BusinessMirror March 23, 2022

PHL raises $2.25B from new global bonds

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

T Switch to Cage-Free Eggs

On March 22 Resorts World Manila kicked off its overarching sustainability program, dubbed, “I Love Earth” with the launch of its Sustainable Culinary initiative advocating the use of cage-free eggs led by Marriott Hotel Manila. (L-R) General Manager Hotel Okura Manila Jan Marshall, Resorts World Manila’s Executive Chinese Sous Chef Sew Kong Goh, Multi-property Vice President-The Philippines and General Manager Marriott Hotel Manila Bruce Winton with Executive Chef Meik Brammer, Director of Corporate Communications Resorts World Manila Joee Guilas, Japanese Specialty Chef Hotel Okura Manila Chef Ryuji Tsuchida, General Manager Sheraton Manila Hotel Anna-Liza Vergara with Executive Chef Kiko Santiago, In-coming General Manager John Lucas of Hilton Manila with Executive Sous Chef Lord Bayaban.

HE Phi l ippine gover nment borrowed $2.25 billion (around P118 billion) from the offshore debt market through its latest offering of triple-tranche dollar-denominated global bonds, including its maiden green bonds.

Broken down, the government raised $500 million for its new 5-year global bonds and another $750 million for its 10.5-year global bonds.

Meanwhile, its first-ever sustainability dollar global bonds yielded $1 billion in proceeds for the government’s climate change initiatives.

Proceeds of the 5-year and 10.5year Global Bonds will be for the

government’s budgetary support, while the proceeds from its debut 25-year Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Global Bonds will be for general budget financing and to finance/refinance assets in line with the government Sustainable Finance Framework.

The transaction, which is expected to settle on March 29 this year, also marks the first tripletranche dollar-denominated global bond offering for the Philippine government. It also comes after a few weeks of volatility in the global equity and credit markets.

According to the Bureau of the Treasury, the government took advantage of “improving market sentiment” following last week’s meeting of the US Federal Reserve.

The new 5-year Global Bonds were priced at US Treasury spreads of T+ 90 basis points (bps) with a coupon of 3.229 percent, after an initial price guidance of T+ 125 bps area, while the new 10.5-year Global Bonds were priced at T+ 125 bps and a coupon of 3.556 percent, after an initial price guidance of T+ 165 bps area.

Further, the new 25-year Global Bonds were priced at 4.200 percent, tighter by 50 bps than the initial price guidance of 4.700 percent area.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the maiden sustainability bond tranche securing strong demand among the three tranches shows strong investor confidence in the national

government’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by 2030 under its National Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement.

Of the 75 percent, 72.29 percent is “conditional” or contingent upon the support of climate finance, technologies, and capacity development, which shall be provided by developed countries, as prescribed by the Paris Agreement, while the remaining 2.71 percent is “unconditional” or shall be implemented mainly through domestic resources.

“This debut sustainability bond float not only attracts the private sector-based investment needed See “Bonds,” A2

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Wednesday, March 23, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 166

P25.00 nationwide | 3 sections 24 pages | 7 days a week

NEW PSA TO SPUR $100-B INVESTMENTS–DTI CHIEF n

CONSTRUCTION work continues 24/7 at the Metro Manila Subway Project, the country’s first underground railway system, in Valenzuela City. The P48-billion project has reached 30-percent completion, the transportation department announced. The project will use cutting-edge Japanese tunneling technology, stretching 36 km and connecting the northern city of Valenzuela and the southern city of Parañaque. NONOY LACZA

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

T

@jearcalas

RADE Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on Tuesday said the enactment of the amended Public Service Act (PSA) could lead to over $100-billion investments in telecommunication, transportation and logistics in the next two years.

Lopez said current potential investments in the sectors of telecommunication, transportation, logistics and railway—where foreigners are now allowed to own

100 percent equity—is over $60 billion. President Duterte signed last Monday the amended PSA, See “DTI,” A2

Fund for bigger UCT to come from GOCC dividends—DOF chief

F

INANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said funds needed for the additional unconditional cash transfers (UCT) of P500 per month per household will not come from borrowings. They can be sourced from additional dividends from government corporations apart from the windfall from the valueadded tax collections on fuel.

After drawing criticism that the government’s cash aid is “too

small,” President Duterte ordered Dominguez to more than double the additional monthly additional UCT aid to be given to the poorest 50 percent of the population from P200 to P500 to help them cope with the rise in fuel prices. Duterte also said Dominguez expressed reservation over the additional budget allocation needed to implement See “UCT,” A2

Solons hail new PSA, but push safeguards

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

F

@joveemarie

OLLOWING the signing of the new Public Service Act, lawmakers said the new measure is expected to yield “massive” impacts on job creation and investments.

Two House of Representatives committee chairmen—Joey Sarte Salceda of Ways and Means and Sharon Garin of Economic Affairs—described the historic reform as the most important

economic measure since the passage of the CREATE Law. Sen. Grace Poe, main author and sponsor of the bill in the Senate, said she looked forward, with its signing, “to finally having an enabling environment that provides better and more affordable services, creates more jobs and ultimately improves the quality of life of every Filipino.” But, she added, “vigilance is crucial” to ensure that the “safeguards we

PESO exchange rates n US 52.3650 n japan 0.4383 n UK 68.9647 n HK 6.6921 n CHINA 8.2376 n singapore 38.5888 n australia 38.7239 n EU 57.7115 n SAUDI arabia 13.9588

See “PSA,” A2

Source: BSP (22 March 2022)

A2

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

BusinessMirror

PHL and US to hold ‘largest-ever’ Balikatan exercise starting Friday

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

C

LOSE to 9,000 Filipino and American troops will participate in this year’s Balikatan, which the military said, would be the “largest-ever” iteration of the exercise.

Balikatan is the biggest bilateral military exercise between the United States and the Philippines, which for the past years, has also been joined by

Bonds. . .

Continued from A1

to finance the climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in the Philippines, but also allows the government to attract funds from ESG-conscious investors and boost the development of the sustainable financing market in the Philippines,” Dominguez said in a statement.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon also said this deal is also the first and biggest offshore sovereign offering in the region for this year.

“The strong investor reception across all tranches underscores the Republic’s unfettered access to the international capital markets. Being the first and largest offshore Southeast Asia sovereign offering in 2022, the Republic’s transaction has

allies that include Japan and Australia.

At least 3,800 Filipino soldiers and 5,100 US servicemen will participate in the two-week war games, which will officially begin on Friday.

The exercise will focus on maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“During Balikatan, the US military

and AFP will train together to expand and advance shared tactics, techniques, and procedures that strengthen our response capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” said Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron, commander of the US’s 3rd Marine Division.

The military said the training will also include command post exercise that will test the ability of both forces to plan, command, and communicate with each other in a

reopened the Asian bond markets for long-dated offerings and cements the Republic’s position as the leading capital market participant in Asia.”

Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven pointed out that investors showed “overwhelming interest” across all tranches, especially on the government’s first sovereign ESG bond issuance despite the volatility in the global markets.

“The upsized issuance backed by a significantly oversized orderbook provides an overwhelming affirmation to the Administration’s continued prudent fiscal and economic management amidst the pandemic,” said Joven, who heads the department’s Internal Finance Group.

The Global Bonds are expected to be rated Baa2 by Moody’s, BBB+ by Standard & Poor’s, and BBB by Fitch.

Bank of China, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman

Sachs, Mizuho Securities, Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered Bank, and UBS were Joint Bookrunners for the transaction.

Vigeo Eiris provided a Second Party Opinion on the Republic’s Sustainable Finance Framework. Standard Chartered Bank and UBS were Sustainability Structuring Advisors.

The deal follows the Philippines’s $3 billion dual-tranche global bond offering in June 2021, as well as the €2.1 billion triple tranche Global Bonds and ¥55 billion Samurai bond offering in April 2021 and March 2021 respectively.

As of end-January this year, the gover n ment ’s out st a nd i ng debt has already hit a new record-high of P12.03 trillion as the country needed to borrow more to cover a wider budget deficit given the bigger ex penses amid the Cov id-19 pandemic.

simulated environment.

“The experience gained in the exercise complements our security cooperation endeavors and will help to enhance existing mutual security efforts,” said exercise co-director Major Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan.

The military training, which will be conducted across Luzon, “coincides with the 75th anniversary of US-Philippine security cooperation,” according to Bargeron.

UCT. . .

Continued from A1

the increase in UCT benefits, since it will cause “problems” in the government finances in six months after it is implemented.

Asked whether foreign borrowings would be one way to finance the additional UCT aid, Dominguez told reporters on Tuesday: “Foreign or domestic debt do not create fiscal space, only unbudgeted revenue and unspent revenues do. Fiscal space for the additional unconditional cash transfers will initially come from the windfall VAT collections and additional dividends from GOCCs [government-owned and -controlled corporations].”

However, Dominguez has yet to provide further details on how much additional dividends can the GOCCs remit to fund the cash aid.

Budget and finance officials have also yet to confirm how much money is needed to finance the monthly additional UCT aid of P500 per month for each poor household, but earlier Dominguez said P33.1 billion is needed to provide the original augmentation fund of P200 per month or P2,400 for one year to help 12 million households or around 70 million people.

For its part, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is currently coordinating with the Department of Finance (DOF) on the release of the additional cash aid.

DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao also said on Tuesday that they are still waiting for the formal issuance from the Office of the President on this matter.

“We are now coordinati ng w it h t he Depa r t ment of Finance on the ayuda we will distribute to our poor countrymen.

We are also awaiting the release of the official communication on the funds from the Department of Budget and Management so we can start giving them out,” Dumlao said during the Palace briefing on Tuesday.

“And meantime, the DSWD is crafting the guidelines to ensure that distribution of the subsidy will be smooth and fast,” she added.

Bernadette D. Nicolas

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DTI. . .

Continued from A1

completing the administration’s economic liberalization reform measures.

The new policy will apply to all sectors except for crucial services like transmission and distribution of electricity, water and pipeline sewerage, seaports, petroleum pipeline, and public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“Initial investment leads in the sector will be over $60 [billion] composed of telecom, transportation, logistics, railway.

This is still understated as other leads have not indicated investment amounts.

[This] can be over $100 [billion] over two years,” Lopez told reporters.

Lopez hailed the enactment of the amended PSA as “another landmark reform” under the Duterte administration as it “finally” opened up critical sectors such as telecommunications and transportation, shipping, railways, to more foreign players.

“This is another landmark reform under the Duterte administration as it finally opens up, after 85 years, critical sectors such as telecommunications and transportation, shipping, railways, to more foreign players, allowing greater competition, more technology-based innovations, better quality services and lower costs that will be enjoyed by all consumers and users,” he said.

“We thank the legislators and business chambers for supporting the economic team in pushing for this legislation” he added.

MAP: Trio of reforms

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said the amended PSA together with the amended Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA) and Foreign Investment Act (FIA) would provide a legal framework that encourages the “inflow of more foreign investments into the country.”

“The entry of foreign investors will foster strong competition that will benefit the consumers, create more jobs, expand our economy, and boost our recovery from the disruptions caused by Covid-19. A

PSA. . .

Continued from A1

placed in the law remain sacrosanct.”

Deliberations in the Senate had been tough, amid concern that the amended law might open the floodgates to allowing foreign business to muscle out local industries.

For Salceda, the signing “will usher in a decade of unprecedented growth in foreign investments, as long as the next President can back the reforms up with market-friendly policies and actions.”

For her part, Garin said the law is “a step towards liberalization is to limit the industries where foreign ownership is restricted. Under the new measure, the 40-percent cap on foreign equity ownership is lifted from public services not classified as public utility.”

Garin said the amendment to the Public Service Act clarifies the definition of “public utility,” which has been traditionally left to the judgement of the Judiciary.

“The law now limits ‘public utility’ to distribution and transmission of electricity, petroleum and petroleum products transmission, water distribution and wastewater systems, seaports, and public utility vehicles,” said Garin.

The 1987 Constitution limits foreign equity ownership of public utilities to up to a maximum of 40 percent.

The measure effectively opens up to 100-percent foreign equity all economic sectors in the country except the transmission and distribution of electricity, water pipeline and sewerage, seaports, petroleum pipeline, and public utility vehicles.

According to Salceda, the measure is the closest that the country has been to overcoming the “growth overhang caused by the 1987 Constitution’s foreign equity restrictions.”

“It cures our self-inflicted FDI limits. No one told us public services are necessarily public utilities. We just assumed that they meant the same thing, so we imposed foreign equity restrictions on a broad swathe of services in need of capital. We did not have to do that. This law settles that question,” he said.

“It’s a massive reform because it opens us to foreign capital. We need a

more open Philippine economy will enable us to catch up with our more progressive neighbors in ASEAN,” MAP said.

The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) said the amended PSA would attract global players to help “modernize” the Philippine public services sectors with “increased competition seen to generate higher quality of service and competitive pricing” for Filipino consumers.

“The passage of the Amendments of the Public Service Act harmonizes with the recently passed amendments to Retail Trade Liberalization Act and Foreign Investment Act” GPCCI President Stefan Schmitz said.

“With these laws enacted, we are confident that the country can attract many investors in various sectors and will benefit Filipinos by improving basic services and creating more jobs,” Schmitz added.

The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) said the amended PSA would help sustain the Philippine economy’s rebound from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as it will “facilitate new opportunities and sustainable growth by fostering competition in the public service sector.”

“This new law will bring huge benefits for business and individual consumers alike, with the entry of more investors in the telecommunications and transport industries offering a wider choice at different price points. We foresee increased investments in the sectors opened up to a maximum of 100 percent foreign ownership such as telecommunications, shipping, trains and railways, airports and airlines, toll roads, and transport network vehicles [TNVs],” the FEF said.

“As new foreign investments enter the country, the amended Public Service Act establishes rules to protect the country from malign intentions that endangers our national security. The provisions on vetting of potential investments in critical infrastructure, and the requirement for an ISO certification for Information Security for telecommunications investors ensures that the Philippines will be less vulnerable to cyber threats and domination of foreign interests,” it added. lot of foreign capital. We have plenty of domestic talent, but they leave for abroad because the capital required to hire them is invested abroad,” added Salceda.

More jobs, growth

Salceda also expects an increase in FDI by around P299 billion over the next five years as a result of the PSA amendments.

“We also expect gross value added [GVA] growth in these areas to cause a GDP growth rate that is 0.47 percentage points higher than the baseline,” Salceda said.

“The main economic benefit of the PSA amendments is that it provides local [and oligopolistic] players in key sectors with a credible threat of external competition.

Credible threat of competition is seen as a pro-competitive measure that reduces monopoly or oligopoly power [to set prices or provide services at low quality] and encourages local players to improve efficiency,” he said.

With the reforms, Salceda said, the 2020s may turn out to be “the best decade for FDI in the country’s history, or at least our FDI breakout moment, if the next President gets it right.”

He added: “If the next administration can inspire investor confidence and enact supportive and economically sound policies, the policy reforms we enacted through CREATE, FIA [Foreign Investment Act], PSA, and RTLA [Retail Trade Liberalization Act] amendments will usher in a wave of foreign investments.”

“That’s why confidence-inspiring policies and appointments, especially in the economic team of the next leader, will be absolutely crucial,” he added.

Meanwhile, Garin said the law also recognizes that the regulatory powers of the Public Service Commission have long been delegated to various administrative agencies.

“We did not introduce any change on the way industries are currently regulated.

But we also made sure we did not come up with more restrictive rules than what we already have,” said Garin, who heads the House contingent in the Bicameral Conference Committee.

“We need more foreign investments to produce more jobs if we are to recover faster from our losses during the pandemic.

Government ayuda is never enough, and neither is it sustainable,” added Garin.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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PHL at low risk classification as Covid-19 cases continue to slide

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

T

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said the Philippines is now at minimal risk case classification, as Covid-19 cases continue to slow down in all regions.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also said that health systems capacity is at low risk.

Vergeire added that the average daily cases per day this recent week is lower by 13 percent than the cases registered last week.

She reported that the average daily cases from March 15 to March 21 are 490 (lower by 13 percent); March 8 to March 14, 564 (lower by 36 percent); March 1 to March 7, 879 (lower by 31 percent); and 1,280 from February 22 to February 28.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 severe and critical hospital admissions have declined from 1,874 to 805 cases.

“We remind the public to continue following the minimum public health standards and get vaccinated and boosted to help keep our Covid-19 cases low and our health systems capacity at low risk,” Vergeire said.

DENR employees in ‘Yolanda’-hit areas finally receive P42.2 million in cash aid

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to release P42.2 million as relief assistance to the agency’s employees affected by Typhoon “Yolanda” (international code name Haiyan) almost a decade ago.

Yolanda struck on November 8, 2013, devastating Central Philippines.

To benefit from the cash assistance are DENR employees affected by the typhoon, particularly those who are living in the areas of Palawan, Eastern Visayas, and Western Visayas when Yolanda struck.

“This check speaks of the DENR’s valued commitment to push tirelessly for the welfare and benefits of its hardworking work force, however, long and challenging the waiting has been,” DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said in a news statement.

Sampulna also cited the tireless efforts of DENR field officials in securing financial help.

The DENR chief handed over the checks to senior field officials of DENR Regions 8, 6, and 4B worth P34.2 million, P7.2 million, and P760,000, respectively, during the flag-raising ceremony last Monday.

The acting DENR chief expressed his gratitude to President Duterte for the support to the agency’s employees despite the government’s limited budget and resources due to Covid-19 and global repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Sampulna said the cash assistance make up the second tranche of financial help from the Office of the President following the release of about P11 million in 2012 in response to a request made by DENR-Northern Mindanao officials for monetary aid for workers affected by Typhoon Sendong in December 2011.

DENR-Region 8 Executive Director Tirso Parian said the release of the cash aid “is as good a day as any, particularly for many of our co-workers who are still paying off loans for the reconstruction of their houses that were damaged by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.”

Eastern Visayas DENR Employees Union President Sonia Q. Mejido said 164 workers whose houses were completely damaged by the typhoon will receive P100,000 each, while 594 beneficiaries whose houses were partially damaged will get P30,000 each. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, March 23, 2022 A3

Fishermen stumble upon ₧17 million worth of cocaine in waters off Cagayan

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

O

PERATING teams from the Philippine National Police (PNP) are continuing to scour the waters and coastal villages in Cagayan in search of illegal drugs following the recovery by two fishermen of at least 3 kilos of cocaine reportedly worth at least P17 million.

PNP Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Balba said teams were conducting land and sea operations in a bid to locate and recover remaining drugs that were believed still at sea and in

the hands of some coastal residents.

On Tuesday, PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said Erwin Lobas, chairman of Barangay Sanja, Aparri, Cagayan, turned over to policemen and operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 3 kilos of cocaine.

Lobas reported to policemen that the drugs, in three bricks, were fished out by fishermen Raymart Leste and Willard Labbao at around 9:00 a.m. between the seawaters of Abulug and Ballesteros towns in Cagayan.

The three bricks were wrapped in sealed plastic with packing tapes and black rubber.

The two fishermen did not know thatwhattheyfoundwerecocaineuntil it was confirmed by the PDEA Region 2, whichsubjectedthebrickstolaboratory examinations after they were turned over by Maritime policemen.

“The PNP commends the laudable action of the two Cagayano fishermen, barangay officials and our police and operating units for the recovery of the suspected cocaine,” Carlos said.

“This is yet another milestone of achievement in our Campaign Plan Double-Barrel Finale Version 2022 also known as Anti-Illegal Drugs Operation through Reinforcement and Education or ADORE,” he added.

Cops’ linked to kidnapping probed

MEANWHILE, the PNP will thoroughly investigate the claims of victims and witnesses that policemen were involved in the kidnapping of a cockfight aficionado in San Pablo City, Laguna, last year.

During Monday’s continuation of the Senate’s hearing on the disappearance of 34 “sabungeros,” a live-in partner of the missing victim named and identified two policemen who were reportedly among the armed men who barged into their homes in August last year.

“The PNP will not take the witnesses’ accounts lightly, but the organization will have to make sure that due process is upheld. Names of PNP personnel have been floated during the legislative inquiry but we will need to validate these information more thoroughly,” Balba said.

Balba also reiterated Carlos’ warning for policemen to stay away from any gambling activity, as they will be sanctioned.

“Ayaw po natin na malulong sila sa sugal. The worst thing is makagawa sila ng krimen dahil dito. We are confident that soon enough, we will find out the truth behind this case,” he said.

Conversion to Islam not a shield vs bigamy–SC Davao Region

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

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ONVERSION to Islam would not shield a party to a civil marriage from facing criminal liability for bigamy.

The Supreme Court (SC) declared this in a 17-page decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and released to the public on Monday, March 21, 2022.

“A party to a civil marriage who converts to Islam and contracts another marriage, despite the first marriage’s subsistence, is guilty of bigamy,” the decision read. “Likewise guilty is the spouse in the subsequent marriage. Conversion to Islam does not operate to exculpate them from criminal liability,” it added.

The Court made the declaration in a decision that denied the petition for review filed by couple Francis and Jacqueline (surname withheld).

The SC affirmed the 2015 decision of the Court of Appeals (CA), which upheld the 2012 ruling of the regional trial court (RTC) that convicted Francis and Jacqueline of bigamy and sentenced each of them to a prison term ranging from six months and one day to six years and one day.

“Further, a married Muslim cannot marry another. In exceptional cases, a married Muslim man may

do so if he can deal with them with equal companionship and just treatment as enjoined by Islamic law,” the SC pointed out.

The SC stressed that the formal requisites of the subsequent marriage under Presidential Decree No. 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines (Muslim Code) requires the wife’s knowledge of the impending subsequent marriage.

However, the Court modified the penalty imposed by both the RTC and the CA by increasing the jail term imposed on the couple to two years and four months as minimum to eight years and one day as maximum.

Based on the records of the case, Francis and Jacqueline were charged with bigamy last November 20, 2006 by Francis’ wife Nerrian who claimed that on March 26, 1988, she and Francis were married under the religious rites of Iglesia ni Cristo in Panabo City, Davao del Norte and have two children.

Nerrian recounted that in 2005, Francis left the family home for Tagum City to find a job but eventually abandoned their family.

Nerrian discovered that Francis was living with Jacqueline and that they contracted marriage on June 18, 2005 solemnized by a Municipal Trial Court judge.

Francis and Jacqueline admitted that they got married while Francis’ marriage to Nerrian was subsisting.

However, they claimed that they could not be penalized for bigamy as they converted to Islam prior to their marriage.

In its May 7, 2012 decision, the RTC found Francis and Jacqueline guilty beyond reasonable doubt of bigamy.

It reasoned that the Muslim Code does not govern the circumstances of Nerrian, Francis, and Jacqueline considering that Nerrian is not a Muslim.

The trial court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Jacqueline and Nerrian, prompting them to elevate the issue to the CA. In its decision, the CA affirmed the lower court’s decision as it held that all elements of bigamy were present.

It held that unless the first marriage was dissolved and finalized under the Civil Code, any party’s subsequent marriage should make them liable for bigamy.

In their petition filed before the Court, Francis and Jacqueline insisted they are Muslims and married under Muslim Law. They presented their certificate of conversion and their certificate of marriage.

They pointed out that their mar-

riage before a trial court judge on June 18, 2005 was merely ceremonial because they had been married under Muslim rites on June 5, 2005.

They also argued that based on Article 3 of the Muslim Code, when there is a conflict between Muslim law and the general law, Muslim law prevails.

However, the SC held that Article 13 (2) of the Muslim Code explicitly spells out that the Civil Code governs marriages where either party is non-Muslim and which were not solemnized in Muslim rites.

“There is no conflict with general law here. The nature, consequences, and incidents of petitioner Francis’ prior and admittedly subsisting marriage to Nerrian remain well within the ambit of the Civil Code, and its counterpart penal provisions in the Revised Penal Code,” the SC explained.

The SC stated: “Whether petitioner Francis converted to Islam before or after his marriage with petitioner Jacqueline, the subsequent marriage consummated the crime of bigamy.

He cannot successfully invoke the exculpatory clause in Article 180 [of the Muslim Code], considering that the Muslim Code finds no application in his then subsisting marriage with Nerrian, the marriage recognized by law that bars and penalizes a subsequent marriage.”

PRC’s blood services serve 40K patients in less than 3 months

T

HE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) National Blood Services has served more than 40,000 patients from January 1 to March 21 this year, and collected 36,086 units from 49,033 donors and dispensed 75,496 blood units during the same period.

Just how important is a blood bank to a country? If you or a loved one has ever needed a blood transfusion, you know how important it is. Blood transfusions save lives.

According to the World Health Organization, providing safe and adequate blood should be an integral part of every country’s national health care policy and infrastructure.

The PRC’s National Blood Services is a vital part of this infrastructure. It is the PRC’s arm that delivers adequate, safe, and quality blood supply to the most vulnerable.

Through the leadership of its Chairman and CEO, Senator Richard J. Gordon, the PRC now has 98 blood service facilities nationwide, making it the leading provider of blood and blood products in the country. The PRC continually promotes voluntary non-remunerated blood donations to maintain an adequate supply.

“Para maging handa tayo sa anumang insidente, kailangang may sapat tayong suplay ng dugo,” Chairman Gordon said.

PHILIPPINE Red Cross (PRC) staff attends to the needs of an unidentified blood donor at one of PRC’s National Blood Services clinic. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

schools resume F-to-F classes

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—More than 500 public and private schools are now holding face-to-face (Fto-F) classes in the Davao Region, the Department of Education (DepEd) here said.

From only nine schools on pilot basis in November last year and mainly because of the very low incident, or very low likelihood for infection, the number of schools grew to 541 as of this week, Jenelito Atillo, DepEd regional spokesman told the BusinessMirror.

The piloted schools were many in Davao de Oro, formerly Compostela Valley, with five schools, and in Davao del Sur, with three and only one in Davao City were allowed.

“Today, 541 public and private schools were approved of their request to hold F-to-F classes,” Atillo added.

And when before it was required to have the students fully vaccinated to participate in the F-to-F classes, the DepEd has required only the parents’ consent. “But teachers are all required to be fully vaccinated,” he said.

Atillo said DepEd allowed schools on their own volition to work on their own pace in the process of applying for the conduct of F-to-F classes.

“We don’t want to impose to the schools but we want them to really make sure that they are ready and compliant to the guidelines we’ve set before giving them the permit to hold face-to-face classes,” he also told the government-ran Philippine Information Agency.

There are about 2,669 schools in the Davao region, including private schools.

“The schools have to get the approval of the DepEd to conduct faceto-face classes. They cannot just hold it on by their own wish,” Atillo said.

The PIA said the DepEd’s assessment of these schools allowed to hold face-to-face classes was that both students and teachers were happy to finally physically report to class after two years of staying at home and learning through the various alternative learning modalities.

“It was the desire of the teachers to be able to extend teaching directly and outright instead of facing all other barriers when they adopted the alternative teaching modalities,” he said.

“For our students, they can finally interact and socialize with their classmates. We do not see hesitation from the side of the students. Rather, there are parents who are still hesitant to allow their kids to physically report to class. And we respect their decision by the issuance of a parent’s consent as a requirement for the faceto-face classes,” the PIA quoted Atillo as saying.

Economy BusinessMirror

A4 Wednesday, March 23, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Marina’s Empedrad bares plan to establish Subic satellite office

MARITIME Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator Robert Empedrad reveals plans for a Marina satellite office in the Subic Bay Freeport to serve the needs of stakeholders in the Zambales-Bataan area and other parts of Luzon. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By Henry Empeño Correspondent

S

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the government agency responsible for the development of the maritime industry, is looking to establish a satellite office in this free port to serve the big number of seafarers in the

Zambales-Bataan area and nearby parts of Luzon.

Marina Administrator Retired Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad bared this plan early this week during a maritime industry forum here, which sought to discuss initiatives to bring the agency’s services closer to the Filipino people.

“We want to open an extension

office here in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone that will cater to the 21,305 seafarers from Bataan, Olongapo, Zambales, and the [Subic Bay Freeport Zone],” Empedrad said.

He said the Subic extension office may be established through a memorandum of agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which manages the Subic Special Economic Zone.

“Today, we would like to share the vision of moving the maritime industry with the SBMA, the local government of Olongapo, maritime academe and private stakeholders, as we believe that our united efforts would contribute to the realization of the plans under the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan [MIDP],” Empedrad said.

“Marina cannot do it alone, but with our united efforts, the dream may become a reality,” he added.

The proposal was warmly received by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino Sr., a statement from the Subic agency said.

Paulino reportedly noted the benefits that such a satellite office will bring the seafarers of Central Luzon, and committed “to provide any assistance needed in the plan to develop the maritime industry of the Subic free port.”

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao said the Subic Bay Freeport received a total of 1,973 ship calls in 2021, with more than 23.5 million in gross register tonnage.

He added that in January and February 2022 alone, the SBMA respectively received 144 and 186 ship calls that included motor tankers, motor vessels, military ships, and container vessels.

The recent maritime forum “Philippine Maritime Industry Strategic Overview Forum, Stakeholders’ Orientation and Mobile Registration” that was held here partly to enhance the capability of the Subic Bay Freeport as a transshipment hub.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Pinoy creative talents told: Sign up in Citem’s Create platform

By Roderick L. Abad

Contributor

@rodrik_28

T

O help strengthen the creative industry’s local economic contribution and global impact, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) is inviting Filipino talents to register in its expanded online platform to promote themselves to the international market.

Its platform CreatePhilippines. com (https://createphilippines.com/) is now open, offering a centralized directory for all creative companies and individuals as a first step in creating an omnichannel approach in their promotions here and abroad.

According to Citem Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan, this portal will not only highlight case studies and their journeys through engaging content but also help capacitate the sector.

“We want the Create platform to be a starting point for collaboration within diverse sectors of the country’s creative economy,” she said.

Based on data presented by Creative Economy Council of the Philippines (CECP) President Paolo Mercado, the Philippines generates $4.1 billion worth of creative exports, making it the fifth-largest and most valuable creative economy in Southeast Asia.

The Filipino market for creative services, he said, is the largest in the region, amounting to $3.2 billion.

Given this, the CECP has created a road map with a vision for the Philippines to become the largest creative economy among its peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region by 2030.

Policy-wise, Senate Bill 2455 or the Philippine Creative Industries Act is the country’s latest legislative effort to centralize and address the welfare of the Filipino creative

economy. It has been approved on second reading with amendments last January 31.

If passed into law, the bill will establish the Philippines’ Creative Industries Development Council, which is tasked with creating specialized codes for the creative industries in the Philippine Standard Industrial Classification, along with defining the industry’s key performance indicators.

The industries it includes are audiovisual media, digital interactive media, creative services, design, publishing and printed media, performing arts, visual arts, traditional cultural expressions, and cultural sites.

Being the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, Citem has strengthened its Create Philippines brand through its inaugural digital conference last year dubbed “Creative Futures.”

“We believe that the capabilities of the Philippines’ creative industries can also boost economic growth and can generate export sales, through this initiative we hope to aid our creatives to reach their fullest potential,” Juan said.

Registration in CreatePhilippines. com is free of charge. Aspiring creatives must submit the following documents: digital portfolio containing their brand story, projects, and list of clients; any government-issued ID for individuals or valid Business Permit for business and companies; and Bureau of Internal Revenue Certificate of Registration.

By signing up in its directory, participants will be provided a complimentary digital booth in the 2022 Creative Futures Digital Conference—it’s second leg is in July—and can maximize the year-round promotional activities of Create Philippines. Also, they can join in a raffle promo until March 25 to win prizes.

Jica names Sakatomo Takema as new chief representative in PHL

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

T

HE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) announced on Tuesday that it has appointed a new chief representative in the country effective March this year.

Sakamoto Takema will be taking over Jica Philippines from former Chief Representative Azukizawa Eigo who steered Jica’s operations in the Philippines amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to his appointment in the Philippines, Sakamoto held wideranging leadership positions in Jica for more than 30 years, including his post as Chief Representative in Jica Iraq and Jica India offices in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

Early on in his career, Sakamoto also served as Representative of the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) in Beijing, China.

“It’s a great honor to be given the opportunity to lead Jica Philippine Office during this time as nations keep pace with recovery from Cov-

Negros Occidental farmers receive farm machines, training from DAR

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

A

GROUP of rice farmers in Negros Occidental got a muchneeded boost through a P1.35 million worth of farm machinery, equipment and training, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said.

The assistance to 78 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) aims to improve rice productivity and alleviate the standard of living among farmer beneficiaries of Barangay Salvacion, particularly the Barangay Salvacion Farmers Irrigators Association in Murcia town.

DAR-Negros Occidental North Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Teresita Mabunay said the initiative is part of the major crop-based block farm productivity enhancement project under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) project of the DAR. The DAR procured a bio-shredder unit, a hand tractor, and a rubber roll rice mill with a housing facility.

“The farm machinery and equipment will be a great help because it will enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity of our ARBs,” she said.

Mabunay said the farm and ma-

chinery equipment would make farming activities much easier and faster, giving farmers more time for other activities and to their families.

She added that a total of P350,000 worth of agri-extension services in the form of technology and technical training were also channeled to the ARBs. Mabunay said DAR would train at least 50 farmer-beneficiaries on the establishment, care, and management of organic farming systems.

“The farmers will be provided with technology and technical training for them to learn the processes of organic rice production, integrated pest management, organic concoction preparation, and fertilizer production and the operation and maintenance of common service facilities,” Mabunay said.

Barangay Salvacion Farmers Irrigators Association Chairman Narciso Wilfredo expressed his gratitude to the DAR on behalf of their association for exerting all efforts to help the farmers and ARBs. CRFPS aims to provide agricultural extension services and livelihood support to ARBs for them to have additional income and to develop resilience amid the threats of climate change. Jonathan L. Mayuga

id-19. Jica and the Philippines have built close ties and friendship over the years,” Sakamoto said.

“I look forward to working with our Filipino counterparts through the basis of ‘mutual understanding and respect’ so that we can further enhance our trusted partnership through investments, sharing of Japanese knowledge and innovations, and other areas of cooperation,” the new official added.

Jica is the Philippines’ largest bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) partner, with over 60 ongoing

development cooperation projects nationwide across key development sectors.

Since the 1960s, Jica has assisted various development areas in the country including railways, roads and bridges, disaster risk reduction, maritime safety and security, investment promotion, energy, environment, agriculture, and peace and development in Mindanao.

The total value of Jica programs amounted to JPY260 billion in 2020.

Makati City turns over mobile food carts to street vendors

I

N a bid to regulate the proliferation of illegal vendors in the country’s financial capital, the Makat i Cit y go ve r n ment has turned over mo- VENDORS receive their food carts distributed by the office of Makati City Mayor Abigail “Abby” bile food Binay. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO carts to the city’s street vendors. pedestrians.

“Through this program, we aim Binay said the city government has to regulate ambulant vendors in so far distributed 41 carts. the city to maintain safe and ‘walkEach vendor, the mayor said, will able’ streets. At the same time, we be assigned to do business at specific are providing them with decent streets and open spaces. equipment to sell their goods so Under the program, the city has a as to attract more customers and three-year lease-to-own agreement promote consumer safety,” Mayor with the vendors for the free use Abigail “Abby” Binay said of the of the city-provided pedicart units.

Ate Maki ’s Jolly Carts to help In turn, the vendors have agreed to them earn a living without causpay P20 per day for three consecuing obstruction for vehicles and tive years. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

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News

BusinessMirror Wednesday, March 23, 2022

A5

DBM disburses ₧7 billion to DOTr to fund revival of SCP amid fuel price hikes

T

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P7 billion to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the implementation of Service Contracting Program (SCP) in a bid to further cushion the impact of rising oil prices.

The SCP aims to provide cash subsidies to affected public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, while also ensuring the efficiency and safety of public transport services amid the current health and economic crisis.

“The DBM will continue to support other government agencies with the timely releases of appropriate budgetary needs for the execution of programs that will serve the Filipino people,” it said.

Under the program, operators of PUVs will be contracted via an agreement based on a plan prepared by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

PUV drivers will then be receiv-

ing regular performance-based subsidies based on the number of trips made per week, regardless of the number of passengers. This will be implemented through two types of contract—net cost contracting and gross cost contracting—to ensure fair compensation of services to be provided by PUV drivers.

To ensure the smooth implementation of the program and proper distribution of the cash subsidies, LTFRB will be in partnership with priority local government units to facilitate the broad engagement of public transport cooperatives, associations, or corporations operating within their jurisdictions.

Earlier this month, DBM released

a total of P3 billion for the transport sector’s fuel subsidy and the agriculture producers’ fuel discounts to cushion the impact of skyrocketing oil prices.

Economic managers have also recommended earlier to President Duterte to increase the budget allotted to the fuel subsidy program to P5 billion from P2.5 billion previously. On top of these, they also proposed to raise the budget for fuel vouchers for agricultural producers from P500 million to P1.1 billion. The release of the funds for fuel subsidy for the transport sector and the fuel vouchers for the agriculture sector are both recommended to be done in two tranches—the first one in March and the second one in April.

President Duterte on Monday also ordered the Department of Finance to increase the monthly additional unconditional cash transfers to the poorest 50 percent of the population from P200 to P500.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the funds needed for the additional cash aid may be sourced from dividends of government owned and controlled corporations as well as from the windfall from value-added taxes on fuel amid higher oil prices.

Duterte: Free MRT-3 rides from March 28 to April 30

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

R

EGUL A R commuters of the Metro Rail Transit Line3 (MRT-3) are in for a special treat after President Duterte announced the light railway line would open free rides to the public for a month starting next week.

Duterte made the announcement during the inauguration of the completion of the rehabilitation of the 21-year-old rail line on Tuesday.

“I’d like to announce that [Transportation] Secretary [Arthur] Tugade and I decided that the MRT-3 rides will be free...from March 28 to April 30, 2022,” Duterte said.

Duterte lauded the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its partner firms Sumitomo Corporation,

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Test Philippines Inc. for completing the project, which is expected to make the operations of MRT faster and safer for its riders. He also thanked the Japanese government for its assistance to the project.

“With the joint effort of these companies and the DOTr, we have increased our train speed from 25 kilometers [km] per hour to 60 per hour while the time interval between train arrivals has improved to 8 to 10 minutes,” Duterte said.

“Also before we only had 12 to 15 operating units, now there are already 18 to 22 trains to serve the people.

This process will decrease, if not, altogether stop the number of unloading incidents in our stations,” he added.

Also part of the project was the restoration of the operation

of the elevators and escalators of the MRT stations. It also covers the upgraded signaling, communications and CCTV systems, as well as the successful installation of air conditioning units inside the trains.

“Our train system would have not returned to its original hybrid design condition without the technical competencies and professional aid of our service providers,” Duterte said.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the MRT-3 Shaw Boulevard Station in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

Aside from Duterte and Tugade, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Aguilar-Abalos also attended the event.

PDP-Laban Cusi wing endorses Bongbong continued from a12 Presidential Communications Operations Office and Acting Presidential Spokesman Martin Andanar said PDP-Laban’s move to endorse Marcos was not discussed during the President’s Talk to the People on Monday night.

“The PDP-Laban just like any political party is composed of members and officials. That is a collegial decision as a political party but the President himself has not given any statement on the issue or if he is not supporting this or that [presidential candidate] so hintayin na lang po natin si Pangulong Duterte kung ano ang kanyang personal na desisyon at again ’yung desisyon na yon ng PDP-Laban ay base sa kanilang napag usapan sa partido [let’s just wait for President Duterte based on his personal decision],” Andanar said during the Palace briefing on Tuesday.

“Ito ay malinaw na desisyon ng partido pero hindi malinaw kung ito rin ang gusto ni Pangulong Duterte [This is clearly a party decision, but it uncertain if this is also what President Duterte wants],” he added.

BBM, Sara grateful

L A K A S - C H R I S T I A N Mu s l i m Democrats’ vice presidential candidate Duterte and Marcos expressed their appreciations over the PDP-Laban endorsement.

“UniTeam is appreciative of the endorsement by PDP-Laban of Apo BBM,” Mayor Duterte said, partly in Filipino, in a chance interview with reporters in Dasmariñas, Cavite, where Tuesday sorties were held.

For his part, Marcos thanked the CusiwingofPDP-Labanfortheendorsement extended to him and Duterte.

“We are very grateful and happy to receive this much awaited and much hoped-for news. We thank our friends in PDP-Laban in their trust in me, Inday Sara and the entire UniTeam,” Marcos said in a separate interview in Tagaytay City.

“This new development will consolidate the forces of unity so that we can continue to work against those who would want to fight Filipinos against each other and that is what we have been campaigning for and that is our dream, that we bring our country together,” Marcos added.

Rodriguez, Abalos, Pimentel react

IN a statement, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, chief of staff and spokesman of Marcos, said, “We are glad the PDP-Laban has joined the bandwagon of support for the BBM-Sara UniTeam of major political parties in the country. It is truly reassuring, but at the same time challenging us to be even more prepared and vigilant in light of growing rumors of possible poll fraud in the coming elections,” he said.

However, Sen. Koko Pimentel, son of PDP-Laban founder Nene Pimentel, slammed the endorsement of Cusi’s PDP-Laban faction and reminded them that the party was established to oppose the Marcos dictatorship.

“With this latest action from Sec. Cusi and his cohorts, they have manifested that they are total strangers to PDP-Laban. They don’t even acknowledge that PDP-Laban was established to oppose the Marcos dictatorship. Time for Comelec to dismiss the petition of these usurpers!" said Pimentel. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz and Bernadette D. Nicolas

A6

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

ADVANCE BEYOND INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING, INC. Unit 511 Campos Rueda Bldg., 101 Urban Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati LAI, HONG-YI Mandarin Marketing Specialist 1.

Brief Job Description: Interpret written or spoken marketing material into one or more other languages-Mandarin, ensures meaning and context are maintained, creates glossaries or term dictionaries, possesses knowledge of multiple languages, works with individual clients and corporations.

Basic Qualification: Can speak, write, and type in Mandarin language. Technical skills in software

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

DENG, CHUNYU Chinese Customer Service Representative

12.

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

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex, Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore, Brgy. 076, Pasay City CHEN, FANGFANG Investigation Specialist I

2.

Brief Job Description: Communicates effectively via email and/or telephone in both Mandarin and English language, with our customer base - buyers, merchants and internal customers. Takes appropriate action to identify and help minimize the risk posed by fraud patterns and trend. Consistently achieves/exceeds weekly productivity and quality standards.

GUO, RUIDONG Chinese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Mandarin Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

13.

AMICOGEN PACIFIC PHILIPPINES CORP. Mezz./f Lcg Bldg., P. Burgos Cor. Calderon Sts., Poblacion, City Of Makati KIM, CHUNGYEOL Business Development Officer 3.

Brief Job Description: Analyzing current and past financial data and providing strategies to cut costs and increase revenue LEE, HYUNGDEOK Business Development Officer

4.

Brief Job Description: Analyzing current and past financial data and providing strategies to cut costs and increase revenue SON, HYUNBEEN Business Development Officer

5.

Brief Job Description: Analyzing current and past financial data and providing strategies to cut costs and increase revenue

Basic Qualification: BS in business course / fluent in Korean language

MANEEKAN, KAMONCHANOK Thai Language-supervisor Fund Management 6.

Brief Job Description: Must fluently speak and write any of-Bahasa Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese

TRUONG THI MINH HIEU Vietnamese Language - Officer Fund Management 7.

Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met.

HU, FOSHENG Chinese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 14.

Basic Qualification: BS in business course / fluent in Korean language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: BS in business course / fluent in Korean language

15.

Basic Qualification: At least 3 years of relevant courses

8.

Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer need

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or any business course.

Must frequently speak and write any of the ff. languages (Bahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai) to cater foreign market.

LAI, BINGGONG Chinese Customer Service Representative

16.

Basic Qualification: Degree holder; must fluently speak and writeBahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai to cater foreign market, atelast 2 months of relevant experience

9.

Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer need

Basic Qualification: Degree holder; must fluently speak and writeBahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai to cater foreign market, atleast 2 months of relevant experience

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

LIANG, GUOWEI Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

TA QUANG MINH Vietnamese Language-officer Fund Management

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

No.

SHI, GUILIN Chinese Customer Service Representative

20.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

21.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

WANG, TIANYANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

22.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

SHI, SHU Chinese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

XIAO, BO Chinese Customer Service Representative

23.

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

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

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

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

DUONG HA MY Vietnamese Language-officer Fund Management

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

HUANG, HUA Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

17.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

XIE, SISHAN Chinese Customer Service Representative

24.

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

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

XU, HAITONG Chinese Customer Service Representative

25.

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

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

VOORN, PHILIP HERMAN EVERARDUS Soil Specialist 10.

Brief Job Description: Conducting feasibility studies for project developments, designing solutions and project support in the preparation and execution phase

Basic Qualification: Experience as soil specialist in dredging and land development industry

LIU, XIANGCHENG Chinese Customer Service Representative

18.

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

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

YUE, LULU Chinese Customer Service Representative

26.

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

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC PHILIPPINES, INC. 2503 Antel Global Corporate Center, Dona Julia Vargas Ave., San Antonio, City Of Pasig

KIM, CHANG HYUN Head Of Commercial 11.

Brief Job Description: Handling all commercial business in Philippines.

Develop knowledge of market, competitors and customer needs that drive the strategy and product positioning for all business units. Build up performing organization and contribution to growth culture.

Basic Qualification: Create, direct and lead the development and execution of the country marketing and sales strategies for specific Boston Scientific product divisions, Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

CLICKPLAY SOLUTIONS CORP. 11 Ab Cyberzone Plaza Bldg., Eastwood Ave., 3, Bagumbayan, Quezon City

MA, ANQING Chinese Customer Service Representative

19.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZHANG, DONGDONG Chinese Customer Service Representative

27.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ZHANG, LUN Chinese Customer Service Representative

28.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

ZHAO, CHUNQI Chinese Customer Service Representative

29.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

ZHAO, JINYUN Chinese Customer Service Representative

30.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

31.

Brief Job Description: Recognizes and Acknowledges that the DTDA programme possesses certain confidential information that constitutes a valuable, special and unique asset.

42.

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

EVERSON VISA CONSULTANCY INC. 37/f Lkg Tower, 6801 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

LAN, FENG Technical Manager

43.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

Basic Qualification: Extensive knowledge of the labor market, trade union organizations, workers and human rights; International experience with development cooperation and project administration from DANIDA and EU; Mastery of Danish and English language at a negotiation level.

CHEN, DAQIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Handling inquiries phone calls

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

JI, OU Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Handling inquiries phone calls

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

LIU, AXIONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Handling inquiries phone calls

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

SUN, HAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Handling inquiries phone calls

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

WANG, YIQIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Handling inquiries phone calls

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

YU, ZHIYONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Handling inquiries phone calls

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

YUE, SHAOLONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Handling inquiries phone calls

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

ZHAI, XUEWEN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Handling inquiries phone calls

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

HU, JINGYAN Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant 44.

40.

Brief Job Description: Investigate user problems and prepare reports for developers.

Basic Qualification: Excellent speaking, writing and reading in Chinese

45.

41.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas

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

LING, XINGZHU Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant 46.

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

LIU, LIBING Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant 47.

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

VALENTINA FRANSISKA BURHAN Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant 48.

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

ZHANG, XIUJUN Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant 49.

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

CHEN, HAIYING Chinese Speaking Technical Consultant 50.

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

JIAN, LISHAN Chinese Speaking Technical Consultant 51.

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

LIU, YING Chinese Speaking Technical Consultant 52.

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

SAELEE, KOMSAN Group CEO 53.

Brief Job Description: The Chairman is Responsible for leading the Board and Focusing it ion Strategic Matters Overseeing the Group’s Business and Setting High Governance Standards

CHEW ZI JIE, ALVIN Talent Acquisition Expert 54.

Brief Job Description: Responsible with an ongoing quest to discover talent, build a strong employment brand and ensure great relationship with both candidates and employees

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Ability to work in a highpressure, deadline-driven environment. Exceptional communication and reporting skills. Solid working knowledge in all required software and programming languages.

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

ENERGY CHINA PHILIPPINES BRANCH OFFICE Unit 1718, High Street South Corporate Plaza Tower 1, Bonifacio Global, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

LYU, YAQIAO Customer Service Representative

55.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LAU LY NAM Mandarin Speaking - Business Development 56.

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

Brief Job Description: Identifying business development opportunities within mandarin speaking business communities

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Speaks and writes fluent in English and mandarin language, excellent oral and written communication in mandarin, has a notable network of potential clients locally and internationally, notable business development and marketing skills.

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

57.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

ONG CHIN MEI Mandarin Speaking HR Manager Brief Job Description: Manages the talent acquisition process

LI, HAISONG Mandarin Speaking Operation Manager 58.

Brief Job Description: Oversee daily operations, identify and addressing problems and opportunities

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, writing and reading in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

JAN DE NUL (PHILS.), INC. 302 3rd/f Aseana Power Station Macapagal Blvd., Cor. Bradco Ave. Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque WEEKERS, LARA Operational Superintendent Dredging Works 59.

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

Brief Job Description: General organization of the assigned part of the dredging works according to the predefined schedule, budget and used methods while observing the quality, safety and environmental standards with a minimum risk for personnel and equipment.

DE BAERE, JONAS JOZEF L. Works Manager

60.

Brief Job Description: Organizing, coordinating and supervising the execution of the (dredging) works and other works for which he is responsible according to the preset planning, budgeting and the applied methods, also observing the standards as to quality, safety and environmental care

Basic Qualification: Minimum 2 years of working experience on international dredging projects.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Minimum of 5 years of working experience on international dredging projects Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

JIANGSU DIBANG CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2106-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

HUANG, YIFEI Equipment Installation Specialist 61.

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

Brief Job Description: Comprehending the requirements of customer and communicating efficiently instructing assessing and consulting the active costumers through program alteration to ensure properly

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English language both in written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 48/f Lower Ground Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

62.

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

CHAU GIA VIEN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

63.

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

Basic Qualification: Job-Relevant Degree/ 5-10 yrs, Supervision / Managerial Experience in Logistics or Operations/ Multilingual

64.

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

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

H.S. BUSINESS CONSULTANT INC. U-1216 Cityland Herrera Tower, 98 Rufino Cor Valero Sts., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls, handle customers concern KONG YIE WEI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

65.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls, handle customers concern LEE SHU HOON Mandarin Customer Service Representative

66.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls, handle customers concern LIU, YING Mandarin Speaking Finance Associate

67.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Job-relevant degree / 5-10 yrs. supervisory / managerial experience in logistics or operations / multilingual

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls, handle customers concern HO SAM MINH Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls, handle customers concern DOAN VAN THUY Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. Unit 2306 Antel Global Corporate Center, Julia Vargas Ave., San Antonio, City Of Pasig

Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

FLASH EXPRESS SOFTWARE (PH) CO., LTD. INC. 11/f Cybersigma, Lawton Ave., Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503, Nueva St., Barangay 289, Binondo, City Of Manila

LEE, JIN YOUNG Marketing And Sales Agent

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

HUANG, WEILIN Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant

DIGIVIRTUAL TECH CORPORATION 7/f Ba Lepanto Bldg., 8747 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati WEN, XIANTAO Mandarin Speaking Computer Support Specialist

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

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

DAXIFA CORPORATION Mpire Center 93 West Avenue, Project 7, 1, Bungad, Quezon City

33.

Brief Job Description: Serve as the technical expert for detailed design and construction aspects of the project. Propose and oversee timelines for engineering proposals and submissions are met. Set up procedure and processes in monitoring and tracking of engineering related documentation throughout project lifestyle.

FENG, JIAWEN Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant

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

32.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

DANISH TRADE UNION DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (DTDA) ASIA OFFICE Unit 401 Manila Luxury Condo., Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

HUNNECHE, CARSTEN FLINT International Adviser

No.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls, handle customers concern TRAN VAN CHINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

68.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls, handle customers concern VONG MY HA Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

69.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls, handle customers concern

Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-year related experience in the related fields Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-year related experience in the related fields Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-year related experience in the related fields Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-year related experience in the related fields Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-year related experience in the related fields Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-year related experience in the related fields Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-year related experience in the related fields Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-year related experience in the related fields Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LOGICDOSE INC. 36f Robinsons Summit Center, 6783 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

DIANA It Support Specialist (Indonesian Speaking) 70.

Brief Job Description: Install and configuring computer hardware, software, systems and networks

Basic Qualification: Can speak Indonesian language and knowledgeable in information technology system Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MACH 86 TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 5th-13th Flr. Workspace Bldg., 1419 Industry St. Corner Finance St. Mbp Ayala, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

A8

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

71.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LOW GUAN YIH Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

83.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

SIEW PEI JU Mandarin Speaking Financial Officer Brief Job Description: Keep accurate records for all daily transactions

MAGKING SERVICES CORPORATION Unit 5d Rose Industries Bldg., #11, Pioneer Street, Kapitolyo, City Of Pasig

PARK, SEYOUNG Customer Service Representative 72.

Brief Job Description: Customer service representative to manage customer queries and complaints.

Basic Qualification: Must be bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 1-2 yrs.

Of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality

FAN CHIANG, CHUN-HENG Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist 84.

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

YANG, HYUNMO Customer Service Representative 73.

Brief Job Description: Customer service representative to manage customer queries and complaints.

Basic Qualification: Must be bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 1-2 yrs.

Of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the management of workflow throughout within business

DAO LUU HUU TAI Mandarin Speaking Risk Control Specialist 85.

Brief Job Description: High level risk assessment and feedback for new initiatives

CHOI, YEONGHWA Technical Support Specialist 74.

Brief Job Description: Skilled candidates with excellent interpersonal skills for the technical support position.

HUA, SHIWEN Executive Manager 86.

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

Brief Job Description: Executive manager is responsible for the smooth operation of their company. While working as an executive can be financially and personally gratifying, the job generally entails long working hours and is no- weekend type of work in most cases.

75.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for leading team. Goal setting and project planning. Mentoring and coaching. Hiring and training.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor degree in Business or Management preferred Japanese.

Excellent communication skills (Nihongo and Japanese) Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

XU, CHAO Financial Manager 87.

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

76.

LYU, HENGFENG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

HUANG, XIAOPENG Mandarin Operations Specialist 77.

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency.

HUANG, XINWANG Mandarin Technical Support

78.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

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

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

79.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls. Generate sales leads. Identify and assess customers’ needs. Handle customer complaints. Follow communication procedures, guidelines and policies.

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HO PEI TZEN Customer Service Representative 80.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls. Generate sales leads. Identify and assess customers’ needs. Handle customer complaints. Follow communication procedures, guidelines and policies.

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

CAI, JIANYAO Chinese Customer Service Representative 88.

TU MIEU THUONG Customer Service Representative 81.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls. Generate sales leads. Identify and assess customers’ needs. Handle customer complaints. Follow communication procedures, guidelines and policies.

89.

VONG DUONG THAI Customer Service Representative 82.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls. Generate sales leads. Identify and assess customers’ needs. Handle customer complaints. Follow communication procedures, guidelines and policies.

90.

Basic Qualification: Good social and presentation skills.

Excellent oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good social and presentation skills in mandarin atleast 6 months of related experience

98.

Basic Qualification: Supervise and participate in the preparation of various financial statements, management and statutory report for the business unit and company. Provide oversight and support to the field finance staff to assist country program and ensure an accurate and timely month-end/ year-end close, financial performance reporting, invoicing and funder reporting.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service

99.

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

ALEX ANGSANA Asian Regional Senior Customer Support OfficerIndonesian Accounts 91.

Brief Job Description: Develops and implement customer service policies for the team and communicate it with the whole department

100.

LILIS TAN Asian Regional Senior Customer Support OfficerIndonesian Accounts 92.

Brief Job Description: Develops and implement customer service policies for the team and communicate it with the whole department

101.

102.

LINA NGADIMUN Asian Regional Senior Customer Support OfficerIndonesian Accounts 93.

Brief Job Description: Develops and implement customer service policies for the team and communicate it with the whole department YAP LEE SEAH Asian Regional Senior Customer Support OfficerMalaysian Accounts

94.

Brief Job Description: Develops and implement customer service policies for the team and communicate it with the whole department ALBERT LEO Indonesian-language Customer Support Staff

95.

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering regarding customer complaints and work assignment DAVIN Indonesian-language Customer Support Staff

96.

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering regarding customer complaints and work assignment JASMINE Indonesian-language Customer Support Staff

97.

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

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

103.

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

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering regarding customer complaints and work assignment ERIC WIJAYA Senior Indonesian-language Customer Service Support Staff

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

Brief Job Description: Analyzed and maintains customer satisfaction reports

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

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

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

SAMANEA PHILIPPINES HOLDINGS INC. Unit 1206 The Trade And Financial Tower, 7th Avenue Corner 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

104.

Basic Qualification: Must be a member of the governing board

LIU, YABO Director Brief Job Description: Director in-charge of project development

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

SKYWORTH (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION U-2202 & 2204 22/f Antel Corporate Centre, 121 Valero St., Bel-air, City Of Makati WANG, JINYUAN Marketing Manager 105.

Brief Job Description: Marketing manager is responsible for managing the promotion and positioning of a brand or the products and services that the company sells.

Basic Qualification: Degree holder in marketing, business/ proven experience developing marketing plans and campaigns.

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

SOCIALATEMYIND INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. No. 4/f, One E-com Center Bldg., Lot No. 4/f Mall Of Asia Complex Ocean Drive St. District 1, District 4, Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

SUN, YUE Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 106.

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

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

TLG STAR ENTERPRISES CO. Unit A 2/f V-tower Bldg., 1275 Dagupan St. 004, Barangay 51, Tondo I/ii, City Of Manila WU, ZHIPEI Technical/machine Consultant 107.

Brief Job Description: In charge of ensuring all manufacturing equipment and relevant machineries are maintained properly for the benefit of the company

Basic Qualification: Experience and familiarity with equipment being used by the company, which predominantly originate from china Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati GORODNOV, DENIS Bilingual Technical Support Specialist 108.

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking

Brief Job Description: works with customers/employees to identify computer problems and advise them on the solution

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

WESTERN UNION SERVICES (PHILIPPINES) INC. 6th & 7th Floors, Vertis North Corporate Center, Tower 1, North Avenue, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City

LA MINH HIEN Officer I, AML Compliance 109.

Brief Job Description: Support lower risk issues for agents of Western Union and its affiliates, help build programs that comply with the Bank Security Act, USA Patriot Act, and other antimoney laundering laws applying to Money Services Business, primarily to Vietnamese-speaking clients.

Basic Qualification: Highly proficient in the Vietnamese language, both written and oral. Should be well-versed in Vietnamese culture to better address the agent and customer’s character, disposition, etc.

Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft office products (Excel and Word) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WISHLAND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INC. 28/f Techzone Condo Corp., 213 Buendia Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

110.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: A native speaker of the Indonesian language (spoken and written)

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

SRIJUNSA, CHARTSUDA Thai-language Customer Support Staff

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

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

YULIE Indonesian-language Customer Support Staff

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

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

VENNY ONGKO Indonesian-language Customer Support Staff

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

LINDAWATI Indonesian-language Customer Support Staff

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

Basic Qualification: Ensure quality construction standard s and the use of proper construction techniques both internal and external. Plan, coordinates organize, oversee and directs activities regarding the construction and maintenance of assigned structures, facilities and system.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION JOSELIN Indonesian-language Customer Support Staff

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

RUNNINGMAN CORPORATION 8/f Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

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

OUTWIT, INC. 2/f Marvin Plaza, 2153 Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

ZHANG, GUOJU Chinese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

YANG, XUEMING Chinese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

No.

RIGHT CHOICE FINANCE CORP. 5e-1 Electra House Bldg., 115-117 Esteban Street, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Good social and presentation skills in mandarin atleast 6 months of related experience

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

OMNIWEALTH ENTERPRISE INC. 17th Flr. Citibank Square Bldg., No. 188 Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Eastwood City Cyberpark 3, Bagumbayan, Quezon City

DANG PHUONG NAM Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: The Financial Manager is responsible for all areas relating to financial reporting. This the position will be responsible for developing and maintaining accounting principles, practices and procedures to ensure accurate and timely financial statements.

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

MAYON MACHINERY RENTRADE, INC. Lot 32 Blk. 69, M. Roxas St. Cor. Bayani Road, Western Bicutan, City Of Taguig

DO, YONG IL Senior Project Manager

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 1-2 yrs.

Of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality

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111.

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

TheWorld

US: Myanmar repression of Rohingya is genocide

W

ASHINGTON—Violent repression of the largely Muslim Rohingya population in Myanmar amounts to genocide, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday, a declaration intended to both generate international pressure and lay the groundwork for potential legal action.

Authorities made the determination based on confirmed accounts of mass atrocities on civilians by Myanmar’s military in a widespread and systematic campaign against the ethnic minority, Blinken said in a speech at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

It is the eighth time since the Holocaust that the US has concluded genocide has occurred. The secretary of state noted the importance of calling attention to inhumanity even as horrific attacks occur elsewhere in the world, including Ukraine.

“Yes, we stand with the people of Ukraine,” he said. “And we must also stand with people who are suffering atrocities in other places.”

The government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, is already under multiple layers of US sanctions since a military coup ousted the democratically elected government in February 2021. Thousands of civilians throughout the country have been killed and imprisoned as part of ongoing repression of anyone opposed to the ruling junta.

The determination that genocide has occurred could lead other nations to increase pressure on the government, which is already facing accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

“As we lay the foundation for future accountability, we’re also working to stop the military’s ongoing atrocities, and support the people of Burma as they strive to put the country back on the path to democracy,” Blinken said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Blinken’s announcement “emphasizes, especially to victims and survivors, that the United States recognizes the gravity of these crimes.”

“Our view is that shining a light on the crimes of Burma’s military will increase international pressure, make it harder for them to commit further abuses,” she said.

Rohingya, from Muslim Myanmar’s western Rakhine state, faced systematic persecution at the hands of the Buddhist majority for decades under both the military junta that ruled the nation for decades as well as the democratically-elected government.

More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled from Buddhist-majority Myanmar to refugee camps in Bangladesh since August 2017, when the military launched an operation aimed at clearing them from the country following attacks by a rebel group.

The status of the plight of the Rohingya had been under extended review by US government legal experts since the Trump administration, given potential legal ramifications of such a finding.

The delay in the determination had drawn criticism from both inside and outside the government.

“While this determination is long overdue, it is nevertheless a powerful and critically important step in holding this brutal regime to account,” said Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley.

Human rights groups also welcomed the determination, which is similar to findings already made by other countries, including Canada, France and Turkey.

“The US determination of the crime of genocide against us is a momentous moment and must lead to concrete action to hold the Burmese military accountable for their crimes,” said Tun Khin, president of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK. Human Rights Watch said the US and other governments should seek justice for crimes carried out by the military and impose stronger sanctions against its leadership.

“The US government should couple its condemnations of Myanmar’s military with action,” said John Sifton, the group’s Asia advocacy director. “For too long, the US and other countries have allowed Myanmar’s generals to commit atrocities with few real consequences.”

A 2018 State Department report documented instances of Myanmar’s military razing villages and carrying out rapes, tortures and mass killings of civilians since at least 2016. Blinken said evidence showed the violence wasn’t isolated, but part of a systematic program that amounts to crimes against humanity.

“The evidence also points to a clear intent behind these mass atrocities, the intent to destroy Rohingya, in whole or in part, through killings, rape, and torture,” he said.

Previous determinations of genocide by the US include campaigns against Uyghurs and other largely Muslim minorities in China as well as in Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq and Darfur.

The Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Matthew Lee contributed.

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

A9

Ukrainian forces retake key Kyiv suburb; battle for Mariupol rages

By Cara Anna

L

The Associated Press

VIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian forces said they retook a strategically important suburb of the capital early Tuesday, while Russia’s attack on the embattled southern port of Mariupol raged unabated, with fleeing civilians describing relentless bombardments and corpses lying in the streets.

While Russian forces carried on with the siege of Mariupol after the southern port city’s defenders refused demands to surrender, the Kremlin’s ground offensive in other parts of the country advanced slowly or not at all, knocked back by lethal hit-and-run attacks by the Ukrainians.

E a rl y Tue s d ay, U k r a i n i a n troops forced Russian forces out of the Kyiv suburb of Makariv after a fierce battle, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said. The regained territory allowed Ukrainian forces to retake control of a key highway and block Russian troops from surrounding Kyiv from the northwest.

But the Defense Ministry said Russian forces battling toward Kyiv were able to partially take other northwest suburbs, Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin, some of which had been under attack almost since Russia’s military invaded late last month.

With troops bogged down in many places, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces are increasingly concentrating their air power and artillery on Ukraine’s cities and the civilians living there, killing uncounted numbers and sending millions fleeing.

A senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the military’s assessment, said Russia had increased air sorties over the past two days, carrying out as many as 300 in the past 24 hours, and has fired more than 1,100 missiles into Ukraine since the invasion began.

US President Joe Biden, who is heading to Europe later in the week to meet with allies, suggested Monday evening that worse may be still to come.

“Putin’s back is against the wall,” Biden said. “He wasn’t anticipating the extent or the strength of our unity. And the more his back is against the wall, the greater the severity of the tactics he may employ.”

Biden reiterated accusations that Putin is considering resorting to using chemical weapons.

In a video address Monday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed those who have fought back against Russia.

“There is no need to organize resistance,” Zelenskyy said. “Resistance for Ukrainians is part of their soul.”

Ta l k s bet ween Russia and Ukraine have continued by video but failed to bridge the chasm between the two sides. Zelenskyy told Ukrainian television late Monday that he would be prepared to consider waiving any Nato bid by Ukraine—a key Russian demand—in exchange for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Russian troops and a guarantee of Ukraine’s security.

Zelenskyy also suggested Kyiv would be open to future discussions on the status of Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, and the regions of the eastern Donbas region held by Russian-backed separatists. But he said that was a topic for another time. Zelenskyy plans to speak to Japanese lawmakers on Tuesday, part of a series of addresses to foreign legislatures as he seeks to drum up support.

In Mariupol, with communications crippled, movement restricted and many residents in hiding, the fate of those inside an art school flattened on Sunday and a theater that was blown apart four days earlier was unclear. More than 1,300 people were believed to be sheltering in the theater, and 400 were estimated to have been in the art school.

Perched on the Sea of Azov, Ma r iupol is cr uc ia l por t for Ukraine and lies along a stretch of territory between Russia and Crimea. As such, it is a key target that has been besieged for more than three weeks and has seen some of the worst suffering of the war.

An advertising billboard in front of a barricade in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 21. Ukrainian troops forced Russian forces out of the Kyiv suburb of Makariv after a fierce battle, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said. AP/Rodrigo Abd

It is not clear how close its capture might be. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that their forces were still defending the city and had destroyed a Russian patrol boat and electronic warfare complex.

Over the weekend, Moscow had offered safe passage out of Mariupol—one corridor leading east to Russia, another going west to other parts of Ukraine—in return for the city’s surrender before daybreak Monday. Ukraine flatly rejected the offer well before the deadline.

Mariupol had a prewar population of about 430,000. Around a quarter were believed to have left in the opening days of the war, and tens of thousands escaped over the past week by way of the humanitarian corridors. Other attempts have been thwarted by the fighting.

Mar iupol of f icia ls said on March 15 that at least 2,300 people had died in the siege, with some buried in mass graves. There has been no official estimate since then, but the number is feared to be far higher after six more days of bombardment.

For those who remain, conditions have become brutal. The assault has cut off Mariupol ’s electricity, water and food supplies and severed communication w ith the outside world, plunging residents into a fight for sur vival. Fresh commercial satellite images showed smoke rising from buildings newly hit

by Russian artiller y.

Those who have made it out of Mariupol told of a devastated city.

“There are no buildings there anymore,” said 77-year-old Maria Fiodorova, who crossed the border to Poland on Monday after five days of travel.

Olga Nikitina, who fled Mariupol for the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where she arrived Sunday,

said gunfire blew out her windows, and her apartment dropped below freezing.

“Battles took place over every street. Every house became a target,” she said.

A long line of vehicles stood on a road in Bezimenne, east of Mariupol, as residents of the besieged city sought shelter at a temporary camp set up by Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk region. An estimated 5,000 people from Mariupol have taken refuge in the camp. Many arrived in cars with signs that said “children” in Russian.

A woman who gave her name as Yulia said she and her family sought shelter in Bezimenne after a bombing destroyed six houses behind her home.

“That’s why we got in the car, at our own risk, and left in 15 minutes because everything is destroyed there, dead bodies are lying around,” she said. “They don’t let us pass through everywhere— there are shootings.”

In all, more than 8,000 people escaped to safer areas Monday through humanitarian corridors, including about 3,000 from Mariupol, Deput y Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

Russian shelling of a corridor wounded four children on a route leading out of Mariupol, Zelensky y said.

Russia’s invasion has driven nearly 3.5 million people from Ukraine, according to the United Nations. The UN has confirmed over 900 civilian deaths but said the real toll is probably much higher. Estimates of Russian deaths var y, but even conser vative figures are in the low thousands.

The Associated Press writer Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, and other AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

Saudi: ‘We are not responsible for shortage in global oil supply’ D

UBAI, United Arab Emirates—Saudi Arabia said Monday that it “won’t bear any responsibility” for a shortage in global oil supplies after a fierce barrage of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels affected production in the kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter.

The unusually stark warning marked a departure from the giant oil producer’s typically cautious statements, as Saudi officials remain aware that even their smallest comments can swing the price of oil and rattle global markets.

The salvo of rebel attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities marked a serious escalation in the war, which erupted in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s north. Saudi Arabia and its allies responded with a devastating air campaign to dislodge

the Houthis and restore the internationally recognized government.

Seven years later, the conflict has turned into a bloody stalemate and spawned one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted the Saudi Foreign Ministry as saying that the kingdom “declares that it will not bear any responsibility for any shortage in oil supplies to global markets in light of the attacks on its oil facilities.”

The announcement comes as the kingdom remains in lockstep with OPEC and other oil-producing countries in a deal limiting production increases. Gulf Arab oil producers have so far resisted pressure from the Biden administration to pump more crude to help bring down oil prices that have soared amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Already, gasoline prices have hit record highs around the world. Gas prices in the US topped $4.25 on Monday, according to auto club AAA, just below the historic record of $4.33 reached earlier this month.

“The international community must assume its responsibility to preserve energy supplies,” the Saudi statement added, in order to deter attacks that jeopardize “the kingdom’s production capability and its ability to fulfill its commitments.”

The international oil benchmark Brent crude hovered over $112 a barrel in trading Monday, up more than 4 percent for the preceding session. The price remained below a peak of nearly $140 hit earlier this month, but still some $15 a barrel more than before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On Sunday, Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels launched one of their most intense series

of attacks targeting the kingdom’s oil and natural gas production, sparking a fire at a petroleum distribution center in the port of Jiddah, the country’s second-largest city, and disrupting production at a petrochemicals complex in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.

The overall extent of damage at the installations remained unclear. The Saudi Energy Ministry acknowledged a temporary drop in oil output at the 400,000-barrel-a-day Yanbu site, without elaborating.

The government condemned the attacks as a threat to the security of global oil supplies “in these extremely sensitive circumstances.” Even before Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, global energy supplies were struggling to keep pace with surging post-pandemic demand. The West’s punitive sanctions on Moscow, among the

world’s largest oil producers and exporters, unleashed more turmoil on the market.

The relentless wave of Houthi strikes began before dawn Sunday and sporadically pounded sites throughout the kingdom’s south and west for hours, with the roar and thump of missile interceptors rattling residents in Jiddah until just before midnight.

The attacks on installations run by the state-controlled national oil company Aramco, among the world’s most significant and valuable companies, exposed the gaps in Saudi defenses and recalled the dramatic attacks on two key oil installations in the country’s east that temporarily knocked out half of Saudi Arabia’s total oil production.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for that sophisticated attack in September 2019,

which the US and Riyadh later blamed on Iran. Even after shrapnel blasted through the critical Abqaiq oil processing facility, Saudi Arabia delivered no such similar warning about its responsibility for global oil supplies and swinging prices. Instead the kingdom stressed it would speedily return to normal levels of production.

After Sunday’s strikes, a senior administration official confirmed that the United States has transferred a significant number of Patriot antimissile interceptors to help Saudi Arabia thwart the barrage of Houthi drone and missile attacks.

“We condemn the weekend attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Iran-supported Houthis and will continue to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory,” tweeted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “These are attacks against civilians, and they must end.” AP

A10 Wednesday, March 23, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Daunting challenge for PHL leaders

T

he surge in wheat and corn prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent nations scrambling for other suppliers to secure their domestic requirements. More expensive wheat and corn is bad news for the livestock and poultry sector as this could raise the price of animal feeds. As prices continue to climb, buyers are turning to alternatives, such as broken rice, to support hog and poultry production, according to a Reuters report.

China, for one, is buying more low-grade rice after wheat prices soared to unprecedented levels in recent weeks. Expectations that China will increase its purchases of broken rice have led to an increase in the export price of the grain. Reuters said rice from Thai exporters rose by 5 percent to $421.50 per metric ton (MT) last week while Vietnam and India—two of the top sources of rice imports for the Philippines—have also raised prices.

Unless the conflict in Eastern Europe is resolved soon, nations that rely on imports to plug the gap in food supply and for farm inputs, such as fertilizer, will have to pay more for the products.

The Philippines, for one, is reliant on other countries for its fertilizer requirements, and it also imports rice to beef up local supply. The country’s current rice self-sufficiency level, according to government data, has not even touched 90 percent, which means it would have to import some 10 percent of our rice requirement.

While export prices of the staple have not yet soared to levels seen during the 2008 crisis, government must see to it that Filipino planters have the means to sustain and increase their production.

Beefing up domestic production would help shield the Philippines from the impact of export restrictions or bans, which would further drive up rice prices. The volatility in commodity prices in 2008 was largely due to the restrictions imposed by exporting countries.

The government has already set aside funds for a fuel and fertilizer subsidy program (See, “DA issues rules for fertilizer aid scheme,” in the BusinessMirror, March 9, 2022). More than P8 billion was allocated for the scheme, but if the war in Ukraine drags on, the government may have to shell out more to help farmers cope with the spike in fertilizer and fuel prices. Aside from distributing cash aid to vulnerable sectors, government must work with the private sector to secure fertilizer, a vital input for growing rice and sugarcane.

Key developments that the government needs to watch out for are the dwindling supplies of fertilizer from Russia as well as the ban on the export of key crop nutrients containing nitrogen, potash and phosphates. Also, soaring natural gas prices—the main ingredient for nitrogen crop nutrients—have prompted producers to reduce their fertilizer output, according to a Financial Times report.

There’s an urgent need to stabilize prices of farm inputs in the country. Failure to put in place measures that will shield the country from soaring fertilizer prices will further raise food prices, and eventually accelerate inflation. The challenge for our national leaders is how to shield farmers from the effects of the Ukraine war, help improve their productivity, and ensure consumer welfare.

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Trouble brewing over the OFW department Susan V. Ople

Scribbles

I

S there a Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)? Yes, there is, but not quite yet.

Unlike other departments created by law, the Department of Migrant Workers or DMW needs to meet three conditions before it is deemed fully operational, and thus, constituted by law.

The three conditionalities are: 1. An appropriation for the DMW in the 2023 General Appropriations Act; 2. Formulation, approval and publication of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the DMW; and, 3. A DBM-approved staffing pattern of the DMW. These three conditions or requirements were set by legislators in recognition of the unique and sensitive work of the department in overseeing the welfare of millions of Filipino workers overseas. The DMW law also speaks of a two-year transition phase to allow for the smooth consolidation of several existing agencies into its new home.

On March 9, the Office of the President announced the appointment of presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Muslim concerns as the new and

first Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers. Like the President, Secretary Abdullah Mama-o is a law graduate, batch 1972, of San Beda College. The Office of the President has sent him to sensitive missions, particularly in the Middle East, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The trouble over the DMW’s transition phase began with Secretary Mama-o’s issuance of Department Order No. 1, Series of 2022, where he asserts his right to exercise the powers and duties of the Office of the Secretary.

The department order directs all agencies meant for consolidation and/or merger into the DMW to submit to his jurisdiction. The agencies affected by the Mama-o order were: 1) Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (OUMWA-DFA),

The DMW is President Duterte’s legacy and lasting gift to our hardworking modern-day heroes. With barely three months left to go, the three heads of agencies, namely, Secretary Teddyboy Locsin of the DFA, Secretary Silvestre Bello III of DOLE and Secretary Mama-o of the DMW should meet and discuss the way forward. Why risk the ire of millions of OFWs over a department that has yet to be fully operational?

2) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), 3) International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) of DOLE, 4) National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) also under DOLE, 5) National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) under OWWA which is attached to DOLE, and 6) Office of the Social Welfare Attaches (OSWA) under DSWD. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, who currently has jurisdiction over four of these agencies (POEA, ILAB, NMP and NRCO), has a different interpretation of the law creating the new department.

On March 15, 2022, Secretary Bello issued a memorandum addressed to POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, ILAB OIC-Assistant Secretary Alice Visperas, NMP

executive director Joel Maglunsod and Director Gerald “Dindi” Tan of the NRCO. The labor secretary’s memo instructed all five officials to “remain and continue to operate under the control and supervision of the Department of Labor and Employment until such time that the Department of Migrant Workers has been duly constituted and rendered operational under the law creating the same with the fulfillment of all substantive and procedural conditions provided under RA 1164.”

The policy question appears to be whether the interim secretary can immediately carry out the powers and functions enumerated in the DMW law, or whether his task is to merely lead the transition efforts until the three conditions for the department to become fully operational are realized. Based on a copy of a letter sent by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to Secretary Mama-o, it appears that the new secretary’s task would be to facilitate and lead the transition phase.

To further complicate matters, Secretary Mama-o recently wrote to the Commission on Elections requesting that all requests for exemptions in relation to the DMW’s new appointees or transferees be endorsed for his approval. He further specifies that the same recommendation applies to any and See “Ople,” A11

Migration’s role in mitigating the impacts of climate change

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By Amy E. Pope

yphoon Odette (international name Rai) smashed the Philippines three months ago, sweeping through 11 of the country’s 17 regions, destroying or damaging over 2 million houses, far eclipsing that of Typhoon Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan) in 2013.

Approximately 32,200 people remain displaced mostly in evacuation centers.

The road to a full recovery will be long and full of challenges. Yet returning from my field visit to Siargao, I was inspired by the “bayanihan” spirit. From the community where people are assisting their fellow neighbors to rebuild their houses, to the intervention led by local government units, mayors, governors and even national officials, the desire to recover and help one another in times of crisis is palpable and something that will stay with me long after my visit.

This typhoon, however, must serve as a wake-up call to the international community. The Global Climate Risk Index 2020 ranks the Philippines as the second most vulnerable country in the world affected

by climate change despite being one of the smallest contributors to CO2 emissions. More than 60 percent of the Filipino population resides in coastal areas and will be forced to move with one-meter sea rise brought about by global warming— that equates to 60 million people having to move by the end of this century.

As President Duterte warned in his address during the 76th United Nations General Assembly, “the risks and burden of a warming climate are simply not the same for everyone. ...

But here we are now at a critical tipping point, where failure to act leads to cataclysmic consequences for the whole of humankind.”

Knowing that climate impact is inevitable and recognizing that fail-

ure to act will be cataclysmic, there are three things we must do now to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change on human life.

First, we have seen time and again that human mobility is inextricably linked to climate change. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Philippines. Migration is one of the coping mechanisms of affected Filipinos facing climate crisis, either as a choice or a force of circumstance.

We must acknowledge that the protection of the most vulnerable should be at the forefront of our climate action, and collectively build migration into our climate change mitigation measures. National and regional policies must include more migration adaptation measures, and resources are needed to address and prevent displacements while increasing people’s resilience, especially in the most vulnerable countries.

Second, it is imperative to ensure that adaptive migration as a solution is safe, informed, and desired.

For instance, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working closely with the Philip-

pine government and communities on planned relocation and transitional sites in typhoon affected areas. Through the generous support from donors such as USAID, Australia, Japan, Canada, UN Central Emergency Response Fund and Germany, IOM is providing critical shelter assistance, hygiene and sanitation, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Health and Covid prevention and Mental Health and Psychosocial Services.

While essential, these actions are primarily reactive. Our actions in the field today can and should be a pathway towards managing climate vulnerabilities. They must be done proactively and strategically in a contextually grounded manner and with strong community engagement.

Finally, we need to harness the power of the estimated 10 million Filipinos living abroad to strengthen climate resilience locally. The Philippines is a country that has for decades made the most out of migration. Since the 1980s, overseas See “Migration,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Are schools ready for face-to-face classes?

By Miriam B. Borja

S

ocioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua recently said the resumption of face-to-face classes nationwide will help revive the economy shut down by the pandemic.

That’s because the resumption of in-person classes in all of the country’s more than 60,000 schools will generate about P12 billion per week in additional economic activities as various businesses around schools such as canteens and food stalls, dorms, school supplies vendors, transport operators, and others resume their business operations. Chua’s P48-billion-a-month argument for the resumption of face-to-face classes nationwide is hard to ignore.

With more and more schools around the country announcing their preparedness to welcome back their students in the classrooms, it would do well for the Department of Education and the Department of Health, with the help of local authorities, to make sure that guidelines issued will be strictly followed before a school is given the go signal to conduct faceto-face classes. One of the requirements is to ensure that the barangay where the school is located has no new Covid cases two months prior to clearance application.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said that students who want to participate in face-toface classes are not required to be vaccinated against Covid-19. “It is voluntary because the parents will be the ones to decide on that. But, of course, we will encourage them,” she said, adding that the DepEd has a similar policy with the Department of Health regarding the needed consent from the parents on pediatric vaccination.

The National Economic and Development Authority, however, said that the vaccination of children aged five to 11 years old will help protect families, encourage more economic activity, and support the resumption of face-to-face classes.

“More than 30 percent of our population is below 18 years old, so the sooner we vaccinate them, the more economic activities will follow,” Chua said. The Neda chief explained that the rollout of the pediatric vaccination program is important to ensure children’s safety in returning to face-to-face schooling. At the same time, it will also enable families to have additional protection when they go out.

While the students are excited to see their old friends for the first time in more than two years, school authorities in all regions have an obligation to ensure that in-person classes are deemed safe. As the saying goes, it’s wiser to be cautious. School authorities would do well to ensure that teaching and non-teaching personnel who will participate in the face-to-face classes already got their Covid vaccines. Unvaccinated personnel who need to report to school must be tested for Covid-19.

Recognizing the need to safely reopen schools, here are some tips to help us face the new normal:

Ople. . .

continued from A10

all requests for exemption from prohibitions imposed pursuant to election laws, made or requested by the following entities: POEA, OUMWA, All Philippine Overseas Labor Offices under DOLE, the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) also under DOLE, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs under OWWA, the NMP under DOLE, the Office of the OSWA under the DSWD; and the DOLE Secretary or POEA Administrator with respect to assumption to office of newly appointed officials.

Considering that Secretary Bello is not prepared to let go of DOLE’s jurisdiction over the said agencies, it is most likely that Comelec will also be caught in between these two Cabinet officials. Also caught in this fracas are the rank-andfile employees of the POEA where Secretary Mama-o is now holding office. So far, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia continues to

Apart from following the school’s guidelines, students also have to do their part to keep their campus Covid-free. All students are advised to bring their own hygiene kits, which must contain alcohol, wipes, soap, and an extra face mask. Having these will help mitigate the spread of the virus on-campus and at home.

Follow the school’s protocols

Schools, as public spaces, follow IATF Covid-19 guidelines. They also have their initiatives such as providing hand washing stations, ensuring proper ventilation, and setting up physical barriers, markers and signages, thermal scanners, and air purifiers.

Teachers, on the other hand, have an important role to play to keep classrooms safe: Apart from enforcing social distancing and temperature checks, they need to remind students to wear their face mask at all times.

Hygiene kits are a must

Apart from following the school’s guidelines, students also have to do their part to keep their campus Covid-free. All students are advised to bring their own hygiene kits, which must contain alcohol, wipes, soap, and an extra face mask. Having these will help mitigate the spread of the virus on-campus and at home.

Bringing a hygiene kit alone, however, is not the way to go—using the items is! In some schools, parents, with the help of school staff, agreed to help in sanitizing the learners’ tables and chairs every after class.

Students must make it a habit to regularly wash their hands and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible.

Teachers can remind learners to do this, but parents’ supervision is needed: As soon as students get home, they should disinfect their mobile phone, ID, bag, eyeglasses (if they have one), and shoes or sneakers. It’s best to shower immediately after arriving from school. This way, their family will also be safe from possible exposure to the virus. The

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 A11

As Mariupol hangs on, extent of the horror not yet known

By Cara Anna | Associated Press

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VIV, Ukraine—As Mariupol’s defenders held out Monday against Russian demands that they surrender, the number of bodies in the rubble of the bombarded and encircled Ukrainian city remained shrouded in uncertainty, the full extent of the horror not yet known.

With communications crippled, movement restricted and many residents in hiding, the fate of those inside an art school flattened on Sunday and a theater that was blown apart four days earlier was unclear.

More than 1,300 people were believed to be sheltering in the theater, and 400 were estimated to have been in the art school.

Perched on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol has been a key target that has been relentlessly pounded for more than three weeks and has seen some of the worst suffering of the war. The fall of the southern port city would help Russia establish a land bridge to Crimea, seized from Ukraine in 2014.

But no clear picture emerged of how close its capture might be.

“Nobody can tell from the outside if it really is on the verge of being taken,” said Keir Giles, a Russia expert at the British think tank Chatham House.

Over the weekend, Moscow had offered safe passage out of Mariupol — one corridor leading east to Russia, another going west to other parts of Ukraine — in return for the city’s surrender before daybreak Monday.

Ukraine flatly rejected the offer well before the deadline.

Mariupol officials said on March 15 that at least 2,300 people had died in the siege, with some buried in mass graves. There has been no official estimate since then, but the number is feared to be far higher after six more days of bombardment.

For those who remain, conditions

have become brutal. The assault has cut off Mariupol’s electricity, water and food supplies and severed communication with the outside world, plunging residents into a fight for survival. Fresh commercial satellite images showed smoke rising from buildings newly hit by Russian artillery.

“What’s happening in Mariupol is a massive war crime,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.

Mariupol had a prewar population of about 430,000. Around a quarter were believed to have left in the opening days of the war, and tens of thousands escaped over the past week by way of a humanitarian corridor. Other attempts have been thwarted by the fighting.

Those who have made it out of Mariupol told of a devastated city.

“There are no buildings there anymore,” said 77-year-old Maria Fiodorova, who crossed the border to Poland on Monday after five days of travel.

Olga Nikitina, who fled Mariupol for the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where she arrived Sunday, said gunfire blew out her windows, and her apartment dropped below freezing.

“Battles took place over every street. Every house became a target,” she said.

A long line of vehicles lined a road in Bezimenne, Ukraine, as Mariupol residents sought shelter at a temporary camp set up by Russian-backed

separatists in the Donetsk region. An estimated 5,000 people from Mariupol have taken refuge in the camp.

Many arrived in cars with signs that said “children” in Russian.

A woman who gave her name as Yulia said she and her family sought shelter in Bezimenne after a bombing destroyed six houses behind her home.

“That’s why we got in the car, at our own risk, and left in 15 minutes because everything is destroyed there, dead bodies are lying around,” she said. “They don’t let us pass through everywhere — there are shootings.”

Francesco Rocca, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, urged Russia to abide by the Geneva Convention and allow humanitarian aid into the city.

In all, more than 8,000 people escaped to safer areas Monday through humanitarian corridors, including about 3,000 from Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

Russian shelling of a corridor wounded four children on a route leading out of Mariupol, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

As Russia intensifies its effort to pound Mariupol into submission, its ground offensive in other parts of the country has become bogged down, slowed by lethal hit-and-run attacks by the Ukrainians. Western officials and analysts say the conflict is turning into a grinding war of attrition, with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces using air power and artillery to pulverize cities from a distance.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the military’s assessment, said Russia had increased air sorties over the past two days, carrying out

Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, and other AP journalists around the world contributed to this report

Doctors finding hurdles to using pills to treat Covid-19

By Tom Murphy | AP Health Writer

exercise his duties and functions under the supervision of Labor Secretary Bello.

The DMW is President Duterte’s legacy and lasting gift to our hardworking modern-day heroes. With barely three months left to go, the three heads of agencies, namely, Secretary Teddyboy Locsin of the DFA, Secretary Silvestre Bello III of DOLE and Secretary Mama-o of the DMW should meet and discuss the way forward. Why risk the ire of millions of OFWs over a department that has yet to be fully operational?

Further delays in the approval of the DMW law’s implementing rules and regulations are a great disservice to our OFWs, and a blemish on the good intentions of our legislators that did their best to deliver on the President’s campaign promise to our OFWs.

Health systems around the country are rushing out same-day prescription deliveries. Some clinics have started testing and treating patients in one visit, an initiative that President Joe Biden’s administration recently touted.

The goal is to get patients started on either Pfizer’s Paxlovid tablets or Merck’s molnupiravir capsules within five days of symptoms appearing. That can prevent people with big health risks from growing sicker and filling up hospitals if another surge develops.

But the tight deadline has highlighted several challenges. Some patients are delaying testing, thinking they just had a cold. Others have been unwilling or unable to try the new drugs.

With vaccines and treatments available, “we can make this much more manageable in the future, if people are willing to take care of themselves,” said Dr. Bryan Jarabek, who helps lead Covid-19 treatment and vaccination efforts for the Minnesota health system M Health Fairview.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the drugs last year.

Doctors hailed the pills as a huge advance in the fight against Covid-19 partly because of their convenience compared to other treatments that require infusions or injections.

But patients can miss the pills’ short window if they dismiss symptoms like a headache or sniffles and

wait to see if they go away before seeking help.

Stanford’s Dr. Thomas Lew said he’s seen high-risk and unvaccinated people who have waited more than a week. Some hospitalized patients on oxygen have told him they thought nothing of their first symptoms.

“They say everyone in the family decided it was a cold or allergy season is coming up, but it was Covid all along,” he said.

People delay seeking help for many health problems, not just Covid-19, Lew noted. But when it comes to the virus, the doctor believes patients may not be aware of the tight deadline.

Even those who get tested quickly, however, sometimes refuse the pills, doctors say.

Jarabek estimates that 30 percent to half of the patients who qualified for the antiviral pills turned down the treatments in his health system earlier this year.

He said some people didn’t consider themselves high risk or didn’t think they were sick enough to need the pills, which are free to patients.

They also worried about side effects or how the drugs would interact with other medications.

Jeff Carlson couldn’t try Paxlovid when Covid-19 hit him in January because it might interfere with his heart medications. The 61-year-old suburban St. Paul, Minnesota, resident has Type 1 diabetes and heart disease.

A doctor asked him to try molnupiravir about three days after he started feeling symptoms. By then, Carlson couldn’t get off his couch. His fever had soared and he was struggling to breathe.

His wife picked up the prescription and a few days later, Carlson felt well enough to shovel snow.

“It turned me around basically in a matter of...pretty much 18 hours after I took the first dose,” he said.

Some health-care providers have started free delivery services for Paxlovid or molnupiravir.

New York City has established a hotline patients can call if they test positive for the coronavirus. They can talk to a care provider if they don’t have a doctor and have pills sent to them if they are a good candidate.

The Mass General Brigham health system in Boston started a similar program that ships pills to some patients via FedEx. Raymond Kelly received a package of Paxlovid about three hours after a doctor cleared him for the prescription last month. The 75-year-old Needham, Massachusetts, resident said he caught the virus despite being vaccinated and receiving a booster shot.

His doctor was on the phone with him minutes after the health system notified him that he had tested positive.

“It was all sort of blur because it was going on so quickly,” Kelly said.

Mass General Brigham aims to treat patients quickly and solve transportation problems with its program. Dr. Scott Dryden-Peterson noted that some Covid-19 patients may not be able to pick up pills, especially since they should be staying off buses and ride-sharing services.

Migration. . .

Susan V. Ople heads the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, a nonprofit organization that deals with labor and migration issues.

She also represents the OFW sector in the InterAgency Council Against Trafficking.

Filipino workers (OFWs) have been hailed as bagong bayani (modern-day heroes). In 2019, remittances from OFWs reached a record high of $33.9 billion, equivalent to nearly 10 per-

cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). With one of the largest diasporas in the world, we need to leverage this support and direct these financial contributions to build back better using the lessons learned from past climate emergencies—such as building four-corner roofs over home in typhoon-prone areas to protect

these rebuilt communities from future devastation.

As the cost of the climate crisis is reaching irreversible heights, I depart the Philippines reflecting on the devastating impacts of Typhoon Odette and the future of the communities in the Philippines.

While the “bayanihan” spirit gives

author is Teacher III at the Itawes National Agricultural and Technical School Main Campus in Tuao, Cagayan.

as many as 300 in the past 24 hours, and has fired more than 1,100 missiles into Ukraine since the invasion began.

In a video address Monday night, Zelenskyy hailed those who have fought back against Russia.

“There is no need to organize resistance,” he said. “Resistance for Ukrainians is part of their soul.”

In the Russian-occupied southern city of Kherson on Monday, Russian forces shot into the air and fired stun grenades at protestors who were chanting “Go home!” Kherson early this month became the first major city to fall to Russia’s offensive.

“We saw slaves shooting at free people, slaves of propaganda that replaced their conscience,” the Ukrainian leader said.

In the capital, Kyiv, a shopping center in the densely populated Podil district near the city center was a smoking ruin after being hit late Sunday by shelling that killed eight people, according to emergency officials. The attack shattered every window in a neighboring high-rise.

Russian military spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov charged that Ukrainian forces had been using the shopping mall to store rockets and reload launchers. That claim could not be independently verified.

Britain’s defense ministry said Ukrainian resistance has kept the bulk of Moscow’s forces more than 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the center of Kyiv, but the capital “remains Russia’s primary military objective.”

Amid the continuing shelling, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced a curfew extending from Monday evening through Wednesday morning. Associated Press writer

H

igh-risk Covid-19 patients now have new treatments they can take at home to stay out of the hospital—if doctors get the pills to them fast enough.

continued from A10

“Transportation is not equally distributed in our society,” he said.

For patients with transportation, the drugstore chain CVS Health has started “test to treat” programs at its nearly 1,200 stores with MinuteClinic locations. Pharmacists cannot test and treat, so that program won’t happen at all stores.

Other retailers like the grocer Kroger also plan to test and treat at some locations. The Biden administration has called for federally qualified community health centers to do the same, but Health Secretary Xavier Becerra recently told The Associated Press that the “test to treat” initiative could be hampered by a funding impasse with Congress.

Chicago’s Cook County Health has run drive-through Covid-19 testing since the beginning of the pandemic. It is planning to pilot a program that adds treatments. Patients will be able to drive to one of the tents, get tested, wait about 15 minutes for the result and then talk to a doctor through telemedicine, said Dr. Greg Huhn.

With options for quick care growing, doctors and public health officials say now is the time for people to stock up on at-home tests.

Testing supplies that ran short during the omicron surge have since rebounded, said Neil J. Sehgal, a University of Maryland health policy expert. But he noted that future supplies also will depend on federal funding.

Doctors say people at high risk of developing health problems from Covid-19 need to remain vigilant for symptoms and seek help quickly, especially if another surge develops.

“It may not be the time to let your guard down,” Huhn said.

me hope, we now need bold collective action to build the resilience of communities at risk, to protect the most vulnerable, and to ensure that migration remains a choice rather than a necessity.

The author is the Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration.

A12 Wednesday, March 23, 2022

PDP-LABAN CUSI WING ENDORSES BONGBONG

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HE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Cusi wing has endorsed the presidential bid of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In a Resolution 26 signed by PDP-Laban President Alfonso Cusi and 13 other officials last March 21, the party said Marcos is the candidate whose platform is most aligned with the development program of President Duterte.

Duterte is chairman of PDPLaban, but had earlier dodged questions on whom he will endorse for president for May 9. His daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is the vice presidential aspirant under the UniTeam with Marcos Jr., who was fielded by Partido Federal.

“After careful and exhaustive deliberations the National Executive Committee endorses the candidacy of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for President of the Republic of the Philippines the forthcoming 2022 National Elections,” the PDP-Laban resolution said.

“He is the candidate whose vision of governance is most a l ig ned w it h PDP L aban’s 11-point agenda,” added the resolution.

On December 1, 2021, the

PDP-Laban endorsed the candidacy of Duterte Carpio.

The party expressed its belief that Marcos and Duterte will promote “Unity for Sustainability” of socioeconomic development and nat iona l progress.

Among the candidates for President, the PDP-Laban said Marcos received the most endorsements from several local councils of PDP Laban, including Ilocos Sur, La Union, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Aklan, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, Caloocan City, Malabon City, Mandaluyong City, Pasay City, Parañaque City, San Juan City, Valenzuela City, Malolos City, Ormoc City and San Pedro City.

Who’s Duterte endorsing?

DESPITE the faction of the ruling party PDP-Laban’s endorsement of the presidential bid of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., Malacañang said it is not yet clear yet whether President Duterte, the party’s chairman, supports the son and namesake of the late strongman.

Continued on A5

PHL woos Japanese tourists with boosters

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

T

HE Philippines is keen on offering Covid-19 booster shots to encourage the Japanese to travel to the Philippines.

In an interview with the BusinessMirror, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “Based on my discussions with Japanese travel and tour organizations, what’s keeping most of their citizens from traveling abroad is the quarantine requirement upon their return to Japan. However, if they have been boostered with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, they don’t have to quarantine.”

She added, “So I said maybe they can just come to the Philippines and get their boosters here. They were very excited to hear this.” She said she had asked permission from the National Task Force against Covid-19 to make this “booster tourism” offer to the Japanese. Recently, the Department of Health said it was considering to donate vaccines to other countries, especially since many of these were already expiring.

In 2019, there were 682,788 arrivals from Japan, ranking the country as the fourth largest tourism market after China, South Korea, and the United States. That year, Japanese spent an average of US$132.59 per day, and stayed in the country for about 5.16 days.

Since the country’s reopening to fully-vaccinated tourists from visafree countries on February 10 until March 20, the Philippines has welcomed 2,125 leisure travelers from Japan.

Visas for ESL students sought

ROMULO Puyat left for Tokyo on March 13, for a week-long series of meetings with Japanese travel agents, tour operators, tourism organizations, English studies operators, economic federations, as well as the Japanese media. Aside from Tokyo, she also visited Nagoya, and Osaka, where she met with ST World, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, JTB Corp., the Japan Travel and Tourism Association, Hankyu Travel International Co. Ltd., the Kansai Economic Federation, and the Japan-Philippine Tourism Council.

ST World, considered one of the leading travel agents and active sellers of tour packages to the Philippines, will be mounting charter flights from Japan to Bohol starting August.

The DOT chief said the primary

concern of tourism organizations in Nagoya was the processing of student visas for those studying English as a Second Language (ESL). “But I reassured them that the Department of Foreign Affairs will start processing visitor visas on April 1,” she said, adding that most Japanese who study English in the Philippines often go to Cebu for their lessons ranging from three to six months.

Romulo Puyat also met with her counterpart, Tomohiro Kaneko, Vice Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency at the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MOLIT) to discuss the resumption of two-way tourism traffic between the two countries.

Peza to Comelec: Spare locators from chemical transport curbs

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has asked the Commission on Elections to exempt locators from the election ban on the transport of regulated chemicals to prevent further closure of manufacturing plants due to lack of raw materials.

Peza said it also requested Comelec to allow the disbursement of public funds or construction of public work and infrastructure in public ecozones, which is not banned by the poll body during the election period.

In a statement on Tuesday, PEZA Director-General Charito B. Plaza disclosed that she had made the appeals during a recent meeting with newly-appointed Comelec Chairman Saidamen Balt Pangarungan.

“We requested for the Comelec’s assistance in securing the exemption of PEZA-registered enterprises from the election ban.

In addition, PEZA also requested the disbursement of public funds or construction of public works,

and infrastructure projects in PEZA’s public ecozones procured by public bidding during the election period.”

Citing Philippine Nationa l Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) records, Plaza said manufacturers using regulated chemicals “only form a small fraction of permit applicants during the election period compared to the gun or ammunition applications.”

During the election period, the transport of chemicals like sulfur powder, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, among others, are regulated by the Commission on Elections on top of the regular control done by the PNP-FEO. These industrial chemicals are

PLAZA

used by manufacturing companies registered to Peza.

“While the use, importation, transport, or manufacture of these chemicals are already covered by PNP-FEO permits, the Comelec issues a resolution every election period requiring duplicate permits through the Committee on Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC),” PEZA said.

Plaza said they received numerous reports and concerns from locators, who have run out of chemicals and raw materials supply due to delays in Comelec’s issuance of Certificate of Authority to Transport (CA-TT)—with some applications being denied by the poll body.

Plaza added that they have already asked the Comelec to fasttrack the issuance of CA-TT to prevent more manufacturing companies from closing down or ceasing operations due to lack of raw materials.

PEZA said 9 PEZA-registered enterprises are awaiting the approval of their permit applications with Comelec. Two of these shut down in the last week of February and another two companies have already used up their chemical supplies in the first week of March.

“We hear the pleas and concerns of our affected locators who have already closed down or are on the verge of ceasing their operations.

We have also received reports from our locators that their request for the approval to transport chemicals has been denied by Comelec.

These concerns have been reached out to Comelec and now, we are waiting for their release of the CATT permit,” she said.

“Our locators who are using regulated chemicals have a good track record as a manufacturer and exporter since the start of their [respective] operations and have never been involved in any election-related violence. With this, we sincerely hope for Comelec to review the CATT application process especially in our ecozones so that transport of regulated chemicals will not stop nor be delayed during the election period,” she added.

Plaza said Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez supports Peza’s position of exempting locators from the election ban to address the concerns of the country’s locators.

In my [recent] meeting with Comelec Chairman Pangarungan, he has expressed his firm support in addressing the competitiveness issues faced by manufacturers and buyers of regulated chemicals. He also vowed to establish a transparent and expeditious processing of CA-TTs,” Plaza said.

Delegation to WTTC

“I BROUGHT up the possibility of establishing a special visitors lane for Japanese tourists, similar to what we have for Singapore,” she said. While the idea seemed welcome, she said, MOLIT will still have to wait for the decision of their national government on the resumption of international tourism. At present, Japan only allows the entry of returning Japanese, workers, students, and visits from diplomats. “They’re very protective of their elderly,” she explained, and not all citizens have received booster shots yet, thus the continuing border restriction.

She was pleased, though, that Japan was committed to send a government and private sector delegation to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, which will be held in Manila for the first time in April 20-22.

“The Philippines and Japan share a common goal for the tourism sector, that of promoting our respective destinations and thereby contributing meaningfully to the growth of our nations’ economies,” said Romulo Puyat in a news statement.

The WTTC Summit in Manila will “open discussions between industry stakeholders, organizations, and governments to support economic recovery through the restarting of travel and tourism and attracting investments centered on the safe and secure reopening of the industry,” she said.

In her meetings with government and private tourism organizations in Japan, the tourism chief highlighted the country’s low Covid-19 cases, the high vaccination rate of tourism workers, compliance with global safety and hygiene protocols, and easy entry requirements and process.

A CHILD is vaccinated against Covid-19 at a newly opened vaccination site in Taguig City. The health department said all areas in the country are now considered “low risk,” as local governments continue to increase their vaccination rates. NONIE REYES

Japan envoy prods investors to come to PHL

F

OLLOWING the recent signing of the amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA), which allowed foreign ownership in most local sectors, the Japanese embassy encouraged more Japanese firms to do business in the country.

During his speech at the inauguration of the Metro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT-3) Rehabilitation Project last Tuesday, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko lauded the signing

of the PSA by President Duterte last Monday.

He noted the new legislation together with the Foreign Investment Act, and the amended Retail Trade Liberalization Act, will further make the country conducive for more Japanese firms.

“Japan is one of the top investors of the Philippines. The embassy of Japan would like to encourage Japanese companies to further invest in the Philippines,” Kazuhiko said.

Data from the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that Japan pledged P24.54 billion worth of foreign investments to the country during the fourth quarter of 2021, making it one of the country’s top foreign investors next to Singapore and the Netherlands in that period.

In a related development, Kazuhiko also welcomed the completion of the rehabilitation of the MRT 3 project, which he said will

reduce the risk mishaps in the said line.

He hopes the concluded joint project of the MRT-3 Management and the Japanese firm Sumitomo Corporation will strengthen Philippines-Japan relations.

“We are determined to build on these accomplishments and achievements with further accelerating the excellent relations between Japan and the Philippines,” Kazuhiko said. Samuel P. Medenilla

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

B1

North Star plans ₧4.5-B IPO to fund cold chain expansion

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

M

@jearcalas

eat trader North Star Meat Merchants Inc. (North Star), which has set its sights on capturing a bigger share of the country's meat market, has filed paperwork for its P4.5-billion initial public offering (IPO).

North Star said it has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) its registration statement for the offer and sale of up to 392 million common shares with an over-allotment of up to 58 million secondary common shares at a price of up to P10 each.

The company said it is keen on accelerating the expansion of its end-to-end cold chain infrastructure and operations amid the continuous increase in the country's meat consumption.

North Star is targeting to start the offer period in June and to list on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) before the end of the first half.

The company said it expects to net around P3.5 billion from the sale of its primary shares during the IPO. “With increasing demand for fresh and frozen protein, we are keen on accelerating the growth and reach of the Company to consistently provide safe, quality,

and affordable meat for everyone” North Star Founder and CEO Anthony Ng said.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to support the country’s goal to achieve food self-sufficiency and security while creating value for our shareholders."

North Star said its sales have posted a compounded annual growth rate of 39.7 percent since 2019 with total value reaching P9.28 billion last year. The company said its current cold storage capacity is at 8 million kilograms (kg) from 2.1 million kg after its expansion in Bulacan and Cebu.

“North Star believes that it is well-positioned to take advantage of a young and growing meat consuming population. An increase in purchasing power translates to an increase in meat consumption per capita” Ng said.

“Due to the pandemic, we believe that consumers have now become more health and safety conscious, affecting what they consume and where they purchase their food.

North Star stands to benefit from

this change in consumer behavior by being available in 360 supermarkets and 1251 convenience stores nationwide."

The company supplies meat products to SM markets and the Waltermart Group.

The company engaged BDO Capital & Investment Corp. as the sole issue manager. BDO Capital and China Bank Capital Corp. will act as the joint lead underwriters and bookrunners for the IPO. “We expect strong interest for this IPO given North Star’s unique focus on the country’s meat sector and food security, its established and longstanding relationships with retail giants such as the SM group and its unmatched scale of operations," Eduardo Francisco, President of BDO Capital, said.

“I think many if not most of the investors would be surprised to note that they have actually been consuming North Star’s various fresh and frozen meat products when doing their grocery shopping or dining at certain restaurants and food establishments."

AllDay income leaps on higher sales

By VG Cabuag @villygc

A

llDay Marts Inc., the Villarled listed supermarket operator, said its income last year rose by 80 percent year-on-year to P394.9 million, on the strength of “an elevated grocery experience” that caters to the growing mid-premium segment.

Sales rose 19 percent to P9.46 billion in 2021 from the previous P7.93 billion, the company said.

“AllDay’s remarkable performance for 2021 is a continued validation of our value proposition, and bodes well for the company’s long-

term prospects,” Manuel B. Villar Jr., the company's chairman, said.

“AllDay’s distinct in-store experience, coupled with an increasingly efficient e-commerce model, has proved to truly resonate with our growing customer base of Filipinos who show an increasing preference for differentiated and experiencedriven retail. As the country is well on its way to recovery from the pandemic, we will continue to focus on growing the business towards our 100 store milestone by 2026."

The company said it was able to improve its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization margins to 9.1 percent in 2021 up

from the previous year's 7.9 percent, driven in large part by lower operation expense ratios and higher sales productivity.

“AllDay’s remarkable growth in 2021 befits our first year on the Philippine Stock Exchange. We believe that this puts us on strong footing to continue implementing our blueprint for AllDay: an in-store experience comparable to the best that the world has to offer, featuring even smarter customer facing technology, comprehensive product offerings, curated international selections, as well as better-tuned e-commerce capabilities,” Camille A. Villar, AllDay vice chairman, said.

The company has 35 stores as of January.

AllDay earlier rolled out the country's first smart carts in its stores, which it said is an emerging trend in grocery stores overseas.

Smart carts are physical carts in stores, which automatically scans the selected items information placed in it, immediately reflecting prices and other important information on the user interface.

As a customer continues his shopping trip, a running total is generated in real-time, allowing them to monitor and compare against their budget, or their shopping list for that particular trip.

SMC rolls out more livelihood programs in Bulacan

A

s the pandemic w inds downs, San Miguel Corp.

(SMC), through its San Miguel Aerocity Inc (SMAI), is forging ahead with livelihood restoration and improvement initiatives for communities in and around the site of its New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan.

SMC President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang said that the company recently implemented new programs aimed at helping ensure communities throughout Bulacan will benefit from both the airport’s construction and operations.

This, as townsfolk from Bulakan, Bulacan, the airport’s site, along with various organizations, reaffirmed their support for the project, saying it will bring jobs, better income opportunities, and meaningful development that will turn their province into a major aviation and investment hub in Southeast Asia.

“Maraming mamamayan ng Bulakan at mga karatig-bayan ang magkakaroon ng hanapbuhay na pang-matagalan at kasanayan sa iba’t-ibang uri ng trabaho. Maraming mamumuhunan ang darating sa ating bayan (Many citizens of Bulakan and nearby towns will benefit from long-term jobs and gain experience in different fields.

Many will also come to invest in our province),” said Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses.

He added: “Kakailanganin po na-

tin ang programang pang-kabuhayan lalo na para sa ating mga mangingisda at magsasaka. Ang pagpapatayo ng mga iba’t ibang pasilidad at establisimento ay makakatulong sa ating mga manggagawa, na hindi na kakailanganing mangibang-bansa.

Lalakas din ang Turismo na maaaring magsulong sa mga lokal na industriya, tulad ng pangingisda (We need livelihood programs, especially for our fishermen and farmers. The building of facilities and establishments will be a big help to our workers, who will no longer need to go abroad. Tourism will also improve, and will boost local industries such as fishing).”

Building the project around engagement

SMC said it has been working with various key stakeholders to discuss and address social and environmental issues crucial to the delivery of a sustainable infrastructure.

Together with local government officials, SMAI recently met with some 19 nongovernment organizations representing several sectors in Bulacan, particularly in fishing and agriculture, to apprise them about initial site activities that airport project site in Barangay Taliptip.

T he organizations include: Kababaihan Sama-Sama sa Bulakan, Knights of Columbus of Bambang Council 8677, Solo Parents Federation Association, Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Sta.

Ana, Samahang ng Mangingisda sa Bambang, Samahang Isang Lahi Kabalikat sa Pagsulong ng Bulakan, Inc., AKSAHO Irrigators Association, Hen. Goyo Farmers Association, Samahan ng Mangigisda ng Taliptip (SMT), Hulo-Gitna Macapatan Irrigators Association, Inc., Bulacan Young Achievers Scholarship Foundation, Inc., Also expressing support for the project were Gintong Nagdarang Irrigators Association, Bagong Pag-asa ng Mangingisda ng Perez, Samahang ng Magsasaka ng Bambang Irrigators Association Inc., Samahan ng Mangingisda ng San Nicolas at Sitio Babangad, Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Tibig, D’ Generals Bulakan Riders Association, Rotary Club of Bulakan, Bulacan No. 21847 District 3770, and Bulakan, Bulacan Transport Club, Inc. Apart from stakeholders from Bulacan, SMAI also engages various nongovernmental organizations such as Haribon Foundation, Wildbird Club of the Philippines, Wetlands International Philippines and Center for Conservation Innovation, among others, to ensure that biodiversity in and around the project site is protected and enhanced.

Mott MacDonald, a leading international E&S consultancy firm, said it is proud to be supporting SMAI in its commitment to develop the airport project in accordance with global environmental and

social performance standards and best practice, and amid the challenges of the lingering pandemic.

“Our focus is to put in place programs that will not only strengthen the communities we serve but also protect and enhance biodiversity.

Apart from the airport project being our biggest investment to date, it will be our legacy to future generations. We will make sure that we do this right,” Ang said.

He added: “For close to three years now, we have also been introducing social programs in phases-first housing relocation, followed by skills training, livelihood opportunities, and then enhanced programs to support all of these. Our goal is to help build our communities up to be capable and resilient, with significantly better economic prospects than when we first met them."

Rodolfo de la Cruz, head of Samahang Mangingisda ng Bambang, said: “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga tulong na ibinibigay ng San Miguel sa amin. Sana po ay tuluyang ma-prioritize ang mga mangingisda, lalong-lalo na ang Bambang, sa mga benepisyo at mga kabuhayan kung saan makikinabang ang aming mga asawa at anak (We are grateful for the help that San Miguel has been giving us. We hope that they will continue to prioritize fishermen, especially those of us in Barangay Bambang, when it comes to livelihood which will also benefit our wives and children).”

PLDT, Things PH announce tie-up

PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio (fourth from left) recently led the groundbreaking of the 11th and largest VITRO hyperscale data center facility, expanding the group’s network of world-class data centers. Joining him during the ceremonies held in Sta. Rosa, Laguna were, from left: RED Engineering's Martin Webb, Department of Information and Communications Technology Regional Director Cheryl Ortega, Meralco President and CEO Atty. Ray Espinosa, Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Charito Plaza, Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez, Sta. Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas, and PLDT FVP and Head of Digital Office Viboy Genuino, to officially mark the start of the VITRO mega facility’s construction. Contributed Photo

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

P

LDT Inc. said on Tuesday it has partnered with Things PH, an internet of things (IoT) platform and solutions provider, to “intensify” its support to the local startup scene.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the two groups will collaborate to “promote, develop, and help businesses gain access to an IoT ecosystem for easy deployment of IoT solutions.”

“We’ve seen the potential of startups in the country and we continuously recognize their drive and dedication to solve problems in our society that might just be gamechanging innovation our country needs, at the moment we put strong focuses in startups who are specialized in emerging technologies such as IoT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Big Data, hyper-automation, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance),” said PLDT VP Melvin Jeffrey Chan.

PLDT offers IOT solutions to enterprise clients, leveraging on highspeed internet, particularly 5G. Meanwhile, ThingsPh provides

clients and partners with a unified Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (AIoT) platform and applications that help them gather real-time data, analytics, and alerts on what’s happening in the sites and offices whenever and wherever.

The platform features its capability to easily integrate with and work together with various systems, different IoT sensors, and even cameras.

“This partnership will accelerate our goal to help enterprises unlock the limitless possibilities with AIoT starting with real-time monitoring and analytics. It is time for our country to experience the impact of AIoT and this partnership is just the beginning. We are thrilled and eager to drive IoT in our country with the PLDT Group,” said Ferdinand Yanto III, ThingsPh's CEO and Co-founder.

In January, PLDT said it ended 2021 with a 73-percent increase in its fiber footprint to 743,700 kilometers with 14 million homes passed.

The figure is “significantly higher” than the 9 million homes passed the year prior.

Smart, meanwhile, beefed up its wireless network with new 3G, 4G, and 5G base stations, which total to 75,400 as of end-December.

AC Energy acquires shares of UPC-AC

A

C Energy Corp. has completed the first tranche of its planned full acquisition of renewable energy (RE) platform UPC-AC Renewables Australia.

In three separate disclosures to the stock exchange, the Ayala-led energy company said UPC Renewables Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd. (UPCAPH) and UPC-AC Renewables CEO Anton Rohner have signed separate instruments of transfer to allow AC Renewables International Pte. Ltd. (ACRI) to gain UPCAPH’s 7,150 ordinary shares in UPC-AC Energy Australia (HK) Ltd. and Rohner’s 1,000,054 ordinary class B shares in UPC Australia (HK) Ltd. ACRI paid a total of $87.7 million for this tranche.

“Completion of the second tranche of the acquisition is expected to occur within the first quarter of 2023. The company will wholly own UPC-AC Renewables Australia upon completion of the second tranche,” a disclosure read.

Once completed, ACEN will have full ownership over the Australian development pipeline of more than 8GW. UPC-AC Renewables Australia is

currently constructing a 520 megawatts (MW) solar farm in New England, Australia and has a development pipeline of more than 8,000 MW spanning New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia.

Moreover, ACEN also executed a subscription agreement with UPCAPH and Rohner. UPCAPH subscribed to 869,119,204 ACEN common shares while Rohner subscribed to 61,630,796 ACEN common shares at a subscription price of P7.871 per share. “ The transaction will have minimal effect on the ownership and capital structure of the Company. Upon completion of the issuance of up to 942 million common ACEN shares to UPCAPH and Mr. Rohner, they will own a combined 2.38 percent of the resulting outstanding shares of the company,” the disclosure read.

ACEN has about 2,600 MW of attributable capacity in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Australia. It aspires to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of reaching 5,000 MW of renewables capacity by 2025. Lorenz S. Marasigan

B2

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Companies BusinessMirror

Holcim posts profit despite poor market conditions C

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ement firm Holcim Philippines Inc. said its net income last year rose 24 percent to P2.56

billion from the previous year's P2.06 billion, despite poor market conditions.

Sales were flat at P26.94 billion for the year, from the previous year's P26.01 billion.

For the October to December quarter alone, the company's income plunged 74 percent to P264.86 million from the previous year's P1.03 billion as it was affected by softer market demand and higher costs of energy and fuel related to external developments.

Sales also fell 6 percent to P6.79 billion for the quarter from the previous P7.23 billion.

“Despite market pressures brought by the pandemic, weather disturbances that impacted the continuity of construction activities, and surges in energy and fuel prices, our company was able to deliver strong profit growth in 2021 from 2020,” Horia Adrian, the company's president and CEO, said.

“We are excited to further raise performance and deliver more positive impact through strategies and initiatives anchored on cost mindfulness, operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability. These are the foundations that enable us to continue growing profitably and contributing to the country’s development with our innovative building solutions

and sustainability programs."

The company said almost all of its employees were vaccinated.

Its health campaign continues with emphasis on the importance of booster shots, and ensuring health and safety protocols are exercised across its business and operations.

The company said it also drove innovation and sustainability initiatives to further improve business performance and make operations more respectful to the environment and beneficial to society.

Holcim ramped up product innovations with the launch of new building solutions for specific building applications including Holcim Aqua X, the country’s first ever water-repellent cement that protects structures against excess moisture.

In November 2021, the company launched Holcim ECOPlanet, which it claimed as its most environment-friendly product with more than 30 percent lower carbon footprint than ordinary Portland cement and part of the global range of green cement developed by the Holcim Group.

mutual funds

March 22, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year

Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

223.99

8.23%

-5.62%

-2.57%

-3.9%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.4613

18%

-3.53%

0.67%

-12.19%

9.57%

-9.22%

-5.26%

-4.24%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1005

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7442 1.97%

-7.66% n.a.

-1.63%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6811 3.79%

-7.91% n.a.

-11.65%

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

5.0382

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

11.38%

-3.1%

-0.43%

-2.79%

0.7483

14.42%

-5.35%

-3.99%

-12.02% n.a.

-7.7%

87.16

-9.4%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

45.7858

8.06%

-4.38%

-1.22%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

480.86

8.03%

-4.25%

-1.39%

-3.96%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.324

23.24%

0.11%

1.44%

-2.38%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

-0.01%

-3.72%

-4.87%

35.2329

10.84%

-3.27%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9114

10.65%

-4.39% n.a.

-3.19%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.7463

9.41%

-3.61%

-0.49%

-4.32%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

788.66

8.71%

-3.75%

-0.58%

-4.81%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7152

9.14%

-8.29%

-3.47%

-4.97%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.6051 Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a United Fund, Inc. -a

3.314

-4.47%

9.63%

-6.04%

-1.74%

-4.51%

0.8984

8.29%

-4.06%

-0.84%

8.73%

-3.79%

0.5%

-3.59%

-4.88%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

1.1444

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

963.21 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

13.88% n.a. n.a.

-1.57%

Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 106.3605

9.27%

-3.49%

-0.12%

-4.59%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0432

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.6679

-17.4%

0.64%

2.1%

-7.39%

-1.98%

9.63%

8.56%

-9.67%

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

1.6346

0.93%

-1.72%

-1.07%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2087

3.34%

-1.55%

-0.68%

-3.19%

6.68%

-0.23%

1.17%

-1.98%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6378

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2049 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.9648

-3.39%

10.22% n.a. n.a.

4.3%

0.81%

1.31%

-2.57%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.6425

3.2%

-0.27%

0.14%

-3.26%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.3428

3.24%

-0.52%

0.12%

-2.98%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0704

4.49%

-1.32%

-0.02%

-2.4%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5307 5.41%

-2.95%

-0.46%

-3.19%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

-2.06%

-0.02%

-3.13%

0.9243

12.02%

-1.96%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a

0.9472

0.83%

-1.82% n.a.

-4.3%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.8992

4.73%

-3.55% n.a.

-4.8%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.8877

5.39%

-3.9% n.a.

-4.95%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03562

-5.82%

-0.23%

0.2%

-6.11%

-11.05%

0.96%

1.49%

-4.81%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.4037 -3.61%

6.39%

6.07%

-8.3%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1122 -4.94%

2.31%

2.53%

-7.21%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0158

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

373.87

1.12%

2.55%

2.43%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8863

-1.01%

0.13%

0.03%

0.08%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2411

0.76%

2.6%

3.65%

-0.09%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2221

-0.77%

1%

1.21%

-1.31%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4174 -0.07%

2.36%

1.8%

-0.35%

-2.85%

2.7%

1.19%

-1.82% -0.35%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3157

-0.11%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3145

0.02%

3.34%

2.75%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9201

-0.59%

3%

2.41%

-1.15%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0167

0.13%

3.59%

1.88%

-1.12%

0.02%

3.34%

3.01%

-0.96%

-0.63%

2.51%

2.33%

-1.14%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1567 Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.7108

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

$485.1

0.78%

2.32%

2.19%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є216.16

-1.44%

0.06%

0.63%

-0.91% -1.75%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1204

-5.39%

-1.16%

0.11%

-6.94% -4.23%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0249 -3.49%

-0.27% n.a.

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$0.9594

-8.54%

-3.23%

-2.04%

-6.2%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.3417

-4.49%

1.48%

1.35%

-6.55%

$0.0611241

-2.11%

1.84%

1.45%

-1.88%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.9347 -5.02%

-0.19%

0.04%

-8.18%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) 131.56

1.36%

2.53%

2.54%

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

ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

1.0603

1.03%

1.79% n.a.

0.28%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3201

1.53%

2.38%

2.51%

0.25%

0.34%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.062

0.67%

1.3% n.a.

0.13%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

46.049 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.3304

10.49% n.a. n.a.

-3.8%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.91

-8.08% n.a. n.a.

-6.19%

-6.47% % a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago.

c - Listed in the PSE.

d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

March 22, 2022

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL IREMIT NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH

30,265 211,031,609 124,195,752.50 5,382,285 1,576,073 125,606,307.50 5,352 4,427,624 41,144 36,540 82,566,911 9,547,734 26,970 820 48,800 148,020

47,844,429 30,115,457.50 1,118,285 -440,376 -9,335,458 129,512 -41,144 -4,710,374 -221,884 -820 -17,980

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 7.96 7.97 8.08 8.08 7.95 7.97 8,135,000 65,107,341 1 1.04 1.03 1.04 1.03 1.04 56,000 58,170 ALSONS CONS 34.5 34.65 34.4 34.7 34 34.65 1,124,300 38,713,330 ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY 0.44 0.445 0.45 0.46 0.44 0.44 3,540,000 1,567,550 FIRST GEN 24.25 25 25.1 25.5 24.2 24.25 724,400 17,831,895 69.5 69.95 69.95 69.95 69.5 69.5 4,150 289,511 FIRST PHIL HLDG 4.3 5 5 5 5 5 1,600 8,000 JOLLIVILLE HLDG MERALCO 366 369.8 359 380.8 358.6 369.8 871,850 322,667,572 MANILA WATER 19.68 19.7 19.54 19.68 19.48 19.68 638,500 12,503,430 3.35 3.38 3.35 3.38 3.3 3.37 644,000 2,148,710 PETRON 4.71 4.92 4.76 4.92 4.76 4.92 101,000 496,410 PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM 10.36 10.52 10.6 10.6 10.6 10.6 800 8,480 11.32 11.36 11.44 11.48 11.32 11.32 845,800 9,628,482 SYNERGY GRID 17.84 17.9 17.9 17.92 17.82 17.9 837,000 14,963,738 PILIPINAS SHELL 14.2 14.38 14.2 14.4 14.12 14.2 20,900 300,156 SPC POWER SOLAR PH 1.89 1.9 1.77 1.91 1.73 1.9 96,021,000 178,095,280 VIVANT 16 16.72 16.06 16.74 16.06 16.72 400 6,626 5.44 5.45 5.5 5.6 5.39 5.46 2,899,900 16,010,141 AGRINURTURE 2.52 2.62 2.62 2.62 2.52 2.62 51,000 131,620 AXELUM 21 21.15 20.55 21.2 20 21.15 1,297,500 27,047,480 CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE 14.3 14.44 14.14 14.3 14.14 14.3 21,400 304,060 7.12 7.14 7.02 7.14 7.02 7.12 3,480,000 24,644,305 DNL INDUS 14 14.02 14 14.02 13.96 14 2,352,100 32,917,564 EMPERADOR 62.5 63.85 64 64 62.25 63.85 65,320 4,148,047.50 SMC FOODANDBEV FIGARO COFFEE 0.56 0.57 0.6 0.6 0.57 0.57 1,726,000 1,000,390 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.58 0.6 0.58 0.61 0.58 0.61 51,000 29,610 1.11 1.13 1.12 1.13 1.11 1.13 1,036,000 1,161,660 FRUITAS HLDG 108.7 112 113.5 113.5 108.2 112 1,750 195,535 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 204.8 205 213 214.2 202.2 205 1,944,030 399,519,974 KEEPERS HLDG 1.18 1.2 1.18 1.2 1.17 1.18 2,179,000 2,590,140 6.08 6.09 6.1 6.1 6.09 6.09 1,900 11,581 MAXS GROUP 13.48 13.62 13.9 13.98 13.42 13.48 23,296,400 315,325,272 MONDE NISSIN SHAKEYS PIZZA 7.85 7.86 7.95 7.95 7.86 7.86 347,100 2,733,754 ROXAS AND CO 0.59 0.6 0.58 0.63 0.58 0.61 119,000 69,830 4.26 4.54 4.54 4.54 4.54 4.54 7,000 31,780 RFM CORP 1.32 1.38 1.33 1.33 1.32 1.32 31,000 40,950 ROXAS HLDG 107.8 108.1 111.8 111.8 106.5 108.1 1,699,940 183,510,483 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.61 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.61 0.62 222,000 138,440 2.41 2.5 2.43 2.45 2.43 2.45 82,000 200,260 VICTORIAS 0.88 0.91 0.92 0.95 0.87 0.88 5,783,000 5,165,920 CEMEX HLDG 12.94 13.68 13.02 13.78 13.02 13.68 5,900 79,298 EAGLE CEMENT HOLCIM 5.51 5.6 5.5 5.55 5.5 5.51 15,900 87,702 MEGAWIDE 4.98 5.05 5.1 5.17 4.97 5.05 224,600 1,133,850 19.3 19.4 19.3 19.3 19.3 19.3 15,500 299,150 PHINMA 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.81 0.81 0.81 6,000 4,860 TKC METALS VULCAN INDL 1.01 1.02 1.07 1.08 0.99 1.01 6,456,000 6,541,980 CROWN ASIA 1.74 1.81 1.7 1.84 1.7 1.84 20,000 34,460 1.14 1.21 1.19 1.19 1.19 1.19 19,000 22,610 EUROMED 5.5 5.68 5.67 5.68 5.48 5.5 35,100 198,261 PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION 19.7 20.45 19.7 20.45 19.7 20.45 1,500 29,925 1.77 1.78 1.84 1.84 1.78 1.78 6,152,000 11,064,700 GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR 8.22 8.39 8.4 8.5 8.22 8.22 116,500 977,302 0.67 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.68 0.7 58,000 39,990 IONICS 6.1 6.21 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 4,000 24,400 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.04 1.05 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 20,000 20,800 3.16 3.17 3.22 3.24 3.14 3.17 225,000 718,810 CIRTEK HLDG

-8,850,203 3,028,170 71,450 -6,257,955 32,259 -116,522,914 5,864,908 -23,420 -1,317,394 -4,063,908 1,420 -418,460 -743,143 4,482,545 404,204 -19,292,444 -1,303,908.50 16,380.00 -54,455 -95,735,856 207,580 -106,425,400 -1,727,389 -49,268,155 -1,661,690 -26,406 31,488 -44,980 -1,899,000 -74,970 144,550

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS

44 130 98.15 26.5 8.4 53 17.84 18.94 55.6 20.3 108.2 85 3.86 0.79 0.61 200

0.89 4.01 775 57 12.78 8.51 0.88 0.62 0.62 5.03 8.88 6.9 507 57.55 2.93 9.15 3.69 1.54 882 108.2 115.3 0.28

44.45 130.4 99 26.7 8.41 54.2 18.94 19 57 20.85 110 85.9 3.98 0.82 0.71 204.8

0.9 4.3 777 57.5 13 8.86 0.9 0.63 0.63 5.04 8.89 7 510 58 2.98 9.16 3.75 1.58 882.5 108.7 119.8 0.3

43.25 126 95.05 26.5 8.45 52.3 17.84 19.06 55.6 20.3 110 89.3 3.99 0.82 0.61 200

0.94 4.02 777 57.45 12.4 8.51 0.89 0.64 0.68 5.1 9 6.75 515 58.9 2.93 9.15 3.72 1.59 875 108 115.2 0.285

43.25 130.4 99 26.7 8.5 54.2 17.84 19.06 55.6 20.3 110 89.3 3.99 0.82 0.61 202

0.95 4.02 795 62 13 8.51 0.89 0.65 0.68 5.1 9 7 521.5 58.9 2.93 9.3 3.75 1.88 885 109 119.8 0.285

43.2 125 95.05 26.5 8.38 52.3 17.84 18.94 55.6 20.3 107.5 85 3.8 0.82 0.61 200

0.9 4.01 762 54 12.4 8.51 0.89 0.62 0.62 4.97 8.82 6.75 507 55.65 2.93 9.14 3.67 1.54 872 107.4 115.2 0.27

43.2 130.4 99 26.7 8.41 54.2 17.84 19 55.6 20.3 110 85 3.8 0.82 0.61 200

0.9 4.01 777 57 13 8.51 0.89 0.62 0.62 5.03 8.88 7 507 58 2.93 9.16 3.75 1.54 882 108.7 119.8 0.27

700 1,644,450 1,263,860 203,100 187,600 2,365,360 300 233,500 740 1,800 757,000 110,100 7,000 1,000 80,000 740

4,615,000 8,000 292,680 3,617,430 7,289,500 3,800 26,000 2,723,000 115,000 580,000 3,478,000 6,500 122,410 846,490 40,000 1,437,100 20,770,000 4,403,000 479,800 85,520 150 190,000

4,228,680 32,110 226,753,635 209,172,718.50 94,135,952 32,338 23,140 1,710,520 73,360 2,895,530 30,858,112 45,335 62,559,990 48,751,072.50 117,200 13,198,211 77,345,180 7,378,600 421,449,900 9,281,764 17,740 53,500

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.56 0.59 0.56 0.56 0.56 0.56 7,000 3,920 34.8 34.95 34.7 35 34.5 34.95 6,140,600 213,591,870 AYALA LAND 4.72 4.77 4.8 4.81 4.72 4.72 684,000 3,254,300 AYALA LAND LOG ARANETA PROP 1.01 1.1 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 19,000 21,090 45.05 45.1 45.75 46.5 45 45.1 1,045,900 47,676,915 AREIT RT 0.88 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.9 0.92 1,047,000 961,540 A BROWN 0.09 0.094 0.091 0.094 0.091 0.094 15,830,000 1,440,560 CROWN EQUITIES CEB LANDMASTERS 2.95 2.97 2.96 2.97 2.92 2.97 215,000 632,950 0.39 0.395 0.395 0.395 0.395 0.395 70,000 27,650 CENTURY PROP 2.69 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.68 2.7 2,846,000 7,651,730 CITICORE RT 8.72 8.73 9 9.1 8.7 8.73 385,900 3,413,446 DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT 1.58 1.59 1.59 1.61 1.58 1.58 3,206,000 5,088,540 DM WENCESLAO 6.9 6.99 6.9 6.9 6.85 6.9 31,200 214,662 0.26 0.27 0.265 0.27 0.265 0.27 890,000 236,000 EVER GOTESCO 7.12 7.14 7.14 7.19 7.1 7.12 1,676,600 11,979,819 FILINVEST RT FILINVEST LAND 1.04 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.03 1.06 2,426,000 2,525,380 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.86 0.9 0.86 0.86 0.86 0.86 1,000 860 13.6 13.74 13.8 13.86 13.36 13.74 158,400 2,163,426 8990 HLDG 630 669 650 670 650 669 450 296,660 GOLDEN MV 0.97 0.98 0.95 1 0.95 0.97 102,000 98,730 PHIL INFRADEV CITY AND LAND 0.79 0.82 0.8 0.82 0.8 0.8 167,000 133,720 MEGAWORLD 3.04 3.05 3.08 3.08 3.03 3.05 7,837,000 23,882,050 0.249 0.25 0.25 0.255 0.25 0.25 2,900,000 725,650 MRC ALLIED 19 19.18 18.54 19.3 18.54 19.18 1,028,400 19,358,322 MREIT RT PHIL ESTATES 0.4 0.41 0.405 0.41 0.4 0.4 1,230,000 492,950 2.85 2.87 2.74 2.85 2.62 2.85 5,545,000 15,348,430 PRIMEX CORP 7.21 7.45 7.11 7.44 7.11 7.44 4,547,600 32,891,388 RL COMM RT 20.3 20.4 19.5 20.5 19.5 20.4 9,389,200 188,163,363 ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY 0.215 0.229 0.215 0.215 0.215 0.215 70,000 15,050 ROCKWELL 1.34 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.45 37,000 53,650 2.54 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 1,000 2,600 SHANG PROP 2.61 2.8 2.79 2.8 2.79 2.8 15,000 41,930 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 38.3 39.05 38.35 39.05 38 39.05 5,563,000 215,198,365 SOC RESOURCES 0.58 0.6 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.58 6,000 3,480 2.61 2.62 2.7 2.75 2.6 2.62 5,233,000 13,910,170 VISTA LAND

SERVICES ABS CBN 12.8 12.82 12.96 13 12.8 12.8 77,000 990,268 15.6 15.68 15.6 15.78 15.52 15.6 1,049,500 16,414,972 GMA NETWORK 0.405 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 1,520,000 638,400 MANILA BULLETIN GLOBE TELECOM 2,366 2,388 2,360 2,424 2,300 2,388 40,835 96,678,750 PLDT 1,730 1,732 1,735 1,755 1,710 1,732 95,605 165,373,615 0.042 0.043 0.044 0.044 0.041 0.042 324,400,000 13,744,800 APOLLO GLOBAL 25.3 25.45 25.8 26.35 25.3 25.3 5,413,900 139,045,945 CONVERGE DFNN INC 2.31 2.39 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.39 40,000 95,250 DITO CME HLDG 5.22 5.25 5.28 5.5 5.22 5.22 17,972,600 96,611,322 1.14 1.25 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.09 1,000 1,090 IMPERIAL 1.32 1.33 1.24 1.34 1.22 1.32 6,193,000 8,029,070 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.335 0.345 0.35 0.35 0.33 0.335 7,840,000 2,679,400 2GO GROUP 7.3 7.47 7.46 7.46 7.3 7.3 1,800 13,156 13.36 13.6 13.32 13.58 13.32 13.36 13,800 185,540 ASIAN TERMINALS 1.5 1.52 1.5 1.53 1.5 1.5 330,000 496,650 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 42.3 42.45 42.7 43 42.3 42.3 124,500 5,294,145 INTL CONTAINER 227 227.8 221 230 221 227.8 1,846,680 419,902,764 MACROASIA 5.19 5.2 5.22 5.34 5.13 5.2 499,900 2,595,830 0.68 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.68 0.69 381,000 261,650 HARBOR STAR 1.51 1.63 1.63 1.63 1.63 1.63 24,000 39,120 ACESITE HOTEL DISCOVERY WORLD 1.48 1.5 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 7,000 10,570 0.43 0.45 0.43 0.43 0.42 0.43 210,000 90,200 WATERFRONT 530 530.5 530.5 530.5 530.5 530.5 3,000 1,591,500 FAR EASTERN U 6.72 7.1 7 7.1 7 7.1 5,000 35,400 IPEOPLE BELLE CORP 1.31 1.33 1.32 1.33 1.31 1.32 524,000 691,680 6.5 6.65 6.78 6.78 6.5 6.65 2,262,100 14,942,304 BLOOMBERRY 1.27 1.29 1.31 1.38 1.27 1.29 819,000 1,081,240 LEISURE AND RES 1.82 2.14 1.82 1.82 1.82 1.82 20,250,000 36,855,000 MANILA JOCKEY PH RESORTS GRP 1.05 1.06 1 1.06 1 1.06 668,000 692,570 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.435 0.445 0.43 0.445 0.43 0.44 1,080,000 469,450 2.09 2.16 2.1 2.1 2.08 2.09 60,000 125,220 PHILWEB 0.45 0.455 0.445 0.455 0.435 0.45 9,360,000 4,177,450 ALLDAY BERJAYA 5.59 5.86 5.59 5.59 5.59 5.59 2,700 15,093 7.41 7.54 7.65 7.69 7.39 7.41 1,047,800 7,908,361 ALLHOME METRO RETAIL 1.38 1.41 1.39 1.4 1.38 1.4 278,000 384,420 32.1 32.2 33 33.1 32.05 32.2 744,800 24,269,530 PUREGOLD 54.5 55 55.7 55.7 54.25 55 114,550 6,261,506.50 ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP 66 67 68 68 67 67 5,380 361,431 SSI GROUP 1.04 1.05 1.04 1.05 1.04 1.05 497,000 520,300 26.25 26.7 26.1 26.7 26.1 26.7 895,700 23,465,385 WILCON DEPOT 0.232 0.247 0.232 0.247 0.232 0.232 160,000 38,620 APC GROUP EASYCALL 4.06 4.47 4.47 4.47 4.47 4.47 3,000 13,410 0.88 0.89 0.92 0.92 0.88 0.89 444,000 394,980 MEDILINES 1.99 2 1.99 1.99 1.99 1.99 1,000 1,990 PAXYS 0.54 0.55 0.56 0.57 0.55 0.55 3,210,000 1,772,200 PRMIERE HORIZON

MINING & OIL APEX MINING 1.59 1.6 1.6 1.61 1.58 1.59 2,872,000 4,573,610 6.58 6.59 6.55 6.74 6.55 6.58 518,400 3,420,362 ATLAS MINING BENGUET A 6.2 6.29 6.3 6.3 6.1 6.1 27,300 170,560 0.25 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.25 0.25 720,000 181,050 COAL ASIA HLDG 2.61 2.76 2.69 2.79 2.6 2.79 110,000 290,520 CENTURY PEAK 2.74 2.75 2.75 2.76 2.71 2.74 4,413,000 12,051,100 FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE 0.187 0.2 0.187 0.187 0.187 0.187 10,000 1,870 0.159 0.161 0.16 0.164 0.158 0.161 6,800,000 1,091,870 LEPANTO A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 43,100,000 441,400 MANILA MINING A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 1,000,000 10,000 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES 1.69 1.7 1.68 1.7 1.62 1.69 806,000 1,330,400 NIHAO 1 1.01 0.97 1 0.97 1 41,000 40,580 7.38 7.4 7.37 7.5 7.22 7.4 6,129,000 45,203,738 NICKEL ASIA 0.96 1 1.02 1.02 0.96 0.96 1,213,000 1,191,500 ORNTL PENINSULA PX MINING 5.61 5.62 5.51 5.66 5.5 5.62 1,056,900 5,848,730 SEMIRARA MINING 30.85 30.9 31.55 31.65 30.05 30.9 3,102,600 95,592,890 UNITED PARAGON 0.0063 0.0066 0.0065 0.0066 0.0065 0.0066 7,000,000 45,700 20.95 21 22.5 23.35 20.8 21 781,400 16,697,745 ACE ENEXOR 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 15,700,000 188,400 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 4,200,000 50,400 0.0095 0.0097 0.0093 0.0097 0.0093 0.0094 29,000,000 278,700 PHILODRILL 5.79 5.81 5.82 5.86 5.6 5.8 191,600 1,106,286 PXP ENERGY

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 100.1 100.9 100.9 100.9 100.9 100.9 20 2,018 502 507 502 502 502 502 10,120 5,080,240 AC PREF B2R 43.5 44 43.6 43.6 43.5 43.5 2,500 108,770 CEB PREF CPG PREF A 101 103 100.7 103 100.7 103 240 24,260 1,010 1,026 1,026 1,026 1,026 1,026 5 5,130 GTCAP PREF A 1,020 1,039 1,039 1,039 1,039 1,039 5 5,195 GTCAP PREF B 1,000 1,004 1,001 1,001 1,000 1,000 955 955,500 JFC PREF B MWIDE PREF 4 99.6 100 100 100 100 100 10 1,000 970 986 984 984 984 984 30 29,520 PNX PREF 4 76.15 78 77.1 78 76.1 78 20,050 1,550,064.50 SMC PREF 2F 75.8 76.5 76 76.25 76 76 12,200 929,700 SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2J 76.25 76.85 76.9 76.9 76.25 76.25 940 71,694.50 74.1 76 76 76 76 76 190 14,440 SMC PREF 2K 53.65 54.95 54.95 54.95 54.95 54.95 440 24,178 TECH PREF B2D

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS GMA HLDG PDR 14.64 14.8 14.4 14.66 14.4 14.64 56,700 828,604

WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.62 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.63 0.64 90,000 57,270

450,290 -95,381,700 -105,676,164.50 -13,493,396 -165,550 6,506,687 -14,262,820 9,295,553.50 -6,140,732 -1,186,860 -47,070,640 2,139,286 -4,608 -88,693,235 -232,840 -7,044,080 -125,660 636,477 84,790 -558,523 -1,861,380 -30,212 -10,670 -8,800 -6,492,690 618,614 -27,500 -3,011,445 7,999,002 -10,750 3,770,240 -9,175,740 -14,186,120 -6,995,430 8,200 -22,570,305 83,650 -17,749,890 -260,840 373,900 -3,771,925 77,680,668 -65,988 -1,404,477 -12,560 2,711,850 -1,017,312 -3,663,005.00 -866,682.50 22,524 8,320 100,155 9,680 52,110 782,163 54,400 4,346,150.00 205,020 6,940,376 -29,400 609,296 -2,616,730 107,400 -18,700 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP HAUS TALK ITALPINAS MERRYMART XURPAS

16.22 1.04 0.91 1.83 0.325

16.56 1.05 0.93 1.85 0.335

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF

106.4

107

16.54 0.98 0.93 1.85 0.335

16.54 1.04 0.93 1.89 0.345

16.24 0.98 0.91 1.83 0.325

16.24 1.04 0.93 1.83 0.325

3,100 6,675,000 117,000 601,000 860,000

50,584 6,688,590 107,020 1,111,240 289,900

-35,938 -509,220 54,010 -

106.9 107 106.3 107 15,630 1,669,072 73,368

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banks seen to benefit from faster Net access

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expressed its support to the issuance of Executive Order 127, which will liberalize access to satellite technology for broadband services, citing the importance of this to banks’ disaster recovery.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno was quoted in saying in a statement on Tuesday that the EO and its implementing rules and regulations, which support satellite technology, are expected to improve internet connectivity in remote areas.

“With enhanced access to satellite broadband services, financial institutions can improve their disaster recovery plans as part of their resilience strategy. They will also be able to set up more access points, such as branch lite operations, ATMs and cash agents in underserved areas,” Diokno said. The BSP chief cited a rural bank in Mindanao, Cantilan Bank Inc. (Canbnk), that turned to satellite technology following typhoon Odette last January 2022.

Canbnk’s recently-installed very small aperture terminals (VSATs) restored online connectivity and ATM operations of their Del Carmen and Dapa branches in Siargao City. A VSAT is a 2-way ground station that sends and receives data from satellites.

“By supplementing our network redundancy measures with VSAT connectivity, the bank effectively provided a contingency measure for branches operating in disasterstricken areas,” CANBNK Executive Vice President Tanya Hotchkiss said.

The BSP said it is optimistic that with EO 127 and other market-enhancing policy reforms being introduced, satellite broadband services will become more accessible and affordable, which will further boost digital financial inclusion in the country.

Under its Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap 2020-2023, the BSP aims to digitalize half of retail payments in the country and onboard 70 percent of Filipino adults into the formal financial system by 2023.

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

B3

Investors sought high rates on T-bonds

T

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury only awarded P15.7 billion or less than half of its P35 billion offering of reissued 7-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) as the market priced in the more aggressive stance from the US Federal Reserve.

Investors demanded higher rates in Tuesday’s auctions following hawkish signals from US Federal Re-

serve Chair Jerome Powell that the Fed could raise rates by more than 25 basis points in its succeeding meet-

ing, or meetings, if necessary.

With a remaining term of 6 years and 4 months to maturity, the security capped at an average rate of 5.601 percent, higher than the secondary benchmark rates of 5.486 percent for the 7-year tenor and 5.420 percent for the security (FXTN-07-65) based on the Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL).

The auction was oversubscribed as it attracted total bids of P40.6 billion, higher than the P35-billion offering. The reissued T-bonds are set to mature on August 12, 2028.

“Market remains defensive with Powell turning aggressive as he indicated 50bps rate hikes in next FOMC [Federal Open Market Commit-

tee] meetings is in table,” National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon said.

“Meanwhile, higher inflation is seen this month with still elevated oil and commodities prices.”

To rein in inflation, the US Fed last week raised interest rates by 25 basis points, the first increase in more than three years or since December 2018.

For this month, the Treasury was originally hoping to borrow a total of P250 billion from the local debt market, slightly higher than the P200 billion programmed in February.

However, the Treasury had to resort to full rejection of bids in its first four consecutive auctions earlier this month due to investors’ demand for

higher rates.

For this month’s borrowing program, the Treasury has yet to fully award bids for its auction of government securities. Since last week, the Treasury has been partially awarding government securities.

The government is also set to borrow this year a total of P2.2 trillion, of which around 75 percent is expected to come from domestic sources.

As of end-January this year, the government’s outstanding debt has already hit a new record-high of P12.03 trillion as the country needed to borrow more to cover a wider budget deficit given the bigger expenses amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lender: Renewed demand Billions lost as tax collections good for real estate sector on e-sabong fall through cracks

By VG Cabuag @villygc

M

ID-sized lender Security Bank Corp. said boutique property developer Ovialand Inc. will be one of the housing developers that will benefit from the expected renewed consumer demand, which may happen this year.

“Ovialand is a mass-market housing developer with a focus in south Luzon, particularly in Quezon, Laguna and Batangas,” SB Equities Inc. president Warren T. Sy said.

“The company has ambitious growth plans for 2030, such as expanding nationwide and increasing its housebuilding capacity to 6,000 house-and-lot units from the current figure of 900,” Sy added.

The bank said the residential real estate market in general is poised for a rebound in this year.

“The valuation of residential houses in the market suffered a decline due to lower demand, with buyers reducing their risk appetites. However, with the GDP (gross domestic product) poised to recover as we reopen our economy, household incomes are expected to increase—which could lead to families being more willing to buy a home,” Sy said.

The government’s infrastructure development plans are also expected to provide tailwinds to residential developers.

“Developing the infrastructure in the provinces, especially with the aim of making them more acces-

sible to Metro Manila, will stimulate economic growth and increase business competitiveness in these areas,” Sy said. “Prominent projects under the pipeline include the eightkilometer Nlex-Slex Connector Road and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, which will encourage more people to consider South Luzon as a place to live in.”

Ovialand is planning to raise some P1.5 billion in fresh funds in its initial public offering. China Bank Capital Corp. is serving as the underwriter.

Pammy Olivares-Vital, the company’s president and CEO, earlier said they will file its registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the end of March and have the listing by June.

“The funds that would be raised from the offering would provide muchneeded capital for Ovialand to pursue its growth initiatives,” Sy said.

Ovialand’s revenues for 2021 grew 90 percent to P873 million last year from the previous P462 million. The growth in sales happened despite the company raising prices by 3 to 8 percent due to higher costs of raw materials “This proves the resiliency of Ovialand’s customer base—people with monthly earnings of P50,000 to P100,000, despite the ongoing economic recession,” Sy said.

“Overall, there is generally a strong consumer demand within the mass market housing market, which Ovialand caters to with homes ranging from P2 million to P4 million.”

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

W

H I L E g o ve r n m e n t scrounges for funds for pandemic response and economic recovery, it has failed to maximize revenue from the controversial e-sabong, where uncollected tax on winnings of bettors could reach billions of pesos, a lawyer-senator said.

Senator Francis N. Tolentino prodded the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to heed President Duterte’s directive to step up revenue collection to bankroll the administration’s projects and public services.

Tolentino was aghast at hearing an admission by BIR officials at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Oublic Order and Dangerous Drugs that, since April 2020 when e-sabong licenses were issued, they have not collected taxes on winnings, which normally would have come up to 20 percent.

He reminded revenue collectors to ensure correct tax dues are remitted to the government by the two agencies as well as other revenue sources, including the “On-Line Sabong” winning bettors, apart from other sources with uncollected tax duties.

“Pagcor should ensure cor-

Social media: For business, politics and pleasure?

W

HETHER it is YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, people are turning to social media for information and entertainment.

That is why in this election season, politicians are investing in social media platforms to send their messages across. In the US for instance, politicians are using TikTok to campaign for votes.

But not all who are popular in TikTok wins. There are politicians for instance with large followings in TikTok such as Matt Little (a former Liberal member of the Minnesota Senate) and Joshua Collins (a socialist who ran for US representative for Washington), lost in their respective elections despite their popularity in TikTok. But there are candidates who had succeeded in TikTok by attracting a large following that helped them greatly in winning the elections but few candidates were really successful (New York Times dated March 18, 2022).

So it does not mean that when a politician or a business hire somebody who has a large following in Facebook or YouTube or TikTok, to promote their candidacy or their products, that the “celebrity” will automatically bring in the needed votes or revenue for businesses.

It still depends on the content of the posts.

In recent statistics Facebook still

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Finex free enterprise Wilma Inventor-Miranda leads among social media platforms worldwide in 2022 followed by YouTube, WhatsApp Instagram, Facebook Messenger and TikTok. Why Facebook? This platform attracts both young and old. In fact in the same report, it says that it’s the go-to platform of people ages 65 and above. It does not mean though that this age group dominates Facebook but this demographics is the fastest growing age range in Facebook at 21 percent growth in 2021. The age group of 25-34 though still dominates Facebook (wordstream.com updated March 12, 2022).

YouTube though is becoming the No. 1 social media in the United States according to the same report above. If we are to observe in this election season in the Philippines, people turn to YouTube too for news, updates, debates, political rallies and events. But it is in Facebook where we usually receive a link to YouTube or TikTok for the popular and latest news about our candidates for instance and controversial

issues for the day.

Speaking of politics, it garnered the highest engagement rates in Facebook at a whopping 96 percent compared to healthcare at 51 percent and restaurant-café and finance both at 43-percent engagement rates. But take note, you should be aware that the reason why topics on your candidate keeps popping in your news feeds is because of algorithm.

The more you are engaged in a certain topic and the more you click likes and react to a certain posts, those are organized by algorithms to bring the kind of content you will usually see in your news feeds. So it does not necessarily mean that you candidate is the most engaged topic because it always pops up in your news feeds.

In YouTube, however, you can see the number of viewers and likes from the public and not just from your own circle of friends just like in Facebook when you happen to limit your audience in Facebook.

Businesses are now using TikTok to promote their products. Churches and non-profit organizations are using TikTok to send their messages.

While there are talks going around that the security of your data in TikTok is being compromised because it can be a venue for China to access your private information, in a recent report it refutes this theory.

National security experts disputed the fear of data privacy invasion emphasizing that the application “would be a relatively inefficient way for China to obtain US intelligence” According to the director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy program at the Council on Foreign Relations, other better ways for the Chinese agencies to get information is through phishing emails and specific attacks on a staff of a politician or the politician himself or even buying data on the open market (nytimes.com dated March 19, 2022).

So guys, go ahead and use TikTok and your Facebook or YouTube and whatever social media applications you fancied using but be a responsible content writer or user. These social media platform can be a boon but can also be a bane if not handled responsibly. And did I say use your time wisely? It can be also a time “robber” but it should be in another topic for another article.

For politics, is social media the present-day successful political campaigning or a venue for fake news and political skirmishes?

Wilma Miranda is the chairperson of the Finex Ethics Committee, Managing Partner of Inventor, Miranda & Associates, CPAs and Member of the Board of Directors of KPS Outsourcing Inc. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions.

rect collection of right tax dues from the operators of e-sabong, or online cockfighting, as well as winning bettors,” Tolentino said as the committee chaired

by Sen. Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa continued inquiring into the disappearance of at least 34 “sabungeros” (cockfight workers, collectors, managers). The apparent abductions had prompted 23 senators to sign a resolution urging Pagcor to suspend all e-sabong operations until the fate of the missing is resolved, but President Duterte rejected that proposal last week, saying e-sabong brings in billions of revenue that government badly needs.

This prompted Tolentino to grill the Pagcor and BIR officials at Monday’s hearing on whether they are maximizing collections from the controversial trade, only to find out that the only fee paid by e-sabong operators is a “regulatory fee or franchise fee” to Pagcor, or P12,500 for every cockfight.

Since the Pagcor granted license for e-sabong in April 2020, senators were told there was no collection of withholding tax from winners in e-sabong bets when they should have paid 20 percent in taxes, similar to the tax paid by winners of lotto and sweepstakes.

Tolentino noted that some “P2-billion up to P3-billion bets” are made each day of cock derby,

quoting gaming businessman Charlie Atong Ang, whom he described as the “biggest e-sabong operator” in the country.

A Bloomberg special report published in BusinessMirror on March 12 described Ang as “the brain behind Pitmasters Live, the top-shelf brand of online cockfighting. His group streams matches round-the-clock, averaging around 350 a day and partnering with breeders across the country. Digital payment platforms and hundreds of agents facilitate access to the Pitmasters webcast, take wagers and disburse winnings.”

Of the daily P2 billion to P3 billion in bets made, according to the Bloomberg report, 95 percent goes to bettors as winnings and the remaining 5 percent to Pitmasters and its agents as commission. Another P135 million is paid as a monthly tax to Pagcor, which has used funds to fight the pandemic.

“Ang, 63, said his group’s revenue each month is P1.5 billion, a huge sum considering Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which operates one of the country’s biggest casinos, pulled in profits of about 10 billion pesos in 2019,” noted Bloomberg.

In an earlier Senate hearing, Pagcor put its average monthly income from e-sabong at P690 million.

RCBC bags ESG Gold citation from HK-based publisher

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UCHENGCO-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has bagged the ESG Gold award from the Hong Kong-based Asset Publishing and Research Ltd. (APRL).

During the publication’s “ESG Corporate Awards 2021” held last month, RCBC was included among those recognized with the ESG Gold Award. The said award gives citation on companies that exert effort on its leadership in the environmental, social and governance space.

“Through the bank’s digital strategy, RCBC was able to maintain customer engagement during the pandemic, particularly supporting SMEs [small and medium enterprises] as they transitioned towards online banking. The bank has a robust sustainable finance framework already embedded in RCBC’s risk management systems,” said ARPL’s awarding platform “The Asset” magazine.

“The Asset” also noted how RCBC’s bond issuance was the first ASEAN sustainability bond issuance out of the Philippines last year and the only peso-denominated sustainability bond printed in 2021.

For two decades, ARPL’s magazine’s benchmark research has been analyzing how transparently and ethically Asian corporates are run and how they choose to contribute

to broader society.

In the Philippines, RCBC is one of the major banks leading the efforts toward sustainability. In December 2020, RCBC announced that it will no longer extend financing to new coalfired power projects. The bank has continued to integrate international guidelines and best ESG practice in its risk management systems.

RCBC, for instance, subscribes to International Finance Corp.’s performance standards for identifying and managing environmental and social risks. The bank’s own sustainable finance framework, on the other hand, is aligned with the requirements of global bond principles.

As of 2020, RCBC’s eligible sustainable portfolio accounted for approximately 10 percent of its total loan portfolio. The impact of the portfolio was manifested through 9,962 projects, of which 802 were accounted for by loans supporting employment generation through small and medium-sized businesses.

Last month, the Yuchengco-led lender was awarded for the ASEAN sustainability bond issuance it made last year, which helped the bank raise as much as P17.87 billion.

RCBC was also awarded the Best Sustainability Bond in 2021 from ARPL’s “The Asset” 2021 Country Awards. VG Cabuag

B4

Show BusinessMirror

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

THE horror film X is about a group of people who are terrorized while shooting a pornographic film.

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Michelle Monaghan, 46; Keri Russell, 46; Catherine Keener, 63; Chaka Khan, 69.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Set boundaries and engage in something that is cost-efficient. Put a financial strategy together to ensure you maintain comfort and security to promote adequate time to do something that makes a difference. What you do to improve your community and personal life will give you peace of mind and the will to stay on your chosen path. Nurture meaningful relationships. Your numbers are 8, 12, 19, 23, 35, 38, 41.

WHAT ACHIEVEMENTS?

EVERYBODY’S in awe of this beautiful personality because of her latest achievements in the global scene. But are they really achievements, or have they been carefully choreographed, thanks to money and connections? The personality was so envious of her rival’s achievements that she figuratively moved heaven and earth to upstage the other girl. The rival is laughing at the celebrity behind her back because she knows the truth behind these achievements. Anybody with money can achieve this. It’s just a matter of knowing the right people and where to place your buck, so to speak. The celebrity knows the right people so she has the upper hand over rival—or so she thinks.

THE SWAP THAT WENT WRONG

WHAT happened to the marriage of this high-profile couple still remains a mystery. But here’s a summary: The couple is into the spouse-swapping scene and they swapped with a foreign couple for a few months. The wife was happy with her new partner while the hubby wasn’t. What happened next was unexpected. The wife asked her husband for an annulment as she had fallen in love with the other woman’s husband. He agreed on the condition that he get custody of their child. The wife had no choice and now she suffers. She and the other wife’s husband are very much together now and for that, she’s happy.

‘The Batman,’ still No. 1, crosses $300M

BATTERED HUSBAND

ONE of the reasons why the actress’ ex-husband left her was because he was a battered husband. The actress has many issues and traumas from her childhood. One is being a breadwinner even when she was just a child. Up until recently, she didn’t even have her own bank account because her mother controlled her money. It wasn’t that the mother squandered the actress’ money. She simply used it for the actress’ siblings who didn’t have enough money. This is something the actress will never understand. The actress claims most of her emotional and mental issues were caused by her family.

TRAUMATIZED

THE young actress has long been lambasted for being an ungrateful daughter. This is because despite her fame and fortune, she refuses to help her father financially. The actress’ dad has fallen to hard times and has sent feelers asking for her help. The actress and her siblings will never forget how their dad would hurt their mom when they were still together.

He also left them and didn’t support them financially even when he knew that they needed money badly. Now that the actress is doing well, she just hopes her dad would leave her alone.

T

By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press

HE Batman is still going strong three weeks into its theatrical run, with a tight grip on the top spot at the box office.

Robert Pattinson’s debut as the Dark Knight earned an additional $36.8 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. It also slid past the $300 million mark ahead of projections.

The Warner Bros. film is the highest grossing movie of 2022 and the second highest since the beginning of the pandemic (first place goes to Spider-Man: No Way Home).

The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves, also picked up $49.1 million internationally this weekend, bringing its global total to $598.1 million. The only place The Batman seems to be stumbling is in China where it earned $12.1 million in its first weekend. But about 43 percent of cinemas in China are closed due to

the pandemic and The Batman still did slightly better than Uncharted which also opened there this weekend to $10.3 million.

The Batman cost an estimated $200 million to make, not counting the many millions spent on marketing. But it is already a win for Warner Bros., which took at hit at the box office in 2021 because all of its films were released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. It also helps that marketplace competition has been slim. The biggest competitor this weekend was the anime Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which was released

by Crunchyroll and Funimation, and took in an estimated $17.7 million in its first weekend in North America, where it was playing on 2,748 screens. The Japanese film is based on a best-selling manga and available to watch dubbed or with subtitles.

“Fans made this movie a big hit this weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for comScore. “It shows how passionate fans of anime are and how beautiful these films are when presented on the big screen.”

The horror film X also debuted this weekend on 2,865 screens and is projected to gross around $4.4 million. Directed by Ti West and distributed by A24, X is about a group of people who are terrorized while shooting a pornographic film.

Focus Features launched the crime drama The Outfit, starring Mark Rylance in 1,324 locations. It made an estimated $1.5 million. And outside of the top 10, Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions had Alice, the Sundance breakout about an enslaved woman who gets transported to 1973, which made $176,120 from 170 locations. n

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Reach out to someone who can help you excel, and you’ll gain insight into how to push your way into an exciting position. Don’t wait for things to come to you; take control and do your part. Change begins with you.

HHHHH

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t secondguess what you will do. If the path is clear, take advantage, but if it’s not, back away.

Keep life simple and your plans doable. Refuse to let emotional situations push you toward indulgence. Know your limits. HHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be original without being impractical. Push forward with common sense. You’ll recognize when situations and suggestions are not worthy of your time or money. Put your strength where it adds value. A change of heart will lead to peace of mind. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): An emotional response will not help you get your way. Look for the good in everything and everyone, and make upbeat suggestions. Do your best to make a difference and be part of the solution, not the problem.

HHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Unreasonable behavior won’t impress anyone, but a kind gesture will attract the people you want in your circle. Assess who has your back, and you’ll realize the changes required to set you on a positive path.

Personal growth and love are encouraged. HHHHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Concentrate on changes that improve your life and relationships. Channel your energy into the things that make you happy, and it will ease stress and encourage you to incorporate more of what you love to do into your daily routine. HH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do the work yourself; if you trust others to do things your way, you’ll be disappointed. Be passionate about your beliefs and dedicated to the causes you care about and the people you love. Don’t overspend to impress someone. Romance is favored. HHHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Put yourself in someone else’s shoes, and rethink your next move. You can bring about positive change without disrupting or challenging someone’s beliefs.

Be concerned about what you do, and give others the freedom to do as they please. HHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Actions will take precedence over words. How you incorporate your skills, knowledge and experience into what you want to achieve will make a statement that others recognize. Do what’s best for you and those who need your help. HHH

Sky virtual run fundraiser to provide food relief to Odette survivors SKY’S “Isang Daang Hakbang Sa Pagtutulungan: Kapamilya Virtual Run” raised more than P500,000 in donations, which can provide food packs to over 1,000 families or 5,000 individuals who are still struggling after the devastation caused by Supertyphoon Odette.

The four-week virtual run, which concluded last February 28, had almost 1,500 participants completing the run’s 100-step challenge, including ABS-CBN star Piolo Pascual, celebrity coach Rio dela Cruz, and ABS-CBN Foundation Director for Advocacy and “G Diaries” host Ernie Lopez.

Several participants gladly shared their photos and videos finishing the challenge on Facebook and Instagram, using the hashtag #100HakbangSaPagtutulungan to encourage friends and family to join.

Whether they completed the challenge safely indoors or outdoors, they enjoyed the opportunity to be active and

healthy amid the pandemic while also being able to help others in a simple way.

Besides the 100-step challenge, around 300 participants went the extra mile and completed 5K and 10K virtual runs to send larger donations for the victims.

“We are extremely thankful to everyone who participated in ‘Isang Daang Hakbang Sa Pagtutulungan.’ More than your donations, the time and effort you made to complete the challenge and share it on social media makes a big difference in inspiring others to also take a step towards helping our Kapamilyas. Every peso means food, clothing, medicines, home and hope for our kababayans in need. All of you greatly contribute to our mission to be in the service of the Filipino,” said Jaynalen Redondo-Roque, SKY’s head for Integrated Marketing and Airtime Business and the organizing committee head of the virtual run.

“Isang Daang Hakbang Sa Pagtutulungan” was organized

by SKY, in partnership with HBO and History, to support ABSCBN and ABS-CBN Foundation’s “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-ahon: Isang Daan sa Pagtutulungan,” the second phase of their fund drive for the benefit of Odette survivors.

As of March 17, ABS-CBN Foundation has delivered food packs to 207,029 families with the help of the donations. Even more families will be able to receive aid with the donations collated from this virtual run.

Aside from the continued support of food packs to the survivors still in evacuation centers, ABS-CBN Foundation will also utilize the donations to distribute even more home repair kits to families whose houses were destroyed in the calamity. As of March 17, 584 families in underserved areas have received home repair kits to support the rebuilding of their homes.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be careful how and who you defend. Gather information before joining a movement that may not live up to your principles. A change at home can alter how you feel about someone close to you. Don’t assume; verify facts.

HHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A direct approach to how you earn your living and handle your finances is essential. Emotional spending or letting your feelings disrupt your responsibilities will hinder your progress. Hard work, discipline and completion will help you excel. HHHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Put everything in place before you share your intentions with others. A sudden change will alter the outcome and leave you scrambling. Focus on doing things right the first time and sticking to the budget, regardless of what transpires. HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are intuitive, creative and thoughtful.

You are expressive and charming.

‘knife edges’ BY STERLING MACLEAN The Universal Crossword/Edited by Amanda Rafkin

ACROSS 1 Sign up 5 Corp. shuffle 10 Orangutans, e.g.

14 Bone, on an Italian menu 15 Fighting 16 Folk knowledge 17 Hundred-to-one shot, e.g. (In this clue’s answer, note the first 3 letters + the last 2) 19 Filet mignon source 20 Empty talk 21 Word after “aisle” or “window” 23 Christmas bulb, briefly 24 Tie in chess 26 NCIS actor Murray 28 Trade-___ (certain cars) 31 Bad place to see a fox (...first 2 letters + last 2) 36 “Las Vegas of Asia” 38 Greek X 39 Circle dance 40 Rings around castles 41 Cattrall of Sex and the City 42 Fanta and Sprite 43 Arrows, to an archer

44 Rock grp. hidden in “free love” 45 Election predictors 46 Wonder Woman’s secret identity (... first 2 letters + last 2) 50 Dallas-to-New Orleans dir.

51 King of tragedy 52 “Twist, Lick, Dunk” cookie 54 TikTok star Addison 56 Intentions 59 Give in 63 Off-kilter 65 Avoid elimination, or a hint to 17-, 31and 46-Across 67 Show of hands, maybe 68 Full of energy 69 Gets an A+ on 70 Anna’s sister in Frozen 71 Unit of volume 72 Prying DOWN 1 Tease playfully 2 Capital of Norway 3 “That so?”

4 Wanderer 5 Enthusiastic...or a sarcastic laugh backward

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 25 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 37 42 47 48 49 53

Greek H Takes responsibility for Drag strip event Pink Ladies’ rock musical The whole shebang Foam flotation device Lake that sounds chilling Word by a paper plane icon, in Outlook Unicycle site You may count to it Porch furniture material Sound an allergist hears “Grr!” Osaka of tennis Phishing notifications, e.g.

Spicy topping for a hot dog Japan’s national dress Spoken exams Out of style Make amends Gettysburg Address, for one Roadside boost org.

Like basic instincts Earthen bowl?

Humpback’s home

54 55 57 58 60 61 62 64 66

Great review Deserter’s acronym Neighbor of Algeria Funny sketch Danish shoe brand Club payments Amazon Handmade competitor Formal affirmative December 24 or 31

Solution to today’s puzzle:

Image BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Increasing your personal multipliers MULLENLOWE TREYNA GROUP INAUGURATES HYBRID WORK SPACE, SETUP

H

AVE you ever wondered how some people could do the same amount of work you do but they do it better and faster? AustrianAmerican management consultant, educator and author Peter Drucker once said that “efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.” If you take a closer look at your daily tasks, which ones should you be doing and, among those, are you doing them the best way possible?

My time management and planning skills were put to the test recently when we had overlapping activities which required me to focus on several tasks at the same time. I realized that I had a distinct advantage over some of my colleagues because I used to work in a fast-paced industry where I had to make decisions one after the other. I realized my exposure in the academe and corporate training in a hospital and multinational setting helped me develop my own personal multipliers.

Borrowing from the economic concept of a multiplier effect, personal multipliers are the tools and skills you possess to increase your effectiveness and efficiency. You acquire these through deliberate reflection of your own experiences, your observations of other people, and from using your work tools daily to enhance your work output. These are the skills, tools and behaviors that help you get the job done proficiently and successfully.

One of the important skills you need is knowing how to plan your day. Focus on the most important tasks of the day rather than being overwhelmed with incoming e-mails, phone calls, or even your boss.

List down what needs to be done for the day and then prioritize which needs to be finished first in terms of your team’s workflow. Once you have your priority activities, take one step at a time to motivate yourself and keep at it until it is finished.

Part of planning your day is to park activities that can wait and schedule them within the week.

I find that when I put it in my digital calendar, I am automatically reminded of the task. Learn to decline meeting invitations without any clear agenda so you will not waste time. One of the things that helps me plan better is to reduce distractions on my table by putting only the things I need to do at work. I try to keep other things inside my drawer so I can focus on my tasks until I finish them.

With working from home and the ongoing pandemic, physical activities are limited. But try to keep healthy by eating the right food and doing home exercises. I have tried some excellent bodyweight exercises online that I can do at home whenever I can.

Otherwise, I give the dogs a bath or clean their area as a home workout. Being healthy gives you more energy to do your work better because you train your body not to get tired easily. You get to do more because your energy is sustained, and your focus becomes consistent. This translates to having more time for self-improvement or hobbies which help you become more creative.

Being healthy also means cultivating a good mindset. Reframing issues and problems as opportunities for growth helps you focus on solutions

PHOTO BY OLENA SERGIENKO ON UNSPLASH

more than finding blame. Several days ago, I had to facilitate a workshop where I did not feel as confident because I had not done any training for a while now.

After the first batch, we were all congratulated for doing well but I knew I had to fine tune some parts of my discussion, which I did for the next batches. I could have stopped because I was doing well already but I knew I could still improve. Adopting a growth mindset helped me not only manage my anxiety in facilitating the workshop, but also to keep an eye on what I can improve so confusion and questions are minimized. It gave us more time to discuss other things and provide more time for participants to do their planning.

One of the most important mentalities we need to develop is the digital mindset. Given a task, most people would dive right in and just do it. But only a few would stop and evaluate the best way to do the task. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” We must realize that we have at our disposal tools which have not fully maximized because we are too afraid to use them.

For example, people have been using presentation tools for a while now and yet not everybody has the same skill level. Your dexterity in using the tool will depend on your own interest—and your interest in

learning its many uses. I still remember the first time I created an animated video using only PowerPoint and my colleagues thought I used a video editing tool.

They were surprised to discover I was using the same tools as they did. The difference was that I was curious how my output could be improved given the tools available. A digital mindset can help you overcome your fear of new technology and learn as much as you can to do your work efficiently and effectively.

And lastly, surround yourself with people who will help you become better at what you do. Sometimes, your environment can hinder you from looking at better ways of doing your work, especially if it is a traditional organization. Your advantage would be a personality that can adapt to different kinds of people, especially the difficult ones. Past organizations have shaped the way I deal with people and the most powerful skill I have learned in dealing with people is empathy. When you know where people are coming from, it becomes easier to work with them.

Your personal multiplier also depends on how much you are willing to go out of your comfort zone.

When you know what you want to accomplish, it will become easier to find ways to achieve it even when presented with obstacles. But once you develop the habit of improving the little things in your work, you will find it easier to fix the bigger ones. n

A PIONEEr of flexible working arrangements in the industry, MullenLowe Treyna officially inaugurated its hybrid work space and setup in February 2021.

Integrating learnings across different disciplines and work styles, the group prioritizes results and culturebuilding as it reimagines a better way of working.

MullenLowe Treyna Group (info@mltreyna.com) is at the 15th floor of rufino Tower in Makati.

“Work that requires focus and deep thinking can be done at home or anywhere,” says Mel Jimenez, Client Services Director. “But there’s nothing like inperson brainstorming to generate creative sparks and inspire lively discussion.”

Jimenez took on the additional task of overseeing the hybrid space renovation, from pitching the interior design brief to selecting mid-century vintage accents. “We found a great partner in One/Zero Design,” adds Mike Trillana, chairman and CEO. “They worked closely with us to make sure the space could accommodate meetings big and small, and be reconfigured easily, with modular partitions and mixed-use areas. And because we went for a hotdesk system, no one has to look far to find a power outlet.”

“When the initial idea of the space was presented to our studio, there was particular attention given to designing the office as a ‘social anchor.’ The world has adapted to work from anywhere, but maintaining a strong office culture is a priority for Mullenlowe Treyna,” says Arts Serrano, founder of One/Zero Design Co. Hygiene and health considerations were top of mind. The open space design encourages ventilation, and air purifiers and sanitizing stations are tastefully placed throughout. Online booking and scheduling ensure that the space can work at different occupancy levels as the situation requires.

“Most importantly, we wanted The Ink Bar back,” adds Abi Aquino, Chief Creative Officer and MLT’s inhouse mixologist. “Being able to decompress and have fun together is what many of us missed while working from home. Those moments go a long way in making the day-to-day feel just that much lighter.”

Calling Asians ‘robotic’ is a racist stereotype with a long, troubled history

By Long T. Bui University of California, Irvine When US figure skater Nathan Chen won the gold medal in men’s figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics, a Washington Post article attributed his win to a fierce, focused, “robotic” zeal. This robotic characterization draws on a dated stereotype of Asians as stoic, unfeeling workaholics.

In my book Model Machines: A History of the Asian as Automaton, I argue that the image of Asians as robotic serves as the perfect example of how majority cultures characterize a certain kind of minority as model workers and threats.

In the United States, there has been a popular belief that Asian people are ruthless competitors obsessed with technical achievement, whether as classical pianists, spelling bee champs or math whizzes. This was the basis for the model minority myth. However, projections of the model minority often fuse into Asian roboticism, the notion that Asians act or behave like technological beings.

What happens when someone is seen as the perfect kind of human automaton?

Insofar as Asian lives are reduced to caricature, and their humanity disavowed, what emerges is a

negative stereotype of Asians as uncreative cogs raised by “tiger parents” who teach their children total obeisance to authority, education researchers in Australia write.

Mental perceptions then shape social interaction.

In a 2009 study, social psychologists discovered that white people read East Asian faces as machinelike, bearing less-than-human qualities.

This imaginary association bears a history, as media scholar Lisa Nakamura points out. When you brand someone as robotic, “you’re saying that what they make is not unique or worthy of recognition. Which is the history of Asian labor in the US.” REPRESENTING ASIANS AS AUTOMATONS WHEN everyday people are rendered as robots, any sort of human rights are denied, and all sorts of abuses can occur. As the China-US trade war heated up in 2019, right-wing conspiracist Alex Jones claimed that Asians were like fearless “robots coming to kill you.” The implication is that Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese are a swarm of cyborgs who think alike and will attack in unison. Jones also stated that Native Americans—bearing some ancient link to Asia—are easy to “mind-control.”

Indeed, these disparaging references recall a long

history of dehumanizing Asians and other groups.

As global capitalism developed alongside European colonialism, the thought that robots are mankind’s servants aligned with the treatment of colonial populations. In their 2019 book Surrogate Humanity: Race, Robots, and the Politics of Technological Futures, Neda Atanasoski and Kalindi Vora write that this “sliding scale of humanity” turned living subjects into objects of control.

The US picked up on this in its quest for empire.

In the 19th century, Chinese workers were considered by Anglo-American politicians to be the world’s best laboring machines. This justified both their exploitation by and exclusion from the United States. During World War II, US military propaganda portrayed the Japanese soldier as a programmed warrior of the state, more animal than human. Amid the Cold War, the fiction of inexhaustible workers linked up with the fear of the masses in Asian communist nations.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese prostitutes were derided as “sex machines” by US soldiers. Today, Chinese factory workers are referred to as robots by their corporate managers, while promoters of South Korean popular music, or K-pop, categorize their singing idols as entertainment machines. Workers

push against these insults, asserting their desires and freedom.

CHALLENGING A STEREOTYPE SCHOLArS have adopted the term “technoorientalism” to critique the view of the future as Asian-dominated, especially in science fiction where Asians are figured as slaves to the machine.

Such harmful opinions are reproduced in mainstream movies like Ex Machina, which paints Asians as inscrutable bots. The Sundance hit After Yang depicts an android named Yang that reproduces this narrative.

Margaret Rhee, author of Love, Robot, says that the Asian as robot figure raises moral questions of solidarity, equality and justice. This resists the casting of Asians as material things. The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center published a video essay, “Inhuman Figures,” which looks at this sense of Asians as tireless workers, robots, indistinguishable copies, clones and forever foreigners.

They supposedly lack human empathy and are, therefore, not deserving of compassion.

Whether subhuman or superhuman, Michelle N. Huang explains, Asians are never human enough.

THE CONVERSATION

B5

B6 Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Horizon Café opens at Jinjiang Inn-Ortigas

Tierra Del Mar Cebu sets a world class standard in community development

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EBU City will set another milestone in the development and construction of TIERRA DEL MAR (200 Hectares Minglanilla Reclamation and Development Project BOO) located in Calajo-an and Tungkil Minglanilla, Cebu City. This has been made possible by DTE Construction and Development Corporation under the tutelage of the President and Developer Engr. Desiderio T. Estinozo who is the main proponent and developer in the construction and building of this world-class project in partnership with TRIDENT Dynamic Solutions Inc. Trident is headed by very enthusiastic President Rowena De Leon, who will play a major role in the Sales, Marketing, Advertising and Promotion of this extremely huge project.

The successful ground breaking

event was held last March 5, 2022. This starts another breakthrough project of DTE Construction and Development Corporation via the immediate implementation of the construction, digging and excavation of the Tierra Del Mar. This calls for the mobilization of the innovative and creative thinking on the implementation of sales, advertising and marketing as the project entails ecofriendly and pandemic proof. The cost of the project ensures higher ROI to the investors as initiated by Trident as this will be offered in the international market as well. The ground breaking event in Cebu is Directed by Ronald B. Abad of SparkleTV Entertainment Production in cooperation with DB Events headed by Darlene and Bryan.

The partnership of DTE Construction Trident is geared towards creating a world

class establishments like hospitals, sea ports, schools, malls, hotels and casino, modern and eco-friendly residential and condo buildings plus other luxurious facilities that is worth investing in Cebu. This is another milestone in the Philippine tourism industry with both partners mission to leave a Legacy that will help provide thousands of job to Cebuanos and the Filipinos as a whole.

Estinozo and De Leon also assure that Community Social Responsibilities (CSR) will be highly implemented by providing FREE medical services to all the Senior Citizens within the area plus Free Monthly Pensions to the elders aged 70 and above once this project has already been established.

Truly, Tierra Del Mar is another milestone in the construction industry with a heart!

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ORIZON Café at Jinjiang Inn– Ortigas brings a new dining destination in the Ortigas Business District along San Miguel Avenue corner Lourdes Drive in Pasig City. Enjoy Filipino Favorites such as Kansi, Batchoy, and Chicken Inasal, which are also available at Horizon Café at Hotel 101–Manila and Injap Tower Hotel in Iloilo.

Horizon Café champions Filipino cuisine elevated in a contemporary style. What sets Horizon Café at Jinjiang Inn (Ortigas and Makati) apart from its counterparts in Pasay and Iloilo are the Asian Specials they offer, such as Five Spice Chicken, Yang Chow Fried Rice, Dimsum Selection, and Peking Style Pork. Horizon Café is strongly confident that by embracing the hotel’s brand, merging two great food scenes – Filipino and Chinese will give every guest a unique and gastronomical dining experience in one humble place.

Jinjiang Inn Philippines welcomes customers back with its ongoing promotions as it opens its doors again to the staycation

and business markets.

Jinjiang Inn–Ortigas has 95 rooms and suites, which can accommodate all guests staying for leisure, business, or those needing a room before traveling to a another destination.

Avail of more than 60% discount at Jinjiang Inn–Ortigas for only Php1,500nett per night, room only, for two persons. Room with breakfast rate is at Php1,800nett per night. Stay at Jinjiang Inn–Makati for Php2,500nett per night room only for two persons, while room with breakfast rate is at Php3,000nett for two. Both Jinjiang Inn– Ortigas and Makati are accredited MultipleUse Hotels, with DOT Safety Seal, adhering to health and safety protocols mandated for the hotels.

Jinjiang Inn–Ortigas is part of Hotel 101 Group, the hospitality arm of DoubleDragon Corporation, which also operates Hotel 101– Manila, Injap Tower Hotel–Iloilo, Jinjiang Inn–Makati, and Jinjiang Inn–Boracay Station 1.

ENGR. Desiderio T. Estino of DTE Construction and Development Corporation and Ms. Rowena De Leon of TRIDENT Dynamic Solutions Inc. led the ground breaking event of Tierra Del Mar last March 5, 2022.

SMHCC partners with the Kris+ Lifestyle Rewards App by Singapore Airlines

S

M Hotels and Conventions Corp (SMHCC) recently partnered with Kris+ Lifestyle Rewards App by Singapore Airlines, to extend exclusive privileges to guests of SMHCC properties.

This partnership is aligned with the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions in Philippines and re-opening of the country’s borders to prepare and welcome international travelers back to Philippines.

KrisFlyer members staying at Taal

Vista Hotel, Pico Sands Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, and Park Inn by Radisson Hotels (North Edsa, Clark, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao) will be able to enjoy exclusive perks. Through the Kris+ App, KrisFlyer members will get exclusive access to privileges by simply logging in to their KrisFlyer membership account in the Kris+ App, choose a privilege, click redeem, present it to the property, and enjoy the benefits! Offers include up to 20% dining

discounts and exciting spa privileges.

Through this partnership, SMHCC continues to expand its offerings, allowing guests to enjoy a greater variety of their dining choices and leisure experiences in all SMHCC properties across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

KrisFlyer members get to enjoy these exclusive privileges until February 2023.

To download the Kris+ App, visit singaporeair.com or scan the QR code.

MERALCO RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AMID PANDEMIC. The Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) emerged as one of the top companies in the Philippines on service excellence, leveraging both digital and traditional customer channels despite the challenges brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the recent 2021 ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Awards presented by Asia IoT Business Platform (AIBP), Meralco was recognized for its entry “Transformation Powered by Technology and Tradition” showcasing the power distributor’s programs aimed at enhancing customer experiences through process improvements and digital transformation. In the photo (from L-R): Meralco First Vice President and Head of Information Communication Technology and Transformation Rocky D. Bacani; First Vice President, Chief of Staff to the President and CEO and Supply Chain Advisor Maria Luisa V. Alvendia; and First Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz.

Empowering women and girls across the globe

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FORMER full-time fashion and beauty editor, Kate Alvarez left her glamorous job to pursue her many passions — traveling, writing, and acting. Along the way, she also discovered her life's mission: to become an advocate for mental health awareness in the Philippines.

Kate, a depression survivor, founded SOS Philippines-Survivors of Suicide and Depression, an online mental health resource that helps individuals with mental health conditions and their families get the support and healing they need.

Meanwhile, Sabrina Tamayo manages Project SMILE (Simple but Meaningful Acts Intended to Leave a Lasting Effect), a youth-led NGO that organizes community outreach programs. Some of its notable projects include the #PeopleWith campaign that recognizes and empowers persons with disabilities (it even launched the country’s first-ever PWD-friendly tricycle!) and #OperationBayanihan, which raised around P650,00 that went into supporting front-liners and marginalized communities during the early days of the pandemic.

Fredeswinda ‘Winnie’ Samonte, a cancer survivor, knows how important meaningful connections and a strong support system are to cancer survivors and patients. This personal insight led her to set up Philippine General Hospital’s Cancer Survivors Organization. What started out as an informal online support group grew into a tight-knit community and recognized non-profit organization where hundreds of cancer survivors and individuals undergoing treatment provide

INSPIRING Pinays, from left: Malou Perez (PAWSsion Project), Sabrina Tamayo (Project SMILE), Kate Alvarez (SOS Philippines), and Fredeswinda Gaspar Samonte (PGH’s Cancer Survivors Organization). strength and support to each other.

For the love of dogs, Malou Perez rescued some 50 dogs in a Bacolod City pound which were in line for execution, and gave them a home. This became the spark that pushed this animal lover to establish PAWSsion Project, a non-government organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes animals that have been abused and neglected. It now has two rescue centers—one in Bacolod and one in Bulacan—through which people can donate, adopt, and even sponsor rescued animals.

These inspiring women are currently featured in Hershey’s milk chocolate bar wrapper to highlight their accomplishments and the impact they’ve had in the country in celebration of Women’s Month. Part of the proceeds from these limited edition sleeves will be donated to Girl Up Philippines, the local arm of the United Nations Foundation’s worldwide campaign to empower girls across the globe.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 B7

A major residential investment hub in Mindanao

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

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roperty management firm Colliers is bullish on Davao retaining its stature as one of the more attractive residential investment hubs in Mindanao.

“In our view, Davao’s residential market will continue to benefit from the region’s economic recovery beyond 2022. Despite market disruptions due to Covid, demand, primarily seen to be coming from OFWs and investors, is still expected to take-up inventory as the country starts to ease mobility restrictions and economies open,” Theresa Teodoro, Senior Director and Head, Advisory Services told the BusinessMirror in an online interview.

Teodoro added Colliers sees an improvement in demand beyond 2022 that should play a crucial role in boosting property prices and improving the feasibility of alternative sites for residential projects.

Moreover, Col l iers recommended that developers continue lining up new residential projects in Davao City to capture pent-up demand. Furthermore, Teodoro urged developers to maximize available infrastructure and continue landbanking efforts outside of business districts.

Demand shifts to affordable In 2021, Colliers noted about 841 condominium units were sold in Davao, slightly higher than the

Bria Homes is poised to dominate the region with modern residential communities in Davao.

655 units in 2020. The affordable segment (P1.7 million to P3.2 million) covered 89 percent of the take-up during the year, significantly higher than the segment’s share of only 48 percent in 2020.

Meanwhile, demand in the house and lot market was also driven by affordable projects (previously dominated by mid-income in 2020) with the segment accounting for 73 percent of total take-up in 2021 from 42 percent in 2020.

“Davao will still remain to be the preferred residential investment hub of Mindanao, given key indicators and upcoming infrastructure projects. Current market conditions have led to a shift in demand for affordable products. There was also increased

Davao City remains a top residential investment center in Mindanao

interest for horizontal developments, though opportunity remains for condominium developments with the right product, pricing and innovative payment terms,” Teodoro pointed out.

Riding on Davao’s boom Aside from Davao City, the province of Davao also has the cities of Tagum, Panabo, and Digos as other options for people who want to settle in Davao.

In response, Bria Homes is aggressively in these three places to enable more Davaoeños to benefit from the affordable housing products offered by the company.

Eduardo Aguilar, Bria’s division head, is bullish on the com-

pany’s prospects in Davao. “Bria Homes is reaching out to more Filipino homeseekers and investors, encouraging them to settle down, grow, and prosper at any of our three idyllic communities in Davao. Few locations would surpass these as the best places to spend one’s retirement years,” Aguilar told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview.

Tagum, the provincial capital of Davao del Norte, is highly acclaimed for its lively and colorful 15 festivals that highlight the remarkable skills and talents of Tagumeños in culture, sports, entertainment, arts and music.

Also dubbed as the Mango Capital of the Philippines, Aguilar said people go crazy for its lus-

cious “carabao-variety mango,” sold locally and exported abroad.

Panabo, an agro-industrial city known as the “Banana Capital of the Philippines,” will be a tourist delight as it is host to numerous banana plantations.

Digos City, the provincial capital of Davao del Sur, will enable residents as well as tourists to enjoy Mount Apo Natural Park and quiet beach getaways like Dawis Beach. Adventure seekers, according to Aguilar, will gravitate towards Digos, which provides mountain climbers access to Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak, via its village called Kapatagan.

Just like other Bria projects, Aguilar shared Bria Homes in

Tagum, Digos, and Panabo will come w it h mo d e r n , f a m i ly friendly amenities to spur residents into fostering wholesome and healthy communities. These will include multipurpose halls, covered basketball courts, playgrounds for little children, walkable paths, and open green spaces for leisurely strolls.

He is optimistic that Bria Homes will dominate the region with modern residential communities in Davao province’s Digos, Tagum, and Panabo. With these three new locations, Bria affirms its reputation as the “home of choice” for Filipinos, bringing more families close to major economic centers as they thrive in well-built and comfortable house-and-lot and condo units.

Sports

HD Spikers keep on winning in PVL Open

BusinessMirror

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HANELLE AVARICIO sneaked past Princess Superal and ace amateur Rianne Malixi with a scorching frontside finish, birdying three of the last seven holes to shoot a two-under 70 and grab a one-stroke lead over the marked duo after 18 holes of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Luisita Ladies Championship in Tarlac on Tuesday.

Avaricio, who scored a breakthrough at Riviera-Couples in last year’s third restart of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT), banked on her solid approach shots on her way home at the front, setting up birdie chances from close range to gain a solo view of the top of the 54hole championship.

“I played a pretty decent round.

After a two-bogey, one-birdie card at the back, I recovered at the front— hit some good second shots that set up easy birdies,” said Avaricio, who seeks to dish out more of the same in today’s second round in a bid to bolster her title drive in the P750,000 championship put up by ICTSI. “Same plan for tomorrow (today), good placing off the drive and be careful on the greens,” she said.

Superal and Malixi lived up to the pre-tournament hype in the featured threesome that included Chihiro Ikeda, slugging it out shot-for-shot and putt-for-putt in a duel that sparked hopes for duo’s sustained control of the tournament after matching 34s after nine holes before finishing with 71s in hot conditions.

But three behind the pair with a backside 37, Avaricio stormed ahead as she found her rhythm and range at the front, scoring back-to-back birdies from No. 3 then gaining another stroke with a solid tee-shot on the par-three No. 6.

But lurking behind are the fancied duo. After a solid frontside, Superal

Marcial in 2nd pro fight vs Hart on April 9 in US

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By Josef Ramos

OKYO Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial faces American Isiah Hart on April 9 in a middleweight bout for his second professional fight at the Virgins Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons made the announcement on Tuesday adding that Hart, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, is fighting out of the PAL Athletic League.

Hart, 30, holds six wins on top of four knockouts, two losses and a draw since becoming a pro four years ago. Marcial has fought as a pro only once—he beat American Andrew Whitfield by unanimous decision in December 16, 2020, in Los Angeles.

“He’s a really capable guy, he is a tall lanky guy,” said Gibbons of the 6-foot-2 Hart in Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. “I think on his trunk, he goes by the nickname ‘Murder’ that makes me nervous before the fight gets going.

“But you know Eumir [Marcial] faced everything through his amateur days and his mindset is different now,” Gibbons said.

Gibbons added Marcial’s second fight as a pro will definitely be more impressive than his pro debut against Whitfield before his Tokyo Olympic campaign.

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| Wednesday, March 23, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

AVARICIO, BIBAT UP hit an errant drive on No. 10 and had to play out from a stymied lie then failed to get up and down from five feet although she regained the stroke with another birdie on the par-5 16th.

The winner of three of the first five LPGT tournaments held in bubble setup last year, however, overshot the difficult par-three No. 17, pitched short and flubbed a par-saving putt from six feet.

“I think I missed a lot of putts, including birdie chances,” rued Superal who stressed the need for consistency, especially off the mound, given the tight fairways of the tree-lined layout.

Malixi, who dominated the SEA Games qualifier here to clinch the lone Hanoi berth early this month, held her ground in her first face-off with Superal, snapping a birdie-bogey game from No. 2 with birdies on Nos. 5 and 8 to draw level.

She seized control on Superal’s bogey on No. 10 but fell into a tie just as quickly after a miscue on the next before parring the rest.

“I played well, made a lot of putts,” said Malixi, who credited her impressive start for a sound short game. “But I didn’t play my best.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to adjust by tomorrow [today] and stay more confident.”

A slew of others also stayed in the hunt, including Riviera-Langer leg winner Daniella Uy, who traded two birdies with the same number of bogeys, for solo fourth at 72, while Ikeda blew a one-under card after 13

holes with three bogeys in the last five holes and wound up with a 74.

Marvi Monsalve dropped two strokes on No. 17 and limped with a birdie-less 76, Pamela Mariano skied to a 77, while reigning LPGT Order of Merit winner Harmie Constantino, who won two legs in her rookie season last year, faltered in a frontside finish, bogeying No. 7 and dropping two strokes on each of the last two holes for a 79 for joint eighth with Gretchen Villacencio, nine strokes off Avaricio.

A COMPOSED Rachel Daquis of Cignal HD is in control.

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IGNAL HD, which could not seem to win ballgames in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference the last time out, now just couldn’t seem to lose.

Keeping the momentum of their imposing second set romp that drew them level with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, the HD Spikers also took the next two and romped off with a 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-16

BIBAT IN COMMAND WITH 68 MICHAEL BIBAT bucked the heat and endured a year-long wait, flashing top form to fire a solid four-under 68 and wrest a onestroke lead over Miguel Tabuena at the start of the Luisita Championship on the same course also on Tuesday.

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Alas, Road Warriors ready vs Gin Kings

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EVIN LOUIE ALAS and the NLEX Road Warriors will be in a hurry to win Game 1 of their semifinals series against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors Cup on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“It’s a short series, so it is really important to win Game 1,” Alas told BusinessMirror on the eve of NLEX’s first semifinals stint since the 2018 Philippine Cup where they lost to the Magnolia Hotshots in six games of the race-to-four series.

“Lord willing I hope we advance to the Finals although Ginebra is a tough job with Justine Brownlee and coach Tim Cone making wonders in their previous games,” Alas added.

NLEX beat Alaska, 96-80, in last

Guiao wary of Ginebra mystic I CAN understand why NLEX coach Yeng Guiao is nervous going to Wednesday’s start of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors Cup semifinals.

“It’s always difficult playing coach Yeng Guiao’s team in the playoffs,” Cone said. “They play tough physical basketball for 48 minutes and you can never catch your breath. We’ll have to be mentally tough to match up to them.”

Scottie Thompson and Justine Brownlee came up scorching in the last two games to overcome TNT’s twice-to-beat advantage, 115-95 and 104-92, to barge to the semifinals.

The other semifinals series between Magnolia and Meralco is set at 3 p.m.

For top seed Magnolia, it expects Meralco to play aggressive and physical.

“It will be a dogfight, a tough series because both teams are balanced. It’s a 50-50 chance for both teams, so it’s more on the discipline of execution of plays,” Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said. Josef Ramos

OFF TO VIETNAM

Members of the Smart/ MVP Sports Foundation taekwondo squad pose for prosperity before they leave for Ho Chi Minh City for the Asean Taekwondo Federation Championships set March 30 to April 4. The team is composed of 10 kyorugi (free sparring) and five poomsae athletes together with delegation head Raul Samson and coaches (kyorugi) Paul Romero, Devy Singson and June Ninobla (poomsae). Shown above are (first row, from left) Loralee Natividad, Abigail Faye Valdez, Realis Tabiando, Clarence Sarza and Rhezie Aragon, (second row from left) Ceanne Kyle Rosquillo, Marvin Mori, Kier Macalino and King Nash Alcairo, (third row from left) Rommel Pablo Jr., Justin Mark Agno, Paul Romero, June Ninobla, Devy John Singson, Joseph Chua and Alfritz Arevalo. The team leaves for Vietnam on March 29.

With his Road Warriors up against the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, Guiao is seeing the ghost of the Gin mystic swimming unstoppably in his mind.

“I never expected to have them as our opponents,” said Guiao. “I had always believed it’d be TNT for us.”

In short, he doubted Ginebra’s ability to buck that twiceto-beat curse against TNT in the quarters, the same curse that caused the downfall—and sad farewell—of Alaska.

Guiao threw out the window of Ginebra’s famed never-say-die mantra?

Big mistake. Well, well, well.

After Alaska’s dramatic 93-79 Game 1 win over NLEX, the Road Warriors inf licted that painful 96-80 drubbing on the Aces in the winner-take-all on March 19—a sorry goodbye, indeed, for the 1996 Grand Slam champion Alaska.

With that loss, Alaska bids farewell after a 36-year stint in the PBA, Asia’s first ever professional basketball league when it was born on April 9, 1975.

defending champion Chery Tiggo and multi-titled F2 Logistics, also in four-set fashions, seeks to complete its remarkable surge against Army at the close of the two-group, single-round elims tomorrow.

With a 3-0 mark, Cignal has secured a twice-to-beat edge in the knockout quarterfinals of the league organized by Sports Vision.

“We need proper recovery as we prepare against Army. We need to communicate more and be ready in anticipation of the tougher grind,” said delos Santos, who kept on drawing big games from his combo of aces, including Roselyn Doria, who produced a top-scoring 17-point performance in their one-hour and 43-minute victory.

“I’m proud of her (Doria). She’s always all-out in practice. Actually, she wasn’t satisfied with her performance in the first two games. She always knew she can do better. Hopefully, she continues to improve,” he added.

The veteran mentor also cited Ces Molina’s resolve as the latter came out of a brief rehab after sustaining an ankle injury the last time out to fire 14 points while seasoned Rachel Anne Daquis continued to provide the poise and leadership and finished with 10 points, the same output put in by Angeli Araneta.

Vietnam in harness for 31st SEAG amid Covid situation–Tolentino

CHANELLE AVARICIO leads the ladies tournament while Michael Bibat is solid up front in the men’s contest.

Saturday’s sudden-death quarterfinals, a loss made excessively emotional for the Aces who played their last game in the league which they were actively and competitively part of for 36 years.

Alas and NLEX need to be in their elements in the 6 p.m. game against Ginebra, which also needed two games to oust TNT KaTropa in the other quarterfinals series.

“I’m excited and I feel grateful to be in the semifinals for the second time since 2018,” said Alas, who’s averaging 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 13 games for the Road Warriors. “Whoever wants it more will take it.”

Alas is expected to work wonders with NLEX import Cameroon Clark, who churned in 24.5 points and 12.0 rebounds in two games.

Cone, who is looking for his 24th title in the league, expects NLEX to come out prepared.

victory on Tuesday to move a win away from pulling off a surprise sweep of the five-team Group A play at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Quite a stirring start indeed for a team which finished last with only a win to show in nine games in the league’s inaugural pro season in Ilocos Norte late last year.

The Shaq delos Santos-coached squad, which earlier upended two of the league’s most fancied teams,

ESPITE a recent spike in new Covid-19 cases in Vietnam, organizers of the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games scheduled May 12 to 23 are making sure all other aspects of the staging are being taken care of.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino recently flew to Hanoi where representatives of the 10 other member countries had an overview of the preparations.

Tolentino said everything seemed to be on track.

“We visited the different venues.

We also inspected the hotel for the athletes and officials,” Tolentino told the online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday.

Tolentino said the other member countries are more focused now on their respective preparations,

including the training of their athletes for the biennial competition.

“Vietnam has received our entries by names and we’re just waiting for the final confirmation,” said Tolentino during the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Philippine Sports Commission, POC, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Tolentino confirmed pole vaulter EJ Obiena, the Asian record holder and reigning SEA Games champion who is ranked No. 5 in the world, is on the list submitted by the POC. Organizers, the POC chief said, have yet to decide whether they would allow fans and spectators for the Games due to the recent Covid-19 surge which recorded a seven-day average of 171,446 cases last week in Vietnam.

Patafa: We’re actively participating in PSC mediation effort with Obiena

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HE Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) is actively participating in the mediation proceedings with pole vaulter EJ Obiena contrary to the allegation of four senators who filed a resolution to hold the entire federation board in contempt for refusing to participate in the process.

The Patafa made the clarification in a statement that was in response to an order issued by four senators asking the members of Patafa’s board of trustees on Friday to explain why they should not be cited in contempt for allegedly reneging on a commitment to the Senate to participate in the mediation.

In a letter to Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Committee on Sports and vice chair

It is a sad goodbye as all goodbyes are, yes, but the Aces’ grief could be short-lived as a new buyer might just show up shortly. I should know. I personally know the ownerin-waiting. Once he arrives from the U.S., the deal’s up for sealing before you know it.

But back to the semifinals.

While NLEX is understandably giddy in facing Ginebra, mainly because of the Gin Kings being the court darlings for the longest time, the Magnolia-Meralco tussle in Wednesday’s Game 1 at MOA Arena is equally worth watching.

Defense defines the Magnolia-Meralco match-up, that is why the first team to show leaks is deemed doomed for obliteration.

But offense has always been the name of the game for Ginebra, with Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson as the trusted tricksters to puncture the nets at the slightest openings.

Guiao knows this by heart.

of the Committee on Finance, Patafa said “it participated in the mediation moderated by Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez on March 7 and 14 and will participate in the third mediation on March 21.”

The Patafa said in the statement released on Tuesday that it was Obiena who asked for a postponement of the third meeting to March 21 because of what he said was a “prior scheduled travel and other commitments.”

In filing the resolution to cite the entire Patafa board for contempt, Sen. Pia Cayetano said the national sports association violated its commitment to the mediation by filing a case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne against Obiena and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“We will just have to find the proper match-ups,” Guiao said.

His import, virtual newbie Cameron Clark, will definitely have his hands full against Brownlee, a grizzled league mainstay who had already given Ginebra a crown not too long ago.

It’s just Game 1, though, today of the win-three-or-gohome affair.

As usual, it’s a journey strewn with obstacles.

But for us diehard fans, let’s wear our blinders again and heed the old refrain: Sit back, relax and enjoy the moment.

THAT’S IT Senatior Bong Go is not kidding. As chair of the Senate Sports Committee, the good senator wants Philip Ella Juico to explain why he doesn’t deserve to be cited for contempt for bringing the Juico-EJ Obiena rift to the Court of Arbitration in Sports when the mediation process between the two is still unresolved. Do we smell bad faith on Juico’s part? Ummm.

AMID A HARVEST OF AWARDS, YOUR SUPPORT COUNTS MOST

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HE pandemic tested the media industry, forcing newsrooms around the world to overhaul the way they do their job while following strict health protocols in order to survive a deadly infection.

The BusinessMirror, the country’s premier national business daily, was tested like everyone else, and survived, even continuing to live up to its promise to provide a broader look at today’s business.

In November 2021, the business broadsheet was recognized as the “Business News Source of the Year” for 2020 by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (Ejap), the country’s premier organization of business reporters, editors and wire agencies. It was a 4-peat for BM, having gotten the same honors for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019.

And, as in the past Ejap awards, it also swept half of the individual categories, with its seasoned reporters adjudged as best in their respective coverages.

Earlier in 2021, the BusinessMirror was given the Pro Patria Award by the Rotary Club of Manila, for “its commitment of valuable resources for the protection of free expression and its resilience in disseminating fair and truthful information resulting in an informed and enlightened citizenry.”

It was just the latest recognition from the prestigious Rotary Club, which named it “Business Newspaper of the Year” for 2018-2019, and again in 2020. In all, it has received six top

Rotary journalism awards in its short 16-year existence.

The BusinessMirror has also consistently reaped top awards in the Brightleaf Journalism Awards for Agriculture and the Philippine Agricultural Journalists-San Miguel Corp. (PAJ-SMC) Binhi Awards, also for the best in agriculture journalism.

The BusinessMirror was also repeatedly adjudged the leading daily in biotechnology journalism, a recognition bestowed by the Jose G. Burgos Jr. Biotechnology Journalism Awards.

The “broader look” mantra also drew recognition from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which named the BusinessMirror, at its first awards rites in 2018, as the inaugural “Data Champion.”

In the first “Bantog Science for the People” awards for media from the Department of Science and Technology, the BusinessMirror got the top award for the Institution category for Print; and the grand prize in the individual category for science journalist Stephanie Tumampos.

In 2018, Environment Reporter Jonathan Mayuga received the Luntiang Aligato award from the Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit organization founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore.

The Broader Look at biodiversity was also recognized. It was named among the Asean Champions of

Biodiversity, for the Media Category, by the Asean Centre for Biodiversity.

The Broader Look also extended to the paper’s corporate social responsibility. It organized and staged the first-ever recognition rites for the best of the Philippines’s friends in the world, with the “MISSION PHILIPPINES: The BusinessMirror Envoys & Expats Awards.” The initiative won a Gold Anvil in 2019.

Distinguished institutions in government have also repeatedly recognized the BusinessMirror’s role in spreading the word about the work they do—information that shines a light on good governance and committed public service to uplift people’s hopes. Most notably, these are the Social Security System and Pag-IBIG Fund.

Sixteen years, two of them in a pandemic, have tested the promise of a Broader Look. But they are also a measure of the unstinting support of friends—advertisers and news sources alike—and readers who continue to believe in that promise.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE. YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT TROPHY.

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business