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ESCALATION OF TRADE TENSIONS TO PUSH EASING CYCLE FURTHER–FITCH THINK TANK By Bianca Cuaresma

headwind to growth over the coming quarters,” Fitch Solutions said. “This would likely see the BSP embark on a more aggressive easing cycle into 2020 to help support the economy as external demand wanes,” it added. Despite the still-positive domestic consumption outlook, Fitch Solutions said the slowing global growth and persistent Sino-American trade tensions will continue to weigh on growth over the coming quarters. “The escalation in trade tensions between the US and China in May will deepen the external drag on the Philippine economy. The US and China accounted for

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HE looming trade war between the United States and China may push the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to aggressively ease its monetary-policy stance up until 2020. In a research note published recently, Fitch Solutions—the research arm of the Fitch Group—flagged trade tensions as one of the major downside risks to the local economy. “A major downside risk stems from a greater escalation of Sino-American trade tension, resulting in a persistent

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15.6 percent and 12.9 percent respectively of exported goods from the Philippines in 2018, with Hong Kong and Japan also key markets accounting for 14.2 percent and 14 percent of exports respectively,” the think tank said. “Increased trade tensions between the US and China have had a ripple effect across the Asia region, weakening demand across the supply chain and dampening business confidence in the first half of 2019. “A further escalation of tensions or prolonged period of the tariffs introduced in May could likely lead us to revise down our [Philippine] growth forecast of 6.3

percent in 2020,” the research group said. The BSP already started to ease its monetary-policy stance in May, with a 25-basis-point cut to the overnight reverse repurchase rate effective on May 10. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno told reporters their decision to cut after several months of unchanged monetarypolicy stance and aggressive rate hikes in 2018 was based on their assessment that the inflation outlook continues to be manageable, with easing price pressures owing to the decline in food prices and improved supply conditions. Diokno also said the decision on Thursday was made in a “right policy point”

environment, with considerations to the country’s disappointing growth numbers in the first quarter of the year. The Monetary Board also decided to cut its reserve requirement ratios (RRR) by 200 basis points. The implementation of the cut will be in three stages: the first 100 basis point cut will be effective on May 31; another 50-basis-point cut will be implemented on June 28; and the last 50-basis-point cut will be effective on July 26. Economists earlier said the cut, both in the main policy rate and in the banks’ reserves ratio, will be positive for the country’s ailing growth numbers.

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‘CSP for power needs tweaks to ensure supply’

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE International Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ICCP) has asked the Philippine government to strengthen its competitive selection process (CSP) for power distributors to ensure that energy supply, reserves and demand are accurately projected. In a statement over the weekend, ICCP said it supports the mandatory implementation of the CSP. The circular on CSP, issued in 2015 by the Department of Energy (DOE), requires power distributors and cooperatives to procure their supply through the CSP instead of negotiating them with

generation firms. This was seen as a way to ensure more competitive rates, given that the Philippines has one of the most expensive electricity prices in the region. The ICCP statement came weeks after the Supreme Court ordered all power service agreements submit-

ted by energy distributors to the Energy Regulatory Commission to undergo CSP. In a ruling on May 3, the SC ruled in an en banc session the ERC committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of See “CSP,” A2

This approach ensures a wellcoordinated supply, reserves and demand forecast; strengthens the market power of smaller distribution utilities by aggregating their demand; and makes investment in power generation more attractive to investors, inducing greater competition that could lead to power supply security and competitive tariffs.” —ICCP

MERELY 2.3% SPENT FROM CHINA-FUNDED N.C.R.FLOOD PROJECT By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

EARLY two years into a project, the disbursement ratio for the China-funded Metro Manila Flood Management Project has remained at only 2.3 percent, according to documents from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The AIIB’s project implementation monitoring report for the project showed that the most recent disbursement worth $4.3 million for the project was on October 30, 2018. The $207.6-million loan was signed in December 2017 and became effective in March 2018. The total disbursed amount after the one made in October was at $4.8 million.

ENATE President Vicente Sotto III allayed concerns by a jittery labor sector that last-ditch lobbying in Congress could still derail bicameral efforts and mangle the final version of the so-called End of Endo reform embodied in the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill. “We will not allow it,” the Senate President told the BusinessMirror over the weekend. The Senate President gave the assurance amid apprehensions by labor groups that lobbyists are working on their House counterparts to water down or avert approval of the awaited remedial legislation.

“It is best that the House just adopt our version,” the Senate leader said, adding, “then there will be no problems, at all.” The final version earlier approved by the Senate defined security of tenure for workers in a move to effectively avert abuses in the practice of illegal contractualization. See “SOT bill,” A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.5220

“The loan became effective on March 15, 2018. The project was affected slightly as IA [Implementing Agency] introduced certain changes in the technical designs [to optimize the functioning of pumping stations] and procurement method [from Civil Works procurement to Supply & Install],” AIIB stated. “The first contract for the modernization of pumping stations with updated designs [$6.5 million] was signed in December 2018. Designs of two other contracts have been finalized, while designs of remaining two are near finalization. Tendering for next batch is expected to commence in May [2019],” it added. However, the first See “Flood project,” A12

ASF watch: DA probes OFW breach of quarantine By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

“It is best that the House just adopt our version. Then there will be no problems at all.”—Sotto

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Senate will not allow mangling of SOT bill in bicam, says Sotto By Butch Fernandez

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A EASE OF DONATING Globe’s fintech arm Mynt, the operating company behind GCash, recently launched its corporate social responsibility arm called “GCash for Good.” Mynt is eyeing to help around 100 nongovernment organizations receive donations online by the end of 2019. Anthony Thomas (center), president of Mynt leads the launch of GCash for Good with NGO partners in Makati City. Story on page A2. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

GR ICULTUR E Secretar y Emmanuel F. Piñol has appealed to government agencies to strictly implement measures against African swine fever (ASF) following a recent quarantine protocol breach that involved broadcaster Raffy Tulfo and an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) over processed meat products in her luggage. In a long Facebook post in Filipino on Sunday, Piñol reminded the Bureau of Customs and other concerned agencies to implement the memoranda issued by Department of Agriculture (DA) not Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4793 n UK 66.4823 n HK 6.6916 n CHINA 7.5991 n SINGAPORE 38.0815 n AUSTRALIA 36.2349 n EU 58.7248 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.0066

Source: BSP (24 May 2019 )

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A2 Monday, May 27, 2019

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‘SOT bill will still allow contractualization’

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said contractualization will still be allowed under the pending of Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, allaying fears of employers the legislation will abolish the controversial work arrangement. In a media forum, Labor Assistant Secretary Benjo M. Benavidez said the current version of the SOT bill still recognizes nonregular forms of employment such as seasonal, project-based,and probationary jobs. “This is the flexibility [provided by the bill] for businesses,” Benavidez said.

Contentious issues

HOWEVER, Benavidez conceded that the manner of how this provision will be stipulated in the final version of the SOT bill may be the subject of debates once the pending legislation goes through the

CSP. . .

Continued from A1

jurisdiction when it postponed the effectivity of the CSP requirement. With the decision, distribution utilities, such as Meralco, are now mandated to undergo CSP, making prior self-negotiated deals ineffective as a basis to hike rates passed on to consumers.

Beyond prices: supply, investments

IN its statement, the ICCP argued that the CSP could be improved to make supply, reserves and demand forecasts well coordinated. The ICCP recommended scheduling a regular bidding period for base load and reserve capacity based on 100 percent of aggregated projected demand and standardized power supply agreement. By doing this, it argued, the government could also secure more investments in power generation. “This approach ensures a well-

SOT bill. . .

Continued from A1

Principally sponsored By Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, the “end of Endo” embodied in Senate Bill 1826 provided measures to “uphold the constitutionally guaranteed right to security of tenure.” The bill affirms the ban on“labor-only” contracting, clarifying “ambiguities” in existing laws that, Villanueva said, was used by enterprising employers to go around the rules. Villanueva lamented that workers long “suffered from the evils of Endo” that he denounced as “a practice that corrupts the dignity of labor.” He added that the remedial legislation was crafted to “give all workers peace of mind when it comes to their employment.” The Senate last week passed on third and final

Protect PHL. . . Continued from A12

And if you think that the country is not run the way it is and if it will destroy your country, you should know what to do,” he added. Aside from a Presidential Saber, the President also handed Umalla with a house and lot certificate. Duterte also gave a watch to Cadet 1st Class Alberto Lester Guzman Julaguit incoming corps commander of cadet corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Cadet First Class Danmark

bicameral conference committee on Wednesday. During the bicameral conference, members of House of Representatives and the Senate will be consolidating and harmonizing the provisions of their separate versions of the legislation. “In the House version, there is an expressed prohibition on fixed term employment, while in the Senate, this is just implied since it classifies workers generally [under] regular employment except those in seasonal, project and probationary work,” Benavidez said. Also another possible controversial topic in the conference, Benacoordinated supply, reserves and demand forecast; strengthens the market power of smaller distribution utilities by aggregating their demand; and makes investment in power generation more attractive to investors, inducing greater competition that could lead to power supply security and competitive tariffs,” the business group said. The ICCP also stressed that the full implementation of the CSP will benefit consumers, as the order goes beyond lowering the cost of electricity. It said the CSP will allow power regulators to manage the contracting of energy supply and services. “It will give the government, through the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission, a sustainable degree of check and balance in determining the capacity, energy and service that will be contracted, and the opportunities to infuse a holistic strategy in energy mix, locational, environmental and technological choices instead of just leaving them at reading the SOT bill, which the House had approved last year. Sotto’s proposal for the House to adopt the Senate version may yet be heeded, in order to avoid protracted bicameral conference committee debates, given that in her letter to Sotto before Congress resumed sessions last May 20, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo listed those bills she deemed should be given priority in the last session days of the 17th Congress. She said that the House may consider adopting the Senate version of some bills in order to hasten the legislative process. In a statement last Thursday, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Vice President Louie Corral said they are wary of a possible intervention by the Department of Finance in a bid to derail the SOT. He said workers also expect similar moves by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) and the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFCC).

Q. Solomon received a new pistol from the President. The President has been criticized for taking a softer stance against China when it comes to issues in the West Philippine Sea. This, even though the country has won in the dispute through the landmark ruling issued by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 invalidating China’s “excessive” claims to the West Philippine Sea. He has, however, repeatedly asserted that there is a time when the arbitral tribunal ruling will have to be invoked against China, and when that time comes, he will not hesitate to use it.

videz said, is the list of prohibited acts to be stipulated in the bill. For the part of labor coalition Nagkaisa, the lengthy discussion in the bicameral conference may center on the fine for employers violating its provisions. Nagkaisa chair and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Sonny Matula said the House version proposes a fine of P30,000 per head for those engaged in illegal contractualization, while the Senate version is pushing for a P 5-million cap for fines for SOT bill violators.

More consultations

DESPITE these issues, DOLE is hopeful the bill will be passed in the few remaining days of the 17th Congress, especially since it addresses a major cause in the prevalence of illegal contractualization. “The SOT [bill] is one of DOLE’s priority legislative measures that has been certified as urgent by the President...It won’t take long before this SOT bill becomes a law,” Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said in a statement. Benavidez said a major innovation in the SOT bill is that it seeks to finally determine which posithe whim of the related company generators,” ICCP said. “By opening the generation market, it will further invigorate sustainable investments in power development and assure long-term power supply for the country at competitive rates. It will encourage the introduction of more efficient technologies and harness the entrepreneurial ingenuity of the private sector for the benefit of consumers,” it added. The ICCP also said a mandatory CSP will provide authorities, including the National Electrification Administration (NEA), a mechanism to assist power cooperatives in planning and energy mixing. The CSP covers methods of competition to find the least power cost from alternative but qualified sources and feasible technologies. It also intends to address issues of conflict of interest where price negotiated by distribution utilities and power generators are ultimately passed on to consumers.

“It will cut down production costs by doing away with ‘Laboronly’ contractors whose financial services charges add 15 percent to the labor costs of employers utilizing such agencies.”—TUCP President Mendoza

tions could be contracted out. He said the SOT bill, particularly its version from the Senate, assigns employers and other employment stakeholders to indirectly determine jobs to be contracted out in the legislation’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR). The bill allows businesses to determine, which positions in their companies are directly-operated to their operations. Employers will only be allowed to contract out jobs which are considered noncore to their operations. “We will be given 120 days after the implementation of the bill to complete this [in the IRR],” Benavidez said. He said they already laid the groundwork for the said arrangement as early as last year with the

signing of Executive Order (EO) No. 51 on Security of Tenure, which directed DOLE to determine positions in certain sectors that could be contracted out. In compliance with the issuance, DOLE conducted tripartite consultations in the retail; manufacturing; and hotel and accommodation industry. It, however, opted to defer the release of the list of positions that can be contracted out until the SOT bill, which was later certified as priority bill by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, is signed into law. “Even if we release it through the EO [51], it [list] will still be open to litigation before the Supreme Court, where it could still be questioned [by employers]. So it is better if there is already a law for it,” Benavidez explained.

Easier determination

NAGKAISA spokesperson and Partido Manggagawa chair Renato Magtubo said the SOT bill aims to finally end the perennial confusion on which positions could be contracted out. “This will actually mean less hassle for principals...under the usual practice today, since it will allow

them to differentiate between legal and illegal contractualization,” Magtubo said. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the SOT could also benefit employers by increasing their profit with more productive and loyal workers as well as allow them to do away with “administrative costs” paid to their contractors. “It will cut down production costs by doing away with ‘Labor-only’ contractors whose financial services charges add 15 percent to the labor costs of employers utilizing such agencies,” TUCP President Raymond Mendoza said in a statement. Many employers who were found by DOLE labor inspectors to have engaged in illegal labor-only contracting (LOC) did so since they were not aware of the positions which are considered core and noncore to their businesses. Benavidez said they expect the passage of the SOT bill to reduce if not eliminate the long litigation period when it comes to the implementation of regularization orders for illegally contracted out workers. He said it usually takes about six to eight years before the final ruling on a labor-related case is issued.

‘GCash for Good’ targets 100 NGOs in novel ease-of-donating program By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

LOBE Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), the operating company behind GCash, is eyeing to help around 100 nongovernment organizations (NGO) by the end of this year, as it launches its corporate social responsibility arm called “GCash for Good.” At the sidelines of the GCash for Good launch on Friday at the One Canvass Events place in Makati City, Mynt VP for Corporate Communications Reyner Villasenor said he expects the number of NGOs under the GCash for Good program to be around 100 by the end of this year as the program aims to make it easier for NGOs to receive donations. “[Around] a hundred. I won’t discriminate if they are qualified but I will also have to manage expectations because we are not just a payments platform; if you sign up with us, we will campaign with you,” Villasenor said. The GCash for Good program currently involves 35 NGOs, which are included in the initial batch after com-

pleting their documentation requirements both from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Mynt before the program was launched. “We are okay to sign up more partners as we go. Late last night, I got about 20 [more NGOs] that want to join the program...They can be part of the next phases,” he added. The program aims to make it easier for NGOs to receive donations with the use of the GCash platform or application, with the GCash application envisioned to further develop into a more socially relevant and sustainable platform that will help address issues across different levels in society “We don’t discriminate, whether you are a big or small NGO. Today, what we are launching is the coalition of the willing. These are the 35 NGOs who responded to our call of giving . . . What we are trying to do here is to leverage on the platform and make sure that giving will be easy for users,” he said. It was pointed out that more people across the globe prefer to donate online, as this removes the hassle of having to go through long queues and processes. Based on the 2018 Global Trends in Giving report,

54 percent of individuals prefer to donate online. The survey was conducted among 6,057 donors worldwide. “With GCash we make it easier. We are actually campaigning with them [the NGOs], we are putting up a microsite called thepowerofgood.com.ph. It’s a marketplace for giving. From today up to the end of the year and even up to next year we would want to sustain this moving forward, so you would see us talking about particular issues and advocacies,” he added. The GCash for Good program also focuses efforts on having a greener country by helping NGOs dealing with the environment. Mynt aims to help strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts of the partner organizations. “We have a shared vision of creating a lasting . . . positive impact on the environment. With joined hands, we promise to be strong government partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations,” said Mynt President Anthony Thomas. Villasenor said donations are expected to hit the million mark, with GCash users already at 20 million.

ASF watch: DA probes OFW breach of quarantine Continued from A1

allowing the entry of meat products from ASF-affected countries. Piñol made the reminder after a recent debacle on the implementation of biosecurity measures as an OFW sought the help of Tulfo’s radio program to recover her confiscated processed meat products. “I am requesting help from our colleagues in the government, especially from the Bureau of Customs, to implement the memoranda on not allowing the shipment of any pork products in can or processed from ASF-affected countries,” he said. The DA has banned the importation of meat products from ASFaffected countries and territories, including China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Belgium, Russia and Ukraine. The ban also disallows tourists and returning OFWs to bring in pork products from these countries through their checked-in and handcarried luggage. Tourists and OFWs caught

Mabalasik. . . Continued from A12

In an earlier interview, Umalla, who hails from Alilem, Ilocos Sur, disclosed that she was only in grade 2 when her father left them. “But I

violating the memoranda could be fined at least P200,000, Piñol reminded “You cannot argue that you do not know about these measures because we have been disseminating this information since August of last year,” he said. “You cannot argue with the quarantine officers by saying that there are MaLing in the supermarkets; hence, you shouldn’t be apprehended and your pasalubong should not be confiscated,” he added. Piñol added that they are not targeting OFWs with their measure against ASF over meat products brought in through luggage in air flights. “We have a long list of confiscated meat products from foreigners. This campaign will not favor anybody may it be the poor or the rich, Filipino or foreigner,” he said. NONETHELESS, Piñol said the DA together with its attached agencies Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and National Meat Inspec-

tion Service (NMIS) would pursue the investigation over the breach of quarantine protocol by the female OFW and Tulfo. A returning Filipina OFW sought the help of Tulfo’s radio program to recover her pasalubong of 32 cans of MaLing which quarantine officers confiscated at Clark Airport. Tulfo’s radio program came to the OFW’s help by questioning the quarantine measures being implemented by Clark airport and concerned customs officers. Tulfo hurled expletives at the government officials, who were just implementing the DA’s memorandum order, and argued that the measure against imported MaLing products was discriminatory. Tulfo told Clark Airport President Jaime Melo over a phone interview that they should confiscate first the MaLing sold in grocery stores before confiscating the ones being brought in by returning OFWs. The Customs officials, apparently pressured by Tulfo, were forced to return the confiscated

canned goods to the Filipina OFW, which prompted Piñol to pursue an investigation. “I will be asking our Quarantine Officers with the help of the Philippine National Police to track down the OFW who brought the canned MaLing from Hongkong to Ilocos,” he said in an earlier Facebook post. Nonetheless, Piñol said what happened was a “serious violation” of the country’s quarantine laws at a time when a dreaded swine disease is ravaging multi-billion hog industries in Asia. For background, please see May 23, 2019 BM Broader Look report, “African Swine Fever spreads to China: Is it time for PHL pork industry to whine?” However, Piñol admitted that the recent event shows that the government lacks proper and massive information campaign on ASF and its implications. For one, Piñol added, Tulfo, a veteran broadcaster, could not even distinguish ASF from Foot and Mouth Disease.

feel close to him anyway,” she said, adding that she remembers happy times with him. Her mother, now a retired school teacher, taught her not to be bitter. More than that, she struggled to raise her and her three brothers alone. Umalla repaid this devotion

by consistently getting her mother onstage to pin her medals as valedictorian. When she first learned she was finishing on top of her PMA class, her first reaction was that she was thrilled that her mother would once again be on stage. When she was admitted to the

PMA, her one wish was to see her father on recognition day, which his older brother fulfilled by finding him. “ I just embraced him with joy,” she said. Somehow the graduation news reached him and he came to hug once more the daughter he had left as a child.

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From communist rebels to Army men: 84 ex-NPAs get private rank By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

T least 84 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have joined the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and were given the rank of private following months of rigorous military training. The new soldiers are among the 275 Army recruits, who graduated from two batches of candidate soldier courses administered by the Army’s 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division. T he 275 new sold iers, a l l w it h t he r a n k of a pr iv ate, are lumads, for mer members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and former members of the NPA who have yielded to the government. Capt. Regie H. Go, acting spokesman of the 4th ID, said the Army recruits officially joined the service following a joint closing ceremony late last week in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The new enlisted personnel went through grueling months of training administered by the 4th Division Training School (4DTS), which registered the military’s record-high number of former rebels as trainees. Go, quoting Lt. Col. Jeff Villanueva, commander of the 4DTS, said that both classes forming the 275 new soldiers, entered the military

training during the fourth quarter of last year and began their Jungle Warfare Mountain Operation Course in April this year. One of the enlisted personnel whom Go identified through his alias as Rios, reportedly a former vice commander of the NPA operating in Mindanao, thanked the government for giving him and the other former rebels a chance to join the service. “I have never regretted my decision to return to the folds of the law and so, I call on to those who are still in the mountains, there’s a better life waiting for you here and the NPA will never be able to give you a peaceful life,” Go quoted Rios as saying. Maj. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal, commander of the 4th ID, welcomed the new members of the Diamond troopers. “You are now officially soldiers, use the skills, knowledge and discipline which you have learned from DTS to protect our fellow Filipinos. Let us uphold our honor, patriotism and duty to our beloved country,” he told the new soldiers. “I also congratulate the 4DTS for a job well done. Let us continue to produce world-class soldiers who have burning desires to fight for long-lasting peace in Mindanao,” he added. Go said the 275 privates will be deployed to the different units of 4th ID in Mindanao.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, May 27, 2019 A3

NFA rice sold to DSWD, NGOs up by ₧10 per kilo

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE National Food Authority (NFA) will now be selling rice at a higher price of P37 per kilogram to government agencies and private entities, particularly those involved in disaster relief operations, to avert incurring additional losses. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the NFA Council approved the increase in the price of rice sold to both local and national government agencies and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) by P10 per kilogram from the present P27 per kilogram. Some of the agencies include the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Office of Civil Defense, which source from the NFA the rice they distribute in relief operations. The increase in selling price would allow the NFA to break even

or even earn a peso per kilogram, since the food agency is now producing rice at a higher cost after its buying price for local palay was increased in October 2018, Piñol said. Piñol added that Filipino consumers in 40 identified poor areas would still have access to P27-perkilogram rice as the NFA will continue to sell the subsidized staple in their areas in line with President Duterte’s directive. “We will keep our market participation rate at 10 percent in surgical areas. We will not operate in areas where there is a surplus of rice

stocks,” he said in an interview with reporters last week. “We will focus in net importing provinces and areas, such as Metro Manila, and island provinces. We will continue to release NFA rice to these markets at P27 per kilogram even after we have consumed our imported rice stocks because the President ordered that the poor should still have access to affordable staple,” he added. The NFA will partner with local government units in establishing “Bigasan ng Bayan” or rice outlets in the 40 identified areas to facilitate faster distribution of staple, Piñol said. Under the rice trade liberalization law, the NFA has been deregulated and reduced to a buffer stocking agency with its rice supply being sourced only from local farmers. The NFA’s imported rice stocks will last until September, the end of the lean season or the period when the country has limited palay production, Piñol said. The NFA has been aggressive in procuring palay from local farmers since its buying price was effective-

ly hiked to P20.70 per kilogram in October 2018. Earlier, the NFA said it had already bought 4 million 50-kilogram bags of unhusked rice in May, or more than a quarter of its procurement target for 2019, bolstering the claim of the agency that farmers find its buying price attractive. The food agency said its procurement of 201,250 metric tons of palay as of May 20 has already eclipsed the 71,420 bags (3,571 MT) of rice it bought in the first five months of 2018. The NFA said it has procured 4.025 million bags as of May 20, which already eclipses the 71,420 bags that the food agency bought in the January-to-May period last year. The food agency’s procurement in the first five months is 27.83 percent of its target of 14.46 million bags, or 723,000 MT, for 2019. Its new goal is nearly double its original procurement target of 7.78 million bags, or 389,000 MT, for 2019. It is also significantly higher than the 1.24 million bags, or 62,000 MT, purchased by the food agency from farmers last year.

A4 Monday, May 27, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Recruitment expert bares 10% HIV affliction among OFWs By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

BOUT 10 percent of overs e a s Fi l ipi no work e r s (OFW) abroad are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), raising fears that the creeping epidemic may affect their deployment overseas. The recruitment sector is calling on the Department of Health (DOH) to intensify its regulatory supervision over accredited migrant workers. A ccord i n g to re c r u it me nt consultant Manny Geslani, the DOH should alert medical clinics to prevent the spread of the virus in the light of reports that infected OFWs are increasing each month. The recruitment consultant urged the DOH’s Facilities and Regulatory Bureau to intensify their inspection and regulatory powers to screen both land-based and sea-based sectors bound for overseas employment. He noted that the increasing number of afflicted OFWs as reported by the DOH is a serious concern to the recruitment industry and may lead to the banning of OFWs to some countries if this problem persists in the long run. Some of these OFWs have been repatriated by their host country after a second medical examination by hospitals abroad have detected the presence of the HIV that causes AIDS or acquired immunodefficiency syndrome. Geslani said some medical clinics in the country may have insuf f icient and fau lt y tests which may have resulted in negative results. However, further medical examination abroad by

foreign hospitals resulted in positive HIV for the OFWs. “ T hese accred ited med ica l clinics who still report to Gulf Council of Health Ministries [GCC] through the foreign embassies in Manila and controls the medical examinations for the Middle East countries,” he said. Local medical clinics are heavily penalized for sending unfit workers afflicted with AIDS, STD, faulty xrays and other diseases not acceptable to their countries. “The medical clinics accredited by the DOH should honestly and accurately examine OFWs referred by licensed agencies since the medical examinations are paid by the OFWs themselves. In some exceptional cases the recruitment agency pays for the exam, he added. He said the 64,291 confirmed cases listed in the National HIV/ AIDS Registry as of February, represents 10 percent of the OFWs in the registry who had worked abroad within the past five years, either on land or at sea. Of the 6,433 OFWs in the registry, 86 percent, or 5,553, were male with the median age of 32. The 880 female OFWs in the registry had a median age of 34. Of the male OFW cases, 72 percent were found infected via sexual contact among MSM, or men who have sex w ith men (2,328 from male-to-male sex and 1,674 from sex with both males and females). HIV causes AIDS, which destroys the human body’s natural ability to fight off all kinds of infections. Though the condition still does not have any known cure, antiretroviral therapy has been known to kill the virus.

Federal advocate takes helm at MinDa

AVAO CITY—An advocate for federalism has been appointed caretaker of government’s socioeconomic planning unit for Mindanao, to replacing its late chairman who succumbed to cardiac arrest on May 9. Malacañang designated Assistant Secretary Nathaniel D. Dalumpines of the Office of the President as the new officer in charge of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), succeeding the late Secretary and former Chairman Datu Abul Khayr Alonto. Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea signed the appointment on May 20 upon the instruction of President Duterte. A MinDA statement dated May 24 said that apart from his designation as acting MinDA secretary, Dalumpines “retains his present duties and functions as assistant secretary for Mindanao Concerns under the Office of the President.” Dalumpines, a lawyer, held the position of chief of staff of the Davao City mayor’s office during the incumbency of Duterte as mayor from 2014 to 2016. He was the administrative manager of the Desiderio Dalisay Group of Cos. in the mid 1970s and early 1980s in Davao City before migrating to the US. While in the US, he worked with a Philippine newspaper in Los Angeles and San Francisco in the mid 1980s as a features editor and became the Los Angeles bureau chief of Philippine News owned by

the Esclamado group. In 1985, he was elected as charter president of Davaoeño residents in Los Angeles. In the 1990s, Dalumpines, who was already a lawyer, was employed as legal assistant at the Jaime V. Lopez law firm in Mid Wilshire Boulevard also in Los Angeles. He returned to his home city in Davao in 2001, and being an avid sportsman, was appointed sports consultant for the City of Davao. He was a former president of the Bomberos de Davao Athletic Club, an association of executives, businessmen and professionals engaged in sports. He was appointed member of the legal task force of Southern Philippines Development Authority in Catalunan Pequeño. Currently, he is the legal consultant for the heirs of the late Vicenta M. Tionko. Dalumpines is also a member of the Davao Region Federal group, recognized as a platform of federal groups to discuss, review and contextualize issues related to the federalism drive. As acting secretary of MinDA, Dalumpines is expected to ensure and continue the delivery of public service and pursue the socioeconomic mandate of MinDA. He would serve as the Philippine signing minister for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga). MinDA acts as the Philippine Coordinating Office for the BIMP-Eaga. Manuel T. Cayon

Economy BusinessMirror

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DOF eyes TradeNet inclusion of five govt agencies to boost EODB drive

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE Department of Finance (DOF) is eyeing to link at least five government agencies under the TradeNet platform on or before the end of 2019, as the government aims to strengthen the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in the country. Finance Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran told reporters that the government wants at least five more agencies to be using the TradeNet platform this year, as it envisions to connect all 76 government agencies under the platform by 2022. “At least five [government agencies] should be added before the end of the year. It’s just that before an agency goes online, there are things they have to do like issue a manual so that the private sector, individuals and corporations know what to do,” Beltran said. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is the only govern-

ment agency connected under Tradenet.gov.ph at the moment. “One entity [which is PDEA] is already using it, [and that] all the chemical companies that import and export products go through it. All the 76 agencies, by 2022, they should all be connected or that agency will be removed from the list of regulators,” the finance official added. Beltran, who is also the anti-red tape czar of the DOF, pointed out that some government agencies are slow to act on their respective connection to the trade facilitation platform as some are being bribed to sit on the completion of the documentary requirements

needed to connect to the platform. “The agency is slow [in connecting] because that’s understandable they earn from it. When you are empowered to implement a process and you sit on it, what do you do? If the person sitting on it because somebody offers a certain amount, which is what we want to eradicate the bribery part,” he said. He also explained that the implementation of the EODB law will help more government agencies connect to the platform as it mandates a three day processing period for the transaction of simple documents. Although the implementing rules and regulations for the EODB law has already been crafted, the implementation of EODB hobbled by the still pending appointment of the head of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta). The Arta head’s signature is needed for the IRR. “We’ll just have to wait. The IRR is already finished, they are just waiting for someone to sign it. Once the head is appointed, it will be signed right away,” he added. In March, the DOF said that the TradeNet platform is seen to address the rise in export and import data discrepancies, which

reached 30 percent in 2018 from only 24.8 percent in 2016. Based on an economic bulletin of the DOF, data collection should be improved to address the rise in the gaps, and, thus, enhance the capabilities of revenue collectors, as well as trade facilitation. Data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Direction of Trade Statistics pointed out that total trade to the Philippines for 2018 amounted to $240.901 billion, $220.115 billion in 2017 and $193.130 billion in 2016. Meanwhile, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that total trade for 2018 amounted to only $176.417 billion, $164.806 billion in 2017 and $141.514 billion in 2016. This showed a discrepancy in trade data amounting to $64.485 billion for 2018, $55.309 billion in 2017, and $51.616 billion in 2016. TradeNet is the government’s digital import and export permit platform which aims to link 76 trade regulatory government agencies through a common database, and shorten the processing of transactions for import and export clearances. It is also the Philippines connection to the Asean Single Window.

Panabo City, Prime Water officially DepEd opens SHS VP for 2019-2020 begin partnership on June 1

AVAO CITY—The Panabo City Water District has officially informed city residents that its partnership with a private water solution provider starts on June 1, and that official transactions that include statement of account and bill payment should be coursed through the latter. In a letter it circulated to barangay residents, the water district office said that, “effective June 1, Panabo City Water District is in partnership with Prime Water Infrastructure Corp. for the financing, development, rehabilitation, expansion, improvement, operation and maintenance of the water-supply sytem.” It letter added that starting on June 1 also, all statement of account and payments “will be made through Prime Water.” All check payments should also be made payable to Primewater Infrastructure Corp., it added. The partnership agreement was earlier signed on March 14. The agreement, likewise, includes septage-management system in the city.

“This is the solution to the concern on the water supply in the downtown area,” the Panabo City Water District said. It also assured that Mayor Engr. James Gamao and Vice Mayor Janrey Gavina have supported the agreement “after the city received numerous complaints on the [water-supply] service.” Dominador Casiño, chairman of the board of the water district, also earlier conceded to the limited capacity of the local water district and said there had been complaints of insufficient water supply, especially with the increasing population and economic activities. Prime Water Managing Director Caroline Cadeliña said that they are investing P3 billion in the next 25 years. In the first year, P200 million will be allocated as they will prioritize the improvement of treatment facilities and water quality in the city. She further stressed that improv ing the water system in Panabo will entice more investors, resulting to economic growth and better living standards of the locality. Manuel T. Cayon

HE Department of Education (DepEd) on Sunday announced the opening of the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) for school year 2019-2020. The SHS VP, which is being run in coordination with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), is a financial assistance prog ra m to en able qu a l i f ied Grade 10 completers to pursue their desired SHS education in private schools, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local universities and colleges (LUCs) that offer SHS. All Grade 10 completers in private schools who are not Education Service Contracting (ESC) grantees and wish to avail themselves of the voucher subsidy in order to enroll in a non-DepEd SHS have until May 31 to apply manually and June 2 to apply online. For manual applications, the

Voucher Application Form 1 (VAF-1) must be filled out and submitted or personally mailed, together with the complete requirements, to the PEAC National Secretariat at the fifth floor of Salamin Building, 197 Salcedo Street, Makati City, on or before May 31. Online applicants, meanwhile, shall have only until May 31 to create accounts on the Online Voucher Application Portal through ovac. peac.org.ph. Applicants shall be allowed to submit the filled out form and scanned copy of complete requirements until June 2 only. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Grade 10 completers from public schools, LUCs and SUCs, as well as Grade 10 completers from private schools who are ESC program grantees, are automatically qualified for the SHS VP and need not apply. The SHS VP is one of several initiatives of the government to make basic education accessible and affordable for Filipino learners nationwide. Results of the applications will be announced on June 17. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Council finds wisdom to revive Lopez-era resource co-mgmt project

HE Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) is reviving its bid to implement an integrated natural resource management project to enhance, protect and regenerate Palawan’s natural treasures within a period of 10 years. The “Palawan Integrated Natural Resources Management Project,” which includes a comanagement agreement between the PCSD led by the Provincial Government of Palawan and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources signed by then-Secretary

Regina Paz L. Lopez, was put on hold in May 2017 after the Commission on Appointments rejected Lopez’s appointment to the DENR. Interviewed by the BusinessMirror during a media tour organized by USAID for its Protect Wildlife Project in Palawan, PCSD Executive Director Nelson Devanadera said he is set to meet with DENR officials and has met with DENR Undersecretary Rodolfo Garcia to kick off exploratory talks that would lead to the proposed project’s revival and implementation.

This was confirmed by DENR Assistant Secretary for Staff Bureaus and newly appointed Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Ricardo L. Calderon in a telephone interview. “We will sit down with PCSD to talk about the details of the project,” Calderon said. The Palawan Integrate Natural Resources Management Project was crafted by Devanadera, a former BMB assistant director along with Calderon who once held the position of Forest Management Bureau chief and

national coordinator of the National Greening Program. Under the proposed project, a total of 34,200 hectares is earmarked for reforestation, with around 30,000 hectares for enrichment planting and for production forests, plus around 4,200 hectares of mangrove forests. The project will require a P25.4billion budget for 10 years, with the bulk of the proposed budget allocated for revegetation, housing and settlement, and livelihood and employment generation. Jonathan L. Mayuga

BI arrests six undocumented aliens in separate operations in Davao province

HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday announced the arrest of six illegal aliens in separate operations in the past few days in Davao province as part of the agency’s continuing drive against undocumented foreign nationals staying in the country. The six illegal aliens are identified as Indonesian nationals Jim-

birs Da Lema and Supian Undingan; Sri Lankan national Warnakula Weerasuriya Jayathilaka a.k.a. Anton Rowel; Korean national Kim Yoonsig; and American Branden Fitzgeral Dandridge. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the illegal aliens were arrested in separate operations conducted by the bureau’s Mindan-

ao Intelligence Task Group (MITG) based in Davao City. Morente said they are now undergoing investigation by the BI prosecutors in Davao City. Da Lema and Undingan were arrested on May 15 in General Santos City by MITG operatives led by BI intelligence officer Melody Gonzales. The two were earlier arrested by

the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Sarangani RFU for selling fake local cigarettes. The following day, BI operatives arrested Ayathilaka in Tagum City, Davao del Sur based on a complaint alleging that he is an undocumented and an overstaying alien. On the same day, MITG operatives also arrested Korean national

Kim Yoonsig also in Tagum City who has been in the BI’s blacklist for being undocumented. On the other hand, Dandridge was arrested by BI authorities at a popular wakeboarding resort in Davao City also for being undocumented. Co, who has been overstaying in the country for eight years, was arrested in Cagayan de Oro City on May 20.

“The apprehension of these illegal aliens stemmed from complaints we received regarding the activities of these undesirable foreigners in various places in the South. Hence we encourage the public to report to us the presence of any illegal alien in their areas, and they are assured that these reports will be acted upon,” Morente said. Joel R. San Juan

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Monday, May 27, 2019 A5

GOCC’s crop insurance covers more than 2-M farmers, fishers By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) said its cropinsurance coverage in 2018 expanded by more than a third to nearly P80 billion to a record high of more than 2 million farmers and fishermen.

T he PC IC , a gover n ment owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC), said its total crop-insurance coverage last year reached P79.820 billion, 36.53 percent over the P58.465 billion it was able to provide in 2017. The PCIC added it was able to insure 2.27 million farmers and fishermen last year, which was 33.52 percent over the 1.7 million it covered in 2017. “The assets covered included for the most part rice, corn and high-

value crop farms totaling 1.845 million hectares in 2018, which is 39.04 percent greater than the 1.327 million insured in 2017,” the GOCC said in a statement on Sunday. PCIC President and CEO Jovy C. Bernabe pronounced last year the PCIC aims to cover some 25 percent of the country’s total number of farmers, pegged at 10 million. Bernabe added they would extend P65.1 billion worth of free crop-insurance coverage to more

than 2 million farmers and fishermen to help them cope with the ill effects of climate change on farm production. The PCIC, a GOCC under the Department of Agriculture, also said it has paid out last year P3.397 billion worth of indemnities to more than 442,035 farmers and fishermen. The total figure of indemnification payment was 75.37 percent over the P1.937 billion it paid in 2017, the PCIC added.

“Most insured farmers and fisherfolk numbering 442,035 received the pay ments in 20 days or less according to PCIC’s i mprove d a nd I SO - cer t i f ie d systems,” it said. “The PCIC’s delivery of this gargantuan task, spread as its service is nationwide, was helped in part by the collective commitment of its management and staff to abide by strict operational policies and governance rules,” it added.

Unrelenting rain puts US farmers on insurance-deadline watch

ANSAS farmer Mark Nelson has until Saturday to plant his corn or lose the insurance that protects him from a drop in prices or yield. Instead, he’s hopping on a plane to visit his father in Chicago. Nelson is now considering a different type of insurance coverage known as prevented-plant claims, which pay out when farmers are unable to sow crops at all. With unceasing rain keeping farmers out of fields, growers are increasingly weighing how best to get paid and ease the impact from the bad weather and an escalating US-China trade war. “You hate to farm for insurance, but in a year like this, you

keep that in the back of your mind,” Nelson, whose farm is near the east-central town of Paola, said by phone. Storms across the Midwest and Great Plains have resulted in the wettest 12-month stretch on record in the US, with the deluge closing refineries and snarling Mississippi River traffic. Crucially for agriculture markets, it’s also hampered crop planting. Worries over tighter supplies due to the soggy weather drove Chicago corn futures to surge as much as 3.9 percent on Friday, topping $4 a bushel and rising to the highest level in almost a year. The wet weather’s showing no signs of easing, and the in-

sura nce dead l ine for sow ing has a lready passed for some farmers in southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas and western Tennessee. They now have to decide whether to plant w it h less coverage, or m a ke prevented-plant claims. Fur ther complicating matters is President Donald Trump’s a n nou nce me nt on T hu rsd ay that farmers could apply for a slice of a $16-billion aid package to mitigate the impact of the US-China trade war. However, in order to qualify, farmers must plant crops. Then, payments will depend on production in the county. T he Sen ate a l so pa ssed a $19.1-billion natural disaster re-

lief package that includes $3 billion related to the loss of crops in recent hurricanes, flooding and for seeds prevented from planting this year. A Republican House member temporarily blocked fast-track passage, meaning law ma kers will probably vote when they retur n in early June f rom a weeklong recess. Farmers unable to plant have been estimating which government-backed program might pay the most. Nelson only has 400 acres of corn planted and 1,700 more to go. He loses all insurance protection on corn if not planted by June 14, and if that happens, he’s considering switching some ground to

soybeans, which can be planted later without risking a crop loss in an early freeze. After the deadline, farmers can choose to switch to a second crop. But that’ll reduce the amount they will receive from the prevented-plant claim on the first crop. “I talked with my crop insurance agent to make sure I knew all the scenarios,” Nelson said. “Until June 14, we’ve got the option to still plant and get some coverage.”

Moving on

BMO Capital Markets equity analyst Joel Jackson said the lack of plantings have also weighed on demand for agriculture chemicals and fertilizers.

“We’ve seen views projecting at least 5 million corn acres will not be planted,” he said in an emailed report. The US Department of Agriculture in March estimated corn planted acres at 92.8 million. Iowa corn and soybean farmer Kyle Wendland has planted most of his crops, but was leaning toward making a prevented-plant claim for his final 80 acres of corn due to wet conditions. The government aid payments will not be a big swing factor, he said. “I’m not going to mud my crop in just to get an unknown payment. I will take the known insurance payment and move on,” Wendland said. Bloomberg News

BusinessMirror

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Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362 May 27, 2019

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

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

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Brief Description of Functions

K & K MOLDING , INC. Lima Technology Center, Lipa City, Batangas

MR. YUJI KOIKE/ Japanese

JP BUSINESS VENTURES AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION #29 Brgy. Upli, Alfonso, Cavite

MR. BYUNGTAE PARK/ Korean

QUANTRICS ENTERPRISES INC. Brgy. Dolores, Taytay, Rizal

MR. VICTOR H LOO/ Canadian

Vice President-Human Resources

QUANTRICS ENTERPRISES INC. Brgy. Dolores, Taytay, Rizal

MS. LAINA MARITA ALDAVE/ Canadian

Vice President-Controller

Factory General Manager

General Manager

EPOLEM PHILIPPINES CORP. Brgy. Langkaan, Dasmariñas, Cavite

MR. XIAOLIANG SUN/ Chinese

EPOLEM PHILIPPINES CORP. Brgy. Langkaan, Dasmariñas, Cavite

MS. BEI JIN/ Chinese

TAIYUAN GASES CORPORATION Paliparan I, Dasmariñas, Cavite

MR. SHAO-HSUAN HSU/ Taiwanese

Production and Planning Control Supervisor

TAIYUAN GASES CORPORATION Paliparan I, Dasmariñas, Cavite

MS. YUN-PING TANG/ Taiwanese

Accounting Department Supervisor

Production Manager Sewing Supervisor

FUNAI ELECTRIC PHILIPPINES INC. Lima Technology Center, Lipa City, Batangas

MR. JUNICHI YAMAMOTO/ Japanese

MONDE NISSIN CORPORATION Brgy. Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna

MR. MICHAEL JOHN PASKA/ American

Investor Relations Director for Global Reach

MASCOTPOWER LOGISTICS CORPORATION Lot 5 Southcoast Industrial Estate, Carmona, Cavite

MR. LI-HSIN TSENG/ Taiwanese

General Manager

K&D MOLD-TECH CORP. CPIP, Batino, Calamba City, Laguna

MR. HAN-JU LEE/ Korean

Mold Design Specialist

TAIWAN FRUCTOSE (PHILIPPINES), INC. FPIP, Tanauan City, Batangas

MR. LIEN-KUANG WANG/ Taiwanese

Sales Manager

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

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

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

MR. DAOXIONG CHEN/ Chinese MR. YUANYUAN YUAN/ Chinese MR. GUANGQIU LIN/ Chinese MR. XUEEN YAN/ Chinese MR. PENG LI/ Chinese MR. LINGYI XU/ Chinese MR. XIAOFEI LIU/ Chinese MR. YINWANG LIN/ Chinese MR. GUOKAI TANG/ Chinese MR. MINGXUAN XIA/ Chinese MR. LONG LU/ Chinese MR. ZHILIN ZHANG/ Chinese MS. MENGLAN SHEN/ Chinese MR. CAIGEN YANG/ Chinese MS. QING LI/ Chinese MS. RONGHUA WU/ Chinese MR. MENGZHE XIA/ Chinese MR. DEGAO YOU/ Chinese MR. SHENGZHANG WANG/ Chinese MR. JIAYAN ZHANG/ Chinese

Plant Manager

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