BusinessMirror May 06, 2022

Prices seen rising still; April inflation at 4.9%

By Cai U. Ordinario

C

ONSUMERS should brace for higher commodity prices in the coming months as spiraling food and fuel prices would further hasten inflation, according to local economists.

On Thursday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that inflation averaged 4.9 percent in April, the highest since the 5.2 percent recorded in December 2018. In March 2022, inflation was at 4.1 percent and it was at 4 percent in April 2021.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 51.5 percent of the increase in inflation followed

tHe WoRld » a10

Russia uses ‘missile teRRoRism’ to spRead feaR acRoss ukRaine

ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS

2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2021 Patria Award 2021 ProPro Patria Award PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion

@caiordinario

by transportation at 27.8 percent and Housing, water, electricity gas and other fuels accounted for 17 percent of the increase.

“The probability of doubledigit inflation is high,” Leonardo A. Gonzales, President of Society Towards Reinforcing Inherent Viability for Enrichment (SIKAP/ STRIVE) Inc., told BusinessMirror on Thursday.

Gonzales said higher inflation is possible because election spending and campaign spending are inflationary; the recent “tripling” of the prices of fertilizer will also increase commodity prices, particularly food; and the Russia-Ukraine war which is already making fuel expensive.

PSA data showed food prices rose 3.8 percent in April 2022 due to more expensive vegetables, tubers, etc which recorded a 9.2-percent increase in inflation; meat and others, 4.2 percent; and fish and other seafood, 5 percent.

Rice, Gonzales said, may not be far behind due to high fertilizer prices. This is already part of the reason for PSA’s close monitoring of rice prices.

At a briefing, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the PSA has increased the number of covered outlets where they obtain prices, particularly for rice.

Currently, Mapa told BusinessMirror, PSA’s data comes from 605 sample stores for rice. Majority

or 506 of these outlets are in public/wet markets while 99 outlets are supermarket/grocery/stores within malls.

“For April we saw increases in the prices of veggies, meat, fish and bread—and flour—and the weights of these four subgroups in the basket are quite substantial. If the price of rice starts increasing, we will see further increase in food inflation,—Mapa told this newspaper.

Given this, Gonzales expects the Central Bank to follow the recent monetary policy stance of neighbors in the region which have already increased their commercial bank’s reserve requirements.

See “Prices,” A2

BusinessMirror Abroader broaderlook lookat attoday’s today’sbusiness business A broader look at today’s business A

EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

BUSINESSNEWS NEWS BUSINESS SOURCEOFOFTHE THEYEAR YEAR SOURCE

(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

DEPARTMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS 2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS

END-MARCH DEBT HITS www.businessmirror.com.ph www.businessmirror.com.ph www.businessmirror.com.ph

Sunday, December 2021 Vol.208 No.5858 Friday,December May 6, 2022 Vol. 17 No.

Sunday, 5,5,2021 Vol. 1717No.

P25.00nationwide nationwide|||222sections sections12 12pages pages|||777DAYS DAYSAaAWEEK WEEK P25.00 nationwide sections 22 pages days week P25.00

nnn

NEW RECORD OF P12.68T

Bank lending still rising, up 8.9% in March, BSP reports

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

T

@BNicolasBM

HE national government’s debt as of end-March hit a new record-high of P12.68 trillion as borrowings continued to pile up amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

By Bianca Cuaresma

C

@BcuaresmaBM

REDIT activity in the country continued its acceleration at the end of the first quarter of the year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

Data showed the outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks expanded anew at a slightly quicker rate of 8.9 percent yearon-year in March from 8.8 percent in February, marking the eighth consecutive months of expansion.

Bank lending first collapsed into the contraction territory in December 2020 by 0.7 percent as the restrictions brought about by the pandemic affected the local banking industry. The contraction persisted amid the sustained all-time low monetary policy rate in place.

‘DIGITAL DIASPORA’

In comparison, bank lending grew 13.6 percent before the onslaught of the global health crisis in March 2020.

“Lending activity has gained further traction as the country’s improved Covid-19 caseload continues to support market confidence,” the BSP said in a statement.

Broken dow n, outstanding loans for production activities rose by 9.5 percent in March from 9.7 percent in February due to the increase in lending for real estate activities (19.7 percent); information and communication (28.4 percent); manufacturing (10.0 percent); wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (8.7 percent); and financial and insurance activities (6.2 percent).

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury released on Thursday showed the total outstanding debt ballooned by 17.7 percent from P10.77 trillion a year ago as the government borA CRADLE nest, one of 18 created by Kristine Lim, is seen at the grounds of Fort Santiago in Manila. Entitled Ugoy, the art installation can be enjoyed rowed more from domestic and forSee “Bank,” A2 by visitors for the whole month of May. NONIE REYES eign sources.

Likewise, the debt stock also climbed by 4.8 percent from P12.09 trillion in February this year.

Bulk of the debt stock came from domestic sources at 69.9 percent while the remaining 30.1 percent were from

By Samuel P. Medenilla are now trying to temper the foreign lenders. @sam_medenilla effects of the high inflation.

Domestic debt surged by 14.5 per“We shall work double time cent year-on-year to P8.87 trillion ALACAÑANG gave to address the socioeconomic from P7.74 trillion in March last year. assurances it is now concerns of our people while This was also higher by 5.4 percent working to tame the taming high prices of goods and from P8.4 trillion as of end-February soaring inflation rate, which commodities,” Andanar said. this year after the government raised has now reached 4.9 percent The 4.9 percent inflation rate P457.8 billion through domestic Retail last month. last month is higher compared Treasury Bonds and debt exchange The assurance, however, to the 4 percent last March. transaction. failed to allay the concerns of laThe Philippine Statistics On the other hand, foreign debt bor groups, who are now demandAuthority (PSA) said the top “Please do not dribble the ball and pass showsofofproducts, products,with withhosts hostsand and ByManuel Manuel Cayon consumers become more discernas of end-March amounted to P3.81 T.T.Cayon ing for a new round of minimum consumers contributors to the accelerashows By become more discernthe buck to the next Administration. guestsproviding providingmore moredetails detailsand and ingand and connected, weare are seeing trillion, soaring by 25.8 percent yearwage hike to allow workers to ing tion of inflation are food and guests connected, we seeing Cut down the bureaucratic procedures giving testimonies, Zalora said. incredible innovations happening giving testimonies, Zalora said. incredible innovations happening on-year from P3.03 trillion. cope with the rising cost of living. nonalcoholic beverages, transand endless hearings and just issue a wouldalso alsohelp helpbrands brandsininthe retail sector that completely ItItwould retail that It a lso rose by 3. 56 percent In a brief statement, Act- ininthe port, housing, water, electricwage ordersector that will savecompletely our minimum novate on flexible sales promoreimagine the shopping experinovate on flexible sales promothe shopping experifrom P3.68 trillion in the previous ing Presidential spokesperson reimagine ity, gas and other fuel costs. wage earners and their families from tions,such suchasasgiving givingdiscounts, discounts, ence,” Gunjan Soni,and chief executive tions, Gunjan Soni, chief executive month on the back of the net availMartin M. Andanar said gov- ence,” continuing hunger malnutrition.” and offering easier and attracofficer of the Zalora Group, told an and offering easier and attracofficer of the Zalora Group, told an See “Inflation,” A2 ment of external financing through ernment economic managers —TUCP President Raymond Mendoza tivepayment paymentoptions optionssuch suchasasthe the onlinepresentation presentationofofits itsTrender Trender tive online buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) (BNPL) opopReport2021.

2021. buy-now-pay-later Report See “End-March,” A2 tion,which, which,ititsaid, said,emerged emergedasas Shedescribed describedthe the“shoppers “shoppersofof tion, She themost mostpopular popularoption optionamong among tomorrow”asas“digital “digitaland anddiverse diverse the tomorrow” Asian shoppers. across Southeast Asia.”

Asian shoppers. across Southeast Asia.” n US 52.4600 n japan 0.4061 n UK 66.2832 n HK 6.6840 n CHINA 7.9377 n singapore 38.1805 n australia 38.0545 n EU 55.7440 n SAUDI arabia 13.9864 Source: BSP (May 5, 2022) Indonesia, for for example, example, “It’s a a digital digital diaspora,” diaspora,” she she InIn Indonesia, “It’s Google saw saw a a “10x “10x increase increase inin said,citing citingGoogle Googletrend trendmonitormonitorGoogle said, searchesfor fore-wallet e-walletservices servicesand and ingthat thatshows shows40 40million millionnew newInInsearches ing 15xrise riseininBNPL BNPLservices servicesininthe the ternetusers userscame cameonline onlineinin2021, 2021, 15x ternet lastfive fiveyears. years.Other Otherappealing appealing “bringingthe theinternet internetpenetration penetration last “bringing payment options options like like monthly monthly SoutheastAsia Asiatoto75 75percent.” percent.” payment ininSoutheast installments,toto00percent percentinterinter“Infact, fact,eight eightout outofof10 10InterInterinstallments, “In estfees feeson oncredit creditcards, cards,provide provide netusers usersininthe theregion regionare aredigidigiest net access toto quality quality products products and and talconsumers. consumers.Recognizing Recognizingthis this talsavviness savvinessand andtaste tastefor forluxury luxury Internetand andelectronic electroniccommunicommuniaccess tal tal Internet serviceswhile whilealso alsoimproving improvingfi-fiFor one, one, the the Southeast Southeast Asia Asia shiftininadoption, adoption,brands brandsquickly quickly andsustainability. sustainability. cationgadgets gadgetsbybytheir theirside. side.Google Google services For and shift cation nancialinclusion. inclusion.

Trender Report Report 2021 2021 byby Zalora Zalora expandedtheir theironline onlinepresence presencetoto “Thereport reportisispositioned positionedasasa a trendshows showsMalaysian Malaysianshoppers shoppers nancial Trender “The expanded trend Zalora,for forinstance, instance,offers offers21 21 showsthat that40 40million millionAsians Asiansmade made reachthese thesenew newdigital digitalconsumconsumreferencepoint pointthat thathelps helpsZalora’s Zalora’s spendclose closetoto99hours hoursonline onlineon on Zalora, shows reference reach spend paymentmethods methodsacross acrossthe thereretheirdebut debutininInternet Internetuse useand and70 70 ers,and andZalora Zalorareported reporteda a19-per19-per900brand brandpartners partnersnavigate navigatethe the average,“and “andare arethe themost mostlikely likelytoto payment their 900 ers, average, gion, including including cash-on-delivery cash-on-delivery millionhave havemade madetheir theirfirst firstonline online centincrease increaseininnew newbrands brandsthat that region’sdiversity diversityand andevolving evolvingrerevalue-driven.” gion, million region’s cent bebevalue-driven.” andBNPL BNPLoptions optionsacross acrossthe themarmarpurchasewithin withinthe the2020 2020and and2021 2021 joinedthe theplatform platforminin2021,” 2021,”she she taillandscape,” landscape,”Zalora’s Zalora’sCEO CEOGunGunSingaporean shoppers shoppers are are and purchase tail joined Singaporean kets.ItItlaunched launchedits itsfirst firstco-brandco-brandperiod, many many ofof them them attracted attracted added. janSoni Sonisaid. said. mostlikely likelytotoinvest investininluxury luxurypurpurkets. period, jan added. most creditcard cardininpartnership partnershipwith with anddrawn drawninto intoactual actualpurchase purchasebyby Withmore moreSoutheast SoutheastAsians Asians Aside from from digital digital partners partners chases, with with Google Google search search data data ededcredit and Aside With chases, RCBCand andMastercard Mastercardininthe thePhilPhilproductsales salespromotion promotionand anddisdisbrowsingnow nowand andgetting gettingthemthemlike Google, Google, Mastercard, Mastercard, H&M, H&M, showinga a21-percent 21-percentyear-on-year year-on-year RCBC product like browsing showing ippines,the thefirst-ever first-everfashion fashionand and countofferings. offerings. selves more more online, online, the the average average Lush,Paula’s Paula’sChoice, Choice,HABIB, HABIB,AtAtincreaseininSingaporeans’ Singaporeans’searches searches ippines, count Lush, selves increase

INFLATION RISE SPURS WAGE HIKE PUSH

NMEDIA | DREAMSTIME.COM NMEDIA | DREAMSTIME.COM

Mplatform Onlineshopping shopping platformnotes notesbehavioral behavioralshift shift Online amongconsumers, consumers,brand brandmakers makersamid amidCovid Covid among

BANG OLAND | DREAMSTIME.COM BANG OLAND | DREAMSTIME.COM

D

AVAOCITY—A CITY—Aleading leading AVAO onlinebrand brandretailer retailerin inAsia Asia online seeingaasharp sharpbehavioral behavioral isisseeing shiftamong among consumers consumersand andbrand brand shift makersthat thatmay mayreinvent reinventand andinnovate innovate makers approaches, especially fromthe thelatter, latter, approaches, especially PESO exchange ratesfrom asdata dataanalytics—since analytics—sincethe theonset onsetof ofthe the as pandemic—indicatethe theemergence emergenceof of pandemic—indicate morediscerning discerningconsumers consumersadaptive adaptiveto to more electronic,or oronline, online,shopping shoppingexperience. experience. electronic,

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, May 6, 2022

Bank...

Continued from A1

Similarly, consumer loans to residents went up by 3.6 percent in March after a 0.9-percent increase in February with the year-on-year rise in credit card loans.

Outstanding loans to nonresidents also went up by 9.5 percent in March from 7.3 percent in the previous month.

“The BSP continues to see scope to safeguard the momentum of economic recovery amid increased uncertainty over the outlook for growth and inflation,” the BSP said.

“Moving forward, the BSP stands ready to take appropriate preemptive action as needed in ensuring non-inflationary and sustainable growth in line with our primary mandate to promote price and financial stability,” it added.

In a separate report, domestic liquidity—measured as M3—grew by 7.6 percent to about P15.2 trillion in March from an 8.5-percent growth in February.

“The BSP will continue to monitor domestic liquidity conditions to ensure adequate support for the recovery of the domestic economy, as allowed by the evolving outlook on inflation and growth,” the BSP also said.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BSP: Oil, Ukraine, supply chain woes fuel risks of higher inflation

By Bianca Cuaresma

T

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects inflation to remain elevated in the coming months, and said on Thursday that developments on prices warrant close monitoring for potential intervention against secondround effects.

In a statement, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the 4.9-percent inflation in April is “consistent” with the BSP’s assessment that inflation will remain elevated over the near term due to the continued volatility in global oil and non-oil prices, reflecting largely the continued impact of the conflict in Ukraine on global commodities market.

The governor said their latest assessment indicates that domes-

Prices...

Continued from A1

tic economic activity has gained stronger traction with the easing of remaining mobility restrictions.

However, Diokno added that heightened geopolitical tensions and a resurgence in Covid-19 infections in some countries have also clouded the outlook for global economic growth.

“Supply-chain disruptions could also contribute to inflationary pressures, and thus warrant closer moni-

G on z a le s s a id t h i s “ b a s ic monetarist approach ” is seen to “siphon off liquidity in the

toring to enable timely intervention in order to arrest potential second-round effects,” the governor said.

“The Monetary Board will review its assessment of the inflation outlook and macroeconomic prospects with the release of the first quarter GDP growth outturn, along with evidence of possible second round effects and developments in inflation expectations during the monetary policy meeting on May 19,” Diokno added.

T he BSP gover nor had earlier said that they expect to start tightening no earlier than the second half of the year, as part of their orderly exit from the accommodative monetary policy stance triggered in 2020 by the Covid-19 economic disruption.

T he gover nor a lso e xpressed confidence that inflation in 2023 will return to normal.

“Inf lation cou ld sett le

above the government’s target range in 2022, before decelerating back to target in 2023 as supply-side pressures ease. While there are signs that inflation expectation is higher for 2022, it remains broadly anchored to the target in 2023,” the governor said.

“Inflation risks are also tilted to the upside in 2022, but broadly balanced for 2023.

Upside risks over the near term continue to emanate from the shortage in domestic food supply as well as from the potential impact of higher oil prices on transport fares,” he added.

Despite the upside risks, the governor said there are also downside risks, particularly linked mainly to the lingering threat of Covid-19 infections, as the emergence of new variants could temper the global economic recovery and prompt the reimposition of containment measures.

economy” and thus contain the increase in inf lation spurred by recent global economic developments.

“Of course, you know the basic monetarist approach that higher reserve ratio requirements will siphon off liquidity in the economy.

Despite its anti-investment e x pansionar y ef fects, it is one of the better policy tools to handle inflation,” he explained.

comes substantial, inf lation will not lead to a double-digit inflation.

Stagflation

Ateneo Eagle Watch Senior Fellow Leonardo A. L a n z on a Jr. tol d B us i nessMir ror t hat wh i le the “ breach (in inflation) is alarming,” this will not likely lead to stagflation.

Stagflation is a combination of slow growth, high inflation and high unemployment in a country.

Lanzona said this will not happen in the Philippines as long as the economy grows. In the fourth quarter of 2021, GDP growth reached 7.8 percent, allowing full-year growth to average 5.7 percent.

“This is not yet a sign of stagf lation as output growth is observed. But if this growth cannot be sustained especially, because of h ig h u nemploy ment , then we might enter stagflation,” Lanzona said.

L anzona noted that when the economy grows, there is a tendency to see an uptick in inflation. High inflation is an indicator of demand which will allow GDP to grow.

Inflation, he said, can be explained by the increase in gover nment ex pend itures that is necessary to grow the economy. If economic g row th f ueled by these kinds of factors be-

Unemployment

The challenge now in the country, Lanzona said, is the high unemployment.

Based on PSA data, nearly 4 million Filipinos were still considered jobless at the end of 2021.

T he prel iminar y f u l lyear estimates of the PSA showed the country’s unemployment rate was at 7.8 percent at the end of last year. Unemployment rates in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Region 4A or Calabarzon were still in double-digits at 10.6 percent.

“I am quite concerned the unemployment rate is still quite high, thereby immiserating a substantial portion of our workers. The crucial point is that steps must be made to improve the economy equitably in light of the rising prices,” L anzona told BusinessMirror.

Living wage

In light of the rapid increase in commodity prices, Ibon Foundation Inc. said the minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) is falling even further behind the family living wage (FLW) and a meaningful increase is more urgent than ever for genuinely inclusive recovery, said the group.

Ibon said the NCR minimum wage of just P537 has fallen to less than half or 49 percent of the NCR FLW of P1,087. This means, Ibon said, wage-earning households are continuing to suffer losses in real incomes and purchasing power even as the economy reopens.

T he organization said the real value of the NCR minimum wage has fallen by 9.6 percent since the start of the Duterte administration. If the government does not give a large wage hike in its twilight weeks it will be the only one of the six administrations in the past 36 years which will see a decline in the value of real wages over its term.

End-March...

Continued from A1

the triple-tranche dollar-denominated Global Bonds. However, the Bureau of the Treasury said this was tempered by the weakening of the peso versus the greenback.

Meanwhile, total government outstanding guaranteed debt dropped by 14.7 percent to P411.04 billion from P481.8 billion in March last year.

It also shrank by 1.2 percent from the February level at P416.2 billion due to the net repayment of both domestic and foreign guarantees.

R izal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael Ricafort also sees the government’s outstanding reaching new highs in the coming months, especially following the successful issuance of Samurai bonds in April and the signing of the 30-billion yen loan from the Japanese government although these were obtained at the lowest borrowing costs and with long-term tenors.

“For the coming months, the government’s outstanding debt could still reach new record highs in view of additional government borrowings, especially to frontload the government’s borrowing requirements before the elections [i.e. less government borrowings and debt maturities near the May elections, as a matter of prudence; similar to the pattern seen in previous elections] to fund the country’s budget deficit,” he said.

A weaker peso exchange rate vs the US dollar may also partly increase the peso equivalent of government's foreign debts, according to Ricafort.

By the end of this year, the government expects the country’s outstanding debt to soar to P13.42 trillion.

To recall, the countr y posted a 16-year-high debt-to-GDP ratio of 60.5 percent by the end of 2021.

This is expected to peak this year at 60.9 percent before going down to the 60.7 percent and 60.4 percent levels in 2023 and 2024, respectively, based on the estimates obtained earlier by BusinessMirror from the Department of Finance’s Chief Economist Gil Beltran.

Inflation...

Continued from A1

Wage relief

The latest spike in prices of basic goods and services prompted Partido Manggagawa (PM) to reiterate its demand for the passage of a P100 wage hike. “[The] P100 is wage recovery, not a real increase in salaries. From 2018 to the present, real wages have declined by a significant amount of 8 percent. The rising inf lation rate further erodes real wages,” PM chair Renato Magtubo said in a statement issued last Thursday.

He also demanded that the government provide unemployed and informal workers a monthly P10,000 cash aid as well as the implementation of emergency jobs creation.

For its part, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) filed last Thursday a wage petition, this time, in the Ilocos Region.

The country’s largest labor group is demanding a P420 minimum wage hike in the region.

TUCP already filed wage petitions in Calabarzon, Bicol Region, National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Caraga, Soccsksargen, Davao, Northern Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

TUCP President Raymond C. Mendoza said they hope their wage petitions will be resolved by the regional wage boards before the end of the current administration.

“Please do not dribble the ball and pass the buck to the next administration. Cut down the bureaucratic procedures and endless hearings and just issue a wage order that will save our minimum wage earners and their families from continuing hunger and malnutrition,” Mendoza said.

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Gordon: Tougher penalty vs perjury now justified

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

T

HE recent recantations of witnesses who testified against detained Senator Leila de Lima in congressional hearings, and later in court, underscore the importance of the lawmakers’ initiatives to toughen penalties against perjury, reelectionist Sen. Richard Gordon said on Thursday.

Gordon, who as Senate Blue Ribbon probe chairman, presided over some of the most controversial inquiries in aid of legislation, said the recantations of confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and former Bureau of Corrections officer Rafael Ragos “affect public confidence” in the justice system, and “that is why we are toughening the anti-perjury law.”

Gordon had coauthored a measure—enacted in November 2021 —increasing the penalties for people found to commit perjury or making false testimony under oath before the court or other legal proceedings.

Republic Act (RA) 11594 amends Articles 183 and 184 of the Revised Penal Code that sets the punishment for the crime of perjury.

“The new law should be a stark reminder to everyone, especially to those who are called to testify before the courts and any other legal proceeding, that lying under oath shall be meted with stricter penalties,” he had said after the law was signed last year.

“Increasing the penalties for perjury would send a strong signal to all that even those in power shall be held accountable for their lies. You cannot lie under oath and go scot-free anymore,” he added.

Under the new law, perjury is punishable by prison mayor, or six years and one day to eight years, to its medium period of eight years and one day to 10 years.

A public official or government employee found guilty of perjury shall be penalized with a maximum period with a fine of P1 million and perpetual disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in government.

In the old law, perjury is penalized with a prescribed period of arresto mayor—a minimum of four months and a day to a maximum of two years and four months.

The bill was principally authored

by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and co-authored by him, Senators Miguel Zubiri, Panfilo Lacson, and Leila M. de Lima.

‘Unsettling’

“THE star witness recanting is very unsettling after so many years,” said Gordon, in an interview with CNN Philippines’s “The Source.”

He noted there is “suspicion of perjury” in the testimonies of Espinosa and Ragos because they admitted to have misled probers in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

INC backs ex-DPWH chief Mark Villar’s senatorial bid

R

ELIGIOUS group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has officially endorsed the senatorial bid of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar for the upcoming national elections.

The influential religious group made the announcement during the “Mata ng Agila” news program over Net 25 on Tuesday night whose primary stakeholders hold key positions within the powerful church group.

Villar, a candidate from the UniTeam, thanked INC for supporting his bid for a Senate seat on Monday’s elections.

For Gordon, the “timing” of the recantation would no longer affect the congressional inquiries, since the cases against de Lima are already before a trial court. However, because both men admitted to perjury, they could go after Ragos and Espinosa.

Asked about the clamor in some quarters to release de Lima on account of the recantations, Gordon said the general rule is that “the case should be dismissed if there is a cloud of doubt,” and said the charges having dragged on for five years have denied her of her right to a speedy trial.

Pharmally case

GORDON, meanwhile, rejected appeals by two executives of supplier Pharmally Pharmaceticals Corp. to be released from detention—for contempt against the Senate—at the Pasay City Jail.

Gordon, who as Blue Ribbon probe panel chief led 18 hearings into the Pharmally mess involving misuse of billions of pandemic funds for personal protective equipment (PPE) at the height of the Covid pandemic, said, “These are people who betrayed the country,” referring to Mohit Darghani and Linconn Ong. “They stole practically P12 billion in taxpayers money” but did everything to prevent Senate probers from ferreting out the truth, and deserve detention until they cooperate.

Duterte must punish Pharmally officials involved in the mess, the Senate chief prober said, noting that “they were in pictures hobnobbing with the President.”

He hoped Duterte would “respect the Senate and the COA [Commission on Audit],” lamenting the personal attacks by the President against him as well as the Philippine Red Cross, which he heads, just because he pursued the Pharmally mess that involved, among others, Duterte’s “friend,” Michael Yang.

Asked by CNN Philippines if he thought this was a tough campaign compared to past election races he joined, Gordon said it was indeed hard because “the President is against me” and had even told mayors to campaign against him.

Gordon said, “I’m being penalized for doing my job,” adding, “thousands of trolls have been unleashed” against him, even as the President keeps mounting personal attacks against him, “even noting the shape of my body.”

“This is a test of whether people will follow a popular president,” he said adding that, at the end of the day, “we all have to stand up.”

Ask whether he was bothered by recent polls showing him outside the winning 12 slots in the Senate race, Gordon said he was not, recalling that there were several elections where “I was number 15,” but eventually landed a seat in the Senate.

Prosecutor indicts ‘poblacion girl’ for skipping quarantine to party

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

T

HE Makati City Prosecution Office has found probable cause to indict Gwyneth Anne Chua, the controversial “poblacion girl,” for alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. Chua, a returning overseas Filipino from the United States, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on December 22, 2021 and was supposed to be quarantined at Berjaya Hotel in Makati.

However, on December 23, 2021,

she was seen attending a party with friends in Poblacion, Makati and was tested positive for Covid-19 three days after.

Aside from Chua, the Makati City Prosecution Office also found probable cause to indict Esteban Gatbonton, a security guard of Berjaya Hotel, for assisting the breakout of Chua from the quarantine facility.

“In a resolution dated April 29, 2022, the Makati City Prosecution Office found probable cause to charge Gwyneth Anne Chua with violation of Section 9 of RA 11332 for defying the directives of the authorities on mandatory quarantine,” the Office of the Makati

T

Prosecutor said.

The charges stemmed from the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) for violation of RA 11332 and its implementing rules and regulations.

Also included as respondents in the complaint were Chua’s parents Allan Dabiwong Chua and Gemma Leonordo-Chua, her boyfriend Rico Atienza and hotel staff namely Gladiolyn Biala (resident manager), Salvador Sabayo (assistant front office manager), Tito Arboleda (security manager), Hannah Araneta (front desk counter personnel) and Gatbonton.

Based on the complaint it was Ch-

ua’s father who fetched her from the hotel on December 22, 2021, while her mother accompanied her back to the hotel on December 25, 2021.

Atienza, on the other hand, was with Chua in Poblacion on December 23, 2021.

However, the complaint against Chua’s parents and boyfriend was dismissed as the evidence were insufficient to establish that they have violated the provisions of RA 11332.

As to the hotel employees, the complaint against them was also dismissed as the evidence presented by the PNP-CIDG failed to show that they knowingly allowed Chua to leave the hotel premises.

BBM gets 58% Duterte appoints Danao Jr. as PNP OIC as Carlos retires in OCTA final poll, keeps 33% lead vs Leni

P

P

RESIDENTI AL frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. scored a 58-percent voter preference in the last and final survey of OCTA Research conducted on April 22-25, and the former senator’s camp said this showed he is truly “unbeatable.”

Marcos who is number 7 in the Comelec official ballot, even increased his voter preference by one percent compared to his previous 57 percent last April 2 to 6.

Based on the survey with 2,400 respondents, Marcos maintained his huge lead of 33 percentage voter preference against his closest rival, Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, who drew a 25-percent voter preference.

In third place is Isko Moreno with 8-percent voter preference, followed by Manny Pacquiao with 5 percent, and Ping Lacson, who scored 2 percent.

Marcos also maintained his huge lead in all areas in the country in the same survey. He scored 46 percent in the National Capital Region; 59 percent in Balance Luzon; 62 percent in Visayas; and 56 percent in Mindanao.

The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard bearer was also first in all socioeconomic classes, scoring 53 percent in Class ABC; 60 percent in Class D; and 54 percent in Class E. Marcos also earlier scored a 57-percent voter preference in the OCTA Research survey conducted last April 2 to 6.

Here, Robredo got 22 percent, Isko Moreno 9 percent, Manny Pacquiao, 7 percent; and Ping Lacson, 4 percent.

Last May 2, Marcos scored 56 percent in the last and final survey of Pulse Asia conducted with 2, 400 respondents in April 16 to 21.

RESIDENT Duterte has designated Lt. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. as Officer in Charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Acting Presidential Spokesman Martin M. Andanar confirmed Danao’s new appointment with the upcoming retirement of PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos this Sunday on the eve of the May 9, 2022 polls.

“We are confident that General Danao will continue efforts to transform the PNP into a more dynamic and more professional organization performing its mandate of serving and protecting our people,” Andanar said.

Danao is also the commander of PNP Security Task Force for National and Local Elections 2022.

Under the Constitution, the Presi-

Resolution No. 2022-0081, entitled “Prescribing Napolcom Special Qualifying Eligibility as appropriate eligibility for temporary appointment to the rank of patrolman/woman in the Philippine National Police [PNP] for members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front” dated February 8, 2022.

Applicants should bring two recent identical and colored 1”x1” ID pictures with white background and complete name tag; one legal size window envelope with P21 worth of mailing stamp; and examination fee of P400.

Interested parties should submit their examination requirements personally at the Office of the Chief Minister, Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City.

The NSQEE is open to Filipino

dent could no longer make any permanent appointments for executive positions 60 days before a presidential election.

The Chief Executive will only be allowed to make temporary appointments within the said period instead.

Another restriction for the designation of the permanent replacement of Carlos is the ongoing election ban, which will last until May 8, 2022.

Comelec Commissioner George M. Garcia said Duterte must secure the approval of the Comelec en banc for appointing a new PNP chief during the election ban.

“Until today, as the position you are referring to, I have not yet received any information that a request for a petition has already

been filed with us,” Garcia said in a virtual forum last Thursday when asked about the appointment of the new PNP chief.

Even with the new leadership of PNP, Garcia said they are confident PNP will still be able to help them to secure as well as address their logistics needs for the 2022 polls.

He said PNP made the commitment during their command conference last Wednesday.

“They guaranteed there will be a change in command and there will be no change in the ongoing preparations [for the elections],” Garcia said.

The poll official said the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines committed to deploy 50,000 troops and their assets to help during the May 9, 2022 polls. Samuel P. Medenilla

COMELEC DECLARES PDP-LABAN DOMINANT MAJORITY PARTY

T

HE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has been declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the Dominant Majority party for the 2022 elections.

The Comelec en banc made the decision despite the pending leadership dispute within the ruling party.

PDP-Laban is currently split between two opposing factions led by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao, respectively.

“Pending resolution of the petition...filed by Cusi wing of the PDP-Laban, the PDPLaban shall be treated as one single political party for purposes of determining the dominant majority party, dominant minority party, and the ten major national party,”

Napolcom sets special qualifying eligibility examination for MILF and MNLF members HE National Police Commission (Napolcom) has announced the conduct of a Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE), exclusively for members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), on May 29, 2022 to be held in Cotabato City.

The period of walk-in filing and processing of applications started on April 21 and will run until May 13, 2022.

The Napolcom will confer successful passers of the NSQEE with the eligibility that can be used solely as appropriate eligibility for the rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman on a temporary appointment basis. However, this cannot be used for permanent appointment or for promotion purposes as prescribed under Napolcom

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, May 6, 2022 A3

citizens who are bona fide members of the MILF or MNLF, established by the certification issued by the Chairman of the MILF or MNLF, subject to validation by the PNP pursuant to established rules and regulations on the recruitment and/or such other rules and regulations that may be adopted by the PNP on the matter; applicants who have completed at least four years of high school studies from a secondary school under a previous four-year high school program or Junior High School under a K-12 Basic Education Curriculum, or its Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency Program accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd) or by the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education; and should not be below 20 nor above 34 years of age.

the Comelec en banc said in its Resolution10787, which was promulgated on Wednesday.

In the same issuance, Comelec also declared the Nacionalista Party (NP) as the Dominant Minority Party.

As the Dominant Majority, PDP-Laban will be entitled to the 5th copy of the election returns and 7th copy of the certificates of canvass.

Both will also get preference in the deployment of election watchers in canvassing and consolidation centers.

Meanwhile, NP will be entitled to the 6th copy of the election returns, and 8th copy of the certificates of canvass as Dominant Minority Party.

The Comelec en banc also declared the 10 major political parties namely, Liberal Party (LP), Aksyon Demokratiko (Aksyon), Nationalist People's

Coalition (NPC), LakasChristian Muslim Demokrats (Lakas-CMD), Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma (PDR), National Unity Party (NUP), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Akbayan Citizens Action Party (Akbayan), and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The said accredited major national parties will get the 9th to the 18th copies of election returns and certificates of canvass.

The Comelec en banc came up with the said designation using criteria it set including history of the political party, number of incumbent elective officials, organized chapters, ability to field a slate of candidates, and the other analogous circumstances.

Samuel P. Medenilla

MMDA prepares deployment plan at PICC from May 8 to 21

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

N

EARLY 90 personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be deployed starting May 8 until May 21 to man traffic within the vicinity of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City where the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) will be canvassing the votes for the national elections.

“Traffic congestion in the area is expected as it will coincide with some graduation rites at PICC Plenary Hall.

Hence, we will deploy personnel to ensure the smooth flow of traffic,” MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando Artes said, adding that the MMDA will dispatch additional personnel from the agency’s different units and

offices as part of its traffic management plan for the May 9 polls.

“The MMDA is in close coordination with the Commission on Elections, Southern Police District, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the local government unit of Pasay City for other administrative and operational activities in the area,” he said.

Moreover, Artes mentioned that the Magdalena Jalandoni Street from Buendia to Vicente Sotto Street would be closed to vehicular traffic on the said dates to give way for the canvassing of votes.

“Traffic road signages will be installed by the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center on the northbound portions of Macapagal Boulevard and Diokno Boulevard to guide the motorists,” he said.

A4 Friday, May 6, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

‘Midnight’ sugar importations invite legal challenge, govt told

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

T

HE Duterte government is on the verge of violating the law in resuming importation of 200,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar despite two court orders suspending it, Senator Imee Marcos warned on Thursday.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, issued the warning after the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Tuesday issued Memorandum Circular No. 11 announcing that applications to import sugar have resumed.

The senator maintained “this defies two temporary restraining orders (TRO’s) issued

by the Sagay and Himamaylan regional trial courts in Negros Occidental earlier this year.”

In a news statement, the lawmaker recalled that the Sagay court’s order in February specifically instructed the SRA “to maintain the status quo to be effective until the termination of this case unless earlier lifted.”

Marcos added that the SRA circular’s ex-

clusion of Western Visayas from eligibility for import applications was “a circumvention of the court orders coming from the region.”

Court hearings, she stressed, “are still being held to resolve the conflict” between the government and two leading groups of sugar planters that sought the TROs—the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) and the Rural Sugar Planters Association Inc. Marcos bemoaned the “brazen attempt to import sugar despite its suspension points to a real ‘midnight deal’ before the present administration steps down from office at the end of June.”

The senator stressed that the next court hearing has yet to take place on June 28.

In turn, Unifed told the senator’s office on Wednesday it was poised to file cases against Agriculture Secretary William Dar and SRA chief Hermenegildo Serafica for “contempt of court” for implementing Sugar Order (SO) No. 3 despite court rulings and pending cases against it.

Both government officials contend

that a sugar shortage could occur later this year due to the damage wrought by Typhoon “Odette” last December, even as sugar planters remain confident of being able to meet the country’s sugar needs.

In a virtual news briefing on Tuesday, Dar disclosed that the DA’s inclination was to push through with the implementation of SO 3 in areas that are not covered by existing or pending temporary restraining orders filed by certain quarters of the industry.

“Everyone is aware that sugar prices have been high and continue to go up weekly. It is clear from these data that we need to augment our sugar supply at the soonest possible time to ensure food security in sugar and food products using sugar as well as arrest the continuing increase in sugar prices which affects inflation,” the SRA said in a news statement on Wednesday.

SO 3 authorized the importation of 200,000-MT refined sugar to plug the shortfall in domestic supply and arrest skyrocketing retail prices of the sweetener. However, the sugar order faced legal debacles as industry groups such as Unifed sought the court’s legal intervention against the importation program. With a report by Jasper Y. Arcalas

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Elect right leaders amid global economic downturn–Salceda

A

HOUSE leader on Thursday urged voters to elect leaders who can competently handle both inflation and growth challenges amid recent global supply chain disruptions.

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda emphasized in a news statement that with the recent supply chain disruptions happening due to the Ukraine crisis and palm oil supply issues, among other things, “on May 9, we should elect leaders who can competently handle both inflation and growth challenges.”

On the Ukraine crisis, Salceda noted that it would continue to impact the prices of bread, fuel, and even fertilizers due to its proximity with Belarus, a leading source of fertilizer ingredients.

He added that palm oil supply issues would also persist, likely into June, with implications on cooked products as well as animal feed. With these, he noted that these issues could stunt the growth of the economy.

“These price pressures will drive up inflation expectations among investors. That may result in higher borrowing costs for the government and higher profitability hurdle rates for businessmen,” Salceda said.

“Combined, these downward pulls on private and government spend-

ing could have implications on job growth and recovery,” he added.

In relation to the kind of Congress he envisions for the next administration on a medium-term perspective, Salceda said lawmakers must prioritize structural changes to resolve the food security challenges “that make us so vulnerable to food and fuel price developments abroad.”

Meanwhile, through the shortterm lens, Salceda deems the distribution of the promised P500 monthly ayuda by the government as urgent.

He also urged the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to weigh carefully pulling our easy monetary policy back.

Prudent and gradual increases in our interest rates must be coupled with measures to encourage high quality lending to growth-creating industries.

“We must sap excess liquidity without stifling growth sectors,” Salceda said.

Salceda also aims to brief the next President of what he believes are necessary steps forward as the next administration will be facing major economic obstacles brought about by the recent global supply chain problems, on top of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Make no mistake…we are in danger of getting caught in a low-growth, high inflation bind. Though still a remote possibility, it will become more real if the next administration makes early mistakes,” he said. Andrea San Juan

Friday, May 6, 2022 A5

Congress told: Prepare for canvassing of votes for president, vice president

By Andrea San Juan

A

HOUSE deputy speaker on Thursday urged the two chambers of Congress to start preparing for the canvassing of presidential and vice presidential votes.

Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the House of Representatives and the Senate to make arrangements with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the smooth and expeditious transmission of certificates of canvass from provinces and independent cities to Congress.

“As in the past, for the sake of transparency, a receiving transmission should be installed in the House so Congress would have an advance electronic copy of the election results,” the representative of Cagayan de Oro’s second district said.

Rodriguez noted that there should be a mechanism for expediting the sending of provincial and city results to Congress in case of unreasonable or suspicious delay.

Rodriguez emphasized that based on their calendar of sessions, the House and the Senate have only 12

days, including one weekend, to finish the vote tabulation and declare the winning presidential and vice presidential candidates.

“We hope we could complete the canvass and declare the winners within that short period,” he said.

Rodriguez said that the canvassing mandate of the legislature is provided in Section 4, Article VII, of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines on the Executive Department.

The pertinent part of Section 4, Article VII states: “The returns of every election for President and Vice President, duly certified by the board of canvassers of each province or city, shall be transmitted to the Congress, directed to the President of the Senate. Upon receipt of the certificates of canvass, the President of the Senate shall, not later than 30 days after the day of the election, open all certificates in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives in joint public session, and the Congress, upon determination of the authenticity and due execution thereof in the manner provided by law, canvass the votes.”

Section 4 further provides: “The person having the highest number of votes shall be proclaimed elected, but in case two or more shall have an equal and highest number of votes, one of them shall forthwith be chosen by the vote of a majority of all the Members of both Houses of the Congress, voting separately.”

The house deputy speaker said the session of Congress as a canvassing body is to be presided over by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President.

Since Senate President Vicente Sotto III is a candidate for vice president, Rodriguez said, “we leave it to his sound discretion and judgment on what to do.”

For his part, House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza, noted that the lower chamber will start preparing for the board of canvassing as soon as Congress reconvenes on May 23.

“Yes, actually sa 23 ang start sa pag-resume ng session, sa May 23 start natin. Everything is systems go naman, in coordination tayo with Senate and the Comelec [Commission on Elections],” said Mendoza.

On the possibility of a Covid-19 surge in the middle of canvassing, Mendoza said: “May back up plan naman tayo na ginagawa for that, meantime, mag-base rin tayo sa safety na ilalabas ng IATF [InterAgency for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases], then the guidelines regarding that. Pero, definitely open ’yan lahat sa public, sa media and observers natin, open ’yung canvassing.”

Mendoza also noted that the heads of the two chambers of Congress along with members of the media and Comelec would be present on the afternoon of election day on May 9.

In terms of the recent development in the election preparations, he said: “’Yung ano, sa initialization natin on Monday, sa May 9, sa hapon, initialization natin, the Senate President, the speaker, members of media and from the Comelec will be there on Monday.”

Mendoza hopes that the canvassing of votes will be as quick as that of the 2019 elections, which according to him, transpired for around five to seven days only.

Respect the will of voters, lawyers remind candidates Truckers seek fuel subsidy from government

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

T

HE Philippine Bar Association Inc. (PBAI) has called on candidates and their supporters to respect the will of the Filipino voters in the coming May 9 national and local elections.

In a news statement, the PBA acknowledged that the May 9 elections would be the most “consequential election in recent memory,” as the group urged candidates to uphold the people’s right to suffrage which is significant in a democratic country like the Philippines.

“May all of them be reminded that to seek public office is to seek the public’s trust. And the authority to govern only emanates from a proper ascertainment of the will of our sovereign people,” PBAI said.

“Acknowledging and affirming these principles, may every candidate commit to the strengthening of democratic processes and protection of institutions crucial to the maintenance of a stable government,” it added.

The group reminded those who want to lead the country of their responsibility to protect the republic.

“To keep this Republic is our common responsibility but, most especially that of those who want to lead,” the group said.

It said that while the goal of the candidates is to win, this should be achieved only through fair and just means.

The PBA is also urging all candidates and their supporters to ensure fair and safe access to the polls for every voter, maintain respect for local and national election officials, protect public school teachers who are frontliners in safeguarding the people’s votes, and to remind their supporters to exercise patience and understanding.

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

T

HE Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) has asked the government for fuel subsidies, as pump prices continue to rise.

In a news statement, CTAP President Maria Zapata said the group “is now coordinating” with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) “for the possible extension of fuel subsidies to its hard-pressed members.”

She said the group has “already submitted a list of their members to the DTI as well as the number of

Task force wraps up rehab, readies turnover of Boracay Island to Malay, Aklan local execs

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

T

@jonlmayuga

HE Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is preparing to turn over the world-renowned Boracay Island to the local government unit (LGU) of Malay, Aklan.

Created by President Duterte through Executive Order (EO) 53 on May 8, 2018, the BIATF took over the rehabilitation and management of Boracay.

On September 14, 2021, the BIATF’s term was extended for the second time until June 30, 2022, through EO 147. By the end of June, coinciding with the expiration of its mandate over the island paradise, the BIATF is expected to turn over Boracay to LGU-Malay.

In a news statement, DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna expressed hope that the municipal government of Malay will sustain the gains of the Boracay rehabilitation as the task force’s term ends next month.

“We are all excited to complete the rehabilitation of Boracay. But we cannot allow anyone to undo—immediately or otherwise—what we have accomplished, or to unlawfully stand in the way to the completion of our mission,” Sampulna said.

The DENR chief led the BIATF Principals’ Meeting on Boracay Island on April 29 in preparation for the turnover of Boracay Island to the Malay-LGU. According to Sampulna, the dissolution of the task force does not mean the end of the rehabilitation of the world-famous resort island.

The various agencies and local government units, whether independent of each other or in partnership with one another, can continue the unfinished projects according to their respective priorities under the new administration.

The DENR chief believes the progress of the BIATF is “nothing short of remarkable, if not awesome,” particularly in the reduction of fecal coliform counts and the rehabilitation of wetlands.

“Our comfort, by then, is that we have done our part as members of this task force, and that, hopefully, we will be in a position to do more, or that our successors will be able to protect and build on our gains,” he said.

During the meeting on April 29, Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation and Management Group (BIARMG) General Manager Martin Jose V. Despi bared that Boracay’s beach is Class SB-compliant or safe for swimming, as it is within the standard fecal coliform level of 100 most probable number per 100 milliliters (100 MPN/100 mL).

In April 2022, the lowest fecal coliform level was at less than 1.8 MPN/100mL in three of the 21 sampling stations around the island.

Wetlands recovered

AT the same meeting, Sampulna reported the successful rehabilitation of the Boracay wetlands.

He said of the nine wetlands in Boracay, ongoing wetland rehabilitation efforts include improvement of water quality, construction of a linear park and amphitheater in Wetland 4 (adopted by Aboitiz Property Ventures), the establishment of an arboretum in Wetland 3 (adopted by San Miguel Corporation), construction of a boardwalk and perimeter fencing in Wetland 6 (adopted by Boracay Tubi Systems, Inc.), perimeter fencing of unoccupied portions of Wetland 8 (adopted by JG Summit, Inc.) and clearing of illegal settlers and con-

struction of a 230-meter concrete fence in Wetland 9.

All these activities are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2022.

trucks they are operating.”

Fuel makes up for as much as 60 percent of the expenses of a trucking business.

Domestic pump prices have been on an uptrend in 13 out of the past 16 weeks, which the Department of Energy has attributed to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, along with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in China, which have driven demand.

The latest data available from the Department of Energy indicate that adjustments stand at a net increase of P15.45 per liter for gasoline, P27.35 per liter for diesel, and P21.55 per liter for

kerosene as of April 19.

Earlier, the government released fuel subsidies of up to P6,500 each to some 115,000 public utility drivers and operators amid the spiraling prices of oil and petroleum products.

Zapata said she hopes that the “government will eventually recognize the need to grant subsidies to the trucking industry, similar to the policies in other Asean countries, as they are part of the logistics chain.”

Unlike in other countries, Zapata said trucking is still treated as “a commercial activity and not as a public utility.”

A6

BusinessMirror

Friday, May 6, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

21TH CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION #28 Lot 12 Blk 94, R. Papa Ave. Cor. P. Garcia St. Phase 6, Afpovai, Western Bicutan, City Of Taguig QIAO, BAOXIN Quality Control

1.

Brief Job Description: They examine materials to make sure they meet quality expectations then assess the final product after production. Work at production facilities and retail locations to make sure that products being produced or sold meet the expectations of the consumer.

Basic Qualification: Basic Computer and Math Skills to Calibrate and Measure Specifications, Good Written and Verbal Communication Skills, Excellent Problem-solving and Analytical Skills, Keen Attention to Detail, Ability to Use Measuring Devises

2.

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

CHEN, JIAJIE Mandarin Speaking Technical Support Supervisor 3.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize, schedule, and supervise day to day technical support operations which encompasses all troubleshooting, customer service issues

Basic Qualification: Good social and presentation skills; Excellent oral and written communication skills

Basic Qualification: At least 6 months related experience. Good oral and written communication skills in Mandarin.

Knowledgeable in computer applications.

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

4.

Brief Job Description: Receive inbound customer calls and email communication and address in a professional and friendly manner

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s/Post Graduate Degree and can speak and write fluently Hindi language

BAI, JIRONG Mandarin Site Technical Officer 5.

Brief Job Description: Diagnosing equipment malfunctions and performing repairs.

HAN, XIAOWEI Mandarin Site Technical Officer 12.

13.

6.

Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs.

14.

HUA VINH QUANG Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to

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

YANG, BIAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 15.

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

7.

Brief Job Description: Self-reliant technical professional and is expected to initiate, carry out, and report on all survey works for projects

BOLTJES, RUDOLPH SEBASTIAAN Works Manager 8.

Brief Job Description: Manages, monitors, and supervises the execution, according to the contract of a part of the dredging and reclamation project.

Basic Qualification: At least 3-10 years extensive relevant work experience in dredging and land development environment

16.

GIAP VAN NGHIEM Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative (CSR)

17.

HOANG MANH HA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative (CSR)

18.

JI, BINJIE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative (CSR)

9.

Brief Job Description: Will be in-charge of helping the customers with complaints and questions, give customers information about products and services, take orders, and process returns.

19.

NGUYEN DUC HANH Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative (CSR)

YAP WAI KIT Bi-lingual Speaking Data Analyst Officer 10.

Brief Job Description: Interprets data, Analyzes results using Statistical Techniques and Provides Ongoing Reports

Basic Qualification: Fluent and Proficient in Writing and Speaking at Least 2 of the following Languages, English , Mandarin , Cantonese , thai Bahasa Malaysia , Bahasa Indonesian Korean, Spanish and Portuguese , 1 Year experience of working in a similar role

20.

NGUYEN THI TUYET MAI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative (CSR)

25.

26.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company MO, ZHIQIONG Customer Service Representative

27.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company NIAN, QIFENG Customer Service Representative

28.

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

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese Curriculum , Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin , Can Operate Computer Mandarin Characters

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

LYU, DONG Customer Service Representative

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

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

LIU, LIAN Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company QIN, XIANGHAO Customer Service Representative

29.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company SUN, JUNZHAO Customer Service Representative

30.

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

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese Curriculum , Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin , Can Operate Computer Mandarin Characters

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese Curriculum , Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin , Can Operate Computer Mandarin Characters

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese Curriculum , Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin , Can Operate Computer Mandarin Characters

31.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese Curriculum , Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin , Can Operate Computer Mandarin Characters

21.

NGUYEN VAN THANH Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative (CSR)

32.

22.

PHUNG THI LY Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative (CSR)

CHANG, CHIH-CHING Marketing Consultant (mandarin Speaking Clients) 33.

FAYTAR SERVICES CORP. 4/f Caeg Bldg., 7611 Dela Rosa St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: *Studying company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs. * Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

Basic Qualification: *Preferably 6 months experience with the above position. *Can multi-task and keen to details. *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently.

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

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. Ri Rance Ii Bldg., Block 2 Lot 3 Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque DANG THI DIEM MY Customer Service Representative 34.

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

DANG VAN TUYEN Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese Curriculum , Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin , Can Operate Computer Mandarin Characters

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

HA QUANG THONG Customer Service Representative 36.

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese Curriculum , Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin , Can Operate Computer Mandarin Characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

FLY ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Eighty One Bldg. Newport Blvd., Newport City Vab St., Barangay 183, Pasay City

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

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

XU, WEILIN Customer Service Representative

35.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CLICKPLAY SPORTSGAME CORP. 3/f, #119, Dr. Lazcano St., Laging Handa, Quezon City

24.

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

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

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

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

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

BOURAU ETHNIC CULTURE MARKETING INC. 9/f V. Corporate Centre, 125 L.p Leviste St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

QIN, SHUTONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

GUO, ZIMING Customer Service Representative

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months experience in the said field With good oral and communication skills, specifically English language Knowledgeable in basic computer applications and softwares

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

WANG, YONGYAN Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Extensive project management experience of at least 5 years in an international dredging and land reclamation project environment

23.

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

FAREAST OUTSOURCE PROCESSING INC. 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Nu Tower, Moa Coral Way, Barangay 76, Pasay City

BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig VAN DER MEER, SAM JOS Survey Specialist

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION DONG, PENGZHEN Customer Service Representative

EASYTECH SUPPORT INC. 9-11/f, 14/f Capella Bldg., Asean Drive Filinvest, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write bahasa indonesian, vietnamese, thai and mandarin language to cater foreign market.

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

Brief Job Description: Preparing and following general maintenance schedule

DANG HA MY Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

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

LI, FENGQIAN Mandarin Language- Officer Customer Service

No.

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

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Degree in computer science or information technology

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

ALLIANTPRIME SERVICES INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. 4f, One Ecom Center Building, Ocean Drive St., Moa Complex Subd., Barangay 76, Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Installing and configuring computer systems, diagnosing hardware and software faults and solving technical and applications problem

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

ALERE PHILIPPINES, INC. 21st Floor, Bonifacio One Technology Tower, Rizal Drive Corner 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, City Of Taguig MULAY, PARIDHI Indian Salesforce Admin

11.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION NGUYEN QUOC HUY It Support

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

ACSTREAM MANAGEMENT INC. 2204b/2206, 22/f Pbcom Tower, Ayala Avenue, Bel-air, City Of Makati CHAOWANKLANG, ANAN Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

HO KIM LIEN Customer Service Representative 37.

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in mandarin and basic english.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in mandarin and basic english.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HUYNH DUC Customer Service Representative

38.

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

HY CONG VAY Customer Service Representative 39.

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

LA MANH CUONG Customer Service Representative 40.

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

LE HA BAC Customer Service Representative 41.

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

LE NGOC YEN Customer Service Representative 42.

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

LE QUANG TIEN Customer Service Representative 43.

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

LUC CAO CUONG Customer Service Representative 44.

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

NGUYEN BA HUYNH DUC Customer Service Representative 45.

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

NGUYEN DUC HAO Customer Service Representative 46.

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

NGUYEN MONG THANH Customer Service Representative 47.

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

NGUYEN THI KIM THOA Customer Service Representative 48.

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

NGUYEN VINH VINH Customer Service Representative 49.

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

TRAN HUYNH HOANG HAU Customer Service Representative 50.

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

TRAN THI PHUONG Customer Service Representative 51.

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

TRAN VAN TIEN Customer Service Representative 52.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in mandarin and basic english.

No.

53.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in mandarin and basic english.

TRUONG THU THAO Customer Service Representative 54.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

55.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

VU NGOC QUYNH Mandarin Administrative Specialist 56.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about products and services of the company.

WAN, LIJUAN Chinese Speaking Customer Financial Officer 57.

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

HU, XIONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 58.

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

59.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Korean through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

KIM, DONGSAN Korean Customer Service Representative

60.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry in Korean through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Sky Garage Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language.

62.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably With Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

63.

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

64.

Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in mandarin and basic english.

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

72.

73.

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 Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written

Brief Job Description: Reports on daily operations of call center activities

MUCHTAR ZAINI Indonesian-customer Service Support Brief Job Description: Reports on daily operations of call center activities

WILLIAM CITRA Indonesian-customer Service Support Brief Job Description: Reports on daily operations of call center activities

74.

PARK, BUMSUK Korean Customer Head/treasurer 65.

Brief Job Description: Driving the vision for consistency in customer support standards

75.

66.

67.

68.

Brief Job Description: Must be fluent in Indonesian/Bahasa/Malaysian/ Vietnamese/Thailand and English Language.

PATRICIA BELINDA THEODORA Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming phone calls.

SISKA SARTIKA Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming phone calls.

76.

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

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Speaks and write fluently (korean & english).

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

78.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LI, CHENGZHI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (korean and english).

79.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any field, fluent in Bahasa Indonesia

80.

LIU, BIAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

LIU, CHENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any field, fluent in Bahasa Indonesia

81.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any field, fluent in Bahasa Indonesia Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

82.

Basic Qualification: At least college graduate, speak and write fluently (Korea and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LIU, QING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LIU, YANJUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

LUO, ZENGZAN Chinese Customer Service 83.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

Basic Qualification: Must be 4 years bachelor degree in any course.

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

84.

Basic Qualification: Must be 4 years bachelor degree in any course.

MIAO, YANJUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be 4 years bachelor degree in any course.

85.

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

69.

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

MULTI AVANCE SOLUTIONS INC. 7/f Ba Lepanto Bldg., 8747 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Must be fluent in Indonesian/Bahasa/Malaysian/ Vietnamese/Thailand and English Language.

CHENG, CHAO Chinese Customer Service

JI, LIANG Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (korean and english).

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably With Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

VENNY NOVELIA Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HUANG, JUNLIN Chinese Customer Service

MPOTECH DIGITAL SYSTEM INC. 47/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati DEWI EVANA Indonesian Customer Service Representative

CHEN, JIN Chinese Customer Service

HUANG, HUAIWEI Chinese Customer Service

MANILA TOUR RESERVATION SYSTEM LTD. CORP. 1920 M Adriatico St., 077, Barangay 702, Malate, City Of Manila

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

JOHAN Indonesian-customer Service Support

Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

HAN, FENG Chinese Customer Service

LEEKIE ENTERPRISES, INC. 8/f Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Korean through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

CAO, HUA Chinese Customer Service

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

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

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

71.

Brief Job Description: To engage in the business of software development, technical consulting services.

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

61.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

WEI, DAIHONG Mandarin Software Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in mandarin and basic english.

SHIN, IKSEONG Korean Customer Service Representative

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

70.

J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg., #48 President Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque KANG, INJONG Korean Customer Service Representative

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

INFOVINE INC. 8th, 9th, 10th/f Aspire Corporate Plaza Bldg., Macapagal Blvd. St., Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in mandarin and basic english.

No.

GRAND PREMIUM CREST HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably with Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

FRONTIER POINT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS INC. 29/f Techzone Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level, Preferably With Customer Service or Sales Experience, Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

VU THI MAI Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in mandarin and basic english.

Brief Job Description: Supports Customers by Providing Helpful Information, Answering Queries and Responding to Complaints

A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TRUONG HOANG LONG Customer Service Representative

Friday, May 6, 2022

Basic Qualification: Must be 4 years bachelor degree in any course.

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

86.

SHAO, WEIQI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TIAN, YU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communications skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

Friday, May 6, 2022

A6 A8

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WANG, XIONG Chinese Customer Service

87.

88.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires WEI, JINGSHA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

WEI, LIANBU Chinese Customer Service 89.

90.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquires, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts, and file documents.

XIAO, YANCHEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

XU, DEHUA Chinese Customer Service 91.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquires, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts, and file documents.

YAN, LIANG Chinese Customer Service

92.

93.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills ZHANG, CHENGYE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ZHAO, FEI Chinese Customer Service 94.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquires, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts, and file documents.

ANA Customer Service Representative

95.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires ANDY Customer Service Representative

96.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

BENZSON LIUS Customer Service Representative

97.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires BURTON Customer Service Representative

98.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

CHANGSIRIPHAISAN, CHITTHIWAT Customer Service Representative 99.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

DEDI HERMANTO Customer Service Representative 100.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

DION SANDY WIJAYA Customer Service Representative

101.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires FERDIANTO Customer Service Representative

102.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LENA Customer Service Representative 103.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

SAE-LIW, SUPANEE Customer Service Representative 104.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language

No.

SAEN-YANG, YODPATHUE Customer Service Representative 105.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

106.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language)

107.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

108.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

109.

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

110.

111.

112.

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

113.

114.

HADIANTO YAKIN Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HENDRI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HENDRI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

SOLEH WILIANTO Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

STEVEN Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

FOO TZE SHEN Malaysian Customer Service 115.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

CHING WEI JIE Malaysian Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

BUDIMAN Indonesian Customer Service

CHEN JIE MING Malaysian Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

RICKY THENEDY Indonesian Customer Service

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

116.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

GOH MEI CHEE Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

117.

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

118.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

119.

LEE KAH UNG Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LEE TECK HWEE Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LOW YOKE KEI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

120.

MAH SUNG CHIEW Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

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

121.

MOK SIEW WAI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

122.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

123.

124.

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

125.

126.

127.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

128.

129.

130.

131.

132.

133.

WINNIE LAU HUI HUI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

KYAW KYAW KHAING Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

KYAW KYAW THET Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

NANG KEIN HOM Myanmari Customer Service

134.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires SHIN HTET HAN Myanmari Customer Service

135.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communications skills

Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

MYAT SHWE YEE Myanmari Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

TIONG LI YAN Malaysian Customer Service

ARR SHOW Myanmari Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

AH LEE CHINT @ SAN LEI MAW Myanmari Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

WINSON YONG WEI SEN Malaysian Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

TEO YONG HUA Malaysian Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TENG MUN YUE Malaysian Customer Service

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

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

NGO WEI YEE Malaysian Customer Service

TEE XIN HUI Malaysian Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

136.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

137.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

139.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

140.

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

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

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

THIN NWE OO Myanmari Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

YAN NAING WIN Myanmari Customer Service 138.

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

SI THU LWIN Myanmari Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

CHIO LIN ERN Singaporean Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

FAM KAI YAT (FAN KAIYE) Singaporean Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

141.

142.

143.

144.

145.

146.

147.

148.

149.

150.

151.

152.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HO BOON KANG (HE WENKANG) Singaporean Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

CHEN, PING-HSUAN Taiwanese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

CHAC MY LINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

CUN CHAC SIEU Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

GIANG KHANH HUYEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HOANG VAN TIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

LE THI PHUONG LAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

LE TIEN DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LE XUAN UYEN MY Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LO QUOC TIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LU NHAT LONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

LUONGVAN BINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LUU NGAN VINH Vietnamese Customer Service 153.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LY GIA MAN Vietnamese Customer Service 154.

155.

156.

157.

158.

159.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LY THI QUYNH NHU Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

MAI QUOC NGOC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

NGU THI AN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NGUYEN TRUONG THI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NGUYEN BA BA Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

No.

160.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

161.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

162.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

163.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 164.

165.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowle gable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

NGUYEN VINH ANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

NGUYEN XUAN TRUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

THONG CHU SAU Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

THONG CHU TAC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

THONG COOC ON Vietnamese Customer Service 166.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowle gable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

167.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

THONG DUC HOA Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

168.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

169.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

170.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

171.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

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

172.

173.

174.

175.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 176.

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

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TRAN QUANG TRUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TRAN QUOC VUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires UNG BAC BINH Vietnamese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

TRAN HUU ANH Vietnamese Customer Service

TRUONG NGOC TUYET Vietnamese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TRUONG BICH DU Vietnamese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

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

TO TRUNG HIEU Vietnamese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

UNG CHONG VINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

No.

178.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

179.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

180.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

177.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

181.

182.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

183.

184.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

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

Brief Job Description: Customer Support and data base services.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

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

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

Basic Qualification: Good Oral and Written Communication Skills in Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Provide business operations support on financial, administrative and contractual aspects of business unit

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in the Bahasa Indonesia and English language (spoken and written)

Brief Job Description: Assists the Asian regional senior customer support officer in leading and motivating the team to ensure that they are

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in the Chinese/ mandarin and English language (spoken and written)

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

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in the Bahasa Indonesia and English language (spoken and written)

JEVICA TOK Indonesian-language Customer Service Support Staff 185.

186.

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

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

LIA ANGGRAYANI Senior Indonesian-language Customer Service Support Staff Brief Job Description: Analyzes and maintains customer satisfaction reports

Basic Qualification: Fluent in the Bahasa Indonesia and English language (spoken and written) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

SHELL SHARED SERVICES (ASIA) B.V. 16/f-25/f Solaris One Bldg., 130 Dela Rosa St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati ORTIZ AREVALO, JENNIFER VANNESA Delivery Data Specialist 187.

Basic Qualification: Excellent stakeholder’s management skills. Fluent in English and Spanish

Brief Job Description: Manages related systems and tools applications.

Update and maintain Customer Sales pattern and analyze CROSS order generations.

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

SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. U 905 Tower One & Phil. Stock Exchange Plaza, Ayala Ave. Cor Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Fluent in Japanese and has knowledge with semiconductor’s

KAWAKAMI, TAKUYA General Manager Brief Job Description: Manages the Philippine Branch, oversees support services to company clients

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

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

BUI THI HUE Chinese Speaking Digital Marketing Specialist 189.

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

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

SUHITAS PHARMACEUTICALS INC. Unit 1104 11/f, 139 Corporate Center, 139 Valero St., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: More than 30 years’ experience in pharmaceutical sourcing, contract manufacturing, handling third party manufacturing process

SUBRAMANIAM, MANIKANDAN Techno-commercial Consultant-global Sourcing 190.

Brief Job Description: Strategic sourcing of the existing and new finished formulations, food supplements, medical device, personal care, cosmetic products form N. America, Europe, India, China, and Bangladesh

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

VICCI BUSINESS CONSULTANCY CORP. 10/f Liberty Plaza, 102 H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Through extensive and fluency in Mandarin language and characters.

NANG SENG NOM MAI Customer Relation Representative (mandarin Translation) 191.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

SNG WAN HOE DERRICK Chinese/mandarin-language Customer Support Staff

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language).

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

CHRIS TANTO Asian Regional Customer Support Officer - Indonesian Accounts

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

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

SPRITZER TRADING CORP. 37/f Lkg Tower, 6801 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

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

VU ANH TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service

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

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills

Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

188.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

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

VO VAN HIEU Vietnamese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

VAN PHU PHUC Vietnamese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

PROTEGIC CORPORATION Unit 1409, 14f Entrata Urban, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills

VI THI HONG NHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service

TSAN HAI YEN Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

VU VAN PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

VI DINH XOAN Vietnamese Customer Service

A9

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

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

NGUYEN THE HUY Vietnamese Customer Service

PHAM HAI HA Vietnamese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday, May 6, 2022

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

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

ZX-PRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 16/f Robinsons Cybergate 3, Pioneer, Barangka Ilaya, City Of Mandaluyong KOID CHIN JUE Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 192.

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: May 5, 2022

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

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

The World BusinessMirror

A10 Friday, May 6, 2022

Russia uses ‘missile terrorism’ to spread fear across Ukraine

By Jon Gambrell & Cara Anna

L

The Associated Press

VIV, Ukraine—Complaining that the West is “stuffing Ukraine with weapons,” Russia bombarded railroad stations and other supply-line targets across the country, as the European Union moved to further punish Moscow for the war Wednesday by proposing a ban on oil imports.

Heavy fighting also raged at the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol that represented the last stronghold of Ukrainian resistance in the ruined southern port city, according to the mayor. A Russian official denied that Moscow’s troops were storming the plant, but the commander of the

main Ukrainian military unit inside said Russian troops had broken into the mill’s territory.

The Russian military also said it used sea- and air-launched missiles to destroy electric power facilities at five railway stations across Ukraine, while artillery and aircraft also struck

troop strongholds and fuel and ammunition depots.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of “resorting to the missile terrorism tactics in order to spread fear across Ukraine.”

Air raid sirens sounded in cities across the country on Wednesday night, and attacks were reported near Kyiv, the capital; in Cherkasy and Dnipro in central Ukraine; and in Zaporizhzhia in the southeast. In Dnipro, authorities said a rail facility was hit. Videos on social media suggested a bridge there was attacked.

There was no immediate word on casualties or the extent of the damage.

Responding to the strikes in his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “All of these crimes will be answered, legally and quite practically—on the battlefield.”

The flurry of attacks comes as Russia prepares to celebrate Victory Day on May 9, marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany. The world is watching for whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will use the occasion to declare a victory in Ukraine or expand what he calls the “special military operation.”

A declaration of all-out war would allow Putin to introduce martial law and mobilize reservists to make up for significant troop losses.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the speculation as “nonsense.”

Meanwhile, Belarus, which Russia used as a staging ground for its invasion, announced the start of military exercises Wednesday. A top Ukrainian official said the country will be ready to act if Belarus joins the fighting.

The attacks on rail infrastructure were meant to disrupt the delivery of Western weapons, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the West is “stuffing Ukraine with weapons.”

A senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pentagon’s assessment, said that while the Russians have tried to hit critical infrastructure around the western city of Lviv, specifically targeting railroads, there has been “no appreciable impact” on Ukraine’s effort to resupply its forces. Lviv, close to the Polish border, has been a major gateway for NATO-supplied weapons.

Weaponry pouring into Ukraine helped its forces thwart Russia’s initial drive to seize Kyiv and seems certain to play a central role in the growing battle for the Donbas, the eastern industrial region that Moscow now says is its main objective.

Ukraine has urged the West to ramp up the supply of weapons ahead of that potentially decisive clash. Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, which had been slow at first to help arm Ukraine, said his government is considering supplying howitzers, in addition to Gepard anti-aircraft guns and other equipment it has agreed to send.

The governor of the eastern Donetsk region, which lies in the Donbas, said Russian attacks left 21 people dead on Tuesday, the highest number of known fatalities since April 8, when a missile attack on the railway station in Kramatorsk killed at least 59.

In addition to supplying weapons to Ukraine, Europe and the US have sought to punish Moscow with sanctions. The EU’s top official called on the 27-nation bloc on Wednesday to ban Russian oil imports, a crucial source of revenue.

“We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion, in a way that allows us and our partners to secure alternative supply routes and minimizes the impact on global markets,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

The proposal needs unanimous approval from EU countries and is likely to be the subject of fierce debate. Hungary and Slovakia have already said they won’t take part in any oil sanctions. They could be granted an exemption.

The EU is also talking about a possible embargo on Russian natural gas.

The bloc has already approved a cutoff of coal imports.

Russia’s economy is heavily dependent on oil and natural gas exports.

Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, said European purchases of Russian energy produce billions in revenue and support the Kremlin’s “war machine.”

Von der Leyen also proposed that Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, and two other major banks be disconnected from the SWIFT international banking payment system.

In Mariupol, Mayor Vadym Boychenko said that Russian forces were targeting the already shattered Azovstal plant with heavy artillery, tanks, aircraft, warships and “heavy bombs that pierce concrete 3 to 5 meters thick.”

“Our brave guys are defending this fortress, but it is very difficult,” he said.

Ukrainian fighters said Tuesday that Russian forces had begun storming the plant. But the Kremlin said that was not true. “There is no assault,” Peskov said.

Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Ukrainian Azov regiment that’s defending the plant, said Russian forces have broken into the plant’s territory.

Prokopenko said in a video that the incursions continued for a second day, “and there are heavy, bloody battles.”

“The situation is extremely difficult, but in spite of everything, we continue to carry out the order to hold the defense,” he added.

His wife, Kateryna Prokopenko, told The Associated Press: “We don’t want them to die. They won’t surrender. They are waiting for the bravest countries to evacuate them.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations announced that more than 300 civilians were evacuated Wednesday from Mariupol and other nearby communities.

The evacuees arrived in Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) to the northwest, where they were receiving humanitarian assistance.

“Many came with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, and we will now support them during this difficult time, including with muchneeded psychological support,” said Osnat Lubrani, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine.

Over the weekend, more than 100 people—including women, the elderly and 17 children—were evacuated from the plant during a cease-fire in an operation overseen by the UN and the Red Cross. But the attacks on the plant soon resumed.

The Russian government said on the Telegram messaging app that it would open another evacuation corridor from the plant during certain hours on Thursday through Saturday.

But there was no immediate confirmation of those arrangements from other parties, and many previous such assurances from the Kremlin have fallen through, with the Ukrainians blaming continued fighting by the Russians.

It was unclear how many Ukrainian fighters were still inside, but the Russians put the number at about 2,000 in recent weeks, and 500 were reported to be wounded. A few hundred civilians also remained there, the Ukrainian side said.

Anna reported from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists Yesica Fisch in Zaporizhzhia, Inna Varenytsia and David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and AP staff around the world contributed to this report.

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

Fed raises key rate by a half point in bid to tame inflation

W

ASHINGTON—The Federal Reserve intensified its fight against the worst inflation in 40 years by raising its benchmark interest rate by a half-percentage point Wednesday—its most aggressive move since 2000—and signaling further large rate hikes to come.

The increase in the Fed’s key short-term rate raised it to a range of 0.75 percent to 1 percent, the highest point since the pandemic struck two years ago.

The Fed also announced that it will start reducing its huge $9 trillion balance sheet, made up mainly of Treasury and mortgage bonds. Reducing those holdings will have the effect of further raising borrowing costs throughout the economy.

Speaking at a news conference after the Fed’s latest meeting, Chair Jerome Powell took the unusual step of saying the central bank’s officials understood the financial pain that high inflation is causing ordinary Americans. But Powell stressed that the Fed is sharply raising rates for that very reason—to rein in high inflation, sustain the economy’s health and ease the stress that millions of households are facing.

“Inflation is much too high,” he said, “and we understand the hardship it is causing.”

With prices for food, energy and consumer goods accelerating, the Fed’s goal is to cool spending—and economic growth—by making it more expensive for individuals and businesses to borrow. The central bank hopes that higher costs for mortgages, credit cards and auto loans will slow spending enough to tame inflation yet not so much as to cause a recession.

It will be a delicate balancing act. The Fed has endured widespread criticism that it was too slow to start tightening credit, and many economists are skeptical that it can avoid causing a recession.

At his news conference, Powell said he was confident that the economy is resilient enough to withstand higher borrowing rates.

Job openings are at a record high. There are two available jobs, on average, for each unemployed person. Wages are rising at a historically rapid pace, and businesses are continuing to invest in equipment and software.

“I see a strong economy,” he said.

“Nothing about it says it’s close to or vulnerable to a recession.”

Powell also made clear that further large rate hikes are coming. He said that additional half-point increases in the Fed’s key rate “should be on the table in the next couple of meetings” in June and July.

But he also sought to downplay any speculation that the Fed might be considering a rate hike as high as threequarters of a percentage point.

“A (three-quarters of a point) hike is not something that the committee is actively considering,” he said—a remark that caused stock indexes to jump. Before he spoke, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up only modestly. By the close of trading, the Dow had soared 930 points, or 2.8 percent—its best single-day gain since May 2020.

In their statement, the central bank’s policymakers noted that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is worsening inflation pressures by raising oil and food prices. It added that “Covid-related lockdowns in China are likely to exacerbate supply chain disruptions,” which could further boost prices.

Inflation, according to the Fed’s preferred gauge, reached 6.6 percent last month, the highest in four decades. It

has been accelerated by a combination of robust consumer spending, chronic supply bottlenecks and sharply higher gas and food prices.

Starting June 1, the Fed said it would allow up to $48 billion in bonds to mature without replacing them for three months, then shift to $95 billion by September. At September’s pace, its balance sheet would shrink by about $1 trillion a year. The balance sheet more than doubled after the pandemic recession hit as the Fed bought trillions in bonds to try to hold down long-term borrowing rates.

At the news conference, Powell said the Fed wants to “expeditiously” raise its key rate to a level that neither stimulates nor restrains economic growth, which the Fed has said is about 2.4 percent. The central bank’s policymakers have suggested that they will reach that point by year’s end.

Once the rate reaches that level, Powell said that “if we do believe that it’s appropriate” to raise their short-term rate further, to a level that would restrict growth, “we won’t hesitate.”

Economists warn that some of the factors fueling inflation—notably, shortages of supplies and workers—are outside the Fed’s ability to solve.

“The Fed can’t fix supply-side challenges with higher interest rates,’’ said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors. “Fed tightening doesn’t re-open Chinese factories, increase grain shipments from Ukraine, re-position container ships to where they are needed or hire truckers to move goods.’’

Powell said, however, that he thinks the Fed can cool booming demand and thereby help slow inflation.

The Fed’s credit tightening is already having some effect on the economy. Sales of existing homes sank 2.7 percent from February to March, reflecting a surge in mortgage rates related, in part, to the Fed’s planned rate hikes. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has jumped 2 percentage points just since the start of the year, to 5.1 percent.

Powell has pointed to the widespread availability of jobs as evidence that the labor market is tight “to an unhealthy level” and that fuels inflation. The Fed chair is betting that higher rates can reduce those openings, which would presumably slow wage increases and ease inflationary pressures, without triggering mass layoffs.

For now, with hiring robust—the economy has added at least 400,000 jobs for 11 straight months—and employers grappling with labor shortages, wages are rising at a roughly 5 percent annual pace. Those pay raises are driving steady consumer spending despite spiking prices.

In March, consumers increased their spending 0.2 percent even after adjusting for inflation.

Financial markets are pricing in a Fed rate as high as 3.6 percent by mid-2023, which would be the highest in 15 years.

Shrinking the Fed’s balance sheet will add another layer of uncertainty surrounding how much the Fed’s actions may weaken the economy.

Complicating the Fed’s task is a slowdown in global growth. Covid-19 lockdowns in China are threatening to cause a recession in the world’s secondlargest economy. And the European Union is facing higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AP

Hong Kong reopens beaches, Beijing relaxes quarantine rules

B

EIJING—Hong Kong on Thursday reopened beaches and pools in a relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, while China’s capital Beijing began easing quarantine rules for arrivals from overseas.

Hong Kong had closed water sports venues amid an outbreak of the highly transmissible omicron variant but has been tailing off restrictions as new case numbers fall. Deaths from Covid-19 have fallen from a high of almost 300 per day in March to zero in recent days.

Restaurants are also allowed to seat up to eight customers to a table and masks will not be required during outdoor exercise.

A further round of easing is scheduled to begin May 19, when bars and clubs will be allowed to reopen and restaurants in the southern Chinese city will be permitted to serve customers until midnight.

China has maintained its hardline “zero-Covid” approach but has imposed less onerous restrictions on the capital than in other cities such as Shanghai, where millions were placed under strict lockdown.

Beijing will now require arrivals from

overseas to quarantine at a hotel for 10 days, followed by another week of home isolation.

Previous rules required 21 days of isolation, at least 14 of them at a hotel, followed by seven days of regular health reporting.

With only a handful of daily international flights into Beijing, the rule change is expected to have little practical effect.

Symbolically, however, it appears to show willingness to compromise with demands for a less intrusive and economically damaging policy.

Still, the capital is taking no chances and on Wednesday closed 60 subway stations, more than 10 percent of its vast system, to prevent the possibility of the virus spreading.

Restaurants and bars are limited to takeout, gyms are closed and classes are suspended for at least another week.

Major tourist sites in the city, including the Forbidden City and the Beijing Zoo, have closed their indoor exhibition halls and are operating at only partial capacity. AP

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The World BusinessMirror

Wheat jumps as India weighs export curbs on shriveled crops

W

heat extended its biggest daily gain in more than three weeks as India, one of the few countries with the potential to ease a global shortage, considers restricting exports after extreme heat shriveled the local harvest.

Top officials are discussing the move and will recommend it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will then make the decision, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Still, there’s no need to curb exports for now as the country has enough supply to meet domestic demand, Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said at a briefing on Wednesday.

A reduction in the crop lowers the potential for exports. As recently as the middle of April, Piyush Goyal, the food and commerce minister, said shipments could reach an alltime high of 15 million tons in the year that began in April, more than double the previous year. Traders have already contracted to ship 4 million tons in 2022-23, according to the food ministry.

“India had one of the few remaining significant stocks of wheat available to replace Ukrainian, and possibly Russian, supplies,” said Scott Irwin, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois. The jump in prices is all you need to know about the importance of this possible move, he said.

The food ministry on Wednesday slashed its estimate for wheat output this season to 105 million tons after the country experienced its hottest March on record. That’s down from a record 111 million tons forecast previously and 109.6 million tons a year earlier. The nation is the thirdbiggest grower behind China and the European Union, according to US government estimates.

Global grain trading has been upended after Russia’s invasion choked off most exports from Ukraine, a critical supplier of staples like wheat, corn and sunflower oil. India, which traditionally hasn’t been a major exporter as high government crop prices kept its grain at home, has shipped out more on demand from big importers. Major buyers including Egypt have recently approved access for Indian wheat.

The grain flow disruptions, combined with a fertilizer shortage and bad weather in key crop regions, are raising the threat of severe food shortages. Rising crop prices have already sent global food costs soaring to a record, adding to inflationary pressures and raising hunger levels around the world.

Chicago wheat futures for July delivery climbed as much as 1.6 percent to $10.9325 a bushel, after surging 3 percent a day earlier, the most since April 8. Bloomberg News

Debate heats up over China’s interest in Australian election

C

ANBERRA, Australia—Australia’s defense policy debate heated up when the defense minister said there was evidence that the Chinese Communist Party wanted Australia’s government to change at the May 21 election because a centerleft Labor Party administration would attempt to appease Beijing.

Defense Minister Peter Dutton said Thursday the evidence included communication on the Chinese social media platform WeChat and how editors of Chinese-language newspapers in Australia had been pressured.

There were also “other elements, obviously, that I can’t go into publicly,” Dutton said in an apparent reference to classified security briefings.

Dutton made his allegation of a Chinese preference for Labor in answer to a reporter’s question during a defense policy debate at the National Press Club with opposition defense spokesperson Brendan O’Connor.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the Chinese Communist Party would like to see a change of government at the May 21 election. No question at all,” Dutton said.

O’Connor said he did not agree with what he described as Dutton’s “conspiracy theory.”

“It’s not in this country’s interest

for a political party to attack the other major political party on the basis of appeasing China—particularly when it’s untrue,” O’Connor said.

The Chinese Embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

A year after the conservative government was first elected in 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Australia and addressed Parliament.

Bilateral relations have dramatically soured since then. Chinese government ministers won’t talk to their Australian counterparts and China has imposed a series of formal and informal trade sanctions on Australian exports.

Dutton said Sen. Penny Wong, who would become Labor’s foreign minister, would want to wind back the past nine years of Australia’s conservative government actions toward China.

“Penny Wong believes that she can go to Beijing on a charm offensive and she could change the direction of China under President Xi,” Dutton said.

Wong’s office declined to comment on Thursday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s conservative Liberal Party-led coalition has been campaigning as lawmakers most likely to stand up against Chinese coercion. AP

UN: Record number of people without enough to eat in 2021

R

OME—The United Nations said Wednesday that the number of people without enough to eat on a daily basis reached all-time high last year and is poised to hit “appalling” new levels as the Ukraine war affects global food production.

Almost 193 million people in 53 countries suffered acute food insecurity in 2021 due to what the UN said was a “toxic triple combination” of conflict, weather extremes and the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The UN said the total number of people without adequate food every day increased by 40 million last year, confirming a “worrisome trend” of annual increases over several years.

The figures appeared in the Global Report on Food Crisis, which is produced jointly by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Program and the European Union.

Countries experiencing protracted conflicts, including Afghanistan, Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, had the most food-insecure populations, according to the report.

The report forecasts that Somalia will face one of the world’s worst food crises in 2022 due to prolonged drought, increasing food prices and persistent violence. The various factors could lead 6 million Somalis into acute food crisis, the UN said.

“Today, if more is not done to support rural communities, the scale of the devastation in terms of hunger and lost livelihoods will be appalling,” the UN said. “Urgent humanitarian action is needed on a massive scale to prevent that from happening.”

The war in Ukraine poses further risks for Somalia and many other African countries that reply on Ukraine and Russia for wheat, fertilizer and other food supplies.

WFP’s Chief Economist Arif Husain said the UN food agency projects that an additional 47 million people will become food insecure “in crisis or worse situation” because of the war in Ukraine as a result of higher food and fuel prices and inflation.

Even before the war, people were dealing with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and reduced incomes, and food prices were at a 10-year high and fuel prices were at a seven-year high, he told reporters at UN headquarters in New York at a virtual press conference launching the report.

Covid continues to decline, except in Americas, Africa

G

ENEVA—The World Health Organization said Wednesday that the number of newly reported coronavirus cases and deaths globally continued to fall in the last week, continuing a decline that first began in March.

In its weekly report on the pandemic, the UN health agency said there were about 3.8 million new infections and more than 15,000 deaths last week, a 17 percent and 3 percent drop on the week respectively. But those figures are believed to be a significant underestimate of Covid-19’s true toll as increasing numbers of countries abandon widespread testing and surveillance.

Still, the WHO noted that cases rose by about a third in Africa and 13 percent in the Americas. There was also a nearly 70 percent jump in deaths reported in India, although that was attributed to delayed reporting rather than a recent surge of disease.

Last week, authorities in South Africa said they had noted an uptick in Covid-19 cases attributable to the BA.4 mutant of Omicron, although they said it was too early to tell if that would result in a significant new wave of disease.

Although the BA.4 version of Covid-19’s Omicron variant appears more infectious than Omicron, the WHO said there was no evidence yet that it was leading to substantially higher rates of hospitalization or death.

Salim Abdool Karim, a public health expert at the University of KwaZuluNatal, said that while only a “modest” rise in cases had been noted, South Africa was also in the middle of a holiday period and testing had dropped significantly. He said the cases were slowing and were “not following a rocket-like upward trajectory we would expect” in another spike of disease.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael

Friday, May 6, 2022 A11

Ryan said it was too soon to tell if Covid-19 was entering a seasonal pattern and warned against countries dropping all of their restrictions too quickly—as many in the West have done.

“The jury is still out as to how seasonal this virus will become,” he said, explaining that it wasn’t proven yet that Covid-19 would naturally drop off in the summer and that the world could yet face more unsettling variants. “If people are crowded together in conditions where a new variant is spreading, you will see high levels of transmission,” he said.

Meanwhile in China, authorities continued to crack down on cities including Beijing, where more than 10 percent of the subway system was shut down in an effort to curb the virus’ spread, after authorities in the capital already closed down indoor dining, gyms and school classes. AP

“This crisis is potentially more fuel on a fire which was already lit and burning up,” Husain said.

The United Nations previously said the war was helping to send prices for commodities such as grains and vegetable oils to record highs, threatening millions with hunger and malnourishment.

“When we look at the consequences of what’s happening as a result of the war in Ukraine, there is real cause for concern of how this will amplify the acute food needs that exist in these food crisis countries,” said Rein Paulsen, director of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s office of emergencies and resilience.

He told the virtual UN briefing that the percentage of the population analyzed in the report that are in acute food insecurity has gone up from just over 11 percent in 2016 to just over 22 percent in 2021.

At the same time, Paulsen said, funding to help them has dropped, which is a huge concern. In 2021 $8.1 billion was available for emergency work, a 25 percent drop from 2017, he said.

The report called for greater investment in agriculture and appealed for

$1.5 billion to help farmers in at-risk regions with the upcoming planting season to help stabilize and increase local food production.

WFP’s Husain said his message to rich nations in the G-7 and G-20 is that food insecurity and hunger around the world are “exploding” and “if we don’t address these issues we end up paying frankly thousand times more just a few years down the road.” He said the world has seen this happen with the Syrian war and outpouring to Europe, with Afghanistan, and with Central Americans and Haitians trying to enter the US. FAO’s Paulsen said his message to donor nations is: “We need to put the same energy collectively that we put into addressing the Covid-19 pandemic into addressing acute hunger....

It’s about political will and focus.” AP

A12 Friday, May 6, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

‘We have the power to prevent disasters’

R

isk creation is outstripping risk reduction in the world. Humanity’s broken risk perception is reversing global progress in a “spiral of self-destruction”, according to a new United Nations report.

The Global Assessment Report 2022 (GAR2022), released last week by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, said that between 350 and 500 medium- to large-scale disasters took place every year over the past two decades.

If current trends continue, the number of disaster events is projected to reach 560 a year – or 1.5 disasters a day – by 2030.

The GAR2022 said a broken perception of risk based on “optimism, underestimation and invincibility,” led to policy, finance and development decisions that could exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. These decisions will put more people in danger because we will be hit harder in the coming years by even more catastrophes.

“The world needs to do more to incorporate disaster risk in how we live, build and invest, which is setting humanity on a spiral of self-destruction,” said Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, who presented the report at the UN headquarters in New York. “We must turn our collective complacency to action. Together we can slow the rate of preventable disasters as we work to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals for everyone, everywhere.”

The report, dubbed “Our World at Risk: Transforming Governance for a Resilient Future,” found that the implementation of disaster risk reduction strategies, as called for in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, had reduced both the number of people impacted and killed by disasters in the last decade. However, the scale and intensity of disasters are increasing, with more people killed or affected by disasters in the last five years than in the previous five.

“Disasters can be prevented, but only if countries invest the time and resources to understand and reduce their risks,” said Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR. “By deliberately ignoring risk and failing to integrate it in decision making, the world is effectively bankrolling its own destruction. Critical sectors, from government to development and financial services, must urgently rethink how they perceive and address disaster risk.”

Disasters disproportionately impact developing countries, which lose an average of one percent of GDP a year to disasters, compared to 0.1-0.3 percent in developed countries, the report said. The highest cost is borne by the Asia-Pacific region, which loses an average 1.6 percent of GDP to disasters every year, while the poorest also suffer the most within developing countries.

Climate change has a huge footprint in the growing number of global disasters, the UN report said. It called for the acceleration of adaptation efforts made at COP26 by showcasing how policymakers can climate-proof development and investments. This includes reforming national budget planning to consider risk and uncertainty, while also reconfiguring legal and financial systems to incentivize risk reduction.

Adding to the long-term impacts of disasters is the lack of insurance to aid in recovery efforts to build back better. Since 1980, just 40 percent of disaster-related losses were insured while insurance coverage rates in developing countries were often below 10 percent, and sometimes close to zero, the report said.

GAR2022 was drafted by a group of experts from around the world as a reflection of the various areas of expertise required to understand and reduce complex risks. “This report should be a wake-up call that countries need to accelerate action across the Framework’s four priorities to stop the spiral of increasing disasters,” said Mizutori. “The good news is that human decisions are the largest contributors to disaster risk, so we have the power to substantially reduce the threats posed to humanity, and especially the most vulnerable among us.”

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

05 06 2022

World Happiness Report 2022 Sonny M. Angara

Better Days

I

N 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to undertake steps that give more importance to people’s happiness and well being in determining how to achieve and measure social and economic development.

The resolution was mainly introduced by the Kingdom of Bhutan that has already adopted for years at that point the concept of “Gross National Happiness” for measuring national progress in lieu of conventional measures of economic activity such as gross domestic product (GDP), or gross national product (GNP).

Since then, many thinkers, including renowned economists Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen, and Jeffrey Sachs, have lent their expertise to the effort of mainstreaming this alternative model for measuring and monitoring human development.

Some states other than the Kingdom of Bhutan, such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates have already started incorporating “happiness” metrics into their policies through surveys and data monitoring that track people’s life satisfaction.

Through the years, the World

Dr. Alvin P. Ang

Founder

Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Senior Editors

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

Online Editor

Ruben M. Cruz Jr.

Creative Director Chief Photographer Chairman of the Board President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

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

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

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

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

EAGLE WATCH

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez

per capita, 82nd in terms of social support (or having someone to count on in times of trouble), 98th for healthy life expectancy (based on extrapolations from World Health Organization data), 18th for freedom to make life choices (whether or not one is satisfied with the freedom they have to choose what to do with their lives), 105th in terms of generosity (whether one has donated to charity in the past month), and 84th perception of corruption (whether it is widespread in government and businesses).

What is more interesting about this year’s report, however, is its inclusion of new data from the World Gallup Poll on balance and harmony—particularly on how these two distinct, yet closely linked concepts impact people’s happiness and their evaluation of their lives. The Philippines ranked 91st when it came to ex-

Rough and tough road ahead

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Publisher

Happiness Report has been instrumental in helping along this paradigm shift of incorporating people’s subjective experiences of well being in economic and development policy thinking.

Last March, the 10th iteration of the report was released. And it showed that based on World Gallup Poll data covering 146 countries from 2019 to 2021, the Philippines ranked 60th overall—a marked improvement from our 72nd rank based on 2014 to 2016 data. The 2022 ranking makes us the 6th happiest country across the Asia-Pacific region, and 2nd throughout Southeast Asia, next only to Singapore.

Such rankings were then crossreferenced to six other factors or determinants that the study used to explain the international differences of how respondents rated and evaluated their satisfaction with their lives. We were 96th in terms of GDP

Last March, the 10th iteration of the report was released. And it showed that based on World Gallup Poll data covering 146 countries from 2019 to 2021, the Philippines ranked 60th overall—a marked improvement from our 72nd rank based on 2014 to 2016 data. The 2022 ranking makes us the 6th happiest country across the Asia-Pacific region, and 2nd throughout Southeast Asia, next only to Singapore.

O

N Monday, Filipinos will elect a new administration to lead them for the next six years. This is not just another election. It is a choice of who will take us through the rough and tough road ahead. If the country is a bus going up the hill of progress and development, there are potholes, rivers overflowing, and, worse, huge storms down the horizon.

Let us identify the storms ahead.

They represent the external sector and the global environment. With developed economies adapting to the pandemic, many find themselves experiencing the aftereffect of long port congestions and supply chain disruptions leading to delays in the movement of output. These have caused inflation to accelerate by double than the averages in many developing countries. Inflation in the US and UK is about 8 percent— the highest in 40 years. As textbook theory predicts, central banks must tighten monetary policy by increasing interest rates to counter inflation. With interest rates pushed to almost zero at the height of Covid, rates are now expected to increase

by 2 percent.

At the same time, higher prices are exerting upward pressure on wages.

The BSP has no recourse but to eventually follow suit. Higher interest rates in the country will affect the recovery efforts of many small and medium enterprises that will have to pay more for loans.

Likewise, the difference in interest rates across countries has a pushpull effect on the movement of excess investible funds. If US interest rates continue to increase, it will attract funds back to the US markets and lead to US dollars exiting the Philippine markets, thereby weakening the peso. This large storm will significantly affect our trade, which depends heavily on imports. Most

likely, we will also import inflation.

This scenario has not yet factored in the effect of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which will contribute to higher oil prices.

The US has already reflected the impact of these events by reporting a 1.5-percent contraction instead of an expected 1-percent growth. The restarting American economy is overwhelmed by supply shortages, high prices, high wages, and pressure created by oil price increases such that any expansion out of the pandemic is simply negated by higher prices.

This storm, unfortunately, will stay for a while since the inflation pressures of the world are sustained by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the zero-Covid policy of China, which is delaying factory output.

It is a huge, interconnected storm, and we are headed directly into it.

We have already felt the headwinds of higher oil prices and the translation into higher inflation. By June, the BSP will likely increase interest rates. The peso is currently trading at 10 percent weaker than it was a year ago. With the country depending on imports, including food, we are certainly passing higher prices into our economy.

What about the floods and the potholes ahead? They are the limited resources available to face the storm head-on. With a huge debt overhang

periences of peace (“In general, do you feel at peace with your life, or not”?), which probably aligns with the notion that many Filipinos today endure much hardship and anxiety. Ironically, however, when it came to whether people experienced calmness “during a lot of the day yesterday,” the Philippines emerged third in the world only behind Jamaica and Vietnam. Then when respondents were asked whether people should focus more on taking care of themselves or on taking care of others, Filipinos were the top nationality across the world to say that they preferred people taking care of themselves.

While interesting and insightful, these findings alone only lead to more questions, which academics, researchers, and especially public servants like myself should try to answer. Clearly, there is a lot to unpack here. And doing so will definitely help not just in understanding at a larger scale the inner lives of our countrymen, but also ensuring that policies and programs that have been (and will be) rolled out truly bring them happiness and improve their well-being. The next administration, whoever it will be, should pay heed.

Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 15 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 6 as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 250 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.

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

created to protect human resources and small businesses at the height of Covid-19, the country must creatively navigate through the effects of the storms. More promises of spending are simply difficult because of the lack of resources and limited revenue generation.

Then, there are the literal storms brought about by climate change, which exposes the weak governance capacities by the bureaucracy at the national and local levels. We cannot keep borrowing money and increasing the budget if the resources are not efficiently and effectively used.

Many people forget that the most important resource the government has is the bureaucracy, not the elected leaders. The bureaucracy is the face of government, whoever wins.

Hence, it needs to work efficiently for everyone. Many in the bureaucracy, it seems, are uninspired and are also just skating by. Governance and information dissemination are important channels for collective and connected actions to work with the people.

In the next few days, we shall decide who will steer our bus. The challenges ahead cannot be addressed by vague generalities. There is a need for specific programs, grasp of issues, identification with affected populations, admission of what can See “Eagle Watch,” A13

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Opinion

‘The audacity of hope’

Blaming my generation

BusinessMirror

Manny F. Dooc

Tito Genova Valiente

TELLTALES

annotations

oon the circus will leave town and the most entertaining spectacle that visits us every three years will be gone. Nothing but the memories of the tumultuous campaign and the vivid colors—red, pink, blue, and green—that permeated our political landscape will remain. But the jokers and the clown will still be with us and continue to pester our political life. Whatever the outcome, the 2022 presidential election will stand out as the first presidential campaign when the spirit of self-help and volunteerism has reached its pinnacle.

Y the time I write my column next week, there should be a new president. That person could resume the dark, evil days of martial rule in which my generation spent as a 19 or 20-yearold citizen, or one that would promise, at the very least, a hope for a new beginning.

S

This movement has characterized VP Leni Robredo’s electoral efforts, which have drawn massive support from all sectors. Lacking big individual and corporate sponsors, the private sector and civil society have formed the backbone of VP Leni’s political organization that deployed their own resources and logistics to support VP Leni’s bid. Compared to BBM, VP Leni does not enjoy the endorsement of prominent and big-name political and business leaders. No marquee names in politics in the category of former President Erap Estrada, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, including President Rodrigo R. Duterte who pitches for his daughter, the PDPLaban and other personally favored candidates, have surfaced to promote her candidacy. The Villars, Enriles, Garcias of Cebu, Remullas of Cavite, Dys-Albanos of Isabela, Zubiris of Bukidnon, Mandanas of Batangas, Ortegas of La Union, Singsons of Ilocos Sur, and most political kingpins in the regions have lined up to join her principal opponent’s camp. It’s only recently when prominent local political leaders have declared their support to boost VP Leni’s campaign. Notable among them are Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao, Rep. Joey Salceda, Rep. Elpi Barzaga, Governor Ben Evardone, Gov. Daniel Fernando, Rep. Mujiv Hataman, Rep. Toto Mangudadatu, Rep. Johnny Pimentel and other bigwigs in local politics. VP Leni’s core support are volunteers consisting of youth groups, cooperatives and NGOs, professional groups such as the doctors, lawyers, teachers, health workers, students, faculty and alumni groups, farmers and fisherfolks, actors and artists, priests and other religious groups and many others, which form her grand coalition. They organize rallies and caravans, conduct house-to-house campaigns, prepare campaign materials, print tarpaulins and posters, cook food for rally participants, perform and speak at meetings, provide transportation and many other invaluable contributions without costs to VP Leni’s campaign. Recently, the Ikaw Muna Pilipinas, Makabayan bloc, BARMM and the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, the political arm of the MILF, have boosted her machinery.

VP Leni’s partisans don’t seem to mind what others claim to be a clear writing on the wall. Bongbong Marcos has taken the lead from the start of the game. It’s now the last quarter and Marcos, Jr.’s numbers appear insurmountable. He has not given up the pole position and his lead has not even narrowed down. Short of a major debacle, BBM is set to win the race hands down if the survey holds true. But amazingly, VP Leni and her supporters have not given up the ghost. They continue to comb every town and cities, including the hinterlands. Her indefatigable campaigners crisscross the country hoping to convert every unbeliever to VP Leni’s cause. They endure the hecklers and the hostile crowds. They ask the voters for their votes knowing that every voter wants to be asked. Performers at the rallies volunteer their services for free and are willing to go to far-flung places to generate a big crowd and talk to more people.

Her social media team is working double-time to reach more people and convince them that VP Leni is the best “man” for the job. The “Angat Lahat” Team knows that they

How do we explain this phenomenon in 2022? What could have brought their unparalleled optimism, their unsurpassed determination, and their unequal self-reliance? I cannot answer and describe it. The movement has taken a life of its own. are playing catch up. In fact, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez who is endorsing VP Leni has admonished her supporters “to double their efforts” if they want to win this coming election, and reminded them that time is fast running out. VP Leni and her team should be able to convert their mammoth rallies into votes on May 9. Easily they can bring in hundreds of thousands of participants to their political meetings. These are not the ordinary “hakot” crowds who showed up at the rally in exchange for a fee or consideration. The “kakampinks” brave the heat and the rain to demonstrate their allegiance to VP Leni. They even prepare their own placards, buy their own T-shirts, and prepare their own food, which they even gladly share with others.

It’s all done in the true spirit of volunteerism—all for VP Leni. It’s not only an electoral effort but it has become a movement. We had seen it last during the Cory campaign when the fearless lady challenged the Marcos dictatorship during the 1986 snap presidential election. But that was an interesting time in our history when extraordinary circumstances warranted unusual responses.

How do we explain this phenomenon in 2022? What could have brought their unparalleled optimism, their unsurpassed determination, and their unequal self-reliance? I cannot answer and describe it. The movement has taken a life of its own.

I hope this will not be unique only during this presidential election. It’s definitely a positive development that demonstrates our growing political maturity. This may result in less reliance on money and personality politics, which has bedeviled our electoral process. We may see the birth of a new politics based on principles and issues where a poor but competent, courageous and honest candidate can win an elective post. Win or lose, this will be VP Leni’s legacy. It’s the “audacity of hope,” if I may borrow from the title of a NY bestseller book written

by US President Obama before he was elected president. Let me lift a passage from his book to describe VP Leni’s movement: “The audacity of hope. That was the best American spirit, I thought —having the audacity to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary that we could restore a sense of community to a nation torn by conflict; the gall to believe that despite personal setbacks, the loss of a job or an illness in the family or a childhood mired in poverty, we had some control…over our own fate. It was that audacity…that joined us as one people. It was that pervasive spirit of hope that tied my own family’s story to the larger American story, and my own story to those of the voters I sought to represent.”

VP Leni’s audacity connects her to the Filipino voters and it will be her passport to Malacañang.

We should give due credit to VP Leni and her campaign team for their indomitable courage and undiminished hope to achieve victory despite tremendous odds.

Friday, May 6, 2022 A13

B

In September 1972, I joined a generation that was either coming out of high school or spending a few months in college. That generation spent the elementary years when the country was one of the more comfortable economies in Asia. One dollar was equivalent to two pesos.

Converting the currency was easy: a comics or a chocolate in dollar was simply multiplied by two.

By the time we reached high school, the president was threatening the youth. Activism was on the rise in schools and young minds were seen as impressionable enough to embrace ideologies that would run counter to the developmental track engineered by a man who would later transform himself into a dictator.

The ’70s was called the angry decade. Anger, of course, implied an unthinking state, what Buddha describes as similar to grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else, and where you are the one who gets burned.

What we had was not anger; what we had was rage. This was the energy that pushed young men and women to search for a new path to progress. But rage was not enough.

Rage worked in a space that was untrammeled. The government saw that space, which was meant for the generation that was young then. The oppression began. The killing rose.

Rage must be murdered.

Martial Law came, enforced at the behest of a world perceived to be losing its grip on reality. But that reality was created by a government aimed at disfiguring notions of freedom and choice in favor of an authority

disguised as a benign force leading to nationhood.

The population increased as poverty increased. My generation began to share territory with another generation, the latter losing memories of other presidents. It mattered very much that leadership had to change.

Eternity is only for the divine. And yet my generation matured with only one top leader overseeing what we did not realize to be a slow decay of this country. He proclaimed himself the father of this New Society and he possessed a name, a brand that would be shared by his kin—all mutant tyrants, all aberrations of the political, mere shadows of the sovereign.

I am in my city now, where I saw the force of dictatorship. That force permutated—some as explicit as in the jailing of those who dared criticize the dictator or any member of his family. The same force manifested itself subtly in a daily life guided by shallow slogans. Martial music was played everywhere, its melody and rhythm ironically similar to those that guided the movement of the youth brave enough to battle it out with the establishment.

In my neighborhood, there was a family whose father was a PC, an abbreviation for Philippine Constabulary. We really did not understand his work. He was not a policeman but he would come out smart in his khaki uniform. A gentleman. When Martial Rule came to the land, he was a feared man. He stood for the might of a State that brook no reason and listened to no pleas for mercy.

By the mid- and late-70s, those of us educated began to graduate. We

looked for employment. The good ones landed in various government corporations. We had stories to tell in whisper when we came home late at night, how our office was being used by the State. The more colorful ones were about those organizations that were used by the First Lady. From the Department of Education that fielded their teachers to dance along Roxas Blvd. when dignitaries visited the country to technocrats depicting the abridged history of the Filipino people in tableaux vivant. I belonged to an office that prepared sandwiches for the “performers,” which included young boys and girls waving little flags of whatever country the visitor was representing. The Woman learned this from her visit to China.

She was also replicating the grandeur she witnessed when she was sent by her husband in 1971 to Persepolis for Iran’s celebration of the 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire.

Deep into dictatorship this would be the trend: Imelda sailing on, her voice getting deeper and deeper to simulate intellectualism, which no one in the Cabinet dared question, while Marcos stayed in the country, exhibiting already the anxiety of leaving the Palace for that was tantamount to vacating the throne while three or four of his sycophants salivated at the thought of usurpation.

Then 1986 came. I was there at

Edsa. With my generation. The generations that survived the conjugal and familial dictatorship found themselves running the private and public institutions. We were forming the opinions of the cities, towns and barangays.

Presently, it is my generation and that which followed us that should be teaching or imparting the dreadful lessons of the ’70s and ’80s. We have so much to give having come from the honor of facing three options: to fight the government and go to the hinterlands; to disappear and be accepted as having died; or to live and work in offices and communities that thrived under false statistics and be afraid to speak ill of the government.

The same generations now alive are wondering why there are Filipinos dreaming of the dictatorship as the Golden Age. Where did our knowledge go? What happened to our memories? Possessed of answers, we are left to asking questions if only to save our face and the happiness that we felt was stolen from us by the dictatorship. The youth could look to us but we have no answers why the son of the dictator and his family are back, not with a vengeance, for they have no right to possess that. My generation has opted to be dumb. We elected not to talk. We have chosen not to remember.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

An appeal before the election: Flick your brains before voting

By Dr. Luis F. Dumlao

T

he “PiTiK” test captures presyo (prices), trabaho (jobs), and kita (incomes). Historically, in terms of P, the Philippines was at its worst under Marcos, with inflation averaging over 16 percent per year, and extremes of 35 percent in the early 1970s and 50 percent before the Edsa People Power Revolution.

In terms of T, the Philippines was at its best during Marcos’s term, with the unemployment rate averaging 6 percent from 1970 to 1986. After 1986, the country suffered 24 years of nearly 10 percent unemployment rate under Cory Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Arroyo.

In terms of K, the Philippines was at its worst during Duterte’s term, with annual gross domestic product contracting by about 10 percent in 2020 due to the pandemic. However, the Philippines suffered its worst two-year contraction of nearly 7 percent in 1984 and 1985, marking the tail end of Marcos’s term.

The contraction was due to the debt crisis—which was self-inflicted!

However, the average annual GDP growth rate from 1971 to 1986 was 3.6 percent—slightly higher than the 3.4-percent average from 1987 to 1992 during Cory Aquino’s term.

Since the “PiTiK” test results are ambiguous, another test should, perhaps, be considered. The “UTaK” test uses utang (debt), trabaho (jobs), and kita (incomes) as its indicators. In terms of U, as measured by external debt (in 2018 prices), Marcos left of-

Eagle Watch. . . continued from A12

be done quickly and what can take some time. We need a clear platform

fice in 1986 with P3.7 trillion of debt.

Under Cory Aquino, it was reduced to P3.0 trillion in 1992. Over the next 10 years, external debt increased under Ramos, Estrada, and Arroyo. It stood at P5.7 trillion in 2003. For 12 years thereafter, the debt declined back to P3.7 trillion by the end of Benigno Aquino’s term. Combining with T and K above, the results of the “UTaK” test are just as ambiguous.

Now, suppose that the “PiTiK” and “UTaK” tests are combined such that the variables are examined side by side to reflect some interesting economic tradeoffs. This combined test is called “PiTiK-sa-UTaK.” In terms of P-U, suppose that prices are stable, but one cannot buy anything because of huge debt.

Alternatively, suppose that one is debt-free, but he cannot buy anything because prices are rising rapidly. During Marcos’s term, inflation was at its worst while external debt stood at P3.7 trillion.

In terms of P-T, suppose that prices are stable, but one is jobless.

Alternatively, suppose that one is employed, but prices are rising rapidly.

During Marcos’s term, T was at its explaining that one action can be done because there are people and resources that can be channeled for it, and that it knows how to optimize support within and outside the country. Populist slogans will

As “PiTiK-sa-UTaK” connotes, Filipinos should probably flick their brains before voting. Beyond economics, Filipinos should vote for someone who will uphold good governance, human rights, democratic principles, truth, and decency. best while P was at its worst.

In terms of P-K, suppose that prices are stable, but one does not have income. Alternatively, suppose that one has income, but it is virtually worthless because prices are rising rapidly. Benigno Aquino’s administration had the best of both worlds. Inflation was 13 percent less than that under Marcos; GDP growth was 3 percent higher than that under Marcos.

In terms of T-U, suppose that one is employed, but he works only to repay debt. Alternatively, suppose that one is debt-free but unemployed. The average annual unemployment rate from 1971 to 1986 under Marcos was lower than that under Benigno Aquino by 1.1 percent. Nevertheless, here is the crucial difference: External debt stood at P3.7 trillion by the end of Marcos’s term after the government borrowed, while it stood at P3.7 trillion by the end of Benigno Aquino’s term after the government paid off its debt!

In terms of T-K, suppose that one is employed, but his income is small. lead us nowhere; they could even throw the bus off the road. Hence, it matters that we carefully process each candidate’s platform, to decide if the plans and strategies can roll us forward on the rough and tough

Alternatively, suppose that wages are high, but one cannot find a job. Here is the crucial difference between Marcos and Benigno Aquino: Under Marcos, the unemployment rate was 1 percent lower, but the GDP growth rate was also 3 percent lower.

In terms of K-U, suppose that one has income, but it is not enough to pay off debt. Alternatively, suppose that one is debt-free but does not have income. The debt-to-GDP ratio during Marcos’s term was 85 percent. It was 23 percent during Benigno Aquino’s term. Every P100 borrowed was equivalent to P118 annual income by the end of Marcos’s term. Every P100 borrowed was equivalent to P435 annual income by the end of Benigno Aquino’s term. The latter used the borrowed money to grow the economy more.

Clearly, the economy has improved since the Marcos years—but not enough to quell voters’ discontent. There is still much work to do to spread the benefits of economic growth more widely across regions and sectors.

As “PiTiK-sa-UTaK” connotes, Filipinos should probably flick their brains before voting. Beyond economics, Filipinos should vote for someone who will uphold good governance, human rights, democratic principles, truth, and decency.

Dr. Luis F. Dumlao is Dean of the John Gokongwei School of Management at the Ateneo de Manila University.

road ahead.

God bless the Philippines!

Dr. Alvin P. Ang is a Senior Research Fellow at the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.

A14 Friday, May 6, 2022

75% of ₧428-B ‘Horizon 2’ of AFP upgrade completed

M

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

ORE than three fourths of the total 96 projects under the Horizon 2 or the second phase of the military’s modernization program have been completed, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reported on Thursday.

LORENZANA

Appearing at the government’s news briefing Laging Handa, the defense chief said the projects identified under the second phase with a total budget of P427.7 billion were achieved since their contracts have been signed.

“This Horizon 2 worth P427.7 billion is already on track, a lot was completed,” he said, adding, “96 projects were programmed and

trol vessels (OPVs) for the Philippine Navy would be signed before the Duterte administration leaves office on June 30.

The signing of the OPVs contract with Australian shipbuilder Austal was scuttled by the DND, as earlier disclosed by Lorenzana due to the contractor’s costing changes.

During the same briefing, the defense secretary described the

more than three fourths have been completed.”

Lorenzana said that the contracts for equipment that have not been delivered yet “have been signed and are on track for delivery even if we are no longer here.”

The Department of National Defense (DND) top brass, he said, is also hoping that the contract for the procurement of six offshore pa-

current situation in the West Philippine Sea as “calm” and “stable,” with China’s attack of a supply vessel with water cannon as the last reported incident in the area.

While Chinese vessels prowl the Kalayaan Island Group and the WPS, Lorenzana said China has not taken any new “territory” in the WPS since Duterte became the president.

He said the Philippines is conducting more patrols in the areas, and ships from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources are also present there.

The defense secretary said the United States of America and Japan also offered assistance to the Philippines over the WPS, but he told their officials during recent meetings that the country is managing the issue well with Beijing.

He said the country’s relations with the US remain strong as he does not see any need for a trilateral agreement among the three countries, including Japan.

Lorenzana said the US has separate defense treaties with Tokyo and Manila.

‘ADB MUST LEAD RECOVERY FOR COVID, WAR FALLOUT VICTIMS’

M

ANILA-BASED Asian Development Bank (A DB) should lead the recovery efforts of Asia-Pacific economies weighed down by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, according to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III. Dominguez made the call in his recent meeting in Tokyo, Japan with former Japanese Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tarō Asō and ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Finance said the ADB has the lowest lending costs, among multilateral development banks, owing to the “efficient management” under Asakawa.

Dominguez’s call comes after he urged the ADB last year to raise its capital so that it could expand its lending portfolio and effectiveness in the next five years as it supports the post-pandemic recovery of developing member countries.

In the same meeting , Dominguez also invited Asō, who is currently the Vice President of Japan’s Liberal Demo-

cratic Party (LDP), to visit the Philippines where Covid-19 cases are rapidly subsiding, and which now welcomes the entry of vaccinated visitors from other countries.

Discussion points at the meeting—which was also attended by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V and Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven—included the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict; and the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is the proposed free trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim economies.

The finance chief also expressed appreciation for the support provided by Japan and the ADB to the Duterte administration’s pandemic response and development initiatives like its infrastructure modernization program “Build, Build, Build.”

Dominguez said the assistance provided by Japan and the ADB along with World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank led to the acceleration of the Covid-19 vaccination drive and the eventual full reopening of the Philippine economy this year.

Bernadette D. Nicolas

Underemployment woes lend focus to low wage rates, poor standards of living–experts

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

B

ESIDES rendering millions of Pinoys jobless, the count r y ’s u nderemploy ment woes worsened due to the pandemic, highlighting the need to reconsider wage rates and standards of living, according to economists from the De La Salle University (DLSU) School of Economics.

In a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) forum on Thursday, DLSU Associate Professor Jason Alinsunurin said this shows that the desire for longer working hours reflected workers’ low pay. He said this meant that the pay received by “visibly underemployed is severely below the minimum wage.”

Alinsunurin said even for those already working more than 40 hours a week, the average daily pay may still be below the minimum wage. This means the actual wages in the Philippines are not sufficient.

“Average daily wages for the visibly underemployed [are] severely

below the minimum wage and the cost of living; wages are practically stagnant for those who work more than 45 hours (a week),” his presentation showed.

“If we’re going to account for inflation and the actual increase in the cost of living during this period, you can actually see that the actual wages received by workers is becoming less and less across these periods of the survey,” he also said.

Based on the study Alinsunurin conducted with other DLSU economists Lawrence Dacuycuy and Mariel Monica Sauler, the desire for more work grew in the pandemic.

The study also found a decrease in the number of working hours, which also increased the demand for working hours.

Seniors forced to work

THIS, Alinsunurin said, was highlighted by the fact that those aged between 50 and 55 years old, as well as 55 to 60 years old are the ones asking for more hours of work, even if they are near or at the age of retirement. “(Given that) they’re the propor-

tion of those workers asking for more hours of work, (this) is practically the same for those who are just starting their working careers at 30 to 35 (years old),” Alinsunurin said.

Last year, economists told BusinessMirror that economic difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have forced seniors and undergraduate students to look for work.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) improved to 65 percent in March 2021.

However, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the uptick in LFPR was mainly due to Filipinos 15 to 24 year olds and those 65 and over who joined and rejoined the labor force.

Based on data obtained by the BusinessMirror, the LFPR of Filipinos aged 15 to 24 years old and those over 65 years old has been rising since January 2021.

Data showed that for those aged 15 to 24 years old, LFPR increased to 40.1 percent in March 2021 from 37.7 percent in February and 34.7 percent in January this year.

Megawide, Japanese partners ink subway deal

M

EGAWIDE Construction Corp. and partners Tokyu Construction and Tobishima Corp. have signed a P17.75billion deal for the construction of underground stations for North and South Ortigas as well as tunnels connecting the two locations of the Metro Manila Subway.

Edgar Saavedra, the chairman and CEO of Megawide, said the deal with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) facilitates the company’s “diversification into rail systems, which will include underground technology.”

“Megawide and our partners Tokyu and Tobishima represent expertise, innovation and commitment in our respective fields and nations, which we believe will be critical to the success of this pioneering venture,” he said.

Tokyu Construction Co., Ltd. is one of the established Japanese general contractors engaged in commercial, institutional, and residential buildings as well as civil engineering works for dams, bridges, and transportation systems. It led the redevelop-

ment of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Shibuya Station located at the center of Shibuya, a key district in Tokyo.

Likewise, Tobishima Corporation is one of Japan’s leading general contractors, involved in large-scale civil engineering works for hydroelectric power plants, dams, and railroads, with onshore and offshore projects

located in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Myanmar, among others.

“I am confident that they certainly will apply Japan’s cutting-edge technology and knowledge to the Metro Manila Subway’s best advantage,” Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko said. Lorenz S. Marasigan

SIGNING the agreement for the stations’ construction are (from left): DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Giovanni Lopez; DOTr Undersecretary for Rail Timothy John Batan; DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade; Tokyu Construction Representative Yasuyoshi Nomura; Megawide Chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra and Tobishima Corporation Representative Tetsuya Ougushi. PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAWIDE

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, May 6, 2022

Omicron surge, rising costs dent income of SMC in Q1

C

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

onglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said its income in the first quarter fell 19 percent to P13.94 billion from last year’s P17.17 billion due to the weak performance of its food and beverage and power businesses.

The company’s recurring income, which strips off the adjustment from the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, came in almost flat at P13.94 billion, compared to the previous year’s P13.56 billion.

Consolidated revenues, however, surged 57 percent to P316.8 billion from last year’s P201.16 billion, as its major businesses such as Petron Corp. recovered and saw volume growth and better selling prices.

“Overall, we are off to a good start this year, with volumes and revenues

showing robust growth. While we are still seeing mixed results from our businesses due to the Omicron surge disruption at the start of the year and significant increases in raw material prices, we are well-positioned to build on our gains,” San Miguel President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.

“Economic activity is returning to pre-pandemic levels, our workforce has been fully vaccinated, and we have managed to keep the virus under control. With these, we are confident we can sustain our target

levels of growth.”

San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc.’s income fell 5 percent to P9.15 billion from last year’s P9.67 billion, despite posting a 9-percent growth in net sales.

The company said the significant increases in the prices of major raw materials, along with supply chain challenges and skyrocketing fuel prices, squeezed margins.

San Miguel Brewery Inc.’s income declined 10 percent to P4.93 billion from last year’s P5.45 billion, while the profit of its food unit also fell by 10 percent to P3.03 billion from last year’s P3.38 billion.

The company said the increase in revenues were mainly due to growth in its international operations, coupled with the domestic price increase implemented starting October 2021, which compensated for lower volumes caused by the lockdowns in January due to the Omicron surge.

Ginebra San Miguel Inc.’s income rose 34 percent to P1.39 billion from last year’s P1.04 billion as sales climbed to P12.62 billion, up 11 percent from the previous year’s P11.33 billion.

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp.’s income plunged 75 percent to P1.92 billion from the previous year’s P7.77 billion.

Sales rose 57 percent to P43 billion, from P27.4 billion last year due to higher average realization prices for bilateral contracts with fuel passon charges, higher spot sales prices, and higher volumes from increased nominations from the Manila Electric Co. and other distributors and industrial customers.

Petron more than doubled its income to P3.59 billion from last year’s P1.73 billion. Revenues also doubled to P172.33 billion from last year’s P83.3 billion with the recovery in demand and higher international prices.

SMC Infrastructure’s operating income grew 108 percent to P2.46 billion from last year’s P1.18 billion, as it registered double-digit volume growth for the period, driven by higher traffic flows in February and March. This offset the impact of travel restrictions imposed in January.

Consolidated revenues ended at P6.2 billion, up 44 percent from last year’s P4.33 billion.

PLDT sets 2022 capex budget

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

P

LDT Inc. has firmed up its capital expenditures (capex) program for 2022, allotting P85 billion to support the additional requirements for its home and enterprise businesses, as well as for its contractual obligations for the sale of its tower assets.

During a press briefing on Thursday, PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the group is “raising the capex guidance from ‘between P76

D&L posts higher income

billion to P80 billion’ to P85 billion.”

The figure will be used to “support the updated requirements for growth in demand for home broadband and data center businesses, and additional upgrades of the towers or passive infrastructure assets subject to tower sale and leaseback transaction.”

The company allotted P89 billion in capital outlays last year.

During the same briefing, officials reported that PLDT booked a 56-percent growth in reported net income in the first quarter of the

year to P9.1 billion, while reporting a telco core income of P8.2 billion.

Its revenues reached P46.4 billion, an increase of 3 percent to P46.5 billion led by its Home and Enterprise verticals. For 2022, PLDT expects to book P33 billion in telco core income with its revenue guidance at “mid single-digit” growth.

“We’re moving in lockstep with our customers’ shifting needs as Covid-19 restrictions ease. Our superior, reliable integrated network continues to sustain hybrid work and learning set-ups, keep loved

ones connected online, deliver entertainment content, as well as support businesses and e-commerce,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT and Smart president and CEO. With the projected increase in demand from global hyperscalers, PLDT Inc. announced last October 2021 its plan to build the “biggest data center” in the Philippines.

PLDT VP Nico Alcoseba said the company is “set to build” a data center that is designed to serve the “massive power and IT requirements of global hyperscalers.”

RFM sales grow 17% in Q1

C

hemical manufacturer D&L Industries Inc. on Thursday said its income in the first quarter rose 12 percent to P780 million from the previous year’s P695 million.

Alvin Lao, the company’s president and CEO, said the company was able to grow its profits despite the surge of Omicron variant of Covid-19, which led to the imposition of Alert level 3 in January. Given the results for the first quarter, Lao said the company may hit its record annual income in 2018 at P3.1 billion.

“We think it’s possible that we can reach that (2018 income) this year,” Lao said, adding that the company is hoping that there won’t be a surge in cases in the coming months.

Revenues grew 43 percent to P9.99 billion from the previous year’s P7 billion, mainly due to the surge in commodity prices.

Average coconut oil and palm oil prices were both up by 50 percent during the quarter, caused by the war in Ukraine and the proposed Indonesian ban on palm oil. The company expects prices to be elevated in the near term.

Sales mix tilted towards commodities, such as oils used for food and biodiesel due to the strong performance of the segment with volume up 18 percent year-on-year. VG Cabuag

Photo from www.rfmfoods.com

L

isted food and beverage company RFM Corp. disclosed that the preliminary unaudited January to March 2022 sales expanded 17 percent to P3.9 billion on the back of both volume and price increases in its brands and products particularly in its ice cream, milk and institutional segments.

RFM CEO Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III said that “amid the inflationary situation in the economy today, RFM is trying to balance passing the commodity inflation thru managed price increases on one hand and absorbing the cost inflation on the other hand, because consumer spending power is constrained. We think if we pass on all the cost inflation, there will be demand destruction. ”

“While our net income for the first quarter shows a decent 4 percent expansion over 2021 to P334 million, we expect our margins to continue to be under pressure and thus we are cautious in our spending this 2022.

We are finishing the capex we have already started and we are also reviewing other proposed capex in the meantime,” said the CEO. “The strong pricing power of our brands especially in ice cream is helping keep margins from declining drastically. Our Selecta Milk is also driving volume growth for RFM,” Concepcion added.

The CEO said that company’s balance sheet remains very strong with excellent liquidity. He noted that the rise in raw material prices

have increased also the working capital requirements for 2022 but the good cash position of the company funded all of the increase in working capital.

“RFM’s outlook for 2022 is continued growth in topline and single digit growth to flattish income. If commodity prices reverse from their steep uptrend, then income could possibly trend higher in the second half of 2022. RFM shall also continue its cash dividend payout of 60 percent of income,” Concepcion said as a cautionary forward looking note for 2022.

RFM usually pays out its dividends in two tranches. One in the first half of the year and the other in the second half.

B1

Meralco eyes options for procuring power

BUSINESSMIRROR FILE PHOTO

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

T

HE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will resort to negotiated procurement of 180 megawatts (MW) of baseload capacity after the second round of competitive selection process (CSP) failed anew.

Meralco said the Third-Party Bids and Awards Committee (TPBAC) informed the utility firm that it did not receive any Expression of Interest (EOI) from a prospective bidder by the April 29 deadline.

Pursuant to the Revised CSP Rules, a bidding is declared a failure if the TPBAC received less than two EOIs. The TPBAC further said that since there are no outstanding disputes on the first and second rounds of CSP for the contract, Meralco may enter into direct negotiation for its 180MW contract capacity requirement, also as provided by the revised CSP rules.

“We are now considering all our options, including negotiating with a potential supplier, to cover the 180-MW supply requirement from

May to July 2022,” said Meralco Head of Regulatory Management Office Jose Ronald V. Valles.

The CSP was intended to augment available supply during the hot dry season months and to cover for the output of plants that are affected by Malampaya facility’s continued inability to supply adequate natural gas fuel.

Valles said the direct negotiations have started. “We are now negotiating with a supplier which can supply that requirement at reasonable price. Yes, we are already doing the negotiations. It will be quick because we need the capacity this May.” Under the approved terms of reference for the CSP, Meralco proposed that the required contract period runs from May 26 to July 25 this year, which may be extended for up to five months, upon mutual agreement by the parties. The minimum offered capacity per bidder is at least 50MW. The first competitive auction last March 31 was declared a failure because there was no expression of interest received by the TPBAC.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, May 6, 2022

Globe profit surges in Q1 as revenues touch record

G

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

lobe Telecom Inc. saw profits swelling by 86 percent to P13.7 billion from P7.3 billion in the first quarter, driven by a slight increase in revenues and the sale of its data center business.

In a filing with the stock exchange, Globe said it booked a new record-high consolidated service revenues of P39.2 billion, a 4-per-

cent increase from P37.8 billion, as pandemic restrictions eased.

Total data revenues across mobile, broadband and corporate data

accounted for 81 percent of total service revenues from 79 percent last year. Globe’s total operating expenses including subsidy was flat at P19.5 billion.

Excluding the gain from the sale of the data center business, Globe’s core net income was “flat year-onyear” at P5.1 billion.

“We are pleased with our performance in the first quarter, as the top-line growth momentum was sustained. We saw encouraging results particularly in the mobile business as the government continuously eased pandemic restrictions and the economy opened up. We are likewise optimistic about the growth prospects

for the new ventures in Globe’s expanding portfolio,” Globe President Ernest L. Cu said.

Globe has made a “strategic shift to becoming a digital service platform,” building digital ventures in the financial, health, education, and entertainment industries.

“We believe that our ceaseless innovation through various digital platforms, backed by the growing investment in our data network will strengthen our leadership in the digital space. Our commitment in making continuous enhancements in our products and services are all geared towards empowering and uplifting the Filipino lives,” Cu said.

NGCP gets nod to implement IMAR for 2020

T

he Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has allowed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to implement its Interim Maximum

Allowable Revenue (IMAR) for 2020.

“Applicant NGCP is granted interim relief to implement an iMAR2020 in the amount of P51,471,130,000.00, effective on

January 2020 until a new transmission revenue has been determined,” the ERC said in its 18-page order.

The amount is lower than the P58.85 billion sought by NGCP. At the same time, the grid operator was ordered to submit its proposed recovery scheme on its unbilled iMAR2020 for calendar years 2020, 2021, and first four months of 2022, within 60 days from receipt of the order dated March 23. The

agency posted a copy of the order on Thursday.

The MAR refers to the maximum revenue that the grid operator is allowed to earn from its transmission operations.

It can be recalled that in September 2020, the ERC suspended its February 2020 order which granted NGCP an interim relief to implement an iMAR in the amount of P47,051,640,000.00. Lenie Lectura

mutual funds

May 5, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year

Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

217.95

6.58%

-6.35%

-4.18%

-6.5%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.4729

16.15%

-3.33%

-0.73%

-11.5%

7.45%

-10.14%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0176

-6.68%

-6.8%

-7.98% n.a.

-3.04%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6866 2.37%

-7.98% n.a.

-10.94%

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

8.98%

-4.02%

-1.71%

-5.28%

0.732

13.42%

-6.23%

-5.02%

-12.51% n.a.

-10.6%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7335 1.61% 4.9089

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

84.42

-12.01%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

44.8284

7%

-5.28%

-2.75%

-6.85%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

467.98

6.41%

-5.17%

-2.88%

-6.53%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.308

20.95%

-0.52%

0.27%

-3.56%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

34.4164

9.07%

-4.23%

-1.49%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8862

8.84%

-5.61% n.a.

-5.86%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.6415

8.14%

-4.59%

-2.06%

-6.44%

-5.95%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

772.76

7.65%

-4.67%

-2.13%

-6.73%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.6966

6.92%

-9.7%

-4.96%

-7.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.4842

6.97%

-7.27%

-3.44%

-7.72%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8801

7.36%

-4.97%

-2.38%

6.51%

-5.13%

-1.23%

-6.03%

United Fund, Inc. -a

3.2302

-6.55%

-6.82%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

1.119

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

10.19% n.a. n.a.

-3.76%

943.05 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c

104.2901

8.28%

-4.39%

-1.7%

-6.45%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$0.9641

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.5732

-23.53%

-2.29%

0.28%

-14.42%

-11.05%

6.49%

6.82%

-14.8%

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

1.578

-2.36%

-3.09%

-2.25%

-6.74%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.1703

1.84%

-2.31%

-1.53%

-4.87%

4.84%

-0.78%

0.2%

-3.56%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5952

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2011

8.47% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.9436

3.37%

0.24%

0.59%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.577

2.05%

-1.06%

-0.7%

-5%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.0347

2.01%

-1.35%

-0.77%

-4.81%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0386

3.77%

-1.75%

-0.92%

-3.9%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.4494 3.55%

-3.84%

-1.57%

-5.42%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

-2.86%

-1.06%

-5.37%

0.903

10.01%

-3.78%

-3.62%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a

0.9333

-1.87%

-2.56% n.a.

-5.71%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.8748

2.57%

-4.55% n.a.

-7.38%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.8638

3.41%

-4.92% n.a.

-7.51%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$0.03359

-11.61%

-2.56%

-1.11%

$0.9689

-14.82%

-0.77%

0.39%

-9.2%

-11%

3.75%

4.49%

-12.95%

0.14%

1.2%

-11.66%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.1802

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.0589 -10.99%

-11.47%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

373.46

2.38%

2.41%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8889

-1.2%

0.05%

0.24%

0.22%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2415

0.58%

2.37%

3.53%

-0.08%

2.2075

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

0.7%

-0.22%

-2.17%

0.7%

1.1%

-1.95%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4165 -0.59%

2.31%

1.75%

-0.39%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.2707

-4.41%

1.82%

1.12%

-2.84%

1.316

-0.39%

3.17%

2.78%

-0.24%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9299

-0.83%

2.79%

2.5%

-0.91%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0129

-1.31%

3.25%

1.9%

-1.49%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1572

-0.81%

2.95%

2.94%

-0.95%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.54%

2.15%

2.23%

-1.23%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.7093

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

$481.93

-0.37%

1.95%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є213.74

-2.72%

-0.36%

0.27%

-2.85%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.0753

-8.33%

-2.73%

-0.77%

-10.68%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0246 -5.02%

-0.93%

-0.24%

-5.38%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

-5.02%

-3.11%

-10.75% -10.46%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$0.9128

-13.1%

1.94%

-1.56%

$2.2437

-9.6%

-0.4%

0.33%

$0.0609637

-2.78%

1.53%

1.35%

-2.13%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.7701 -11.7%

-2.39%

-1.34%

-13.33%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

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

131.72

1.32%

2.4%

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

1.0618

1.04%

2.53%

1.69% n.a.

0.4%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3226

1.52%

2.28%

2.49%

0.39%

0.53%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0629

0.6%

1.24% n.a.

0.22%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

44.4327 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.2567

2.44% n.a. n.a.

-9.13%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.8727

-11.85% n.a. n.a.

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago.

c - Listed in the PSE.

-10.03%

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

May 5, 2022

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK COMMERCE BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

70,670 205,521,064 3,234,466 163,115,043.50 8,721,355 4,384,059 89,197,613.50 2,271,944 7,786 175,900 69,408,373 3,041,661 209,560 11,040 11,100 56,624 531,550 2,340

-1,235,347 2,004,676 -37,439,387.50 -33,070 -2,169,104 3,571,701 5,700 5,500 9,685,716 318,610.50 42,000 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 7.79 7.8 7.63 7.84 7.63 7.8 7,923,200 61,619,764 0.93 0.97 0.9 0.97 0.9 0.97 315,000 290,460 ALSONS CONS 32.4 32.5 32.15 32.8 32.05 32.5 2,774,200 89,960,995 ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY 0.375 0.38 0.355 0.385 0.355 0.375 3,500,000 1,297,450 FIRST GEN 23.3 23.45 23.3 23.5 23.3 23.3 762,600 17,786,255 69.85 70.25 69.9 69.9 69.7 69.85 6,060 423,322.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG 341 342 337 345 335 341 161,820 55,225,696 MERALCO 17.64 17.66 17.8 17.82 17.64 17.66 539,300 9,564,556 MANILA WATER PETRON 3.48 3.49 3.55 3.58 3.42 3.49 2,084,000 7,275,250 PETROENERGY 5 5.01 5 5 4.99 5 231,000 1,154,890 9.92 10.2 10.2 10.2 9.91 10.2 2,900 29,385 PHX PETROLEUM 12.24 12.26 12.24 12.38 12 12.26 1,079,800 13,051,008 SYNERGY GRID PILIPINAS SHELL 17.1 17.48 17.3 17.6 17 17.1 71,700 1,232,580 SPC POWER 13.96 13.98 13.82 14 13.82 13.98 49,200 686,016 SOLAR PH 1.5 1.53 1.54 1.57 1.5 1.5 63,320,000 96,424,060 14.14 16.7 16.7 16.7 16.7 16.7 100 1,670 VIVANT 4.64 4.69 4.66 4.7 4.64 4.69 156,000 732,510 AGRINURTURE AXELUM 2.56 2.6 2.61 2.61 2.55 2.6 188,000 487,550 CENTURY FOOD 22.3 22.6 22.7 22.7 22.3 22.6 144,200 3,223,820 DEL MONTE 14.24 14.34 14.3 14.34 14.22 14.22 8,500 121,690 7.29 7.3 7.1 7.31 7.1 7.3 2,376,900 17,277,360 DNL INDUS 19.94 20.05 19.9 20.25 19.86 20.05 2,304,000 46,107,082 EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV 59 59.9 58 59.95 58 59.9 84,810 5,060,579.50 FIGARO COFFEE 0.54 0.55 0.52 0.55 0.51 0.54 3,333,000 1,781,980 0.63 0.64 0.59 0.63 0.59 0.63 683,000 420,630 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.02 1.04 2,001,000 2,059,440 FRUITAS HLDG 105 106.8 105 107 104 106.8 7,300 764,089 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 223.8 224 221.8 226 220 224 400,330 89,593,242 KEEPERS HLDG 1.21 1.22 1.22 1.23 1.21 1.22 1,114,000 1,356,330 6.15 6.19 6.21 6.21 6.05 6.19 33,800 208,250 MAXS GROUP 0.125 0.128 0.128 0.128 0.128 0.128 50,000 6,400 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 13.86 13.88 13.9 14.14 13.84 13.88 9,454,800 131,765,360 SHAKEYS PIZZA 7.9 7.99 8.23 8.23 7.82 7.82 54,300 435,346 ROXAS AND CO 0.51 0.52 0.53 0.54 0.5 0.52 417,000 212,840 4.12 4.29 4.2 4.2 4.12 4.12 35,000 146,540 RFM CORP 1.11 1.19 1.19 1.19 1.15 1.15 4,000 4,700 ROXAS HLDG SWIFT FOODS 0.101 0.106 0.101 0.101 0.101 0.101 130,000 13,130 111.2 111.5 110.8 112.7 110.3 111.2 1,568,750 174,430,525 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.63 0.64 0.57 0.66 0.57 0.63 1,431,000 916,920 2.71 2.84 2.71 2.84 2.71 2.84 10,000 27,360 VICTORIAS 0.82 0.83 0.81 0.83 0.81 0.83 855,000 704,400 CEMEX HLDG EAGLE CEMENT 12 12.2 12.24 12.24 12 12.2 113,600 1,374,674 EEI CORP 4.4 4.43 4.3 4.43 4.3 4.43 116,000 509,030 5.17 5.3 5.2 5.25 5.16 5.16 22,300 115,644 HOLCIM 5.15 5.2 5.1 5.2 5.08 5.2 339,600 1,744,291 MEGAWIDE 19.76 19.9 19.9 19.92 19.76 19.9 32,700 650,738 PHINMA TKC METALS 0.76 0.79 0.78 0.78 0.76 0.76 12,000 9,200 0.88 0.9 0.9 0.91 0.87 0.9 2,058,000 1,831,470 VULCAN INDL 1.78 1.82 1.82 1.83 1.82 1.82 27,000 49,150 CROWN ASIA 19.16 19.88 19.16 19.16 19.16 19.16 300 5,748 CONCEPCION GREENERGY 1.51 1.54 1.5 1.54 1.5 1.54 14,267,000 21,786,720 INTEGRATED MICR 7.2 7.38 7.1 7.38 7.1 7.38 148,200 1,058,150 IONICS 0.68 0.7 0.68 0.68 0.68 0.68 6,000 4,080 1.09 1.15 1.09 1.15 1.09 1.15 10,000 11,020 SFA SEMICON 2.99 3.02 2.95 3.08 2.95 3.02 167,000 504,860 CIRTEK HLDG

6,149,923 -97,970 3,599,055 -44,250 -625,405 -9,174 -7,575,284 -2,303,808 2,123,220 559,672 -219,076 91,712 1,110,630 -126,600 20,880 -193,955 43,020 -4,249,044 8,822,724.00 -2,539,205.50 37,800 3,090 12,152,286 -17,080 26,617 35,485,038 -405,460 -16,368,221 -200,640 -29,260 39,168 26,340 20,800 -3,390.00 -8,449,900 138,120 -

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL 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 LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA REPUBLIC GLASS SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

44.1 129 11.98 96.8 27.5 7.77 53.1 18.9 55.3 19.7 102.1 76 1.95 3.66 2.22 209 2,250 0.78

1.17 747 51.5 11.26 9.15 0.89 0.48 0.485 4.87 8.25 7 514.5 55.6 0.51 2.92 8.69 0.325 3.8 1.34 3 0.87 861 105.9 110.5 0.27 0.153

44.25 129.1 12 97 27.65 7.79 53.35 19 57.15 20.2 103 77.5 2.09 3.68 2.59 210 2,650 0.8

1.18 748 51.65 11.3 9.21 0.9 0.485 0.495 4.92 8.3 7.13 517 56 0.52 2.97 8.7 0.355 3.81 1.39 3.25 0.89 863.5 106.5 116 0.275 0.16

43.75 128 11.94 97.7 27.15 7.89 52.15 18.84 55 19.8 103 73 2.1 3.68 2.22 203.2 2,588 0.78

1.17 745 51.95 11.44 9.15 0.9 0.465 0.5 4.88 8.1 7.13 516 56.8 0.51 2.97 8.83 0.315 3.83 1.26 3 0.87 851.5 106.3 110.1 0.275 0.16

44.95 129.5 11.98 97.7 27.75 7.89 53.35 19 57.15 20.2 105 77.5 2.1 3.68 2.22 210 2,588 0.78

1.18 750 52.05 11.7 9.15 0.9 0.495 0.5 4.92 8.38 7.13 521 56.9 0.54 2.97 8.83 0.315 3.83 1.42 3 0.87 870 106.5 116 0.275 0.16

43.75 128 11.72 94.8 27.15 7.74 52.15 18.84 55 19.7 102.1 73 1.92 3.68 2.22 203.2 2,200 0.78

1.15 736.5 50 11 9.15 0.89 0.465 0.48 4.87 8.08 7.13 505.5 55.5 0.5 2.97 8.65 0.31 3.78 1.26 3 0.87 840 105.9 110.1 0.27 0.16

44.1 129 11.98 97 27.5 7.78 53.35 19 57.15 19.72 102.1 76 2.09 3.68 2.22 210 2,250 0.78

1.18 747 51.65 11.3 9.15 0.89 0.485 0.485 4.88 8.25 7.13 514.5 55.6 0.53 2.97 8.7 0.315 3.81 1.34 3 0.87 861 106.5 116 0.27 0.16

1,600 1,593,330 271,300 1,682,670 317,700 563,300 1,681,530 120,100 140 8,900 671,320 40,620 100,000 3,000 5,000 270 235 3,000

12,010,000 138,470 1,937,310 2,559,900 11,900 143,000 1,410,000 25,000 104,000 2,769,100 100 105,160 1,388,860 164,000 5,000 1,803,300 70,000 18,366,000 260,000 20,000 1,000 663,360 182,020 160 400,000 10,000

13,983,110 103,457,815 98,806,604.50 28,947,300 108,885 127,340 691,750 12,135 507,900 22,851,133 713 54,276,345 77,488,110 83,510 14,850 15,721,043 21,950 69,922,420 349,410 60,000 870 571,477,370 19,362,896 18,206 108,500 1,600

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.56 0.57 0.55 0.56 0.55 0.56 198,000 108,930 32.55 32.65 32.5 33.05 32.35 32.55 4,381,700 143,391,000 AYALA LAND 4.42 4.45 4.38 4.45 4.34 4.42 369,000 1,624,290 AYALA LAND LOG ARANETA PROP 1.22 1.27 1.18 1.3 1.15 1.27 431,000 538,120 AREIT RT 38.75 38.8 38.1 39.45 38.1 38.8 652,300 25,324,040 0.81 0.88 0.82 0.82 0.8 0.81 320,000 259,680 A BROWN 0.72 0.73 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.72 1,000 720 CITYLAND DEVT 0.091 0.095 0.092 0.097 0.091 0.097 1,100,000 100,720 CROWN EQUITIES CEB LANDMASTERS 2.72 2.74 2.72 2.79 2.71 2.74 235,000 642,460 CENTURY PROP 0.405 0.41 0.405 0.41 0.405 0.41 310,000 126,100 2.55 2.56 2.51 2.56 2.5 2.56 3,132,000 7,923,500 CITICORE RT 7.91 7.95 7.95 8 7.9 7.91 421,600 3,361,606 DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT 1.51 1.52 1.44 1.55 1.44 1.51 8,061,000 12,089,830 DM WENCESLAO 6.88 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.88 6.88 15,200 104,876 0.242 0.249 0.242 0.25 0.242 0.249 1,050,000 259,350 EVER GOTESCO 7.31 7.32 7.3 7.33 7.3 7.31 213,700 1,561,397 FILINVEST RT 1.03 1.04 1.03 1.05 1.02 1.04 4,382,000 4,571,170 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.9 0.91 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 24,000 21,600 13.3 13.48 13.54 13.6 13.28 13.48 73,200 981,934 8990 HLDG GOLDEN MV 634.5 675 675 675 675 675 10 6,750 0.91 0.93 0.9 0.91 0.89 0.91 158,000 141,560 PHIL INFRADEV 0.78 0.8 0.8 0.82 0.78 0.78 66,000 52,590 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 2.86 2.87 2.9 2.9 2.86 2.87 8,839,000 25,457,850 MRC ALLIED 0.217 0.222 0.217 0.222 0.216 0.219 1,460,000 320,940 17.7 17.72 17.58 17.86 17.56 17.72 1,534,200 27,230,118 MREIT RT 0.39 0.395 0.41 0.41 0.37 0.39 840,000 321,100 PHIL ESTATES 2.62 2.68 2.7 2.7 2.61 2.68 1,135,000 3,039,540 PRIMEX CORP RL COMM RT 7.39 7.45 7.3 7.54 7.26 7.45 4,454,700 33,242,757 ROBINSONS LAND 19.7 19.94 19.2 19.94 19.16 19.94 3,824,200 75,436,272 0.23 0.245 0.229 0.245 0.229 0.245 2,510,000 595,450 PHIL REALTY 2.51 2.58 2.5 2.58 2.5 2.58 14,000 35,080 SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND 2.81 2.97 2.93 2.97 2.93 2.97 21,000 61,730 SM PRIME HLDG 36.8 37 36.7 37.25 36.05 37 8,535,200 315,428,300 SUNTRUST HOME 1 1.03 0.99 1.03 0.99 1.03 5,000 5,000 2.51 2.54 2.4 2.57 2.4 2.54 485,000 1,206,090 VISTA LAND

SERVICES ABS CBN 12.64 12.68 12.5 12.78 12.5 12.64 102,200 1,297,188 12.8 12.84 12.6 12.98 12.6 12.8 672,800 8,612,748 GMA NETWORK 2,378 2,388 2,274 2,388 2,272 2,388 70,745 167,239,940 GLOBE TELECOM PLDT 1,932 1,935 1,889 1,932 1,889 1,932 87,110 167,087,710 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.042 0.043 0.042 0.043 0.041 0.043 179,800,000 7,514,300 29.95 30 29.05 31.45 28.8 30 18,533,200 558,120,180 CONVERGE 3.14 3.2 2.94 3.3 2.94 3.2 1,878,000 5,994,270 DFNN INC 4.88 4.89 4.54 4.94 4.5 4.89 9,064,000 42,817,400 DITO CME HLDG JACKSTONES 1.63 1.69 1.63 1.69 1.63 1.69 46,000 76,520 1.42 1.44 1.41 1.49 1.41 1.43 5,645,000 8,170,270 NOW CORP 0.31 0.315 0.315 0.315 0.305 0.31 2,580,000 796,150 TRANSPACIFIC BR 7.2 7.38 7.4 7.4 7.2 7.37 10,800 79,569 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS 13.82 13.9 13.9 13.9 13.9 13.9 21,200 294,680 CHELSEA 1.49 1.51 1.47 1.55 1.47 1.51 272,000 409,600 45.5 46 45 46.2 44.9 46 381,600 17,226,585 CEBU AIR 211 214 215 215 210 211 1,676,400 354,993,378 INTL CONTAINER 22.15 23.8 22.4 22.4 22.4 22.4 500 11,200 LBC EXPRESS MACROASIA 5.25 5.3 5.22 5.35 5.21 5.3 228,800 1,208,275 6.01 6.2 5.99 6.2 5.99 6.2 3,100 19,199 PAL HLDG 0.64 0.67 0.65 0.65 0.64 0.65 54,000 34,820 HARBOR STAR 1.52 1.67 1.55 1.55 1.52 1.52 23,000 35,140 ACESITE HOTEL 0.076 0.077 0.062 0.083 0.062 0.076 413,260,000 31,057,050 BOULEVARD HLDG DISCOVERY WORLD 1.73 1.88 1.75 1.75 1.73 1.73 7,000 12,210 0.425 0.44 0.425 0.425 0.425 0.425 300,000 127,500 WATERFRONT 530 540 540 540 540 540 20 10,800 FAR EASTERN U 0.345 0.355 0.355 0.355 0.355 0.355 140,000 49,700 STI HLDG 1.28 1.29 1.28 1.29 1.28 1.28 61,000 78,390 BELLE CORP BLOOMBERRY 6.34 6.35 6.11 6.34 6.11 6.34 2,348,200 14,747,607 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.31 1.54 1.35 1.35 1.3 1.34 259,000 347,740 1.3 1.32 1.26 1.31 1.26 1.3 6,544,000 8,420,890 LEISURE AND RES 1.31 1.32 1.02 1.34 1.02 1.31 17,719,000 21,833,540 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.48 0.485 0.48 0.49 0.48 0.485 18,220,000 8,826,750 PHILWEB 2.91 2.95 2.6 3 2.6 2.95 10,283,000 29,569,090 ALLDAY 0.425 0.43 0.42 0.43 0.41 0.425 5,940,000 2,509,300 5.57 5.99 5.69 5.99 5.69 5.99 11,800 69,413 BERJAYA 7.77 7.95 7.72 8 7.72 7.95 140,900 1,126,299 ALLHOME METRO RETAIL 1.43 1.44 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.43 346,000 494,780 35.5 35.55 34.5 35.8 34.05 35.5 1,026,000 36,303,255 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 54 54.05 53.15 55 53.15 54.05 554,540 29,860,158 62.2 64.8 62.2 62.2 62.2 62.2 190 11,818 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.18 1.19 1.15 1.19 1.15 1.19 3,920,000 4,610,770 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 27.1 27.5 27.5 27.6 27 27.5 189,800 5,194,105 APC GROUP 0.211 0.232 0.218 0.232 0.21 0.232 2,480,000 523,030 6.8 7 7 7 7 7 3,000 21,000 IPM HLDG 0.77 0.78 0.77 0.79 0.77 0.78 1,093,000 849,560 MEDILINES 0.48 0.485 0.485 0.49 0.475 0.485 4,620,000 2,228,400 PRMIERE HORIZON

MINING & OIL ATOK 5.55 6 5.52 6 5.51 6 160,100 953,262 1.56 1.57 1.52 1.57 1.52 1.56 932,000 1,448,800 APEX MINING ATLAS MINING 6.14 6.22 6.1 6.27 6 6.22 808,000 4,997,725 BENGUET A 7 7.2 7.19 7.22 7.19 7.2 142,500 1,026,024 6.9 6.94 6.99 7.39 6.94 6.94 401,600 2,799,765 BENGUET B 2.64 2.65 2.59 2.66 2.56 2.65 5,166,000 13,574,740 FERRONICKEL 0.177 0.198 0.177 0.177 0.177 0.177 80,000 14,160 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.138 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.138 0.14 750,000 104,850 0.138 0.142 0.142 0.142 0.142 0.142 350,000 49,700 LEPANTO B 0.0097 0.01 0.0099 0.01 0.0099 0.01 2,000,000 19,900 MANILA MINING A 0.0099 0.01 0.0099 0.0099 0.0099 0.0099 2,000,000 19,800 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES 1.57 1.6 1.5 1.61 1.5 1.6 3,344,000 5,131,780 NIHAO 0.92 1 0.97 1.04 0.97 1 75,000 76,200 7.87 7.88 7.5 7.93 7.4 7.87 7,175,700 56,073,866 NICKEL ASIA 0.9 0.95 0.89 0.95 0.8 0.95 697,000 602,060 ORNTL PENINSULA 4.89 4.9 4.8 5.05 4.79 4.9 876,000 4,282,710 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 28.45 28.5 27.6 28.75 27.6 28.5 3,974,600 113,139,065 ACE ENEXOR 15.9 16 16.54 17 16 16 193,000 3,125,862 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 42,800,000 472,600 0.0091 0.0092 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 11,000,000 100,100 PHILODRILL 4.4 4.46 4.42 4.46 4.36 4.46 299,000 1,313,450 PXP ENERGY

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 98 101 98 98.1 97 98.1 110 10,771 100 101.3 100 100 100 100 100 10,000 HOUSE PREF A 502 509 509 509 508 508 180 91,520 AC PREF B2R BRN PREF A 105 105.8 105 105.8 105 105.8 3,810 402,298 CEB PREF 45 45.5 44.8 45 44.8 45 22,000 986,890 101 101.5 101.5 101.5 101 101.5 5,370 545,005 CPG PREF A 99.8 100.9 99.8 99.8 99.8 99.8 22,190 2,214,562 DD PREF 100.6 104 100.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 10 1,005 EEI PREF A EEI PREF B 108.7 108.8 108.6 108.8 108.6 108.8 5,320 578,720 102.8 105.5 102.8 102.8 102.8 102.8 100 10,280 FGEN PREF G 1,010 1,020 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 50 50,500 GTCAP PREF A 1,005 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,000 1,010,000 GTCAP PREF B JFC PREF A 970 1,000 970 970 970 970 50 48,500 967 998.5 970 970 960 960.5 2,870 2,757,365 JFC PREF B 95.95 102 96 102 96 102 440 44,280 MWIDE PREF 2B 98.25 99.9 99.9 99.9 99.9 99.9 90 8,991 MWIDE PREF 4 99.2 100.9 100 100.9 100 100.9 150 15,045 PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 987 988 988 988 985 987 6,140 6,060,090 PCOR PREF 3A 1,057 1,070 1,056 1,057 1,056 1,057 1,745 1,842,770 PCOR PREF 3B 1,088 1,100 1,086 1,086 1,086 1,086 20 21,720 76.3 77.8 77.85 77.9 77.5 77.5 35,000 2,722,400 SMC PREF 2F 75.1 75.55 75.1 75.1 75.1 75.1 540 40,554 SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I 77.5 78.2 78.1 78.2 78.1 78.2 43,400 3,392,540 54.5 55 55 55 55 55 70 3,850 TECH PREF B2D

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12.3 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.7 5,000 63,500 12.3 12.5 12.06 12.5 12.06 12.5 24,000 298,220 GMA HLDG PDR

WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.57 0.6 0.59 0.61 0.57 0.57 175,000 103,260

9,139,390 -24,479,145 -11,286,632 -248,048 -58,640 2,822,275 -36,374,190 -30,265,117 -1,777,083 26,978,660 -13,400 -152,159,675 -638,506 -1,600 -7,317,950 -175,490 -62,000 -14,912,595 -247,930.00 1,035,160 227,818 3,485,790 -1,466 3,150 -103,352 17,600 5,788,290 6,040,940 -2,680,000 -1,061,654 19,158,776 -35,550 -2,970 -29,180,300 -258,830 37,541,880 71,855,545 8,400 62,120,585 -318,500 7,428,150 -602,900 -25,200 -227,960 590,125 19,429,410 -21,800 21,250 3,550 -30,720 421,915 -278,100 -1,841,770 -308,050 -151,530 68,150 1,010,962 13,618,870 -8,398,145 11,818 1,627,640 -1,897,590 126,000 780 -38,650 11,040 15,600 189,490 -2,734,248 2,438,190 -378,920 39,923,368 40,000 70,860 -6,699,275 46,444 -18,200 4,420 94,500 5,961,380 -1,768,800 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP CTS GLOBAL HAUS TALK ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART XURPAS

16.3 1 1.11 0.86 2.55 1.62 0.305

16.64 1.01 1.13 0.89 2.92 1.66 0.315

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

104.7

105

16.16 1.01 1.12 0.85 2.55 1.58 0.305

16.3 1.04 1.13 0.89 2.55 1.66 0.305

16.16 1 1.08 0.84 2.55 1.57 0.305

16.3 1 1.13 0.89 2.55 1.66 0.305

4,300 12,291,000 346,000 101,000 2,000 1,489,000 290,000

69,674 12,512,400 382,990 86,950 5,100 2,410,580 88,450

-1,030 44,800 387,650 -

104.5 105 104.4 105 22,880 2,393,902 385,073

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BSP: Thrift banks still stable amid pandemic

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that the country’s thrift banking industry remained stable amid the pandemic.

In particular, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said the thrift banking industry posted a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 19.3 percent at end-September 2021, wellabove the BSP’s 10 percent minimum requirement. The industry’s CAR was also higher than the 17.5 percent recorded a year earlier.

The liquidity ratios of thrift banks are also well above minimum thresholds. At end-February 2022, the liquidity coverage ratio of TBs that are subsidiaries of universal/commercial banks reached 167 percent, while the minimum liquidity ratio of stand-alone thrift banks stood at 37.3 percent as of end-January 2022.

Moreover, the industry’s loan quality has improved as the level of non-performing loans (NPLs) declined since September 2021.

In February 2022, the ratio of the TBs’ NPLs against their total loans settled at 8.9 percent.

“Thrift banks (TBs) have remained resilient and supportive of the country’s economic recovery,” Diokno said.

Diokno also said the industry’s assets reached P872.8 billion at end-February 2022. This figure is lower than the P1.1-trillion level recorded a year ago, due to a merger of bank operations of a leading subsidiary TB with its parent bank.

Thrift banks also remained profitable amid subdued economic activity in 2021 as the industry’s net profit improved by 30 percent year-on-year to P12.8 billion at end-December 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the BSP lists the following top thrift banks in terms of assets: BPI Family Savings Bank Inc. (P330.79 billion); Philippine Savings Bank (P260.825 billion); Philippine Business Bank Inc. (P155 billion); City Savings Bank Inc. (P117.815 billion); and, China Bank Savings Inc. (97.192 billion).

Republic Act 7906 defines thrift banks as including the following: savings and mortgage banks; private development banks; stock savings and loans associations organized under existing laws; and, any banking corporation organized according to purposes defined by law.

Bianca Cuaresma

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

I

B3

BSP mulls over automating CB ops

T

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it is exploring applications of so-called machine learning (ML) techniques in its central banking operations.

In a news briefing last Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said they are seeing that ML is particularly helpful in the areas of

natural language processing, nowcasting and banking supervision.

Machine learning is a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) in-

volving algorithms that deliver output based on patterns learned from data.

“Central banks’ interest in ML has been increasing over the years, mainly due to its potential to enhance the existing tools used for regular monitoring as well as its ability to uncover underlying relationships between data to better understand the economy and the financial system,” Diokno said.

Natural language processing at the BSP is used to convert text into data to produce a quantitative summary, such as the news sentiment

index and economic policy uncertainty index that are currently being developed.

Diokno said the BSP also employs ML approaches to generate nowcasts of regional inflation and domestic liquidity. These models supplement the BSP’s existing suite of models for macroeconomic forecasting.

In banking supervision, the governor said the BSP aims to utilize ML techniques to enhance its data validation processes and better identify atypical data.

Diokno, however, said there are several challenges associated with

ML processes.

“The most often-cited limitation is the black-box approach to ML, which could result in difficulties in interpreting the causal relationships in ML models. Like traditional econometric techniques, ML algorithms may also encounter some challenges in accurately predicting tail risk or low likelihood events,” the governor said.

“The adoption of ML models would also necessitate investments in IT infrastructure and capacity building as well as a change in the organizational mindset,” Diokno added.

Chinabank Q1 profits up on sustained core-business growth

C

HINA Banking Corp. announced that it has recorded net profits of P4.9 billion in the first quarter of 2022.

The bank’s net income was 37-percent higher compared to the same period last year. The improved profitability, driven by sustained core business growth, yielded a higher return

on equity of 16 percent and a better return on assets of 1.7 percent.

The bank reported that its net interest income rose 15 percent year-on-year to P10.8 billion on the back of higher earning assets and lower interest expense. Its net interest margin further improved to 4.3 percent.

Meanwhile, lower trading gains drove fee-based income to P1.7 billion, amid an 18 percent increase in service charges, fees, and commissions and a 22 percent jump in trust fees.

“China Bank’s organic growth momentum continues—loans and deposits are up, expenses are down,

and credit quality remains solid,” China Bank President William C. Whang said.

Provisions for credit losses were reduced by 65 percent to P780 million, reflecting an improved macroeconomic outlook. The resulting nonperforming loan (NPL) coverage was higher at 119 percent.

Prudent cost management led to an 8 percent drop in total operating expenses, further improving the cost efficiency ratio to 46 percent.

The bank’s total assets expanded 12 percent to P1.1 trillion. Asset quality remained healthy as NPL ratio was maintained at 2.5 percent as of end-March 2022. Bianca Cuaresma

PSBank net income doubled in Q1 ’22 Inflation fears hit bonds as rate-hike bets build P

HILIPPINE Savings Bank (PSBank), the thrift banking arm of the Metrobank Group, registered a P888-million net income for the first quarter of 2022, up 102 percent year-on-year. The surge in net income was driven by revenues from other operating income and improved asset quality.

The bank’s net interest income reached P2.7 billion while service fees and commissions rose by 14 percent as loan demand expanded when quarantine restrictions were loosened. Non-interest income also went up by 190 percent resulting from increased business activities.

This was offset by an uptick of 6 percent in operating expenses due to higher volume albeit being kept in check through continuous improvements in productivity and operational efficiency.

The bank’s asset quality further improved resulting to the reduction in credit provisioning by 68 percent to P346 million from P1.1 billion a year ago. Gross non-performing loans is back to pre-pandemic levels, posting a decline of 30 percent from the same period last year.

The bank’s balance sheet became stronger. Total assets grew 16 percent to P263 billion year-on-year. Total deposits jumped by 24 percent to P217 billion with low-cost checking and savings deposits increasing by 9 percent. Capital position improved by 2 percent to P35 billion as of first quarter-end 2022. Total Capital Ad-

F

This undated photo courtesy of PSBank shows the facade of the lender’s headquarters in Makati City. The bank said it saw its bottomline grow in the first quarter despite the pandemic.

Photo courtesY BY PSBank

equacy Ratio and Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio improved to 24.5 percent and 23.4 percent, respectively. Both ratios remain above the regulatory minimum.

“Our recalibrated business models to include data-driven approaches to credit and collection continue to serve us well as we ride on the momentum of improving consumer confidence which began with the opening up of the economy by end-2021,” PSBank President Jose Vicente L. Alde said. “With our strategies firmly in place, we see our growth and strong financial

performance to be sustainable even as there may be potential volatility brought by adverse offshore developments.”

Despite challenges in the market primarily caused by the health crisis, PSBank has maintained its Issuer Credit Rating of PRS Aaa (corp.) with a Stable Outlook from the Philippine Rating Services Corporation (PhilRatings). Such rating reflects the company’s very strong capacity to meet financial commitments relative to other Philippine corporates; and seen to be unchanged in the next 12 months.

A tale of two marketing campaigns that worked!

F there’s one field in business management that I will find difficult to perform, it will be marketing. Take the “4Ps” of marketing into account—product, price, place and promotion—then the challenge becomes more complicated.

While marketing management is extensively employed in business with much success, this is not the case for some, if not many, associations. Part of the reason is that associations tend to rely on their captive market (members) and believe that competition is negligible to even consider. It also does not help that they orient themselves as non-for-profit organizations.

So when Amy Thomasson, vice president for marketing and communications at the Illinois-based Cure SMA (spinal muscular atrophy, a rare neuromuscular disorder), agreed to speak in our webinar on “Proven Marketing Ideas to Attract and Engage Members,” I looked forward to learning more about marketing. Amy presented two case studies on association marketing campaigns that resonated to me:

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, May 6, 2022

Association World Octavio Peralta 1. Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) marketing campaign themed, “Supply Chain Professionals’ Day.” CSCMP is a professional membership association that connects, educates and develops the world’s supply chain management professionals throughout their careers. To honor these professionals, CSCMP created a special day to honor them.

The marketing team decided to take a two-pronged approach to the campaign. Phase one consisted of a month-long member recognition, membership growth and committee and board engagement program. Phase two was its big celebration of “Supply Chain Professionals’ Day,” along with a 24-hour membership sales blitz.

A social media campaign, #ThisIs-

SupplyChain,” was also part of its communication strategy.

The result was impressive: a record 95 memberships sold in one day, a monthly membership dues increase of US$25,000, with a total program spend of under US$ 5,000; a 300 percent increase in monthly web traffic; and 2,000 plus social media posts using the campaign hashtag.

2. Cure SMA’s initiative called, “Newborn Screening Campaign.”

The purpose of the campaign was three-fold: to lead the way to a world without SMA (missiondriven); to get the US government to add SMA to recommended newborn screening panel (advocacy); and, to raise funds and to tell the stories of SMA families (meaning and engagement).

Cure SMA used an informationdriven, segmented marketing approach that targeted both parents and caregivers, as well as health care providers, through separate published guidelines to the stakeholders. It also made it easier for members to get involved via tem-

plated messaging, action center with timely alerts and the ability to share feedback through surveys.

The marketing team also used storytelling in the campaign by asking members to tell their story which built a connection to the organization. Members want to see themselves, too, in publications, social media and other communication channels. In the end, storytelling equates to legitimacy.

The results were astounding: 44 states in the US now screen for SMA and 95 percent of the babies in the US are screened for SMA. I have deduced from the two case studies that a marketing campaign will be successful when it: (a) relates to your mission; (b) involves all stakeholders; and, (c) uses a well-thought out marketing and communication plan.

Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” E-mail: bobby@ pcaae.org

EARS of runaway inflation are sweeping across emerging Asia, with bond traders betting that central banks will have to act to stamp out growing price pressures.

Thai rate swaps and bond yields jumped Thursday after a report showed that the nation’s core inflation rate held at a 10-year high in April. Faster-thanexpected consumer-price gains fueled a surge in short-end Philippine yields while benchmark Indian rates extended a rise triggered by a surprise rate hike on Wednesday.

The moves are telegraphing concerns that Asian central banks may have fallen behind the curve in addressing soaring price pressures as the war in Ukraine and China’s Covid curbs drive global prices higher. Thailand’s monetary authority has said it can look past short-term price pressures while its Philippine counterpart has been on hold for the past year.

“Market participants are signaling that they don’t believe that the Bank of Thailand will maintain the policy rate at 0.5% this year, with the two-year Thai yield signaling that the first quarterpercentage-point hike should arrive in the second half,” said Poon Panichpibool, a strategist at Krung Thai Bank Pcl in Bangkok.

Traders are betting that the Bank of Thailand will have to raise rates in the coming months as a recent increase in fuel prices translates into quicker inflation. The premium on two-year nondeliverable interest rate swaps over the policy rate has widened to 138 basis points, the highest in more than a decade.

Over in the Philippines, two-year sovereign bond yields jumped 13 basis points after a report showed consumer prices climbed at the fastest pace in over three years in April. Supply disruptions may fuel inflationary pressures, and warrant “closer monitoring to enable timely intervention in order to arrest potential second-round effects,” central bank Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said after the data was released.

Traders are also not ruling out a further increase in India’s borrowing costs after the central bank’s out-of-the-cycle rate hike on Wednesday. Yields on 10-year government bonds climbed as much as seven basis points on Thursday after ending 26 basis points higher the previous day.

Persistent price pressures are becoming more acute, particularly on food, Governor Shaktikanta Das said Wednesday, adding that there’s a risk prices stay at this level for “too long” and expectations become unanchored. Bloomberg News

HK seen hub for Chinese firms seeking ESG loans

C

HINESE companies have long turned to Hong Kong for foreign-currency borrowings. This now includes a corner of the green-debt market that’s helping to stanch the city’s overall slowdown in corporate lending.

Mainland firms last year obtained $6.7 billion of so-called sustainabilitylinked loans, which tie interest rates to corporate sustainability targets. Nearly 40 percent of the facilities were syndicated in Hong Kong, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The two SLLs signed by Chinese corporates this year, involving ESR Cayman Ltd. and Haier Group Corp., were syndicated in Hong Kong. That’s also expected for a coming deal from Syngenta Group Co., anticipated to be one of Asia’s biggest-ever ESG loans.

Hong Kong’s growing business in SLLs is helping offset sluggishness in the overall loan market. They’re 27 percent of the $13.7 billion of signed corporate lending this year by borrowers in the international finance hub, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. Last year, SLLs accounted for 9 percent of the city’s $65.4 billion of corporate loans.

Private-sector builders have been key to the $3.7 billion of signed SLLs so far in 2022, but the latest deal was a HK$4 billion ($510 million) loan to a government entity overseeing the development of a cultural district.

“Companies in Hong Kong that used to have a wait-and-see approach have become much more active in sustainable finance,” said Rose Kay, head of local corporates at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong. “We foresee a strong pipeline of issuance in Hong Kong this year from both local and Chinese companies.”

While still viewed as a niche segment within sustainable finance, SLLs are growing quickly in the region. Such borrowing by Asian companies outside of Japan last year was $52.6 billion, more than six times that in 2020. Australia and Singapore were the top markets for SLLs in 2021, followed by China and Hong Kong, according to Bloombergcompiled data.

Hong Kong has been working to establish itself as a top green-finance locale. The government is currently selling its first retail green bond, a deal potentially as large as HK$20 billion. It’s also established a grant program to cover some costs for sustainable financing of at least HK$100 million.

“Hong Kong has always been a go-to market for Chinese companies to get capital in foreign currencies, and it is good to see large Chinese corporates taking large amounts of loans with sustainable elements,” said Adnan Meraj, co-head of Asia Pacific syndicated and leveraged finance at Bank of America Corp. Bloomberg News

B4

Friday, May 6, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Relationships BusinessMirror

Ready to turn the corner

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Gabourey Sidibe, 39; George Clooney, 61; Tom Bergeron, 67; Willie Mays, 91.

PHOTO BY CAUAYAN ISLAND RESORT ON UNSPLASH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Turn your vision into something concrete. Trust and believe in yourself and what you have to offer, and call on people who can contribute and help you excel. Look at change as a new adventure, and embrace what life offers. Put your energy into what you feel passionate about, and you will leave a lasting impression on those who doubted you.

Your numbers are 4, 12, 21, 29, 35, 37, 42.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stick close to home, and don’t reveal personal information.

Put your energy into better living arrangements and lowering stress. Use experience and knowledge to overcome pitfalls you encounter. Be a good listener, and stay ahead of the competition. HH

T

HE recent hosting by the Philippines of the 21st Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council really showed how the country is so ready to warmly welcome travelers from all over the world again, with a continued strict enforcement of health and safety protocols to prevent Covid-19 infections.

According to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, during the three-day conference which attracted 1,000 participants, including over 600 international delegates, “There were no complaints from the delegates. We had a group handling health issues, so we were prepared just in case there were any medical emergencies. There were some cases like hypertension and thrombosis, but nothing Covid-related. So it’s just reassuring— of course we were all prepared for Covid-related emergencies, (but) at least it goes to show that we’re slowly going to normal.”

Coming on the heels of that international event, the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) sees only great things coming for the tourism and travel industry as members recently attended their general membership meeting, face to face for the first time in over two years. Of course, the member-hotels, many of which served as quarantine facilities for arriving overseas Filipinos, balikbayans, and returning Filipino contract workers, initially mourned the loss of this business, as pandemic restrictions for inbound travelers were lifted.

But with the downgrading from Alert Level 3 to 1 in many destinations, things are finally looking up especially in the business travel segment. HSMA chair Margie Munsayac said, “It gave us hope and it gave us direction that the business market would slowly pick up and this can be a small window of opportunity.”

The resorts in particular, she said, are also benefiting as people just want to travel, so “[they] are getting filled up especially on weekends and special holidays. And we see especially for the summer months, we are getting our occupancy. Weekends are normally full for resorts and I believe for some of the city hotels because staycations are also likewise on the rise.”

With summer bringing domestic visitors, international travelers arriving starting June, and the rebound of the MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions] market, “we remain hopeful, we remain positive that we will break through in 2022...and 2023 will be bright year for us,” said Munsayac, who is also vice president for Bluewater Resorts.

For his part, HSMA president Benjamin Martinez (Bayleaf Hotels) said other exciting projects for the group this year include the September Online Sale.

“This year, we will not only offer rooms and F&B [food and beverage] products and ancillary services, [but] also include tours being offered by your concierge and front desks,” he said.

The group will also mount the First Philippine Tourism and Hospitality Summit in November.

“Designed to be an industry flagship project, the summit aims to be a catalyst in driving and stimulating changes in the industry,” he added.

The one-day program will be a mix of keynotes, plenary sessions, panel discussions, and fireside chats. An exhibition section will also be set up that

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Time spent with a friend, relative or peer will reveal sensitive information that will clear up some of the uncertainty you face regarding your lifestyle. Assess what you want to pursue next. Physical improvements and a healthy lifestyle will energize you. HHHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A push will pay off.

Focus on accomplishments, and follow through with a positive attitude and a workable plan. Stop worrying about what others do or think; take the path that makes sense to you. Romance will enhance your life. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Channel your energy into opportunity and proceed until you are happy with what you accomplish. Look for solid investments that will give you the financial security blanket necessary to put your mind at ease. A positive change is heading your way. HHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Talk until you come to an agreement that doesn’t jeopardize your time, money or reputation. A friendly attitude will give you the edge when faced with difficult situations and people who pressure you to embrace a change you don’t care to make. HHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pitch in and do your part. The suggestions you make and the changes you bring about will have a lasting effect. Do whatever it takes to get ahead. A joint venture will improve if you share a plan that offers equal opportunities. HHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Control your emotions. Concentrate on long-term effects.

Find purpose in what you do, and it will give you peace of mind and make it easier for you to say no to offers that tempt you for the wrong reason. HH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Give your best, and you’ll get high returns.

Network, engage in events and be open to suggestions. The information you pick up will give insight into an investment with potential. A social event or reunion will lead to an exciting encounter. HHHHH

will showcase a wide array of industry suppliers.

Against a backdrop of optimism in the tourism sector, HSMA also launched the 8th Virtus Awards, which will highlight the efforts of sales and marketing professionals in the accommodations sector, now unshackled from the stringent pandemic rules implemented to prevent the spread of Covid in the country.

“It’s time to snap out of the confines that have prevented our guests from fully enjoying the essence of hotels and resorts and receiving the exciting, energizing experiences that are distinctive and customer-centered,” said hotel industry veteran and Virtus Awards chairman Rose Libongco. “HSMA will release the tension and tedious controls to serve new schemes, and it delights in pursuing fun, fantasy and new hopes to allow us to dream again,” she added.

Up for grabs are individual awards for the best Sales and Marketing Associate, Sales and Marketing Manager, and Sales and Marketing Leader. Hotels will also be vying for an institutional award for the best marketing campaign. HSMA established the Virtus Awards in 2015. The deadline for the submission of entries to the awards is on August 31. The winners will be announced during a live ceremony on October 25.

The Virtus Awards is organized by HSMA with the support of the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, and Atlantis; with the special participation of Bambunet and Kingsford Hotel Manila.

For more information on the Virtus Awards entry eligibility and requirements, visit www.hsma.org.ph. nnnn AS we go to the polls on Monday, May 9, it would be good to reflect on the past six years under the Duterte administration, and think of its accomplishments and failures, if any. We compare that to the campaign promises made, either fulfilled or broken.

With these in mind, we should able to decide what issues are most important to us when voting for our next president. Truth or lies, moral values or promised rewards, a proven track record in leadership or an imagined successful governance?

Do we vote for the convenience of connections, or the straight and narrow efficient administration of rules? Should we support honesty and transparency, or shadowy government machinations? Your vote represents your character and your highest ambitions for yourself, or your noblest aspirations and dreams for your children and your country. Vote wisely. n

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep your financial matters in check. Don’t take a risk or share expenses. Take care of your responsibilities and leave nothing undone. Clear your to-do list, and you’ll enjoy peace of mind and downtime with friends and family. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Use your imagination and share your ideas and intentions.

You’ll attract a captive audience. Don’t take a risk with your health or physical well-being. Protect against injury and illness. A change at home will lift your spirits.

HHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Slow down, savor the moment and relax in the confines of your home. Taking time out to rejuvenate will also encourage clarity regarding your next move.

Formulate a plan, and you’ll feel good about taking a leap of faith. Romance is featured. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You know what others expect from you. Put the work behind you without complaint, and move on to more enjoyable situations and pastimes. Venturing out and trying something new and exciting will stimulate the body, mind and soul. Express your feelings. HHHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are changeable, eager and helpful.

You are passionate and original.

‘stand-in’ BY SCOTT HOGAN AND CHRISTINA IVERSON The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Sleeve’s end 5 Starter dish, informally 8 Garments worn under jackets 13 Singer India.___ 14 Payment to post 16 Second-largest religion 17 Narrow stage for a musical group?

19 Teatime treat 20 It tastes like licorice 21 Letters missing from this word: _p_ropria_e 23 Athletic org. with a Tour 24 Acorn, for one 25 Where a thunder god keeps his dirty laundry?

30 Since 32 Leading in a poll 33 Is sick 34 Museum item 36 Woody Guthrie’s son 37 Whine “Please, PLEASE can I play with the green Thomas the Tank Engine character?”

40 Cookie in some pie crusts

41 42 43 45 49

Speak on a soapbox, say “I’ll have what ___ having” Spiky but soothing plants Chuckles, slangily “Check out that car’s display of stickers!”?

52 Race unit 53 “Yipes!”

54 Crash sound in a comic 55 Couldn’t not 57 Follow as a result 59 Entertainer, or a three-part hint to the shift behind 17-, 25-, 37- and 49-Across 63 Write by hand 64 Sheet on a ship 65 Rightward, on a map 66 Matches up 67 Doll or teddy 68 Insects that bury their dead DOWN 1 Poolside shelter 2 Planet that spins on its side 3 What’s done in Italy?

4 IRS agents, e.g.

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 18 22 26 27 28 29 31 35 36 37 38 39 40 42 43 44

Nickname related to Bram ___ for the course Insta posting Scenic route stop F1 neighbor In a careless way Hybrid orange fruit Ink mishaps ___ apso Furry friend, maybe Advanced deg.

Word before “empty” or “full” State with a five-sided flag Pool table’s place, informally Name that anagrams to “calmer” Least inhibited It may be inflated or bruised Fitting name for a sculptor?

Wears for a while, like new boots Activity before an exam, briefly Lack of problems Candy bar whose name ends with “!”

Goes undefeated in Lawyers’ org.

Groups (together)

46 47 48 50 51 56 58 60 61 62

Papa Greatest partner?

The “S” of ESPN Helps unlawfully Greek P Square footage Chapel Hill sch.

Gobble up Spanish for “river” Certain fishing lure

Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, May 6, 2022

B5

Dolly Parton, Eminem, Richie get into Rock Hall of Fame

Myths, murder and Marilyn Monroe “The true things rarely get into circulation. It’s usually the false things.”—Marilyn Monroe

I

WAS in a quandary. Should I continue on with my original title, Unzipped? But that was because I was reading Marlon Brando’s bio, where he brazenly “unzips” it all. Then this documentary on Marilyn Monroe comes on Netflix. If a streaming service has opted to show again a probe into the life of this actress, then this documentary must be offering something new. You know, like when a court reopens a case because there is a fresh evidence?

Time is kind to celebrities. For all the claim that history can kill and kill all over again a dead personality, that is not what happens with series or films. This case of Marilyn Monroe is proof that you could open all closets and display the skeletons there and yet, in the end, the grave of the person who owns that cabinet is never disturbed.

Who could imagine that it has been 60 years after the death of this woman, dubbed as the sex symbol of the 1950s and the early 1960s? With her demise attributed to drug overdose, Anthony Summers, the biographer noted for Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe, revisits the case of Monroe. Online, some fans and admirers note how there is really nothing new in this re-investigation. Summers and his filmmaker, Emma Cooper, however, look into the tapes that the former used for his book and more. Actors lip-sync the voices that come out from the cassette recording.

What would have been a ponderous exercise in listening becomes a lived act with persons from

Monroe’s life and career—from “Jane Russell,” Monroe’s co-actress in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, to “John Huston,” the formidable director who helmed The Misfits, based on the screenplay by Arthur Miller, who was then the husband of Marilyn Monroe. The film starred Clark Gable, Monroe and another famous tortured soul, Montgomery Clift.

More voices are fleshed out in the documentary.

We have Billy Wilder who directed Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot, a critically acclaimed film which landed in the list of the Library of Congress in 1989 as one of the first 25 films selected for preservation.

This puts to rest the media hype painting the actress as another dumb blonde. We get to listen also to Monroe’s psychiatrist, Ralph Greenson, as well as his son and family by way of the documentary.

The result of the taped words being now spoken by actors selected for their physical similarity to those who owned the voices is an engaging presentation where history is made present. This, at least, is a major contribution of the film. Not the old conspiracy theory about the Kennedys—John and Robert, the US President and the US Attorney-General, respectively—and not the witchhunt matter anymore.

Nothing it seems could ever be resuscitated. This is not because we—admirers and believers in justice— do not seek a redress of what happened. The period involving the Kennedys, the Cold War, the Cuban conflicts are derelicts of the past that do not impact our world anymore. It is a sad epilogue to the ‘60s, an era that ushered in massive changes and a shift in the appraisal of persons and societies.

We are, of course, startled at three “facts” presented: the first illustrating the actress’s housekeeper discovering the lifeless body at 3 in the morning and calling thereafter Monroe’s psychiatrist; the second, which shows a call made to the Monroe’s PR person at about 10 in the evening as narrated by the wife of that individual, indicating that the death transpired much earlier than the early morning report; and, the third “fact” where another man states how an ambulance was called to the house of Marilyn Monroe to fetch her but with the actress dying on the way to the hospital and being brought back to

her home. Who were the people in the house when Marilyn Monroe had the overdose, or when she was carried into an ambulance, or when she was found dead? Was she murdered?

Who removed the things related to the Kennedy brothers in the house? Did the FBI have a hand in the tragedy? These and many more remain mysterious.

In the documentary, the alleged relationship of Marilyn Monroe with John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy is almost treated as a given. The years have contributed to the loss of the patina of grand gossip from that tale. Interesting how history and forgetfulness can save us all from indictment. Or lack of concern for the lives of others.

What is moving about the documentary is Marilyn Monroe herself. She seems to have two distinct personalities: the showbiz denizen, her voice whispery and flirtatious and the ordinary human being, the more beautiful persona of this unforgettable woman. Onstage and onscreen, she sizzles. In an earlier footage, for example, she sings a love song in a longing manner, without the affectations taught her as consisting of money notes.

Then we see clips of her warbling showtunes littered with double-entendre like “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” and “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” That is the Marilyn Monroe we love to imagine.

Somewhere in the documentary, she comes out with her attorney to announce her separation from a husband and excuses herself nearly weeping. In another interview, a reporter asks if she is happy. She looks at the one fielding the question, pauses a bit as if contemplating the meaning of happiness, and says yes. Then she looks down, splendid in loneliness and aloneness. This is the Marilyn Monroe of true mystery, the person this world never gave a chance to live.

This, it seems, is not the end to our fascination of tragic characters. There is a Monroe biopic, an adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’s Blonde coming to Netflix. In it, Ana de Armas, a Bond girl, plays Norma Jean/Marilyn Monroe. Brad Pitt is the film’s producer.

Meanwhile, The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes is streaming on Netflix. n

EMINEM, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Duran Duran and Pat Benatar have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a list that also includes Dolly Parton, who initially resisted the honor.

The honorees—voted on by more than 1,000 artists, historians and music industry professionals—“each had a profound impact on the sound of youth culture and helped change the course of rock ‘n’ roll,” said John Sykes, the chairman of the Rock Hall, in a statement on Wednesday.

Parton had gone on social media to “respectfully bow out” of the process, saying she did not want to take votes away from the remaining nominees and had not “earned that right.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation responded by saying ballots had already been sent and it was up to the voters to decide if Parton was elected. Parton later said she would accept an induction.

In its citation, the hall called Parton “a living legend and a paragon of female empowerment,” adding that “her crossover success broadened the audience for country music and expanded the horizons for countless artists who followed.”

To be eligible, artists are required to have released their first record 25 years prior to induction. Parton, Richie, Simon and Duran Duran were selected on their first go-round. Simon was a first-time nominee this year more than 25 years after becoming eligible. Eminem becomes the 10th hip-hop act to be inducted, making the cut on his first ballot.

Richie, a former member of The Commodores whose illustrious solo career includes pop classics like “Endless Love,” “All Night Long” and “Hello,” said being elected to the hall “is an incredible honor.” He thanked voters and fans on Instagram and said: “Congratulations to all of my fellow 2022 inductees!”

The hall also announced Wednesday that Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are getting the award for musical excellence, and that Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotten will be honored with the Early Influence Award.

Other artists and groups that failed this year for induction in the performer category are A Tribe Called Quest, Rage Against the Machine, Dionne Warwick, Beck, Kate Bush, DEVO, Fela Kuti, MC5 and the New York Dolls.

Parton is most associated with country music and is in the Country Hall of Fame, but she has performed songs with a rock feel. Artists who have made both the Rock Hall and Country Hall of Fame include Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Hank Williams and the Everly Brothers.

The induction ceremony will be held November 5 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP

DOLLY PARTON performs in concert on July 31, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. AP

GMA Pictures signs promising deal with Viva Films THE public is in for another treat when it comes to their favorite movies and shows starring the most in-demand stars in the industry as GMA Pictures officially signed a joint venture agreement with Viva Films on April 29.

Present during the virtual signing were GMA Network Films president and programming consultant to the chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes; and first vice president for program management department Jose Mari R. Abacan.

In attendance from Viva were Viva Communications chairman and CEO Vicente del Rosario Jr. and president and COO Vincent del Rosario, Viva Artists Agency president and COO Veronique del Rosario-Corpus, and Viva Communications SVP for content creation and development Valerie S. del Rosario.

Gozon-Valdes shares how this event strengthens the bond between the two giants in filmmaking: “We’ve done a lot of movies in the past together, and sa TV marami na rin tayong nagawa with Viva and all have been successful. Whenever we work with Viva, it’s always a joy and everything runs very smoothly.

We love partnering with them. This joint venture agreement just strengthens our partnership, so we hope to able to give the viewers quality movies, especially with theaters starting to open and people starting to go to the cinema. We will be able to give

CLOCKWISE: GMA Network Films president and programming consultant to the chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes and first vice president for program management department Jose Mari R. Abacan, Viva Communications SVP for content creation and development Valerie S. del Rosario, president and COO Vincent del Rosario; and chairman and CEO Vicente del Rosario Jr. and Viva Artists Agency president and COO Veronique del Rosario-Corpus.

them new movies with new casting combinations so hintayin nila ’yun.”

Abacan expresses his excitement as well with the consistent partnership with Viva: “Matagal na kaming gumagawa ng pelikula together. This time, pinaiigting lang namin ang partnership with Viva para mas makadami tayo ng content na gagawin, and hopefully this movie partnership will actually grow into other platforms.”

Del Rosario Jr. considers GMA an ally in providing quality content to the Filipino audience: “We’ve been talking about this even during the height of the pandemic. It’s good that we’ve finalized a new agreement. We’ve done a lot of films with GMA and all were very successful. This is just a continuation of that previous good venture with them. I’d like to say that this is a very strong partnership, and hopefully we create a lot of good movies combining the great talents of GMA and Viva.”

Lastly, Vincent del Rosario is grateful for GMA Network’s endless trust in Viva Films: “We’re very excited with the partnership. We’ve been working with GMA for a long time. The exciting part is to be able to work with friends like Annette and Joey because we have the same creative wavelength.

Hopefully, this partnership is the start of the many projects that we’ll be doing together.”

B6 Friday, May 6, 2022

Franchising to drive BEXCS Logistic’s expansion binge

‘Residents in the Calabarzon region to more than double within 2050’

T

HE recently concluded 2022 Calabarzon Business Conference last April 28, has been a great success for local and international businesses and investors. Would the Calabarzon region strengthen its leadership as the manufacturing and industrial hub of the Philippines? That was the lead question of the well-attended virtual event. The conference was spearheaded by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) along with other EU Chambers from France, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands and the Nordic Countries.

The main topics discussed during the event were the economic growth of Calabarzon which exceeds most other

regions of the country, as Neda underlined, and major infrastructure projects, partially funded by ADB, are equipping the region with strategic assets in the transport & logistics sector. As a consequence, property and land development are a particularly interesting opportunity which real estate developers like IDC and Havitas have grasped successfully. In addition Arch.

Jun Palafox has disclosed the results of his recent study in which he predicts that the residents of Calabarzon will grow from 16 to 37 million by 2050.

This astonishing information is at the same time the greatest opportunity for many companies, investors and professionals to engage business in this particularly flourishing part of the

Philippines. Arch. Palafox underlines that this population growth translates into 21 cities or 84 towns. As Italpinas Development Corporation builds Miramonti Residences in Sto Tomas, Batangas so Havitas does in Tagaytay and many other investors and developers are flocking into the area to take advantage of this economic boom.

SPPI President Richard Osmond, who definitely has a feel for all the incoming locators of the area being part of the biggest industrial park development company of the Philippines, vouches blindly for his industrial park’s location, eco-awareness and safety, being flood-free and in a protected environment.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines has an important role in the Calabarzon region and spearheads various activities and projects from north to south. These regional development business conferences are part of a series of events held in various regions in order to invite local stakeholders to connect to the international market and European investors.

More information can be obtained by writing to info@iccpi.org.ph.

The Wishfuls holds first live event after the pandemic

T

HE Wishfuls brought the house down with their soulful rendition of love songs, mostly by Joey Albert, on the first day of May 2022, at the New Frontier Theater. The all-female musical talents of BMPI-Wish FM Artists successfully held their first live concert after the pandemic to the delight of their fans and followers and music lovers alike.

The Wishfuls is composed of Princess Sevillena-Cabatu (Wishcovery Season 1 grand champion) Rhea Basco (Wishcovery Season 2 grand champion) Kimberly Baluzo (Rak of Aegis lead star) Louie Anne Culala (Wishcovery Season 1 2nd runner-up) Ace Bartolome (LGBT and Wishcovery Season 1 4th runner-up).

The Wish Date Concert: Forever Will Remain, was organized

by KDR Music House, the event arm of Wish 107.5. KDR Music House is a music publishing, talent management, and event production company that is home to talented singers and songwriters. KDR takes music to the world through digital platforms and social media.

Social enterprises team up to pay tribute to Moms and cover full spectrum of love

I

t is that time of the year again when we celebrate the efforts of the very person whose unconditional, unbeatable love binds our families together: our super moms.

To elevate the usual gift options for Mother’s Day, leading farm-to-table platform Mayani.ph collaborates with premium bean-to-bar chocolate maker Auro Chocolate and key social enterprises GAAN and Agrabah by curating special potted flowers and plants collection with names symbolizing the different kinds of motherly love.

Every gift is composed of farm fresh flowers elegantly nested and arranged

in terracotta bowls from GAAN’s artisan pottery community in Pampanga. All are paired with a limited edition Mayani and Auro co-branded Heritage Collection Chocolate Set: 5 chocolate bars from roasted white to premium dark.

“We wanted to come up with customized gifts that not only transcend the conventional considerations for Mother’s Day, but also hone in on our enduring model of creating impact

A MOTHER’S love is unique, nurturing, and all-encompassing. Bride and Breakfast Founder Janna Simpao is seen here in a heartwarming moment with her daughter.

for different stakeholders through partnerships: the cut-flower farmers, cacao growers, and artisan pot makers,” says Lance Villanueva, the Co-Founder & Chief of Fulfillment of Mayani.

Known for its thrust of providing a broader and more stable market for smallholder farmers and fisherfolks, Mayani also works strategically with the likes of the Department of Trade & Industry in expanding its impact footprint across more regions in the Philippines.

Prim Paypon, the Co-Founder and Curator of GAAN, elaborates on the underlying thought and curation process for the collection.

“For Mother’s Day, we thought of celebrating our mother’s unwavering love and remarkable labor to their children from birth to adulthood.

We want to celebrate the loving labor of their hands, from guiding their children to take their first step to creating wonderful meals on their family’s table,” he explains.

“For this campaign, we named each flower arrangement from how we recall and cherish our own memories with our life’s first greatest woman,” Paypon adds.

The curated bundles are available for pre-order at www.mayani.ph/ MOM until May 5. Deliveries within Metro Manila will happen on the morning of May 8. Special promos are also available when paid via GrabPay and various credit card partners.

BEXCS Logistic’s grand launch is attended by PCCI President George Barcelon (right); PCCI Honorary Chair Ma. Alegria “Bing” Sibal Limjoco (2nd from right), who's also the Vice Chair of Philippine Franchise Association and CEO of Francorp Philippines; BEXCS President Marjorey Medina-Rubio (2nd from left); and BEXCS Vice President Rodel Rubio (left).

B

EXCS Logistic Solutions Inc. is riding the robust logistics growth in the country with the launch of its franchising program to fuel the company’s expansion binge.

The end-to-end logistics service provider is seeking to establish 360 branches around the country this year through its groundbreaking franchising scheme under the stewardship of Francorp Philippines.

BEXCS is confident that its model will lead to more growth opportunities for the company and its partners, with the logistics industry poised to grow 8 percent in 2022 and a CAGR of 7.2 percent over the next five years driven by e-commerce.

BEXCS Logistic president Marjorey Medina Rubio said its expansion program will

also greatly benefit its clients as it would lead to reduced prices for its services.

“If we have more reach in different provinces, if we have more hubs, then, we would be able to provide more competitive rates for our clients,” she stressed. With its franchising program in full swing, Rubio said BEXCS expects to add another 240 to 300 branches to its nationwide network in 2023.

BEXCS Logistic Solutions, Inc., which started as Bulacan Express Courier Services in 2019, was launched on April 29 with the theme “Towards the Golden Age of Logistics” highlighting BEXCS Franchise and BEXCS Worldwide Ecommerce at The New Performing Arts at Resorts world Manila in Pasay City.

BEXCS currently has 10 branches in Luzon, offering express delivery; international shipping (import or export); land, air, and sea cargo; and warehouse and inventory management mostly to small and medium enterprises. Its outlets also serve as a remittance and payment centers.

The BEXCS executive said the franchising model they developed with the help of Francorp Philippines is suited for both new entrepreneurs and those experienced in the logistics business. Francorp Philippines is the country’s premier and leading franchise consulting firm which has developed over 600 local and global franchise brands.

To support its expansion plan, BEXCS is also launching its own mobile app. It is now also working with Japan’s Denba in developing a cold storage product for motorcycles to help preserve the food and prevent spoilage while in transit.

Cynos and CND provide self-care gift list for moms

M

OTHER’S Day is just around the corner, and as busy as it may seem with the 2022 Election coming up in the Philippines, Mother’s Day is an event that you should never miss. That's the reason two of the biggest brands in self-care listed their best products to fit your cart. Don’t miss out on expert tips that will surely bring so much joy to our ultimate superhero, Mom! Kerasilk Keratin Treatment Shampoo (280ml) is non-sodium chloride formulation providing a perfect environment that cleanses and repairs processed hair. It is guaranteed to maintain the perfect smoothness and longlasting keratin treatment effect on hair.

Kerasilk Keratin Treatment Conditioner (280ml) delivers superior conditioning and prismatic shine to hair after Keratin treatment.

This is especially formulated with a moisture replenishing system to infuse rich nutrition to every hair shaft, making hair healthy and shiny.

Take mom to a salon makeover and ask your Stylist about Kerasilk Keratin Treatment Shampoo and Conditioner or visit their official online store @ newsummitcolors.com.

Cynos Argan Oil (100ml and 50ml) is known as the liquid gold. Morocco Argan Oil is a luxurious pampering treatment enriched with essential fatty acids and Omega 6 ensuring functions of repair defense of the hair and skin.

This multi-use innovative treatment can be used on the hair, face, body and nails.

Take mom to a relaxing massage and ask your therapist to apply Cynos Morocco Argan Oil after the spa session.

CND’s SOLAROIL™️ is an award-winning cuticle oil that is infused with jojoba oil and vitamin E. Repeated use drives nutrients in deeper, creating stronger, healthier nails and hydrated cuticle area. Take mom to a nail sesh at Nail Addik’s newly opened branch at SM Bacoor to receive a 20% off on all regular services, and ask their nail professional about CND’s solaroil or visit their Lazada Flagship Store ‘New Summit Colors’ With everything on your hands until May 8, find a special day to celebrate Mother’s Day with your no. 1 fan and the woman who will never stop loving you!

Cebu tower completion timed to catch rising economic activity

D

ESPITE setbacks in Q1 2022 due to the Omicron COVID variant, the ITBPM sector is expected to continue expanding in 2022 to 1.8 million Full-Time Employees (FTEs) from 1.69 million FTEs in 2021 – with both Metro Manila and provincial locations benefiting from the sustained growth, according to a recent study of Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC).

Keenly anticipating that growth are building owners like Johndorf Ventures

LEADING the topping off ceremony were Johndorf officers Frances Abegail Lim, Norma Tan-Lim (first and second from left), CFO Patrick Lim, Raymond Lim, Genevieve Lim, Frances Dominique Lim ( seventh to 10th from left). Also at the ceremony were: David Leechiu of Leechiu Property Consultants, Jonn Aldo Ling of JSLA, Manuel Mendoza of Monocrete Construction Philippines Inc., Franz Zeiebert of Design Coordinates, Inc.

Corporation, a leading developer in the Visayas-Mindanao region all set in 2023 to complete its LEED-certified Johndorf Tower at the Cebu Business Park, a preferred destination for both IT-BPM, multinational and local firms on expansion mode.

Firms operating in VisMin observe that 2021’s Covid lockdowns had less of an impact on economies in the South where most workers have already returned to the office.

They are thus better prepared to make the most of opportunities such as a high projected demand for office spaces in the next six months throughout the country. The LPC study notes that live requirements for office spaces likely to be completed in the next two quarters are among the highest they have ever been in any quarter since the pandemic began.

Johndorf Tower’s unique attraction is that it will be the first building to be completed from now up to 3Q 2023 in the prestigious Cebu Business Park, the most established masterplanned business district in the Visayan metropolis. It will offer a gross leasable area of 17,860 sqm. and floor plates which typically measure 1,400 sqm.

Both IT-BPM, multinational and expanding local firms are further attracted to Cebu among other provincial capitals because of its rich labor pool and infrastructure including an efficient electric grid independent of Metro Manila’s. Moreover, Cebu’s proximity to wellknown tourist destinations like Mactan, Bohol and Dumaguete make it more attractive to executive decision-makers.

Johndorf Tower is located on CBP’s main thoroughfare, Mindanao Avenue, and is easily accessible to transport lines servicing all the major residential areas of the city.

Sports BusinessMirror

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Editor: Jun Lomibao

PHL SEA GAMES BID KICKS OFF IN HANOI

Chef de mission Fernandez lifts Filipino bets’ morale, confidence

H

ANOI—Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ramon Fernandez boosted the confidence of Filipino athletes in beach handball, kickboxing and men’s football who will start competing in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Friday.

Fernandez, Team Philippines chef de mission to the Games, visited the athletes in their billeting areas and inspired them “to compete at the highest level and make the country proud.”

“Our athletes have prepared well for the SEA Games, and I trust that all of them will put in their best effort to deliver those medals,” Fernandez said.

PSC staff distributed the allowances of the athletes and coaches and assured that the government sports agency will assist them with all their needs.

Teams in women’s football, kurash, judo, rowing and diving are arriving on Friday, six days before the opening ceremony on May 12.

The PSC is funding the participation of the 841-strong Philippine delegation composed of 641 athletes and 208 officials who are competing in 38 of the 40 sports on the Games program.

Team Philippines is the defending overall champion with its haul of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronzes medals in the 2019 edition.

UST, National U book tight victories as UAAP women’s volleyball returns

U

NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) swept Far Eastern University (FEU), 25-23, 2520, 25-21, and rookie-laden National University (NU) dispatched Adamson University, 25-15, 25-23, 25-18, as University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 84 women’s volleyball action returns after a two-year hiatus on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Eya Laure finished with 14 points—13 from attacks—and made nine excellent digs and Cams Victoria converted 11 attacks to 12 points for the Golden Tigresses.

“We’re a bit shaky, but good thing we won,” UST head coach Kungfu Reyes said. “We had several unforced errors which we need to correct.”

Magi Mangulabnan delivered two consecutive aces while Laure put on the finishing touches in a 5-1 rally that handed the Golden Tigresses their biggest lead at 17-7 in the third set.

The Lady Tamaraws did not go down without a fight with Jean Asis delivering a quick attack to slice UST’s advantage to 18-22. But that proved to be it for FEU as Laure and Ysa Jimenez punched in the finishing blows.

UST lost Imee Hernandez in the middle of the opening set with the score at 12-9 after a bad landing caused her to sprain her left ankle.

She had four points before the injury.

Kecelyn Galdones also had four, while Mangulabnan dished out 15 excellent sets for the Golden Tigresses to go along with four points. Bernadette Pepito had 12 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.

Lycha Ebon punched nine points with six excellent digs, Nikka Medina added eight points and Chenie Tagaod had seven points for FEU. After trailing by three points in the third set, Mhicaela Belen converted from the back while Ivy Lacsina scored an ace to hand the Lady Bulldogs a seven-point, 23-16, advantage.

Alyssa Solomon’s hit went long in the following play while Lorene Toring dropped one in to cut the lead down to five for the Lady Falcons before Sheena Toring and Princess Robles iced the win for NU. “We’re glad we won, but we need to improve on many aspects of our game,” NU head coach Karl Dimaculangan said. “We need to adjust immediately for our next matches.”

The six-foot Solomon topped scoring for the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points on 11 attacks, three blocks and an ace. Belen converted 13 attacks to 14 points while Princess Robles collected 12 points, eight excellent digs and five excellent receptions.

Camilla Lamina dished out 15 excellent sets laced with a point while Jennifer Nierva had 14 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions also for NU. Sheena Toring made eight points for NU, with Trisha Genesis settling for only four points and Louie Romero with 10 excellent sets.

UST takes on University of the East at 6 p.m. while battles University of the Philippines earlier on Saturday at 4 p.m. NU squares off with Ateneo at 10 a.m. while Adamson Umniversity meets De La Salle at 12 noon on Thursday.

Friday, May 6, 2022 B7

T

HE opening ceremony for the 31st Southeast Asian Games are due on Thursday but two Philippine teams— football and beach handball—plunge into competition in separate venues on Friday.

The men’s beach handball squad faces Thailand at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Tuan Chau Resort Ha Long in Quang Ninh, while the football team battles Timor Leste in Group A action set for 4 p.m. at the 20,000-seating Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho. Both are Hanoi times.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino wished the beach handball and men’s football athletes good luck as they start the country’s bid to defend its overall title in the SEA Games that were originally scheduled last November but were postponed because of the pandemic.

“To our ‘Fighting Team Philippines,’ I wish you good luck,” said Tolentino, who’ll fly to Hanoi on Wednesday, a day before the opening ceremony at the 40,000-seat My Dinh Stadium, the same venue where Vietnam opened its initial hosting of the biennial games in 2003.

Tolentino, however, reminded the 665-strong Team Philippines to stay safe from Covid-19. Three athletes tested positive after their RT-PCR tests and according to Tolentino, two of them were cleared after a second test while the third has yet to yield a negative result. Their identities and sports were not disclosed.

Formalities for the kickboxing events also start with the medical examinations, weigh-in and technical meetings on Friday with the competitions set for Sunday at the Bac Ninh stadium, some 100 kms away from the main hub Hanoi.

Philippine Handball Federation coach and training director Joanna Franquelli said the target is to improve on the bronze medal finish at the 2019 SEA Games in Subic.

“We have a chance for another podium finish but everything is unpredictable,” Franquelli said on

PHILIPPINE Sports Commissioner Ramon Fernandez (standing, fourth from left), also the chef de mission to the games, strikes a pose with the members of the national beach handball team in Hanoi on Thursday.

Thursday. “I’m just hoping we execute our game plan against anybody.”

After Thailand, the Philippines faces Vietnam on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Singapore on Sunday at 4 p.m. On May 9, the Philippines will again meet Thailand also at 4 p.m., then Vietnam the following day at 5 p.m. and Singapore on the last day at 4 p.m.

The 10-member team is composed of Jamael Pangandaman, Josef Maximillan Valdez, Mark Vincent Dubouzet, Andrew Michael Harris, Rey Joshua Tabuzo, Manuel Lasangue Jr., Dhane Miguelle Varela, Van Jacob Baccay, John Michael Pasco and Daryoush Zandi.

They are also coached by Aurora Adriano, Luzviminda Pacubas and Tomas Luis Telan.

The beach handball final is set on May 11.

The Azkals under-23 team of head coach Norman Fegidero are up

for a stiff challenge from defending champion Vietnam on Sunday at 8 p.m., followed Myanmar on Tuesday at 4 p.m. They play indonesia on May 13 at 4 p.m. to conclude the group stage.

Football competitions in the SEA Games is restricted to under-23 but each country could field two athletes from its seniors squad.

Stephan Schrock, 35, and Joven Bedic Hervas, 31, lead the team composed of Enrique Fernandez, Enrico Alañanon, Scott Philip Galang, Francis Palogan, Jaime Domingo, Christian Mangaron, Sandro Miguel Sison, Geri Veliganio, Jacob Reyes, Matt Ocampo, Miguel Antonio Pangcog, Quincy Boltron, Jayvee Solon, Yrick Rapisura, Jermi Navarro, Dennis Salazar, Oliver Saludares, and Oskari Kekkonen.

The Philippines is hoping to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1991.

THE rookie-laden Lady Bulldogs and Growling Tigress Eya Laure celebrate their victories against different opponents.

ROAD CYCLING TRAINING CAMP

Members of the Philippine National Cycling Team for Road bound for the Vietnam 31st Southeast Asian Games make a courtesy call to Mangatarem Mayor Ramil Ventenilla, who is hosting the PhilCycling Training Camp for Road. The team is led by former SEA Games gold medalists Mark John Lexer Galedo, Jermyn Prado and Marella Vania Salamat and coached

by Ednalyn Hualda and Reinhard Gorantes. The PhilCycling is headed by Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, also president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

D

E LA SALLE University tries again to spoil University of the Philippines’s (UP) season as the Green Archers and Fighting Maroons square off in a no-tomorrow Final Four decided on Friday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 84 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The game is set at 6 p.m. with De La Salle hoping to totally render useless UP’s twice-to-beat advantage as the No. 2 seed in the semifinals.

“I believe we just tied the series, and of course, the momentum will be on our side, but we just have to make use of that advantage, the momentum,” Pumaren said. “We just can’t come in there, and just play because

we have that momentum.”

The momentum was the Green Archers’ 83-80 victory that neutralized the Fighting Maroons’ edge two nights ago.

The Fighting Maroons were coming off an 84-83 win over Ateneo to close the elimination phase, sending its Katipunan neighbor to its first defeat in 39 UAAP games dating back to three years ago, “We know that UP is capable of coming back because they’re not the No. 2 team if they’re not capable, so we expect them to play a lot better,” Pumaren said. “But it’s our job to hold that, and to counter and react to what they have.”

Evan Nelle is one of De La Salle’s marked men after he made 26 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the field that went with seven assists, six rebounds and

three steals in Wednesday night’s game.

Justin Baltazar returned from a right ankle sprain to score 15 points along with 18 rebounds and two blocks for the Green Archers.

UP Coach Goldwyn Monteverde said they have to move on after that forgettable Wednesday loss.

“There’s no time to blame each other so all we need to do is be ready and bounce back on Friday’s game,” Monteverde said.

Malick Diouf and Ricci Rivero had 18 points for UP last Wednesday. CJ Cansino missed Wednesday’s game because of a bone bruise and will be a game time decision, according to Monteverde.

Ateneo is already in the Finals following its 85-72 win over Far Eastern University in the other Final Four match late Wednesday.

T

HE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is talking expansion and its talking about entertaining not one, but two more teams to add to its current 12-squad roster.

PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas revealed that one company, which he withheld revealing, is interested to join the league that turns 47 years old in its coming season in June.

But maintaining a league with an odd numbered roster is complicated than having an even numbered membership.

“There’s one team that is strongly interested to join but we cannot expand to 13 because it will be more difficult to manage,” Vargas said on Thursday. “So the board agreed that maybe, we should look at expanding to 14.”

Talks of expansion were raised during the PBA board of governors’ strategic planning session on Boracay Island last weekend.

Vargas said adding two more teams will be a potential addition to revenues for the league, which was not spared of the economic knockdown at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

The PBA accepted Kia (now Terrafirma) and Blackwater as expansion teams in 2014. Air21 Express sold its franchise to NLEX on the same year and only recently, Converge bought the now disbanded Alaska’s slot.

Josef Ramos

Cebu, Manila Chooks squads seeing action in Mongolia 3x3

DE LA SALLE, UP IN DO-OR-DIE GAME

By Josef Ramos

PBA eyeing two expansion teams

C ATENEO’S SJ Belangel hugs Far Eastern University’s RJ Abarrientos, teammates at the national men’s pool program, after their Final Four game on Wednesday night. The Blue Eagles won, 85-72, to advance to the best-of-three Finals— against either De La Salle or University of the Philippines—that start on Sunday.

HOOKS-TO-GO Pilipinas 3x3 squads Cebu and Manila Chooks flew to Mongolia on Wednesday evening to compete in the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) 3x3 Ulaanbaatar Super Quest.

The Level 8 FIBA 3x3 tournament is set Friday and Saturday with the pool stages taking place on opening day and the knockout playoffs on the last day.

Mongolian teams Ulaanbaatar, Zaisan, Sansa, and Amgalan and Japanese squad Yokohama are also competing.

Cebu Chooks is made up of top Philippines players Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, Brandon Ramirez and Cameroonian Mike Nzeusseu, while Manila Chooks has Chico Lanete,

Dennis Santos, Ron Dennison and Nigerian Henry Iloka.

Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas thank the Mongolia organizing committee for helping secure the visas of Nzeusseu and Iloka. The two almost did not make the trip.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to the organizers for their swift action in helping hasten the process of getting the visas of Mike Harry and Henry,” Mascariñas said. “That act showed that 3x3 is more than just a competition, it’s a brotherhood.”

Cebu is grouped with Ulaanbaatar, which the team faces at 8:30 on Friday, Amgalan (4:50 p.m.) and Yokohama (5:40 p.m.) in Pool A.

B8 Friday, May 6, 2022

Motoring BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Maxus G50 proves it can do ‘Max more’

W

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

HEN Maxus Philippines ushered in the G50 late last year, the compact MPV presented itself as a multi-purpose vehicle embodiment’s ‘do-it-all’ attitude. Available in four variants (1.3T Comfort, 1.5T Pro, 1.5T Elite, and 1.5T Premium), all carry the slogan and can do “Max more.” Moreover, it’s infused with the brand’s 124 years of British-bred heritage, global expertise, and experience in light commercial vehicles.

During the hosted drive event by Maxus Philippines, we tested the two middle variants, Pro and Elite, and drove them to Subic, Olongapo. The overall 350-kilometer drive to the famous destination and back to Magallanes, Makati, was extensive enough for the vehicle to reveal its assets including the technical simulations to demonstrate its safety reliability.

Modern-day MPV inside and out

The G50’s modern design, features, and value proposition target young entrepreneurs seeking an all-in-one vehicle. The MPV suits professionals in need of weekend leisure ride with the entire household.

Exterior-wise, the front boasts the brand’s signature design cues—prominent grille, brand logo, and keen-looking projector-type headlamps integrated with DRLs. Interestingly, the vehicle could pass for a small van if Maxus installed a sliding rear door along with the frame’s high roofline and a large tailgate. The only few differences between the Pro and Elite are the grille finish, roof rail, and rim size. At a glance, these variations are even negligible.

Inside, front occupants would relish the dashboard’s modern design approach. Keyless entry and ignition start are both available on the variants we tested. There are clustered controls in each place for easy access, and there are cup holders all over. The

touch-operated infotainment system sits at the center (12-inch for Elite and eight-inch for the Pro) with Bluetooth connectivity and a 360-degree view camera. Both versions have an electronic park brake, while the auto-climate aircon is standard to the Elite.

Nevertheless, we like the Pro’s light-colored fabric seats, sidings, and light-brown under dash finish giving that neat and refreshing ambiance. On the other hand, The Elite is on the sporty side with dark trims, sidings, and leather seats.

When it comes to cabin space, this is what the G50 impressed us the most. For a compact MPV, the vehicle boasts an eight-seating capacity. It is where the frame’s van-like elements factor in. Having a leveled flooring and high roofline overwhelms the headroom, particularly the last row. The absence of bulky side trims also provided lateral space to accommodate three passengers. Truth be told, headroom compensates for full-seating capacity and better air circulation inside.

Moreover, Maxus even provided a separate rear aircon switch and controller for the rear passenger’s delight.

Blissful drive

First to test was the Pro variant, and immediately the light-themed interior provided an excellent head start despite the rush hour traffic ahead. The elevated seating configuration gave that comfy with a good vantage

The fleet of Maxus G50 MPV in Subic, Olongapo

point. As soon as we reached the elevated highway up to the expressway, everything became blissful. The level of cabin noise suppression is superb for its size, even at highspeed limits. That is a definite plus factor, particularly for rear passengers. As for the ride, it leans toward the comfort side with fewer tire rebounds.

Having a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine generating 167 hp 250 N-m of maximum torque on paper at our disposal, we already knew what the vehicle was capable of, delivery-wise. However, the engine’s response depends on the paired seven-speed auto DCT’s settings. Since the eco mode is by default, constant upshifting was evident to achieve lower engine speed.

Moving the shifter to sport mode became necessary to keep the rpm higher and within the optimum range whenever the situation necessitates a quick throttle response.

We further played around with the gears on the same shift lever position using the available sequential mode. This option became beneficial not only for accelerating but also for engine braking. Starting above the lower range is the sweet spot to feel that boosted torque. Occasional ascents became manageable, and we liked how responsive the steering was on constant bends. We reached the venue in Subic feeling relaxed.

Peace of mind, convenience, and technical demonstration

Safety-wise, the Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), and Hill Hold Control (HHC) are all standard across the board, even with the entry-level variant 1.3T Comfort with a manual gearbox. There is also Tire Pressure Monitoring System for the 1.5T DCT variants. How about that?

While in Subic, we also went through technical driving exercises to demonstrate the

The premium variant’s modern dashboard layout.

G50’s ability to handle extreme driving situations utilizing ESP and EBA safety features.

There were various stages to mimic specific extreme situations. In the first phase, we went through a path with watered linoleum on one side to mimic a sudden slippery road encounter. We slammed the brake pedal to simulate panic braking upon reaching the wet portion on full-throttle acceleration. The ESP and EBA managed the vehicle to maintain control and avoided veering and skidding outside the lane.

The next phase was about panic braking during a tight turn. Again, after going on full-throttle acceleration, we slammed on the brake pedal while turning. Impressively, the vehicle stopped momentarily and avoided veering towards the outer lane. Experiencing the demonstration convinced us how reliable was the G50’s ESP and EBA safety features.

SUBWAY SWING ON; HONDA-DUALTECH PACT

W

HILE we were “asleep,” the subway system for Metro Manila was launched without much fanfare.

In case you haven’t noticed, it began in 2018.

Its first phase will be between Valenzuela City and Naia (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in Pasay City.

Once completed, the 27-km underground railway ride will drastically cut travel time from the current one hour and 10 minutes to only about 35 minutes for about 370,000 passengers daily.

In a statement, the Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency) said the subway project consisting of 15 stations will be undertaken by the DOTr (Department of Transportation), with completion target slated in November 2027.

“The subway will accommodate the increasing transportation needs and alleviate serious traffic congestion in Metro Manila,” Jica said. “The DOTr has already executed and started work for contracts on consulting services, civil works, trains and electromechanical systems. Remaining civil works contracts are expected to be procured and awarded soon.”

The first loan tranche of more than P46 billion for the subway took effect in 2018.

The second loan tranche of P112 billion was signed in February this year; it will finance construction of stations, underground

tunnels between stations, depot and other public works, procurement of rail systems and rolling stocks, as well as consulting for tender assistance, construction supervision and transit-oriented development support.

Said Eigo Azukizawa, Jica’s chief representative in the Philippines: “This second loan tranche is not only representative of the headway that this flagship project has achieved, but also an evidence of the Philippines and Japan’s solid partnership to expanding railway infrastructure and enhancing the country’s connectivity under its ‘Build, Build, Build’ program.’’

Once completed, the breakthrough subway, with a total budget of around P357 billion, will immensely redound to the benefit of our thousands of Metro Manila commuters.

Let’s pray the next administration won’t spoil the party.

Honda and Dualtech

HONDA and Dualtech teamed up recently to hone the technical skills of select students taking up Electromechanics Technology.

Dualtech is a non-profit technical-vocational school that provides in-school training with actual industry practice. Its partnership with Honda will benefit the students because their training will include the use of Honda’s facilities, and they will be coached by globally trained Honda Service Technical Associates.

Then the next couple of stages went through chicanes that showcased the vehicle’s agility and steering response until the final exercise. We also tested the 360-degree view while backing up and only relying on the display screen.

Proven “Max more”

The G50 is an example of how to deviate from the traditional vehicle segment in terms of body configuration while adopting essential elements from another to fill in the gaps.

While it sits below the largest MPV in the market in terms of overall dimensions, the clever van-like frame configuration makes it superior in terms of extra space, particularly in the third row. More so, reliable electronic safety features are available across the board.

Let us not even talk about the attractive price points and after-sales package.

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed on April 26 at Honda’s CPI Head Office in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Present were Honda executives Delfin De Guzman, Vicenta Balarbar and Eddie Anastacio, and Dualtech President Arnolfo Morfe, Leonard Calma and Rommel Orfano.

Said Honda’s Bryan Aaron Rivera: “In the near future, they will be ready to explore opportunities in car dealerships, and dealers will have access to a pool of qualified technical experts.” Rivera added: “Established in 1982, Dualtech is known for providing skills education and values formation. Notably, its TESDA-registered program also helps the less fortunate with limited resources. Its course of Electromechanics Technology is for two years. Phase one constitutes pure in-school training for six months. Phase two combines in-school training and in-plant training. The program also aims to mold individuals to become men of good morals and character, and exceptional faith.”

Visit www.hondaphil.com for more details.

PEE STOP "The arrival of the All-New Ve-

loz is very timely. With the reopening of the economy, and destinations all over the country already welcoming travelers, it is Toyota's goal to address the ever growing need of Filipinos to move together with thrill and joy. And so we introduce this new sub-compact SUV perfect for families and friends seeking to discover new adventures," said Toyota president Atsuhiro Okamoto during the recent vehicle launch. Sunshine Cabrera said, the AllNew Veloz comes in two variants and is pegged at P1,185,000 for the 1.5 G CVT and P1,225,000 for the 1.5 V CVT. Both are four-cylinder and dual VVT-i gasoline engine…We vote on (May 9) mainly for the next president of the Philippines. Vote wisely, please. Give truth a chance.