344.5 ( 22,299,962.5) CHINABANK 21 21.25 23.1 23.1 21 21 146,500 3,193,090 (158,745) EAST WEST BANK 9 9.2 9.67 9.67 9 9 776,500 7,224,372 (4,834,188) METROBANK 43.35 43.45 47 47 43.05 43.35 6,519,300 291,307,720 (84,493,495) PB BANK 10.22 10.6 10.64 10.64 10.6 10.6 59,500 631,760 - PBCOM 17.5 19.5 18 18 18 18 1,100 19,800 18,000 PHIL NATL BANK 25.6 25.7 27.7 27.7 25.5 25.6 916,100 23,773,400 (9,978,840) PSBANK 45.1 46 49 49 45.1 45.1 2,000 93,540 - PHILTRUST 81.1 103.2 103.2 103.2 103.2 103.2 200 20,640 - RCBC 18.4 18.5 19 19 18.4 18.4 80,700 1,495,060 - SECURITY BANK 126 127.8 135.8 135.8 126 126 810,150 103,812,892 (31,474,500) UNION BANK 54.1 56.5 51.6 56.6 51.6 56.5 25,990 1,421,361.5 (382,763.5) BRIGHT KINDLE 0.76 0.78 0.7 0.76 0.59 0.76 110,000 71,660 - COL FINANCIAL 17.3 17.4 17.6 17.8 17.4 17.4 26,200 459,840 (133,280) FIRST ABACUS 0.5 0.65 0.52 0.52 0.5 0.5 273,000 138,340 51,000 FERRONOUX HLDG 3.04 3.25 3.36 3.36 3.03 3.33 44,000 135,350 - IREMIT 0.66 1 1 1 1 1 11,000 11,000 - MEDCO HLDG 0.34 0.35 0.4 0.425 0.35 0.35 2,370,000 910,050 - MANULIFE 600 829 700 700 700 700 100 70,000 - NTL REINSURANCE 0.61 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.6 0.6 243,000 148,050 27,150 PHIL STOCK EXCH 149 149.5 152.5 152.5 149.5 149.5 22,870 3,432,000 - SUN LIFE 1,650 1,750 1750 1,750 1,750 1,750 10 17,500 - VANTAGE 1.06 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.06 1.17 782,000 843,170 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 1.55 1.58 1.79 1.79 1.55 1.55 6,406,000 10,483,860 (262,550) ALSONS CONS 0.96 1 1.03 1.03 1 1.01 133,000 135,270 - ABOITIZ POWER 25.15 25.2 26.05 26.05 24.9 25.2 3,060,800 77,031,775 (30,014,825) BASIC ENERGY 0.159 0.185 0.122 0.19 0.122 0.185 1,850,000 321,900 - FIRST GEN 15.16 15.2 16 16 14.5 15.16 2,915,100 44,430,662 4,805,000 FIRST PHIL HLDG 55 56 58.2 58.35 55 55 785,230 44,078,806 (1,078,869.5) MERALCO 230.2 231 255.4 255.4 230 230.2 632,130 153,651,962 (56,718,404) MANILA WATER 9.95 10 10.5 10.58 9.96 9.96 6,520,400 65,750,208 16,217,461 PETRON 2.83 2.85 3.05 3.05 2.83 2.85 3,966,000 11,670,870 (5,275,220) PETROENERGY 2.01 3 3.24 3.24 3 3 117,000 364,600 - PHX PETROLEUM 8.5 9.88 9.52 9.94 9.5 9.88 202,000 1,976,320 - PILIPINAS SHELL 22.3 22.4 23.6 23.6 22.1 22.3 689,100 15,593,415 2,658,260 SPC POWER 7.5 7.65 8.13 8.13 7.5 7.5 251,400 1,945,501 790 VIVANT 14.04 15.1 14.04 14.04 14.04 14.04 400 5,616 - AGRINURTURE 6.19 6.4 6.41 6.88 6.19 6.4 1,235,700 8,057,751 88,256 AXELUM 2 2.05 2.26 2.3 2 2.05 4,362,000 9,193,940(1, 673,419.9998) BOGO MEDELLIN 53.05 91.95 87 92 85 92 550 46,990 - CENTURY FOOD 13 13.22 13.66 13.66 13 13 2,668,500 35,216,616 30,495,372 DEL MONTE 3.21 3.6 3.31 3.31 3.2 3.2 94,000 305,090 (272,490) DNL INDUS 5.66 5.68 6.01 6.01 5.61 5.66 4,840,200 28,099,886 1,396,781 EMPERADOR 8.38 8.39 8.42 8.46 8.36 8.38 6,117,000 51,213,356 (6,007,963) SMC FOODANDBEV 59.6 61.8 66.9 66.9 60 61.8 127,830 8,023,960 (3,883,975) ALLIANCE SELECT 0.56 0.57 0.57 0.57 0.56 0.56 2,805,000 1,571,400 - FRUITAS HLDG 1.17 1.18 1.27 1.32 1.14 1.18 29,340,000 36,024,680 (232,390) GINEBRA 30.05 34 36.5 36.5 30 33.9 67,900 2,208,710 884,790 JOLLIBEE 153 153.1 162 162 150 153 1,198,200 184,133,107 (10,087,645) MACAY HLDG 5.4 6.4 6 6.4 5.8 6.4 6,000 36,210 9,000 MAXS GROUP 5.8 5.85 6.25 6.25 5.75 5.8 1,119,300 6,669,758 599,925 MG HLDG 0.128 0.153 0.124 0.153 0.121 0.153 710,000 88,220 5,000 PEPSI COLA 1.45 1.5 1.59 1.59 1.45 1.49 88,000 134,170 (25,720) SHAKEYS PIZZA 6.8 6.85 7.25 7.25 6.7 6.85 1,748,300 12,009,192 (6,461,477) ROXAS AND CO 1.34 1.35 1.29 1.35 1.29 1.34 174,000 229,080 - SWIFT FOODS 0.09 0.119 0.112 0.112 0.1 0.1 1,630,000 172,060 - UNIV ROBINA 116 116.7 115.3 119.8 112.1 116 1,331,770 153,546,739 1,243,479 VITARICH 0.97 1.01 1.07 1.07 0.96 1.01 2,951,000 2,964,120 - VICTORIAS 2.4 2.45 2.42 2.42 2.4 2.4 358,000 859,460 828,000 CONCRETE A 50.2 59.9 50 50 50 50 300 15,000 - CONCRETE B 50.1 68 55 55 50.1 55 1,040 55,583 27,500 CEMEX HLDG 1.02 1.03 1.07 1.07 1.01 1.02 6,875,000 7,107,750 (714,060) DAVINCI CAPITAL 4.8 5.36 5.37 5.37 5.37 5.37 1,000 5,370 - EAGLE CEMENT 7.2 8 9.05 9.05 7.2 7.2 302,900 2,577,749 (1,448,656) EEI CORP 6.12 6.28 7.21 7.21 6.02 6.1 96,200 606,376 (156,958) HOLCIM 13.08 13.1 13.3 13.3 12.9 13.1 695,500 9,108,806 2,659,400 MEGAWIDE 11.06 11.5 11.52 11.52 11 11.5 582,200 6,556,240 (3,932,046) PHINMA 8 8.02 8.79 8.79 8.02 8.02 6,000 49,660 - TKC METALS 0.68 0.69 0.76 0.76 0.69 0.69 801,000 564,710 35,000 VULCAN INDL 0.55 0.64 0.7 0.7 0.55 0.55 2,031,000 1,239,410 26,500 CHEMPHIL 130 140 150.1 150.1 140 140 300 43,606 - CROWN ASIA 1.76 1.8 1.75 1.8 1.75 1.76 305,000 534,590 - EUROMED 2.35 2.37 2.98 2.99 2.35 2.35 6,863,000 18,351,270 277,330 LMG CHEMICALS 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.81 4.4 4.4 42,000 187,010 - MABUHAY VINYL 3.02 3.2 3.28 3.28 3.1 3.2 8,000 25,230 - PRYCE CORP 4.2 4.49 4.3 4.49 4.2 4.2 497,000 2,109,240 - CONCEPCION 25 30 29 29 25 25 4,500 114,400 (74,000) GREENERGY 0.94 0.97 1.06 1.06 0.94 0.97 1,340,000 1,332,840 (9,960) INTEGRATED MICR 4.31 4.39 4.55 4.79 4.3 4.31 820,000 3,625,730 (446,960) IONICS 1.01 1.05 1 1.09 1 1.02 273,000 285,110 - SFA SEMICON 0.71 0.75 0.83 0.83 0.71 0.71 1,099,000 803,040 21,200 CIRTEK HLDG 4.33 4.41 5.1 5.1 4.13 4.34 1,195,000 5,711,249 (75,111)

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL 0.54 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.53 0.58 6,131,000 3,436,740 155,589.9996 ASIABEST GROUP 7.5 7.75 8.3 8.5 7.6 7.75 12,400 100,872 - AYALA CORP 600 601 622 625 581 600 845,010 505,785,435 (190,366,975) ABOITIZ EQUITY 37.7 37.8 39.9 39.9 37.5 37.7 2,225,300 84,456,235 (58,322,425) ALLIANCE GLOBAL 9.75 9.76 9.83 9.95 9.7 9.75 24,383,200 238,303,372 102,197,276 AYALA LAND LOG 1.87 1.88 2 2 1.88 1.88 1,737,000 3,305,860 - ANSCOR 5.98 6.1 6.1 6.1 5.7 5.98 48,400 288,697 254,227 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.52 0.55 0.6 0.6 0.55 0.55 190,000 108,180 - ATN HLDG A 0.68 0.7 0.83 0.83 0.68 0.68 3,950,000 2,860,890 - ATN HLDG B 0.7 0.73 0.8 0.8 0.75 0.75 470,000 362,800 (36,750) BHI HLDG 801 1,151 800 960 800 960 15 12,800 - COSCO CAPITAL 5.72 5.73 6 6 5.71 5.72 2,484,000 14,694,822 5,135,041 DMCI HLDG 4.88 4.95 5.06 5.08 4.75 4.88 24,363,500 120,318,245(16 ,983,699.9996) FILINVEST DEV 9 10 11 11 11 11 3,000 33,000 - FORUM PACIFIC 0.212 0.226 0.214 0.214 0.212 0.212 220,000 46,660 - GT CAPITAL 580 586 612 612 551.5 580 295,300 171,631,855 73,451,980 HOUSE OF INV 3.6 4 4.08 4.08 4 4 126,000 508,660 ( 227,859.9999) JG SUMMIT 53.65 54.3 61.6 61.6 52.4 53.65 2,301,800 128,512,912 1,951,339.5 KEPPEL HLDG A 5.21 6.25 5.21 5.21 5.21 5.21 25,400 132,334 - LODESTAR 0.43 0.435 0.45 0.45 0.43 0.43 450,000 198,450 - LOPEZ HLDG 3.68 3.69 3.71 3.71 3.68 3.68 5,071,000 18,747,520 (11,824,680) LT GROUP 7.82 7.9 8.2 8.2 7.4 7.9 4,131,600 32,556,235 5 ,831,025.9999 MABUHAY HLDG 0.48 0.59 0.53 0.53 0.48 0.48 1,259,000 628,940 - METRO PAC INV 3.06 3.08 3.42 3.44 3.06 3.06 86,573,000 277,648,490 6,885,260 PACIFICA HLDG 2.55 3.15 3.3 3.3 3 3 79,000 245,830 90,000 PRIME MEDIA 0.76 0.79 0.87 0.9 0.76 0.76 553,000 435,350 - REPUBLIC GLASS 2.5 2.6 2.52 2.52 2.52 2.52 32,000 80,640 - SOLID GROUP 0.91 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 1,000 950 - SM INVESTMENTS 790 796 880 880 770 790 671,990 542,668,315 (95,348,250) SAN MIGUEL CORP 101 110 119 119 98 110 298,080 33,573,328 ( 16,089,543.5) SOC RESOURCES 0.65 0.68 0.7 0.74 0.65 0.65 99,000 65,240 - TOP FRONTIER 146.5 147 149.8 150 147 147 930 138,333 (46,040) WELLEX INDUS 0.191 0.221 0.191 0.191 0.191 0.191 70,000 13,370 - ZEUS HLDG 0.132 0.146 0.141 0.152 0.132 0.132 1,150,000 154,760 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.57 0.61 0.66 0.66 0.57 0.57 1,228,000 751,480 (1,170.0002) ANCHOR LAND 8 8.89 8.9 8.9 8.9 8.9 100 890 - AYALA LAND 33.9 33.95 37.3 37.45 32.25 33.9 22,573,500 792,106,225(57 ,413,630.0004) ARANETA PROP 1.05 1.29 1.34 1.34 1.29 1.29 40,000 52,600 23,220 BELLE CORP 1.32 1.35 1.42 1.42 1.32 1.33 917,000 1,240,360 (274,990) A BROWN 0.62 0.63 0.72 0.74 0.6 0.63 9,991,000 6,811,770 19,500 CITYLAND DEVT 0.7 0.72 0.75 0.75 0.72 0.72 55,000 40,350 15,000 CROWN EQUITIES 0.14 0.15 0.151 0.151 0.14 0.14 1,160,000 165,110 - CEBU HLDG 5.73 6.04 5.74 6.04 5.74 6.04 20,100 115,404 - CEB LANDMASTERS 4.01 4.28 4.33 4.33 4.01 4.28 425,000 1,775,570 258,060 CENTURY PROP 0.445 0.45 0.46 0.46 0.445 0.45 3,390,000 1,535,100 - CYBER BAY 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.28 290,000 82,800 - DOUBLEDRAGON 14.8 14.9 16.5 16.5 14.36 14.8 866,300 13,110,000 1,326,002 DM WENCESLAO 7.32 7.34 7.42 7.43 7.2 7.32 373,200 2,728,816 1,769,454 EMPIRE EAST 0.32 0.35 0.335 0.335 0.32 0.32 1,470,000 484,400 - EVER GOTESCO 0.08 0.107 0.089 0.089 0.08 0.08 1,180,000 94,990 - FILINVEST LAND 0.99 1 1.04 1.05 0.95 0.99 35,106,000 35,445,370 (12,174,640) GLOBAL ESTATE 0.87 0.89 0.91 0.91 0.87 0.87 3,946,000 3,505,650 - 8990 HLDG 14.08 14.14 14.14 14.14 14.08 14.08 855,600 12,067,204 (146,848) PHIL INFRADEV 0.69 0.71 0.8 0.8 0.69 0.69 1,368,000 977,260 14,000 MEGAWORLD 2.9 2.91 3.15 3.15 2.87 2.9 26,424,000 78,257,550 (4,622,990) MRC ALLIED 0.145 0.146 0.156 0.156 0.145 0.145 14,790,000 2,216,390 - PHIL ESTATES 0.325 0.385 0.32 0.32 0.32 0.32 90,000 28,800 - PRIMEX CORP 1.35 1.42 2.04 2.04 1.3 1.42 4,069,000 7,285,630 (21,890) ROBINSONS LAND 18 18.06 20.2 20.3 17.54 18 1,944,700 36,025,158 (11,532,589) PHIL REALTY 0.255 0.275 0.265 0.29 0.255 0.255 770,000 204,150 (10,200) ROCKWELL 1.68 1.7 1.82 1.82 1.7 1.7 224,000 392,390 - SHANG PROP 2.9 3.03 2.98 2.98 2.9 2.9 13,000 38,150 - STA LUCIA LAND 2.12 2.19 2.31 2.31 2.15 2.19 507,000 1,116,190 (6,930) SM PRIME HLDG 30.9 31 34.75 34.75 29.55 30.9 26,126,700 830,215,175 (77,855,825) VISTAMALLS 4.14 4.48 4.16 4.74 4.14 4.14 95,000 408,920 - SUNTRUST HOME 1.16 1.2 1.28 1.28 1.15 1.16 13,531,000 16,156,960 - VISTA LAND 5.8 5.95 6.3 6.3 5.8 5.8 16,441,200 95,601,336 (3,547,645)

SERVICES ABS CBN 16.6 16.7 19.2 19.2 16.52 16.6 1,183,900 21,317,620 - GMA NETWORK 4.98 5.09 5.15 5.15 4.96 5 1,020,400 5,150,565 - MANILA BULLETIN 0.38 0.39 0.4 0.42 0.39 0.39 1,940,000 770,600 - MLA BRDCASTING 11.48 11.88 11.48 11.48 11.48 11.48 13,900 159,572 - GLOBE TELECOM 1,730 1,739 1750 1,779 1,702 1,739 115,820 200,255,425 87,892,945 PLDT 980 990 1015 1,019 980 980 228,680 227,199,022.5 (20,289,245) APOLLO GLOBAL 0.037 0.039 0.039 0.039 0.037 0.039 33,900,000 1,291,200 (287,200) DFNN INC 3.09 3.98 3.6 3.99 3.6 3.99 13,000 49,830 49,830 ISLAND INFO 0.071 0.082 0.082 0.082 0.08 0.082 420,000 33,840 - ISM COMM 1.11 1.13 1.34 1.35 1.11 1.11 52,171,000 63,183,700 293,500 NOW CORP 1.24 1.25 1.5 1.5 1.22 1.24 2,988,000 4,109,670 113,160 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.151 0.153 0.17 0.17 0.15 0.151 2,730,000 411,820 (48,510) PHILWEB 1.52 1.55 1.88 1.99 1.52 1.52 1,911,000 3,410,770 (366,530) 2GO GROUP 6.3 6.45 6.5 6.5 6.3 6.3 10,700 68,053 650 ASIAN TERMINALS 16.3 17.98 16.3 16.3 16.3 16.3 500 8,150 - CHELSEA 2.7 2.72 2.95 2.95 2.7 2.7 619,000 1,734,530 68,250 CEBU AIR 58 58.05 66 66 56.05 58 161,470 9,351,438.5 (4,608,862.5) INTL CONTAINER 80.05 80.4 87 87 80 80.05 4,368,080 361,136,431.5 (127,138,759) LBC EXPRESS 11.5 13.08 13.1 13.1 13.1 13.1 100 1,310 - LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.75 0.89 0.82 0.82 0.75 0.75 156,000 122,260 - MACROASIA 5.8 5.95 7.1 7.1 5.61 5.8 1,542,300 9,480,444 1,527,281 METROALLIANCE A 1.67 1.68 2.01 2.2 1.63 1.67 6,259,000 12,314,100 - METROALLIANCE B 1.71 1.8 2 2.2 1.8 1.8 94,000 181,090 - PAL HLDG 6.2 6.25 6.2 6.2 5.75 6.2 32,300 194,478 8,625 HARBOR STAR 0.71 0.79 0.84 0.84 0.7 0.79 1,112,000 840,840 6,750 ACESITE HOTEL 1.23 1.36 1.35 1.35 1.23 1.23 112,000 139,350 - BOULEVARD HLDG 0.027 0.028 0.031 0.031 0.027 0.028 12,900,000 378,800 15,000 DISCOVERY WORLD 1.52 1.61 1.61 1.61 1.61 1.61 14,000 22,540 - GRAND PLAZA 7.15 12.88 12.88 12.88 12.88 12.88 200 2,576 - WATERFRONT 0.45 0.49 0.45 0.51 0.3 0.45 660,000 297,400 - CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.12 6.66 6.1 6.12 6.1 6.1 7,500 45,782 9,792 STI HLDG 0.43 0.445 0.49 0.49 0.43 0.44 3,140,000 1,384,150 (879,950) BERJAYA 1.8 2.25 2.2 2.4 1.99 2.29 214,000 450,500 - BLOOMBERRY 6.35 6.45 6.9 6.9 6.35 6.35 8,648,300 56,681,933 8,625,029 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.8 1.89 1.84 1.89 1.8 1.89 45,000 81,230 90 LEISURE AND RES 1.33 1.39 1.53 1.53 1.4 1.4 136,000 201,980 33,000 MANILA JOCKEY 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.3 30,000 71,500 - PH RESORTS GRP 3.29 3.95 3.26 3.95 3.26 3.95 20,000 70,590 - PREMIUM LEISURE 0.33 0.335 0.37 0.37 0.325 0.33 26,760,000 8,967,350 112,800 PHIL RACING 7.84 8.97 7.9 7.9 7.9 7.9 10,000 79,000 - ALLHOME 8.2 8.25 9.37 9.37 8.12 8.25 850,300 7,390,469 397,949 METRO RETAIL 1.38 1.4 1.48 1.5 1.38 1.4 6,369,000 9,119,110 7,945,180 PUREGOLD 32.55 33 33.15 33.95 31.6 32.55 2,212,800 71,537,430 4,851,515 ROBINSONS RTL 51.85 52 54.7 54.75 48 52 905,730 47,053,461 3,059,203 PHIL SEVEN CORP 145 150 145 145 142 145 423,070 60,740,344 265,798 SSI GROUP 1.14 1.17 1.45 1.45 1.14 1.14 4,497,000 5,742,930 (760,910) WILCON DEPOT 14.34 14.38 17 17 14 14.34 3,942,000 62,044,038 9,191,382 APC GROUP 0.32 0.33 0.38 0.38 0.32 0.33 6,010,000 2,095,150 35,000 EASYCALL 5.5 5.6 6.2 6.2 5.25 5.5 25,600 142,068 - GOLDEN BRIA 300.2 364 370 370 348 364 430 154,580 - IPM HLDG 4.98 5 5.02 5.02 5 5 11,000 55,100 - PRMIERE HORIZON 0.215 0.22 0.227 0.23 0.21 0.22 5,710,000 1,225,320 - SBS PHIL CORP 6 6.75 6.9 6.97 6.75 6.75 5,200 35,854 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 9 10.3 10.7 10.7 9.4 10.64 52,500 511,068 - APEX MINING 0.77 0.8 0.87 0.87 0.75 0.77 3,840,000 3,082,160 7,700 ABRA MINING 0.0011 0.0012 0 0.0012 0.0012 0.0011 0.0011 185,000,000 206,200 - ATLAS MINING 1.9 2 2.02 2.02 2 2 325,000 650,310 10,000 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.26 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.26 600,000 157,600 - CENTURY PEAK 2.51 2.6 2.74 2.74 2.52 2.6 3,259,000 8,675,620 311,790 DIZON MINES 6.05 6.15 6.1 6.15 5.99 6.15 2,000 12,064 - FERRONICKEL 0.56 0.57 0.65 0.65 0.56 0.56 16,093,000 9,723,860 (5,780,640) GEOGRACE 0.184 0.186 0.193 0.195 0.185 0.185 3,400,000 638,960 - LEPANTO A 0.08 0.085 0.088 0.091 0.085 0.085 160,000 14,080 - MANILA MINING B 0.005 0.0069 0 0.0042 0.0053 0.0042 0.0053 11,000,000 53,400 (48,600) MARCVENTURES 0.51 0.52 0.56 0.56 0.51 0.51 125,000 65,200 - NIHAO 0.8 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.8 0.8 1,467,000 1,200,900 - NICKEL ASIA 1.7 1.8 1.99 2 1.68 1.8 10,322,000 19,080,060 (3,292,350) ORNTL PENINSULA 0.5 0.54 0.51 0.54 0.5 0.54 206,000 103,990 - PX MINING 2.2 2.3 2.52 2.52 2 2.33 984,000 2,340,830 (137,190) SEMIRARA MINING 14.46 14.58 17 17 14.4 14.46 1,832,300 28,051,108 (16,394,298) ACE ENEXOR 5.5 5.65 5.82 5.82 5.5 5.65 380,100 2,174,432 (69,516.0003) ORNTL PETROL A 0.0082 0.0095 0 0.0083 0.0083 0.0082 0.0083 9,000,000 74,100 - ORNTL PETROL B 0.009 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.009 0.009 22,000,000 209,000 - PHILODRILL 0.0078 0.0085 0 0.0082 0.0085 0.0082 0.0085 5,000,000 41,700 - PXP ENERGY 4.57 4.7 4.7 5.25 4.55 4.7 709,200 3,384,193 57,579

PREFFERED

HOUSE PREF A 100 100.9 100 100 100 100 8,200 820,000 - ALCO PREF B 100.3 101.3 100.3 100.3 100.3 100.3 6,600 661,980 - AC PREF B2R 498 502 502 502 498 502 3,360 1,685,680 - CPG PREF A 102 103 102.5 102.5 102 102 1,700 173,900 - DD PREF 101 102 101 101.1 101 101 165,050 16,670,053 4,043 FGEN PREF G 108.5 111.2 108.5 108.5 108.5 108.5 3,790 411,215 - GTCAP PREF A 1,000 1,018 995 1,000 995 1,000 650 649,500 - GTCAP PREF B 972 999 990 990 990 990 1,000 990,000 - MWIDE PREF 100.1 100.5 100.1 100.2 100.1 100.1 85,880 8,596,698 100,100 PNX PREF 3A 99.1 99.6 100.1 100.1 99.6 99.6 8,280 826,383 - PNX PREF 3B 104.5 105 104 105 104 105 1,750 183,450 - PNX PREF 4 1,005 1,020 1020 1,020 1,005 1,006 28,040 28,262,170 - PCOR PREF 2B 1,010 1,044 1010 1,010 1,010 1,010 320 323,200 - PCOR PREF 3A 1,049 1,050 1050 1,050 1,049 1,049 11,300 11,861,700 - PCOR PREF 3B 1,061 1,062 1061 1,061 1,061 1,061 4,275 4,535,775 - SMC PREF 2C 77.8 78 77.8 78 77.8 77.8 11,650 906,728 - SMC PREF 2D 75.4 75.85 75.9 75.9 75.4 75.4 31,760 2,395,609 - SMC PREF 2E 76 76.4 76.35 76.45 76 76 56,080 4,283,479 - SMC PREF 2F 76 77 76.4 76.4 76 76 43,400 3,306,160 - SMC PREF 2G 75.75 76 75.95 76 75.75 75.75 18,300 1,389,206 - SMC PREF 2H 75.75 76.4 75.75 76.45 75.75 76.45 40,730 3,110,535.5 - SMC PREF 2I 76.85 76.9 76.9 76.9 76.85 76.85 15,010 1,153,519 -

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

15.9 4.72

16.3 5.09

17.24 5.08

17.24 5.09

15.9 5.08

15.9 5.09

72,600 14,200

1,201,484 72,266

WARRANTS

LR WARRANT 0.71 0.72 0.8 0.8 0.71 0.71 72,000 52,480

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

1.72 6 0.51

1.8 6.16 0.55

1.98 7.09 0.57

1.98 7.09 0.58

1.8 6 0.51

1.8 6 0.51

453,000 214,600 3,040,000

850,370 1,338,171 1,658,880

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

87.8

89.9

96

96

87.75

87.8

286,890

25,998,776

- - - 3,600 - 560 114,260

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Nlex says it followed protocols in event that had virus-hit guest @lorenzmarasigan

A

MID confirmation that government officials have been exposed to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) during its event last Thursday, Nlex Corp. underscored on Thursday that it observed security and sanitation protocols to safeguard its guests from the dreaded disease.

Nlex Corp. held a section inspection event with President Duterte on March 5, when it showed to the President the ongoing works at the C3-R10 section of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) Harbor Link. Duterte was joined by various government officials, including Transportation

Secretary Arthur P. Tugade and Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar.

The event, however, had a guest, who was confirmed this Wednesday, March 11, as positive for Covid-19. This has forced Tugade and Villar, their staff, and the persons they had mingled

SMC completes restoration of San Juan River bridge

M

OTORISTS may now use the San Juan River bridge, more commonly known as the Pinaglabanan Bridge, after San Miguel Corp. completed the reconstruction works that started last September.

The bridge, which connects Old Sta. Mesa Manila and N. Domingo in San Juan, underwent strengthening and restoration works following the realignment of the Skyway Stage 3 project over the San Juan River. It was closed to traffic last September 15.

“In less than six months we were able to rebuild the bridge to its original design, only this time it is new and stronger,” SMC President Ramon S. Ang said.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said the bridge, which is also pedestrianfriendly, will serve about 8,000 to 10,000

motorists daily.

“Motorists can once again utilize San Juan Bridge which is now fully-restored, and is constructed with a 1.5-meter sidewalk on both sides to cater to pedestrians crossing San Juan River,” he said.

Skyway Stage 3, which will run for about 17.9 kilometers between Buendia in Makati and Balintawak, Quezon City, is part of the Edsa decongestion program that the government launched to cut travel time between Edsa’s end point to 30 minutes from over 2.5 hours. When completed, travel time between Buendia and Balintawak could take about 15 minutes.

It was initially set for opening in April, but was pushed back to July, after a section in Manila collapsed due to a fire accident.

Lorenz S. Marasigan

mutual funds

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

T

HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Thursday said it respects pending court cases between More Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) and Panay Electric Co. (Peco), but maintained that it has the sole jurisdiction over the operation of distribution utilities (DUs).

“With respect to whatever the Regional Trial Court [RTC] has issued, insofar as the matter is within the exclusive authority of the ERC by virtue of the law, which is called Epira [Electricity Power Industry Reform Act], we stand by its order on March 5,” said ERC Chairman Agnes Devanadera in a radio interview.

The March 5 order of the ERC revoked Peco’s temporary Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). The same order also issued MORE a provisional authority (PA) to operate the power distribution network in Iloilo, “after determining that MORE has established or acquired its own distribution system and verified MORE’s complete transition to full operations.”

Devanadera made this clarification to clear up confusion among Ilonggos as to which of the two companies is legitimately operating as Iloilo City’s distribution utility when they pay their monthly bill.

“Insofar as the ERC is concerned, the ERC is the exclusive authority on the matters, supply of electricity and rates and that the power position is that since the ERC has

spoken then the people or the consumers should also recognize the order of ERC which is MORE now being the distribution utility operator,” said Devanadera.

The ERC chief pointed out that a case between MORE and Peco filed with the Iloilo RTC is an expropriation case. “The RTC of Iloilo is an expropriation court so the jurisdiction is confined to the expropriation. As to the operation of the distribution utility, that is the exclusive jurisdiction of ERC...I don’t know how it can be done that MORE is put in place by RTC to have control over the distribution system and yet MORE will not be the one to operate. As I said, it is the exclusive jurisdiction of the ERC to determine who has the authority to operate.”

Peco’s franchise was no longer renewed but the ERC issued on May 21, 2019, a provisional CPCN to Peco so that supply of electricity won’t be hampered. The said permit is valid until MORE is able to establish or acquire its own distribution system.

MORE secured on February 14, 2019, a legislative franchise to establish, operate and maintain for commercial purposes a distribution system in Iloilo for 25 years.

On February 20, 2020, the Iloilo City Regional Trial Court Branch 23 authorized MORE to take possession of certain properties of Peco. The Writ of Possession (WOP) was served by the Iloilo Sheriff on March 2, 2020.

Thereafter, the ERC conducted its own inspection to verify this. The ERC subsequently revoked Peco’s CPCN and issued MORE a PA.

March 12, 2020

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

-19.54%

-6.45%

-5.9%

-17.45%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.0366 -34.85%

-9.68%

-8.32%

-24.99%

207.93

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.8944 -28.26%

-10.51%

-8.29%

-21.31%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7199 -21.58% n.a. n.a.

-19.75%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7145 -15.44% n.a. n.a.

-15.87%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.4379

-16.71%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,6

-17.8%

-4.7%

0.696

-18.52%

-5.56%

-8.68% n.a.

-18.46% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 85.08

-32.44% n.a. n.a.

-17.66%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

-17.81%

-4.85% n.a.

-18.72%

-16.88%

-4.98%

-5.15%

-16.91%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,8 0.9084 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-11.81%

41.6832

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 4 42.7 Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.0657 Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

31.3063

-17.01%

-4.56%

-4.31%

-17.19%

-17.3%

-3.67%

-4.15%

-17.39%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.8348 Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.2498

-17.11%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 709.44

-17.24% n.a. n.a.

-18%

-4.17%

-3.77%

-18.64%

-17.09%

-4.21%

-3.94%

-18.65%

0.675

-25.33%

-7.52%

-7.5%

-20.72%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.4107

-19.3%

-4.6%

-4.54%

-18.97%

-4.39% n.a.

-18.69%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8138 -17.33% United Fund, Inc. -a

3.0534

-15.45%

-2.01%

-2.7%

-16.42%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 95.1992 -16.82% -3.6%

-3.05%

-18.6%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $0.9333

-5.32%

1.04%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.2311

0.32%

-1.21%

-9.25%

4.11% n.a.

-10.71%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.4721

-13.24%

-4.95%

-5.48%

-5.8%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.0001

-12.14%

-4.21%

-3.44%

-8.3%

-7.78%

-1.24%

-3.95%

-8.8%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a

2.4

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,5 0.1955 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-14.44% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.8362

-2.93%

0.02%

-1.1%

-6.46%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.4448

-4.36%

-1.55%

-2.48%

-9.09%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

15.4208

-5.37%

-1.67%

-2.53%

-9.08%

1.93

-8.59%

-2.21%

-2.03%

-9.21%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.4054 -10.13%

-1.89%

-2.59%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

ERC on MORE-Peco: We respect court process, but keep sole jurisdiction on DUs

that a confirmed Covid-19 case attended the inspection of the Nlex Harbor Link C3-R10 Section last March 5, Nlex management would like to clarify that before and during the March 5 event, sanitation and security protocols were followed by event organizers including the submission of health declaration forms, thermal checking, availability of alcohol and sanitizers in all entrances of the tent venue,” the statement read.

The event was marked with Duter te spea k ing before the guests, saying that the opening of the new section complements his infrastructure program. He briefly joined the guests, but quickly left on a helicopter.

with to undergo self-quarantine, according to separate statements from Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran and Bulid, Build, Build (BBB) Program Chairman Anna Mae Y. Lamentillo.

Duterte himself, will soon undergo testing for Covid-19. Other prominent guests who joined the event were Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, various city mayors, transportation officials, and company executives and officers.

Diokno has undergone selfquarantine.

“In light of the information

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

-11.86%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d,2 0.9233

-5.5% n.a. n.a.

-9.1%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d,2 0.8525

-12.1% n.a. n.a.

-14.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d,2 0.8381 -13.42% n.a. n.a.

-15.62%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

-14.22%

0.8362

-12.96%

-3.28%

-4.34%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03911

9.55%

3.66%

2.19%

2.3%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

-1.31%

1.36%

-0.49%

-7.76%

1.54%

3.82%

2.3%

-7.14%

2.65% n.a.

-3.21%

$0.9574

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $3.6317

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,7 $1.0926 3.16%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities 360.54

4.18%

2.88%

2.32%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9155

ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

2.62%

0.57%

-0.44%

0.71%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.1482

5.01%

5.19%

5.15%

1.02%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

4.52%

2.2499

0.77%

2.5%

2.02%

1.12%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.3789 6.36%

2.43%

1.51%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4376

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.8172

12.11%

3.09%

2.04%

1.48% 0.77%

6.4%

3.28%

1.59%

8.14%

2.13%

0.73%

2.18%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1179

9.39%

4.73%

2.81%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7157

4.09%

2.22%

0.86%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

0.9853

8.54%

0.84%

1.37%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$472.16

4.44%

2.79%

2.74%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.46

2.55%

1.68%

1.16%

0.33%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2138

5.03%

2.99%

2.46%

0.55%

4%

1.45%

1.36%

0.78%

-1.46%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.026 PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -a

0.84%

$1.0792

2.45%

0.67%

-0.04%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4502

10.23%

4.06%

3.02%

1.93%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0607766 5.39%

2.27%

1.92%

0.77%

9.7%

3.45%

2.75%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2212

1.45%

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

3.85%

3%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a,3

126.74

1.0332

2.27%

0.76%

2.87% n.a. n.a.

0.67% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.2655

6.35%

3.3%

1.8%

0.7%

Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2724

3.6%

2.97%

2.47%

0.62%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0408

1.96% n.a. n.a.

0.35%

Feeder Fund Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,4 $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 January 3, 2019. 2 - Launch date is January 28, 2019. 3 - Launch date is February 1, 2019. 4 - Launch date is November 15, 2019.

5 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 6 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.).

7 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019. 8 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

"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

DOF closes headquarters; relocates offices as Chief goes on quarantine

T

HE Department of Finance (DOF) has abandoned its headquarters and announced the activation of its emergency working arrangement “to ensure the continuity of its services to the public.”

In a statement, the DOF said its Manila office is on lockdown so it could be thoroughly disinfected as a precautionary measure to avoid the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The emergency working arrangement provides for alternate locations where DOF groups can temporarily hold office during disasters and/or abnormal events such as the spread of Covid-19.

“Under these arrangements, the DOF Building is abandoned and DOF holds office in alternate offices,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, who has gone under self-quarantine after learning he was exposed last week to a person who tested positive for Covid-19.

Dominguez was quoted as saying that the Policy Development and Management Services Group (PDMSG) headed by Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran will determine the number of critical employees that can be accommodated in each of the alternate offices.

All undersecretaries were ordered to identify the critical offices and employees under their respective groups, collate the contact information of those working under them and decide on how to issue instructions and receive outputs based on the facilities available to them.

The DOF said the PDMSG, its Domestic Finance Group and its Strategy, Economics, and Results Group will be located at the Social Security

Office office in Makati City.

The Revenue Operations Group and Corporate Affairs Group will be located at the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) office in Manila while the Office of the Secretary will be located in the Landbank office in Makati City.

The other offices to be relocated include: International Finance Group, at the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) in Intramuros, Manila; Privatization Group, at the Philippine Guarantee Corp. office in Makati City; and, the Legal Services Group at the National Power Corp. office in Quezon City.

DOF-attached agencies that include, among others, the BTr and the Bureaus of Customs and of Internal Revenue “were ordered to thoroughly disinfect all their respective premises this weekend,” DOF statement said.

The BTr has announced that work will be suspended on Friday. National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon gave her assurance on Thursday that its operations—auctions, payments and investments—will continue through remote access.

De Leon said the BTr will have a rotating skeletal force in case of a prolonged lockdown.

We “have coordinated with Psalm [Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.] for temporary ‘war room’ and another one in our Pampanga regional office is being readied. Cash flow is more than adequate,” de Leon said.

Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero said there are no pending shipments of face masks in any of the country’s ports.

Guerrero said, however, that the BOC has been expediting its processing of face mask shipments as well as other emergency supplies and goods.

The retired Philippine Army general added that the BOC will also be disinfecting its offices over the weekend.

Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Chairman Rolando L. Macasaet said that the state-run pension fund has locked down its premises in light of the lockdown implemented at the Philippine Senate.

Macasaet said the entire GSIS complex will be fumigated and disinfected until Friday.

“Most of the Senate staff have their lunch in the GSIS canteen.

The person who was there in the Senate is a GSIS member and I am having it checked if he also went to our head office to check status of his membership, which they normally do when they are in the vicinity,” Macasaet said.

The GSIS said it has also extended the deadline to May 15 for its annual revalidation of pensioners’ information that covers all old-age and survivorship pensioners born in March.

In a public Facebook post, the GSIS said the project requires oldage pensioners to personally appear before GSIS offices during their birth months as a prerequisite to continue receiving their pensions.

The program was instituted by GSIS as its monitoring mechanism to prevent pension over-payments.

“Old-age and survivorship pensioners born this March need not go to GSIS branches to renew their active status for the time being,” a statement from the GSIS said. “We advise them to postpone visiting our branches.” Cai U. Ordinario

News from down under: Associations do matter

A

S president of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations (Apfao), I regularly receive news and updates on the programs and activities of its members. This time I wish to share with you one from the Queenslandbased Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE), the premier professional association for chief executive officers (CEOs) and other senior staff working in the nonprofit sector of Australia and New Zealand.

The last time I wrote on the same subject in this column (Why Associations Matter, January 24, 2018), I cited three key things why associations in the US matter, based on the research by the American Society of Association Executives (Asae), to wit: n Associations enrich lives through meaningful volunteerism, creating standards of safety and quality, promoting specialized expertise, and creating citizenship with communities around the globe; n Associations sustain competitiveness by committing resources to lifelong learning, professional development, mentoring, and research; and n Associations impact the economy via industrial development, product and service innovation and facilitating domestic and international business.

I read with keen interest the message of AuSAE CEO Toni Brearley in

Association World Octavio Peralta the AuSAE Insider e-newsletter. She mentioned AuSAE’s networking event under the banner “Why Associations Matter,” where association leaders from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Canberra discussed the impact of associations. Through their robust discussions and frank conversation, these clear themes have emerged: n Associations, as a sector, make significant contributions to the economy by developing the workforce, upholding standards, and influencing policy. It was noted that there is an association in almost every industry and profession contributing to society but is largely “unseen;” n Professional gover nance frameworks and skilled directors are essential to an association’s future; n Associations need to take a stand on issues that matter on behalf of their members; n Collaboration within industry sectors could and should be improved, even the possibility to work with “competing” associations without losing identity; and n Rather than an apocalypse or utopia, associations are in a phase

of “a phoenix rising,” as those that are willing to evolve, listen to their members, and be ‘fit-for-purpose’ will survive and thrive.

There are similar situations in the US, Australia and New Zealand and I have to say this is also the case here in the Philippines, i.e., associations contribute to society and to the country in their own silent ways. It is interesting to add that Down Under, associations are deemed part of the so-called “third sector,” alongside with the public and private sectors, and are quite an important constituency.

The Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (Pcaae), as the focal point of associations here, exerts all efforts that the programs and activities of its members which make an impact to society and country are communicated, recognized and awarded, and their stories published and disseminated.

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 and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives. The 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, March 13, 2020 B3

Pagcor gives ₧2 billion in pool vs Covid-19

T

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has donated P2 billion to help fund the government’s efforts in its fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Pagcor Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo said they transferred the money last Wednesday to the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF), which is controlled by the Office of the President.

Domingo said the remittance is “in response to Proclamation 922 declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines brought about by the Covid-19 virus.”

She explained the funds can be used to support the Department of Health (DOH) in combating the pandemic, including the procurement of personal protective equipment.

The funds can also be used to augment the operating expenses of the Bureau of Quarantine and support the tests being conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Domingo added.

She said her office wants “to help the concerned agencies in the fight against and containment of this deadly disease.”

According to Domingo, the provision of the SCPF is “pursuant to Section 7 [a] of the Pagcor Charter that mandates the allocation and distribution of earnings of the corporation earmarked for infrastructure and socio-civic projects.”

She also noted that due to the sustained income of Pagcor from its gaming operations, the agency was able to allocate hefty amounts that fund various projects of the government.

Domingo said Pagcor recorded P75.8 billion in gaming revenues in 2019. Majority of the amount came from slot machine operations, electronic bingo and table games operations.

The gaming revenues also included regulatory fees from the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and licensed casinos.

Wary of some China IPOs in US, global banks walk away from deals

G

LOBAL banking giants have grown more wary of underwriting initial public offerings by Chinese companies in the US, concerned about rising reputational risks after a string of disappointing deals.

The heightened scrutiny augurs a harder sell for Chinese firms once the market overcomes the current tumult. Even before the rout in equities that began last month, 26 of the 33 Chinese companies that went public in the US during 2019 were trading at less than their offer prices, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

That’s one of a number of concerns among market participants. Geopolitical strains between the US and China, particularly in technology, continue to pose a challenge—the January trade deal notwithstanding. A push in Washington to consider measures to reduce American capital flowing to Chinese securities adds to the political element. Along with limited institutional investor demand for some names, it all means the hurdles may be too high for smaller deals that lack transparent financial backgrounds.

“Major investment bank interest in China’s offshore IPOs has been dropping,” said Brock Silvers, a managing director at Adamas Asset Management in Hong Kong. “Given overhanging risks and lessened opportunities for profit, banks have begun to rethink participation.”

Among recent deals that saw global banks walking away: Morgan Stanley discontinued work on the IPO of online insurance platform Huize Holding Ltd. this February, corporate filings show.

Credit Suisse Group AG dropped off the IPOs of Bitcoin mining equipment maker Canaan Inc., drone maker EHang Holdings Ltd. and Xiaomi-backed podcast app Lizhi

Inc., filings show.

Credit Suisse, Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. dropped off the planned IPO of Ucommune Group Holdings Ltd.—China’s largest rival to WeWork—late last year, according to people familiar with the matter then.

The Chinese IPOs in the US last year posted an average decline of 21 percent. Deal sizes were cut in 14 of the 33, Bloomberg-compiled data show.

There’s by no means a wholesale retreat by Wall Street from Chinese listings, and it’s not unusual to see lenders pull out of individual transactions—or even a whole sector of issuers, such as with peer-to-peer credit providers early last year. But the recent moves are notable, market participants say.

“The current environment has dampened enthusiasm,” Stephen Peepels, head of US securities for the Asia-Pacific region at law firm Hogan Lovells, said of increasing US-China strains. “If they’re not confident that they can deliver good performance on the IPO price” then big banks would rather avoid having their investor clients involved, he said.

Another dynamic that’s sown concern among some bankers is the murky provenance of investors on some deals—a so-called friends and family cohort that helps pump up order books, potentially beyond true levels of market demand. Parallel practices have spurred angst in China’s bond market.

“Sometimes the Chinese network is very strong and sometimes they may get suppliers or customers to buy their shares,” said Ringo Choi, the Asia-Pacific IPO Leader at Ernst & Young Global Ltd. in Hong Kong.

“Banks may become concerned if they cannot do proper diligence on the investors or if some shareholders

become too influential.”

It’s not a factor that banks discuss publicly, as they seek work on bigger offshore IPOs and indeed look to build a business in China’s domestic market, newly opening up to overseas underwriters.

International banks have been walking away from some smaller IPOs because the risks of getting involved in these deals can be greater than the reward, said a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named.

Credit Suisse stopped work on the EHang and Canaan listings after its experience with 36Kr Holdings Inc. in November. After a $20 million IPO, 36Kr tumbled more than 60 percent from its offer price—even after the size of the offering was slashed by almost two-thirds and it was priced at the bottom of the range marketed.

The Swiss bank had concerns about market conditions around the time of the EHang and Canaan deals, a person familiar with the matter said. Credit Suisse declined to comment.

In December, China’s largest rival to WeWork, Ucommune, lost three international banks that had been working on its planned US listing.

Credit Suisse, Citigroup and Bank of America dropped off the IPO, people familiar with the matter said at the time. Citi and Bank of America both declined to comment.

With stock markets increasingly volatile, market conditions elevate the risks for underwriters concerned about any post-IPO slumps.

“If you go through the whole process and at the end of the day it doesn’t happen, first of all there are a lot of costs involved,” said Stephen Chan, a partner at law firm Dechert LLP in Hong Kong. “And also it’s a reputational issue if you can’t bring a deal to life.” Bloomberg News

SSS to release up to ₧1.2B in relief for workers laid off by Covid-affected enterprises

T

HE Social Security System (SSS) stands ready to release a maximum of P1.2 billion to support unemployment benefits of workers of companies that cited the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as reason for layoffs and closures.

In a statement, the SSS said the estimate is based on the worst-case scenario wherein 60,000 SSS premium-paying members lost their jobs. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) earlier estimated that Covid-19 could cut 30,000 to 60,000 jobs.

In a statement, the Department of

Finance (DOF) quoted SSS Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary Edgar B. Cruz as saying that the average unemployment benefit that qualified members receive is about P11,000. But the maximum cash benefit per applicant is P20,000.

“With the current cash position of the SSS at P21 billion, it can well afford to pay unemployment benefits, given that P660 million is just a fraction of the more than P16 billion that SSS paid monthly for members’ pensions in 2019,” Cruz said.

He added that the projected financial

claims for unemployment benefits are just estimates as several factors, such as the number of actual job losses, have to be considered. Other considerations include the number of jobless workers who are actually SSS members; the number of SSS members who are qualified to receive unemployment benefits; and their average salary credits.

Cruz gave assurance that in case of a total lockdown in the main office, the SSS can continue to provide pension and salary benefits as it has at least a four-month buffer in terms of liquidity made up of cash and near cash invest-

ments, like government securities.

“Even if everything goes down, we will be able to maintain pension benefits and salaries for a little over a month and after that, we will have to start liquidating more liquid assets,” he explained.

The DOF has likewise asked the SSS to be ready with its business continuity and cleanup plan in all of its branches to ensure the delivery of social security services, even in the event of a limited operation in its offices or a possible lockdown, is not disrupted.

On Thursday, President and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio announced that the SSS

will close its main office and Makati office on March 13 for disinfection.

Ignacio said members of the SSS information technology department will be working along with “some skeletal” force to act as branch support.

SSS Executive Vice President Judy Frances A. See said that 40 percent of SSS transactions are already done online, with its system prepared to accommodate 100-percent of transactions online by April.

“We continue to register new members, so some shifted to online channels already. As we register new members, we

are able to accommodate them online.

Some shifted already to mobile,” See said. “Some are on the learning mode using our E-centers to familiarize [them] in using our electronic channels.”

SSS premium-paying members can avail of unemployment benefits equivalent to a half of their average monthly salary credit for a maximum of two months if they are displaced because of redundancy, installation of laborsaving devices, retrenchment, closure or cessation of operation, and disease or illness, the pension fund manager said. Cai U. Ordinario

B4 Friday, March 13, 2020

2020 FOOD TAIPEI brings together Asia's most complete food industry supply chains this June

O

N its 30th anniversary, FOOD TAIPEI will once again lead the movement and set the latest trends in Taiwan's enormous food industry. Organized by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the 2020 FOOD TAIPEI will be held in grand fashion at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 and Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Halls 1 and 2 in Taipei, Taiwan, from June 17 to 20, 2020.

This six-in-one exhibition is going to be the largest-ever with 5,000 booths participating in the various segments: FOOD TAIPEI, TAIPEI PACK, FOODTECH TAIPEI, Bio/ Pharmatech Taiwan, Taiwan HORECA and HALAL TAIWAN. This is the most anticipated annual event in the Asian food industry and is expected to attract more than 60,000 visitors from 110 countries, including the Philippines.

At the exhibition promotion briefing

sessions, the current status, advantages, future trends, and cooperation opportunities of Taiwan's food and food-related industries will be introduced to the participants.

Meanwhile, the features, international characteristics, and effectiveness of the exhibition will also be introduced actively.

The National Pavilion and Taiwan International HALAL Expo will be set up at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 and showcase specialty food products from 40 countries. This is the largest exhibition platform for the halal industry in Northeast Asia, demonstrating exotic high-quality food products and innovation momentum.

Taipei Pack, situated in Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Halls 1 and 2, will set up the "Taipei Pack Selection" for smart packaging and printing needs, as well as innovative materials for the first time. The

exhibitors' quality products this year are carefully selected to present smart packaging machinery and innovative packaging materials--including those that utilize big data technology such as QR code systems and lockchain--which will give visitors and potential customers a refreshing experience.

The Bio/Pharmatech Taipei will be held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 for the first time, showing Taiwan's equipment manufacturing capabilities for the development of high-end biological and pharmaceutical technologies. Meanwhile, the smart food manufacturing capabilities will also be demonstrated through FOODTECH TAIPEI. Finally, the Taiwan International Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Show, to be held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2, will showcase innovative and convenient Michelin-level equipment and supplies. The exhibition will emphasize on hotel supplies and kitchenware with great functionality, as well as excellent design and styles to optimize aesthetics in the catering industry. This exhibition will also become a high-quality procurement platform for hotel supplies.

For more information about 2020 FOOD TAIPEI and other related events, visit the following websites: www. foodtaipei.com.tw, www.foodtech.com.tw, www.taipeipack.com.tw, www.taiwanhoreca. com.tw, www.halalexpo.com.tw.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF MANADALUYONG CENTRAL established a scholarship program for 56 beneficiary students of the Esperanza National High School, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte for schoolyear 2019-2020. The beneficiaries are poor but very deserving students of the school. Last December 26, 2019, the school principal received the scholarship funds collected by the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Central, to be applied for the entire school year 2019-2020.

Sun Life Grepa champions financial literacy for teachers in CSR program

S

UN Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa) answers the call for financial literacy in the academe by incorporating relevant initiatives for school teachers in its corporate social responsibility program dubbed “Share the Passion.”

Under this initiative, learning sessions on managing finances are conducted in various public schools and teacher conferences. This learning is complemented by financial guide booklets, which are donated to the school’s library for their continuous learning.

The initial sessions were held in Batangas, Binondo, Cavite, Davao, Iloilo, Pampanga, and Tarlac, with more areas to be included in 2020.

Launched in 2015, Sun Life Grepa's Share the Passion program has been giving back to the communities it serves through various initiatives. Education is championed

via donations to the Hebreo Foundation’s scholarship program and through the Brigada Eskwela annual public school refurbishment; while employee volunteerism is promoted through outreach activities at the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center and blood donation activities with the Philippine General Hospital Hematology-Oncology Department and the Philippine Red Cross.

"As an insurance company, we believe that our business empowers people to take charge of their lives and create their own bright financial future," Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim says. “With our purpose of providing lifetime financial security for all Filipinos, we hope that our efforts to give back to the community through these programs will contribute to the continued building of the nation.”

Mercury Drug Partners with Enchanted Kingdom for a Special Anniversary Promo

T

HE Philippines’ leading drugstore is turning 75 this year, and in celebration of their special milestone, they

partner with the first and only premier theme park in the country, Enchanted Kingdom, to give its valued Suki a magical treat.

All Mercury Drug Suki and My Wallet card holders are entitled to avail of a discounted Regular Day Pass tickets. Price starts at P725.00 on weekdays and P825.00 on weekends from March 7-29, 2020!

Promo is open to ALL walk-in guests upon presentation of their MERCURY DRUG SUKI CARD, MERCURY DRUG MY WALLET CARD or MDC Employee ID. Maximum of ten (10) discounted tickets may be availed per card

or ID/day. Discounted tickets are not valid for rebooking. Promo is available at the Makati Sales Office, Group Sales Office, and the Park’s Front Gate ticket booths.

Promo is not valid in conjunction with any other promo including the Senior Citizen, PWD, and other special discounts.

For more information, please call 0939-935-3535 / (+632) 8 830 3535 or send an e-mail to ekcorpmarketing@gmail.com. To get fresh updates and announcements, don’t forget to like Enchanted Kingdom’s facebook page at www. facebook.com/enchantedkingdom.ph.

AIM, Prof. John Davis of MIT’s Sloan School of Management partner for world class Family Business Program

F

AMILY-OWNED enterprises dominate the Philippine business landscape. Foremost among the challenges they face is longterm survival and succession to the next generation.

To address this critical issue, the Cambridge Institute of Family Enterprise, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in partnership with the Asian Institute of Management, presents “Top Management Program: Multigenerational Family Business” on March 23-24, 2020 at the Ballroom 1 of the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

This two-day program will be led by world-renowned Professor John Davis of the MIT Sloan School of Management, who is also Chairman and Founder of the Cambridge Family Enterprise Group. Families will learn strategies to sustain a competitive business, as well as a united family and ownership structure for the next generation.

Topics include Multigenerational Success Factors; Stages of Evolution

of Family Businesses; Governance; Succession Planning; Development of the Next Generation; Preparation for becoming a Shareholder; and other related subjects. This program combines classroom discussions, interactive lectures, case discussions, and international examples.

In particular, the program will: 1. Offer families pragmatic tools and leading practices to explore the rewards, challenges, goals, and strategies for the long-term survival of their family business.

2. Provide a safe forum, a shared language, and useful frameworks for senior generation and next generation family members to discuss their future goals and plans for their business, ownership, wealth, and family.

3. Help family members who are contemplating their career path to understand where they may fit in the family enterprise and how to develop themselves for future roles in governance, ownership, or management.

4. Offer the unique opportunity to exchange experiences and strategies with like-minded families facing similar situations.

On an optional third day on March 25, participating families may choose to have a bonus opportunity for private meetings and receive customized guidance contingent on each family’s unique situation. This will be held at the Asian Institute of Management campus.

Families are advised to attend in groups, ideally with both the senior and next generation members. Program cost is US$6,000 for a family of four, and US$1,000 for each additional member.

For more information, please get in touch with Tiking Alegre at 917 704 1701, or email falegre@AIM.EDU.

Avid Kickstarts 2020 with 5,433 units sold

T

HE Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) reported sales of 5,433 units in January equivalent to a 16% drop compared to the same month last year. The group, representing 25 brands, said the drop is due to challenges posed by the Taal Ash Fall followed by the COVID-19 situation which is beginning to affect many local industries, including the automotive sector.

“2020 will be a very challenging year for the industry given the slowdown in automotive demand, supply chain disruptions, and dampened consumer confidence caused by these twin events.

Fortunately, the Philippine economy remains strong backed by robust public spending, private consumption, and lower interest rates,” AVID President Ma. Fe PerezAgudo said.

“I am confident that AVID

members will adapt to and hurdle these challenges and bounce back even stronger in the coming months,” she added.

The Passenger Cars (PC) segment declined by 31% in the first month of 2020 while the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) segment had a 7.3% dip in for the month with 3,855 units. In the Commercial Vehicles (CV) segment, AVID recorded a 63% dip or a total of 25 units sold in January 2020.

D

Merciful God

EAR God, You rescue us from danger and lead us along paths of peace and love. In faith we pray: Save us, oh God. Prosper efforts to provide affordable housing and good education in rural and urban communities. Help us to restore a culture of respect for the dignity and rights of the human person.

Deepen our understanding of the interdependence of humanity and natural world. May God show us mercy, forgive us our sin and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

Virus prompts late shows to drop audiences, ‘Survivor’ delay LOS ANGELES—The ripple effect of the new coronavirus on the entertainment industry reached late-night and daytime television, a TV fan festival and far beyond to the series Survivor in Fiji.

Nickelodeon’s annual Kids’ Choice Awards, set for March 22 in Los Angeles, also is affected. It will be postponed for the “safety and well-being” of all involved with the show, the channel said on Wednesday. The Tonight Show and other late-night talk shows in New York announced on Wednesday they will tape without audiences, while CBS said that production on the next season of Survivor was being postponed. In a statement on Wednesday, NBC said it was suspending live audiences for Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers starting Monday, citing the safety of guest and employees as the “top priority.” CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert also will tape without an in-studio audience, as did Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, starting March 15.

“For the past several weeks, The Late Show producers have consulted daily to share information with other New York-based late night shows, who will also be moving forward without an audience,” CBS said in a statement. The step was taken based on guidance from New York City officials, CBS said, and out of an “abundance of caution regarding” the virus and the uncertainty of the situation.

The shows’ broadcasts will be unaffected. Not all shows will be without a live audience. The Talk on CBS will continue with its regular live audience.

Another daytime program, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, said it will suspend audience attendance starting Monday. The action won’t affect the talk show’s production schedule, and it will be regularly reviewed, Telepictures Productions said.

Meanwhile, a postponement was announced for PaleyFest LA 2020, the TV festival that was set to begin Friday and run through March 22 with salutes to shows, including Modern Family and The Mandalorian.

Also Wednesday, CBS said production on the 41st edition of Survivor has been postponed in response to the spread of the coronavirus. Filming was scheduled to begin later this month in Fiji. But CBS now said production will start on May 19, depending on events.

The entertainment sector’s response to the unfolding crisis has included cancellation of the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, and delays of events include California’s Coachella festival and the release of the latest James Bond movie.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

AP ENTERTAINMENT WRITER MARK KENNEDY IN NEW YORK CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

Life

CEBU PACIFIC PUSHES FORWARD WITH SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES IN BOHOL C4

BusinessMirror

Friday, March 13, 2020

C1

Tony Labrusca is determined to do good GAB FAB JET VALLE

@jetvalle

T

ONY LABRUSCA’S sensuality is the sort that bothers the prude and the innocent.

He has a cocky charm that can make him a star and, that face? So handsome that I know a lot of friends who would love to touch it, coronavirus be damned!

Beyond his looks though is a playful, even boyish personality. He is particularly close to his mom who accompanied him in the gig where I first met him. It was the birthday of MediaCom’s Nap Carrao, a formidable man in the advertising and media industry but who has a heart of gold. He is smart, brilliant, decisive, fierce and very protective of his clients. I would like to think that he likes me as I make him laugh and, actually, I like making him laugh. Nap has a laugh that can light up the Araneta Coliseum.

Anyway, in that afternoon, Tony was one of the celebrities to grace his birthday. He was gracious to Nap and the entire MediaCom. He was chatting with them as if they were high-school classmates. He is a voracious eater, too. But what made that afternoon memorable was when everybody sung happy birthday to Nap, Tony suddenly popped a balloon. Of course, I shrieked to the highest heavens in shock, but there was Tony, grinning like a little child. Everyone had a good laugh after that, including Nap. Maybe it’s this friendliness that made him land a contract with ABS-CBN. Included in this contract is his current iWant project, as well as a horror movie and an upcoming teleserye.

Present in the contract signing were ABS-CBN Chairman Mark Lopez, ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, COO for broadcast Cory Vidanes, TV production head Laurenti Dyogi, head of film production Olivia Lamasan, head of ABS-CBN Music Roxy Liquigan, head of treasury Rick Tan, head of finance operations Catherine Lopez, head of Dreamscape Entertainment Deo Endrinal, and his coABS-CBN stars who also inked an ABS-CBN contract Ivana Alawi and Donny Pangilinan.

Despite his auspicious start in showbiz, an industry fixated on the latest but not necessarily the best, Tony should remember that only a handful of young actors who rise to the top of the heap stay there for long. It takes, to borrow the words of RuPaul, charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to prevail over bad projects in an industry caught in a tumultuous economy and a volatile political situation.

And, if there’s one good thing about Tony, it is that he has yet to explore his range as an actor. And

according to him, he is bent on doing so no matter what.

Good luck, Tony! nnn METRO Most Stylish, the annual best dressed list of the Metro brand, celebrates fashion in the country through the recognition of Filipinas who are admired for their style.

Now on its third year of illustrating the transformative power of personal style, Metro has included many accomplished and empowered women on their 2020 list, with this year’s roster led by cancer-warrior Mikka Padua.

Mikka, a wife and mother, is the epitome of a courageous woman, battling breast cancer for more than a year now since her diagnosis in December 2018. She also founded an online retail site offering a collection of clothing and lifestyle items that she sourced from foreign countries like Mexico and Bali herself. Meanwhile, claiming the second spot is Marga Nograles, a social entrepreneur who established a clothing line that started as a way to provide sustainable livelihood for a struggling T’boli weaver and her daughter, but has since grown into

a representation of modern Mindanao and Marga’s passion to support indigenous tribes and local women’s groups.

Also included in this year’s top 10 are actresses Iza Calzado and Sarah Lahbati, inarguably for their exquisite sense of style that translates to their empowering outfits.

Completing the top 10 are School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA) Director Amina Aranaz-Alunan, fashion designer Rosanna Ocampo-Rodriguez, construction entrepreneur Charmaine Lagman, “advanced style” fashion wonder Tessie Singson, fashion blogger Camille Co and lifestyle reporter Marie Lozano.

Young actresses Kathryn Bernardo, Nadine Lustre, Maja Salvador, Julia Barretto and Janine Gutierrez also made it to the top 50.

Ranked by fashion authorities, Metro Most Stylish is a rundown of women with exceptional style, on top of being accomplished in their individual undertakings.

Check out the full list of Metro Most Stylish and other exclusive features on this year’s best dressed on Metro.Style. n

Mel Tiangco reaffirms commitment to ‘Serbisyong Totoo,’ signs with GMA anew TOP GMA News anchor and multiawarded broadcast journalist Mel Tiangco reaffirms her commitment to “Serbisyong Totoo” as she renewed her contract with GMA Network on March 11.

Present during the contract signing were GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, president and COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., senior vice president for GMA News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores, and executive vice president and CFO Felipe S. Yalong.

A loyal GMA fixture since 1996, Tiangco coanchors GMA’s flagship newscast 24 Oras and also hosts the award-winning drama anthology Magpakailanman.

On top of her TV stint, she concurrently serves as the founder and ambassador of GMA Kapuso Foundation, the network’s socio-civic arm.

Tiangco shares how grateful she

TOP GMA News anchor Mel Tiangco (center) renews her contract with GMA Network. Present in the signing were (from left) senior vice president for GMA News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores, GMA Network President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, and executive vice president and CFO Felipe S. Yalong

is to the network’s management and looks forward to more years of providing Serbisyong Totoo.

“Walang sawa ang aking pagpapasalamat sa GMA dahil sa mahigit dalawang dekada naming pagsasama ay walang sawa rin ang

mabuting pakikitungo nila sa akin. And I always thank the Lord na patuloy akong binibigyan ng lakas upang makapagsilbi at makapagbahagi ng aking kakayahan sa mga Kapuso. I hope and pray na magtuloy-tuloy pa ang pagtitiwala at pagmamahal nila sa akin

sa mas marami pang mga taon,” the veteran broadcaster says.

Gozon also shared how fortunate GMA is to have Tiangco as one of its central figures. “Alam naman ng lahat kung gaano kagaling si Mel Tiangco as an

anchor. Hindi lang sa news, pati na rin sa top-rating program na Magpakailanman. At ’yung kanyang sincerity na makapagserbisyo sa mga tao sa Kapuso Foundation ay talagang hindi mo maku-question. Kaya naman talagang we are lucky to have Mel Tiangco with us,” he says. The well-loved and multi-awarded broadcaster is the first broadcast journalist to receive the Rotary Peace Award in 2019, the highest award given by the Rotary International District 3830. On February 12, Tiangco was hailed the 2020 Distinguished Woman of Service Award by the San Beda University Alumni Association. She was also named Outstanding Lasallian Media Practitioner for Public Service by the De La Salle University’s Gawad Midya 2019, and was awarded the Las Damas de Rizal Excellence for Women in Media and Public Engagement by the Las Damas de Rizal-Philippines in 2018.

Spo

Business

C2 Friday, March 13, 2020

TOKYO 2020 REITERATES OLYMPICS WILL GO ON T OKYO 2020 President Yoshiro Mori reiterated the Organizing Committee’s stance that the Olympics will take place as planned after receiving an apology from an Executive Board member who claimed the Games should be delayed by one or two years.

Concerns over the coronavirus have prompted speculation over whether Tokyo 2020 will take place as planned.

Tokyo 2020 Executive Board member Haruyuki Takahashi told The Wall Street Journal he did not expect the Games to be canceled over the coronavirus crisis, but suggested a potential delay of one or two years if they were unable to take place as planned.

“I don’t think the Games could be canceled,” Takahashi said. “It would be a delay.”

“The International Olympic Committee

[IOC] would be in trouble if there’s a cancellation,” he added.

Tokyo 2020 quickly dismissed Takahashi’s comments with Mori telling reporters he had received an apology from the official, who is not involved in the daily preparations for the Games.

“It is our basic stance that we press ahead with preparation for a safe and secure Olympics,” Mori said.

“Therefore, we are not at all thinking about changing courses or plans.”

Tokyo 2020 added that Takahashi had “inadvertently given his personal opinion in response to a hypothetical question.”

Both the IOC and Tokyo 2020 have insisted the Games will take place as planned.

IOC President Thomas Bach claimed that postponing or canceling Tokyo 2020 was not mentioned during the IOC Executive Board

NBA SUSPENDS SEASON Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Jazz player who tested positive was center Rudy Gobert. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the team confirmed the test.

By Tim Reynolds meeting in Lausanne last week.

Bach said the IOC remain “very confident” of a successful Games in the Japanese capital.

He also told athletes that the IOC is working to “find solutions” to the challenges and uncertainty they face.

It is the second time a Japanese official has speculated on the prospect of a postponement, only to later issue an apology for their comments. Japan’s Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto said last week that the Host City Contract “calls for the Games to be held within 2020.”

“That could be interpreted as allowing a postponement,” Hashimoto said in response to a question in Japan’s Parliament. She later backtracked on the comments saying it would be “inconceivable to cancel or postpone” the Games.

Any decision would rest with the IOC.

Insidethegames

NCAA games are on, for now, but mostly without spectators

T

HE NCAA basketball tournaments are on—for now—though the buzzerbeaters, upsets and all the other shining moments will take place in mostly empty arenas.

Trying to avoid spreading the new coronavirus that has become a global pandemic, the NCAA on Wednesday decided the men’s and women’s Division I tournament games will be off-limits to the general public.

The major college conferences followed the NCAA’s lead, one by one announcing their league tournaments would go on the rest of the week with restricted fan access.

“I think the right answer is we considered every option available to us,” NCAA President Mark Emmert told The Associated Press. “The notion of cancellation, however, is one that is pretty draconian because we’re dealing with student-athletes for whom participating in a national championship is a lifelong dream.

“We debated every option available to us, but that’s the one nobody wanted to pursue.”

A few hours later, the NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for Covid-19, and reopened questions about whether the NCAA had gone

far enough.

The NCAA did not immediately return a request for comment following the NBA’s announcement.

The NCAA’s plan is to conduct both tournaments, which begin next week, with only essential staff and limited family in attendance.

“The decision was based on a combination of the information provided by national and state officials, by the advisory team that we put together of medical experts from across the country, and looking at what was going to be in the best interest of our studentathletes, of course,” Emmert told the AP in an phone interview. “But also the public health implications of all of this. We recognize our tournaments bring people from all around the country together. They’re not just regional events. They’re big national events. It’s a very, very hard decision for all the obvious reasons.”

Emmert said the NCAA wants to move the men’s Final Four on April 4 and 6 from Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to a smaller arena in the area. The NCAA also will consider using smaller venues for second-week regional sites currently set to be played at the Toyota Center

in Houston, Madison Square Garden in New York, Staples Center in Los Angeles and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

“We have to determine the availability of the sites, obviously, but it doesn’t make good sense to have a football stadium be empty,” Emmert said.

All sites for next week’s men’s games will remain the same unless conditions in those areas force relocation, he said. Or worse.

The NCAA said tickets already purchased will be refunded.

First- and second-round sites for the women’s tournament will become official next week. Those games are usually played at or near the campuses of the highly seeded teams.

“It’s really sad. Obviously it’s disappointing for all our fans,” said Louisville women’s Coach Jeff Walz, whose team is ranked No. 6 in the latest AP poll. “At the same time, I completely understand for the health and safety of the fans and studentathletes, and everyone involved.” AP

M

The Associated Press

IAMI—The National Basketball Association (NBA) has suspended its season “until further notice” after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league’s owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas.

Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Jazz player who tested positive was center Rudy Gobert. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the team confirmed the test.

“The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the league said in a statement sent shortly after 9:30 p.m. EDT. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”

The test result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game on Wednesday night was called off. Players were on the floor for warmups and tip-off was moments away when they were told to return to their locker rooms. About 30 minutes later, fans were told the game was postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Those circumstances were the league’s worstcase scenario for now—a player testing positive.

A second person who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity said the league expects the shutdown to last a minimum of two weeks, but cautioned that time frame is very fluid.

“It’s a very serious time right now,” Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I think the league moved appropriately and prudently, and we’ll all just have to monitor the situation and see where it goes from here.”

The Jazz released a statement saying a player— they did not identify Gobert—tested negative earlier Wednesday for flu, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. That player’s symptoms diminished as the day went along, but the decision was made to test for Covid-19 anyway. That test came back with a preliminary positive result.

“The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City,” the Jazz said, adding that updates would come as appropriate.

The outbreak has been a worldwide issue for several weeks. And now, it has hit the NBA. “This is crazy,” Cleveland forward Tristan Thompson said on Twitter.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he was stunned when the news came down, adding that “this is much bigger than basketball.”

“This is a global pandemic where people’s lives are at stake,” Cuban said. “I’m a lot more worried

about my kids, and my mom is 82 years old, and talking to her, and telling her to stay in the house, than I am about when we play our next game.”

Charlotte Hornets Coach James Borrego, speaking before his team’s game at Miami, said “these are scary times.”

Rapidly evolving times, as well. Around 7 p.m., a person with knowledge of the situation told AP that owners—who met by teleconference Wednesday— were largely in support of a plan to play games in empty arenas on a short-term basis.

About an hour later, the Thunder-Jazz game was halted before tip-off. And about 90 minutes after that, the season was called off, effective when the last whistle was to blow Wednesday night.

That came even earlier than planned: The last game of the night’s six-game slate, New Orleans at Sacramento, was called off, as well, because one of the referees assigned to work that Pelicans-Kings game, Courtney Kirkland, worked a Utah game on Monday.

“The game was canceled out of an abundance of caution,” the NBA said.

There are 259 games, roughly 21 percent of the schedule, left to play this season—and no one knows if, or when, things will resume.

“We believe in the leadership of the league,” Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Elton Brand said.

The shutdown is the latest major development in a season filled with unspeakably hard challenges. The league lost as much as $400 million in revenue after a rift with China was started in October when Houston General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted out support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Former NBA Commissioner David Stern died in January, the same month that soon-to-be Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash.

And now, a pandemic—which could also cost the league hundreds of millions in lost revenue, depending on how long it lasts.

Cuban said he expected his team to remain in Dallas, rehabbing and working, and being ready to return whenever the league reopens.

“As we’ve said from the beginning, the health and safety of our fans, employees, players and partners is our top priority and, thus, we fully support the NBA’s decision to postpone games,” Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “We will continue to stay in contact with the league, and local, state and federal health experts as we closely monitor this public health crisis.”

THE Jazz releases a statement saying a player—they did not identify center Rudy Gobert—tests negative earlier Wednesday for flu. AP

BUSINESS AS USUAL AT AUSTRALIAN GP

M

RED Bull’s Max Verstappen declines an autograph for a fan as he arrives at the track for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Thursday. AP

ELBOURNE—Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has questioned the wisdom of staging the season-opening Formula One Grand Prix while other sports are canceling events because of the spreading coronavirus.

“I am really very surprised we’re here...it’s shocking we’re all sitting in this room. So many fans already here today,” Hamilton said Thursday at the first official news conference for drivers ahead of Sunday’s race.

Some countries were closing borders and imposing strict travel bans, Hamilton added, “yet, F1 continues to go on.”

More than 300,000 fans regularly attend the Albert Park Circuit over the first four days of the

season. This year is expected to be no different, despite the fact some schools and universities in parts of the country have been closed after cases of coronavirus have been identified and a number of large-scale public gatherings have been scrapped.

Asked why he thought organizers were persisting with the race, Hamilton said “cash is king.”

Members of at least two F1 teams have been placed in voluntary isolation since arriving in Australia this week after showing symptoms of coronavirus, although none have yet been confirmed as cases.

A key point of concern for organizers has been the presence of Italian team Ferrari and the newly rebranded AlphaTauri team, formerly Toro Rosso, as well as tire supplier Pirelli.

Members of all three organizations had their temperatures taken upon arrival in Melbourne and F1 officials have said a race for championship points will not go ahead without them.

Italy is in lockdown as the country attempts to limit the spread of the virus, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday announcing travel restrictions that would have precluded them from taking part in the Australian Grand Prix.

The Chinese F1 Grand Prix has already been postponed, and the Bahrain GP is expected to go ahead at a circuit without fans.

It has led to questions about whether the series should have just delayed the start of the season or started in Europe. AP

US Soccer apologizes on equal pay issue

T

HE US Soccer Federation (USSF) apologized Wednesday night after it made claims in court documents that women on its national team had lesser responsibilities and physical abilities than their male counterparts, an assertion that drew widespread criticism and sparked a player protest.

The statement from USSF President Carlos Cordeiro came hours after The Coca-Cola Co. denounced the federation for its stance.

Cordeiro also announced a shake-up of the

USSF legal team.

“On behalf of US Soccer, I sincerely apologize for the offense and pain caused by language in this week’s court filing, which did not reflect the values of our Federation or our tremendous admiration of our women’s national team,” the statement said. “Our WNT players are incredibly talented and work tirelessly, as they have demonstrated time and again from their Olympic gold medals to their World Cup titles.”

American players wore their warm-up

jerseys inside out for the national anthems and team photo before a 3-1 win over Japan in an Olympic prep match. Players hid the USSF crest on the jerseys but allowed the four stars—one for each World Cup title—to be visible.

“I think it just was a powerful message,” said forward Carli Lloyd, a two-time Fifa player of the Year.

Coca-Cola had called the federation’s assertion in documents filed earlier this week “unacceptable and offensive.” AP

A YOUNG US fan holds up a sign advocating for equal pay for women players after the US defeated Japan in a SheBelieves Cup match on Wednesday at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. AP

Juventus’ Rugani

M

ILAN—Italian soccer club Juventus announced Wednesday that one of its players, defender Daniele Rugani, has tested positive for Covid-19.

Rugani, who also plays for the Italian national team, is the first player in the country’s top soccer division to test positive for the disease, which is caused by the new coronavirus.

Juventus, which has won the last eight Serie A titles, announced the result on its web site and social-media channels.

The club said Rugani and “those who have had contact with him” are being isolated. It also said Rugani is not showing any symptoms of the disease.

Juventus trained earlier on Wednesday, although it was unclear whether Rugani was present. The club had said earlier that forward Cristiano

orts

sMirror

Friday, March 13, 2020

E

UMIR FELIX MARCIAL capped his successful stint at the Asia-Oceania Boxing Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Jordan with a 3-2 victory over Kazakhstan’s Abilkhan Amankhul on Thursday night to bring home the men’s middleweight gold medal.

The topseeded Filipino faced strong challenge from the Kazakh in the first two rounds and needed to display flair in the final round to earn the split-

decision win.

Three judges saw Marcial as the better fighter, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, while the other two officials favored the Kazakh, 29-28, 29-28.

The 24-year-old Marcial was the only medalist in the seven-man team sent by the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.

But the gold paled with Marcial’s accomplishment in Amann—clinching a berth to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Irish Magno failed to land a medal but managed to join Marcial in Tokyo by beating Tajikistan’s Sumaiya Qosimova in the box-off for the women’s flyweight Olympic slot on Wednesday.

Marcial made the grade when he beat Byamba-Erdene Otgonbaatar of Mongolia via referee stop contest in the quarterfinals, then followed it up with a 4-1 victory over Ashish Kumar of India in the semifinals.

Besides Marcial and Magno, two other Filipinos have qualified for Tolyo 2020—pole vaulter EJ Obiena and world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo.

The other boxers in Amman— world women’s champion

WORLD NO. 1 JIN-YOUNG KO,

SOLAIRE INK RICH DEAL

S

OUTH Korean world No. 1 Jinyoung Ko gives her title-retention drive in next week’s Volvik Founders Cup in Phonenix, Arizona, a big boost as she inked an exclusive sponsorship agreement with Solaire Resort and Casino recently.

Ko, who will turn 25 in July, pulled through from a crowded leaderboard and edged four rivals by one to rule the $1.5-million Founders Cup last year. She would nail three more championships, including two majors, to claim the LPGA Player of the Year trophy, one year after winning the Rookie of the Year honors.

With Solaire as her chief backer, Ko said linking up with the country’s premier integrated resort comes with great responsibility but the 11-time winner on the LPGA of Korea Tour vows to dish out her best in every tournament and deliver the goods.

“I am truly grateful for the support from Solaire and I will continue to compete in LPGA tournaments with greater responsibility as its new brand ambassador,” said Ko. “I was fortunate to have achieved some of my biggest milestones, but will continue to challenge myself with new goals and repay Solaire with many victories.”

As the new Solaire ambassador, Ko will be playing with Solaire in her cap for the next two years on the LPGA Tour and other major championships.

“On behalf of Solaire, we are happy to announce that Ms. Jin-young Ko is Solaire’s new brand ambassador. We are honored and proud to have the world No. 1 to partner with us,” said Razon, chairman of Bloomberry Resort and Hotel, a subsidiary of Sureste Properties Inc., which runs Solaire.

“Her tenacity and consistency makes her the ideal partner to carry our brand as we continue to grow our presence in the global integrated resort industry. We look forward to

welcoming her to Solaire and to the Philippines,” added Razon, also the chairman and president of International Container Terminal Services Inc., which sponsors the three-category pro golf circuit in the country.

Although the exact terms of the agreement are confidential, the level of support is consistent with what Ko deserves.

Solaire also drew Sung-hyun Park, also of Korea, into its fold as its brand ambassador last year with the former world No. 1 even gracing the inaugural The Country Club Ladies Invitational and winning it by two over then amateur Yuka Saso.

One of the top contenders in this year’s Tokyo Olympics, Ko spiked her 2019 campaign with victories in the ANA Inspiration and Evian Championship, both majors, in addition to winning the Vare Trophy for the season’s lowest scoring average. She has also held to the world No. 1 ranking for 32 consecutive years.

JIN-YOUNG KO says linking up with the country’s integrated resort comes with great responsibility.

tests positive for coronavirus Ronaldo was still in Portugal “pending developments related to the current health emergency” after visiting his mother—who had a stroke last week.

The outbreak of the virus has led to a nationwide lockdown in Italy, where soccer and all other sports have been suspended until April 3.

However, Juventus is scheduled to play French club Lyon at home in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Rugani was an unused substitute in the team’s last game, at home against Inter Milan last Sunday.

That match was played in an empty stadium in line with a government decree before measures became even more strict in Italy.

Shortly after Juventus’s announcement, Inter released a statement saying the club had decided to suspend “all competitive

activities” until further notice.

It added: “The club is currently taking steps to put all the necessary procedures into place.”

That is likely to include selfisolation for all players and staff.

Inter’s Europa League game on Thursday against Getafe had already been postponed after the Spanish club said it wouldn’t travel to Italy.

Rugani was also on the substitutes’ bench for the first leg of the roundof-16 Champions League game against Lyon on February 26. He last started a match against Spal on February 22.

Juventus’ under-23 squad recently had to self-quarantine after a member from an opposing team tested positive for the virus.

That quarantine ended March 9, with none of the players showing symptoms. AP

C3

GOLD FOR MARCIAL IN AMMAN Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, James Palicte, Ian Clark Bautista and Riza Pasuit—still have a chance to qualify for the Olympics in the world qualifiers in Paris in May. But the competition in the French capital is expected to be tougher with aspirants coming from Africa, Europe and the Americas.

China won four golds to top the medal table on the final day of the qualifier. All of the finalists had already achieved their main objective of qualifying for Tokyo 2020, with each division offering at least four spots at the games.

China’s Jianguan Hu claimed the most dramatic victory for his country as he stopped Thailand’s 19-year-old Thitisan Panmot in the first round of the flyweight final.

The Thai was struck on the neck and had to be stretchered out of the arena. He later failed to attend the medal ceremony with a team official standing on

P

HILIPPINE sports continued to crawl toward a potential total shutdown on Thursday following the suspension or postponement of ongoing or future events and the imposition of restricted access in government-owned facilities.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez ordered for a “restricted access” in all PSC controlled or supervises facilities starting on Thursday—especially at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complez in Manila and the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.

“We have to be pro-active in this situation and take these hard decisions for the safety of our athletes and employees,” Ramirez told the PSC Management Committee on Thursday.

Ramirez said national athletes have been told to vacate the dormitories at the two facilities and were advised to go home and exercise all precautions against the coronavirus of Covid-19 that has already infected more than 50 Filipinos.

Only PSC officials, staff, national athletes and workers at the ongoing renovation at the facilities will be allowed inside the complex.

Reservations were revoked in the two venues.

“The PSC will also implement strict protocols for the overseas travels of athletes with international travels banned from March 14 to April 14,” PSC Officer in Charge Commissioner Celia Kiram said.

Kiram also said that athletes vying in Olympic qualifying events need the endorsement of Team Philippines chef de mission to Tokyo 2020 Mariano Araneta.

Athletes flying in from abroad will be met

by PSC staff at the airport and will be given an option for a 14-day self-quarantine at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

PSC Chief of Staff Marc Edward Velasco said that the Medical and Scientific Athletes Services will issue self-quarantine guidelines to athletes and employees.

Work was suspended at all PSC facilities on Friday.

As the PSC imposed the measure, several events were postponed beginning on Thursday.

These are: n National Basketball League President’s Cup playoff games n Philippine Rugby Football Union competitions in Luzon n Philippine Superliga Grand Prix n Philippine Golf Tour (PGT), PGT Asia and Ladies PGT n National Basketball Training Center National Finals Among those already suspended or postponed were: n Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup and D-League n University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 n National Collegiate Athletic Associaton Season 95 n Palarong Pambansa and regional meets n Philippine National Games n Batang Pinoy n Le Tour de Filipinas (cycling) n PruRide (cycling) n Asean Para Games The Asean Para Games were originally set for this month but were postponed for the last week of May no longer at the New Clark City where the Athletes Village was transformed into a quarantine center. The May schedule, however, remained vulnerable to the virus outbreak.

NBL PRESIDENT’S CUP MOVED

THE National Basketball League (NBL), in a statement, postponed its President’s Cup playoff games this weekend and the Women’s NBL Season 2 opening ceremony and games this Saturday.

The new schedule of the games, set at the Muntinlupa Sports Center and the

the podium in his place.

In the women’s flyweight final, Yuan Chan got a splitdecision verdict against fourth seed Tsukimi Namiki after the Japanese fighter was deducted a point.

There was also Chinese success in the women’s welterweight as third seed Gu Hong defeated top seed NienChin Chen of Chinese Taipei, who won the world title in 2018.

Li Qian completed the Chinese treble in women’s classes as the top seed beat Australia’s second seed Caitlin Parker at middleweight.

Uzbekistan, who topped the medal table at the Rio 2016 Olympics and last year’s Men’s World Championships, ended with three titles. The Uzbeks’ haul included gold in men’s featherweight for top seed and world champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov, who proved too strong for Jordan’s home hope Mohammad Alwadi.

Ramon Rafael Bonilla

EUMIR FELIX MARCIAL ends his Olympic qualifier campaign with a flourish.

PHL SPORTS GRINDING TO A HALT San Leonardo Gym in Nueva Ecija, will be announced on a day-to-day basis.

“The decision was made after careful deliberation with the local government unit and as a response to medical bulletins released by the Office of the President and the Department of Health. This reiterates NBL Philippines’ policy of prioritizing the well-being of its participating players, teams, personnel, officials, and most of all, its devoted fan base,” the statement said.

RUGBY BODY STOPS LUZON EVENTS

THE Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) postponed all local competitions in Luzon until April 18.

The competitions directly affected by the outbreak include the JML Luzon Cup, PRFU Premiership Shield and Santos Knight Frank Junior Festivals.

The PRFU said organizers of sanctioned events outside Luzon will be advised on how to deal with the crisis.

“We advise everyone to remain pro-active, take precautionary measures to limit the spread of the virus and contact health professionals if in need,” the PRFU said in a statement.

SUPERLIGA GRAND PRIX HALTED

THE Philippine Superliga announced that the Grand Prix are suspended.

“After thorough deliberation regarding the Covid-19 outbreak, it is with a heavy heart that the PSL board has decided to postpone all games until further notice,” PSL said in its social media post.

The PSL played without spectators but had live television coverage during its Tuesday games.

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez orders for a “restricted access” at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and PhilSports Complex.

PSL officials said that they “will closely monitor the situation in order to determine the resumption of the games.”

The next matches will depend on the “official pronouncements relative to state of public health emergency pursuat to Proclamation No. 922 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”

PSL games are held every Tuesdays and Saturdays.

GOLF TOURNAMENTS CALLED OFF

THE Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., organizer of the country’s premier three-category pro circuit, announced the suspension of all tournaments in the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT),

PGT Asia and Ladies PGT. “The management of PGTI has approved the cancelation of all tournaments until further notice effective March 16, 2020. Please understand that nothing is of greater importance than to maintain the safety and security of our professional golfers, officials and staff,” PGT executive director Narlene Soriano said.

The PGT Asia is scheduled to hold its last two spillover tournaments from the 2019 season at Riviera and Manila Southwoods from March 17 to 20 and March 31 to April 3, respectively, with the Q-School for the region’s emerging circuit’s fourth season set from April 22 to 25 at Luisita.

The PGT, on the other hand, finished holding the third round of the four-day Q-School at Splendido on Thursday with the first leg supposed to run from March 25 to 28 at Summit Point simultaneous with the LPGT.

NBTC NATIONALS POSTPONED

THE National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Finals was postponed to next month.

Originally scheduled from March 21 to 27 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, the tournament was moved to April 20 to 26 at the same venue.

The Coaches’ Convention, on the other hand will be held from April 24 to 26.

The NBTC said further decisions will be on a day-by-day basis.

“We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our attendees as it is our utmost priority,” NBTC founder Eric Altamirano said.

“Hence, we have taken the difficult decision of postponing this year’s event to a later date.”

Ramon Rafael Bonilla and Ryniel Berlanga

Friday, March 13, 2020

C4

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

z

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Adam Clayton, 60; Dana Delany, 64; William H. Macy, 70; Neil Sedaka, 81.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Emotions will play a role in the way things go this year. Take a step back and assess each situation that surfaces. Impulse and excess will be what holds you back. Forge ahead with determination, preparation and knowing what you want and how best to turn your idea into something tangible. Focus on progress, not emotional chaos. Your lucky numbers are 9, 16, 22, 24, 31, 38, 46.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Concentrate on being the best you can be. A compliment will be offered if you make a subtle change to the way you look. A generous offer should be carefully considered. Don’t reveal personal information or secrets. Romance is highlighted. HHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Start doing your own thing. Be unique and show that you are a self-starter and ready for whatever challenge comes your way. It will be your actions and responses that will help you advance, not copying someone else. HHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Consider what it is you want and how best to go about getting it. Don’t rely on anyone offering unrealistic promises that are likely to lead to disappointment or regret. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep your emotions locked up somewhere safe and out of the public eye. You’ll accomplish far more if you are rational and approach your daily responsibilities with discipline and the intent to finish what you start.

Look over contracts and agreements. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Easy does it.

Slow down and consider the best route to take before you react. Inconsistent or unpredictable behavior will not help you keep the peace or get what you want. HHHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Trust in what you know, not what someone tells you or tries to persuade you to do. A change should be carefully considered, especially if it will affect your health or disrupt a relationship with someone close to you. HH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Be realistic about what you can do. Trust facts and use common sense when it comes to your health and wellbeing. Put your efforts into peace and harmony, not friction and chaos. HHHHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take a break and give yourself a chance to rejuvenate.

Do your best to avoid getting into a scuffle with someone close to you. Listen attentively and offer suggestions that will appease you, as well as others.

HHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t let your emotions take over. If someone says something you don’t like, walk away. Trust in yourself, not information you get secondhand. Put more energy into looking your best and taking better care of your health. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Make positive changes at home that will give you more time to relax or to work on something you enjoy. Spin an unexpected turn of events into an opportunity. Don’t let someone from your past interfere in your personal life.

HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Personal improvements should be handled with care. You can get good results without going overboard or over the budget. An unexpected opportunity can turn into extra cash. HHHHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your unique way of looking at things can be enlightening but also costly. Select your options carefully.

Follow the most conservative path to eliminate getting in over your head emotionally, physically and financially.

HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are sensitive, innovative and flirtatious.

You are insightful and proactive.

Relationships BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Love in the time of the coronavirus: Do you turn your back when someone offers you a hand, a kiss or a hug?

By Brian Labus University of Nevada, Las Vegas

WASHINGTON Gov. Jay Inslee (right) bumps elbows with a worker at the seafood counter on March 3 in Seattle’s International District. AP

Editor’s note: The toll of the coronavirus grows. What does this mean for you in your personal life? We asked Brian Labus, professor of public health at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, about what kinds of physical contact are safe while COVID-19 is spreading.

W

E are exposed to numerous viruses from our day-to-day interactions with other people all the time. However, our risk of being infected by a simple greeting usually isn’t in the forefront of our minds.

The spread of COVID-19 has changed that.

Conferences have banned handshakes, churches have changed their worship services and even politicians have changed the way they greet each other. But what’s the risk in a simple hug or a handshake?

If someone’s hand is covered in virus because they coughed into it right before they shook your hand, it is no different than handling their dirty tissue. Your hand is now contaminated and, if you absentmindedly rub your eye or touch your mouth, you have potentially just infected yourself. You are relying on other people to wash their hands in order to protect you, but we know that people are terrible about handwashing, even after using the bathroom.

The simple fact is that we put ourselves at some risk of infection every time we interact with other humans. So what should you do if a stranger extends their hand to greet you or a friend tries to hug you?

Pulling your hand away from that potential big sale or recoiling in shock from your friend’s embrace is probably not the best approach. It’s about balancing the risk of infection with the negative consequences of

breaching social etiquette. Health experts around the world have been recommending that people reduce unnecessary physical contact with other people, such as shaking hands or kissing on the cheek. Even the French have recommended no cheek kissing.

You can still greet each people warmly and politely without touching them, by bumping elbows or fists, tapping feet (the “Wuhan shake” popular on social media), simply waving hi, or one of the many other creative suggestions that are popping up online. This isn’t about making extreme changes to our social interactions; it’s about taking simple steps to help reduce your risk of disease.

The other important step in protecting yourself is

to frequently wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available. This is a critical part of protecting yourself, as you can’t introduce a virus into your mucous membranes if you have removed it from your hands.

As this outbreak progresses, maybe we will see the refusal to shake hands not as a snub, but as an expression of genuine concern for each others’ health.

If you are worried about offending someone by using hand sanitizer after shaking someone’s hand, offer them some of your sanitizer, as well. Change the conversation and help make having clean hands something that is not only important to you but socially desirable, as well. n

Cebu Pacific pushes forward with sustainability initiatives in Bohol

By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez BOHOL is the latest stop of Cebu Pacific‘s Juan Effect campaign, a sustainable tourism advocacy that engages the local community and government, as well as various tourism stakeholders, in educating travelers about their responsibilities as tourists.

Bohol is the third site of the program since it was launched in Boracay in 2018 and Siargao in 2019.

“It is important to strike a balance between growing the tourism industry and preserving the very assets that attract tourists,” Candice Iyog, the airline’s vice president for marketing and customer experience, said in a statement.

“Bohol has seen its tourist arrivals grow in the past year. We are adopting it as a Juan Effect site to do our part in reminding our passengers to conserve its ecological and cultural treasures,” she added.

Juan Effect Bohol launched with an information campaign through signages installed in Bohol’s most frequented attractions, like the the Tarsier Sanctuary, the Loboc River Cruise, and the country’s third National Geological Monument, the Chocolate Hills. These multilingual signages, made out of salvaged slabs of wood from dilapidated boats left as trash in the beaches of Danao and Panglao, carry reminders of sustainable tourism practices.

The campaign is further bolstered

online with Juan Effect Ambassadors from different parts of the world, including Philippine actress and environmentalist Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Canadian filmmaker Lost LeBlanc, South Korean musician and artist Solbi, and Australian yoga and fitness expert Sjana Elise.

Bohol, particularly Panglao, is among the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the Philippines on account of its beaches, diving spots and subterranean wonders. Tourism also makes up 90 percent of the province’s industry. Speaking at the Juan Effect launch in Panglao, Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Piquinto maintained that tourism remains their no. 1 source of revenue.

She said, “The impressive drop of poverty incidence at 50.2 percent in 2000 to 15.2 percent this year is primarily attributed to the growth of our tourism industry.”

Piquinto added that they have observed

a consistent growth average of 32 percent per annum in tourist arrivals over the past three years based on data provided by the Provincial Planning and Development Office.

On the other hand, with the influx of both international and regional flights following the completion of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport in 2018, the burden of not falling into the pitfalls of overtourism weighs heavily on the shoulders of the local government, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Tourism Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr. explained the shift of the agency’s focus to sustainability after the rehabilitation of Boracay, which left 400 hotels and restaurants closed for violating local environmental laws, three casinos permanently shut down and the demolition of establishments built within the 30-meter

shoreline. “There’s a great challenge in the industry today. Communities need to start enforcing existing environmental laws, follow the law on easement, solid waste and wastewater management, etc. The business of fun is really serious but we can have serious fun in doing it,” Boncato stressed.

“Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat’s first directive was to create a culture of sustainable tourism, and it was Cebu Pacific that first responded to our call,” he added.

Cebu Pacific, for their part, donated hundreds of trash bins to the island of Boracay during the rehabilitation. Since 2018, the airline has also cut down their use of nonrecyclable plastic by replacing their in-flight polylactic acid-made cutleries to bio-compostable ones. “It is incumbent upon us to do what we can to mitigate the unintended consequences of tourism growth. We want to be mindful of how we grow, mindful of the environment, mindful of the culture and mindful of our impact,” said Iyog during the launch.

Furthermore, by 2040, as part of the Juan Effect sustainability campaign, the carrier is expected to replace all their old aircraft with the new A321 new engine option (NEO) aircraft which is currently the most fuel-efficient in the fleet by generating less carbon emissions.

One can join Cebu Pacific in keeping the Philippine islands clean and beautiful by making a pledge at www.juaneffect.com.

CEBU Pacific’s Candice Iyog (second from left) with officers from the Department of the Interior and Local Goverment, Department of Tourism and local government

‘unpopular travel destinations’ BY LITA AND TASS WILLIAMS The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Exchange 5 Juggling and unicycling, say, in a talent show 9 “___ it going?”

13 “I didn’t mean to do that!”

14 Forest trail hazard 15 Jesse of the Berlin Olympics 17 They sleep upside down 18 Tie up, like a ship 19 Beginning 20 Movie setting known for shark attacks 23 Spill the ___ (gossip) 24 Apple mobile platform 25 Up to, informally 26 Sardonic 27 Literary vampire’s home 33 Better Call Saul channel 34 Cap site 35 Make an appearance 38 Time around nomination?

40 Summer zodiac sign 42 Dame ___ Everage 43 They can be self-evident

6 Tear channel 4 49 Guffaw syllable 50 Mind Flayer’s realm in Stranger Things 53 Coppertone letters 55 “___ dreaming?”

56 Airport grp.

57 TV journalist Melber 58 “You’re pushing it!”...or advice regarding 20-, 27- and 50-Across?

64 Long teeth 66 Staff on a flight 67 Cordelia’s dad 68 Roast host 69 German article 70 A fan of 71 Tequila serving 72 Lion sound 73 Bill-supporting votes DOWN 1 Buckwheat noodles 2 “Last Christmas” group 3 Not for 4 Stickie 5 Fred of Portlandia

6 Makes lovey-dovey sounds 7 Hammer or tongs 8 Geological layers 9 Ruffian 10 The “O” of BYOB 11 Oregon Trail cry, perhaps 12 Look of contempt 16 Word before “warm” or “woke” 21 “Sunny” egg part 22 Friendly 27 “I ___ wait!”

28 Love, in Latin America 29 To Kill a Mockingbird protagonist 30 Corona ___ Mar 31 Marsh plants 32 Harper who created 29-Down 36 Chew like a chipmunk 37 Clear, financially 39 Utmost degree 41 Montrealer’s assent 44 A gamer may talk into one 45 Japanese wrestling style 47 iTunes library ancestor 48 Try out 51 Scorpion claw

2 National flower of Mexico 5 53 Box for crackers?

54 Brits’ baby buggies 59 The Bee Gees or The Supremes 60 Actress Rowlands 61 Start of a counting rhyme 62 $0.99 per minute, e.g.

63 Greek love god 65 Prefix for “metric” or “political” Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

PIONEER TRUCKS BRING Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, March 13, 2020 D1

IN STATE-OF-THE-ART FIRE ENGINE

N

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

OT all fire engines are built the same. There are units especially designed for a more complex application. When it comes to these particular fire engines, Pioneer Trucks and Paccar Global Sales are proud to bring in probably one of the most advanced units ever built—the state-of-the-art Kenworth T370/Spartan Emergency Response 1,500 gallon/1,000 Gallon Per Minute Pumper Tanker. The first-ever unit was delivered to and ready to serve Pearl Energy & Power Plant in Quezon.

The state-of-the-art Kenworth T-370 / Spartan Emergency Response 1500 gallon/1000 Gallon Per Minute Pumper Tanker

THE rear showcasing the left side portable folding water tank and other advanced systems

THE apparatus body’s main control panel

Built on a Kenworth T370 chassis, this new fire engine has a factory-built “Pinnacle Series” four-door crew cab with fully enclosed seating to accommodate up to five fully outfitted firefighters.

Each seating allows each firefighter to be settled according to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standard. This configuration enables each seat (other than the driver’s) to accommodate a vital piece of equipment that every firefighter relies on—their SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus).

Moreover, each seat is equipped with bright colored seat belts with alarms to enable occupants to differentiate seat belt system from harnesses of the SCBA. In turn, notifying the driver if ever ybody is mounted correctly into place. Also, there is a builtin VDR (vehicle data recorder), which captures vital information during operation such as vehicle speed, occupant status, cornering speeds, braking, and other critical information which can be used in the event of an accident or situation. More important, to validate that the driver and crew were properly using all safety equipment during transit.

Under the hood is a Cummins ISB 6.7-liter turbodiesel engine dishing out 300hp and over 800

straightforward and safer than older designs, which requires more operator involvement. The apparatus also has three preconnected handlines for rapid deployment, allowing firefighters to take out the fire quickly, and in large quantities for a quick knockdown.

There is also a “Master Stream” appliance on the top providing flows over 1,000 GPM from the top of the truck, in the event of a large-scale fire, necessitating substantial streams to extinguish.

Likewise, it is preconnected and can be rapidly put into service.

Meanwhile, there’s an LED lighting system, providing safety, low electrical draw and extended component life. Past apparatus with the weak electrical system often had issues with electrical systems, due to excessive amperage draw. This apparatus, on the other hand, features a high output electrical system with the significantly reduced electrical load.

Built out of heavy-duty Marine Grade aluminium sheet and tubing, the apparatus body is not only lightweight but also corrosion resistance. There are four equipment compartments and each equipped with an aluminium roll-up door for maximum access. Each of these compartments has LED lighting as well, providing excellent visibility during nighttime operations.

In addition to the folding water tank (left side), there is a 24x14x10 inches ladder carried on the right side for both rescue and firefighting operations, along with firefighter pike poles. These are commonly used in both firefighting and overhaul operations after a fire has been extinguished.

T he Kenwor t h T370/Spa r tan Emergency Response 1500 gallon/1000 Gallon Per Minute Pumper Tanker unit is designed to operate dependably for years, with many of the warranties lasting a minimum of 10 years.

To know more about this particular fire engine, you can visit www.pioneertrucks.ph or Pioneer Trucks Facebook page.

UNDER the hood is a Cummins ISB 6.7-liter turbodiesel engine

N-m of maximum torque. It is mated to an Allison 3000-EVS six-speed automatic transmission, providing plenty of power to propel the vehicle with ease of driving, and allowing the driver to focus on steering rather than manually shifting gearboxes.

The chassis is equipped with a full antilock brake system, and driver-operated traction control for maximum traction and control against slippery conditions, whether mud or snow. The Fire

Engine body, meantime, consists myriad of essential features to serve the fire team at the Pearl Energy Quezon plant.

T his unit can car r y 1,500 gallons of water. A lso, it has a midship mounted Hale Fire Pump, which is tested and cert i f ie d b y U L ( Unde r w r ite r ’s Laboratories) to pump no less than 1,000 gallons per minute minimum fire f low—capable of more, based upon water supply conditions. More so, the unit

has a 50 -gallon foam tank for specialized firefighting foam, along w ith a Foam System that supplies the element through a pre-connected attack line.

This kind of foam is utilized to take out petroleum-based fires, but can also use for fighting structural fires, depending upon the foam type utilized. To facilitate maximum water movement, involving multiple operations, the unit carries a 1,500-gallon portable folding water tank. It has a 10x10 inches swivel dump valve on the rear that allows water to be discharged into the portable tank at a rate of approximately 1,000 GPM. That enables the truck to operate as a water tender, where it can dump water in the tank to another fire engine to use, and make multiple runs to a water source to refill and return to dump another load. Specialized hoses are also available for utilizing other water sources (lake or bay).

Operation of the firefighting pump is simplified by the use of an electronic pressure governor.

This mechanism enables the operator to hit a “preset” button for the unit to automatically increase the pressure to a specific fire department level while water pressure is consistently maintained.

As such, operations are more

NFPA standard seats at the rear cabin

Moto

Business

D2 Friday, March 13, 2020

CHEVROLET AS THE MOST SUNG ABOUT CAR BRAND IN MUSIC HISTORY

BMW BRINGS

1 SERIES AN S

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

MC Asia Car Distributors Corp., the official importer and distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippines, recently brought in three new exciting models to feast on.

THIS is a fun illustration of how the first radio installed in a Chevy has evolved into what it is now Story & Photo by Patrick P. Tulfo

W

HO would have guessed that 98 years after Westinghouse first installed one of its radios in a “Chevrolet for Campers concept” to delight of that era’s media? Radios, which have now evolved to a sophisticated entertainment system, now play a big part in our daily struggle during traffic as good music brings relaxation and can make travels less hassle.

One hundred years ago, Popular Mechanics magazine predicted that “radio equipment for automobiles is not far away.” They were absolutely right as that Chevrolet for Campers concept has become a reality a decade later, when Chevrolet introduced factory-installed radios in its cars.

During the past century, Chevrolet and other automakers have introduced a number of technologies to advance in-car listening pleasure, such as record players in the 1950s, eight-track tapes in the 1960s, cassette tapes in the 1970s, compact discs in the 1980s and ’90s, MP3 players in the 2000’s and now streaming through today’s sophisticated multitasking infotainment systems.

The latest Chevrolet MyLink in-

fotainment system, for example, offers easy access to the radio and Bluetooth/USB/AUX-connected devices for additional listening options.

It can also mirror smartphones using the Apple or Android operating systems, enabling hands-free, eyeson-the-road phone calls and audio streaming.

Sean Poppitt, director of Marketing and Communications, GM Southeast Asia said, “Today, Chevrolet customers have seemingly unlimited access to music on the go, and that’s great, with Chevrolet, our customers have a great way to play their favorite ‘road tunes.’”

Last year, GM announced plans to introduce new in-vehicle technology that will enhance the overall customer experience and make it easier than ever for customers to bring their digital lives into future connected vehicles, as part of Chevrolet and GM’s initiative for more advanced solutions on future vehicles.

To bring new options for a voice assistant, embedded navigation and in-vehicle applications to compatible Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles in regions around the world, GM will work with Google beginning in 2021. Broad deployment across all GM vehicle brands is expected to roll

out in the years following.

Chevrolet, being instrumental in bringing music into cars, many musicians have put “Chevrolet” (or “Chevy”) into songs.

“Given Chevrolet’s long and storied history, it’s no surprise that people have sung about it more than other car brands. It shows how the brand is an important part of people’s lives,” Poppitt said.

Some classic pop, rock, rap and country songs for Chevy playlist include 1. “24s” by T.I; 2.“409” by The Beach Boys; 3. “99 In the Shade” by Bon Jovi; 4. “All the Best” by John Prine; 5. “American Pie” by Don McLean; 6. “Amy’s Back in Austin”

by Little Texas; 7. “Ball and Chain”

by Social Distortion; 8. “Blue Jeans”

by Silvertide 9. “Captain Jack” by Billy Joel; 10. “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson; 11. “Chevrolet” by ZZ Top; 12.“Chevrolet Deluxe” by Bruce Springsteen; 13.“Chevy Ridin’ High”

by Rick Ross ft. Dre; 14. “Chevy Van”

by Sammy Johns and 15. “Chrome”

by Trace Adkins To learn more about Chevrolet products and services in the Philippines, log on to www.chevrolet.com. ph, like the Chevrolet Philippines Facebook page, or follow the Chevrolet Philippines Instagram page.

AVID KICK-STARTS 2020 WITH 5,433 UNITS SOLD

T

HE Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. (AVID) reported sales of 5,433 units in January equivalent to a 16-percent drop compared to the same month last year. The group, representing 25 brands, said the drop is due to challenges posed by the Taal ash fall followed by the COVID-19 situation which is beginning to affect many local industries, including the automotive sector.

“2020 will be a very challenging year for the industry given the slowdown in automotive demand, supply-chain disruptions, and dampened consumer confidence caused by these twin events. Fortunately, the Philippine economy remains strong backed by robust public spending, private consumption, and lower interest rates,” AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.

“I am confident that AVID members will adapt to and hurdle these challenges and bounce back even stronger in the coming months,” she added.

The Passenger Cars segment declined by 31 percent in the first month of 2020 with 1,553 units

sold in January 2020 versus the 2,258 units sold in the same period last year. Hyundai, the leading Korean automotive company in the Philippines, sold a total of 967 units in January 2020. Suzuki follows with 353 units and Ford with 117 units.

In the Light Commercial Vehicles segment, AVID recorded a 7.3-percent dip for the month with 3,855 units sold versus the 4,157 units sold in the same period last year. Ford leads this segment with a total of 1,375 units sold; Suzuki comes second with 1,122 units; a close third is Hyundai with 1,053 units sold in the start of the year.

In the Commercial Vehicles segment, AVID recorded a 63-percent dip or a total of 25 units sold in January 2020 versus the same period last year.

“We are no strangers to adversity and disruptions. As we have done in the past 10 years of AVID’s existence, our members remain resolute to provide better vehicles, better services, and better customer experiences to Filipinos everywhere,” Agudo concluded.

BMW Philippines President Spencer Yu with the M135i xDrive

THE M135i xDrive’s M Performance 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine

ALL-NEW BMW 1 Series luxurious cockpit in a subcompact car

During the recently concluded BMW Joyfest 2020 held at the Activity Center in BGC, the German automaker usher in the all-new 1 Series 118i Sport along with its range-topping performance version, the M135i xDrive, plus the new X1 sDrive18d xLine.

New face, larger grille

DONNING a fresh look with a larger signature BMW kidney grille, the entire front end denotes a commanding presence. It’s also the first for the model range to adapt the two-kidney design merged in the middle. The M135i xDrive, on the other hand, now sports a racing-inspired and prominent three-dimensional mesh design. Both

variant’s full LED headlights are now angled in design.

On the flanks, there’s the familiar BMW shark nose, a strong hint of a wedge shape and slim window graphic, along with several crisp, precise lines and boldly sculpted surfaces. At the back, the wide, two-section full-LED rear lights provide a whole new take on the familiar “L” design courtesy of a single, slim light element with a striking sweep to the side. The performance variant, meantime, received eye-catching tailpipes for that sporty appearance, along with M Performance aerodynamic trims. There are three light-alloy wheel designs. The 17-inch double-spoke style 549 is for the 118i

Sport. The larger 18-inch V-spoke style 554 M is for the M135i xDrive in Alpine White, while an 18-inch Double-spoke style 556 M is for the M135i xDrive in Misano Blue.

The all-new 1 Series’ cabin is much roomier, particularly in the rear compartment. Rear space has increased by 33 mm with 13 mm more elbow room.

As for the driver and front passenger, there’s 42 mm more of space.

Compartment capacity increased by 20 liters with a 67-mm increase on trunk width. The 118i comes solely in Sport Line, with black accents, and sport seats draped in Sensatec combination upholstery. The range-topping BMW M135i xDrive, on the other hand, has

WAZE ADDS NEW PHRASES WITH LAZADA AM

‘I

T’S your girl, Mimiyuuuh!” responds to fans popular demand by heading back to the recording studio to add exclusive new phrases for her Waze voice option, on the global community-based navigation app.

Easing Filipinos’ stress while traveling on the road, Mimiyuuuh joined Miss Universe Catriona Gray as an exclusive Waze voice option since last year’s holiday season in December. Her latest phrases include: “May crash reported ahead daw po opo! Traffic ang abot natin nito mag vocalizationism ka muna dya-an!” and​

“Turn left! Rawr rawr rawr!”, which will definitely inject more fun and laughter entertaining drivers on the road.

Mimiyuuuh said, “Rawrrr! Thank you po talaga sa mga natuwa sa Waze voice ko po. Ito pong latest update sa aking Waze voice ay pinili ko from the suggestions ng aking mga supporters.

Sana po mas magustuhan pa ng marami yung update. Super thankful din po ako sa Lazada at Waze for making this possible. Nag-enjoy po ako ng sobra mag-record ng voice. Don’t forget to watch my latest vlog tungkol dito po, opo.”

“​Waze is dedicated to giving our users the best time on the road. Now we’re able to make their drives even more enjoyable by having Mimiyuuuh continue to guide and entertain them on their way to their destinations,​” said Sarah Rodriguez, country manager of Waze PH. Available to users in the Philippines until March 31, 2020, the exclusive Lazada Ambassador’s Waze voice option is a collaboration with Lazada aimed at delivering the best driving and navigation experience for its users.

oring

sMirror

S IN ALL-NEW

ND NEW X1

THE all-new BMW 1 Series donning a new face and bigger kidney grille. BMW PHILIPPINES

THE new BMW X1 sDrive 18d xLine. BMW PHILIPPINES

Dakota leather interior with perforations for Misano Blue version and cloth “Trigon” with Black Alcantara in the Alpine White version.

Another feature inside is iDrive Controller (touch or voice), standard 8.8-inch Control Display with touchscreen functionality, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, based on the new BMW Operating System 7.0 (including two 10.25-inch displays).

There’s also Parking Assistant in the form of the standard Park Distance Control (PDC) and a rear-view camera. Meanwhile, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant: expert and conversation partner is available to the M135i xDrive.

Now sporting a front-wheel-drive architecture, there are two engine options. The118i Sport has the 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder the engine generating 140 hp/220 N-m of maximum torque and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch Steptronic transmission. The all-wheel-drive M135i xDrive, on the other hand, has the 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine dishing out 306 hp/450 N-m of maximum torque and mated to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport gearbox. The BMW M135i xDrive can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds (4.7 seconds with the M Performance package) with a governed top speed of 250 km/h. The M

Friday, March 13, 2020

D3

Michelin, youth bat for road safety

M

ICHELIN Philippines reiterated its commitment to road safety alongside its counterparts in Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam at the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Stockholm, on February 19 and 20.

The conference was organized

by Youths for Road Safety (YOURS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Young delegates shared their successes and lessons learned from actions undertaken in the framework of the 20112020 Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety. It was an opportunity to link safe mobility with other sustainably-related challenges.

In Stockholm, Michelin invited three young employees from India, Thailand and Brazil to attend the Second World Youth Assembly as representatives of the private sector and participate in road safety-related decision-making.

Their role was to share their experiences and raise awareness among Michelin teams in their respective regions about the best safer mobility solutions.

Findings showed that the 15 to 29 age group is the demographic most impacted by road accidents. Thus in 2010, Michelin collaborated with WHO to create YOURS, an NGO focusing on young people that encourages them to address road safety issues in both developed and developing countries. YOURS has set an ambitious road safety target to halve road deaths and injuries globally in five years, with young people leading the charge and providing energy to the revolution. As Founding Member of YOURS, Michelin and YOURS have a long-term partnership and are working together to improve road safety for young people worldwide.

Florent Menegaux, Michelin CEO, said safety is at the heart

of “everything we do.” “It is a top priority every day across all our sites. For our customers, Michelin is synonymous with safety, reliability, performance and durability. And for 130 years, we have worked tirelessly to uphold this reputation. We believe it is our responsibility to make mobility safer across the world.”

In the Philippines, Michelin does its part for road safety by raising awareness on the importance of correct tire pressure, proper maintenance and fuel efficiency through its “Michelin Safe on The Road” (MSOR) campaign. Michelin Philippines has partnered with S&R membership shopping club to render service to motorists by giving them free tire check-ups and information on how to maximize tire usage.

The importance of awareness in reducing the risk of road accidents to ensure a safer and more liveable community for all is emphasized to motorists in MSOR.

MG signs on as the ‘official car’ of Miss Universe Philippines 2020

Performance Package is equipped on the Alpine White version of the BMW M135i xDrive only.

Another standard feature of the BMW 1 Series is the ARB (near-actuator wheel slip limitation), which is controlled directly in the engine control for the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system. Besides the standard suspension, the all-new BMW 1 Series also comes with Adaptive suspension VDC (Vehicle Damper Control), which also comes in the M135i xDrive. Other safety features are front/head/side air bags, Antilock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), and crash sensor, among others.

The all-new BMW 1 Series 118i Sport is priced at P2.690 million, and is available in the following colors: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver and Mineral Grey. The rangetopping BMW M135i xDrive, on the other hand, is priced at P4.590 million and is available in the following colors: Alpine White and Misano Blue.

Both models come with a five-year or 200,000-kilometer manufacturer’s warranty.

The xLine factor

MEANWHILE, the BMW X1 sDrive 18d xLine was also ushered in. The new model update makes the X1 an even more desirable proposition. The new-look has prominent revisions

found at the front and rear. Exuding a more imposing aura, it also received a larger BMW grille, with the kidneys merging in the center, which links up with the new LED headlights. These are complemented by the sharper light iconography and a bumper with larger air intakes. The rear end, meantime, received new inlay in the body-color rear apron as standard. 18-inch Y-spoke Style 566 Light Alloy Wheels with runflat tires also came in standard.

Highlighted inside is the new contrast stitching on the instrument panel, which is black on its upper section.

Then, the black, high-gloss interior trim is combined with pearl chrome inserts and the standard Sensatec upholstery. Of course, there’s the Control Display, a 6.5-inch screen that can be operated using the BMW iDrive Controller. Additionally, rear passengers get the extra convenience of two USB-C ports at the rear center console. Moreover, rear seats are 40:20:40 split.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter Twinpower Turbodiesel motor generating 150hp/350 N-m of torque and mated to an eight-speed Steptronic transmission. Power is then transferred to front wheels. The BMW X1 sDrive 18d xLine is priced at P3.090 million and is available in Alpine White and Black colors. Also, it comes with a fiveyear or 200,000-km manufacturer’s warranty.

MBASSADOR MIMIYUUUH’S VOICE OPTION Neil Trinidad, Lazada Philippines’s chief marketing officer added, “I am so pleased with the successful partnership with Waze. At the same time, it is such a great privilege to have Mimiyuuuh be part of the Lazada family and be in the lives of Filipinos in a positive way as she is a great embodiment of joy.”

Mimiyuuuh’s Waze voice is only accessible to users in the Philippines until the end of March 2020. To change your Waze voice option, simply go to Settings > Voice Directions > Mimiyuuuh.

M

G Philippines etches its mark in Philippine pageant history as it has been named the “Official Car” of the inaugural Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) 2020 competition.

Twenty-twenty is an especially significant year for MUP since, for the first time in Filipino pageant history, a locally produced Miss Universe competition will entertain the bids of all aspiring Filipina aspirants to the crown. Moving forward, the MUP competition will be recognized as the venue that will identify which confident, beautiful and empowered Filipinas will represent the country in international competition.

“For Miss Universe Philippines, when we say that we are looking for a phenomenal woman, we are looking for a Filipina who can be an innovator in everything that she does.

That includes driving an innovative car as well. With its edgy design and also modern and practical features, we believe that MG, together with the winner of Miss Universe Philippines, can empower people to do great and beautiful things,” said Shamcey Supsup-Lee, national Director of Miss Universe Philippines.

It is MG Philippines’s honor to be able to partner with a Filipinoled organization that celebrates the modern Filipina. As the Official Car of the MUP 2020, MG Philippines is excited and honored to provide the organization with modern, comfortable, safe and stylish British heritage cars. These will be used by the candidates and MUP organization as they travel to and from various pageant

requirements, all the way up to the coronation night. Furthermore, the very first Miss Universe Philippines will drive home a brand-new MG ZS Alpha Crossover SUV. The best-selling MG ZS Crossover SUV made up roughly half of the total sales volume of MG in 2019.

The MG ZS is equipped with features that make driving it easy, safe and fun, while keeping the needs of drivers first. These include an efficient 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine that produces 114 horsepower and 150 N-m of torque, an 8-inch LCD infotainment unit equipped with Apple CarPlay, a push start/ stop button, a multifunction steering wheel, a host of modern driving aids such as a reverse camera, Antilock Brake System, Cornering Brake Control, Electronic Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Distribution, Hill Start Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and a Traction Control System, and huge panoramic “Stargazer” sunroof perfect for when the weather outside is pleasant.

“The Miss Universe Philippines competition stands for confidence and empowerment—traits that we here at MG Philippines closely identify with,” said Atty. Alberto B. Arcilla, president and CEO of MG Philippines. “Each modern MG vehicle inspires confidence in its drivers and passengers, and empowers them with a driving and ownership experience like no other.”

The MUP 2020 competition is also a platform for MG to reach an even wider audience. In 2019, the brand climbed up the ranks among

locally available auto brands and slotted itself firmly in the ninth overall spot. With partnerships, such as this one with the MUP, MG Philippines is geared to makes its presence in 2020 felt even more.

Be sure to follow MG Philippines on social media: OfficialMGPhilippines (Facebook) and @mg_philippines (Instagram and Twitter) for more updates and to see your favorite MG models alongside your favorite bets for this year’s Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant.

The MG badge is synonymous with freedom, dynamism, innovation, individuality and attainability. It represents a new wave of vehicles that allows discerning drivers and passengers to enjoy a distinctive automotive experience at very competitive price points. MG is a traditional United Kingdom brand established in 1924. It is an icon of British automotive history with a long-respected sporting heritage.

Today, MG is a truly global brand, with financial backing of SAIC Motor—one of the world’s largest auto manufacturers and exporters, and a high-ranking Fortune 500 company. For MG, the present marks the most exciting chapter in what is an already very colorful brand story. Book a test drive now at www. mgmotor.com.ph.

MG Philippines—The Covenant Car Co. Inc. is the exclusive importer and distributor of MG automobiles and parts in the Philippines. MG Philippines is located at the G/F, ALCO Building, 391 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, 1209 Makati City.

Motoring BusinessMirror

D4 Friday, March 13, 2020

Lexus sold over 5,700 since 2009–Rodriguez

I

T is almost customary for our car companies to hold golf tournaments at least once a year, golf being widely considered as the game that seals deals more than any other sport. The events are held mostly to build goodwill with loyal customers, as well as attract potential clients into the circle. Surely, to be invited into one of them offers a singular distinction of honor and prestige, particularly to newbies.

I had the privilege to be invited, again, recently in the Lexus Cup and Diamond Motors events at Sta. Elena and Manila Golf Club, respectively. As usual, both competitions were a knockout, what with their prizes galore staked in both occasions—not to mention lucrative giveaways before and

after the tournaments.

Lexus Manila President Raymond T. Rodriguez, take a bow.

You d id wel l, as usu a l, t hat even your predecessor, Dan “Sir John” Isla, was profuse in his praise of you.

Diamond chieftain George Blaylock, together with John Fer-

nandez and Art Balmadrid, take a bow. Good job for the three of you.

You never run out of ideas to make your guests profoundly gratified by your hospitality.

A huge highlight of the Lexus Cup was the announcement that Miguel Tabuena, the country’s fast-rising golf star with two Asian Tour wins, nine Philippine Tour victories and a 2016 Rio Olympics stint across his name, is now the chief endorser of the brand. An amazingly commendable move, RTR-san! There couldn’t be a better choice.

About Lexus

LEXUS was launched in 1989 with a flagship sedan and a guest experience that helped define the premium automotive industry.

In 1998, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category with the launch of the Lexus RX. The luxury hybrid sales leader, Lexus delivered the world’s first luxury hybrid and has since sold over 1.5 million hybrid vehicles.

Lexus associates/team members across the world are dedicated to crafting amazing experiences that are uniquely Lexus, and that excite and change the world.

Anyway, in furtherance once more of my love for speeches, here’s Rodriguez’s discourse:

A great time

“HIS excellency, Koji Haneda, Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines; Mr. Bienvenido “Rico” Tantoco Jr., president, Sta. Elena

Golf and Country Club; Mr. Bryan Cockrell, Club Captain; Mr. Edward Tiu, tournament chairman; Mr. Noriyuki Moriyama, Mitsui & Co. Pte Ltd general manager and country chairman for the Philippines; Mr. Atsuhiro Okamoto, president, Toyota Motor Philippines and Lexus Philippines; Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening.

“On behalf of our Chairman Alfred Ty, I welcome all of you to this year’s Lexus Invitational Golf tournament. I hope that all of you had a great time playing golf here, in this world-class Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your contribution in the success of the Lexus brand in the Philippines. To date, we have sold over 5,700 units since we started in 2009 and, this year, we are expected to sell even more than we did in 2019. We, at Lexus, always take pride in our after-sales support and this, we believe, is our strength. Providing the best customer service in the industry continues to be our mission.

“Today, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Lexus Invitational Golf tournament. And, because of this, we have ordered Lexus golf bags especially made for each and every one of you. It is designed to be your companion wherever you play. We will, likewise, be giving away raffle prizes to all our players so that no one will go home empty handed, and, in addition, major prizes will be drawn

Results of Lexus Invitational: LEXUS INVITATIONAL 2020 No.

TITLE

Name

GROSS

HCP

NET

REMARKS

1

Overall Champion

Raymond Lacdao

69

2

67

2

Low Gross Champion

Sammy Sy

73

3

Division 1 Champion

Ivan Chev Tabucal

78

8

70

4

Division 1 1st Runner Up

Roberto Iliscupidez

78

8

71

1 birdie, 10 pars, 7 bogies

5

Division 1 2nd Runner Up

Bryan Cockrell

80

9

71

1 birdie, 10 pars

6

Division 2 Champion

Steve Tycangco

99

27

72

7

Division 2 1st Runner Up

Edgardo Irigo

99

25

74

1 birdie

8

Division 2 2nd Runner Up

Jefferson Lawrence Teh

99

25

74

2 pars

9

Ladies Division Champion

Tessa Sy

99

25

74

10

Ladies Division 1st Runner Up

Jennifer Um

101

96

75

11

Guest Division Champion

Bing Liboro

86

15

71

TMP Division Champion

Alfred V. Ty

85

14

71

Longest Drive

Raymond Lacdao

Nearest to the pin Hole #17

Sammy Sy

Nearest to the pin Hole #24

Atsuhiro Okamoto

after our sumptuous dinner.

“We express our heartfelt appreciation to the management and service members of Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club led by its ever-dependable golf director, Mary Grace Estuesta, and to Chef Joseph Go for the delicious food.

Let us all please give them a round of applause.

“Once again thank you very much and enjoy the rest of the evening.”

Looking forward to next year, RTR-san.

PEE STOP Other car-related golf tournaments, of course, are RSA’s San Miguel Media tiff and MVP’s Media Cup, which both stake one brand-new car each as a raffle prize. RSA went fantastically farther last year when he gave the green light for SMC Asia/BMW President Spencer Yu to raffle off three BMW motorcycles at Wack Wack, with Orly Trinidad, Ely Saludar and Alex Magno as jubilant winners…But when will the BMW World Golf Cup be held, Pete Pancho is asking. Cheers!

Geely ushers in hybrid technology as mainstream

G

EELY is set to revolutionize the new generation Chinese vehicles in the Philippines as it takes a bold step in making hybrid technology as mainstream.

Six months after its entry in the Philippine automotive industry, Geely Philippines is set to introduce the Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV), which offers more economic, dynamic and comfortable driving experience.

Geely’s next generation compact SUV, will be powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine complemented by a 48V belt-starter generator (BSG) integrated on the Frontend accessory drive (FEAD) of the

engine, a 48V-12 DCDC converter, 48V lithium-ion battery module and battery management system (BMS). Plus, a recuperation braking system and a hybrid module control system.

Sojitz G Auto Philippines Corp.

(SGAP) President and CEO Mikihisa Takayama said “Hybrid and electric vehicle technology is becoming increasingly popular in the auto industry. This is where the future is heading to. 2020 is definitely going to be a landmark year for Geely in the Philippine automotive market as it steps up its game, with the introduction of the MHEV.” The integration of the mild hybrid technology allows the

vehicle to have various electric vehicle functions. Among these are: n Intelligent Start & Stop—The system cuts the ignition when engine power is not needed, such as during traffic or waiting time, coasting or when braking. n Smart Sailing—The engine automatically turns off during coasting at a high speed, provided that the power is sufficient. n Energy Recycle—The vehicle captures energy using regenerative braking. During braking or decelerating, the car’s kinetic energy is being converted and being stored as electrical energy in the batteries.

As the global automotive market

gears toward a radical technological and economic transformation, Geely vows to offer more value in the models it will introduce to be par with both the local and global standards. Driving into the new future trend, SGAP will launch this MHEV technology in the second quarter of the year with a model that can be considered as Geely Coolray’s “big brother”. Coming from the Coolray’s market success, SGAP is confident that the new SUV will also be welcomed in the country’s market given the exciting styling, luxurious interior, and smart vehicle technologies incorporated in it. This is definitely a vehicle worth waiting for.

Volvo presents Ironmark Award to Mayor Isko

A

LONG with sighs and muted shrieks from admirers of all ages Manila Mayor, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso yet again takes the stage by storm. The young and vibrant Mayor of Manila is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Volvo Ironmark Award.

Held at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila, this year’s People of the Year Awards is more memorable simply because it also marks People Asia’s 20th year. With A-list celebrities and the crème de la crème of society, the distinguished publication honored people from various fields who have made a difference in the lives of people around them.

From Reel to Real

One of these notable individuals is People of the Year awardee Isko Domagoso. He may be called several names—Isko Moreno from his matinee idol days to the more colloquial Yorme, a name bestowed upon him by fans and constituents alike. Regardless of what name he goes by with, it is undeniable that this man continues to make waves especially in the political ocean.

Portraying roles that ranged from charming heartthrob to alluring leading man, Domagoso has ventured out of show business to heed the call of public service.

Growing up in the streets, he knows the daily challenges of the underprivileged and, thus, started

his journey in giving back to society.

Volvo Ironmark Award

It is the dedication and passion to his job that earned Domagoso the esteemed Volvo Ironmark Award.

The Ironmark is the Swedish car manufacturer’s logo that can be seen proudly displayed on all its vehicles.

This is the badge of honor that defines what a Volvo is—a combination of durability, strength, and quality.

These qualities are also main characteristics exemplified by each Volvo Ironmark Awardee. Over the

years, this stamp of excellence can be seen in previous awardees, such as Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Dr. Vicky Belo, Ces Drilon, Bea Alonzo and Joey Concepcion. Adding to this illustrious roster is Domagoso, whose tenacity and vigor are something worth looking forward to.

Volvo S90 T8 Plug-in Electric

Sharing the same characteristics as the latest Ironmark Awardee, the sophisticated Volvo S90 Twin Engine Plug-In Hybrid also graced the halls of Okada Manila that evening.

Classically Volvo, the S90 is a vision in white, effortlessly blending Scandinavian elegance with a distinctly modern flair.

Under its stylish looks and sensual lines lies a supercharged and turbocharged personality. It’s an All-Wheel Drive that spews 407hp with the efficiency of a plug-in hybrid. Since it’s a Volvo, it comes equipped with all the IntelliSafe features that the brand is known the world over. Additionally, top-ofthe-line infotainment systems are also a given to make every ride a rewarding one.