BusinessMirror November 23, 2023

Neda: Paper work for key projects fast-tracked B C U. O @caiordinario

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HE national government is keen on fast-tracking the processing of documentary requirements for various Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs), according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

In a speech at the Pilipinas Conference on Wednesday, Neda Undersecretary for Investment Programming Joseph J. Capuno said the Office of the President is finalizing an Executive Order in this regard.

Capuno explained that the EO

will simplify the requirements and clearances needed by implementing agencies to undertake priority infrastructure projects.

“The EO will ensure the automatic approval of any pending application or request, provided all conditions and payments have been fully complied with. Currently, it is still being finalized by the Office of the President,” Capuno said.

This is part of the efforts to expedite the government’s infrastructure projects.

Capuno said the current administration has already reduced the processing period of infrastructure projects, specifically those being

financed through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

The administration shortened the processing period to only 40 days, or half the prescribed maximum working-day processing period.

Capuno said this is a result of the reforms by the current administration.

The expedited process benefited projects such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the TarlacPangasinan-La Union Expressway Extension, and the newly-approved Dialysis Renal Center for the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

“Neda, alongside the agencies

that form the Economic Team, is ensuring the country’s steady progress towards achieving economic security.

The Philippines is currently host to numerous investment opportunities in infrastructure and emerging growth drivers,” Capuno said.

Capuno noted that there are 197 IFPs under the Marcos administration’s Build-Better-More Program, for a total P8.7 trillion or $156.4 billion.

Neda recently reported to the Neda Board, its highest policymaking body chaired by the President, that the Samar Pacific Coast-

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EC ROLLS OVER ITS GSP+ TO PHL FOR 4 MORE YRS www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Thursday, November 23, 2023 Vol. 19 No. 43

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HE European Commission will continue the duty-free access to the Philippines for another four years, after adopting a proposal to prolong the current rules until 2027 “to ensure continuity and legal certainty.”

The Philippines is one of the developing countries that can export to EU on certain products without tariffs under the so-called Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). The GSP+ is set to expire on December 31, 2023.

The EC foreign affairs arm, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, recommended Monday to the EU Parliament and EU Council that the GSP+ privileges be extended to the Philippines and seven other developing countries.

However, the EC anticipated that the legislative procedure to review their recommendations may take time, and go beyond the end of this year. So, they proposed to extend the validity of the GSP+ privileges until 2027. The EU Parliament and Council voted in favor of “prolonging” the current trade rules.

“The legislative procedure to adopt a new S “GSP+,” A

E-TRAVEL CUSTOMS SYSTEM

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio (left) and Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy grace the unveiling of the E-Travel Customs System. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to addressing border control challenges, adhering to global standards, and fostering a customs environment that is both secure and efficient. The system introduces a user-friendly, unified web portal enabling travelers and crew members to seamlessly navigate and fulfill the border control requirements of the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Quarantine, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. NONIE REYES

With 1 MMT more approved, HOUSE OKAYS NUKE ENERGY DEVT AMID SOLONS’ WARNINGS PHL rice imports near 3 MMT B J M N. D C @joveemarie

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HE House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading the bill formalizing the Marcos administration’s venture into nuclear energy development amid warnings that its claim to safety is not based on solid scientific evidence.

The landmark legislation, or House Bill (HB) 9293, received 200 affirmative votes with seven opposing votes and two abstentions during the plenary session.

Named the “Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety

Act,” the bill aims to establish a legal framework governing the peaceful, safe, and secure uses of nuclear energy. It defines nuclear energy, also known as atomic energy, as any form of energy released during nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or any other nuclear transmutation.

One key provision of HB 9293 is the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM).

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez emphasized that PhilATOM would have sole and exclusive jurisdiction to regulate S “N,” A

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HE Philippines’s rice imports is close to touching the 3 million metric tons (MMT) territory as the state approved the entry of over 1 MMT of foreign supply via private traders and importers in the coming months.

Latest Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data showed the country’s total rice imports as of November 16 has reached 2.936 MMT. To date, the Philippines has only recorded an import volume of at least 3 MMT twice in history: 2019 and 2022. The surge in rice imports to over 3.1 MMT in 2019 was brought about by the dire need of the National Food Authority (NFA) to meet its buffer stock mandate, coupled with the opening up of the local domestic rice market to foreign competition. Last year, the country posted its record-high import volume of over 3.8 MMT, driven by an election year and the growing demand of Filipinos for the staple.

Pundits have explained that the local rice

market has been slowly adjusting to the liberalized trade regime, with imports boosting domestic supply to meet the country’s demand for the grain.

Earlier, agriculture officials had pointed out that, because of better domestic harvest, the country’s total rice import volume this year would be below the 3.8-MMT projection of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Latest estimates by the local Department of Agriculture (DA) showed that it expects total rice production this year to reach a recordlevel of 13.11 MMT, slightly higher than last year’s 12.921 MMT.

Oct-Nov approved SPSICs

LATEST BPI data also showed that it has approved over 1,400 of sanitary and phytosanitary S “R,” A

PESO EXCHANGE RATES US 55.3710 ■ JAPAN 0.3731 ■ UK 69.4463 ■ HK 7.1027 ■ SINGAPORE 41.3772 ■ AUSTRALIA 36.2902 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 14.7636 ■ EU 60.4264 ■ KOREA 0.0427 ■ CHINA 7.7550 Source: BSP (November 22, 2023)

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Thursday, November 23, 2023

Rice...

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import clearances (SPSICs) for rice imports with a corresponding total volume of 1.141 MMT in recent weeks.

In October alone, the BPI approved 809 SPSICs for the importation of 657,406.020 MT. From November 1 to November 16, the BPI issued 604 SPSICs with a corresponding volume of 484,379.79 MT. Under existing rules and regulations, a SPSIC for rice imports is valid for 60 days if the stocks are coming from Asean countries except Myanmar and 90 days for Myanmar and other non-Asean sources.

This means that the SPSICs issued in October can be used until next month while the SPSICs issued this month can be used until January next year. However, Agriculture Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier this week warned that he will cancel all the rice import SPSICs if the importers would not bring in the stocks in the next 30 days or until next month.

The deadline given by Laurel is for the 1 MMT of rice issued with valid SPSICs to enter the country. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/11/21/da-importers-lose-spsicif-rice-not-here-in-30-days/)

“I actually asked the Bureau of Plant Industry how many applications are pending for rice imports and what they told me is that about 1 million metric tons are for importation. I asked them when it was issued and they said it was issued from time to time because it is already liberalized. When I asked when it is going to be imported, they could not provide an answer,” he told a House Committee on Monday, speaking partly in Filipino.

“I said if they will not import those within 30 days, if they will not give a [purchase order], I will cancel all the [SPSICs] because I do not want to be held hostage by permits that were issued to them upon their request,” he added.

Laurel’s 30-day deadline to rice importers is way shorter than the prevailing must-arrive period set by the agriculture department.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Security, trade cooperation top APPF agenda in Manila

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FTER nearly three decades, Manila returns to hosting the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Forum (APPF), dubbed “the APEC of parliamentarians” from Thursday to Saturday, with Senate President Miguel Zubiri vowing to secure consensus among participating 28 countries on a wide range of issues.

“We are coming together to discuss shared concerns” particularly in achieving “peace and progress, security, trade matters, regional co-

operation” under the APPF theme of “Peace and Prosperity for the Region,” Zubiri said in a press briefing on Wednesday, eve of the forum

GSP+...

will constitute the terms and renewal regulation. [Because] the plan is to really renew it, but the renewal sometimes involve changes in the conditions. [Certain] requirement obligations that they ask country beneficiaries,” Pascual told reporters.

Hence, the language regarding the extension did not use the word “approved” but a “prolongation” of the existing rules, as it is European Council that has the final say on the extension of the EU GSP+.

During the Pilipinas Conference 2023 held in Makati City on Wednesday, Pascual said he obtained a report that the proposal of the “European Commission for the rollover of the existing GSP+ for another four years has been

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revised GSP Regulation is still ongoing; in the meantime, a proposal for a prolongation of the current rules until the end of 2027 has been adopted by the European Commission to ensure continuity and legal certainty,” the EC said in its report.

This process was further elaborated on by Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual on the sidelines of a forum on Wednesday: [Sila ang may kailangan din ng [They’re the ones who need] time to reach an agreement as to what

that will gather 350 delegates at the PICC from November 23 to 25.

The Senate chief said for the 31st Annual Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), parliamentarians from all over the region will talk about important matters relating to regional peace, prosperity and sustainability.

The Senate has been designated as the host for the preparations for the prestigious annual meeting of parliamentarians, along with the House of Representatives as cohost.

Some 270 delegates from 18 countries in Southeast Asia, North Asia, Oceana and the Americas will be divided into three key breakout committees discussing: political and security matters, including cross-border crime, economic and trade matters, and regional cooperation.

Asked if the maritime disputes that have

roiled the region will be brought up, Zubiri said this is inevitable, especially given that Indonesia has a draft resolution on peace and stability in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. However, Zubiri—who in recent weeks had lashed out on the Senate floor against China over its repeated aggressive behavior against Philippine Coast Guard and private-chartered boats near Ayungin Shoal—said that as host country, they will “tone down the rhetoric” and that they want the forum to yield resolutions acceptable to the majority.

Under the APPF setup, the members adopt resolutions by consensus; there is no voting, he said. Zubiri said that for the past 31 years, AsiaPacific countries have enjoyed “notable economic successes and dealt with equally notable downturns.”

supported by the European Parliament and the European Council.”

The trade chief read to reporters a portion of the European Commission’s “Joint Report to the European Parliament and the Council.”

“It is fundamental to provide continuity and legal certainty for GSP beneficiaries and business,” the joint report said, adding that in view of the upcoming expiry of the GSP Regulation at the end of 2023 and the still ongoing negotiations for a new regulation, the European Commission has proposed an extension of the current rules, which was welcomed by the European Parliament and the Council.

Pascual explained, however, that the expression of support of the two European bodies, the European Parliament and European Council, towards the proposal of the European Commission to extend the special incentive arrangement for four more years, would still have to reach a final agreement by the Parliament and the Council.

Aside from the Philippines, EU’s GSP+ privileges were also extended to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan.

GSP+ is a “special incentive arrangement” that has conditionalities for recipient countries to comply with good governance. The EU said based on their assessment, it continued to be “a key tool to engage with and support vulnerable developing countries.”

Under the GSP+ privileges, the Philippines can export goods to 27 countries in Europe worth close to €4 billion. In 2022, the Philippines exported €2.9 billion worth of goods, including machinery, mechanical appliances, animal or vegetable fats and oils, meat and fish preparations and edible preparations.

thirds of EU tariff lines.

Exporters to pay tariff if...

ASKED how this GSP+ extension will benefit the Philippine economy, Pascual said, “It will maintain those who are benefiting from it.” For instance, he said, the country’s tuna exporters will enjoy reduced tariffs to the EU. “If the GSP+ is not renewed, our exporters will pay that tariff,” he said.

Moving forward, Pascual said once the extension of the GSP+ is approved by the two EU bodies, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will encourage those that have been enjoying the benefits of the GSP+ to expand their exports to the EU while the preferential tariff rates are in effect.

He said the agency will roll out initiatives and an education drive for Philippine exporters to the EU so they could utilize the benefits provided under the EU trade arrangement.

Last July 2023, the European Commission announced through an Explanatory Memorandum that it is proposing to extend the validity of the current GSP Regulation for an additional four years or until December 31, 2027.

The EC, which is responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, among others, said in the document it is “necessary” to ensure continuity in the operation of the scheme beyond December 31, 2023 or the expiry date of the GSP. “The consequences of any discontinuity for GSP would be that all imports under GSP would revert to standard most favored nation treatment, except for those from least developed countries which would be covered by the Everything But Arms [EBA] regime, with significant economic shocks for companies in the EU and in beneficiary countries,” the memorandum noted.

The EC earlier emphasized that the new GSP Regulation “should apply as soon as possible,” stressing that this “temporary prolongation” of the existing scheme should end.

The Standard GSP is for low- and lowermiddle income countries, providing for a reduction or full removal of customs duties on two

EC report on PHL GSP+ compliance

THE EU deployed a monitoring mission in 2022, and reviewed the GSP+ privileges to the Philippines, focusing on the extrajudicial killings, attacks against civil society, child labor and labor rights.

This, after a number of EU parliamentarians condemned reports of extrajudicial killings on drug suspects and attacks on civil society during the administration of President Duterte.

The EC reported Tuesday that the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “has taken several steps to address points of concern.”

The mission said the Marcos Jr. administration has “shown willingness to engage with the international community on human rights.”

It noted the “positive steps” that Manila had taken such as including convictions for extra-judicial killings in 2021 and 2022 and “efforts to move forward the investigation of other cases.”

“More recent positive developments include the Government’s new focus on prevention and rehabilitation in the ’war on drugs,’ active participation in the works of the UNHRC and the visits of several UN Special Rapporteurs,” the EC said.

This new tack led to the decrease in the number of extrajudicial killings, but they noted that the continued occurrence still reflects the culture of impunity and a “source of serious concern” for the EU. The EC also mentioned the temporary freedom granted to former senator Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of the anti-drug war of the Duterte administration.

“Former Senator Leila De Lima who has been in pretrial detention since February 2017, which was deemed unlawful by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, was finally granted bail on 13 November 2023,” the EC noted in a joint report to the European Parliament and Council.

The EC said the Marcos Jr. administration denied any “state-sponsored action” targeting journalists and curtailing media freedom.

“It should be also noted that during the last months of 2022 and the first months of 2023, a number of court decisions acquitted human rights defenders and journalists from charges brought against them. However, this only occurred after lengthy processes which impacted negatively on their ability to conduct their human rights work,” it added.

NEDA: PAPER WORK FOR KEY PROJECTS FAST-TRACKED Continued from A1

al Road Project by the Department of Public Works and Highways has been completed.

Capuno added there are 106 PPP projects in the pipeline, where 36 are IFPs, mostly found in the sectors of transport, road, property development, and information and communications technology.

Some of these projects are also focused on health and waste management sectors for social infrastructure.

Nuke...

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the peaceful, safe, and secure uses of nuclear energy and radiation sources in the Philippines.

“This is the first step toward realizing our dream of energy security. We share this bold but promising vision of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. to look into nuclear energy seriously,” added Romualdez.

The bill transfers all regulatory functions of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) to PhilATOM. The PhilATOM Council will be the highest body of the Authority, responsible for establishing policies, adopting budgets, issuing regulations, and other key functions.

The Director General (DG) and Deputy Director Generals (DDGs) will comprise the PhilATOM Council, with the DG serving as its Chairperson.

PhilATOM’s responsibilities include assisting the government in developing national policies for controlling regulated activities and facilities. The authority is also tasked with issuing regulations, standards, and guidelines, maintaining a national register of radiation sources, and cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), based in Vienna, Austria.

It is also mandated to maintain a national register of radiation sources and to inspect, monitor, and assess facilities and activities to verify compliance with this proposal.

Manuel votes ‘no’

IN voting against the bill, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel said the measure’s immediate context assumes that nuclear power is both applicable and safe in a country as geographically unique and ecologically sensitive as the Philippines.

However, Manuel said the lack of expert-led assessments supporting this assumption raises concerns, saying the global trend indicates a decline in nuclear power, even in Western nations currently decommissioning their existing plants.

“In the current global context, world powers like the US have also used partnerships for nuclear energy as a tool to root themselves deeper in countries like ours and make us more dependent on them.

These agreements span decades, even up to a century. This makes sure that the US and other foreign companies that will supply us with the technology will be able to hold our energy supply by the neck for an extended period of time,” he said.

“This is exemplified by the fact that while the Philippine Department of Energy is the party on one hand in the recently signed 123 Agreement with the US Government, the counterpart is the US Department of State, which is concerned primarily with matters of foreign policy and not directly with energy-related matters,” he added.

According to Manuel, the bill disregards existing concerns about nuclear waste, potentially turning the country into a dumping ground for the nuclear waste of other nations. Manuel said it is crucial to differentiate between nuclear and renewable energy.

“Nuclear energy is not renewable and should not be framed as such. Emphasizing nuclear energy at the expense of renewable sources contradicts the urgent need to prioritize clean energy solutions amidst the climate emergency,” he added.

Explaining his opposition, Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia said the PhilAtom will stand as an independent body without any oversight or regulator to check and balance its authority.

“We cannot overlook the fact that nuclear power is actually more expensive. It is said that nuclear power is inherently cheap, when in fact the costs are enormous if we consider the whole life cycle of a nuclear plant, from its inception, construction, operation, and decommissioning,” he said.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Consolidation of PUV franchises non-negotiable, says DOTr chief

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

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@lorenzmarasigan

EPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista is firm on the consolidation of the franchises of public utility vehicles (PUVs), saying that it is “non-negotiable.”

“One very important issue that is non-negotiable is industry consolidation because we really need the players to consolidate into cooperatives or corporation,”he said.

On Monday, transport group Piston held a three-day strike to protest the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Manibela, another transport g roup, joined the protest on Wednesday and has started its own transport holiday.

“Sabi ko nga hindi namin pwedeng pagbigyan yung ayaw nilang magconsolidate. Sa tingin namin [As I said, we cannot grant their demand not to consolidate. In our view] this is an important component of PUVMP,” Bautista said.

Under the PU V MP, drivers and operators are required to con sol id ate t he i r i nd iv idu a l franchises into a cor poration or a cooperative.

The goal is to enable them to gain access to business loans, which they may use to modernize their units.

Piston is also demanding an extension of the validity of PUV franchises to five years. “[Their other demands]—for example, the 5-year franchise— when the vehicles are new, we really can grant them a franchise,”

Bautista noted.

Piston also questioned the inability of PUV drivers to avail themselves of fuel subsidy while the vehicle franchise is being transferred.

Bautista explained that PUV drivers and operators must only show valid documents of the franchise’s transfer to avail of the subsidy.

“One issue is yung pagbabayad ng fuel subsidy. Yung subsidy mababayaran dun sa registered owner and one of the issue daw ay naibenta na sa kanila [yung franchise] pero di pa nalilipat yung franchise, di pa makukuha yung subsidy,” he said.

[One issue is the payout of fuel subsidy. That subsidy is to be paid to the registered owner, and one of the issues is that they have already been sold the franchise, but it has not yet been transferred; then the subsidy cannot be received yet] He added: “Sabi nga namin kung maipapakita yung documents ay tama, kahit di pa natatransfer yung franchise ibibigay namin sa kanila yung fuel subsidy [If they can show the documents are correct, even if the franchise has not been transferred, we can give them the fuel subsidy].”

Bautista maintained that DOTr has the support of various transport groups, adding that his office is open for dialogue.

“Napakaraming grupo na sumusuporta sa ating programa. Ready kami makipag-usap anytime sa kanila. Ang aking opisina ay handang makipag-usap kung kanino man at handa tayong makipag dayalogo [So many groups support the program. We are willing to talk to them. Our office is open to any one seeking a dialogue],” he said.

Sen. Bato keen on PRRD as seatmate

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IRST-TERM Senator Bato dela Rosa is keen on joining his ex-boss in the Senate.

He vowed to support a possible senatorial bid of former President Rodrigo Duterte if the latter pushes through his declared plan to break his political retirement amid what he deems a pattern of harassment against his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a radio interview on Wednesday, Dela Rosa said thinks the former Chief Executive “still has many things to contribute to the country.”

Mr. Duterte was reported earlier this week threatening to re-enter politics if the purported plan by a House bloc to impeach his daughter, Vice President Sara, pushes through.

Separately, VP Duterte told TV reporters their family would suport “whatever decision” their father will make on his political career.

Reacting to the ex-President’s threat to rejoin politics, party-list group Akbayan said in a statement: “Mr. Duterte should stop issuing empty threats. Bumenta na yan! He wants to run for office not to protect his daughter, but to run away from justice.”

Media reports revealed that over the last

two days there were conversations among members of the House of Representatives on a possible impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, who came under fire over revelations that the OVP secured P125 million in confidential funds late last year.

The controversy was fanned after the OVP and the Department of Education, which she concurrently holds, sought a total P650 million in confidential and intelligence funds for their 2024 budgets. At a Senate hearing last week, she subsequently announced the withdrawal of such request.

Reacting to ex-President Duterte’s announcement on rejoining politics, Akbayan said,“The former President is in no position to make threats. His words sound like a film franchise with too many sequels— diminishing returns, fatigue has set in, and the audience has left the fear theater. He will soon be a fugitive. Instead of running his mouth off, he should prepare himself to face the International Criminal Court [ICC].

He has the blood of thousands of Filipinos on his hands. And he and his enablers will face justice,” said Akbayan Party Spokesperson Percival Cendana. Butch Fernandez

US, PHL conduct joint air, sea patrols in S. China Sea not far from Taiwan

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A N G KO K—T h e U n it e d States and the Philippines are conducting joint air and maritime patrols in the South China Sea, which come as the two countries step up cooperation in the face of growingly aggressive Chinese activity in the area.

The Philippine Air Force said Wednesday its aircraft had taken part in joint patrols on Tuesday in the vicinity of Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines, which is only about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Taiwan, a self-governed island that China claims as its own.

The patrols run through Thursday and also include both the US and Philippine navies. They come only days after Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called

par tnership w it h t he United States in safeguarding our shared interests,” he wrote.

Under Marcos, who was elected last year, the Philippines has been deepening its relationship with the US in a shift from his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who had been closer to China and Russia.

In February, Marcos approved an expansion of the US military presence in the Philippines to add four new bases from five existing sites under a 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the longtime treaty allies.

The move, which Marcos said wou ld boost the Philippines’ coastal defense, dovetails with the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China.

Marcos has also been strengthening ties with others, including Tokyo, signing an agreement earlier in the year to allow Japanese troops to join training exercises. AP

for the first time in the MMT and MRF Committee.

Balagasay said Evardone has made representations with officials of the DENR, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) for the provincial government’s inclusion in both regional interagency bodies so the LGU—in the words of the governor—can “better monitor and evaluate the operations of miners and gain a deeper grasp of and feedback from the field on the true environmental and social impact of mining in Eastern Samar.”

Before 2023, Balagasay noted, “the provincial LGU has never had an active participation in the selection and monitoring of accredited miners...because the Mining Code of 1995 bestowed upon the DENR the exclusive authority to issue MPSAs, as recommended by the MGB, to miners anywhere in the country.”

Because of the provincial government’s official membership in the MMT and MRF Committee beginning last July, Balagasay has since participated in two quarterly monitoring activities in the third and fourth quarters of miners operating in Homonhon Island off the municipality of Guiuan, “thereby allowing the provincial government to gain access for the first time to local mining data that we have never obtained before.”

“This unprecedented access to min-

ing data and operations in Guiuan” led to Evardone’s directive “for a comprehensive review and assessment of the performance and compliance reports of every MPSA holder, and which, upon completion, will serve as basis for the governor to either support the status quo on local mining or formally ask the DENR/MGB to suspend, if not cancel, the operating permits of any miners found in breach of the provisions of their MPSAs and/or the pertinent laws and provincial ordinances on environmental and social protection,” Balagasay said.

DENR-Region VIII executive director Lormelyn Estrada Claudio, MGB regional director Glenn Marcelo Noble, and EMB regional director Wilson Trajeco “have all been similarly pushing the miners to comply with all the relevant laws on mining, on the environment, and the social welfare of these MPSA holders’workers and the residents of their host-communities in Guiuan,” according to Evardone.

He said that with the full backing of these DENR, MGB, and EMB regional officials, a first-of-its-kind special meeting was held with the top executives of all MPSA holders and local elective officials led by Guiuan Mayor Annalize Gonzales-Kwan last October 4 at the Provincial Capitol in Borongan City.

Evardone had earlier urged mining companies at a meeting to follow Hinatuan Mining in using the template of the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) in submitting their sworn declaration—for

tax assessment purposes—on all equipment and machinery they actually have in their mine sites.

The governor also told the miners to settle at once their unpaid real property taxes (RPTs) due the province and their host municipality of Guiuan.

Six mining companies operating in the province have combined RPT arrears estimated at P133,866,943, based on the aggregate volumes listed in their chromite and nickel ore stocks transport permits (OTPs), which the MGB issues to them regularly for transporting the unprocessed mineral ores that they can extract from their mine sites.

With these companies resuming their operations anew, the performance and compliance audit team is still assessing the tax dues of Global and Verum. Mt. Sinai ceased operations in November 2013 but still has its MPSA and is under Care and Maintenance status, which means it can still operate later.

These MPSA holders have been mining in historic Homonhon Island, the 20-kilometerlong island that was where the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first landed when he reached the Philippines during the first circumnavigation of the world about 500 years ago. Cambayas has unpaid RPTs worth P96,578,000 over the 2012-2016 period; Techiron, P22,560,687, and Emir, P12,148,255 from 2017 to 2022; and Mt. Sinai, P2,580,000 in 2013, computed based on the MGB-issued OTPs. The Provincial Treasurer’s Office has yet to compute the unpaid RPTs of Verum and Global, which operate the MPSA of Nickelace. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Bong Go flags rising HIV cases in teens

government to uplift the nation’s health infrastructure.

He said DOH programs, including hospital-based, HIV-related interventions will be addressed through the regional specialty centers, Go explained.

He also discussed the critical role of Malasakit Centers in helping those affected

by HIV, and encouraged them to seek help from these centers.

Addressing the issue as a behavioral matter, Go stressed the importance of interventions at schools, health centers, and even within households. He also cited the Super Health Centers as a medium type of polyclinic where people, especially those in remote areas, can access government healthcare packages, including those for HIV prevention.

Super Health Centers are designed to focus on primary care, consultation, and early detection, further strengthening the healthcare sector in the country, especially

in grassroots communities.

Free consultations would be handled by municipal health offices, local government units, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through its Konsulta program.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa recently reported a near doubling of HIV cases this year, with almost half involving teenagers. The introduction of a more infectious HIV subvariant, as noted by infectious diseases specialist Dr. Edsel Salvaña, contributed to this surge.

The rapid growth in HIV cases was discussed in a recent meeting between Herbosa and Vice President Sara Duterte, focusing on health literacy interventions.

According to the United Nations, the Philippines has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics globally, dating back to 1984. DOH declared the epidemic a national emergency in 2017 due to the rapid rise in infections.

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HE provincial government of Eastern Samar will play a key role in the interagency monitoring of mining operations to ensure responsible mining in the province.

As a result of what it describes as “persevering efforts” of local officials led by Gov. Ben Evardone, the provincial government has gained a seat in mining monitoring bodies, vowing to ensure miners’ 100-percent compliance with environmental and mining laws, as well as local ordinances on environmental protection, welfare of mine workers and hostcommunities, and their financial obligations to the concerned local government units (LGUs) that are intended for local development programs, Provincial Legal Officer Eden Ivy Rose Balagasay said in a statement.

Because of the governor’s insistence on a more effective and efficient way of overseeing operations of mining companies, Eastern Samar is now a member of both the multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) and the Mine Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) Committee that keeps an eye on the compliance of mining enterprises with the Philippine Mining Act, as well as with the mining-related provisions of the 1991 Local Government Code, Balagasay said.

The Philippine Mining Act pertains to Republic Act No. 7942 issued in 1995 while the LGC is RA 7160 issued in 1991.

Balagasay was designated by Evardone to represent the provincial government

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EN. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, expressed his concern over the reported alarming increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the Philippines, particularly among teenagers.

Responding to questions about the increasing HIV infections in a recent interview after aiding fire victims in Davao City, Go emphasized the need for a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to tackle this growing health crisis.

“First of all, this is alarming. HIV cases are rising again. As chairman of the Committee on Health, we will focus on this,” stated Go. He highlighted the importance of educating the youth about sex, teenage pregnancy, illegal drugs, and alcoholism as a primary step in addressing this issue.

Go underscored the role of discipline and

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PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco receives from DOJ Undersecretary Atty. Irene de Torres-Alogoc the agency’s Certificate of Accreditation for its Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.

productivity of the office itself,” she said.

In its Cer tificate of Recognition, t h e D O J ’s O f f i c e f o r A l t e r n a t i v e

near a contested shoal, according to Philippine officials.

Speaking on Sunday in Honolulu, Marcos said China has been showing interest in atolls and shoals that are “closer and closer” to the coast of the Philippines, with the nearest atoll about 60 nautical miles (111 kilometers) away.

“Unfortunately, I cannot report that the situation is improving,” Marcos said. “The situation has become more dire than it was before.”

In announcing the start of the joint patrols, Marcos said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that they were “testament to our commitment to bolster the interoperability of our military forces.” “ T hrough col laborative efforts, we aim to enhance regional security and foster a seamless

Eastern Samar execs vow miners’ 100% mining law compliance

DOJ accredits Pagcor’s alternative dispute resolution program HE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor)’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program has received recognition from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for achieving a high mediation success rate.

The recognition makes Pagcor and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines as the only government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to have earned such accreditation from the DOJ. During the recognition ceremony held Wednesday at the Pagcor Executive Office at New Coast Manila, DOJ Undersecretary Atty. Irene de Torres-Alogoc said they were impressed by the high success rate of Pagcor’s mediation program.

“We were surprised by Pagcor’s high success rate. We hope to have more [success] because when there are disputes in an agency, it is hard to work. It affects the

the situation in the South China Sea increasingly “dire” as China seeks to assert its presence in an area where multiple nations have competing territorial claims.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own waters, which has led to disputes not only with the Philippines but also with Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. These claims have long been regarded as potential flashpoints in the region, and have fueled US-China rivalry.

Earlier this month a Chinese coast guard ship blasted a Philippine supply ship with a water cannon in disputed waters, and last month a Chinese coast guard ship and an accompanying vessel rammed a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-run supply boat

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Dispute Resolution (OADR) said Pagcor has effec tively “complied with the requirements set forth under the OADR

awareness in combating the spread of HIV. “Discipline is needed here. An education campaign is important...The approach should not be haphazard. It should be multidisciplinary,” he added.

Treating HIV as both a health and behavioral concern is crucial, he added. He noted that Department of Health (DOH) programs, including hospitals and Regional Specialty Centers focusing on infectious diseases, play a crucial role.

Go also principally sponsored Republic Act 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., on August 24.

The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals. It stands as a testament to the commitment of the Accreditation Guidelines for Alternative Dispute Resolution Organizations and Training Standards for Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioners in the field of Mediation.”

The gaming agency’s accreditation will be valid until 2024.

Pagcor’s Public Alternative Dispute Resolution Program was formed in compliance with Republic Act 9285, also known as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004, and Executive Order No. 97, s.

2012 which mandates government agencies to establish a system to resolve disputes filed before them.

The program aims to mitigate and avoid animosity between or among Pagcor personnel and other parties which, if not properly addressed, may result in the elevation of the disputes to the courts.

Some of the most common cases being mediated under the program are alimony, spousal and child support, non-payment of just debts, among others.

Senate panel probes enforcement of labor dispute court rulings

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SENATE inquiry, presided by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development, on Wednesday tackled the current state of enforcing judicial decisions in brewing labor disputes.

Estrada said the panel’s probe aims to “identify challenges” in the enforcement of judicial decisions in labor disputes in order to “come up with Senate recommendations to improve the situation and protect the rights of workers.”

Senator Raffy Tulfo, in a separate statement, said he “entreats his colleagues to join him in taking action against nonimplementation and delayed enforcement of court decisions in labor disputes.”

Tulfo added: “We must work to ensure that the rights of the workers are protected and

that decisions, especially in labor disputes, are enforced in a timely and effective manner.”

Moreover, Tulfo moved to “strengthen the enforcement mechanisms, promoting a culture of respect on labor rights among employers, educating worker’s rights and improving the efficiency of the labor justice system to minimize labor disputes in the country.”

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, for his part, urged the Committee on Labor to invite the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) to explain how permits were issued to DMCI for the construction and sale of units despite pending cases. He also requested the committee to invite DMCI Holdings president and chief executive officer Alfredo R. Austria to shed light on the ongoing labor disputes in DMCI. Butch Fernandez

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Residential building construction down 24.8% in Q3, PSA reports

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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he number of residential building constructions nationwide contracted 24.8 percent in the third quarter of 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PSA data showed there were 25,411 residential building constructions during the period, based on construction permits.

This accounted for 67.1 percent of the total number of constructions during the quarter.

However, due to the decrease in residential constructions, the number of approved building permits declined 18.1 percent to 37,845 in the third quarter of 2023.

“Residential building is a building for which its major parts or more than half of its gross floor

area is built for dwelling purposes. This type of building can be of the single type, duplex, apartment and/or accessoria, and residential condominium,” PSA explained.

The data showed, however, that the majority or 85.5 percent of residential constructions were single-type houses at 21,735. A single-type house is intended for a single family or household.

Meanwhile, in terms of value, the the total value of constructions amounted to P114.01 billion.

This reflected 4.4 percent decline from the P119.27 billion value of constructions posted in the same quarter of the previous year.

Construction value down

The construction value of residential buildings amounted to P45.96 billion or 40.3 percent of the total construction value

Solon pitches Bicol Express rail line inclusion in MIF project list

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

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LAWMAKER has proposed that the revival of the Philippine National Railways’ (PNR) Bicol Express rail line be included on the list of 80 highimpact infrastructure projects that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has identified for financing through the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said that transforming the Bicol Express into a modern railway system aligns with the President's criteria for MIF financing, emphasizing “high rates of return and significant social and economic impact” for the Bicol Region and the broader South Luzon area.

The revival of the Bicol Express, or the South Long Haul Project, fits the President’s criteria for MIF financing of providing “high rates of return and significant social and economic impact” for its beneficiaries, according to Yamsuan.

The project, he noted, is also in sync with the MIF’s priority investment thrusts, which include tourism infrastructure, as outlined recently by newly appointed Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) president and chief executive officer Rafael Jose Consing Jr. “We are hopeful that the President will include the revival of the Bicol Express in the list of 80 infrastructure projects that would be given an additional mode of financing through the Maharlika Investment Fund. The renaissance of the Bicol Express, which used to run from Manila to Albay, is a highimpact project that would greatly benefit the people of Bicol and the rest of South Luzon,” Yamsuan said.

The revival of this historic rail line could stimulate economic growth in South Luzon, generate numerous job and livelihood opportunities, and revitalize Bicol’s tourism industry, he stressed.

President Marcos, in his closing keynote address at the Philippine Economic Briefing in San Francisco,

California, revealed that approximately 80 infrastructure projects have been earmarked as “financeable” through the MIF, promising high returns and substantial social and economic impact.

During the briefing, the President committed to enhancing the productivity of Filipino workers by providing them with an efficient and affordable transport system.

Yamsuan expressed his hope that Marcos’s commitment would extend to ensuring the affordability of the modernized Bicol Express for a broad spectrum of Filipinos once it is operational.

“Transforming the Bicol Express into a fast, efficient, and modern mode of transport should be affordable to workers, students, and other daily commuters. The goal of reviving the rail line should be twopronged: it should be a modern, safe, fast, and comfortable way of traveling to and from Bicol, and at the same time, affordable to many Filipinos,” Yamsuan said.

The congressman is pushing for the implementation of Phase 1 of the DOTr’s South Long Haul project, which involves the reconstruction of the Bicol Express line from Banlic in Laguna to Daraga in Albay.

In a recent privilege speech, Yamsuan urged his peers to support the Bicol Express project as a testament to their commitment to championing development strategies that broaden access to opportunities and resources for all Filipinos.

Reviving the Bicol Express “will serve not only as an economic driver but as a powerful engine that would bridge communities and realize dreams while safeguarding the heritage of the Bicolanos,” Yamsuan said.

Among the benefits and opportunities from the project are: providing commuters with a fast, safe, affordable, and comfortable mode of transport going to and from Bicol; accelerating economic growth and creating more jobs and livelihood opportunities in the region; boosting tourism; and reducing the country’s carbon footprint.

during the quarter.

This reflected a decrease of 18.4 percent from the P56.30-billion value of constructions of residential buildings reported in the same quarter of the previous year.

Among residential buildings, single-type houses registered the highest value of constructions at P34.72 billion or a growth of 75.5 percent.

Meanwhi le, PSA d ata a lso showed the combined shares of the top three regions in terms of value of constructions amounted to P59.67 billion or 52.3 percent of the total value of constructions during the period.

These regions were Calabarzon with P24.25 billion or a share of 21.3 percent; the National Capital Region, P20.6 billion or 18.1 percent; and Central Luzon, P14.82 billion or 13 percent of the total.

With this, the average cost of construction in the third quarter of 2023, excluding those for alteration and repair, and other non-residential, was recorded at P9,977.41 per square meter.

This was 11.5 percent lower t h a n t he average cost of P11,270.96 per square meter in the third quarter of 2022.

PSA said residential buildings had the highest average cost of P11,709.92 per square meter during the quarter. This was followed by addition to existing constructions with P10,584.77 per square meter, and non-residential constructions with P8,934.17 per square meter.

Among residential constructions, residential condominiums posted the highest average cost of P21,430.15 per square meter during the quarter, while other residential condominiums

recorded the lowest average cost of P6,982.56 per square meter.

Last month, a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) released by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) increased the ceiling cost of socialized housing units.

T he cei l i ng for soc i a l i zed housing prices as well as socialized condominium units, were increased by 46.55 percent and 33.33 percent, respectively. The ceiling cost for socialized housing is now P850,000, and for condominium units, P933,320.

The DHSUD said under the adjusted ceiling, socialized subdivision projects now cost no more than P850,000 from the current P580,000 for units with a minimum floor area of 28 square

meters with a loft of at least 50 percent of the base structure or 32 sqm, subject to existing rules and regulations.

The September 2018 Memorandum Circular released by the government stated that apart from the 28 sqm is the largest floor area.

The memorandum still provided a ceiling for 22 sqm at P480,000 and 24 sqm at P530,000.

Meanwhile, socialized condominium projects are now set at P933,320 for 22sqm; P1,060,591 for 25 sqm; and P1,145,438 for 27 sqm for a 4-story building.

For projects composed of five to nine storeys, the pricing is P1 million for 22 sqm; P1.14 million for 25 sqm and P1.23 million for 27 sqm, and for 10 floors above projects, 22 sqm units cost P1.32 million; 25 sqm at P1.5 million; and 27 sqm at P1.62 million.

IOT, AI, cloud computing, Web3 could create 1-M jobs, per DICT

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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MERGING technologies have the potential to generate as much as “a million jobs” in the next five years, if the country navigates the space skillfully, a ranking government official said.

At the sidelines of the YGG Web3 Games Summit, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said it is hard to estimate the size of the industry today, but it has the potential to create jobs in the digital space.

“I cannot say with certainty how big the market is, but I feel that if we're looking at numbers of jobs, I would easily say all these emerging technologies—if we play our cards well—we'll probably create maybe a million of jobs up to 2028 for all the emerging technologies,” she said.

Sigue said DICT has identified these emerging technologies as: Cloud computing, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, gig economy, and Web3.

She added that the government has already developed a “strong sandbox environment” around these technologies.

Web3 roadmap

Web3 was the highlight of her fireside chat at the summit, where she said that the government has a standing offer to create a “roadmap over the next two to three years.”

“We want to have a Web3 roadmap, but it's not just for the government,” Sigue said.

“We’re willing to work with stakeholders and champions of Web3 to identify goals, targets, and market estimations for the next three, four, or five years.”

Web3, the decentralized web built on blockchain technology, has become very popular in the Philippines over the last three years, due to the quick adoption of Filipinos, particularly in gaming.

The Philippines has found itself as the “epicenter” of Web3 adoption in the world and this development may well be a signal for the government to step in and support the industry.

Aside from the roadmap, Sigue also advocates having the Philippines replicate successful tech-based models in neighboring countries.

“In my 20 years as a digital advocate, I saw a lot of concrete innovation programs in other countries,” she noted. “We want to copy the ecosystem where companies and universities are closely connected, just like in the Silicon Valley Model.”

A campus-style community where companies and schools are interconnected through one large city, the Silicon Valley model allows students to be immersed in their “future,” Sigue explained.

Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Undersecretary Krystal Uy said the government is supporting the development of the Web3 industry through the National Innovation Strategy Document (NISD) and the Philippine Innovation Act. A long-term planning blueprint, the NISD is designed to promote an innovation ecosystem by identifying enablers that will drive innovation efforts.

The document also “emphasizes” on financing, infrastructure, and skills development to “remove barriers to innovation and promote programs and policies that will encourage it,” she said.

The Philippine Innovation Act provides “seed money available for startups and research initiatives,” to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the Web3 space.

For Nathan Marasigan, a Founding Trustee of the Web3 Association of the Philippines, the government’s efforts to provide support to the community is a welcome development.

However, it also needs “clarity” on industry drivers.

“For Web3 to thrive in the Philippines, we need clarity in one of the biggest enablers: exchanges,”Marasigan said, noting that a missing puzzle piece is the regulation on trading and securities, something that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is in charge of.

“They have a draft rule already. When we get that that will greatly help in terms of giving clarity into the industry,” he said.

Filipino creativity

Sigue noted that the Philippine Web3 space is still nascent.

“This is just the beginning. We are just in the precipice that’s all that’s happening here,” she noted.

Sigue urged Filipinos to develop Web3 applications, noting that the Digital Workforce Competitiveness Law will equip Filipinos with the education that they need in order to thrive in the space.

“I’m challenging this generation, this innovative start-up generation—let’s move from zero to one. Let’s start things and the government is here to help you experiment.

Make sure that if you fail, you fail wisely, and you pivot immediately because that’s what we need,” she said.

Maynilad invests over ₧240B to boost service in past 16 yrs

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ETRO Pacif ic-DMCIMarubeni-led Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) has invested more than P240 billion in service enhancement projects from 2007 to 2023, to improve services and expand distribution coverage in the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area.

A mong major projects t he West Zone concessionaire implemented in the period are the laying of 6,821 kilometers of new water pipelines; rehabilitation of old and inoperative facilities; installation of valves and other measuring devices throughout the water infrastructure network; construction of additional facilities including 30 new pumping stations, 28 new reservoirs, five new water treatments

plants, and 20 new wastewater treatments plants; and the development of new water sources particularly in its southern area.

For 2023 alone, Maynilad said it is spending more than P24 billion to improve and expand its water and wastewater services, which is a capital outlay increase of around 71 percent compared to last year’s P14-billion spending.

Some P4 billion of that capital disbursement went towards enhancing Maynilad’s sewerage and sanitation drive while P8.5 billion was used for the upgrade and construction of key facilities to improve water service levels.

Nearly P3.2 billion was spent for the company’s aggressive NonRevenue Water (NRW) reduction program.

Job creation

The accelerated implementation of Maynilad’s Capex projects from 2007 to 2023 has generated almost 445,000 jobs, including those generated by Maynilad’s contractors and suppliers.

“Our infrastructure enhancements have resulted in significant, tangible results where formerly waterless communities now enjoy piped-in water supply. There is still a lot to be done, as emerging water industry challenges call for sustained investment to ensure water security and sustainability for a growing population. Maynilad is committed to continue improving its service delivery and also help to stimulate the economy by generating jobs for more people,” said Maynilad President and CEO

Ramoncito S. Fernandez.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) in the Philippines in terms of customer base. Its service area includes the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the Districts of Holy Spirit and Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon, all in Metro Manila; and the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario, all in the province of Cavite.

45th Year of Catholic Mass Media Awards 205 finalists emerge in the 45th CMMA

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HE 45th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) has announced the selection of 205 finalists across 41 categories, encompassing print, radio, television, music, advertising, the Internet, and the Student CMMA. These finalists were chosen for their outstanding representation of Catholic values and ideals.

The finalists were selected after going through a series of thorough screening and diligent deliberations by panels of esteemed judges. The CMMA’s panels of judges are composed of credible and competent individuals from various fields,

including civic and religious leaders, members of the clergy, academicians, and communications professionals. Rigorously selected by the CMMA board of trustees, the esteemed judges were chosen for their integrity, impartiality, and expertise in their respective fields. Their appointments were then confirmed by the Archbishop of Manila.

Established in 1978 by the late Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) serves as a testament to the Church’s recognition of those who faithfully “serve God by means of the mass media.” Over the past 45 years, the CMMA

has garnered unwavering support from mass media professionals, organizations, and academic institutions, who have consistently submitted their entries every year.

This year’s CMMA, under the theme “Speaking With the Heart: The Truth in Love,” will be celebrated in a formal dinner with the awardees on November 23, 2023, at the Citystate Tower Hotel.

The event will be streamed live on the official Facebook page of the CMMA at facebook.com/OfficialCMMA/. It will also be aired on CNN Philippines and Aliw TV 23 on December 10, 2023, at 10 PM and on TV Maria on December 31, 2023, at 10 PM.

2023 CMMA FINALISTS STUDENT CMMA BEST STUDENT ORGAN - GRADE SCHOOL • THE LILY—SAN JOSE ACADEMY • THE HAVENSENT—STUDENT’S HAVEN TUTORIAL & LEARNING CENTER

BEST WEBSITE • https://blog.feastbooks.ph—SHEPHERD’S VOICE PUBLICATIONS, INC. • https://www.katolago.com—KATOLAGO FOUNDATION, INC • https://www.dominusest.ph—STARDUST PUBLISHING

BEST STUDENT ORGAN - HIGH SCHOOL • THE AGNESIAN—ST. AGNES ACADEMY, INC. • SAPIENTIA ET VIRTUS—SCHOOL OF SAINT ANTHONY • VALLEY PERSPECTIVE—BENGUET NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL • ANG PAGLALAYAG—SCHOOL OF SAINT ANTHONY

ADVERTISING CATEGORY BEST DIGITAL AD - BRANDED • IBA ANG NGITI SA ONE GINEBRA NATION—GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL / DENTSU ONE MANILA • TAYO ANG TAHANAN NG ISA’T ISA—CREATIVE COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT / ABS-CBN CORPORATION

BEST STUDENT ORGAN - COLLEGE • THE VARSITARIAN—UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS • PHOENIX TABLOID—LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY - BATANGAS • THE DWCC GAZETTE—DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF CALAPAN • ORANGE—FIRST ASIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITIES (FAITH COLLEGES) • THE BENILDEAN: REACTED—DE LA SALLE - COLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE • EMBARK VOL.8—DE LA SALLE - COLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE

BEST LITERARY PUBLICATION • MORPHEME—DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY - DASMARIÑAS HIGH SCHOOL • THE JOSEPHIAN INKSPIRE—ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY OF LAS PIÑAS • “PREMONISYON”THE GUILDS LITERARY FOLIO—BATAAN PENINSULA STATE UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS BEST STUDENT PUBLIC SERVICE PRINT AD • MAKE TIME FOR THE LORD—UST ANGELICUM COLLEGE, INC. • “MOTHER’S LOVE IS A WALKING MIRACLE”—UST ANGELICUM COLLEGE, INC. • TAHANAN—UST ANGELICUM COLLEGE, INC. • HIYAW NG BAYAN—FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA • ESCAPE THE STARES—COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LETRAN • GAMBLE OF LIFE—ADAMSON UNIVERSITY BEST STUDENT PUBLIC SERVICE RADIO AD • TAGU-TAGUAN—FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA • HEY, SIRI—FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA • PAMASKO—FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA • MAYMAY—PUP OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM • ORASYON—FIRST ASIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITIES (FAITH COLLEGES) • ISANG ORAS—ADAMSON UNIVERSITY BEST STUDENT PUBLIC SERVICE TV AD • A HOPEFUL PROMISE—FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA • EMPATHY—COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LETRAN • HAPPY LAND—COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LETRAN • A LITTLE JEEPNEY’S JOURNEY—FIRST ASIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITIES (FAITH COLLEGES) • HEART OF GIVING—FIRST ASIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITIES (FAITH COLLEGES) • HURDLE—FIRST ASIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITIES (FAITH COLLEGES) BEST TV PRODUCTION • MY HEART’S CANVAS—UST ANGELICUM COLLEGE, INC. • PANGARAP—UST ANGELICUM COLLEGE, INC. • TIME-LAPSE—UST ANGELICUM COLLEGE, INC. • THE FACES OF POVERTY—BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY - THE NATIONAL ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY - LIPA CAMPUS • BAHAY BILANGGO—COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LETRAN • MATANDANG CAMARERO—FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA • KALIWA DAM: SOLUSYON O SULIRANIN—POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - MAIN CAMPUS BEST SHORT FILM • LADINGIT—UST ANGELICUM COLLEGE, INC. • ORASA—UST ANGELICUM COLLEGE, INC. • THROUGH THE EYES OF ANOTHER—OUR LADY OF CAYSASAY ACADEMY • COR JESU—UST CENTRAL SEMINARY • IT’S ALL COVERED—FEU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY • MASKULINITY—FEU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY • LOVE NEVER FORGET - THE CSU COMMUNICATOR—CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY - ANDREWS CAMPUS SOCIAL MEDIA CATEGORY BEST VLOG • https://tinyurl.com/FrFielDD—DAILY DEVOTION WITH FR. FIEL PAREJA • https://www.dominusest.ph/flex-our-faith— STARDUST PUBLISHING • https://www.facebook.com/kakaibakastories/ https://youtube.com/@kakaibakastories— PROCLAIM ONLINE MINISTRY OF PATHWAYS / ANG LIGAYA NG PANGINOON COMMUNITY

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A6

BusinessMirror

Thursday, November 23, 2023

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

7 PRIME TECH, INC. 10/f Ewestpod, Eton Westend Square, Yakal St. Cor. Don Chino Roces Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati FRANSISCA Indonesian Speaking Customer Service Officer 1.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, and handle customer concerns.

RUDY SUCIPTO Indonesian Speaking Customer Service Officer

2.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, and handle customer concerns.

SAMUEL MARTHIN SITOMPUL Indonesian Speaking Customer Service Officer

3.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, and handle customer concerns.

STEFANNI Indonesian Speaking Customer Service Officer

4.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, and handle customer concerns.

STEVEN Indonesian Speaking Customer Service Officer

5.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, and handle customer concerns.

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

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

13.

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

6.

7.

Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

LI, HAIBO Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

8.

9.

10.

Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

ZHAI, YUANCHAO Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

LI, DINGHAI Mandarin Operations Team Leader Brief Job Description: Develop a strategy.

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

Basic Qualification: Must have at least 1 year of work experience, must have both Japanese and English language skills.

Japanese language skills must be native/ n1/n2/ n3.

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

HONDA, SHINYA Talent Connector Specialist 14.

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

15.

16.

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

11.

Brief Job Description: Develop a strategy.

12.

Brief Job Description: Communicate with the client functional design incharge about the detail of requirement definition and function design, explain development status and issue with team leads of the client, understand the client’s original develop/runtime architecture and develop standards (including deliverable flow, template, description level).

Brief Job Description: Enforcing business strategies.

SHAO, HONG Mandarin Director Brief Job Description: Enforcing business strategies.

PUNSIRI, ANUPIT Invest SPC - CR [THA]

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

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

Brief Job Description: Communicate via email to external and internal customers to make informed decisions about risk. Maintain Amazon’s site quality by enforcing Amazon’s Policy Guidelines. Be aware of and identify new fraud patterns and trends. Take appropriate action to identify and minimize the risk posted by such trends. Experience in the internet space and capable of succeeding in a fastpaced team environment.

NGUYEN THI THAO TAM Invest SPC - RCO [VNM]

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

18.

Brief Job Description: Communicates effectively via email and/or telephone. Takes appropriate action to identify and help minimize the risk posed by fraud patterns and trends. Consistently achieve weekly productivity and quality standards. Participates in ad hoc projects/assignments as necessary.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

SUYA, RUNGTIWA SPS Associate - TH

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Brief Job Description: Demonstrates effective, clear and professional written and verbal communication. Provides prompt and efficient service to Amazon Sellers and Merchants including the appropriate escalation of Sellers’ issues.

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

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f, Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1, Pioneer St, City Of Mandaluyong

LIU, SUMAN App/Cloud Support Specialist

GU, FEI Mandarin Director

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or other relevant fields, must be able to communicate effectively, verbally and written, in both English and required languages, experienced in any of the following: o java (java ee, java se, spring, nodejs) o javascript o sap o .Net o cobol o angular, knowledgeable in back-end programming language/framework, and willing to work on holidays, weekends, shifting schedules and extended working hours.

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

No.

SIGMA ALPHARIUS LAMHOT PURBA Sr. Finops Analyst, Payroll 22.

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

PHAM TUAN KHOI SPS Associate - VN

20.

Brief Job Description: Demonstrates effective, clear and professional written and verbal communication. Provides prompt and efficient service to amazon sellers and merchants including the appropriate escalation of sellers’ issues. Demonstrates excellent timemanagement skills.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Thai and English languages with an ability to compose grammatically correct, concise, and accurate written responses in the Vietnamese language.

Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues correctly.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proactive documentation of operational procedures required to tackle known related risk.

With customer service background. Fluency in Vietnamese/Mandarin/ Thai/Malaysian language.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Vietnamese, Thai and English languages and with an ability to compose grammatically correct, concise and accurate written responses.

LI, YONGHUI Chinese Customer Service Representative 23.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

PAULUS RICKY RIVARDO Indonesian Customer Service Representative 24.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

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 and Indonesian languages.

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

BETTZEIT SOUTHEAST ASIA INC. 11th, 12th, 14th And 15th Floor The Brilliance Center 11th Avenue, 40th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

ISLAM, TASNIMUL Country Head-Australia 25.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for spearheading and expanding the organization’s operations.

Basic Qualification: Proven work experience with similar role, Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance or similar, and fluency in English language, both written and verbal is often preferred.

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

BIBO GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY, INC. (ENGOO) 3/f King’s Court 2 Bldg.,, 2129 Chino Roces Ave.,, Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

26.

MIZUNUMA, YUKARI Customer Support Staff Brief Job Description: Handling Japanese customers inquiry.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in English and Japanese language with basic Information Technology knowledge.

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

CEBGO, INC. Cebu Pacific Bldg., Domestic Road St., Barangay 191, Pasay City

27.

SITHAR THAMEEMANSARI, AMEER HAMZA Pilot

Basic Qualification: Licensed Pilot.

Brief Job Description: Operates a commercial flight.

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

CGI (PHILIPPINES) INC. 2/f One World Square, Mckinley Hill, Pinagsama, City Of Taguig

28.

AYARI, CHOKRI Multilingual Service Desk Member Brief Job Description: Provide technical support in French language.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in written and verbal communication in English language, excellent knowledge of French language, and proficient in computer and technical skills.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Vietnamese, Thai and English languages and with an ability to compose grammatically correct, concise and accurate written responses.

Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues. Intermediate skill with Microsoft office including outlook, word and excel.

Basic Qualification: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Indonesian languages are required. Bachelor’s degree holder. Preferably finance background. 2 plus years of relevant experience and proficient in Microsoft excel and word.

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

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

Brief Job Description: Processes end-to-end Indonesia payroll, performs and reviews various analysis and reconciliation, prepares various reports and processes and pays statutory deductions on time to statutory authorities.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Talent connector plays an important role in internal assignment process for employees in Japan.

ALPHA CENTURY CONSULTANCY INC. 15/f Tower 2 Rcbc Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

19.

SHI, RONGMING Mandarin Operations Team Leader

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any 4 yr. course, preferably IT or Engineering related. Strong working knowledge level on multiple IT technologies.

Excellent communication skills both written and verbal. Willing and able to work effectively in a diverse and multi-cultural environment, and willing and able to work on a shifting schedule.

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

17.

TAN, DIANWANG Mandarin Operations Specialist

Brief Job Description: The position will require candidates to take calls using any of the 6 languages to support our clients with their IT-related incidents and request. Some of the roles and responsibilities for the role include perform initial triage for IT issues raised by customers log, track, and update incidents attempt first time resolution for known issues, identify target resolver group and route tickets, do remote trouble shooting, and install/uninstall applications for incidents raised by clients.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

AB LEISURE EXPONENT, INC. 5/f Sm Megamall Bldg. D, J Vargas, Wack-wack Greenhills, City Of Mandaluyong

GAN, WEIHUA Mandarin Operations Specialist

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ATSE, EILOHM BABOTSA Sw/App/Cloud Tech Support Analyst

www.businessmirror.com.ph

CHINA CONSTRUCTION SECOND ENGINEERING BUREAU LTD. PHILIPPINE BRANCH OFFICE Unit 38 A & B Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

LIN, NING Administrative Manager 29.

Brief Job Description: Oversee all support and clerical work within a company. Supervise day-to-day activities, coordinate clerical task and lead teams of administrative officers.

Basic Qualification: With 5 years of work experience as an Admin Manager. Deep understanding of legal and compliance. Must be bilingual (English and Chinese languages.)

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

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

TRAN THI LAN HUONG SPS Associate - VN 21.

Brief Job Description: Liaise with other departments such as Customer Service, Merchant Investigations, or Payments teams as required to resolve Seller’s issues and questions.

Basic Qualification: Good customer service skills/experience. Ability to work independently, analyze problems logically and make complex decisions.

Exceptionally strong customer handling and conflict resolution skills.

Fluency in Vietnamese language.

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

WANG, YANJUN Deputy Chief Manager 30.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in ensuring that the staff follows company rules and guidelines. Prepares weekly or monthly reports and analyzing business metrics working closely with members of thirteen to achieve targets or implement strategies.

Basic Qualification: With 5 years of work experience as a Manager; Engineering Degree or equivalent. Must be bilingual (English and Chinese languages.)

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

CITIGROUP BUSINESS PROCESS SOLUTIONS PTE. LTD 15th/f Citiplaza (w North), 34th St. Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LOY CHWAN SHYONG Head - Citigroup Business Process Solutions Ltd. 31.

Brief Job Description: Senior leadership role directly managing a large operations team that supports various activities across the consumer operations businesses spanning multiple markets.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s/university degree holder and 15 years or more of work experience in one or a combination of the following: consumer operations businesses and implementation/ execution of strategic offshoring processes preferably in a global banking/financial services environment leading large & diverse teams.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

DARKWOODS SERVICE INC. Unit 25d 2f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati JIANG, YUNBO Communications Manager

32.

Brief Job Description: Create, implement and oversee communications programs, be it internal or external, that effectively describe and promote the organization and its products. Provides supervision and direction to staff and often works in conjunction with the marketing department.

LIN, LIPENG Customer Care Manager

33.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for overseeing the core operations of the Contact center. Will be responsible for the implementation, execution, compliance, and improvement of all processes, policies, and procedures to meet the company’s performance goals.

CHEN, DENENG Marketing Specialist

34.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for creating advertising campaigns, pricing strategies and targeting the demographic data of their target audience. Work with marketing teams at companies to achieve success through more awareness about what they offer.

LU, LINLIN Marketing Specialist

35.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for creating advertising campaigns, pricing strategies and targeting the demographic data of their target audience. Work with marketing teams at companies to achieve success through more awareness about what they offer.

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

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

No.

ROBBY Indonesian Retention Specialist 45.

46.

36.

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

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate digital strategies into product deliverables.

WINDI SUHENDRA NASUTION Indonesian Retention Specialist Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of incoming phone calls.

ZHOU, YUE Chinese Language Specialist 47.

Brief Job Description: Provide technical support in organizing and developing the Chinese language curriculum.

48.

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible in defining marketing strategies in business.

ZENG, CHAO Marketing Consultant 49.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible in defining marketing strategies in business.

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

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

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

50.

Brief Job Description: In charge of preparing loan files and submitting them to banks or mortgage lenders for approval.

37.

38.

Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

SHAO, JING Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

ZHANG, YU Mandarin Technical Support

39.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and network.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

KIM, SUNHO Consultant 51.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Brief Job Description: The consultant must have strong leadership skills to manage their teams effectively.

WU, ZHOU Management Supervisor 40.

Brief Job Description: Setting targets, regularly reviewing timings, budget, and labor. Conducting site visits to inspect work and check materials.

GILBERT, TIMOTHY CHRISTIE Product Director, Tables - Asia 52.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate.

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

Brief Job Description: Oversees the rollout of all LNW products. Explores new business opportunities and create new ways to market LNW products.

WU, YONGRUI Customer Service Representative 53.

Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service.

41.

Brief Job Description: Maintaining hardware and software installations.

MARLAN YEREMIA WONTE Indonesian Account Specialist 42.

43.

44.

Brief Job Description: Prepares work to be processed by gathering, sorting, organizing, and recording data, information and documents.

MELWIN LOIS TAN Indonesian Account Specialist Brief Job Description: Preparing and making bank deposit.

RIKY Indonesian IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintaining hardware and software installations.

Basic Qualification: Exceptional ability to provide technical support and resolve queries.

AN, THANH LONG Customer Service Representative 54.

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

DANG THI HAI Customer Service Representative 55.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

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

56.

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

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

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

DAO, THI HAU Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Ability to analyze financial data and generate reports.

Basic Qualification: Exceptional ability to provide technical support and resolve queries.

58.

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

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

KAEWPRASERT, WEERAPONG Customer Service Representative 59.

Basic Qualification: 5 yrs. of work experience in the same field and bachelor’s degree holder.

60.

Basic Qualification: With excellent communication skills in Mandarin and English languages.

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

61.

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in the related position, and fluent in English and Korean Hangul languages.

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

LIANG, XUE Customer Service Representative 62.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree holder, and proficient in English and Korean languages.

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

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

LE, THUY DUONG Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: With excellent communication skills in Mandarin and English languages.

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

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

KIM QUANG HUY Customer Service Representative

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

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

NGUYEN DINH THANH Customer Service Representative 63.

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

NGUYEN, THI THUY ANH Customer Service Representative 64.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With at least 10 years of work experience in project management, engineering or operations, casino/ gaming domain.

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

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

DOAN DUC BAO Customer Service Representative 57.

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

NONG, THI NGA Customer Service Representative 65.

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

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above PHAM THI TRA MY Customer Service Representative 66.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Chinese/ Mandarin language fluently.

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

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Barangay 76, Pasay City

GIGA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT INC. 31/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati 2/f Lipam’s Building, 40 Presidents Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque

EDI YANTO Indonesian Account Specialist

HUYNH THI PHUONG THAM Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 27/f & 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1, 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

GH EXCELLENT CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Unit 1709 One Park Drive 9th Avenue Corner 11th Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LIGHT AND WONDER SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg., Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

LERIB SERVICES CORPORATION U-3d Rose Industries Bldg., Choice Market Ortigas, Kapitolyo, City Of Pasig

FLYING FUTURE SERVICES INC. 21/f Yuchengco Tower 1 Rcbc Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave, Bel-air, City Of Makati DONG, ZHENG Mandarin Operations Specialist

No.

KEB HANA BANK - MANILA BRANCH U-1, 2 & 3 33 21/f Zuellig Bldg., Makati Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, Urdaneta, City Of Makati CHA, SIYEON Loan Processor

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

JINLONG CONSULTANCY INC. Unit 25a 2/f Aseana Powerstation Bldg. D, Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Bradco Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

EMA NOVIANI Marketing Consultant

A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY OF SAN JUAN INC. 10, Grant St., Greenhills, City Of San Juan

EASYTECH SUPPORT INC. 9-11/f, 14/f Capella Bldg., Asean Drive Filinvest, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa CAO, MENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Thursday, November 23, 2023

PHAM VAN THUC Customer Service Representative 67.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, and fluent in Mandarin and basic English languages.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, and fluent in Mandarin and basic English languages.

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

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

PHAM, VAN TRUC Customer Service Representative 68.

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

TIN KHAING OO Customer Service Representative

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

69.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, and fluent in Mandarin and basic English languages.

TRAN THI THAO Customer Service Representative 70.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, and fluent in Mandarin and basic English languages.

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

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

TRAN, THI DUNG Customer Service Representative 71.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, and fluent in Mandarin and basic English languages.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BusinessMirror

Thursday, November 23, 2023

A6 A8

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TRUONG, CONG MANH Customer Service Representative 72.

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

VIEN DINH LOC Customer Service Representative 73.

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

VU, VAN BINH Customer Service Representative 74.

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

ZHANG, XIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

75.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries, identifying and assessing customer needs to achieve satisfaction, handle customer complaints provide appropriate solutions and alternatives within the time limits and make follow ups to ensure resolution of complaints and follow communication procedures, guidelines and policies.

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

No.

87.

76.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, and fluent in Mandarin and basic English languages.

88.

77.

78.

79.

80.

81.

82.

83.

84.

85.

86.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LIAN, MENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

REN, YUKE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

WANG, XIAOWEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

WU, JINJING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHU, CAICAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHU, WENYAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ADIYASUREN, BAYARJARGAL Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

DA SILVA JUNIOR, LUIZ CARLOS Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

CHAN HUI WEN Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

SU LATT YADDANAR Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

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

89.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Finished at least secondary education or college undergraduate preferably with 6 months to 1-year customer or sales experience and fluent in Mandarin language.

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

90.

91.

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

92.

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

LI, SHAOPENG Chinese Customer Service

JA MAI Myanmari Customer Service

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg., 133 Quirino Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

HE, ZHENGRONG Chinese Customer Service

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

93.

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

94.

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

95.

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

96.

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

97.

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

98.

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

99.

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

100.

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

101.

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

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

102.

BAN, THI VUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

CAO VAN QUANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

CHENH PHONG HIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

DO, NGOC HOANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

HUYNH MINH NGUYEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

IN, CHANH KIET Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LAM THIEU PHONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LUU, THANH DINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

MAI, THI TUYET VY Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

NGUYEN DUC THAI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

NGUYEN THE HOANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

NGUYEN, THI THOM Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

TONG, THI OANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

VAN, TRIEU HUY Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NEW WEATHER FORCES GROUP INC. 26/f The Enterprise Center Tower 2, 6766 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati HUANG, HSIAO-WEI Chinese Customer Service Representative 103.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese language.

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

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

ONE BORDERLINE CREATIVES INC. Unit 11-ij3, 11/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

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

104.

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

105.

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

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

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

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

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

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

106.

107.

108.

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

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

109.

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

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

TANG, ZHIQIANG Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales records.

YANG, YIJIONG Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

Brief Job Description: Manage and develop employee performance expectations.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks.

PARK, JOOHONG Manager, Sales Strategy 110.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for implementing the sales strategy, Price Management, D&A, Incentive Plan, Promotions Program, and Zero Based Budget (ZBB) of the function across all sites. Ultimately impacting sales volume and business revenue.

Basic Qualification: Experience in field sales management, product marketing, target markets, and value propositions.

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

PHILIPPINE FULL DEGREE COMMUNICATIONS CORP. 18/f Yuchengco Tower 1, Rcbc Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati HY VAY PHON Mandarin Customer Service 111.

Brief Job Description: Maintains customer records by updating account info.

LIN, YUFENG Mandarin Customer Service

112.

113.

114.

115.

Brief Job Description: Maintains customer records by updating account information.

LI, YANSONG Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

OU, I-NO Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

YAP GUAN CHENG Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

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

PHOENIXFIELD, INC. 7/f Iacademy Plaza, 324 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave, Bel-air, City Of Makati

116.

JUNAIDI Indonesian Language - Marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates.

LORA LACAVERA Indonesian Language - Support Officer 117.

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

SANDY Indonesian Language - Support Officer

118.

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales records.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

PEPSI-COLA PRODUCTS PHILIPPINES, INC. 26th Flr., Filinvest Axis Tower Two Bldg., Northgate Cyberzone, Fcc, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

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

LI, XIANZHE Mandarin Operations Specialist

XU, ZHENGJIA Mandarin Technical Support Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record.

HU, LIFANG Mandarin Supervisor

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

LAN, YAXIN Mandarin Operations Specialist

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

DORA JULFAN Indonesian Language-support Supervisor

119.

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning and administration of the organization’s daily operations. Providing information, assistance, and support to customers.

Assist with the preparation of reports. Escalating complex issues to management.

SATIPA, JUTIPAN Thai Language - Support Supervisor

120.

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

NGO XUAN CUONG Vietnamese Language - Support Officer

121.

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree holder.

Must fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian language. Can work under pressure.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write the Thai language.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Vietnamese language.

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

PRESTIGIOUS FOOD INC. 2nd Floor Of Oceanaire Condominium Road 23, Central Business Park St. Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City CHENG, SHICUN Inventory Specialist 122.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for keeping track of stock for everything, including ingredients, beverages, beer, wine, spirits, service, wear and paper products.

XIAN, JINFA Quality And Control Specialist

123.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for checking outgoing products to ensure that they are free of defects and produced according to internal specifications and external guidelines.

Basic Qualification: College graduate. Fluent in Chinese-Mandarin language.

124.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls.

Basic Qualification: College graduate. Fluent in Chinese-Mandarin language.

125.

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

NOE ZIN WAI NYUNT Burmese-language Customer Support Staff

126.

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

135.

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

136.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 137.

138.

Basic Qualification: A native speaker of Vietnamese language and fluent in English language (spoken and written).

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

127.

Brief Job Description: Handles service support calls, emails, and chats from client’s inquiry.

Basic Qualification: Fluency in English, Mandarin, and any language.

139.

140.

SNOWVIT SERVICES CORPORATION Unit 5d Rose Industries, Bldg. No. 11, Pioneer Street, Kapitolyo, City Of Pasig

CHOI, HYERIM Travel Coordinator 128.

Brief Job Description: Travel coordinator make travel arrangements for individuals, group including scheduling flights and ground transportation, booking accommodations and handling any other trip-related tasks.

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

LEE, SEUNGCHAN Travel Coordinator 129.

Brief Job Description: Travel coordinator make travel arrangements for individuals, group including scheduling flights and ground transportation, booking accommodations and handling any other trip-related tasks.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ bachelor’s degree holder, at least 1-2 years working experience in the related position, flexible, trustworthy, and proficient in speaking and writing in English & Korean Hangul languages.

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

130.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for improving the company’s efficiency and increasing department profits.

Developing key performance goals and managing the performance of staff.

141.

142.

Brief Job Description: Highly proficient in verbal and written French and English languages, capable of communicating effectively with internal and external customers.

143.

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With previous management experience in a related field. With excellent organization and project management skills.

144.

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

145.

AHMED BARRE ADEN Technical Support Representative 132.

Brief Job Description: Handle concerns of customers regarding printers and scanners and other Epson products. Respond to customers inquiries and questions based on the detailed product knowledge acquired.

Basic Qualification: Graduate of a university degree. Experience in handling French accounts or French-related duties and responsibilities is preferred.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate. Fluent in Arabic, English and French languages. With advanced knowledge of various Microsoft Office applications. With at least 10 years of work experience in the sales field.

CHENG, CHENG Mandarin Speaking Brand Marketing Supervisor 133.

Brief Job Description: Provides advice to clients on taxes, retirement, planning, investments, and insurance decisions to help achieve their financial objectives.

147.

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices.

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices.

CHANG, TZU-YU a.k.a. LOUIS CHANG Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation) Brief Job Description: Handles service support calls, emails and chats related to clients inquiry.

DAOSAT, SUNISA Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation) Brief Job Description: Handles service support calls, emails and chats related to clients inquiry.

LU, HSUAN-FENG Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation) Brief Job Description: Handles service support calls, emails and chats related to clients inquiry.

PAN, SHIHUI Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation) Brief Job Description: Handles service support calls, emails and chats related to clients inquiry.

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

HUANG, GUO-ZHE Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation)

148.

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, and fluent in Mandarin language and gaming devices.

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

No.

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, and fluent in Mandarin language and gaming devices.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, and fluent in Mandarin language and gaming devices.

LI, DONG Mandarin Technical Support 151.

152.

153.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks.

154.

Brief Job Description: Provide support services and resolves the issues.

155.

156.

Brief Job Description: Provide support services across technology programs and projects.

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Vietnamese language.

CHIM NAM KIEU Vietnamese Language Support Service Brief Job Description: Provide support services and resolve issues.

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of customer service representative experience and good in verbal, written and reading skills.

CHEN, BEIXIN Chinese Consultant 157.

158.

Brief Job Description: Provides professional and knowledgeable consultation.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of customer service representative experience and good in verbal, written and reading skills.

HUAI, YONGHONG Chinese Consultant Brief Job Description: Information and communication.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of customer service representative experience and good in verbal, written and reading skills.

VONG MY HA Mandarin Marketing Assistant 159.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in English, Mandarin and any language.

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

YOUBIN CONSULTANCY INC. 7c Westgate Tower Condominium, Investment Drive, Mbp Ayala, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English, Mandarin and any language.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking of English and Bahasa languages.

REYNOLD TOFFEL Bilingual Support Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, and fluent in Mandarin language and gaming devices.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent in bilingual languages.

NG HEOK THENG Bilingual Support Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, and fluent in Mandarin language and gaming devices.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin language.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, and fluent in Mandarin language and gaming devices.

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, and fluent in Mandarin language and gaming devices.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks.

XIE, YONGDA Mandarin Technical Support

Basic Qualification: With relative work experience.

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

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks.

LUO, SONG Mandarin Technical Support

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WIKITECH SERVICES INC. 10/f Alphaland Corporate Tower, 7232 Ayala Avenue Ext. Corner Malugay St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: With relative work experience.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Undertaking daily administrative tasks to ensure the functionality and coordination of the department’s activities.

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

Z-TRIK FOOD CORP. Unit Cw1b Ground And Second Flr., City Walk 1, Eastwood, Bagumbayan, Quezon City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in English, Mandarin and any language.

160.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in English, Mandarin and any language.

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

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

LIU, ZHUO Fixed Network Solution Manager 161.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English, Mandarin and any language.

Brief Job Description: Passionate about preparing Indian food in both traditional & complimentary styles.

ZTE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 29 Fort Legend Tower, 3rd Avenue Corner 31st, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Thorough, extensive & fluency in Mandarin language and characters.

Basic Qualification: Must be at least 25 yrs. old & above and speaks English language well.

KHATRI, BISHNU Indian Executive Chef

Brief Job Description: Responsible for Fixed Network development in the Philippines, Fixed Network customer maintenance, Brand maintenance of fixed network products and Fixed Network marketing.

ZHOU, TIANQI Logistics Manager

162.

Brief Job Description: Monitor the delivery progress of equipment, coordinate to deal with projects logistics major problems and risks, timely alert and upgrade the major problems and risks that cannot be coordinated, and ensure the completion of project logistics progress.

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

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

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

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

*Date Generated: Nov 22, 2023 NG HUI WU Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation) 149.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language.

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

PHAN THU HANH Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation)

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

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St., 072, Barangay 669, Ermita, City Of Manila

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices.

GOH TZE HONG Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation)

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TOP ACCESS INFINITY INC. 27th Floor The Curve Building, 32nd Street Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

VICCI BUSINESS CONSULTANCY CORP. 10/f Liberty Plaza, 102 H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati 44/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

146.

131.

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device.

WILLIAM TING ANG LIANG IT Specialist

TELEPHILIPPINES INCORPORATED Edsa Central It Center 2, United Street Corner Edsa, Greenfield District, City Of Mandaluyong

CIAMALA, ARNOLD MUENDA Customer Service Representative

NGUYEN TUONG VY IT Specialist

PHAN, THI KIEU OANH IT Specialist

TCL SUN, INC. 4/f Zen Tower, 1111 N A Lopez St., 071, Barangay 659, Ermita, City Of Manila

JIANG, TONGXIN Manager

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices.

PHAM, TIEN TAI IT Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ bachelor’s degree holder, at least 1-2 years working experience in the related position, flexible, trustworthy, and proficient in speaking and writing in English & Korean Hangul languages.

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices.

NGUYEN, TRI THIEN IT Specialist

SEEKTOP SERVICE MANAGEMENT INC. 25/f Alphaland Corporate Tower, 7232 Ayala Ave. Extn. Cor. Malugay St., Bel-air, City Of Makati TRUONG, LE HUONG Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation)

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device.

LUU, THI BICH LIEN IT Specialist

Basic Qualification: A native speaker of Vietnamese language and fluent in English language (spoken and written).

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

HY MINH HIEN IT Specialist

LE THI DUYEN IT Specialist

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

RUNNINGMAN CORPORATION 8/f Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati KYAW YE MIN Burmese - Language Customer Support Staff

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices.

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

RIDGE OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. 46/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati VU THI NGOC HOI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

134.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

HUA VAN NGHIEM IT Specialist

Thursday, November 23, 2023

150.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English, Mandarin and any language.

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on November 22, 2023, the position of CHIU, CHE-HENG under the company ACSTREAM MANAGEMENT INC., should have been read as MANDARIN SPEAKING IT SPECIALIST and not as published.

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

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.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English, Mandarin and any language.

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

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

A9

A10 Thursday, November 23, 2023

TheWorld BusinessMirror

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

Qatar announces Israel-Hamas truce-for-hostages deal that would pause Gaza fighting, bring more aid

By Josef Federman & Jack Jeffery The Associated Press

J

ERUSALEM—Qatar on Wednesday announced a truce-for-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas that would bring a four-day halt in fighting in a devastating six-week war, win freedom for dozens of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, and also lead to the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it would announce within a day when the clock will start ticking on the truce, during which 50 hostages will be released in stages in exchange for what Hamas said would be 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Those freed by both sides will be women and children.

Humanitarian aid to besieged Gaza would also increase.

T h e a n n o u n c e m e nt c a m e hours after Israel’s Cabinet approved the deal. It capped weeks of indirect Qatari-led negotiations between Israel and Hamas, an Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years. The United States and Egypt were also involved in stop-and-go talks to free some of the roughly 240 hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza.

Hostage releases will begin roughly 24 hours after the deal is approved by all parties, said a senior White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office made no mention of the release of Palestinian prisoners or increased humanitarian aid when it confirmed the Cabinet had approved the deal.

“The government of Israel is committed to bringing all of the hostages home. Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this

goal,” the office said in a statement.

Ahead of the Cabinet vote, which came af ter a si x-hour meeting stretching into the early morning, Netanyahu said the war against Hamas would resume after the truce expires.

“We are at war, and we will continue the war,” he said. “We will continue until we achieve all our goals.”

In welcoming the deal, President Joe Biden emphasized that Netanyahu has committed to supporting an “extended pause” to make sure not only all hostages are released but that humanitarian assistance can be sent to Palestinians in Gaza.

Biden, who is in Nantucket, Massachusetts, for the Thanksgiving holiday, said the agreement should release some American hostages, and added: “I will not stop until they are all released.”

The Israeli government statement said that the truce would be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages released

by Hamas.

A longer-term lull could lead to pressure, both international and domestic, for Israel to end its war without achieving its goal of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it is standing by to assist any swap in the Israel-

FAMILIES and friends of about 240 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza call for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring them home during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Hamas captured the hostages in an October 7 cross-border attack that killed at least 1,200 people and triggered an Israeli invasion of Gaza. AP/ARIEL SCHALIT

Hamas war. Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric met with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, as well as Qatari political leaders, earlier this week.

The war erupted on October 7 when several thousand Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. Most of the dead were civilians, while the hostages include small children, women and older people.

Israel responded with weeks of devastating airstrikes on Gaza, followed by a ground invasion that began over three weeks ago.

More than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israeli offensive, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory. It does not differentiate between civilians and militants, though some two-thirds of the dead have been identified as women and minors. Israel says thousands of Hamas militants have been killed.

The invasion has caused vast destruction in northern Gaza, including Gaza City, displaced an estimated 1.7 million people and caused a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, medicines, fuel and other key supplies throughout the territory.

Israel has rejected growing international criticism and vowed

to press ahead until it destroys Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and all hostages are freed. Hamas, an Islamic militant group sworn to Israel’s destruction, has ruled Gaza since ousting the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007.

The return of any of the hostages could lift spirits in Israel, where the plight of the captives has gripped the country’s attention. Airwaves are filled with interviews with families of the hostages, who include babies and toddlers, women and children and people in their 80s with health issues.

The families have become a powerful force in Israel, staging mass demonstrations and marches pressuring the government to bring home their loved ones. They have made central Tel Aviv square their headquarters, where evocative displays like a long white table with seats for all 240 hostages are meant to keep their plight in the public eye.

But the structure of the deal could weaken Israel from various directions.

Any pause would give Hamas and its shadowy leader, Yehya Sinwar, a chance to regroup after suffering heavy losses during the fighting, especially if Hamas drags things out with additional hostage releases.

Israel claims to have killed thousands of Hamas fighters, though it has not presented evidence, and destroyed parts of the group’s underground tunnel system. But Israeli officials acknowledge much of the group’s infrastructure remains intact.

A cease-fire could also add to the already growing international pressure on Israel to halt its offensive as the full extent of damage in Gaza becomes apparent. Even the US, Israel’s chief backer, has expressed concerns about the heavy toll on Gaza’s civilian population.

Some three-quarters of Gaza’s population have been uprooted from their homes and are staying in overcrowded and unsanitary shelters.

Many, if not most, will be unable to return home because of the vast damage in the north and the continued presence of Israeli troops there. That could lead to an even worse humanitarian disaster as people remain in shelters or are forced to live in tents through the cold, rainy winter.

And in Israel, the staggered releases of hostages risks triggering divisions between families of those who are freed and those who remain in captivity.

Soldiers, for instance, are likely to be among the last to be freed.

Families of the soldiers, who include young women who served as spotters along the border, are likely to press the government not to resume the offensive until their loved ones return home as well.

“There are many families and many opinions,” Hadas Kalderon, whose two young children were abducted with their father, told Israel’s Channel 12 TV. A lengthy truce could also affect Israel’s battle readiness. While Israeli troops are expected to remain in place and the Israeli military said its battle plans remain intact, it will be difficult and risky for the army to leave its forces stationary behind enemy lines.

Asked about a cease-fire, the army’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said: “The

army will know how to maintain its operational achievements.”

Hamas may try to declare a victory, but Sinwar will have little to celebrate. Even if he survives and Hamas maintains power, he will emerge to vast destruction that will take years, if not decades, to repair.

In the meantime, fighting continued on Tuesday, with the front line of the war shifting to the Jabaliya refugee camp, a dense warren of concrete buildings near Gaza City that houses families displaced in the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation.

Israel has bombarded the area for weeks, and the military said Hamas fighters have regrouped there and in other eastern districts after being pushed out of much of Gaza City.

In southern Lebanon, an Israeli strike killed two journalists with Al-Mayadeen TV, according to the Hezbollah-allied Pan-Arab network and Lebanese officials.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

A separate Israeli drone strike in Lebanon killed four Hamas members, a Palestinian official and a Lebanon security official said.

The Israeli military has been trading fire almost daily across the border with Lebanon’s Hezbollah group and Palestinian militants since the outbreak of the war.

On Tuesday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said that as of Nov. 11 it had lost the ability to count the dead because of the collapse of large parts of the health system.

It believes the actual death toll has risen sharply above the official number of 11,000. Some 2,700 people are missing and believed to be buried under rubble, and hospitals have continued to report deaths from daily strikes, often dozens at a time.

The Israeli military says 68 soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive.

Jeffery reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip; Samy Magdy in Cairo; Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem and Colleen Long in Washington contributed.

South Korea suspends inter-Korean agreement after North Korea launched spy satellite in orbit

By Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press

S

EOUL, South Korea—South Korea will partially suspend an inter-Korean agreement Wednesday to restart frontline aerial surveillance of North Korea, after the North said it launched a military spy satellite in violation of United Nations bans, Seoul officials said.

The South Korean announcement—which will likely infuriate North Korea—came hours after the North claimed to have placed a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit in its third such launch attempt this year.

The North’s claim hasn’t been independently verified; the Pentagon said it was still assessing the success of the launch, while Japan stated there has been no confirmation that the North Korean satellite entered orbit. But the United States and its allies still quickly condemned the North Korean launch, which they believe was meant to improve the country’s missile technology as well as establish a space-based surveillance system.

North Korea says it has sovereign, legitimate rights to launch spy satellites to cope with what it calls intensifying US-led threats.

But UN Security Council resolutions still prohibit any satellite liftoff by North Korea, viewing them as covers for testing its longrange missile technology.

Heo Tae-keun, South Korea’s deputy minister of national defense policy, told a televised briefing that the North’s latest satellite launch was not only a clear violation of UN resolutions but also “a grave provocation that threatens our national security.”

Heo said South Korea will respond by partially suspending the 2018 inter-Korean tension-reduction agreement later Wednesday to resume aerial surveillance activities at the border. He said the decision was approved at South Korea’s Cabinet Council meeting earlier Wednesday.

He added that based on the solid military alliance with the US, South Korea will “promptly and strongly punish” North Korea if it uses the South Korean step as a pretext to launch another provocation.

The 2018 agreement, struck during a short-lived era of reconciliation between the rival Koreas, created buffer and no-fly zones along the countries’ heavily fortified border. Under the deal, the Koreas were required to halt frontline aerial reconnaissance of each

THIS photo provided by the North Korean government shows what the country said is the launch of the Malligyong-1, a military spy satellite, into orbit on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.

Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency.

KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY/KOREA NEWS SERVICE VIA AP

other and live-firing exercises and removed some of their guard posts and landmines at border areas.

The deal invited withering conservative criticism in South Korea with critics saying it significantly restricted the operation of the country’s aerial surveillance assets, which are much more superior to North Korea’s. They also accused the deal of heavily benefiting North Korea, because it only called for mutual reductions of conventional military strength while leaving the North’s growing nuclear arsenal intact. South Korea has no nuclear weapons.

The brief Korean rapprochement

period later evaporated soon after the collapse of broader nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the US in 2019. North Korea has since ramped up missile tests to modernize its weapons arsenal, prompting the US and South Korea to expand their defense exercises in response.

When the North’s National Aerospace Technology Administration announced what it called a successful launch of its “Malligyong-1” spy satellite, it said the satellite would help improve the North’s war readiness in the face of “the enemies’ dangerous military moves.” The agency said North Korea will soon launch several more

spy satellites to better monitor South Korea and other areas.

North Korea used the same satellite in its two failed launches in May and August. South Korea’s military retrieved debris from the first launch and called the satellite too crude to perform military reconnaissance.

The North’s space agency said the “Malligyong-1” satellite was placed in its orbit on Tuesday night, about 12 minutes after it was launched aboard the new “Chollima-1” carrier rocket. But the North’s neighbors said they haven’t confirmed whether the launch was successful.

“Our understanding is that so far there is no confirmation of a satellite placed into Earth’s orbit,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. He still avoided calling the launch a failure, saying it would take “a fair amount of time” to verify the fate of the North’s launch.

Pentagon deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, said, “we’re still assessing the success of the launch.”

In 2012 and 2016, North Korea placed Earth observation satellites into orbit after repeated failures, but experts say neither has ever transmitted imagery back to

North Korea.

Before Tuesday’s launch, South Korean officials said North Korea was likely receiving Russian technological support for its spy satellite launch program as part of the two countries’ push to boost their partnerships.

The US, South Korea and others accuse North Korea of shipping conventional arms to support Russia’s war in Ukraine in exchange for receiving high-tech Russian technologies to enhance its own military programs. Both North Korea and Russia have denied the accusations.

A spy satellite is among an array of sophisticated weapons systems that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wants to introduce. Experts say Kim would eventually aim to use his enlarged arsenal to win sanctions relief and other concessions from the US when diplomacy resumes.

Some civ ilian ex perts said North Korea’s Malligyong-1 satellite is likely capable of only detecting big targets like warships or planes. But by operating several such satellites, North Korea could still observe South Korea at all times, they said.

The Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Thursday, November 23, 2023 A11

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

DA to expand to 50% use of ‘AI’ in livestock

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

T

@jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to expand the use of artificial insemination (AI) in livestock to 50 percent from the previous target of 30 percent to improve domestic meat and dairy productivity.

BusinessMirror file photo

Agriculture Undersecretar y for Livestock Deogracias Victor B. Savellano said the DA would ramp up its AI efforts to reduce the country’s purchases of imported meat products.

“We are raising our target on the use of artificial insemination by 50 percent from the prev ious 30 percent. We are improving availability of high quality semen to farmers under

our breeding program in order to raise our animal and meat production,” Savellano said on Tuesday.

Savellano noted that the use

of AI would aid the local livestock sector in enhancing the genetic quality of animals, leading to better output.

For more than a decade now,

Surigao del Sur town gets Kadiwa grant to shore up food supply

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UTUAN City—The P3.8million grant to the local government unit (LGU) of Carmen, Surigao del Sur is expected to boost the logistical support of the government in the production and marketing of farm products in the municipality, an official said Tuesday. “ T he Carmen LGU w ill directly identify farmers’ cooperat ives a nd a ssoc i at ions i n the town who will manage the delivery of farm products to the

local markets,” Department of Agriculture-Caraga Region (DA13) super v ising ag r icu ltur ist Marissa Garces said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

Garces said the aid, released on Mond ay under DA’s E n h a nce d K a d iw a Fi n a nc i a l Grant A ssistant Prog ram, w i l l be specif ica l ly used in the procurement of t wo vehic les to transpor t far m and l ivestoc k produc t s f rom t he d i f ferent far mers’ associations.

“The Enhanced Kadiwa Program would like to accelerate the transport of farm and livestock products of our farmers to the market centers,” Garces said, adding that the scheme would ensure the quality, safe, and affordable farm products and food to the markets.

As its contribution, the Carmen LGU is tasked with identifying a cooperative that will serve as a consolidator of all farm products from the farmers in the town.

Garces said the consolidatorcooperative will take charge of the marketing of the farm products to the different markets in the town at affordable prices.

“The concept of the Kadiwa Program is anchored on ensuring that the products of our farmers are given reasonable prices. At the same time, the public is also ensured that the products they buy, such as fruits, vegetables and livestock, are in good quality, safe and affordable,” she said. Philippine News Agency

‘Bamboo can enhance disaster resilience, boost income via carbon credits’

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ROW ING bamboo is a viable strateg y for climate change adaptation and achiev ing sustainabilit y, according to a recent disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) forum.

The DRRM forum led by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) was attended by 65 participants representing 20 local government units and organizations coming from various parts of the country.

The forum served as a venue to inform and build networking for local bamboo stakeholders in Mindanao. It was also designed to spread awareness on the benefits of bamboo in DRR efforts and how communities with large resources of bamboo could take part in the Carbon Crediting initiatives.

The first set of speakers consisted of Atty. Burt Estrada, CEO of Bukidnon Tagoloanon Mulahay Ha Kabukalagan Agriculture

Cooperative (BUKTAMACO), and Christopher Ua-o, Head of Manufacturing at Rizome Philippines.

They emphasized bamboo’s transformative impact in Indigenous People Areas through the Bamboo Value Chain Development Program.

“The program increased the family income of people involved in the program,” Estrada added while mentioning the program’s effect on enhancing community resilience in disaster-prone areas.

He also said bamboo is a sustainable solution in disaster-prone regions, offering economic opportunities and enhancing resilience.

Moreover, Ua-o stressed the importance of collaborative efforts between community-based organizations, businesses, and policymakers. He underscored the significance of these alliances in championing bamboo’s role in DRR. “When we use more bamboo then we avoid using wood, steel

and concrete which are responsible for 25 percent of our carbon dioxide emission,” he said.

The second panel delved into government and policy support for carbon crediting bamboo, featuring insights from Director Romulo Aggangan of DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute, Dr. Florentino Tesoro of Bamboo Professionals, Inc. and Rene “Butch” Madarang, Executive Director of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council.

Tesoro discussed the history and concept of carbon crediting and its relation to the global push against climate change.

Aggangan stressed the need for research and development to optimize bamboo’s growth and carbon sequestration capabilities, emphasizing the importance of science and innovation.

Meanwhile, Madarang reaffirmed support from NGOs to bamboo initiatives and its future

role in carbon crediting, “by recognizing [Bamboo’s] versatile properties, its role in disaster resilience, its soil stabilization capabilities, and its potential to earn carbon credits, we are poised to harness bamboo’s full potential.”

In the Open Forum and Press Conference led by PIA 10 Regional Director Franklin Gumapon, they explored bamboo processing challenges in Mindanao and the necessary government support for processors.

Myrna Decipulo, recognized as one of the pillars of the bamboo industry in Mindanao, underscored the forum’s significance in advancing crucial conversations for the region’s bamboo sector.

The forum is part of the activities of HANDA Pilipinas: Innovations in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Exposition Mindanao leg. This nationwide event is the first DRRM exposition in Mindanao.

the agriculture department has been using AI to boost local meat produc t ion. (Related stor y: https:// businessmirror.com. p h / 2 0 2 3/ 10/ 11 / l o o k- e ve n cows-and-carabaos-pigs-tooturning-to-ai/) Dubbed the Unified National Artificial Insemination Program or UNAIP, the DA sees AI technology as one of the means to improve raisers’ profit.

“DA is a lso emba rk ing on long-term programs to raise local animal and meat production.

Investment is being done in infrastructure development including farm-to-market roads and transportation networks, cold storage facilities, and meat processing plants that can help reduce postharvest losses,” he said.

Savellano said the DA is also keen on developing high-value

meat products with a huge upside potential, particularly in untapped global markets.

“Our mandate is to eliminate illegal meat importation, smuggling, hoarding, price manipulation, and anything that distorts prices in the market,” he said.

“We will raise production by five times [in five years]. With enough volume we hope to make food affordable for Fiipinos. We want producers, especially small scale farmers, to make money,” he added.

Savellano noted that the country’s meat importation in October declined by almost 19 percent year-on-year to 95.979 million kilograms. He attributed the double-digit drop to the department’s “aggressive” fight against illegal trade coupled by increasing local production.

FAO to launch global roadmap to end hunger, tackle climate crisis

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HE Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said it will launch a global roadmap for the simultaneous achievement of a world free of hunger by 2030, while not breaching the 1.5 Celsius degree threshold at the upcoming COP28 meeting in the United Arab Emirates.

The United Nations agency said it is already using innovative applications, such as artificial intelligence, big data, and diverse high-quality data and information sources for digital solutions that benefit small-scale producers.

Digital tools developed by FAO are also being adopted to improve early warning, risk forecasting, biosecurity, and mitigation measures for health threats within the One Health approach.

All of these were highlighted at the recent FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2023. The forum noted that science, technology and innovation must be tailored to local conditions across national agrifood systems.

It also highlighted the critical need to embrace inclusivity and equitable partnerships and engage youth, women, and indigenous peoples in shaping the future of agrifood systems.

According to FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, fighting global hunger requires greater and better investments in science, technology and innovation to ensure that agrifood systems are able to produce more with less while leaving no one behind.

Qu was invited to attend a panel discussion on “Harnessing science and technology for food security” by the government of the United Kingdom, together with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), as part of a global summit designed to galvanize action to

tackle hunger and malnutrition.

The Global Food Security Summit held in London last Monday focused on the best of science and innovation to prevent food insecurity and malnutrition.

Qu was invited to set the scene for the panel discussion, which focused on the unprecedented challenges facing global agrifood systems. These include ongoing conflicts, and the impacts of the climate crisis leading to extreme weather events that are reducing crop yields.

In this context, science and technology have the potential to unlock substantive growth in the Global South, reduce global food prices, tackle hunger and enable healthier diets by improving food availability, accessibility and affordability.

It is also essential for tackling the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.

Qu noted that science and innovation are at the core of the FAO Strategic Framework for the next decade, and key accelerators for meeting the aspiration of the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Qu called for a “stable and consistent commitment from politicians” to deliver the benefits of science and technology to all, as well as the right investments at the right stages.

“Let’s work together hand in hand.”

The panel discussion was opened by the UK Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Andrew Griffith, who talked about the hurdles facing the need to feed a growing population amid the climate crisis.

“There has never been a greater imperative to act,” Griffith said, noting that his government was committed to delivering a “bold” transformation of agrifood systems.

Flooded fields delay European sugar harvest and risk beet losses

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UROPE’S flooded fields are delaying sugar harvesting and threatening to wipe out 15 percent of beet crops still to be collected in France, one of the region’s biggest growers of the sweetener.

Factories in Europe typically start processing beets for several months starting in September, but the harvest has been hampered by heavy rains across northwest Europe. France recently received 32 straight days of rainfall, the longest stretch since 1998, according to Meteo France.

Almost half of the country’s beets are still in the ground because of the delays and some plants have curbed production because they’re not receiving enough to process, growers’ group CGB said at a conference

in London. Some French farmers are worried they’ll lose 15 percent of unharvested beets due to f looding, it said. Other European sugar growers at the conference also voiced output concerns.

The setback risks curbing production in Europe, further tightening the global market.

Sugar futures are trading near the highest in more than a decade in New York following consecutive years of deficits and threats to supplies in key growers from India to Thailand.

Dutch farmers still have about 50 percent of beets in fields, meaning it’s unlikely that the harvest will be wrapped up by December 1, according to Arwis Bos, a representative of cooperative Royal Cosun. He said conditions are the wettest in a

century—halting harvesting— and any cold snap would further threaten beets.

Harvest delays will probably prolong Germany’s beet campaign until February, increasing the risk of crop losses to frost, said Ulf Wegener, who spoke on behalf of the nation’s growers.

I n t he Un ited K i ngdom , storms and flooding in some areas are making fieldwork harder, the National Farmers Union said.

Ghana’s cocoa

GHANA secured its annual loan to pay for cocoa purchases at the highest interest rate on record, following this year’s debt restructuring of the West African nation’s obligations that ruined investor appeal.

International banks have pledged to lend industry regulator

Ghana Cocoa Board $800 million for cocoa purchase from farmers at almost 8 percent, according to two people familiar with the terms of the deal. It is the costliest syndicated facility the board has received since the annual loans started in 199293, the people said, asking not to be identified because the transaction isn’t yet public.

The board also known as Cocobod, has previously obtained loans from investors at better rates than the government at an average rate of 2 percent.

T his year, t he negot iat ions have been complicated by the West African nation’s debt restructuring that was needed to unlock a $3 billion government bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

Ghana is the world ’s second-big gest producer of the

chocolate ingredient and relies on funding from abroad to pay farmers for beans that are then exported. The central bank also relies on the foreign exchange as an important source of hard currency that is used to help stabilize the cedi.

Cocobod would normally conduct an investor roadshow between June and July each year and sign the syndicated facility in September before the new harvest begins in October.

For the first time ever the loan is expected to be signed at the end of this month, with eight participating banks, including Coöperatieve Rabobank UA as lead arranger, Standard Chartered Plc and Societe Generale SA, the people said.

Spokespeople at Coöperatieve Rabobank UA, Standard

C h a r t e re d Pl c a nd S o c i e t e Generale SA declined to comment in emailed response to questions. Fiifi Boafo, a spokesman at Ghana Cocoa Board declined to comment when he was contacted by phone.

The amount is also the lowest in at least 16 years as the board struggled to raise funding, and falls short of the $1.2 billion that is needed in all to buy the beans from growers in the current season. As a result Cocobod has made an arrangement to borrow $400 million from cocoa traders, such as Olam Group Ltd. and Barry Callebaut AG to top up.

The board in addition plans to take advantage of higher cocoa prices this year to sell on the spot market to augment its liquidity requirements, the people said.

Bloomberg News

A12 Thursday, November 23, 2023 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

‘The crisis in Gaza is a crisis for the UN’

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he World Health Organization (WHO) aired its displeasure on Monday after Israel repeatedly bombarded the Indonesian Hospital in North Gaza, which reportedly resulted in the killing of at least 12 persons including patients and their companions residing at the hospital.

“WHO is appalled by the attack today on the Indonesian Hospital in North Gaza. Health workers and civilians should never have to be exposed to such horror, and especially while inside a hospital,” it said in a press statement.

According to the latest reports, the Indonesian Hospital continues to be besieged. No one has been allowed to enter or leave the hospital: there have been reports of shooting towards those attempting to leave but no injuries or fatalities thus far. The hospital, like others in northern Gaza and Gaza City, has faced power outages since the main and secondary generators stopped functioning several weeks ago due to lack of fuel. It also faces severe shortages of water, essential medicines and supplies. The hospital is only able to provide basic services, putting the lives of those with severe injuries and other medical emergencies at immediate risk.

There have been multiple and ongoing attacks on health facilities in the last six weeks that have resulted in forced mass evacuations from hospitals, and multiple fatalities and casualties among patients, their companions, and those who had sought refuge in hospitals. The Indonesian Hospital had already reportedly sustained damages due to at least five attacks since October 7.

WHO has recorded 335 attacks on health care in the occupied Palestinian territory since October 7, including 164 attacks in the Gaza Strip and 171 attacks in the West Bank. There were also 33 attacks on health care in Israel during the violent events of October 7.

As a result of these attacks and shortages of fuel, medicines, safe water, and other essential resources, hospital bed capacity in Gaza has gone down from 3,500 beds before October 7 to 1,400 beds, leaving critical gaps for patients with injuries and other illness that require hospitalization.

“The world cannot stand silent while these hospitals, which should be safe havens, are transformed into scenes of death, devastation, and despair. Health care is not a target,” WHO said, as it reminded the parties to the conflict of their obligation under International Humanitarian Law to respect the sanctity of, and actively protect, health facilities.

WHO reiterated its plea for collective efforts to bring an end to the hostilities and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. “We call for an immediate ceasefire, the sustained flow of humanitarian assistance at scale, unhindered humanitarian access to all of those in need, the unconditional release of all hostages—many of whom have serious medical needs —and the cessation of attacks on health care and other vital infrastructure,” it said.

In his remarks at the Informal Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “We are witnessing the destruction of life and property on a horrific scale. But we are also witnessing the destruction of civility, the rules-based system, and trust between countries. This crisis is an acid test for the United Nations, and for you, its Member States. This organization was established to foster peace in our world.”

He added: “If you, as Member States of the United Nations, will not or cannot stop this bloodshed, then we must ask: what is the United Nations for? The crisis in Gaza is a crisis for the UN, and a crisis for humanity. Talk is not enough. Resolutions are not enough. Statements are not enough. You must act, and you must act now.”

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Thomas M. Orbos

STREET TALK

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indboggling and alarming was the pronouncement made recently by no less than an official of our land transport agency, LTO Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza, who said that more than 65 percent or 24 million vehicles, which have previously been registered are now unregistered or with expired registration. Worrisome as well is the fact that the government, mostly LGUs and government agency regional offices, owns many of these unregistered vehicles. This should not be the case, given that they are the ones that are supposed to uphold our laws.

Imagine the repercussions of having so many delinquent vehicle owners; the least of it would be the loss of government revenues, which, by the way, is estimated at a staggering P37 billion, not counting the penalties. For one, these unregistered vehicles contribute to the wear and tear of our roads, freeloading on the payments of road user’s tax made by those who religiously register their vehicles. And yet here they are adding to the congestion and emission that our taxpayers are spending billions to mitigate.

Then you have the issue of safety.

Unregistered or expired means that these vehicles have not gone through the mandatory road worthiness tests, not knowing if their brakes or lights are working, among others, and therefore they are accident prone, endangering other motorists and pedestrians on the road. And if there is indeed an accident, who

would shoulder the cost of damages and injuries as definitely accident insurance coverages are obviously non-existent. Then there is also its impact on peace and order, as unregistered vehicles make monitoring of criminal incidents more difficult.

This may be one reason why it takes a long time for riding-in-tandem shootings to be solved, if they are resolved at all. Law enforcers face a blank wall when there’s no updated registration records that could help them in their investigation.

It could be that a good number of these vehicles are already rundown, or scrapped in some junkyard, but nevertheless having an accurate number of vehicles on the road is necessary. For how can any worthy government road or transport program be carried out with this very vital and basic requirement not reflected on our data sheets and not executed by our transport authorities.

Borrow from China?

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Senior Editors

Chairman of the Board President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Zombie vehicles and TikTok enforcers

John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

T

he global financial center has shifted around the world for several thousand years, usually in a westward direction. There were two common denominators to the movement regardless if it was short or long geographic spurts or how long that financial center lasted.

The commonality was that the location of the money centers followed global trade and local/regional geopolitical stability. China was always large and economically diverse enough to be its own money center.

But globally, things took off with the “Silk Road” trade and because of that trade, India became the money hub acting as the trade broker between West and East.

Once the trade caravans left for

Europe, Constantinople became wealthy but it was Venice with its shipping fleets and “banking” families that took a piece of the action on everything that went into the continent.

Venice to Vienna, and Berlin to London where the money center lasted for centuries on the back of London’s global colonization and dominance of world trade.

The myth still exists that Britan-

Our roads are indeed full of drama. With all the traffic gridlock, the many cancelled appointments, tempers flying around that cause stress on motorists, we don’t need to add more problems to our script. Let us do away with the zombie vehicles with expired registrations and the enforcer “tiktokers” on our roads.

Kudos to DOTR Secretary Bautista and LTO Asec Mendoza for taking note and acting on this.

From what I have gathered, the possibility of an “amnesty” program is being worked out. Still, it will not be a walk in the park, but the benefits will definitely outweigh the efforts on this matter.

On another note, the incident between Sen. Bong Revilla and MMDA traffic official Col. Bong Nebrija, though already resolved rightly so

by MMDA Chairman Artes, with the necessary apologies made and the suspension of Nebrija, brings the matter on the use of social media and vlogging that is in a way related to the incident. Col. Nebrija no doubt has become an Internet celebrity because of his on-the-road vlogs. It has definitely help increase awareness and engendered popular support for our traffic enforcers. But enforcement operations should not be the subject of vlogging. It is in the same strain of reasons brought up when a vlogger was called out recently during his presence in a police operation. In fact, vlogging enforcement operations, especially by third party private vloggers who

China owns US$850 billion of US government debt. It could easily, without disturbing the global debt market, sell US$10 billion for cash, loan Kenya $10 billion to be repaid in renminbi, and use Kenya’s natural resources or infrastructure projects as loan collateral. nia rules the world, but New York gained the title beginning with the end of World War One. Its position only solidified with the wartime destruction of Europe and much of Asia and the world choosing to use the US dollar as the reserve currency while depending on the American consumer to drive both individual, national and the global economy.

As the Japanese economy boomed in the 1970s due to a “cheap” yen and massive exports to the USA, Tokyo was well on its way to becoming the money center. In 1989, Shintaro Ishihara, the then Minister of Transport,

make money on the hits and views, should be reviewed and regulated for valid reasons. One is data privacy that should protect the names and reputation of individuals. And in an ongoing operation, there is no assurance that this will be observed, even if later videos will obscure the actual personas. Second is the so-called Hawthorne effect, where it is a scientific fact that people tend to subconsciously “act theatrically” when there is knowledge of the presence of a camera, conflicting with making the right decisions by going for the popular. We don’t need this in actual enforcement operations. What we need is due process. Lastly, public service by public servants need not be highlighted. Good real work will always eventually come out in the open, no matter how low key it may be. And there is that tendency to focus on the individual than the agency itself. I have known Bong N from way back. I was in fact the one who took him in the agency when I was there. There is no question on his integrity and dedication, and we will be assured, even without the cameras, of his good service next time around when his suspension ends.

Our roads are indeed full of drama. With all the traffic gridlock, the many cancelled appointments, tempers flying around that cause stress on motorists, we don’t need to add more problems to our script. Let us do away with the zombie vehicles with expired registrations and the enforcer “tiktokers” on our roads.

The author may be reached at thomas_orbos@ sloan.mit.edu

wrote an essay—that became a book —“The Japan That Can Say No: Why Japan Will Be First Among Equals.”

He stated among other ideas that: the world depends on Japanese technology and they should use that superiority as a negotiating weapon, Japan should end the US-Japan security pact, and American business focuses too much on short-term profits.

Note that the Tokyo stock market peaked in December 1989 and has yet to retrace to that level after three decades and the peak was generally caused by Japanese insurance companies, banks, and businesses looking for short-term stock market profits. Further, the US doubled its government debt from 1982 to 1990. And the Japanese ignored two “dengue mosquitos” buzzing around: South Korea and Taiwan that eroded Japan’s US exports.

New York has remained the money capital because the world holds too much US dollar-denominated debt and too many US dollars. There had See “Mangun” A13

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Opinion

TikTok ban, coming soon in PHL?

Position Paper on Philippine-China disputes in the West Philippine Sea

BusinessMirror

Submitted to the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, Committees on Foreign Relations, Public Works and Finance and Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, that are conducting public hearings on the West Philippine Sea by the International Law and Relations Society of the Philippines (ISIP), an intellectual society composed of retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Reynato S. Puno, retired CG Admiral Joel S. Garcia, Dr. Melissa Loja, Prof. Romel Bagares and Atty. Al Soriano.

Second part

W

HILE 44 million of us Pinoys, not just the young but even oldies, are engrossed doing TikTok, they should expect the worst because TikTok faces partial or total ban, pretty soon.

The world could be getting smaller for Chinese-owned video sharing app TikTok, with Nepal added to the list of countries imposing total or partial ban on the platform, citing its impact on “social harmony” in the South Asian country.

At a Cabinet meeting on November 13, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal approved the recommendation of his Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, to immediately ban TikTok countrywide on grounds of disturbing “social harmony” and disrupting “family structures and social relations.”

Aside from Nepal, other countries that banned their citizens from using the social media platform include Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the countries where TikTok is partially blocked are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Latvia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Currently, the European Parliament, European Commission and the EU Council, the 27-member bloc’s three main institutions, have imposed a ban on TikTok on Staff devices. Under the ban, lawmakers and staff were also advised to remove the TikTok app from their personal devices.

All these countries and institutions have a common denominator in reaching the decision to ban TikTok. They are all concerned on its impact on society, including potential threat to their respective governments and national security.

In our case, all eyes are on the National Security Council (NSC) as the public awaits the recommendation of the Task Force it created to investigate TikTok, “in response to concerns regarding the social media platform’s potential impact on national security and societal structures.”

The NSC said the Task Force is focused on scrutinizing the security implications of TikTok, with a particular emphasis on its potential influence within the Security sector.

Headed by NSC Deputy Director General Jonathan Malaya, other members included the NSC Cybersecurity team and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), which is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of the government.

“Ang pinag-aaralan po namin ngayon is how big a threat is Tiktok to our national security. Ang may-ari po kasi nyan, ang mother company na Bytedance, is a Chinese company and under their law, lahat po ng mga kompanya sa Tsina ay kinakailangan makipagtulungan sa kanilang gobyerno,”

Mangun . . .

continued from A12

better been some Chinese domestic game plan for Covid because the virus lockdowns killed Beijing’s shot as The Money Center. China has been the long-time holder of the global “Pain in the Ass Award”—and the US is the very close “First Runner-Up.” But like the rich ‘Tito’ that looks

Malaya said the ad hoc body is wrapping up its investigation and will submit its recommendation to his boss, National Security Adviser Edgardo Ano, soon or before the end of December.

Malaya pointed out in an interview.

Malaya said the ad hoc body is wrapping up its investigation and will submit its recommendation to his boss, National Security Adviser Edgardo Ano, soon or before the end of December.

Secretary Ano said in a recent radio interview that he will not hesitate to recommend to the President a nationwide ban if proven that TikTok is indeed being used to gather sensitive and private data from TikTok’s 44 million Pinoy users to advance China’s interests and put the Philippines’ national security at risk, especially with the ongoing tension in the West Philippine Sea due to overlapping territorial claims.

This was further reinforced by NSC in a November 20 Task Force statement, saying that the Task Force probe, finalized by December, will determine if it would recommend a ban on the use of the video sharing platform, especially on devices used by government personnel in the security sector.

Under a partial ban, restrictions will be imposed among the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the Coast Guard. Employees of civilian agencies involved in national security such as the NSC and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency are most likely to be affected, too.

Malaya even said that ahead of the Task Force’s recommendation, the NSC has already urged government employees in the national security sector not to use the TikTok app in government-issued gadgets as the social media app may be involved in cyber espionage.

A TikTok ban will certainly not only affect the social activities of common Filipinos but also the thousands of small and micro business people using the social app to generate sales revenues. I personally know this because Small Business Corp. has a lending window to these sectors.

Well, my hope is that our government will decide for the best national interest of the Filipinos.

BTW, I will tackle this subject and also the raging controversy on Bohol province water concerns soon on my youtube channel, Tulay TV Show. I invite everyone to watch.

I

N international law, “military necessity...permits the destruction of life of armed enemies and other persons whose destruction is incidentally unavoidable by the armed conflicts of the war.” The US Military Tribunal in Nuremberg acquitted a Nazi commander as he carried out a “scorched earth policy in Finnmark.” The Tribunal held that the scorched earth policy was “a precautionary measure against an attack by superior forces” and “that the conditions as they appeared to the defendant at the time were sufficient, upon which he could honestly conclude that urgent military necessity warranted the decision made.”

In contrast, the level of force that law enforcement agencies may employ is restricted by the PNP Rules of Engagement and the Rules of Criminal Procedure when it comes to the execution of search or arrest warrants. In Yapyucoy Enriquez v. Sandiganbayan, the Supreme Court ruled: The rules of engagement, of which every law enforcer must be thoroughly knowledgeable and for which he must always exercise the highest caution, do not require that he should immediately draw or fire his weapon if the person to be accosted does not heed his call.

The rationale of the ruling is that “the law does not clothe police officers with authority to arbitrarily judge the necessity to kill... they must always bear in mind that although they are dealing with criminal elements against whom society must be protected, these criminals are also human beings with human rights.”

1.3 Other domestic legal systems Under the United States Constitution, the government may call out civilian militias to execute the laws.

However, the US Posse Comitatus Act penalizes “[w]hoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, or the Space Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws.” One statutory exception is extended to

the US Coast Guard (USCG), which is expressly authorized to perform law enforcement functions. The USCG is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during peacetime and part of the US Navy during wartime.

In US practice, the “principle of military necessity recognizes that force resulting in death and destruction will have to be applied to achieve military objectives.”

There is no fixed, universal rule for ascertaining whether a national coast guard is a military force or a civilian law enforcement force. For instance, the USCG is part of the “military service and a branch of the armed forces...at all times,” and its cutters “designated USCGC under the command of a commissioned officer are warships under international law.” Yet, its personnel are also considered customs officers for purpose of customs law enforcement.

Their primary duty is to “enforce or assist in the enforcement of all applicable Federal laws on, under, and over the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,” but it must also “maintain a state of readiness to assist in the defense of the United States.”

As it is part of the DHS during peacetime, the USCG is subject to the Department Policy on Use of Force, according to which its personnel is permitted to use reasonable force but, when feasible, they must first give verbal warning. They may use “deadly force only when the

Thursday, November 23, 2023 A13

LEO [law enforcement officer] has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to [said] LEO or to another person.”

When it is part of the US Navy during wartime, the USCG is subject to the Standing Rules of Engagement for US Forces, according to which the latter shall “comply with the Law of Armed Conflict during military operations involving armed conflict,” such as the principle of necessity arising from the commission of a hostile act or the use of force on the US or the threat of imminent use of force on the US. Similar to the USCG, the Coast Guard of Russia is part of the Federal Security Service (FSB) with both law enforcement and territorial defense functions. In Ukraine v. Russia, the resolution of the case revolved around the issue of whether the questioned activities of the FSB-CG were a form of military engagement or a mere law enforcement. ITLOS resolved the issue based not only on the organizational unit of the FSB-CG but also on the context and purpose of the activities in question. ITLOS held that even as the FSB-CG vessels had given chase and fired upon Ukrainian naval vessels, the purpose of the use of force was limited to the enforcement of a regulation on innocent passage through the Kersch Strait rather than the defense or assertion of the sovereignty of Russia. It is important to note that FSB-CG was then performing a civilian law enforcement function rather than engaging in a military activity.

1.4 International law International law also differentiates between military forces and law enforcement forces.

Under international humanitarian law, an armed law enforcement agency of a state whose function is limited to the maintenance of internal order is presumed to be a civilian entity. As such, it is entitled to the protection of the principle of distinction, according to which civilians are not a legitimate target of military attack or threat of attack.

However, they are not considered a civilian entity if they “operate under the control of the military.”

Use of lethal force by law enforce-

ments forces is subject to the rules of engagements, specifically the stringent elements of self-defense; whereas use of lethal force by military forces is subject to the principles of jus in bello, such as necessity, distinction and proportionality.

We followed this distinction when the Regional Trial Court of Manila convicted seven PCG officers and one PNP officer in connection with the 2013 Balintang Channel incident.

Although Taiwan claimed that the incident took place in disputed waters, it accepted the decision convicting the accused persons of homicide after finding that no circumstance justified their act of opening fire at a Taiwanese vessel fishing in Balintang Channel, and in the process killing a Taiwanese fisherman. In 2015, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan (MECO) entered into an Agreement Concerning the Facilitation of Cooperation on Law Enforcement in Fisheries Matters.

Article 2 provides that the “relevant authorities of the Parties shall avoid using violence or unnecessary force in the implementation of their fisheries laws and other relevant regulations consistent with international law and practice.”

1.5 Summary In sum, there is a real distinction between a military force and a law enforcement force. In the Philippines, such distinction is recognized by the Constitution, laws and jurisprudence. The distinction is based on the organizational unit, with those belonging to the AFP being considered military forces whereas those belonging to the PNP are law enforcement forces that are civilian in nature. The distinction is also based on their function: preservation of the state by the military calls for the highest form of self-defense and justifies the immediate use of lethal force to achieve a military objective; in contrast, enforcement of the law and preservation of order by law enforcement forces are limited by strict constitutional procedural and substantive requirements, including the rules of engagement.

To be continued

South Africa’s quest for energy security threatens climate goals

By Antony Sguazzin

South Africa is the world’s 14thbiggest source of climate-warming greenhouse gases. While the government has set an ambitious target to reduce its emissions by 2030, it’s contending with recurrent power outages that are dragging down economic growth.

For comments, tweet @billyandal or e-mai l @andalbilly@yahoo.com

outh Africa is likely to prioritize energy security over its decarbonization aspirations to avoid further damage to its economy, said James Mackay, the chief executive officer of the Energy Council of South Africa.

That would involve extending the life of some of state power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.’s coal-fired plants. The cost may be reduced access to concessional climate finance and a decline in the competitiveness of South African exports as the European Union ramps up levies on imported products that have carbonheavy production processes, he said.

“Energy security is fundamental to economic growth and activity,” Mackay, whose organization’s members include Anglo American Plc and Glencore Plc, said in a Nov. 16 interview. “The problem is that we are not solving decarbonization, we are actually going to be pushing out our decarbonization targets because we are going to live with extended,

recapitalized coal.”

South Africa is the world’s 14thbiggest source of climate-warming greenhouse gases. While the government has set an ambitious target to reduce its emissions by 2030, it’s contending with recurrent power outages that are dragging down economic growth.

The quickest way to end blackouts is to repair Eskom’s old and poorly maintained coal-fired plants. Private companies are being encouraged to build renewable energy plants, but there isn’t sufficient transmission capacity to connect many planned projects to the grid.

That means money is likely to be spent on extending the life of a number of Eskom’s plants that use fossil fuels, and plans to close about a quarter of its coal-fired capacity by 2030 may be delayed, Mackay said.

The government and Eskom have said this is being considered.

“We are probably seeing anything from three to four years on some of the smaller stations to even up to 10 years on some of the mid-life stations,” Mackay said.

Eskom said it’s still considering whether to extend the life of the plants and has yet to ascertain the cost or impact on emissions of doing so.

South Africa last year secured a commitment from some of the world’s richest nations to provide $8.8 billion in climate finance to help it transition away from the use of coal, which currently accounts for more than 80 percent of the power generated in the country.

The funding pledge came with the understanding that some coal-fired plants would close.

at the young nieces too long at the family gatherings, we are more cooperative with those that hold The Money. On one hand, “China is debttrapping poor countries” and on the other, “China is breaking the US dollar. Good!” Are you sure you can think both ways?

Ever since it got its butt kicked in the Korean War, China has tried to be much more subtle. And its saber rattling over Taiwan sort of hides

it’s behind the scenes actions. Debttrapping is a reality in some cases.

But renminbi trade deals with Brazil will not dislodge the US dollar. The following strategy will.

This is one example. About 40 percent of public debt is external in sub-Saharan Africa and over 60 percent of that debt is in US dollars for most countries. Kenya’s foreign debt is US$36 billion, $6 billion of which needed to be paid in US dollars.

China owns $850 billion of US government debt. It could easily, without disturbing the global debt market, sell $10 billion for cash, loan Kenya $10 billion to be repaid in renminbi, and use Kenya’s natural resources or infrastructure projects as loan collateral.

Colombia’s national government debt is US$200 billion with $60 billion payable in dollars. Again, China sells US government debt and loans

the money to Colombia, the loan being payable in renminbi.

No longer is China debt-trapping any country in any way. China is only asking—like local banks often do—if you would like to transfer your credit card balance to them at a lower interest rate while building their own customer base. And maybe you get a free umbrella.

Could it happen here? Yes. Philippine public sector foreign debt de-

S

If the plants are kept open for longer, a clear decommissioning plan will be needed to attract the finance required to add renewable energy capacity and bolster the transmission grid, Mackay said. He sees progress being made toward easing outages, known locally as loadshedding.

“We are closing that gap quite rapidly and I think that we will see loadshedding substantially being reduced over the course of next year to the end of 2024,” he said. Still, growth in renewable energy is too slow and needs to double to about seven or eight gigawatts a year, he added.

“Everyone understands that the energy transition is lumpy, it’s difficult, it’s challenging, it’s not a linear program,” Mackay said. “As long as we are robust and transparent around why the plans are potentially not working, what is being done to get those plans back on track and where are the areas of support that could try and accelerate closing those gaps, that is probably the best we could do.” Bloomberg nominated in US dollars accounts for 70 percent of total longer-term debt primarily because of Covid borrowing. But the Filipino private corporate sector US dollar debt short- and longer-term accounts for about 90 percent of its foreign debt.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

A14 Thursday, November 23, 2023

NFA, HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY PULLS DOWN RICE STOCKS BY 2%

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T

HE country’s rice stocks as of October dropped by nearly 2 percent year-on-year to a little above 2 million metric tons (MMT) as supplies held by households and National Food Authority (NFA) fell during the period.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said total nationwide rice inventory as of October 1 stood at 2.04 MMT, lower than the 2.081 MMT recorded volume in the same period of last year. However, the PSA noted that the volume of rice stocks inventory posted a 32.1-percent increase on a monthly basis from September’s 1.55 MMT stockpile.

Historical PSA data showed the country’s total rice inventory as of October was the highest in the past 10 months or since the start of the year.

“Of this month’s total rice stocks, 52.9 percent were from the commercial sector, 44.9 percent were from the households, and 2.2 percent were from NFA depositories,” the PSA said in its regular rice and corn inventory report.

Rice held by the commercial sector reached 1.08 MMT while those in households were estimated at 917,840 MT. Some 44,240 MT of rice were held

by NFA depositories nationwide.

“This month’s rice stocks inventories in the NFA depositories and household sector registered annual declines of 60.2 percent and 21.7 percent, respectively, relative to their corresponding levels in the same period of 2022.

On the other hand, rice stocks in the

commercial sector rose by 35.4 percent during the month from its inventory in October 2022,” the PSA said.

“In comparison to the September 2023 rice stocks levels, month-on-month increases were noted in rice stocks inventories in the household sector by 52.9 percent, commercial sector by 19.8 percent, and in the NFA depositories by 1.4 percent,” it added.

In the same report, the PSA said the country’s total corn inventory as of October 1 reached 974,800 MT, about 29.2 percent higher than last year’s 754,710 MT. “Month-on-month, corn stocks inventory exhibited an increment of 21.5 percent relative to its previous month’s inventory level of 802.57 thousand metric tons,” it said.

The PSA said the bulk or about 87.1 percent of the corn inventory were from the commercial sector while the remaining 12.9 percent came from the households.

Corn stocks held by the commercial sector reached 849,190 MT, while those stored in households stood at 125,610 MT. “From the same month of the previous year’s level, corn stocks inventory in the commercial sector recorded an annual increase of 55.9 percent, while an annual decline of 40.2 percent was observed in the household sector,”the PSA said.

“Relative to the inventory level in September 2023, the volume of corn stocks in the household sector registered a month-on-month increase of 98.0 percent. Likewise, corn stocks in the commercial sector grew by 14.9 percent,” the PSA added.

T

HE Commission on Elections plans to lease modern election voting machines with new, better features for the 2025 midterm elections.

The old practice of buying machines per elections will only end up with outdated equipment at the warehouse, and given the development of technology, the “good strategy” is leasing poll machines, said Comelec Chairman George Garcia on Wednesday.

“Hindi tama ang strategy na bumili ka ng makina. Ang tamang strategy ay mag-lease ka ng mga machines. Huwag kang mangolekta kasi i-m-maintain mo, i-w-warehouse mo, and at the same time, ang technology ay nagbabago at napakahirap i-upgrade,” said Garcia.

[Buying machines is not the right strategy. The right strategy is to lease machines. Do not collect because you will maintain it, warehouse it, and at the same time, technology is changing and it is hard to upgrade].

He added that the cost of buying new machines and stocking them in a warehouse is more expensive than leasing.

“Sayang ‘yung perang ginastos natin sa pagbili ng mga makina (The money we used to buy machines is a waste),” Garcia said at a PARTICIPATE event titled ‘Events on Political Party Institutionalization and the 2025 National and Local Elections.’

There are two scheduled elections in 2025: the May midterm National and Local Elections (NLE), and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in December.

New, better features

COMELEC is now starting with the procurement process of the machines, and so far, three bidders have “signified their intention to participate” in the bidding, said Garcia.

Among the poll body’s “strategy” for the next elections is to “bundle all other collaterals” for the procurement. This “bundle” buying means the poll machine company will be in-charge of handling the software, hardware, and “other collaterals” such as the paper and printing of ballots, making of ballot boxes, among others.

They will, however, “unbundle” the transmission of the poll results.

Telecommunication companies will

T

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

@maloutalosig

HE Department of Foreign Affairs is speaking with “governments” to find ways to release the 17 Filipino seafarers taken on board the besieged Japanese car carrier in Yemen.

“We have been making diplomatic representations with governments,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.

On November 19, Houthi-Yemeni naval forces seized the car and truck carrier Galaxy Leader as it was passing through the Red Sea. There are 25 crew on board – 17 are Filipinos while the rest are Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Green and Mexican.

Manila did not mention the governments which it has been speaking to.

Iran-backed Houthi insurgents now control Yemen’s capital

Sanaa.

The Philippines has diplomatic relations with Yemen, but recognized and accredited in the Saudibacked rival government based in Aden.

The DFA said the Department of Migrant Workers has the “primary jurisdiction” over assistance cases involving seafarers.

“But there is an all-of-government approach and various government agencies are meeting and working together on this. We assure the public that everything is being done to get our seafarers back

safely,” Daza said.

Yemen foreign ministry condemns the attack the foreign ministry of the Saudi-backed government has condemned the Houthis’ seizure of Galaxy Leader and the 25 seafarers.

It called the attack “maritime piracy” and “terrorist acts.”

“These terrorist acts launched by the Houthi militias on behalf of the Iranian regime would deepen the humanitarian crisis for the Yemeni people, and double the economic burdens, insurance and sea freight costs on ships heading to Yemeni ports,” the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement.

The foreign ministry called on countries surrounding the Red Sea to “take urgent action to confront this Iranian tampering with the security of the region and freedom of navigation in one of the most important trade lanes in the world.”

It blamed the international community for “abandoning its responsibilities to deter these rogue militias.”

The DMW said it was alerted to the seizure of a marine vessel in the Red Sea by Yemeni Houthi rebels, resulting in the hostagetaking of its entire crew of 25 members. Among them, 17 are Filipino seafarers. “ The DMW is deeply concerned about this unfortunate incident and has communicated with and assured all the families of the seafarers of our fullest support and assistance. As per records of the department, there are 17 Filipino seafarers listed as crew members of the vessel,” the agency said.

“We are currently working with the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as officials of the registered shipping and manning agency of the vessel, to monitor the safety and well-being of the 17 Filipino seafarers onboard the ship and to bring them home safely,” it added.

“The DMW shall provide information with respect to developments as they unfold. Let us keep praying for the safety and well-being of our Filipino seafarers,” said the DMW. With Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

CHRISTMAS AT EASTWOOD From left: Denisse Malong,

Comelec eyes leasing voting machines with better features for ’25

By Patrick V. Miguel

DFA talks to ‘governments’ on 17 OFWs held in Yemen

general manager of Eastwood City; Graham Coates, head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls; Kevin Tan, CEO of Alliance Global Group Inc., the parent company of Megaworld Corp.; Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte; Tetta Tirona, OIC of the QC Tourism Department; Atty. Thomas de Castro, District 3 action officer; and Tyrone Tan, the cluster general manager of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, gather for the launch of Eastwood Holiday Lightscapades in Libis, Quezon City, to kickstart the Christmas season at Eastwood City. NONOY LACZA

communicate directly with Comelec, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) “should be a party to that particular contract.”

In addition, Garcia said they are on the lookout for machines with the following features: a 13-inch screen for voters to verify their votes; a speedy transmission that will immediately count the casted votes; and a machine that will automatically correct mistakes committed by voters.

Lastly, the ideal machine for Garcia should allow watchers, political parties, and candidates to view all ballot images at the end of the counting of votes.

The poll body has allocated around P19.8 billion for the machines.

“We would like to be as transparent as possible,” said Garcia.

Budget a problem

DESPITE the “good strategy” to lease voting machines with better features, Garcia noted that the budget is still a “problem” since the House of Representatives slashed their 2024 budget

by P17.4 million.

As a result, the poll body has “no choice” but to reduce the number of voting precincts despite the 71 million projected number of registered voters in 2025. As of this writing, there are 68 million voters in the country. This is an expected increase of at least 3 million additional voters.

The number of precincts should be around 128,000, but given the budget, Comelec has “no choice” but to minimize the number of precincts by 110,000.

Since September, Garcia has appealed to the House of Representatives to restore “at least” P5 billion.

Eventually, the Senate granted the poll body on Monday an additional P500 million for next year’s budget in preparation for the elections scheduled in 2025. Senator Imee Marcos said the additional budget given to Comelec will be used for the procurement of materials, the IT systems, among others. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/11/22/comelec-gets-p500-million-more-for2024-eve-of-election-year/) The budget provided by the Senate will only cover the 2025 midterm polls, said Garcia.

New UN-PHL cooperation setup touts reforms

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

T

HE new framework of cooperation between the United Nations and the Philippines is a first and reflects the latest reforms undertaken by the UN system as a “one-stop shop” for its endeavors in the country.

In the UN Day Forum on Wednesday, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said the framework includes the work of all 24 UN agencies in the Philippines, and not just one UN agency.

Gonzalez said the framework follows national development priorities, as reflected in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) -- opposed to the “UN-centric” frameworks undertaken in the past.

“It doesn’t mean that in the past, the UN was not considering national priorities. What I will say now is that (this framework) is fully anchored on the Philippine Development Plan and we are even, as

much as possible, working on the same indicators and target. This is a full alignment that will bring a lot of benefits,” Gonzalez said.

Through this kind of framework, Gonzalez said, the UN system can better respond to the development challenges of the Philippines. He said for one, these challenges are not completely independent of each other since many overlap.

Through a single framework, the whole UN system can contribute to efforts to address challenges from all perspectives and aspects.

“The nature of current challenges, the magnitude of those challenges are exceeding the response capacity of any single actor. So this is something that goes beyond the capacity of any single agency,” Gonzalez said.

“We know that some of the challenges that we have, they go even beyond the capacity of any single country. So building alliances and coalition is an imperative (and) is not any more an option,” he added.

For his part, Socioeconomic

Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the new framework will help improve the country’s chances of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and the PDP. Balisacan said the strategic priorities of the framework includes Developing and Protecting Capabilities of Individuals and Families, which prioritizes cooperation in areas that enhance agriculture programs through good nutrition.

He said this is crucial since in 2019, the proportion of households meeting 100 percent of the recommended energy intake was 19.5 percent, significantly lower than the 31.7 percent in 2013 and the 45.5 percent target by 2030.

The second priority, Balisacan said, is on Transforming Production Sectors to Generate More Quality Jobs and Competitive Products.

This aims to focus on cooperation on improving skills and enabling a smooth school-to-work transition.

Learning poverty

THE National Economic and Devel-

opment Authority (Neda) Secretary said the World Bank had noted that learning poverty in the Philippines is at 91 percent which means 9 out of 10 children cannot read a simple text with comprehension by age 10.

The third priority, Balisacan said, prioritizes cooperation areas for mobilizing global and regional climate and biodiversity finance, as well as public and private investments, including green investments.

This is crucial since only 20 percent of local government units (LGUs) have climate and disasterrisk-informed Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs). Balisacan said many LGUs need more technical capacity to prepare bankable climate change project proposals.

“Our end goal remains clear: to focus our concerted efforts on directing resources and plans toward the lagging SDGs, utilizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework to enhance our capacity for coherent and effective development practices,” Balisacan said.

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, November 23, 2023

B1

DTI taps foreigners San Miguel to integrate Arca to train Pinoys in IT

South into Skyway Stage 4

C

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. and property developer Ayala Land Inc. on Wednesday said the two firms have signed an integration agreement to connect the Arca South on and off ramps into the Skyway system via the upcoming South East Metro Manila Expressway or Skyway Stage 4 project.

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in addressing the growing need for efficient transportation and connectivity in Metro Manila, the company said.

San Miguel President and CEO Ramon S. Ang, Ayala Corp. President Cezar P. Consing and Ayala Land President and CEO Anna Ma. Margarita B. Dy signed the agreement.

The integration of Arca South’s on-ramp and off-ramp into the Skyway Stage 4 project is set to commence construction in 2024 and will enable access from the Skyway to Arca South, the company said.

San Miguel Holdings Corp., doing business as SMC Infrastructure, is the concessionaire for the 32.66-kilometer Skyway Stage 4, that connects the Skyway system

at the Arca South all the way to Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

The expressway will provide an alternate route from the South to the Eastern parts of Metro Manila including Rizal province.

With interchanges at Ortigas Avenue Extension, Marcos Highway and Tumana Bridge towards the Batasan complex, it is seen to ease traffic congestion on major arteries such as EDSA and C5 and enhance connectivity throughout Metro Manila’s Eastern corridor.

Improve connectivity

THE partnership is expected to boost transportation with SMC saying “it enhances future connectivity” to other major infrastructure projects planned within Arca South, including the Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange, North-South Commuter Railway and Metro Manila Subway Project.

“This collaboration will improve connectivity, benefiting not only the Arca South community but various stakeholders in Taguig as well,” Consing said.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to work with Ayala Land.

This also supports the vision for Arca South to create more jobs, new business opportunities and deliver more residential and lifestyle options for Filipinos—while dispersing economic growth and easing traffic congestion,” Ang said.

“This partnership shows that when major companies work together, the potential for driving positive change is immense. By combining our resources and expertise, we will be doing more than just building infrastructure. We will pave the way towards a more connected Metro Manila, where people have a better chance to thrive, prosper and enhance their quality of life,” Ang said.

Arca South was launched by Ayala Land in 2014. The 74-hectare mixed-use master-planned development serves as a central business district, featuring six residential projects, commercial lots and various components such as Ayala Malls Arca South, Landers, a football field and an events area.

GLO eyes access to govt database

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

L

ISTED-firm Globe Telecom Inc. (PSE: GLO) urged the government on Wednesday to provide the firm and other telecommunications providers (telcos) access to the official ID database to ensure that the verification process for SIM registration is accurate.

According to GLO Group General Counsel Vicente Froilan M. Castelo, without access to official government data, telcos will find it hard to crossreference registrations to official IDs issued by the state.

“As much as we endeavor to enhance our verification process for SIM registration, the system will remain vulnerable if we have no official data whereby we could cross-reference submissions. That’s why our hope is that the government will allow telcos to verify information with their data,” Castelo said.

He noted that GLO has started testing new technology to validate photo ID submissions for SIM registration in collaboration with relevant government agencies.

“Logically, without access to official government data, we’ll have no verified data through which we could confirm

ID submissions. We won’t be able to tell what’s real or fake when we have no visibility on the verified data,” Castelo added.

While working around this gap, Castelo noted that GLO is “proactively addressing the challenges of SIM registration,” trying out new technologies to validate photo submissions to upgrade its registration platform.

“We are constantly working with the technical group comprised of representatives from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Telecommunications Commission and the other telcos dealing with this. And so far, we have already taken steps to test solutions that will retroactively and prospectively identify fake documents and further clean up our SIM registration database,” Castelo said.

Under the SIM Registration law, telcos must verify the validity of IDs submitted post registration. During a legislative hearing earlier, it was found that telcos are vulnerable to fake registrations— that even an ID with a photo of a monkey can be used to register.

“We are committed to continuing to invest in ID validation systems, but we need to work hand-in-hand with relevant government agencies to make the entire system work,” he added.

Shell adds EV charging to business

S

HELL Pilipinas Corp. (PSE: SHLPH) has formally included electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) in its business.

During the company’s special stockholders’ meeting last November 21, the oil firm reported last Wednesday that stockholders representing at least 74.35 percent of the total issued and outstanding capital approved an earlier board decision for the oil firm to engage in EVCS and in the sales of services related to electric charging. “This aligns with the company’s approach towards energy transition in step with society, evolving beyond petroleum, towards sustainable and cleaner energy solutions for the company, people, community and environment today and for the future,” the firm said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

“The stockholders have approved the proposal for SHLPH to also sell technical services related to the company’s lubricants business to non-buyers of its lubricants products.”

As such, the articles of incorporation of SH-

LPH will be amended and broadened to include the sale of services related to electric charging.

These changes will have to be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Earlier, the Department of Energy (DOE), SHLPH and Shell Energy Philippines Inc. (SEPH) signed a tripartite agreement on the deployment of EVCS. Under the 3-year agreement, SHLPH has committed to deploy the “Shell Recharge” brand of EVCS powered with renewable energy from SEPH, the retail electricity supplier (RES) of Shell companies in the country. Signed by SHLPH President Lorelie Q. Osial, SEPH General Manager and President Bernd Krukenberg and DOE Secretary Raphael PM Lotilla, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) is anchored on the goals and targets of the Philippine Energy Plan 2020-2040 for the transition towards clean energy fuels and technologies.

It will also provide the support infrastructure for the 10-percent target penetration rate of EVs for road transport by 2040. Lenie Lectura

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HE secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the government agency is working with venture capitalists from Silicon Valley, California, to train Filipinos in information technology (IT).

“Yun ang isang aspiration ko: to have a training platform online, kasi digital skills ang karamihang kailangan natin. Meron na kaming nakausap sa Silicon Valley: mga venture capitalists,” Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual told reporters on the sidelines of a conference held in Makati City last Wednesday.

Pascual said the agency is aiming to launch the platform next year “to be able to provide the skills needed by some jobs that are not being filled right now.”

“We’ll work on it from now until early next year,” the Trade chief said. He added that while they want to roll it out as soon as “within early part” of next year, there will still be hiccups since this would be the first time that it’s going to be done.

So far, Pascual said the DTI is the only one involved in this initiative.

But, he added, “we might bring in the DICT [Department of Information and Communications Technology] kung kailangan ng connectivity and the DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment], which is our partner for job acceleration projects.”

Other deals

PASCUAL added Trade officials

also signed an agreement last Tuesday “as part of the commitment of ‘plug-and-play’ on skills development.”

He said the DTI also signed a job acceleration partnership with a Singaporean company wherein “part of the partnership is skills development as well.”

Meanwhile, last week, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) released the guidelines on Republic Act (RA) 11927 (Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act).

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) released by the Neda tasked the Inter-Agency Council to establish a “centralized web portal” for all related training, skills development, certification, and scholarship programs to allow access by all workers who are qualified and willing to undergo upskilling or acquire new skills in digital technology. The IAC is composed of the Neda, the DOLE, the DTI, the DICT, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Rule 8 of the IRR noted that the IAC shall establish the centralized online portal that will contain: training and skills development prog rams; cer tif ication; and, scholarship programs. Moreover, the IAC in collaboration with DICT must “create, operationalize, provide free access to and manage the portal.” Andrea San Juan

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Meralco withdrawal petition is ‘very complicated’—ERC

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By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is awaiting input from its legal department before beginning deliberations on the application of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to withdraw its business plan for regulatory period 2023 to 2026.

“We are waiting for the memo from our legal. The application for withdrawal is very complicated. We are studying the proper process on how to deal with this. For now, we

await first the feedback from our legal [department],” said ERC Chairman Monalisa C. Dimalanta, herself a lawyer.

Meralco recently withdrew its 5th regulatory period (RP) application and filed an urgent omnibus motion to allow the utility firm to re-file its 5RP application to cover the period from regulatory year (RY) 2025 to 2028. The firm also asked the regulator to consider RY2023 and 2024

as lapsed period and use P1.3522 per kilowatt hour (kWh) as the final rate during this period and re-file its application on February 15, 2024, before the start of RY2025.

Meralco stressed that the final rate of P1.3522 per kWh is much lower than the average rate of P1.57 per kWh originally applied for in its application.

The withdrawal and re-filing are meant to revise Meralco’s proposed Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) and Performance Incentive Scheme (PIS) that are supposedly intended for years 2023 up to 2026.

Meralco Regulatory Management Office Head Jose Ronald V. Valles said the utility firm is proposing a different period this time to start RY2025 up to RY2028.

“Our proposal is consistent with how the ERC decided on our lapsed period and that is also the most fair treatment,” Valles, a lawyer, said when sought for comment. “Based on our lawyers’ opinion, the PBR (performance based revenue) could no longer be applied for RY 2023 and RY 2024 because PBR is based on forecast. It can’t be used as forecast.”

He added the firm is still awaiting the ERC ruling.

“We will abide by what the ERC will tell us,” Valles said.

Under the 5RP filed in March 2022, Meralco proposed a total ARR of P320.4 billion at an average price of P1.5702 per kWh. The ERC, however, has yet to act on Meralco’s application.

Valles said the ARR must be based on a forward-looking analysis of forecast cash flow requirements and must represent the optimal forecast revenue requirement. But due to delays, the resolution of its application is no longer based on forecasts as the first RY of the 5RP ended on June 30, 2023, while the second RY of the 5RP is almost at its midway.

With the additional activities to be completed, he said it is likely that the final resolution of the case will not be completed even before the end of RY2024.

Further, he explained, that supervening factors such as additional operational expenditure and capital expenditure due to new regulatory impositions needed to be considered in the new 5RP application.

Century Properties enters hospitality sector

A

NTONIO-led Century Properties Group Inc. (PSE: CPG) announced the launch of its 152-room Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua, the company’s first foray into the hospitality sector.

“The opening of Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua underlines our long-term commitment to expand our portfolio in the Philippines. Novotel’s relaxed and lively atmosphere resonates with our guests, we are delighted to offer the second Novotel address for travellers, long-staying guests and locals to work, play and relax,” Garth Simmons, CEO of Accor’s Premium, Midscale and Economy Division in Asia said.

“With the renewed interest for travel globally. having Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua to host travelers will further boost

the Philippine government’s push to bolster the tourism industry,” Marco R. Antonio, CPG’s president and CEO, said.

Antonio said what differentiates CPG’s Novotel is on the size of the rooms, which is much bigger than those in Novotel of the Araneta in Cubao.

He said this is only the start of CPG’s foray into the hospitality sector. He declined to name the company’s future projects.

MUTUAL FUNDS

The hotel features 152 rooms and suites. The 31 square meter standard rooms are equipped with an ample workspace, are perfect for corporate travellers.

For families and long-staying guests, it offers suites that range from a 45-square meter (sqm) deluxe suite, a 75-sqm superior suite and a 91-sqm premier suite, with a 180-degree view of the city through its curved floor-to-ceiling window.

November 22, 2023

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D

per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 202.72 -0.47% -3.42% -3.78% -1.13% -2.78% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.397 5.12% 4.15% 0.78% 1.37% 3.93% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.8052 -0.82% -3.42% -5.88% -2.86% -3.77% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.6653 -1.51% -5.37% -5.33% n.a -4.86% First Metro Consumer Fund, Inc. -a 0.6176 -6.93% -5.7% -5.25% n.a -4.78% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund, Inc. -a 4.4578 -1.69% -2.89% -2.72% -0.81% -4.14% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.6643 -3.05% -4.15% n.a n.a -5.25% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 84.46 11.03% -2.97% -5% n.a 12.14% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 41.232 -2.1% -3.57% -2.99% n.a -4.53% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 430.16 -0.88% -3.87% -3.01% -1.11% -3.2% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.1565 -1.45% 0.44% -1.2% n.a -1.58% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 32.4928 -0.09% -1.46% -1.9% 0.87% -2.41% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8284 -0.11% -2.92% n.a n.a -2.4% Philequity PSE Index Fund, Inc. -a 4.3354 -1.08% -2.66% -2.14% 0.62% -3.56% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 721.31 -1.18% -2.83% -2.21% 0.57% -3.69% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6527 -0.17% -3.02% -4.87% n.a -3.17% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2233 -1.56% -3.3% -4.18% -1.17% -4.44% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.818 -1.53% -3.15% -2.52% n.a -3.98% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.0109 -1.03% -2.57% -2.44% -0.1% -2.68% Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) COL Equity Index Unitized Mutual Fund, Inc. -a 1.0153 -1.55% n.a n.a n.a -3.87% COL Strategic Growth Equity Unitized Mutual Fund, Inc. -a,20.9917 n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a 0.9797 -3.33% -2.19% n.a n.a -6.37% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 875.43 -1.33% n.a n.a n.a -3.75% Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c97.9008 -0.61% -2.51% -1.9% n.a -3.18% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $0.8225 -2.3% -10.61% -2.45% -1.73% -3.46% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.5844 9.06% -0.14% 6.45% n.a 11.26% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.4516 -2% -3.95% -2.31% -1.96% -2.23% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.1277 5.14% -1.54% -0.39% -0.01% 1.06% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.4333 -1.13% -2.18% -0.31% -1.14% -2.88% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.1855 -2.98% -1.97% n.a n.a -4.13% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.8865 1.15% -1.08% 0.75% 0.98% -0.03% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.4495 1.84% -2.77% -0.08% 0.08% 0.28% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 15.1184 0.68% -3.43% -0.64% -0.23% -0.14% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 1.9846 1.16% -1.48% -0.43% 0.8% -0.1% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.3074 1.19% -2.18% -1.71% -0.57% -0.67% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8703 1.88% -0.18% -1.04% n.a -0.98% Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a 0.9213 2.86% -2.98% n.a n.a 0.67% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a 0.8143 0.35% -4.53% n.a n.a -2.55% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a 0.793 -0.68% -4.81% n.a n.a -3.59% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.0319 0.44% -6.62% -1.66% -0.19% -1.54% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $0.8859 2.06% -7.49% -1.06% -1.36% 5.46% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.0855 5.22% -1.83% 3.67% 2.66% 6.23% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $0.9912 1.99% -4.46% 0.43% n.a 2.02% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 388.63 3.3% 1.71% 2.57% 2.12% 2.81% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9005 1.77% 0.07% 0.61% -0.1% 1.37% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2971 2.58% 0.92% 2.21% 3.72% 2.75% Ekklesia Mutual Fund, Inc. -a 2.2548 4.67% -0.51% 1.2% 1.13% 3.18% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 2.43 1.88% -0.23% 1.97% 1.05% 1.63% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.2124 1.84% -2.99% 1.7% 0.4% 1.75% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.3625 3.34% 1.2% 2.97% 1.69% 3.26% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9831 4.13% 0.17% 2.75% 1.28% 2.96% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0437 3.28% 0.27% 3.34% n.a 2.67% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2675 4.68% 0.86% 3.48% 1.79% 3.87% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7461 3.85% 0.11% 2.71% 1.18% 2.97% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $490.96 2.76% 0.63% 1.91% 2.46% 2.26% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є211.94 1.56% -1% -0.05% 0.73% 1.08% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.018 0.26% -6.93% -1.93% -0.07% 0.85% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0242 2.11% -2.98% -0.49% n.a 2.11% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc. -b $0.8369 -2.12% -8.46% -3.96% -3.31% -7.01% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.1973 3.24% -4.5% 0.58% 1.48% 0.79% Philequity Dollar Income Fund, Inc. -a $0.0607519 1.89% -0.7% 1.32% 1.57% 1.76% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.6613 -0.35% -6.15% -1.49% 0.08% -2.21% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 136.36 2.46% 1.74% 2.54% 2.01% 2.33% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.1043 3.14% 1.8% n.a n.a 2.86% Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a 1.3711 2.7% 1.95% 2.46% 1.97% 2.44% Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 104.08 3.97% n.a n.a n.a 3.59% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0926 2.29% 1.29% 1.5% n.a 2.19% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund, Inc. -a 41.5742 -6.31% n.a n.a n.a -2.59% Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.3917 8.12% 8.57% n.a n.a 12.95% Sun Life Prosperity World Income Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.9616 n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (Units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund, Inc. -a $0.7738 -2.87% -7.26% n.a n.a -2.05% a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. 1 - Launch date is August 22, 2023.

2 - Launch date is October 6, 2023.

“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

November 22, 2023

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 PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG MANULIFE NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

44.9 131.5 7.11 104 29.9 8.7 51.95 8.6 18.4 52.65 22.8 70.05 58.65 1.38 2.78 2.7 951 0.365 170 2,650

45.9 131.6 7.55 105.2 30 8.71 52 8.66 18.5 55.95 23.7 70.3 59 1.4 2.79 2.91 1,100 0.38 173 2,700

44.8 131.7 7.2 103.9 30.1 8.8 52.7 8.58 18.4 55.85 22.9 70.7 59.4 1.39 2.81 2.7 1,050 0.36 170 2,700

44.8 132.4 7.7 105.2 30.45 8.8 53 8.6 18.4 55.95 22.9 71 59.4 1.4 2.81 2.7 1,100 0.36 175 2,700

44.8 131.2 7.11 103.5 29.9 8.71 51.95 8.58 18.4 52 22.9 70.05 58.5 1.38 2.78 2.69 1,050 0.36 170 2,700

44.8 131.5 7.11 105.2 30 8.71 52 8.6 18.4 55.95 22.9 70.05 59 1.4 2.78 2.7 1,100 0.36 175 2,700

300 1,530,020 3,900 628,710 168,200 112,900 1,440,710 25,300 300 6,480 100 252,330 65,430 106,000 55,000 60,000 60 20,000 250 10

13,440 201,374,389 27,849 65,507,738 5,048,725 984,829 74,948,567.50 217,550 5,520 346,459.50 2,290 17,746,198.50 3,838,461.50 146,540 153,800 161,770 63,750 7,200 42,951 27,000

INDUSTRIAL

ACEN CORP 4.97 4.99 ALTERNERGY HLDG 0.82 0.83 ABOITIZ POWER 36.25 36.5 RASLAG 1.22 1.23 BASIC ENERGY 0.178 0.179 FIRST GEN 17.96 18 FIRST PHIL HLDG 62.4 63.1 MERALCO 372.2 373 MANILA WATER 17.2 17.38 PETRON 3.3 3.35 PHX PETROLEUM 5.18 5.3 REPOWER ENERGY 6.56 6.71 SYNERGY GRID 5.98 6.04 SHELL PILIPINAS 12.3 12.4 SPC POWER 7.54 7.6 VIVANT 14.22 15.94 AGRINURTURE 1.24 1.26 AXELUM 1.88 1.92 CNTRL AZUCARERA 10.7 11.7 CENTURY FOOD 30.7 30.8 DEL MONTE 7.21 7.65 DNL INDUS 6.07 6.08 EMPERADOR 20.75 20.8 SMC FOODANDBEV 49 50 FIGARO COFFEE 0.61 0.62 FRUITAS HLDG 1.1 1.11 GINEBRA 166.6 166.8 JOLLIBEE 238.4 240 KEEPERS HLDG 1.49 1.5 MAXS GROUP 3.62 3.65 MONDE NISSIN 8.19 8.2 SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.3 9.33 ROXAS AND CO 0.48 0.51 RFM CORP 2.98 2.99 SWIFT FOODS 0.055 0.06 UNIV ROBINA 119 119.9 VITARICH 0.51 0.53 VICTORIAS 3.02 3.27 CONCRETE A 40 41.95 CONCRETE B 40 47.95 CEMEX HLDG 0.81 0.82 EC VULCAN CORP 0.82 0.83 EEI CORP 5.86 5.92 MEGAWIDE 3.04 3.12 TKC METALS 0.41 0.48 CROWN ASIA 1.53 1.57 EUROMED 0.76 0.84 LMG CORP 2.5 2.99 PRYCE CORP 5.19 5.2 CONCEPCION 13.6 14.48 GREENERGY 0.275 0.28 INTEGRATED MICR 3.46 3.49 IONICS 1.13 1.14 SFA SEMICON 1.92 2.08 CIRTEK HLDG 1.7 1.72

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP PRIME MEDIA SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP ZEUS HLDG

1.02 648 48.25 10.22 11.24 0.38 4.55 9.22 5.1 560 38.15 4.61 0.405 4.37 8.97 2.78 829.5 107.2 0.071

1.03 649.5 48.7 10.36 11.3 0.385 4.62 9.3 5.13 563 38.65 6.36 0.42 4.45 8.98 2.89 830 107.5 0.088

4.9 0.81 36.15 1.2 0.187 18.12 63.1 373.2 17.2 3.29 5.28 6.75 5.98 12.42 7.72 14.84 1.28 1.89 11.62 30.5 7.69 6.01 20.75 50 0.63 1.11 166.9 235.4 1.45 3.65 7.81 9.2 0.51 3 0.055 113.8 0.52 3.31 40 47.95 0.81 0.82 5.97 3.1 0.45 1.57 0.84 3.33 5.3 13.6 0.285 3.49 1.14 2.05 1.68

5.02 0.83 36.7 1.24 0.187 18.12 63.1 375 17.38 3.3 5.3 6.75 6.04 12.44 7.79 14.84 1.29 1.92 11.76 31.2 7.69 6.16 20.8 50 0.63 1.13 166.9 240 1.51 3.65 8.2 9.32 0.51 3 0.055 119.9 0.53 3.31 40 47.95 0.85 0.82 6 3.12 0.45 1.57 0.84 3.33 5.3 14.48 0.285 3.5 1.14 2.09 1.73

4.86 0.81 36.15 1.18 0.177 17.86 63.1 372 17.02 3.28 5.28 6.71 5.82 12.3 7.6 14.2 1.2 1.79 11.62 30.5 7.12 6 20.65 46.05 0.61 1.1 166.8 235.4 1.45 3.62 7.76 9.2 0.5 2.99 0.055 113.8 0.52 3.31 40 47.95 0.81 0.81 5.85 3.05 0.45 1.53 0.84 3.33 5.2 13.6 0.27 3.4 1.13 2.05 1.65

4.97 0.82 36.25 1.22 0.179 18 63.1 373 17.2 3.3 5.3 6.71 6.04 12.3 7.6 14.2 1.26 1.92 11.76 30.8 7.12 6.08 20.8 50 0.62 1.1 166.8 240 1.5 3.62 8.19 9.32 0.5 2.99 0.055 119.9 0.53 3.31 40 47.95 0.82 0.82 5.92 3.12 0.45 1.53 0.84 3.33 5.2 14.48 0.275 3.5 1.13 2.09 1.71

10,585,000 2,133,000 1,016,900 115,000 700,000 78,800 110 150,390 1,158,200 625,000 1,600 7,800 620,400 13,900 69,700 10,000 1,574,000 278,000 5,200 5,799,500 8,300 1,287,500 134,600 205,640 6,244,000 5,997,000 1,180 1,298,190 1,770,000 196,000 5,926,200 26,200 69,000 15,000 100,000 1,639,450 11,000 7,000 300 200 247,000 315,000 627,700 103,000 10,000 40,000 1,000 1,000 2,107,500 800 39,590,000 55,000 243,000 288,000 354,000

52,493,970 1,734,770 36,989,455 136,920 126,080 1,418,964 6,941 56,124,380 20,019,748 2,061,240 8,450 52,418 3,702,040 172,360 532,285 146,622 1,942,780 526,540 61,006 179,391,220 62,215 7,815,285 2,798,035 10,101,183 3,846,730 6,615,930 196,842 308,915,340 2,641,180 713,360 47,778,425 242,586 35,010 44,860 5,500 193,008,187 5,760 23,170 12,000 9,590 201,290 255,990 3,722,220 317,110 4,500 61,600 840 3,330 10,959,500 11,056 10,948,500 188,540 274,700 592,480 593,320

-4,894,760 -854,830 -8,219,390.00 3,560 -1,241,748 -1,893 7,677,640 2,615,642 -13,500 -693,321 -58,430 -288,258 -49,670 -20,790 -51,361,600 5,026 646,914 379,915 -6,039,241.50 -43,740 -316,800 -133,458 102,417,432 -149,000 -229,050 4,661,208 12,090 -44,860 88,325,025 134,160 6,100 5,264 1,906,150 -17,180 -

1.03 640 48.6 10.4 11.3 0.38 4.62 9.35 5.1 560.5 37.75 6.43 0.405 4.37 8.97 2.89 831.5 107 0.071

1.04 650 48.7 10.4 11.32 0.38 4.62 9.35 5.1 567 38.7 6.43 0.41 4.37 9 2.89 832.5 107.5 0.071

1.01 638.5 48 10.16 11.24 0.38 4.55 9.21 5.1 560 37.75 6.36 0.405 4.36 8.95 2.89 827 106.2 0.07

1.03 649.5 48.7 10.36 11.24 0.38 4.62 9.22 5.1 560 38.65 6.36 0.41 4.37 8.98 2.89 830 107.5 0.071

1,166,000 77,870 106,200 330,200 29,000 30,000 292,000 1,107,800 145,200 121,800 648,100 400 90,000 84,000 841,500 8,000 54,440 195,000 650,000

1,185,200 50,386,005 5,150,390 3,384,196 327,204 11,400 1,332,830 10,219,966 740,520 68,362,940 24,847,950 2,551 36,650 366,820 7,552,699 23,120 45,178,360 20,907,111 46,020

24,480 15,465,470 97,325 599,708 18,080 -1,054,810 -2,338,473 -8,381,945 -4,721,800 -252,886 -10,092,860 9,438,511 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.415 0.44 0.415 0.42 0.415 0.42 80,000 33,500 AYALA LAND 29.75 29.85 29.7 29.85 29.6 29.85 2,205,100 65,670,140 AYALA LAND LOG 1.6 1.67 1.62 1.67 1.6 1.67 332,000 542,360 ALTUS PROP 8.98 9.35 8.98 8.98 8.98 8.98 200 1,796 ARANETA PROP 1.01 1.03 0.97 1.04 0.97 1.03 517,000 528,450 AREIT RT 29.1 29.5 30 30 29.1 29.1 5,283,000 156,811,790 A BROWN 0.64 0.69 0.65 0.65 0.64 0.64 99,000 63,400 CITYLAND DEVT 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 27,000 18,900 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.42 2.56 2.56 2.6 2.42 2.42 1,274,000 3,176,530 CENTURY PROP 0.3 0.305 0.3 0.31 0.3 0.305 140,000 42,800 CITICORE RT 2.52 2.53 2.53 2.53 2.51 2.52 692,000 1,745,410 DOUBLEDRAGON 8.27 8.3 8.15 8.39 8.15 8.3 730,000 6,058,962 DDMP RT 1.22 1.23 1.23 1.24 1.2 1.22 11,084,000 13,414,240 DM WENCESLAO 6.15 6.2 6.25 6.25 6.18 6.18 54,000 335,090 EMPIRE EAST 0.131 0.135 0.129 0.135 0.129 0.135 1,770,000 235,950 EVER GOTESCO 0.28 0.295 0.29 0.295 0.29 0.295 510,000 147,950 FILINVEST RT 2.81 2.85 2.79 2.85 2.76 2.85 229,000 643,960 FILINVEST LAND 0.54 0.55 0.56 0.56 0.54 0.55 2,313,000 1,269,460 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.75 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.76 4,000 3,040 8990 HLDG 8.3 8.52 8.63 8.63 8.41 8.53 14,600 125,378 GOLDEN MV 756 786 755.5 786 755.5 786 300 234,275 PHIL INFRADEV 0.5 0.55 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 4,000 2,000 CITY AND LAND 0.74 0.79 0.77 0.77 0.74 0.74 123,000 93,090 MEGAWORLD 2.04 2.05 2.04 2.06 2.03 2.05 13,200,000 27,020,670 MRC ALLIED 1.45 1.54 1.51 1.6 1.41 1.45 381,000 563,790 MREIT RT 11.94 12 11.96 12 11.92 12 279,100 3,340,710 PREMIERE RT 1.52 1.55 1.57 1.57 1.51 1.52 7,000 10,720 PRIMEX CORP 2.46 2.56 2.44 2.46 2.44 2.46 2,000 4,900 RL COMM RT 4.56 4.65 4.68 4.68 4.55 4.56 1,709,000 7,887,890 ROBINSONS LAND 14.52 14.62 14.5 14.62 14.5 14.6 296,500 4,319,774 ROCKWELL 1.36 1.39 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.35 2,000 2,700 SHANG PROP 3.61 3.68 3.63 3.63 3.61 3.61 25,000 90,330 STA LUCIA LAND 3.23 3.27 3.27 3.27 3.25 3.27 30,000 97,990 SM PRIME HLDG 31.5 31.55 31.35 31.55 31.05 31.5 1,147,000 35,904,945 VISTAMALLS 2.32 2.45 2.32 2.32 2.32 2.32 1,000 2,320 SUNTRUST RESORT 0.76 0.8 0.8 0.85 0.8 0.8 19,000 15,250 VISTA LAND 1.63 1.65 1.66 1.66 1.63 1.63 62,000 101,800 VISTAREIT RT 1.67 1.68 1.68 1.69 1.68 1.69 82,000 138,560

SERVICES ABS CBN 3.52 3.56 3.45 3.52 3.4 3.52 158,000 549,980 GMA NETWORK 8.28 8.3 8.2 8.3 8.2 8.3 145,200 1,198,139 MLA BRDCASTING 5.98 8.54 8.55 8.55 8.54 8.54 1,100 9,404 GLOBE TELECOM 1,743 1,760 1,760 1,760 1,738 1,760 4,590 8,040,395 PLDT 1,255 1,260 1,262 1,262 1,253 1,260 29,655 37,323,360 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.014 0.015 0.014 0.015 0.014 0.015 32,700,000 484,300 CONVERGE 8.31 8.33 8.1 8.38 8.05 8.33 3,352,400 27,698,687 DFNN INC 3.04 3.07 3.05 3.05 3.04 3.04 60,000 182,860 DITO CME HLDG 2.38 2.39 2.28 2.4 2.28 2.38 2,799,000 6,589,260 IMPERIAL 0.58 0.77 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.58 12,000 6,960 NOW CORP 1.24 1.26 1.24 1.28 1.24 1.26 278,000 347,760 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.133 0.138 0.134 0.139 0.133 0.133 350,000 47,840 ASIAN TERMINALS 15.42 15.88 15.52 15.88 15.02 15.88 15,600 238,754 CHELSEA 1.29 1.32 1.29 1.31 1.29 1.31 364,000 476,010 CEBU AIR 32.5 32.8 32.5 33 32.45 32.8 508,400 16,658,105 INTL CONTAINER 217.4 218.4 215 218.6 215 218.4 5,072,150 1,104,852,656 MACROASIA 4.17 4.22 4.13 4.23 4.11 4.23 374,000 1,557,190 PAL HLDG 5.3 5.39 5.39 5.39 5.39 5.39 1,000 5,390 HARBOR STAR 0.84 0.88 0.76 0.84 0.76 0.84 218,000 175,620 CENTRO ESCOLAR 8.33 8.79 8.92 8.93 8.33 8.33 3,600 31,653 IPEOPLE 6.39 7.36 6.39 6.39 6.39 6.39 700 4,473 STI HLDG 0.455 0.46 0.45 0.465 0.45 0.455 2,410,000 1,098,450 BELLE CORP 1.17 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 50,000 59,000 BLOOMBERRY 9.87 9.9 9.8 9.94 9.79 9.87 11,348,500 112,065,629 PACIFIC ONLINE 3.2 3.22 3.2 3.23 3.16 3.23 81,000 259,840 PH RESORTS GRP 0.97 0.98 0.93 0.98 0.93 0.97 6,187,000 5,951,720 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.58 0.6 0.59 0.6 0.58 0.6 1,096,000 646,790 DIGIPLUS 6.4 6.47 6.58 6.6 6.4 6.4 632,900 4,096,713 PHILWEB 1.73 1.82 1.83 1.83 1.74 1.82 28,000 49,180 ALLDAY 0.166 0.169 0.169 0.169 0.166 0.166 1,110,000 186,470 ALLHOME 1.26 1.27 1.22 1.27 1.22 1.27 1,576,000 1,972,790 METRO RETAIL 1.17 1.18 1.17 1.18 1.17 1.18 60,000 70,220 PUREGOLD 28.1 28.15 28.4 28.6 28 28.15 449,100 12,665,725 ROBINSONS RTL 39.25 39.35 39 39.4 38.95 39.35 153,100 6,015,025 PHIL SEVEN CORP 76 80.9 76.5 80.9 76 80.85 4,607,630 352,484,107.50 SSI GROUP 2.71 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.68 2.8 272,000 739,450 UPSON INTL CORP 1.68 1.76 1.79 1.79 1.79 1.79 1,000 1,790 WILCON DEPOT 19.52 19.6 19.3 19.8 19.3 19.6 2,114,800 41,463,408 APC GROUP 0.23 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 10,000 2,400 MEDILINES 0.335 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 30,000 10,500 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.183 0.185 0.188 0.188 0.182 0.182 680,000 126,410 SBS PHIL CORP 3.82 3.98 3.82 3.83 3.82 3.82 4,600,000 17,574,000

MINING & OIL ATOK 5 5.2 4.8 5 4.8 5 1,100 5,456 APEX MINING 2.76 2.77 2.69 2.77 2.69 2.76 7,763,000 21,276,500 ATLAS MINING 3.11 3.14 3.11 3.15 3.11 3.11 71,000 221,800 BENGUET A 4.65 4.7 4.9 4.9 4.65 4.7 373,000 1,737,660 BENGUET B 4.75 4.8 4.86 4.86 4.8 4.8 13,000 62,760 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.125 0.153 0.125 0.125 0.125 0.125 260,000 32,500 FERRONICKEL 2.37 2.38 2.36 2.37 2.36 2.37 37,000 87,580 GEOGRACE 0.031 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.033 200,000 6,600 LEPANTO A 0.078 0.079 0.074 0.078 0.074 0.078 1,050,000 81,050 MANILA MINING A 0.0046 0.0048 0.0046 0.0046 0.0046 0.0046 3,000,000 13,800 MARCVENTURES 1.04 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.04 1.05 92,000 97,030 NICKEL ASIA 5.14 5.15 5.13 5.14 5.1 5.14 652,600 3,342,268 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.66 0.69 0.67 0.69 0.66 0.69 28,000 18,860 PX MINING 2.98 2.99 2.87 2.98 2.87 2.98 2,974,000 8,742,160 SEMIRARA MINING 28.5 28.6 28 28.8 28 28.6 578,800 16,420,450 UNITED PARAGON 0.0042 0.0047 0.0047 0.0047 0.0047 0.0047 1,000,000 4,700 ENEX ENERGY 5 5.07 4.9 5.07 4.9 5.06 11,000 54,177 ORNTL PETROL A 0.0082 0.0084 0.0083 0.0083 0.0082 0.0082 18,000,000 147,800 PHILODRILL 0.0081 0.0083 0.0081 0.0081 0.0081 0.0081 14,000,000 113,400 PXP ENERGY 3.94 4.04 3.97 4.07 3.91 4.04 86,000 342,510

PREFFERED ACEN PREF B 1,056 1,057 1,035 1,056 1,035 1,056 3,285 3,429,720 ALCO PREF C 93.6 99.95 99.95 99.95 99.95 99.95 40 3,998 ALCO PREF D 455 461.6 455 455 455 455 10 4,550 AC PREF B2R 485.6 499 485.6 485.6 485.6 485.6 110 53,416 CEB PREF 31.4 31.45 31.45 31.45 31.45 31.45 70,000 2,201,500 EEI PREF B 87.55 96.6 96.2 96.75 96.2 96.75 3,100 298,275 GTCAP PREF B 942 950 950 950 950 950 1,000 950,000 JFC PREF B 901 915 901.5 901.5 901 901 160 144,235 MWIDE PREF 4 91.05 93.75 92 93.75 91 93.75 510 46,737.50 MWIDE PREF 5 100.5 101 101 101 101 101 2,150 217,150 PCOR PREF 4A 980 1,005 990 1,005 980 1,005 165 162,275 SMC PREF 2F 71 73 71 71 71 71 9,230 655,330 SMC PREF 2J 65.25 68 67.95 68 67.95 68 2,000 135,998.50 SMC PREF 2K 63.3 66.65 66.5 66.5 66.5 66.5 8,000 532,000 TECH PREF B2C 42.65 48.95 48.95 48.95 48.95 48.95 100 4,895 TECH PREF B2D 49 49.05 49.05 49.05 49.05 49.05 100 4,905

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

WARRANTS

TECH WARRANT

3.27 7.53

3.58 8.79 -

0.33

0.37

49,135,292.00 -8,335,764 -129,155 -25,104,331.50 131,462.50 -13,478,277 -27,398 0 -

-

-

-

-

-

866,845 -108,150.00 -63,381,900 185,200 -199,890 -176,029 -52,210 -72,970 -2,950 133,220 96,040 -39,300 19,400 -3,934,690 10,500 -718,250 -2,695,360 2,019,444 -2,127,100 -29,380 -4,717,960 4,872,615 22,500 2,794,464 -3,040 667,600 1,240 23,090 -2,898,540 922,878,460 -124,080 -4,460 7,974,110 3,840 29,500 692,146 11,790 -658,030 -3,760,220 -3,465,405 -4,042.50 1,790 -19,063,962 -92,580 4,800 -40,280 -1,787,748 3,071,280 -1,465,790 -117,820 -2,201,500 -20,400 -

-

-

-

-

SMALL, MEDIUM & EMERGING

0.455 0.455 0.455 0.455 30,000 13,650 0.76 0.76 0.74 0.74 537,000 399,060 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 130,000 128,700 0.69 0.69 0.65 0.68 465,000 306,080 31,850 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 10,000 600 1.04 1.08 1.03 1.08 946,000 996,140 105,000 0.203 0.203 0.203 0.203 150,000 30,450 -

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

98 98.4 97.5 98.4 27,820 2,722,935 -1,973

BALAI FRUITAS CTS GLOBAL HAUS TALK ITALPINAS LFM PROP MERRYMART XURPAS

FIRST METRO ETF

0.425 0.74 0.99 0.65 0.057 1.04 0.203 98.3

0.455 0.75 1 0.68 0.062 1.05 0.219 98.4

www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com

Banking&Finance

Lawmaker asks for details on MIC chief’s fraud case

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

A

senior l awmaker on Wednesday called on newly-appointed Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) President and CEO Rafael D. Consing Jr. to transparently address the concerns surrounding a fraud/estafa case involving him and his mother.

While Consing has asserted in a brief statement that the case has been dismissed, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez said that essential details, such as the date of dismissal and the court’s resolution, were not provided.

“I am urging him to provide or disclose all of the details, and to show proof of dismissal so that all concerns about his qualification to head the government corporation that will manage tens of billions in assets of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) will be resolved,” Rodriguez said.

He emphasized that these concerns have surfaced on social media, reflecting the public’s interest in the integrity of both MIC and MIF and the qualifications of those entrusted with running the corporation and overseeing the investment or sovereign fund.

Rodriguez said the rules and regulations implementing Republic Act 11954, the law creating the MIF, disqualifies a person from being appointed in the MIC board of directions five years before his or her appointment. The IRR states such disqualification applies if the appointee was convicted by final judgment of an offense punishable by imprisonment of more than six years and if he or she was found administratively liable for any offense involving fraudulent acts.

Likewise, the law rules for disqualification if the appointee was convicted by final judgment or found liable by a foreign court or equivalent foreign regulatory authority for acts, violations, or mis-

conduct. Also, if the person has a pending administrative, civil or criminal case relating to fraud, plunder, corrupt practices, money laundering, tax evasion, or any similar crimes involving misuse of fund in the person’s possession or breach of trust, he or she is disqualified from holding the position.

Rodriguez stressed the importance for Consing to clarify when the fraud/estafa case and any related complaints involving him and his mother were dismissed and to provide proof of dismissal, as required by the regulations governing MIC appointees.

“If the complaint has been thrown out five years before his appointment, then he is qualified.

If the case was resolved with finality within the five-year period or if it is still pending, then he clearly is disqualified,” he said.

Rodriguez said the Supreme Court e-Library lists a case “G.R. No. 161075. July 15, 2013,” which is apparently the fraud/estafa complaint filed against Consing and his mother.

The decision on the case was written by then chief justice and now Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin.

The ruling partly states: “Even if the respondent is declared merely an agent of his mother in the transaction involving the sale of the questioned lot, he cannot be adjudged free from criminal liability. An agent or any person may be held liable for conspiring to falsify public documents. Hence, the determination of the issue involved in Civil Case SCA 1759 for Injunctive Relief is irrelevant to the guilt or innocence of the respondent in the criminal case for estafa through falsification of public document.”

“Maybe, the Supreme Court, through its spokesman, can tell the public when this particular case and related complaints against Mr. Consing were dismissed, and if there is still any pending,” Rodriguez said.

Manulife PHL announces new exec appointments

T

HE local business of Canada-based Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Manulife) recently announced the appointment of Sailesh Nalinakshan as Chief Agency Officer (CAO) and Grace M. Mallabo as Chief Health and Product Officer (CHPO) of the The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Manulife PHL).

Manulife said that Mallabo will spearhead the local insurer’s health strategy, product development and management and inforce management “to help meet the growing demand among Filipinos for life insurance solutions that can support their health and wellness journey, while providing them protection and financial security in the future.”

With Mallabo at the helm, Manulife PHL aims to create more innovative, accessible and relevant products and maximize customer lifetime value through effective in-force management and product innovations that are tailor-fit to Filipinos’ evolving behavior and priorities, the insurer’s statement read. Prior to joining Manulife, Mallabo had nearly two decades of professional experience in the insurance industry, with a strong track record in strategy, product management and health business leadership.

Manulife PHL President and CEO Rahul Hora was quoted in the statement as saying that Mallabo’s leadership will be crucial in driving Manulife PHL’s goals “to bridge the country’s protection gap.”

“Given her vast experience developing innovative life and

health solutions that can help enrich people’s lives, we are excited to welcome her to our growing winning team as we deliver on our goals for our customers and the communities we serve,” Hora said.

With his new appointment, Nalinakshan expanded his previous role as Manulife PHL’s head of “agency transformation and strategy,” where he led the development and execution of the company’s new agency operating model, a statement by the insurer read. In his new role, Nalinakshan will continue empowering Manulife’s thousandsstrong agency force, anchored on strategies that bolster initiatives on digitalization, sales and productivity, talent recruitment and development, training and data analytics-based planning and decision-making, it added.

Hora was quoted in the statement as saying that Nalinakshan “brings his extensive experience in distribution management into his new role, leading our Philippines agency team and bringing our distribution network to the next level.”

“As depth, expansion and quality continue to be key enablers for our bigger and bolder growth ambitions, his strategic vision and leadership will play a pivotal role in strengthening our agency distribution channels and driving our growth trajectory for years ahead,” Hora added.

Previously, Nalinakshan was based in Hong Kong as part of Manulife’s Asia distribution team. Rizal Raoul Reyes

BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Thursday, November 23, 2023

B3

BIR files 15 criminal cases vs traders of ‘ghost receipts’

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas & Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed last Wednesday 15 criminal cases against buyers and sellers of “ghost receipts” with an estimated total tax liability of P1.8 billion.

The BIR filed the criminal charges against 69 respondents, composed of corporations, corporate officers and accountants before the Department of Justice.

The charges are made under the bureau’s “Run After Fake Transactions Task Force” that has been one of its cornerstone programs in boosting its revenue collection efforts.

“The sale and use of ‘ghost receipts’ is a tax-evasion scheme of the highest order,” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said.

“The BIR is committed to filing civil and criminal charges against all corporations, corporate officers, and accountants involved in this syndicate.”

Lumagui added the BIR is “already

preparing the next set of criminal cases.”

A statement issued by the BIR read that the nature of the businesses of the firms involved in the recent filing were construction and hardware, marketing of goods, equipment, office supplies, automotive oils, trading of metals, contractor electrical and mechanical systems, hotel, and food services.

Lumagui identified one of the firms as “Gilmarc Construction” that, he said, had transactions involving ghost receipts amounting to P600 million.

“This shows the magnitude of this syndicate because it covers an array of industries,” the BIR added.

The BIR said the buyers and sellers of fake receipts violated the following Sections of the National Internal Revenue Code: 254 (Tax Evasion); 255 (Failure to Supply Correct and Accurate Information in the Income Tax Return and Value-Added Tax Re-

turn); 267 (Perjury); and, 257 (Making False Records or Report).

The BIR has been aggressive in purging the use of fake receipts in the domestic market as it has estimated that the national government lost at least P370 billion from fake transactions involving legitimate businesses purchasing fictitious receipts to slash their income taxes and VAT obligations.

The BIR earlier disclosed that P1.3trillion worth of fake receipts have been issued in the country at least in the past two decades. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2023/08/03/%E2%82%A713-t-worth-of-fake-receipts-issued-in-past-20-years-bir/) The BIR explained that it computed the lost revenues from fake receipts using the combined income tax rate of 25 percent and the 12-percent value added tax (VAT) that the firms evaded by using the unscrupulous scheme.

SEC rules vs firm selling securities, BBM-named org

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission has made permanent the cease and desist order (CDO) against Casa Infini Builders and Realty Co. Ltd. and Casa Infini Realty Management Co. Ltd. The regulator also revoked the corporate registration of Bagong Bansang Maharlika (BBM) International Inc. for operating as a non-government organization without the necessary licenses.

In a resolution dated October 31, the SEC has affirmed the issuance of the CDO against Casa Infini, effectively denying the company’s motion to lift the order.

The SEC issued the order against Casa Infini on June 8, after the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department found the company and its officers to have been selling securities, in the form of investment contracts, without the proper secondary license from the SEC. Casa Infini enticed the public to invest in their alleged real estate projects in Baguio City either as a buyer-investor or partner financier.

Investors were promised a guaranteed income of more than P33,000 per month for 20 months, with the company assuring the public that the investments collected were supposedly financing the real estate

properties that it owned, managed and operated.

In its motion to lift the CDO, Casa Infini argued that the solicitation from investors is not a scam since its project was supported by a license issued by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

In the financial world

THE group also denied being a Ponzi scheme, noting that the referral fee is paid and incurred not by the investments of new partners but by CI Builders itself because of the acknowledged benefit that the program will have for the business.

Casa Infini claimed that no damages were being reported by any of the company’s partners which, supposedly showcasing that the partner financiers did indeed receive the expected returns, proving the authenticity of the promised profits.

The SEC, however, dismissed the arguments of Casa Infini, maintaining that the group was offering securities in the form of investment contracts to the public without the necessary license.

“Consistent with the broad definition of securities, the term investment contract should include and cover all forms and varieties thereof which are known or considered, or ought to be known or considered to

be such, in the financial world,” the SEC said.

“Under the foregoing legal precepts and parameters, an investment contract is considered to exist once it is determined/shown that the proponent is offering to the purchasers an opportunity to contribute money and to share in the profits of the operations,” the SEC said.

“Wherefore, premises considered, the ‘Verified Motion to Lift’ [the cease and desist order] filed by [Casa Infini] is hereby denied for lack of merit. The cease and desist order dated 8 June 2023 is hereby made permanent.”

Ultra vires acts

IN the case of BBM International, in an order dated November 14, the SEC has found that the group has been collecting membership fees from residents of various local communities, promising to provide food security, free education, free hospitalization, cash assistance and livelihood to all Filipinos aged one year and above worldwide.

While BBM International is a registered corporation with the SEC, activities such as coordinating welfare programs and collecting investments require secondary licenses from the appropriate government agencies.

BBM International is only allowed

to exercise powers inherent to its existence, the SEC said.

Activities conducted by BBM International show that it should register and secure a license from the Department of Social Welfare and Development under the department’s relevant guidelines, according to the EIPD. “These activities were clearly ultra vires acts or acts beyond the corporation’s authority. Evidently, [BBM International]’s SEC registration was obtained only for the purpose of giving a semblance of legitimacy to the corporation and that the corporation’s activities were sanctioned by the government,” the order said.

Further, BBM International has been found to be using President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s image as part of its marketing materials, creating a false impression that its programs are legitimate and sanctioned by the current administration.

“Worse, the use of the President’s picture in the identification cards, tarpaulins and other materials and paraphernalia of [BBM International] was done with palpable intent to mislead and deceive the public that the activities undertaken by the corporation are legitimate and are sanctioned by or with the imprimatur of the President or the Marcos administration,” according to the order.

GCG includes PCSO among ‘Most Improved’ GOCCs

T

he Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) on November 20 named Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office as one of the most improved and best performing government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), the PCSO announced through a statement last Wednesday.

The GCG recognized the PCSO for its remarkable accomplishments, outstanding disclosure practices and high performance ratings in the inaugural GOCC Governance Awards Ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center, the PCSO statement read.

In a video message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extended his congratulations to the GOCCs for demonstrating excellence and urged them to “uphold accountability, transparency, and integrity in (their) endeavors so that we can serve our people best, more efficiently, and more effectively.”

The PCSO earned the GCG nod after it achieved an impressive performance scorecard rating of 92.03 percent for 2022.

The Performance Evaluation Sys-

This November 20, 2023, photo shows (left to right): Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Director Jennifer Liongson-Guevara; Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka; Atty. Geraldine Marie Berberabe-Martinez; PCSO Chairman Junie Cua; Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin; PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. Robles; Governance Commission for GOCCs Chairman Atty. Marius Corpus; PCSO Director Judge Felix Reyes (Ret); and, Director Janet De Leon-Mercado during the GCG Governance Awards in PICC, Pasay City. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office

tem (PES) of the GCG is the process of appraising the accomplishments of GOCCs in a given fiscal year, based on a set of performance criteria, targets, and weights reported in a performance scorecard.

After a thorough validation by the GCG, the PCSO exceeded most of its targets set last year, particularly in gross revenue/sales, collection efficiency, and budget utilization.

Additionally, the PCSO has shown a solid commitment to rationalizing the use of charity funds, improving process efficiency, maintaining ISO certification, and ensuring the timely distribution of mandatory contributions.

The agency’s score of 92.03 percent in 2022 is a huge leap of 35.73 percent compared to its 2021 score of 56.30 percent.

PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. Robles expressed gratitude to the GCG “for recognizing the hard work, commitment and dedication of the PCSO employees.”

“Ibinibigay ko ang pagkilalang ito sa lahat ng mga masisipag at mga tapat na mga kawani ng PCSO na talagang nagsisikap upang mas lalo pa tayong makapagkaloob ng tulong sa mga nangangilangan nating mga kababayan,” Robles was quoted in the statement as saying.

This, as he also challenged the PCSO employees to continue striving for excellence and be on the constant lookout on how they could further raise their level of service to the public.

Robles also reminded them to never waver from their core values of commitment to excellence, efficiency and transparency.

In 2022, the PCSO surpassed its annual sales target of P 46.1 billion by 125 percent.

It generated gross receipts of P57.51 billion from various gaming products, including “Lotto,” “Digit Games,” “Small Town Lottery” and “Scratch It.”

Health&Fitness

B4 Thursday, November 23, 2023

BusinessMirror

Multi-sectoral group intensifies information drive against diabetes

‘T

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes | Contributor

he diabetics of the future will be the adults of tomorrow,” said Dr. Ricardo Fernando.

The late Dr. Ricardo Fernando is credited for his pioneering efforts in spreading awareness on the treatment of diabetes in the Philippines.

Inspired by their founder Dr. Fernando, Dr. Elizabeth Catindig, Executive Director of the Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation Inc., said the school is building partnerships with medical societies to spread awareness to the public on the challenges of diabetes in the country.

“As an educational institution, we have the luxury of having graduates from Batanes to Jolo. Part of our curriculum is education. We are fully aware that almost anywhere, proper education should not only be given to patients but also their families,” Catindig said during a press briefing during the celebration of the recently concluded celebration of World Diabetes Day held in Quezon City.

Consult first ALTHOUGH the Internet provides a

lot of information on different health products for diabetics, Catindig also urged patients to consult their doctor first to ensure they will be using the proper prescriptions.

Danish Ambassador to the Philippines Franz-Michael Mellbin said Denmark is an active partner of the Philippines in the treatment of diabetes. Meanwhile, Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk urged diabetes patients, families, caregivers, and stakeholders to understand the importance of these factors in tackling the disease.

“The collaboration between the Royal Danish Embassy and Novo Nordisk Philippines is a testament to the power of shared knowledge and best practices. Our joint commitment to ‘knowing,’ knowing your risk, knowing your response, serves as the foundation for our efforts to bring the best of Danish healthcare support to the Filipino people. We stand united in our mission to enhance diabetes

care and promote a healthier future for all,” said Melbin.

Understanding the risk NOVO Nordisk Philippines, together with its partners, emphasized the significance of recognizing the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Understanding this risk can play a pivotal role in delaying or preventing the condition and addressing the consequences of diabetes-related complications. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in 10 adults worldwide has diabetes, with over 90 percent affected by Type 2 diabetes, and nearly half of these cases remain undiagnosed.

“O u r de d ic ate d Q ue z on C it y Health Department is the frontline for public health, taking concrete steps not only in diabetes prevention but also in detection, screening, and treatment. With 66 health centers providing free medicines for indigent citizens dealing with high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, we ensure that no one is left behind in their healthcare journey,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Apart from pharmaceutical care, medical organizations also play a role in paving the way for a future where people living with diabetes have a

better quality of life. “Novo Nordisk Philippines continually drives initiatives such as this event to raise awareness about diabetes. Globally, this year also marks our 100 years, and we renew our commitment to drive change for a healthy world today, and for generations to come,” Dr. Neslie Buena-Bobis, Clinical, Medical, Regulatory and Pharmcovigilance Director said.

“We strive to offer improved access to diabetes management, equipping individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to lead healthier lives. We created a website where people can find the tools and information they need to take charge of their diabetes journey. We want to empower people living with diabetes, so they can better manage their health.

Our commitment to innovation and access to treatments and information drives us forward on the path toward a healthier, diabetes-resilient future,” Dr. Neslie Buena-Bobis added.

Diabetes walk NOVO Nordisk Philippines, in collaboration with the local government of Quezon City, the Royal Danish Embassy Manila, South Star Drug, and key medical organizations, spearheaded the Global Diabetes Walk in the Philippines. Themed “Walk for

Change,” the event emphasizes the importance of taking steps to prevent diabetes.

The Global Diabetes Walk is a worldwide initiative dedicated to raising diabetes awareness and promoting healthy lifestyles, presenting an opportunity for people worldwide to unite to support those affected by diabetes and advocate for measures to prevent and manage this disease.

Communities worldwide will join walks to demonstrate solidarity with those living with diabetes.

In line with WDD’s theme on diabetes education, the initiative offers an opportunity to enhance one’s knowledge of diabetes, connect with others in the community, and show support for those affected by the condition. By taking part in these walks, individuals can contribute to the global effort to combat this growing public health issue.

For individuals living with diabetes, Mariel Crisostomo, South Star Drug General Manager, stressed access to accurate information, the right medicines, and self-care tools is critical to delaying or preventing complications. She added healthcare professionals also play a crucial role, requiring access to adequate training and resources to detect complications early and provide optimal care.

Vaccination drive key to fighting pneumonia in children, seniors

I

n May 2022, medical experts led by researchers from the local educational and foreign organizations said it was high time to conduct a thorough review of the 10-year-old pneumonia vaccine strategy to reduce the mortality rate among children as pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death among children.

As of last year, the Philippines is in the fifth spot with the most number of pneumonia deaths.

In a recent forum, Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) said the Philippines is one of the top zero dose countries for children in vaccination.

“This makes the Philippines a source of outbreaks of diseases,” Bravo told the audience in a recent a multistakeholder media forum organized

by MSD titled “Advance the Fight Against Pneumonia” held in Mandaluyong City.

Golden age of vaccination IT was quite different 30 years ago when the Department of Health was headed by the late senator Juan Flavier, according to Bravo.

“It was the golden period of immunization. Under Secretary Flavier, 8 million children eight years old and below were vaccinated during the month of April. We need to trust our leaders again,” Bravo pointed out.

Through his wit, charm, and folksy humor, Flavier was able to successfully implement the health programs of the Ramos administration that resonated to the public through simple and effective messages.

Bravo also urged the public to avoid and be vigilant against the socalled DOMs (disinformation, opportunism and misinformation) in undermining the effectiveness of the vaccines.

Professor Kim Mulholland, founder of the Global Action Plan Pneumonia Research Institute, said spreading fake news on the vaccines happens worldwide as rightwing conspiracy theorists issue outlandish and ridiculous theories against the vaccines.

“Backsliding is a problem we have to face caused by negative propaganda,” he said.

Prevention and vaccination AS they say, “an ounce of prevention

is better than a pound of cure.”

Bravo lamented that some medical practitioners do not value vaccination. “Perhaps, they were not educated enough in the value of prevention during their student days in medical school,” she pointed out.

She said one can significantly lower their risk of contracting pneumonia through immunization. It is highly recommended for people at greater risk of catching pneumonia, namely infants under two years old, older adults over 65 years old, people with weakened or compromised immune systems, and people with chronic health conditions that affect the heart and lungs.

The Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) recommends adults 50 years old and above to get immunized with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPSV) or pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) to prevent invasive pneumococcal diseases.

Multiple access points THE good news is, people can now secure their pneumococcal vaccinations from multiple access points,

from hospitals and clinics, and at pharmacies and community drug stores as well.

Jennifer Flores, a member of the Philippine Pharmacists Association, said the Immunizing Pharmacist Certification Program of the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) will enable pharmacists to be trained and certified to become immunizing pharmacists, expanding the network of allied healthcare professionals pushing forward the fight against pneumonia.

Further, Filipinos aged 60 years old and above can get their pneumonia shots for free at the barangay health centers (BHCs) of their loc a l gover nment u n its (LGUs).

This was made possible through the National Immunization Program (NIP) of the Department of Health (DOH).

Pneumonia is usually the result of a pneumococcal infection, caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. Other different types of bacteria can also cause pneumonia, as well as viruses and, more rarely, fungi. Once a person is infected, this bacterial infection can cause swell-

ing or inflammation of the tissues in one or both of our lungs. Symptoms of pneumonia develop within 24 to 48 hours and may include coughing, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, and chest pains.

Leading cause of death IT remains a leading cause of death among older adults and people with chronic diseases. In the Philippines, pneumonia was the sixth leading cause of death in 2022, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The forum also facilitates expert talks and multi-stakeholder discussions about the challenges and opportunities surrounding pneumonia prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in the Philippines.

World Pneumonia Day, celebrated every November 12, is a yearly reminder that pneumonia is a life-threatening disease that can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. The annual event not only draws more awareness to this severe lung infection, but also drives a whole of society approach to combat this highly preventable disease.

Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Herbalife Nutrition marks 29 years of healthy living through activities

By John Eiron R. Francisco

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erbalife Nutrition recently celebrated its 29th year of commitment to promote the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, fostering community engagement, and giving back to the community.

“Everything is more fun if you celebrate it with the community. That’s the whole essence of who we are as a company,” Herbalife Nutrition General Manager Allan Domingo told BusinessMirror.

Aside from the engagement of distributors, families and friends and all the other prospects, Domingo said all of these go back to contributing health and wellness to the community.

Health enthusiasts, fitness fanatics and people of all ages gathered for a day to participate in the “Live Your Best Life Herbalife Run 2023” at the Marikina Sports Complex.

Participants had the option to choose to do a leisurely 3K walk to a challenging 5K run, catering to runners and walkers of varying abilities.

Herbalife Run App THE participants tracked their progress in real-time by using the Herbalife Run App. This technology-driven feature added an element of excitement and competition, as participants could monitor their performance and strive for their personal best.

“It’s actually a brand new app that we continued to improve ever since we transitioned from the virtual run to now the Herbalife Run,” Domingo underscored.

The Herbalife Run recognized and rewarded 100 participants from both the 3K and 5K runs, presenting them with prizes from Herbalife.

According to Domingo, the Herbalife Run was more than just a race; it was a holistic

experience that featured different games and entertaining activities on field, ensuring that participants were constantly engaged and entertained.

Another highlight of the day was the “Shake to the Groove” session where participants got the chance to showcase their dancing skills while learning about trending dance moves. A special “Kids Corner” was set up, keeping the young ones active and involved in the celebration.

Community giving BEYOND promoting an active lifestyle, the Live Your Best Life Herbalife Run 2023 also extended its community involvement through a charitable component called Herbalife Nutrition Foundation (HNF) and partnered with Tuloy Foundation Inc. (Tuloy sa Don Bosco) and the SOS Children’s Village.

Domingo said that “for every run kit that you buy, which consists of our products,

and some merchandise, a portion of that is actually donated to Herbalife Nutrition Foundation.”

“We’re not only here to just do business, [but to] contribute to the community in general,” he said.

The event supported the HNF, which aims to provide and support programs addressing nutrition, education, community development and disaster relief efforts. Domingo believes that participants should be proud of the fact that their involvement contributed to a noble cause.

“We’re actively looking for partners every time,” he said. “In terms of expansion, we do have programs that we do with our distributors that can enable them to contribute to the community in their own way.”

30th anniversary plans WHEN asked about future plans as Herbalife approaches its three decades in the Philip-

pines, Domingo remained tight-lipped on details but hinted at a grand celebration.

“Next year is going to be big. We’re going to celebrate it in a bigger way,” he stated.

“This is our 29th year, and next year is going to be a lot bigger,” Domingo exclaimed.

“We’re proud to announce the presence of the renowned American football team, the LA Galaxy, in our celebrations.”

Highlighting their association with football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as a brand ambassador, Domingo revealed, “We’re welcoming five or six LA Galaxy players to join our fitness event, celebrating with our members in a fun and active way.” The celebration will extend beyond the fitness event, with visits to Casa Herbalife and a special tour of Metro Manila for the LA Galaxy players.

“At the end of the day, we always celebrate our anniversary with our members, thanking them for contributing to our community,” Domingo emphasized.###

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

DOH boosts Zero Open Defecation campaign through health caravan

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

O

pen defecation perpetuates a vicious cycle of disease and poverty, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The countries where open defection is most widespread have the highest number of deaths of children aged under five years as well as the highest levels of malnutrition, poverty, and huge disparities of wealth.

In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) recently conducted the celebration of World Toilet Day as one of the 17-part community engagement called “Biyaheng Kalusugan” where the DOH aims to provide practical knowledge on how to practice the “7 Healthy Habits para sa Healthy Pilipinas.”

The caravan activities conducted November 18, 2023 at GMALL Cebu City aimed to boost Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) campaign.

Game booth IT consisted of a comic book billboard discussing the importance of having ZOD communities, a game booth imparting knowledge on proper hygiene and sanitation, and a photowall where all participants can seal their commitment to contribute towards a safe and clean environment.

“Biyaheng Kalusugan: World Toilet Day” was attended by Director Alethea De Guzman of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, Director Ana Liza HombradoDuran of the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Acting Mayor of Cebu City Raymond Alvin Garcia, and Cebu City Health Officer Dr. Daisy Villa.

“Healthy communities where there is access to safe water and sanitation facilities ensure that we are protected from illnesses, such as diarrhea, that may lead to hospitalization and death,” De Guzman said.

Lack of access Yet, she added, there is still a significant number of Filipino households which lack access to basic toilet facilities.

“This World Toilet Day, we wanted to impart behaviors we should practice that will protect us and our families—wash our hands, properly prepare food, drink from reliable water sources. We also call on our local government units and health partners to invest towards the establishment and improvement of sanitation infrastructures for a safe and clean environment,” she said.

The Biyaheng Kalusugan initiative and celebration of World Toilet Day is in line with the Department’s Eight-Point Action Agenda particularly to Agenda #5: Pag-iwas sa sakit and Agenda #6: Ginhawa ng isip at damdamin.

Health literacy THESE aim to increase comprehensive health literacy among Filipinos and to create healthy communities wherein the physical, psychological, social, political, and economic factors are promotive and protective of health and where healthcare is available, relevant, and accessible to the public.

“Poor sanitation not only poses health risks but also hinders the progress we made towards realizing Universal Health Care,” Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said.

“Let us seize this opportunity to create lasting change and ensure that every Filipino has access to safe and dignified sanitation facilities all geared towards creating healthier settings and choices for everyone,” he added.

The DOH also encourages the continued support and investment of its partners in the public and private sector to enable sustainable uptake of healthy behaviors for all Filipinos.

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • Thursday, November 23, 2023

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Zeroing in on keeping our key organs healthy: Part III MANY PARENTS DON’T KNOW WHEN KIDS ARE BEHIND IN SCHOOL. ARE REPORT CARDS TELLING ENOUGH?

NEARLY nine out of 10 parents believe their child is performing at grade level despite standardized tests showing far fewer students are on track, according to a poll released on Wednesday by Gallup and the nonprofit Learning Heroes.

Report cards, which many parents rely on for a sense of their children’s progress, might be missing the whole picture, researchers say. Without that knowledge, parents may not seek opportunities for extra support for their children.

“Grades are the holy grail,” said Bibb Hubbard, founder and president of Learning Heroes. “They’re the number one indicator that parents turn to to understand that their child is on grade level, yet a grade does not equal grade-level mastery. But nobody’s told parents that.”

In the Gallup survey, 88 percent of parents say their child is on grade level in reading, and 89 percent of parents believe their child is on grade level in math. But in a federal survey, school officials said half of all US students started last school year behind grade level in at least one subject.

In a report examining grade point averages and test scores in the state of Washington over the past decade, researchers found grades jumped during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many districts had eased their grading policies to account for the chaos and hardship students were experiencing.

Some of that leniency could still be in place, masking gaps in learning that are showing up in standardized tests, but not in grades, said Dan Goldhaber, a co-author of the report and the director of the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research.

Districts across the US have invested federal pandemic relief money in programs to get students back on track academically, from intensive tutoring to summer academic programs. But often far fewer students show up than the district had planned, Goldhaber said.

For programs like summer school or online tutoring, where the family chooses whether to participate, “what we see is that it’s only a fraction of the students that are invited or eligible to that are actually participating,” he said.

The Gallup poll findings underscore that trend, pointing to families who may not realize they should take action about their child’s academic performance.

In the poll of more than 2,000 parents of K-12 students, half the respondents say they’ve discussed their child’s academic progress with a teacher. But among parents who know their child is behind grade level in math, the percentage skyrockets: 74 percent have spoken with the teacher.

Report cards generally don’t convey enough information, said Sarah Carpenter, director of The Memphis Lift, a parent advocacy organization in Tennessee.

“A report card is really tricky in our opinion, because you’re just looking at A’s and B’s and C’s,” Carpenter said.

Nowhere on the report card does it say “what reading level your baby’s on, and that’s what’s throwing parents for a loop.”

By talking to parents about issues like literacy and the nuances of grading, families are better able to advocate for their children in the school system and work in partnership with educators, said Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, a parent and founder of the advocacy group Parent Shield Fort Worth in Texas.

“Knowledge is power,” she said. “Parents don’t know what they don’t know. So we don’t want them to blame themselves. But now that you have the information, use the information to demand better and ensure that your child and all children get exactly what they need.” AP

PHOTO BY MARIANA MEDVEDEVA ON UNSPLASH

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HIS is our final installment for this series on self-care for our key organs drawn from the book The Guide to Aging Slower: Your Body’s Complete Owner’s Manual by Prevention. This week, let me continue with the stomach, uterus, liver, kidneys, and our skin.

STOMACH

A PENN Medicine study found that the chemical component capsaicin, often found in chili peppers, causes a reaction in your digestive tract that produces anandamide, which has been shown to act like an anti-inflammatory in your gut and calm inflammation from conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. “The same reaction that calms down your gastrointestinal track may also keep it tumor-free.” say the study authors.

A Texas A&M University study found that mangoes are an effective way to reduce intestinal distress and relieve constipation, thanks to a combination of polyphenols and fiber found in the fruit. The article includes potatoes as a healthy starchy staple because they are a low-calorie source of vitamins and minerals and when digested and converted into fatty acids like butyrate in the large intestine can reduce inflammation in the colon and even reduce the risk of getting colon cancer.

UTERUS

YOUR uterus is the muscular organ used to nourish a growing baby prior to birth, and your ovaries are a team that produces the eggs needed to get pregnant in the first place. The article recommends plum, which contains vitamin K, and this may have a protective effect against developing cancer.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), according to this article, is an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina that can cause abnormal vaginal discharge, itching, or odor. A study of more than 1,500 women from the University of Alabama found that foods that are high in dietary fat are associated with an increased risk of BV, while women with higher folate, vitamin A, and calcium intake may decrease their risk of severe BV. Eating a nutrient-dense, plant-based diet can help fight endometriosis. This is a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows on the outside of the organ. Beans are a rich source of fiber, which research shows can help lower estrogen levels, improving endometriosis symptoms. One review of studies in the journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online found that women who ate foods rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids had a protective effect from endometriosis, while people who ate red meat, trans fats, and coffee did not have.

LIVER AND KIDNEYS

THE liver is a glandular organ that filters the blood that comes from the digestive tract, and the kidneys

filter waste out of the blood and pass it out of the body as urine. Both the liver and kidneys help naturally detoxify your body. When one gets diagnosed with kidney disease, you can continue drinking coffee.

Research also shows that drinking large amounts of sugary sodas and fruit drinks may raise your odds for developing kidney stones. A study of nearly 200,000 people tracked for more than eight years found that people who drank one or more servings of sugar-sweetened soda a day had a 23 percent higher risk for kidney stones than those who drank less than one serving a week. The study authors also found that those who drink coffee, tea, and orange juice are less likely to develop the painful stones. Hydration definitely helps.

You can protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by adding more potassium to your diet. A study published in the journal Clinical Endocrinology found that patents with NAFLD had significantly lower potassium levels than those who did not have the liver condition. Sweet potatoes are a good source of this mineral, and shopping for the purple variety of this veggie may be even more beneficial: a 2020 study in the journal Food & Nutrition Research found that purple sweet potatoes may have even more protective effects against the disease.

SKIN

OUR skin is a thin layer of tissue that forms the natural outer covering of the body. A new study in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine revealed that compounds found in green tea help protect against skin aging, in part by suppressing your body’s melanin production.

Research also shows that a diet heavy in dairy and foods with a high glycemic index rating (such as white bread or candy) might contribute to the severity of acne. A skin-friendly diet, which would be low in items like dairy, processed foods and sweets, is also a nutritious one, says dermatologist William Rietkerk, MD. Vitamin C has long been linked to an increase of the production of collagen, the vitality-boosting protein that helps keep skin firm and taut. It recommends oranges. It advises to consider not tossing the peels either: Orange rinds contain even more vitamin C than the inner fruit. They also contain limonene, a chemical that may protect against skin cancer. Zest them to add flavor in sauces and salad dressings.

As Christmas is fast approaching, the best gift we can give ourselves is the gift of caring for our health. ■

Spot and stop children’s colds early this rainy season WHEN it rains, it pours a world of sicknesses that are difficult to avoid. As the rainy season rolls in and your kid starts sneezing and scratching their nose, it can only mean one thing: the colds season is here yet again. Colds are never fun; not for your little ones bugged by the discomfort, and certainly not for you managing the treatment while having to deal with stress and worry. Luckily, there are several ways to keep sickness at bay during this season.

Disudrin, Touted as the No.1 colds medicine for kids and most prescribed by pediatricians, breaks down the best and most reliable tips to keep your kids healthy and colds-free during this season of uncertainty.

■ Have your kids wash their hands frequently.

The biggest concerns sometimes require the simplest solutions. Regular handwashing remains one of the most effective ways to avoid getting sick by eliminating germs and preventing it from spreading to others. It helps to give your kids a mental schedule of when they should be washing their hands without you around, especially in while they’re in school.

Remind them to wash their hands around the three B’s of the day: Break time, Banyo time, and Barkada time.

■ Give your kids plenty of fluids and wellbalanced meals. Much like handwashing, drinking

plenty of fluids is another easy practice that can make your kids safe from colds. Staying hydrated proves vital for a well-functioning lymphatic system. It also supports blood volume and boosts communication

and biochemical pathways, which all strengthen the immune system. When kids already have colds, they should be drinking at least two more glasses of water than their regular intake so that they flush the toxins out. Proper nutrition is also crucial for kids to help keep them healthy and strong. Ensure that your little ones are able to have well-balanced meals—a good mix of protein, fiber, and carbohydrates—on a daily basis.

■ Keep your kids moving. Although rainy weather is conducive to staying cooped up in cozy cushions, it’s important to keep your kids moving to keep their immune systems healthy. Since playing outside while the rain ensues is not an option, the next best thing is to encourage your kids to stay active by engaging them through indoor activities.

Some fun games like playing hide and seek, learning a dance, or doing stretches together are good options to inspire physical activity. This also doubles as a chance to bond with the kids.

■ Know what to give your kids and when.

Preparations can only do so much. When colds do strike, remember that the focus shifts from prevention to management. A reliable partner approved by professionals, Disudrin provides effective symptomrelief from children’s colds. Moms always want the best for their kids, and this extends to reliable medicines.

Disudrin, taken every six hours after meals or depending on pediatrician’s recommendation, fights off a clogged and runny nose, itchy watery eyes, and sneezing, setting your kids free from bothersome symptoms, while saving moms from all the anxiety.

More information is available at www.unilab. com.ph.

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Thursday, November 23, 2023

www.businessmirror.com.ph

NASDAQ CONGRATULATES HOTEL101 GLOBAL FOR EXPANSION TO THE US

NASDAQ Announcement at the NASDAQ Tower located in Times Square, New York City, USA

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N Monday, November 20, 2023, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange congratulated Hotel101 Global Pte. Ltd. (“Hotel101 Global”), the Singaporeregistered subsidiary of DoubleDragon Corporation (“DoubleDragon”) for its expansion to the US as it sealed agreement for the Hotel101-Los Angeles California site.

The iconic seven-stories-tall NASDAQ Tower showed the Hotel101 Global logo and the message “NASDAQ congratulates Hotel101 Global on its expansion to the USA as Hotel101 seals agreement for Los Angeles California Site.”

“Hotel101 Global is currently engaged with select SPAC targets and intends to

sign a business combination agreement very soon. The SPAC route is one of Hotel101 Global’s options to accelerate the expansion of Hotel101 globally a well as the timetable of its previously announced plans to IPO Hotel101 Global on the US NASDAQ Stock Market,” said Hotel101 Global CEO Hannah Yulo-Luccini.

“We believe DoubleDragon’s Hotel101 is a truly pioneering asset light business model, which as far as we know, has never been done in any part of the world before,” said DoubleDragon Chairman Edgar “Injap” Sia II. The concept patent application of Hotel101’s pioneering condotel concept

has already been filed and the Hotel101 trademark and country specific domains have been secured in various countries globally.

As previously disclosed, Hotel101 Global is expected to derive over 95 percent of its revenues outside of the Philippines to be consolidated back to the ultimate parent, Philippine-listed DoubleDragon Corporation. DoubleDragon targets for Hotel101 Global to reach a valuation of up to US$17 Billion in the near term based on Hotel101’s internal financial projections.

Hotel101 is expected to become known as one of the most technologically advanced hotel chains across all parts of its value chain. The next version of the Hotel101 App is set to integrate the fully automated self-check-in system with IOT (internet of things) capabilities.

The first three overseas Hotel101 projects will be in Niseko Hokkaido Japan, Madrid Spain and California USA. These first three overseas sites will serve as bridge projects to jumpstart the transition of Hotel101 to transcend beyond these first three countries and become a global brand with a truly unique business concept that can be planted in over 100 countries.

Target near term expansion roadmap for Hotel101 Global Pte. Ltd. is to be in these first 25 countries by 2026 namely: Philippines, Japan, Spain, USA, United Kingdom, UAE, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, Germany, France and China.

Philippine Parks Congress Returns on its Second Year

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OLLOWING the resounding success of its inaugural Philippine Parks Congress (PPC) last year, the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) takes great pride in unveiling the upcoming 2nd Philippine Parks Congress scheduled for November 23 to 24, 2023.

This year’s congress, themed “Creating Sustainable Parks and Active Communities,” promises to build upon the achievements of its predecessor, fostering dialogue and collaboration toward the advancement of our nation’s parks and the promotion of vibrant, active communities.

Now in its second year, the PPC is poised to take place in both Manila and the acclaimed New Clark City, a city distinguished as the country’s leading green, smart, sustainable, and disaster-resilient metropolis, providing a fitting backdrop for this significant event. Located within the province of Tarlac, New Clark City is the home of the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC), which features two buildings with a total floor area of 24,000 square meters, housing essential facilities such as a satellite office for the Office of the President of the

Philippines, agencies engaged in disaster and risk management, and other offices constituting the Integrated Operations Center (IOC) of the government.

Designed as a pivotal hub for knowledge exchange and collaboration, the two-day Congress will facilitate dialogues between the public and private sectors. A dynamic program featuring study tours, plenary discussions, and networking opportunities will guide participants in exploring best practices associated with maintaining and developing public parks, tourism sites, and open spaces.

The PPC’s goals are explicit and forwardlooking, laying the groundwork for extensive engagement. The Congress aims to unite diverse public and private sector groups involved in the development of urban parks and open spaces across the Philippines. An essential objective is to establish the foundation for a national framework that directs the development of urban parks within the Philippine context. Seeking clarity, the PPC will endeavor to define what constitutes an urban park or public park within the Philippine context and showcase best practices and case studies from different parks managers across the country.

NPDC Executive Director Cecille Lorenzana-Romero shares, “We are thrilled to witness the remarkable strides our partners are taking in the development of cutting-edge parks and open spaces, particularly within the vibrant landscapes of New Clark City and Tarlac province. Their pioneering efforts have not only raised the standard but have become a beacon for the seamless integration of design excellence and elements that foster a culture of active and healthy living in our parks. This visionary approach serves as an inspiration for all, setting a compelling precedent for the future of sustainable urban development and community well-being.”

Spearheaded by the NPDC, an esteemed agency under the Department of Tourism overseeing iconic sites like Rizal Park Luneta and Paco Park, the event is made possible through strategic partnerships.

Co-organizers Nayong Pilipino Foundation and Intramuros Administration, along with Venue Partner Bases Conversion and Development Authority, and LGU Partner Provincial Government of Tarlac, contribute to the seamless execution of this congress.

The list of co-presenters and partners underscores the broad support for this endeavor, featuring prominent names such as the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Philippine Parks and Biodiversity, Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesEcosystems Rese a rc h a nd D e v e lo p ment Bureau, Philippine A ssociation of Landscape A rchitects, and Urban Land Institute Philippines.

With an inclusive participant roster that includes representatives from the public and private sector, landscape architects, architects, urban/environmental planners, foresters, NGAs, GOCCs, LGUs, partner agencies and organizations, students, educators, researchers, and other professionals vested in park management and development, the PPC stands poised to be a nexus of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation in the realm of urban park development.

Physical attendance is limited to those who have successfully registered via the registration link HERE. The general public is invited to participate via Zoom or through Facebook Live. Certificates will be sent to those who have successfully attended via Zoom. Limited slots only.

NPC DIRECTOR HONORED. National Press Club director Benedict Abaygar, Jr. receives a plaque of

recognition form NPC president Lydia Bueno and Vice president Tina Maralit due to his dedication and active participation in the governance of the club during the celebration of the 71st anniversary of NPC.

MOHS Analytics expands its range of diagnostic home test kits

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OME test kits proved their value during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic as there came a point when hospitals were turning away patients who needed to be tested and treated. The ability to get tested for Covid in the comfort, privacy and safety of the home helped symptomatics know their Covid status sooner, with accuracy similar to a rapid antigen test in a laboratory. A negative test ensured peace of mind; a positive test meant that necessary treatment can be done earlier.

MOHS Analytics was one of the first to introduce rapid antigen tests for Covid in the Philippines. With the growing acceptance of home test kits as an essential tool for healthcare, MOHS Analytics set up an arm, MOHS Diagnostics MD to expand its line of globally accepted home test kits to include malaria, urinary tract infection, and dengue. Under development is a test for leptospirosis.

MOHS Diagnostics has also introduced an ovulation test kit, which while not detecting disease, will also be a helpful tool for women who want to get pregnant.

“MOHS has grown quickly by addressing market gaps and meeting consumer demand through highly innovative products,” says Chief Innovation Officer Don Paolo San. “Being attuned to the market helps us to deliver what is needed with game changing technologies.”

Timely detection of disease is crucial for effective health management and prevent the spread of disease. Diseases such as malaria,

dengue and leptospirosis can be fatal if not properly treated as soon as possible. MOHS Diagnostics Home Test Kits allow early identification of potential health concerns, enabling prompt action and care.

But home test kits can only be effective if they are available, accessible and affordable when needed.

MOHS diagnostic test kits are available without prescription and at affordable prices at over 2,500 retail outlets nationwide, from giant national pharmaceutical chains to smaller regional chains.

“There is a growing realization that disease detection can be quickly and accurately done at home such that the sick can start early treatment and preventing the spread of disease. We are making accurate and affordable self-tests accessible to the Filipinos and this is our contribution to the improvement of the healthcare system in the Philippines,” says MOHS CEO Mike Hortaleza.

At the first symptom of illness, home test kits will provide the sick with essential health insights, without need for travel of clinic visits. These empower the sick and their caregivers to make informed decisions about their well-being and to seek professional help as warranted.

For more information on MOHS Diagnostics Home Test Kits and to purchase, visit our website at MOHS Diagnostic website https:// mohsonline.com.ph/ or MOHS FB https://www. facebook.com/MohsDiagnostics

IN the photo are, from left, Fabio Berto, Hans Sy, Elizabeth Sy, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, Pasay City Rep. Antonino Calixto, Peggy Angeles and Ivannovich Agote.

Conrad Manila Kicks Off Festive Season with Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

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ONRAD Manila was delighted to kick off its most awaited festive season through its ceremonial Christmas Tree Lighting held at the hotel’s Main Lobby. This year’s theme is “Magical Christmas,” symbolic of the wonders that Conrad Manila proudly unraveled this 2023, with the continued support of its esteemed guests, patrons and team members, the magic behind its shining success.

The Christmas Tree Lighting program featured musical performances by singer and theater performer Jasmine Fitzgerald, sought-after music ensemble Bernie Pasamba Strings, and classical-pop crossover male group Qu4tro. Also gracing the special occasion with their presence were Pasay City Rep. Antonino Calixto; Pasay City Mayor Imelda

“Emi” Calixto-Rubiano; SM Prime Holdings Inc. Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans Sy; SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) President Elizabeth Sy; SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy Angeles; Conrad Manila General Manager Fabio Berto and several highly respected diplomats.

“We are delighted to celebrate this magical festive season with flavor and revelry. This 2023, we invite everyone, our patrons and loyal partners to experience a Christmas and New Year celebration that resonates with the heart and soul of local traditions, where every moment is a heartfelt indulgence,” Berto shared.

To top off the magical Christmas celebration, Conrad Manila also rolled out its roster of Festive packages for 2023.

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

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Thursday, November 23, 2023

PHL welcomes Czechia’s presence in infra projects

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#ShareTheRoadWithHer2023: Cycle to end ‘VAW’ goes to QC

By Jay-vee Marasigan Pangan & Andy Peñafuerte III

RAGUE—Filipino diplomats who recently visited the Czech Republic capital said the Philippines is keen on the Central European country’s role in local infrastructure projects.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who was in the Czech city for a series of meetings with the Czech Foreign Ministry, said infrastructure is a “key element” in developing the Philippines, and that the country is looking at the Czech Republic to improve the former’s mass-transit system.

“Because of our internal problems in the past, we weren’t able to look at our infrastructure. But now, we’re [going] full blast,” Lazaro shared during a lecture on the Philippines’s independent foreign policy at the Metropolitan University of Prague on November 14.

Both Lazaro and Philippine envoy to the Czech Republic Eduardo Martin Meñez emphasized the significance of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s working visit to Manila in April 2023.

“It’s not only about security matters that are just as important in the Czech Republic; it’s also economic diplomacy,” Meñez said during the lecture.

The ambassador believes “Central Europe is being represented by the Czech Republic. Certainly, it is leading the way insofar as actively resuming your national interest in our part of the world…the Indo-Pacific Region is closer...than it seems.”

In his bilateral talks with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in April, Fiala said his visit to Manila would expand economic and defense cooperation, and result in more partnerships between Czech and Philippine firms. He mentioned agriculture, aviation, transportation and

space technologies being offered by their side.

The Czech government has stated in its so-called Indo-Pacific strategy that it looks at the region as a “world trade hub with strategic, economic, demographic, political and security importance to directly influence developments in Europe.”

The European nation is the Philippines’s 39th-largest trading partner, with a total trade volume reaching more than $647 million in 2022.

Maritime tensions

IN late October, Malacañang imparted that the Czech government offered marine vessels that could help secure the country’s territorial waters.

In a meeting with Marcos Jr., Ambassador Karel Hejč said that his country would have the pleasure to show firms interested in working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea and increased military activity in the Taiwan Strait, Lazaro emphasized that the Philippines “[does]n’t want anything to happen” to the nearby island.

“We have 150,000 Filipinos working there. Anything that may happen to Taiwan will definitely affect us—perhaps as collateral damage. Perhaps we can be the center of whatever military action that may take place,” the foreign affairs official shared.

“We don’t want anything to happen. And, therefore, we continuously

UNDERSECRETARY Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Ambassador Eduardo Martin Meñez ANDY PEÑAFUERTE III

have consultations and discussions with China as well as the United States,” the foreign affairs official explained. “We always tell them that we may be a small country, but they should be discussing [the matter] peacefully through political discussions.”

With regard to geopolitical issues, she expressed the Philippine position of “expand[ing friendship and strengthening] relations with like-minded countries like the Czech Republic,” then added that the Philippine government is trying to balance the situation given China is “our top trading partner,” and the US is “our only [mutual-defense] treaty ally.”

Lazaro’s statement came days before the bilateral meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in California.

Opportunities in Czechia

EARLIER this month, the Czech Ministry of Interior published a proposal to increase the quota for accepting Filipino workers into the Czech labor market. If the government passes the proposal, the number of Filipino workers will be hiked to 10,300 from the current 5,000.

The proposal comes months after Fiala’s visit to the Philippines, when he relayed that Czech companies “are very satisfied with Filipino citizens.”

The undersecretary addressed a question about human trafficking and said it remains a problem, al-

though the Philippine government and civil-society groups have been involved in controlling the issue.

She also expressed the importance of the Philippine-Czech relations on the concern: “We’re propping our heads on how to go about it. That’s why we want these [ties] with the Czech Republic, because [its labor relations are excellent—it has high national and European Union] standards.”

Her lecture also underscored the importance of discussing the Philippines’s independent foreign policy to young Czechs, as she said her lecture was meant to establish awareness, and that the country’s position is geared not only toward politics and economy, but also the protection of Filipino nationals and their government’s actions on the international stage.

“The Czech people don’t really know about us. It’s the same thing with [Filipinos—not many] know about the Czech Republic,” she explained. “But this is our own small way of getting [them to learn about the uniqueness of our foreign-policy pillars].”

She hoped that “the Czech students [learned what we did in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] arbitral tribunal against China, which was part of international law that could be used in certain situations by other countries.”

German-Phil. firms see more local hiring, evaluate EU-PHL FTA’s positive impacts

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NTERPRISES engaged in German-Philippine economic ties expressed satisfaction in local business prospects, but evaluated a higher local employment demand.

They also identified certain risks to their economic development, such as the prices of energy, the lack of skilled workers, demand, economic policy conditions, and exchange rates.

These were the results from the “Fall 2023 AHK World Business Outlook Survey” conducted by the GermanPhilippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI-AHK Philippinen) in October 2023.

Additionally, the survey highlighted areas for current and potential investments, then identified factors that play a dominant role in investment decisions.

It also covered topics on German-Philippine businesses’ view on the possible EUPhilippines free trade agreement (FTA).

“Our recent survey shows an adequate satisfaction of German businesses in the Philippines, matched with careful considerations and notable challenges,” said GPCCI President Stefan Schmitz. “We have observed these developments this year in our events, partnerships, and dialogues with both public and private stakeholders; we’re happy that more German [firms] would like to contribute to job creation.”

‘Fair situation,” to employ more

THE Fall 2023 Survey had half (50 percent) of German-Philippine businesses still optimistic in their business situation following the Spring 2023 forecast, which showed a significantly stable trend compared to the years prior with a “better” result (62 percent).

The same trend was reported on company expectations, which still showed positive results. Majority (68 percent) of the responding firms forecast confidence in business development for the next 12 months.

Local economic projections, on the other hand, reduced the number (38 percent) of optimistic evaluations (from 54 percent in early 2023) of the participating companies anticipated favorable advancements in the local economy, with approximately 46 percent foreseeing stagnant growth.

Investments also followed this trend, as there are now fewer respondents (39 percent) who plan to expand their investments over the next 12 months (from 46 percent in early 2023).

Meanwhile, majority (54 percent) of respondents have affirmed their intention to hire more Filipino workers.

Top risks PRICES of energy (38 percent) con-

sistently remain the topmost concern for participating companies. However, one of the major highlights for the Fall 2023 Survey was the concern for skilled workers and demand. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said that lack of skilled workers and demand are a “top risk,” which ties into the employment demand of respondents.

“While many of our respondents want to employ more, we see that the lack of skilled workers remains to be one of the [top ] issues,” stated GPCCI director-Policy and Advocacy chair Dr. Marian Norbert Majer. “We ask the government to look at strategies and policies that promote skills development in our country that can both benefit local and foreign employment opportunities [for] Filipinos.”

Investment and considerations THE survey included questions on major areas of current and potential investment from the companies, as well as dominant factors in deciding to invest locally. The results showed that the top three areas of current and potential investment include sales and marketing (45 percent), services—including shared-service centers (39 percent), as well as research and development (27 percent).

Additionally, dominant factors

companies consider when making investment decisions locally cover market size and market development (56 percent), local economic policy framework (33 percent), and diversification (29 percent). A notable trend in the survey is the consistent consideration of economic policy conditions, referencing one of the top risks for economic development.

EU-Philippines FTA THE survey reports pertaining to the EU-Philippine FTA showed most companies placing the impact of this agreement as key to their operations in the Philippines.

They also raised current export challenges, such as cumbersome customs procedures (39 percent), tariffs and quotas (37 percent), and technical trade barriers (e.g., conformity testing and certification, 36 percent).

Expected benefits of the agreement from companies encompass the expansion and maintenance of their business’ current investments (40 percent), gaining a competitive market advantage (33 percent), and exploring new investment prospects (32 percent). Opportunities in trade in goods (58 percent), trade-in services (51 percent), and supply-chain optimization (36 percent) were also highlighted.

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OVEMBER 25 marks the start of the 18-day campaign on Violence Against Women (VAW) in the Philippines. This year, the Embassies of Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, as well as SheDecides Philippines, Filipino Freethinkers, Pinay Bike Commuter Community, Break the Cycle and Bikers’ United Movement will launch #ShareTheRoadWithHer for its sixth edition.

It will partner with the Quezon City government as host, together with its Gender and Development Office, Green Transport Office, as well as Department of Public Order and Safety, along with the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Quezon City Police District.

“For 2023, we wanted to be more ambitious with this important initiative to reach other cities and [local government units] in Metro Manila,” Ambassador Michel Parys of Belgium said, as he expressed hopes to partner with other LGUs in the future editions of the campaign.

Started by the Belgian Embassy in 2018 in observance of the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the initiative has evolved, and is becoming bigger than just a cycling event, but an active mobility event encompassing all forms of nonvehicular commute such as walking, scooting and skating, among others, with the common objective of raising awareness and making a stand against all forms of violence against women.

On the day of the event, participants will be riding out from Quezon City Hall Gate 2, around the Elliptical Road and Commonwealth Avenue wearing orange, the official color of the campaign worldwide.

As with the previous year of “Cycle to End VAW” under the initiative of Mayor Josefina Belmonte, the Quezon City government will be giving away bikes to 600 local community mothers as a means of promoting sustainable transportation and safe public spaces for women. The combined efforts of all partners to raise awareness on VAW aims to provide safe spaces for advocates and allies to share their own experiences and make a collective stand against harassment, violence and abuse based on gender.

Further, Decathlon Phils. (Pasig) will also be providing 15-percent discount vouchers to all participants who signed up online with #ShareTheRoadWithHer as a special partner to the event.

EU partners for gender action

AHEAD of the main activity, the Royal Danish Embassy will host a sideevent: “Public Forum on Gender-Responsive Planning for Public Spaces and Mobility” on November 23 at Training Hall 1, New SURP Building of the University of the PhilippinesDiliman’s School of Urban and Regional Planning. The forum will be a pivotal discussion, with esteemed speakers from organizations such as Cycling Embassy of Denmark, Break the Cycle Philippines, UP SURP, the Psychological Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Commission on Women.

Denmark aims to explore the imperative of addressing gender inequality in public transport spaces through the lens of the Danish model of inclusive cycling culture, narratives from Filipina bikers, and essential policy recommendations for city planning. Interested participants may sign up via bit.ly/ GenderAndMobility.

Meanwhile, Germany is funding this year the “Special Appeal of the International Committee of the Red Cross: ‘Addressing Sexual Violence.’” Through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing comprehensive mental health, psycho-social care, legal aid, and other survivorcentered services the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in the Philippines will provide various kinds of assistance for victims and survivors of sexual violence in conflict-affected areas, with a focus on those in the Visayas and Mindanao Regions.

As part of the work toward a #VAWFreePh, it will seek to better understand the existing referral pathways in the country, with a view to better facilitating and strengthening access to services for survivors of sexual violence.

“Women’s rights are human rights. Gender-based violence are an affront to these rights, and pose a serious threat to women’s health and lives. The burden to fight against gender-based violence does not fall solely on the shoulders of women and girls. We need the solidarity of everyone because gender inequality affects everyone, and is everybody’s responsibility,” Gender Champion of the European Union and Dutch ambassador Marielle Geraedts reiterated. “[I] call on each and every person...to remember that the campaign doesn’t end this year,” she encouraged everyone. “We are part of a bigger movement to end violence by changing perspectives.”

WELCOMING CHRISTMAS IN GREAT GATSBY STYLE Marco Polo

Ortigas-Manila general manager Richard Simmons (center) recently led the lighting of the hotel’s Christmas tree. He was joined by (from left) Pasig City Councilor Ma. Luisa De Leon, Department of Tourism-National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Pasig City Vice Mayor Robert Vincent Jude Jaworski Jr., and Xin Tian Ti Development Corp. president and CEO Samuel L. Po.

Sports

CAYETANO

BusinessMirror

Russia, IOC clash at UN Sen Pia: Enhance sports tourism on truce S for Paris 2024

ENATOR Pia Cayetano urged the Department of Tourism (DOT) to develop a strong cooperation with sports associations to further enhance sports tourism in the country.

Cayetano cited the various international sports events that happened in the Philippines such as the FIBA World Cup, Men’s Volleyball Nations League, among others, during the early morning budget deliberation on Tuesday.

“The volleyball federation was extremely impressed that we didn’t have our own team but the Filipinos were all there supporting. Can you imagine how much tourism we could bring,” Cayetano said.

“We can improve this [sports tourism] if we have more cooperation between the sports associations and tourism and I know it’s already there but we can even enhance it further,” she added.

Lady Blazers book berth in semifinals

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OLLEGE of Saint Benilde warded off fellow National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bet San Beda University, 25-14, 23-25, 25-13, 25-20, to barge into the semifinals of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Challenge Cup on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Blazers, two-time reigning champions of the NCAA, yielded their first set defeat all tournament long but were quick to bounce back by carving out gritty wins in the last two frames of the knockout quarterfinals.

Saint Benilde bagged the foursetter in almost two hours to book a semifinals ticket against the winner between fellow NCAA stalwart and Pool C leader Letran and Pool B second-placer Jose Rizal University.

The Lady Knights and Lady Bombers played each other late Wednesday as the 16-team women’s division reached the explosive knockout rounds.

The Lady Blazers, under the watch of seasoned coach Jerry Yee, smothered Parañaque City, 25-6, 5-20, 25-17; UP Volleyball Club, 25-20, 25-18, 25-10; and Volida Volleyball Club, 25-12, 25-12, 25-18.

Other match-ups in the quarterfinals feature top-seed Philippine Air Force of Pool B against the No. 2 Arellano of Pool C and Pool D pacer University of the Philippines versus second-running UP Volleyball Club from Pool A. Winners will forge their own semis duel for a ticket in the finale of the tourney supported by the Philippine Sports Commission headed by, PLDT, Rebisco, Akari, Foton and CBPI. Meanwhile in the 20-team men’s division, unbeaten teams Cignal of Pool A, National U of Pool B, PGJC Navy of Pool C and University of Santo Tomas from Pool D headline the quarterfinal cast against lower-ranked teams.

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USSIA clashed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the floor of the United Nations on Tuesday before 118 member states voted to adopt a traditional truce around the 2024 Paris Summer Games.

Two years ago, Russia voted for the previous Olympic Truce resolution then flagrantly breached it by invading Ukraine four days after the 2022 Winter Games closed in Beijing.

Relations between Russia and IOC President Thomas Bach have not recovered since though the Olympic body eased its initially tough stance of exclusion by urging sports bodies to let some athletes compete as neutral individuals with no symbols of national identity.

Such conditions are “completely unacceptable,” Russian diplomat Maria Zabolotskaya said Tuesday speaking immediately before Bach in the Olympic Truce debate at the UN in New York.

“The height of hypocrisy and cynicism the likes of which we have not seen in recent history has been the illegal barring of Russian athletes from international sporting competitions,” said Zabolotskaya, the Russian deputy permanent representative at the UN. Only Russia and its ally Syria

abstained from a vote to adopt the resolution and 118 of the 193 UN member states—including Israel, Ukraine and the United States— backed the text proposed by Olympic host France. There were 173 cosponsor states two years ago.

The Olympic Truce is a modern revival of the ancient Greek tradition to ensure warring city states allowed safe passage for athletes to the games. It will run from July 19 through September 15, by starting seven days before the Paris Olympics open until seven days after the Paralympics close.

The debate Tuesday came 21 months into the war waged by Russia in Ukraine and after six weeks of conflict in Gaza between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

The Olympics Games “stand as a symbol of tolerance, peace and cooperation among diverse peoples, cultures and nations,” UN General Assembly vice president Mohan Pieris said.

Bach recalled the words two months ago of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres that the world is “becoming unhinged.”

“In this fragile world, this Olympic Truce resolution is more relevant than ever,” the IOC leader said, adding “yes, we can come together, even in times of wars and crises.”

Minutes earlier, Bach was targeted

by Zabolotskaya that the IOC had

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hursday, November 23, 2023 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Fortuna eases past Kim, seals semifinals face off against Ikeda

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acted against Russian athletes but not those from other countries at war.

“The double standards and the segregation based on nationality upheld by the IOC leadership is a violation of basic human rights,” she said.

Bach has consistently said for more than one year as the Paris Olympics approached that athletes from Russia and its military ally Belarus should not face discrimination based only on their passport.

Russia is “in favor of honest and fair competitions,” Zabolotskaya said, and invited the world to the Friendship Games it plans to host next year as a counter to Olympics.

That, Bach said as the next speaker, “would mean that sport becomes a part of the political tensions and divisions in our world.”

His 13-minute speech finished with a request to “give peace a chance,” invoking the John Lennon lyric Bach also used at the opening ceremony in Beijing 20 days before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Also at the UN Tuesday, the Ukrainian delegate repeated that country’s call for all Russian athletes to be banned from the Paris Olympics, and noted Russia also broke the Olympic Truce in 2008 and 2014.

The Belarus delegate explained its “yes” vote was a symbol of “hope that common sense will soon prevail” in Olympic circles. AP

Tabuena, Que forge duel; Lascuña, Ababa triumph

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IGUEL TABUENA and Angelo Que chalked up victories in commanding fashions to arrange an eagerly anticipated quarterfinal showdown in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) The Country Club Match Play Invitational that continued to witness the surge of a former ace making a comeback after a two-year hiatus.

Tabuena, who eased past fellow

End-game heists THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 basketball season is now nearing its “most exciting part” as the Final Four of the men’s and women’s basketball tournament is in full swing after all.

The men’s semifinals cast is not yet final as we write this. But by the time you read it, definitely one of the blue birds whose school name begins with A has made it to the Final Four.

Asian Tour campaigner Lloyd Go, 3&2, in Tuesday’s first round of the P2 million championship at the TCC course in Laguna, took four of the first eight holes and coasted to a 6&5 romp over Rupert Zaragosa, moving to the Last 8 against fellow former Philippine Open champion Angelo Que at 7:34 a.m.

The three-time Asian Tour titlist also displayed formidable form, clipping Ira Alido early on by winning three of the first eight holes on his way to claiming a 6&4 victory in blustery conditions at the

long, demanding, well-kept layout.

He routed Minseong Kim, also of Korea, 7&5, in the first round of the knockout matches among the top finishers of the recently-concluded 10-leg Philippine Golf Tour.

Despite their numerous encounters in stroke play competitions, this marks their first face-off in match play, promising an engaging contest of strategic play.

“Miguel, in match play? Never,” said Que when asked if they had ever faced each other in head-to-head duels.

“I’m excited to play with Angelo

MIKHA FORTUNA moves closer to a dream pro breakthrough as Tony Lascuña keeps his title-retention drive. ROY DOMINGO

tomorrow [Thursday], I haven’t played with him in a while, so it should be good fun,” said Tabuena, who tied for ninth in last Sunday’s Indonesian Masters. “I’m sure we will a good time on the course.”

Elmer Salvador, meanwhile, continued his impressive run, beating Valley leg runaway winner and third seed Reymon Jaraula, 4&3, after stunning last year’s match play runnerup Keanu Jahns, 4&3, the previous day.

“I’ve been hitting it pretty well— driving, 3-wood, long and short irons,” said Salvador, who had posted a couple of Top 7 seven finishes in his return from a two-year layoff due to illness.

“My putting has also been clicking and I just hope to keep it going.”

IKHA FORTUNA surged closer to a dream pro breakthrough by dispatching Korean Seoyun Kim, 5&4, in tough conditions to barge into the semifinals of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) The Country Club Match Play Invitational at the TCC course Wednesday.

The relentless wind added a challenging element to the match but Fortuna’s early display of prowess, marked by a precise drive on the first hole leading to a regulation par and a 1-up advantage, set the tone for her dominance.

A day after booting out top seed and defending champion Harmie Constantino, 5&3, Fortuna kept her composure throughout the match, exercising self-restraint to dominate and claim the victory that lined her up against Chihiro Ikeda in today’s (Thursday) semifinals of the P1.5 million event put up by ICTSI. The multi-titled Ikeda pounced on Pamela Mariano’s frontside struggles then held sway at the back to pound out a 2&1 decision in the upper half of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour draw following an 8&7 cruise over Eva Miñoza Tuesday.

While Fortuna moved within two wins to achieve a coveted result, amateur Laurea Duque carved out her own path to victory, edging Apple Fudolin on the last hole to annex a 2-up victory after shocking No. 2 Florence Bisera, 1-up, in the Round of 16.

Duque’s pursuit of golfing glory continues as she faces Gretchen Villacencio in their side of the semis face-off after the latter outlasted Sarah Ababa in a tense battle that went down to the 18th hole for a 1-up victory. Villacencio earlier toppled Christine Fleetwood, 2-up.

Despite her convincing triumph, Fortuna acknowledged the tests posed by the demanding conditions and Kim’s persistent threat.

“It’s kind of hard at the start, not getting what I was expecting so I stayed patient, took one shot at a time,” said Fortuna, who has had a couple of title cracks for a first LPGT win but fell short in the final round in both occasions.

“It’s easy to get frustrated here. It’s match play and anything can happen.”

Against Ikeda in their 7:50 a.m. match, Fortuna said: “My game plan has been working, so I’ll just stick to it. But most importantly, I need to stay patient and see what happens.”

Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour back in Nuvali’s world-class courts

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LL roads lead to Nuvali starting November 30 for the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) Challenge that gathers the world’s elite players for five days in the country’s new beach volleyball mecca in the City of Santa Rosa.

Elite teams from more than 30 countries bannered by men’s world No. 1 Norway and women’s top-ranked Brazil will strut their stuff on Nuvali’s newlyminted five FIVB-standard sand courts before an anticipated Filipino crowd for one of the toughest world beach volleyball tournaments to be staged on Philippine soil by Ayala Land Inc., City of

Before getting to this crucial moment, the elimination rou nd produced quite a few eye-popping moments that have made Season 86 a rockin’ rollin’ classic. Buzzer beaters galore orchestrated by the basketball gods entertained fans and faithful to the max. The results drastically changed team fortunes and altered facial expressions in the end game.

Back in September 2017, University of the Philippines’ (UP) Paul Desiderio drained a bold and fearless 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds left that gave UP a 74-73 win over University of Santo Tomas. That uproarious instant became known as Paul’s “Atin ‘To” moment and started an upswing of the Maroons’ will to win moving forward.

In December 2017, Isaac Go of the Ateneo Blue Eagles wrote his name on another fortune-changing slice of time.

Playing a Game 3 championship game against arch-rival De La Salle, Go received a pass from Matt Nieto in the final seconds and coolly drained a three after a sudden stop that sealed the title for Ateneo in Season 80.

Go was no stranger to making such miracles at crunch time. Earlier in that season, he had heaved a Hail Mary putback, time expiring, while he was half-seated between air and floor. That shot eliminated Far Eastern U from finals contention.

Santa Rosa and the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

“Nuvali is the future of beach volleyball and it starts with the BPT Challenge,” PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara told the event’s press launch on Wednesday at the Philippine Sports Commission Conference Hall in Manila.

With Suzara were Ayala Land vice president May Rodriguez and Estate Development head Mark Manundo, PNVF secretary-general Donaldo Caringal, PSC commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo and members of the national beach volleyball teams.

PHILIPPINE National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara (front, third from left) and secretarygeneral Donaldo Caringal (left) strike a traditional post with (from left) Ayala Land Estate Development head Mark Manundo and vice president May Rodriguez and Philippine Sports Commission commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo. With them are national team members (from left) Romnick Rico, Pauljan Doloiras, Jaton Requinton, Khylem Progella, Sofia Pagara, Floremel Rodriguez, Rhovyl Verayo, Genesa Jane Eslapor, Cancel Varga, Alchie Gupiteo, Anthony Lemuel Arbasto Jr., Joao Luciano Barbosa and Jason Gabales.

Season 86 is chockfull of similar wondrous moments, with Adamson University owning the lion’s share of “That’s Incredible” video entries.

On a day when the Soaring Falcons were totally being dominated by the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their first round encounter in early October, the Falcons tenaciously held onto the Eagles’ tail feathers and kept pecking at Ateneo’s lead.

The Falcons’ tenacity paid off as regulation period ended in overtime. Then the fun began. With Adamson not ever tasting the lead at any point of the game, Alvin Magbuhos threw a desperate shot to the heavens from three in the dying OT seconds, 71-all. The shot slipped in, 74-71, a stunning moment. It was Magbuhos’ birthday to boot.

A few weeks later on October 25, the Ateneo Blue Eagles were up against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

Both teams failed to make clinching moves in the regular period and the game was again sent into overtime. It was neck-and-neck in OT, and as the gallery resigned itself to the possibility of a second OT, King Tamaraw LJ Gonzales found the ball in his hands, just 1.1 seconds remaining. He contorted his body to hoist a wild shot from rainbow land and swoosh! The ball miraculously popped in. The Eagles experienced heartbreak a second time as the Tamaraws

repeated over them in the second round, 62-59.

But for me, the most spectacular clutch hit, buzzer beater, miracle shot, wonder of wonders or whatever you want to call it was the last shot made by Adamson’s Monty Montebon in the last throes of their game against the University of the East on November 19.

What should have been a non-bearing game for UE and an all-important one for Adamson turned out to be a thorny contest where UE played for pride and ADU played for a last chance to make the Final Four. Adamson led precariously most of the way, as dangerous UE stayed close. In the dying seconds, the Red Warriors let out one last glory gasp, with its fair haired boy Rey Remogat pulling off an impossible three to put UP ahead by one, 61-60.

It looked like the end for Adamson, but Montebon had other plans. With only a sliver of time remaining, the rookie released a high-looping shot from the farthest tip of the left-hand corner that looked so iffy, no one thought it would find its way. But it did. And so the Adamson Falcons lived again another day, won the chance to play a knockout game for the Final Four against Ateneo in a winner take all Battle of the Birds.

Collegiate basketball now has these legendary game finishes to add to its jewels. They’re called end-game heists.