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AUG FACTORY OUTPUT POSTS 534.6% GROWTH www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Friday, October 8, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 359

P25.00 nationwide | 15 sections 76 pages | 7 days a week

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE country’s manufacturing output continued to post tripledigit growth in August, according to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the Production Index and Net Sales Index or the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries, the Volume of Production (VoPI) surged 534.6 percent in August.

This is the fifth consecutive month that the VoPI posted triple-digit growth this year.

However, the growth in August was slightly lower than the

539.7-percent growth recorded in July.

“Sixteen industry divisions contributed to the positive growth of VoPI in August 2021, of which the fastest growth was reported in manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products at 3,800.9 percent,” the PSA noted.

See “Aug,” A2

SIXTEEN is an age normally associated with sweetness. For BusinessMirror, turning 16, in a time of

unprecedented crisis gripping the world for nearly two years, is a supreme challenge, for obvious reasons.

But, as our anniversary theme says, “the business of living” goes on, even more so for one that promised to give the “broader look.” This special anniversary issue is for all those who believed, and continue to hold us to, that promise. BERNARD TESTA

AMRO cuts GDP growth forecast for PHL T HE rise in Covid-19 cases has prompted the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) to bring down its economic forecast for Philippine GDP growth this year and in 2022.

In the update of the Asean+3 Regional Economic Outlook (AREO) 2021, AMRO said it now estimates Philippine GDP growth to average 4.3 percent

PESO exchange rates n US 50.7600

this year and 6.7 percent next year.

In March, AMRO estimated that the country’s GDP growth was forecast to reach 6.9 percent this year and 7.8 percent next year.

“Obviously the Philippines has been hit more badly than some of the economies. Last year it fell by 9.5 percent and we had initially expected growth to

be around 6 percent but because of the recent infections, we had to shave down our growth forecast,” AMRO Chief Economist Hoe Ee Khor said in a briefing on Thursday. “I think what is important is that the vaccination rate in the Philippines has now been ramped up.”

Based on the report, the Philippines is expected to vaccinate 80 percent of its target popula-

tion by early 2022.

Currently, some 42.3 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The target for 2021, meanwhile, is to vaccinate 50 percent.

Khor said vaccination is going to be a key driver for the Philippine economy because of its reliance on services.

Continued on A13

n japan 0.4557 n UK 68.9625 n HK 6.5191 n CHINA 7.8436 n singapore 37.3620 n australia 36.8974 n EU 58.6583 n SAUDI arabia 13.5353

Source: BSP (October 7, 2021)

News A2 Friday, October 8, 2021

BusinessMirror

Aug…

Continued from A1

Data also showed this was followed by the manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment which posted growth of 194.2 percent in August and the manufacture of wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles and related products, which grew 94 percent during the period.

However, six industry divisions recorded decreases with the manufacture of tobacco products registering the deepest contraction of 53.8 percent.

Meanwhile, the Value of Production Index (VaPI) for manufacturing also showed tripledigit growth of 523.3 percent in August 2021.

“This was the second-highest annual growth rate in the 2018-based data series of VaPI after

hitting its highest annual increase in the previous month at 528.7 percent,” PSA said.

The PSA said this was largely due to the increases recorded in 14 out of 22 industry divisions. These divisions were led by the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products, which posted growth of 4,388.7 percent.

This was followed by the manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment which recorded 194.6-percent growth, and the manufacture of wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles and related products, which grew 45 percent in August 2021.

Tobacco tops declines

The PSA said the remaining eight industry divisions recorded decreases, with the manufacture of tobacco products posting the deepest contraction of 53.8 percent during the period.

Meanwhile, PSA said the average capacity utilization rate for manufacturing slightly de-

CHEL, NERI, CARL, ALAN, GIBO SENATE HOPEFULS Continued from A20

“We will strengthen alternative way to settle cases in the courts because we know once it reaches that point, it will take decades [to resolve],” Diokno said. “We must have justice with a bite, and laws with teeth,” he quipped.

Colmenares joins the 2022 Senate race under the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan).

“While I am running under the Makabayan party, the call of the times makes it clear that a united opposition is needed now. As I said, the survival of the Filipino people is at stake in the coming elections,” Colmenares said.

“A united opposition becomes a necessity if we are to effectively oppose the Marcos and Duterte dynasty,” he added.

Also filing for a Senate seat are TaguigPateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano who filed his COC as an indepedent candidate.

He served as senator from 2007 to 2017.

Former national defense secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. is running under the People’s Reform Party. He was unable to personally submit his COC after testing positive for Covid-19.

Road map

Educator, entrepreneur, radio broadcaster and BusinessMirror columnist Carl Balita filed his COC under the banner of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s Aksyon Demokratiko.

Balita says he hopes to craft a road map to fast-track the country’s pandemic recovery if he becomes senator. “I have classmates from all over the world and by chance I have seen how they have legislated to pivot towards recovery,” Balita said.

“We should already begin with envisioning what the future should be in the recovery phase. The reason being that it will be inspiring for us to move forward. If we know where we are going. We will know how to get there,” he added.

www.businessmirror.com.ph creased in August 2021.

“Based on responding establishments, the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector in August 2021 dropped to 66.1 percent from 66.8 percent in the previous month,” PSA said.

The data showed 19 out of 22 industry divisions with more than 50-percent average capacity utilization rate.

This was led by the manufacture of furniture at 83.1 percent; manufacture of tobacco products, 81.6 percent; and manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products, 79.3 percent.

The MISSI is now termed the Production Index and Net Sales Index. It is a report that monitors the production, net sales, inventories, and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector.

Ronapreve gets EUA; Faberco, RiteMed tie up Continued from A20

An analysis of 775 patients in the US found that only 7.3 percent of those given Molnupiravir were hospitalized, compared to the 14.1 percent of patients who were given a placebo or dummy pill.

There were also no reports of deaths in the Molnupiravir group, whereas eight patients given a placebo in the trial later died of Covid-19.

Unlike most Covid vaccines, which target the spike protein on the outside of the virus, Molnupiravir works by targeting an enzyme the virus uses to make copies of itself.

Merck noted that this should make Molnupiravir equally effective against new variants of the virus as it evolves in the future.

The US drugmaker said its results were so positive that outside monitors had asked to stop the trial early. It said it would apply for Emergency Use Authorization for the drug in the US as soon as possible.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The Nation BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, October 8, 2021 A3

Ong questions Senate contempt order, asks SC to order his release

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

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HARMALLY Pharmaceuticals Corp. official Linconn Ong filed on Thursday a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to declare as unconstitutional the order of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to cite him in contempt and be detained for allegedly testifying “falsely and evasively” in connection with his company’s multibillionpeso contract with the government for the purchase of Covid-19 medical supplies.

In a 50-page petition, Ong through his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, also asked the Court to declare as null and void for being unconstitutional the implementation of Section 18 of the Senate Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation, adopted via Senate Resolution 5 on August 9, 2010, as amended by

Senate Resolution 145, adopted by the Senate on February 6, 2016, insofar as it punishes as contempt the act of testifying falsely or evasively.

Likewise, the petitioner is asking the Court to declare as unconstitutional Section 6, Article 6 of the Rules of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigation also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, adopted on August 14, 2019, insofar as it punishes as contempt the act of testifying falsely or evasively.

As immediate relief, Ong is asking the Court to issue a status quo ante order (SQA), which is the order of things prior to the committee’s issuance of the contempt, arrest and detention order against him last September 10, 2021, or a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to enjoin the enforcement of the same order.

Ong argued that the contempt order against him has no constitutional

basis and violated his constitutional right to due process.

Likewise, the petitioner said the contempt order issued by the committee as well as the punishment imposed against him could be considered as an encroachment of the power of the judiciary.

“For a finding of guilt and the consequent imposition of a punishment for false testimony, the same being a crime defined law, it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. The person charged thereof is entitled to all the rights of the accused in a criminal prosecution as provided by the Constitution, including the presumption of innocence and the right to notice and hearing, among others,” the petitioner stressed.

“No tribunal except the proper courts may exercise jurisdiction, hence, try and decide the guilt or innocence of the accused under strict compliance with the Rules of

Criminal Procedure and Evidence.

Congress absolutely has no business in the determination of such guilt or innocence much less in the imposition of punishment,” he added.

The petitioner argued that under Section 21, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, where the power of Congress to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation emanates, mandates “the rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.”

“Thus, as provided therein, the investigation must be ‘in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure’ and that ‘the rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected, including the right to due process and the right not to be compelled to testify against one’s self’,” the petition read.

The petitioner added that the assailed rules of the Blue Ribbon Com-

mittee, which became the basis for contempt order against him and his subsequent arrest and detention should be struck down for being vague.

He said the rules failed to specify the standards as to what constitutes “testifying falsely or evasively.”

“Here, ‘testifies falsely or evasively,’ the phrase that purports to describe a punishable act, is utterly vague as it does not fairly notify the witness of how it can be committed nor does it restrict in any manner the discretion of the Senate Committee to adjudge an act as falling within its ambit. This should not pass the constitutional muster,” the petitioner said.

Furthermore, Ong said, the contempt order and the assailed rules of the Senate violate his constitutional rights under the Bill of Rights, particularly the right to notice and hearing before punishment, the right to be informed of the accusation against him, the right to bail, and the right

to an appeal to an impartial tribunal.

“Worse, it gives the Senate Committee an unbridled discretion in the enforcement of the rule,” he added.

Ong said the Blue Ribbon Committee also encroached on the power of the Judiciary in ruling that his statements before it were false and punishing him with detention.

“To allow Congress to punish persons for such crime is to allow not only a grave violation of the right to due process, but at the same time, an encroachment of the power and jurisdiction of the courts to hear, decide and punish criminal actions,” he added.

The petitioner said that the committee should file appropriate cases against him if it is convinced that he is guilty of false testimony.

Ong is currently detained at the Senate building in Pasay and has refused to further cooperate with the ongoing probe by the Senate.

Japan donates ₧46 million worth of HADR equipment to DND

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

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HE Japanese government has boosted the Philippine military’s disaster response capability by donating more than P46 million worth of humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) equipment.

Japanese forces are currently involved in military training with joint US and Filipino Marines under Exercise Kamandag, which is being held in various locations around the Philippines.

The HADR equipment were turned over to the Philippine A r my at For t B on i f a c io on Wednesday by Japanese Ambas-

sador Kazuhiko Koshikawa, and were received by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana.

Depa r t ment of Nat ion a l Defen se s pokesm a n A rsen io “Popong” Andolong said the donated equipment, include life boats and vests, chainsaws, digging tools, lighting apparatus

with generators and other search and rescue equipment.

“While we pray that nothing will require their use in the near future, we are comforted by the fact that our Armed Forces is better-equipped to respond to our people’s call for help in any eventuality,” Lorenzana said during the ceremony.

The defense secretary thanked Japan over the latest assistance.

Tokyo has been a key security partner and ally of Manila, with the two countries working together in training and Japan assisting the military in its equipment needs.

Japan has donated maritime patrol planes to the military for

its patrol and has been joining Balikatan, the biggest interoperability exercise involving US and Filipino troops.

Andolong said the HADR equipment would be turned over to the Army’s 51st Engineering Brigade, the unit tasked as the standby disaster response unit in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.

A4 Friday, October 8, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

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‘Heavier’ hogs may pave way for PHL’s recovery after ASF

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE country’s pork output next year may surpass 1.2 million metric tons (MMT)—an initial sign of industry recovery from African swine fever (ASF)—as hog raisers are keen on producing “heavier” pigs to offset the loss in pig population.

Chester Warren Y. Tan, president of the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc.,

said they expect domestic pork production to grow by at least 10 percent next year from an estimated total output of 1.2 MMT this year.

“Yes, definitely higher [than 1.2 MMT]. A minimum of 10-percent increase,” Tan told the BusinessMirror when asked about their forecast for next year’s pork output.

“Supposedly more than that minimum increase. What drives the stakeholders to hold back and slow down, is the big volume of

importation coming in since the mid-second quarter,” he added.

Tan explained that hog farmers have decided to increase the weight of their live hogs by 20 to 30 percent as a way to fill the estimated deficit in the country’s pork supply.

“If we agree and compute that we have a 20-percent or 30-percent [supply] deficit, [then] we can easily cover it up by increasing the live weight by 20 percent to 30 percent as well,” he said.

Tan explained that hog raisers would increase the live weight of their pigs to as much as 130 kilograms from the current average of 100 kilograms. He added that they would achieve this through a better feed conversion ratio.

Despite the influx of imported pork in the Philippine market, Tan said the hog industry will not give up in producing pigs to ensure the country’s pork supply amid threats of ASF and declining live weight prices.

Tan disclosed that the live weight price of hogs in Visayas and Mindanao has fallen to P120 to P130 per kilogram range, which is below the industry’s average production cost of P150 per kilogram.

“We are not giving up. Every pig counts,” he said.

“Let us grow

Pinoy pork and support our local farmers. Definitely, our swine industry is here to stay. We have to achieve self-sufficiency because we cannot depend on other countries,” he added.

The United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila (USDA-FAS Manila) earlier projected that the Philippines’s pork production next year would likely remain flat at 1 million MT as domestic hog raisers remain adamant to repopulate amid continuing outbreaks of ASF. The USDA-FAS Manila made the projection, noting that any production expansion made by some hog farms would only offset the reduced output in farms still facing ASF challenges.

“Post forecasts 2022 local production flat at 1.0 million MT carcass weight equivalent [CWE], as industry contacts report prospects remain uncertain amid continuing cases across the country,” USDA-FAS Manila said in its Global Agricultural Information Network report published recently.

“While some commercial farms have started to repopulate to maintain their business, producers have generally remained cautious absent a commercially available vaccine,” USDA-FAS Manila added.

Access to data, info a right and a privilege–DICT chief

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IGITAL transformation is key to recovering from the pandemic and becoming competitive in the long term, but the strategy to close the digital gap and achieve digital readiness hinges on the empowerment of Filipinos.

This is the main takeaway from Digital Readiness PH, a virtual town hall discussion led by think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, held recently. Representatives of the public and private sectors spoke on various topics and exchanged views on the need to be digitally ready—and, more importantly, on the manner of getting there.

The speakers were led by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II, who said access to data and information has become a right and a privilege together with basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, education, health services and of course access to data.

“We envision a thriving digital nation wherein our people through complete, accurate, and timely information can make rational, intelligent, and long-term decisions which benefit their personal lives and society as a whole,” he said.

The DICT chief enumerated the efforts of his agency to accelerate the transformation, made even more urgent by the continuing Covid-19 pandemic and the many ways people maintain economic and other activities despite staying in their homes.

Central and crucial to the efforts, he said, are the capacitybuilding initiatives to upskill Filipinos.

Professor Dindo Manhit, president of ADR Institute, said in his opening remarks that the massive pursuit of digital readiness should take a developmental, people-centered paradigm.

He stressed that, “A people-centered approach must start with developing the people’s skill sets and values that will enable our work force to optimally build digital technologies.”

Manhit said, “In a new digital ecosystem, we need leaders for digital transformation. Champions in both the private and public sector that can inspire innovations that would integrate the disconnect between processes, policies, and even flaws in governance that have been exposed.”

Leadership must likewise be people-centered. Manhit pointed to the role of digital champions from both the public and private sectors. “They can inspire innovations that would integrate the disconnect between processes, policies, and even flaws in governance that have been exposed,” he added.

Reinforcing Manhit’s statement, Secretary Honasan added: “No matter how hard we try to harness the power of technology, ICT, artificial intelligence, algorithms, the entire array of tools at our disposal, it is actually our efforts to connect people to each other and develop a face-to-face engagement where we can read the body language that is not reflected in our digital engagements.”

He also emphasized the necessity of partnerships with the private sector to augment government budget constraints and benefit from industry expertise.

Guest speakers in the forum were: Globe Telecom Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Corp. Communications, Ma. Yolanda Crisanto; Smart Communications Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, Atty. Roy Cecil Ibay; Facebook Philippines Public Policy Head, Clare Amador; Microsoft Philippines Public Sector Director, Joanna Rodriguez; Grab Philippines Head of Public Affairs, Sherielysse “Booey” Bonifacio; and HP Philippines Managing Director, Christian Edmond Reyes.

In his closing remarks, Orlando Oxales, lead convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, acknowledged that Philippine telcos have been stepping up to their role by aggressively investing on their networks as a response to the exponential surge in the demand for data.

Oxales pointed out that, “Given the problems of the education sector made worse by this crisis, what may be more challenging is developing the ICT skills of Filipinos to ensure the readiness of the country’s work force. This is critical for the country’s global competitiveness.”

“As we look forward to another transition in our government.

We must choose leaders who can be transformation champions in a highly digitized global ecosystem,” said Oxales.

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IATF eyes reopening of massage parlors, cinemas, arcades–DTI

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

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HE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is considering the reopening of other personal care services, such as massage parlors, under the Alert Level 4 amid the extension of the pilot testing of the new community quarantine measure in Metro Manila, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Thursday.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, in addition, said the IATF is also studying the reopening of cinemas and arcades during Alert 3.

He said the committee is considering if there is a need for these sectors to secure a Safety Seal certification first and limit their indoor capacity for the vaccinated population.

A Safety Seal is voluntary certification proving that an establishment is adhering to the minimum health protocols amid the pandemic.

The DTI chief said they have been promoting for the “continuity” of business operations even at different operating capacities, especially for the micro, small and medium enterprises. “It will help in job generating,” he said.

The trade official’s pronouncements came after the release of new

protocols easing restrictions under Alert 4 in the capital region. Pilot testing was extended until October 15.

Outdoor dine-in and personal care services—including barbershops, hair spas, nail spas and beauty sales—are now allowed 30 percent capacity. For indoor capacity, operations are capped at 20 percent for fully vaccinated individuals only.

Gyms and fitness studios, meanwhile, are given 20 percent operational capacity for non-contact exercises and fully vaccinated customers.

Previously, Lopez stressed the need to reopen gyms as exercises are vital to build better immune system amid the pandemic.

These establishments may also have additional 10 percent capacity if they secure Safety Seal.

“For these activities, we are very happy where it is,” he said. “For Alert Level 4, I think this is good enough.

Ang pinag-aaralan po natin ngayon ay other activities [We are studying now the reopening of other activities].”

Meanwhile, cinemas and arcades are not allowed under Alert 3 to 5.

They are permitted at 50 percent and full capacity under Alerts 1 and 2, respectively.

As for the implementation of the Alert Level System in the provinces, Lopez said that the decision on the matter “will be sooner.” He said the

IATF has yet to fully assess the pilot testing of the community quarantine measure.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion recently called for more transparency in terms of determining the alert levels under the new community quarantine regime. He explained this would help the businesses to prepare for their operations.

“We have to agree on certain parameters to determine the alert levels that is easier to understand,” Concepcion said. “Our goal is to do the reopening safely and limit the mobility of the unvaccinated to protect them from risks.”

‘Pinggang Pinoy’ launched to fight malnutrition in Davao del Norte

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AVAO CITY—Micronutrient-reinforced “Pinggang Pinoy” meal has been introduced to mass feeding and nutrition program to counter prevalence of malnutrition in remote and inaccessible villages of the countryside in Davao del Norte.

The Pinggang Pinoy is a reference to the government healthy food plate preparation for Filipinos, the Department of Science and Technology-

Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) said.

“To fight malnutrition, we need accurate data, correct information, and innovative technologies,” said Josie Gonzales, science research specialist of the DOST-FNRI. She said the Pinggang Pinoy concept “is a balance of macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, viand fats plus micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins that should

be included in daily meals to attain a healthy diet.”

Her team of experts taught the Pinggang Pinoy concept to participants of a food preparation training held from August 24 to 26, the DOSTFNRI said. The training on Blended Training-Workshop on Meal Management and Safe Food Handling centered on safe food handling, meal planning, basic nutrition concepts, food-buying, food storage and prepa-

ration, and food costing and control.

The training lectures were held virtually and workshops were performed in the afternoon.

The participants were soldiers of the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion and personnel from the Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Council of Women (KCW) in the municipality of Kapalong, Davao del Norte.

The participants had a feeding program in standby for residents in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas, or GIDAs, in Kapalong.

The participants were trained to

prepare a one-week complete meal plans for varying target groups like malnourished children, students, and households.

In a contest among participants during a showcase of their ability to cook FNRI-developed recipes, the soldiers topped the ratings with its “Mixed Veggie Arroz” followed by KCW’s with its “Veggie Patties with Liver” and BNS’s “Hearty Dumpling.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to be trained. We can use this in our job especially on doing feeding program.

We wish for more trainings like this,” said Lilia T. Orongan, president of

Fisherfolk deplore waning catch due to ‘overfishing’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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ARDINE fishers in Dinagat Islands lamented their declining catch due to overfishing and harmful fishing practices of encroaching commercial fishers, who, they pointed out, are barred from municipal waters by law.

Fisherfolk farmers revealed their sardine catch situation during a recent policy dialogue between their group and concerned government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). “[We had plenty of catches] before. But now, not anymore because we see fishing boats using superlight even closer to the shore. This drives us, small fisherfolk, farther into the deeper part of the ocean. Meanwhile, the commercial fishers using superlight are able to catch fish inside our municipal waters,” Eric Sarcauga, a sardine fisher from Dinagat Islands, was quoted as saying in a statement issued by nongovernment organization Oceana, the organizer of the virtual dialogue.

Celso Suquib, an Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (IFARMC) representative, concurred with Sarcauga’s sentiments, adding that illegal fishing serves as one of their biggest challenges today, such as the use of superlight, a strong light using halogen or metal halide used to easily attract schools of fish.

“The biggest challenge for us is illegal fishing. We are now having a hard time catching sardines because of superlight entering the municipal waters. We, fisherfolk, are calling on the government for immediate action and intervention against illegal fishing. Help us here in Dinagat Islands so that we can fish peacefully and improve our lives,” Suquib said in Filipino.

Oceana said the team of Dr. Wilfredo Campos of the University of the Philippines-Visayas discovered that sardines in Fish-

eries Management Area (FMA) 7, which covers Bicol and Samar, were already overfished.

“The team of Dr. Campos, which monitored the movement of sardine stock as well as fishing vessels in the waters off Bulan, Sorsogon and Samar Sea, estimated the annual catch for 2020 at 45,000 metric tons 60 percent of which came from Bulan where the larger vessels are based,” Oceana said.

“Dr. Campos also emphasized their findings on the exploitation rate of sardines in the area of 0.8 which meant the stock was already overexploited,” Oceana added.

Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, Oceana said the catch of bali (tamban) and fimbriata (lawlaw/tuloy) sardine species significantly declined from 442,045.75 metric tons in 2010 to 325,226.20 metric tons in 2019.

Oceana noted that Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar is cognizant of the country’s declining sardines catch, citing his speech during the virtual policy dialogue.

“There is a downward motion in the production of sardines in the country due to several factors like harmful and illegal fishing practices, the looming threat of global climate change, and the continuous destruction of the ocean ecosystem due to pollution,” Dar said.

“It also does not help that we are currently in a Covid-19 pandemic which exposes the weaknesses of our food system from fragmented supply chains to inefficient production techniques,” he added.

Oceana together with the fisherfolk urged the government to immediately implement the National Sardines Management Plan (NSMP) and ensure its adoption in the 12 FMAs of the country. “ Implement i ng t he muc hawaited NSMP in all 12 FMAs would help cover and come up with solutions for the problems faced by sardine fishers and the country’s worsening state of sardines,” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana.

Mayor Sara says she will likely stay in Davao to finish term

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CITY—It looked like city mayor, Sara DuterteCarpio, would be turning down supporters, and proving detractors wrong about her grabbing the opportunity of being a consistent favorite in surveys of presidential candidates.

Near midnight Wednesday, she posted a two-paragraph message written in Filipino, which would denote that the message was meant not for the largely Cebuano-speaking Davao City and the Visayas, but for supporters in the Tagalog-speaking Luzon Island.

“Masakit din para sa aking damdamin na sana magpaubaya sa mga kaibigan na hindi ko maibigay ang gusto ninyo. Gusto ko po sana tapusin muna ang huli kong termino sa mayor bago ako manungkulan sa ibang position,” she said in the language she seldom use, with unease if ever, in public speaking engagement.

“Madami sa inyo ang nasasaktan, sumama ang loob at nawalan ng pagasa pero pwede pa rin tayo magtulungan para sa ating bayan, di kailangan ng position, di kailangan ng tayo ay Pangulo upang makatulong,” she said in a quote shared across several social-media platforms. It was dated October 6, at 22:51 hours, or 10:51 p.m.

Supporters from as far as Metro Manila and Luzon appealed anew for consideration, many of them, saying “we don’t like to return to the days of drugs and crime” and “please protect our children from the unruly heydays of crime in the streets.”

Sara Duterte-Carpio filed her candidacy for mayor on Saturday, for her third and final term on that position. She would be running alongside her younger brother, Sebastian, currently the vice mayor.

Mabalacat mayor who donated police cars to other LGUs seeks reelection

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A BA L AC AT CIT Y—In usual circumstances, local chief executives of towns and cities often earmark project and program budgets from their own coffers to benefit their own citizens and jurisdiction—not so for Mayor Crisostomo Garbo of this city who is seeking reelection for his second term.

Mayor Garbo, along with Vice Mayor Gerald Guttrie Aquino and their line up of councilors, filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Mabalacat City on Thursday, October 7, 2021, to seek fresh mandates for the upcoming 2022 national and local elections.

His reelection bid comes on the heels of recent donation of police patrol cars to 19 towns of Pampanga and to the PNP Pampanga Provincial Office (PPO). The province has 21 towns and cities, including this city, City of San Fernando and Angeles City.

It can be recalled that last month, Garbo made true his pledge to former Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda to apportion city’s local resources to aid other local government units from Mabalacat’s share of its Gross Income Earned (GIE) from Clark locator-firms. This city receives an average of P700 million as GIE, representing 2-percent share as mandated by Republic Act 9400.

Aside from the patrol cars, this city also donated 16 ambulances since 2020, including to LGUs where it has sisterhood agreements.

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Friday, October 8, 2021 A7

Despite serious disruptions by pandemic, sustainability embedded in business agenda

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By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ITH the pandemic still raging, affecting lives of people all over the world, many think that sustainability may be sidelined in favor of survival.

Regulators, however, are pushing forward with the sustainability agenda, and are bent on making it mandatory for publicly-listed companies to submit a separate report on their sustainability efforts.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) commissioner Kelvin Lester K. Lee said the agency is pushing through its with its rule on mandatory submission of sustainability report for listed companies starting 2022, and possibly expanding it to other institutions that deal with public companies such as brokers and lenders.

He said regulators should think about sustainability, especially when the world is at a reset, rather than wait for things to return to normal.

“This is the best time to focus on sustainability; there’s a focus on it

because of Covid. Now is the perfect time. It is not something we set aside to move forward and say we’ll focus on that. No. It seems that the interest is there; the focus is there.

So it is clear that we have to do it, why not now. Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility,” Lee said.

In 2019, the SEC issued a memorandum to mandate the listed companies to submit a separate report on sustainability outside of the annual report that they are also required to file with the agency.

The report should follow the guidelines set by SEC, which mainly came from the standards set by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

The regulator had already implemented the rule for the financial year 2020, but on a comply-orexplain approach first: here, companies are required to submit the sustainability report and if the

information is not yet available, it would have to explain to regulators why data is not yet there.

Now, auditors would have to check if data in these reports are really happening and not just on paper.

New territory for CPAs

THE country’s certified public accountants are gearing up to perform assurance work on sustainability reports. But this is a new territory even for the CPAs themselves, as they must go beyond crunching the numbers and audit what they termed as the triple bottom line of

companies.

“To remain relevant, accountants must acquire the knowledge and skills to show clear links between sustainability issues with financial performance. The skills needed go beyond traditional accounting and auditing as the role requires the ability to quantify and evaluate risks, as well as opportunities related to the environment and to society or the two other bottom lines in profit,

people, planet,” Chris Ferareza, partner in the advisory services division of audit firm P&A Grant Thornton, said.

He admits these reports are yet to be at a level of expected quality, and for now may be a mere compliance with the regulation.

“It’s still a far cry from those in other developed countries such as Japan, as we’re just in the nascent stage in sustainability reporting and much still needs to be im-

proved,” Ferareza said.

For the Aboitiz group, both the regulators and companies should continue to pursue discussing sustainability issues despite the pandemic.

“The ESG ([nvironment, social and governance] reporting helps increase transparency, and recognizes the responsibilities of the business sector to improve its sustainability practices.

Continued on next page

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Despite serious disruptions by pandemic, sustainability embedded in business agenda Continued from A7

The pandemic really tested the resiliency of companies and their practices. It also highlighted a lot of issues in the business sector, the readiness in terms of digital transformation, adequacy of medical benefits and review of current workplace safety protocols,” it said.

“ESG programs are focused on setting practices that would contribute to solutions to enable all of us to adapt to the potential problems of the future like climate change, resource scarcity, changing social and workplace dynamics.

ESG is an important component in building corporate resiliency to business risks now and in the future,” it said.

More than half of the business of the Aboitiz group comes from power generation.

Regulators are pushing for ESG initiatives due mainly to the worldwide frenzy on looking at—and measuring—a company’s green and social initiatives, which should go beyond corporate social responsibility, which for years was used as a tax shield by corporates.

They needed to be certified compliant with the ESG guidelines, which are then used by some banks before they can lend them money, or by regulators before they allow a company sell bonds to the investors.

Companies such as the SM of the Sy family and the Ayala groups have vowed to lower their carbon emissions. For now, it merely involves measuring the trash that the company produces as well as

their emissions. They can either reduce the trash or, if not, plant a certain number of trees to match the amount of oxygen that the trees produce with their carbon emissions. This is what they term as carbon neutral.

For the power usage, SM Prime Holdings Inc., the shopping mall operator, targets to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity consumption by more than 50 percent across all of its business segments by end of next year. This is in support of the Department of Energy’s program of moving up the renewable energy supply component of the country to 35 percent by 2030. On top of diversifying energy suppliers, the company will also expand the use of solar roof decks in its various properties to partly meet the electricity requirements of its business operations.

Reducing carbon emissions may be too vague for some, but some companies turn into plastic waste, in which the Philippines is notoriously one of the world’s top polluters.

A report of OurWorldinData.org last May showed that Pasig River has emerged as the eighth top plastics polluter of oceans in the world, dumping some 38,000 tons of plastics in the seas. Our World in Data is a collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Oxford and UK-based non-profit, Global Change Data Lab. Years before, however, many local government units have already copied each other’s efforts to ban plastic bags for consumers when shopping, which until today many

cities and municipalities are still implementing.

This effort, however, failed to solve the situation as companies produced more trash such as ecobags and paper bags they give out to consumers when they shop.

Plastic neutral

SOME firms like the Po family’s Century Group and Shakey’s Pizza have secured a Plastic Credit Exchange certification for it to become plastic neutral, or recovering the same amount of plastic waste that it produced and dump it properly.

Consumer manufacturing companies, however, are still bracing themselves for the impending legislation that seeks to ban single-use plastics, which will heavily impact on the sachet economy, everything from shampoos to juices and even in softdrinks.

Chemical manufacturer D and L Industries Inc. said with the looming ban on single-use plastics, the company has developed Biorez and Biomate, which are proprietary lines of plastic materials and additives that can make plastics compostable and biodegradable.

“As a big proponent of ‘green chemistry’ in the country, D&L is also capable of assisting its customers make their products sustainable to stay ahead of the shift in consumer preference towards sustainability. D&L, through its various subsidiaries, offer sustainable product solutions from coconut-derived raw materials for personal and home care products, environmentallyfriendly chemicals for industrial and construction applications, or-

ganic fertilizers to wholesome food ingredients,” it said.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. has vowed to exit the sachets business next year, killing its powdered juice drink Eight O’Clock, a brand popular in the 90s, in the process.

“We have made a bold decision to completely exit from our sachet business by 2022. Our reason for these is that we have been in a long long time faced significant challenges in plastics recovery in straws and sachets,” Gareth McGeown, the company’s president and CEO, said.

McGeown, however, said that they will argue with the legislators that the PET bottles, where a chunk of its products are placed, are not single-use and can be recycled or be used again for other purposes,

such as Christmas ornaments.

PET—short for polyethylene terephthalate—is the chemical name for polyester. It is a clear, strong and lightweight plastic widely used for packaging foods and beverages, especially conveniencesized soft drinks, juices and water.

“What is super important for us is the definition of single-use plastics. I think we have evidence that our PET packaging, our cans packaging are 100 percent recyclable. Hence, we are investing P2.2 billion with our partners to make that site [bottle-to-bottle plastic recycling facility] work. Our singleuse plastics are straws and sachets, but we’re exiting those businesses anyway. The largest part of our business remains is on returnable glass and we’ll continue to invest in that

moving forward,” McGeown said.

With all these efforts, companies such as the Aboitiz group believe that ESG, which previously was just a buzzword, will become part of the main corporate agenda of businesses for the long term.

“ESG programs are focused on setting practices that would contribute to solutions to enable all of us to adapt to the potential problems of the future like climate change, resource scarcity, changing social and workplace dynamics,” it said.

“The regulators and the business sector need to have a collaborative approach to sustainability and endeavor to work on a unified agenda.

The role of the regulators and the business sector is to identify and push for the common goals for the country’s development.”

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Friday, October 8, 2021 A9

Clean energy pioneers push envelope, dare govt to signal full policy support

C

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

LIMATE change, carbon neutral and net zero are the buzzwords making waves amid the pandem-

ic. This global movement has prompted power firms to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

In recent years, more and more countries shift to more environmentally sustainable

energy sources, and the Philippines is one of them.

Aboitiz Power Corp.’s journey towards a decarbonized portfolio starts by setting aside the development of new

coal-fired power plants to shifting its focus to gas, exploring offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon

capture.

The countr y’s largest power generator is setting aside P190 billion in the next 10 years to bu i ld a n add it ion a l 3,700 megawatts (MW) of capacity under its clean energ y portfolio. So far, it has new projects with a total of 2,364 MW of renewable energ y assets— most ly sol a r but a lso wind and hydro—which are in var ying stages of development and located

mainly in Luzon.

“It is a fact that climate change is a key driver of the global movement towards decarbonization. We hope to build on our 10-year plan where we aim to reduce the carbon intensity of our business. We intend to explore pathways toward decarbonization that will complement our renewable energy growth plan and our nature-based carbon sequestration program,” said Aboitiz Power President Emmanuel Rubio in an interview.

Aboitiz Power’s attributable capacity is expected to hit 9,200MW by 2030, half of which would come from renewables.

Luzon’s leading power producer SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. announced this year that it would drop coal power projects from its portfolio to focus on renewables. It would also discontinue coal expansion projects in various parts of the country.

“We’re executing on our plans to move away from building new coal facilities, despite new technologies that make them cleaner. It’s a company direction that is in line with all the major sustainability initiatives we have undertaken these past couple of years,” SMC president Ramon Ang said.

Included in this transition is a $1-billion fleet of 31 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities across the country with total capacity of 1,000 MW set for completion between this year and 2022.

SMC Global Power is

also preparing to build a 1,300MW LNG combined cycle plant in Batangas City, small-scale LNG plants and hydro-power projects.

“For several years now, we have been articulating our plans to move into cleaner and renewable power, and now, these plans have not only taken shape but we have actually started implementing them,” said Ang. The combination of BESS and RE projects forms part of its objective to operate in an environmentally-responsible manner while considering energy security and affordability.

This as the company announced plans of developing 10,000 MW of new RE capacity in the next 10 years. As of last year, SMC had an installed capacity of approximately 20.7 percent of the national grid and 28 percent of the Luzon grid.

Lopez’s First Gen LOPEZ-LED First Gen Power Corp. announced as early as 2016 that it would abandon coal power projects even if this meant walking away from profit opportunity, chairman Federico Lopez said. Years after, Lopez commented: “We never wavered and never once regretted the decision.”

First Gen primarily generates power through renewable energy (RE) and indigenous fuel sources such as natural gas, geot he r m a l , hyd ro, w i nd , and solar power. It has 3,4 9 5M W of i n s t a l le d capacity in its portfolio, which accounts for 19 percent of the Philippines’s gross power generation.

Lopez is confident that the declining cost of renewable energy and battery storage will bring down carbon emissions. “As RE and battery storage costs drop further in the coming years, their penetration into our grids, rooftops, and our lives will increase.

However, if we want to encourage a deeper penetration and deep decarbonization, we must effectively plan for the intermittency issues that arise with RE,” he said.

First Gen’s unit, Energy Development Corp. (EDC), is spearheading the movement for the country to become carbon neutral, in line with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) goal to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 75 percent.

The Net Zero Carbon Alliance is led by EDC. The members— ArthaLand; Continued on next page

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A10 Friday, October 8, 2021

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Clean energy pioneers push envelope, dare govt to signal full policy support

Continued from A9

First Balfour; Drink Sustainability Communications; Silliman University; Analog Devices, Coca-Cola, Knowles Electronics, and Unilever—vowed to be an enabler for each other and be the “prime movers” in decarbonizing their respective industries.

With EDC’s established decarbonization mechanisms, EDC P r e s i d e nt R i c h a r d Ta nt o co said partners can adopt these practices and leverage them toward carbon offsetting and sequestration.

‘Clean energy can be cheap’

HE noted that about 55 percent of the energy in the Philippines is produced from coal-fired power plants. Businesses, he said, can elect to buy their energy from clean sources at about the same cost.

“It doesn’t have to be expensive. There’s a regulation already that allows businesses that have a demand of P350,000 or more per month to buy clean energy. If businesses band together to create the demand side for clean energy, other businesses will create the supply side for clean energy. I think it’s possible and not necessarily going to hurt the bottomline,” said Tantoco.

EDC is the country’s biggest 100-percent RE company which accounts for over 40 percent of the Philippines’s RE output and serves about 10 percent of the country’s overall electricity demand with its installed capacity of almost 1,500MW. Its 1,181MW geothermal portfolio accounts for 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity and has put the country on the map as the world’s third largest geothermal power producer.

More than half of the world’s nations and several corporates have committed to Net Zero by 2050 and AC Energy Corp. is at the forefront of this energy transition.

A2

The power arm of conglomerate Ayala Corp. currently has about 2,100MW of renewables capacity, and is on track to attain its goal of 5,000MW of renewables capacity by 2025, and become the largest renewables platform in Southeast Asia.

AC Energ y President Eric Francia noted that significant capital is flowing into sustainability oriented investments led by renewables.

“For instance, green bond issuance has increased 11-fold in the last five years globally. AC Energy is one of the largest issuers of green bonds in Southeast Asia with over $1.5 billion of green bonds issued in the last two years,” he said in an interview.

While the Philippines is blessed with abundant sources of renewable energy, Francia stressed the importance for government to come up with a comprehensive roadmap in order to attain the country’s goal—a 75-percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.

To help attain this ambitious goal, the DOE has targeted renewables share of energy output to increase from 21 percent today to 35 percent by 2030.

The DOE, National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) issued policies to help hit this target. These include the moratorium on new coal plants, Green Energy Option Program, Net Metering, Renewable Portfolio Standards—which will all complement the move towards more RE. “We will get to that 35-percent RE share by 2030 and, in fact, exceed the 40 percent and get all the way up to 50 percent by 2040 if there are certain policies that will be adopted to make sure that we get there,” said NREB Chairman Monalisa Dimalanta.

The target RE share by 2030 is expected to hit 36.96 percent and even higher by 2040 at 55.87 percent, the DOE data showed. The

current mix is still dominated by fossil fuels at 54.6 percent, natural gas at 21.2 percent, RE at 20.8 percent and oil-based fuel at 3.5 percent.

Francia noted that while these are significant steps to help pursue our climate ambitions, current policies are not enough to meet these ambitious targets, and will require a more comprehensive roadmap.

“Furthermore, several complementary policies and actions need to be enforced to ensure the viability of renewable markets, such as the implementation of the renewable energy market and the reserve market.

It will also be critical to upgrade and strengthen the national grid, and incorporate storage technology to ensure grid stability especially with the increase in variable renewable capacity,” he said.

Clear policy support

AT the end of the day, government needs to declare that we prefer renewables, said Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent, Inc. (DREAM) President Jose Layug, Jr. in a recent forum. “ T he gover nment shou ld adopt a pro-clean energy stance instead of a technology-neutral one, which the DOE has been pursuing. After all, renewables are now cheaper than coal and natural gas, and faster to build,” he said.

For instance, solar power facilities can be built in nine mont hs, w ind pl a nt for 18 months, biomass plant for two years, and so on.

“The question here is what would be the fundamental policy of the next administration?

Is it still to push for technology neutral or for more renewables?

Because if the answer is the latter, then we have seen already the trend. Prices have gone down, so why don’t we add more to the system?” Layug pointed out.

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Ex-VP Binay emerges from hiatus, joins Senate derby

By Butch Fernandez

F

@butchfBM

ORMER Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, coming out of retirement, confirmed Thursday he

is running for a Senate seat in the upcoming senatorial derby as his daughter, incumbent Sen. Nancy Binay bows out.

“We have done a lot for our fellow

Filipinos,” Binay said, adding: “We can do more, and we should do more.”

After serving as long time mayor of Makati before his election to the second-highest elective position,

Binay said: “We learned during this pandemic how the people have been deeply neglected. We need to fix this.”

A former human-rights lawyer during t h e Marcos regime, B i n ay

reminded that “the first priority should be helping the 4 million Filipinos who lost their jobs, the over 3 million families who are experiencing hunger, and the thousands of small businesses who had no choice but to close down.”

“We need to help them recover.

Looking forward, we should work to rebuild our economy in a way that puts priority on creating stable

jobs,” Binay said, suggesting that “we should reform our health-care system.And the safety, welfare, and well-being of the people should always be our foremost concern.”

Recalling that he had been “in public service for more than 30 years, this is what I will offer to our people.

We have done a lot for our fellow Filipinos. We can do more, and we should do more.”

Felicidad Sy Hall: A multispecialty building soon to rise in UP-PGH

T

HE University of the PhilippinesPhilippine General Hospital (UPPGH) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the multispecialty building, Felicidad Sy Hall.

Funded by the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation (FTSFI), this is the second medical building that the Sy family supported for UP Manila-PGH. Back in 2019, the family, through their Henry Sy Foundation collaborated with the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Foundation Inc. (UPMAFI) to support the construction of an 11-story Medical Sciences Building.

According to UP-PGH Director Dr. Gap Legaspi, the 15-story building will house the neuroscience department, as well as other specialties such as orthopedic, dermatology, oncology, laboratory, psychiatry, ICU, and ophthalmology, among others—to bring quality medical services to the Filipino people.

He also said that this building is designed to be the first pandemic-ready building and will have the most advanced laboratory in the country.

“Putting up this building is not only an infrastructure achievement—it’s a big achievement for anyone who dreams big for UP. Our alumni and current UP students always have a big dream for the university and the hospital. Through this kind of collaboration, we can realize that there’s always a way to do it and achieve our dreams,” Dr. Legaspi stated.

Through a video message, Ms. Teresita T. Sy conveyed “Nanang’s” excitement and commitment for the said project: “My mom is excited that her personal foundation was invited into this worthy project.

She’s always happy when her foundation is

supporting developments that are focused on health and wellness issues.”

UP President Danilo Concepcion also expressed his gratitude to the FTSFI and the Sy family for supporting this infrastructure project for the betterment of Filipino people in need of medical interventions.

“Lubos po ang ating pasasalamat sa FTSFI at sa Sy Family sa kanilang kabutihang loob sa pagsuporta sa pagpapatayo ng gusaling ito. Gusaling kailangang kailangan natin upang maparami pa natin ang mga doktor na ating sasanayin dito sa PGH at upang dumami pa ang mga pasyenteng magagamot at mapagsisilbihan natin. Makasisiguro kayo na ito po ay aming pagyayamanin para sa taumbayan,” Concepcion said.

Furthermore, UP Chancellor Carmencita Padilla underscored the importance of collaboration for making this effort come into fruition: “At the end of the day, we cannot come up with these big things around us without collaboration. This is a big day not only for UP Manila and PGH community, but also for the Filipino patients. It is indeed a fruit of collaborative planning and the philanthropic spirit of the Sy family.”

“This Fel icid ad Sy Hall will be a place of healing, innovation, compassion, wisdom, and courage!

Thank you to our donors and partners who have continuously trusted us to be the hope and beacon of our people,” Padilla concluded.

The FTSFI is a personal fou nd at ion of t he SM matr iarch, “Nanang” Felicidad T. Sy. A side f rom infrastructure projects, F T SFI a l so supports the re stor at ion a nd bu i ld ing of Catholic churches, provides SM employees with spiritual development programs, and car r ies out special projects enabling church leaders and ministers to spread social good through spiritual wellness and promotion of culture.

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No EJK under my term if I’m elected, Mayor Isko assures

M

ANILA Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso vowed to wage a national anti-drug campaign that is based on the rule of law and due process, similar to what he has been doing in the Philippine capital for over two years now.

Last Tuesday, Mayor Isko presented to media seven drug suspects caught with a total 835 grams of crystal meth, locally known as shabu, with an estimated street value of P5.6 million.

Nothing exceptional here in the number of suspects arrested and the quantity of drugs seized, except that the suspects are alive to face the charges that will be filed against them.

On August 5, 2019, Mayor Isko presented 35 drug suspects arrested by authorities in Manila over a oneweek period.

“This is just one good news.

Another good news, out of the 35 arrested, 35 are alive,” he said then, a policy that he would consistently implement over the course of his administration.

On June 21 this year, Mayor Isko presented a Chinese national who was arrested with 38 kilos of shabu worth P258.4 million, as well as five other suspects who were arrested with 8.5 kilos of shabu worth P58 million.

On this occasion, Mayor Isko congratulated the Manila Police District (MPD) for the successful operations, and said that he was proud of the men and women of the MPD for capturing the suspects “alive.”

This has been the hallmark of Moreno’s campaign against illegal drugs since he became Manila mayor in 2019, where the suspects were properly apprehended and that their human rights were respected in the process of the entire drug operations.

The suspects were even allowed to cover their faces when presented to the media and the public.

If elected, Moreno vowed to continue this anti-drug policy where the rights of the suspects will be respected and have their days before the courts. “Eliminating drugs is a priority, but it has to be done in recognition still of every individual’s human rights,” he said.

Moreno stressed that he does not support the Philippine National Police’s Operation “Tokhang,” and would never tolerate extra-judicial killings (EJKs).

Friday, October 8, 2021 A13

NTC probes ‘hijacking’ of alert system for ‘BBM’; Bongbong’s camp says they’re not behind it

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

& Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

T

HE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is now investigating the illegal use of alert notification services that contained what are widely believed to be narratives favoring presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. because of its pitch for a “BBM,” the former senator’s initials.

However, Marcos through his legal counsel, strongly denied having anything to do with the hijacking of the alert notification services, calling it as part of a continuing “demolition job” against him.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo V. Cabarios said telcos have reported that the alert message did not originate from their networks.

There was also no request that came from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Alert messages are for the exclusive use of the NDRRMC for disasters and emergencies.

“We are conducting an investigation. If this is not from the telco networks, we suspect that the message came from portable cell sites, which are exclusive for the use of NDRRMC and its approved agencies,” Cabarios said in a phone interview.

On Wednesday, a “severe emergency alert” suddenly popped out of some people’s phones. It did not contain any advisory for some earthquake, storm, or tsunami. However, it contained the initials that Bongbong, the son and namesake of the late strongman former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. uses: BBM. The message read:

“Emergency alert: Severe Buong Buo ang Malasakit sa Bansa.

Buong Buhay ang Maialay sa taong bayan.

Bagong Bukas na Masagana para sa masa BaBangong Muli ang Pilipinas (V) BBM sa bansa, BBM sa taong bayan, BBM sa Masa…BBM Pilipinas!!! #BBM2022.”

Marcos is a presidential aspirant.

His camp, however, views the use of emergency alert notification as “among the many demolition jobs unleashed by those who obviously want to frustrate his candidacy.”

“We should not tolerate any group or groups’ underhanded moves to trivialize this very special tool meant to forewarn every single Filipino of an impending, actual, or post-disaster event or scenario,” Victor Rodriguez, chief of staff of Bongbong, said.

Cabarios said the NTC should be

AMRO cuts GDP growth forecast for PHL continued from a1 The Philippines, unlike other countries in the region, is a very service-oriented economy. And that’s the reason why they’ve been hit harder than some of the countries in the region. [But], once the economy opens up, I think the economy will bounce back quite sharply,” Khor said.

AMRO also said inflation is expected to be higher this year at 4.3 percent compared to its March forecast of 3.8 percent.

However, next year, inflation is expected to slow down to 3.2 percent next year. This is also slower than AMRO’s expectations last March.

Khor thinks the Philippine economy can bounce back faster if the government uses its ample policy space to also benefit businesses.

If this recommendation is adopted by the government, the country will be able to grow 6.7 percent next year and be much closer to growing at its pre-pandemic growth path.

“The road to recovery is paved with vaccinations,” Khor said. “With the majority of regional economies

on track to achieve their vaccination targets by early 2022, we expect the Asean+3 region to grow by 5 percent next year, slightly better than our March projections.”

AMRO said the region is adapting and learning to function within the more uncertain environment since the pandemic has altered the way businesses and consumers transact as seen with the acceleration of digitalization and the emergence of new business models and firms.

The Asean+3 growth trajectory will depend on how successfully the region transitions to an “endemic new normal,” while dealing with the economic scars left by the pandemic.

The adverse impact of the pandemic on the region has been mitigated by unprecedented policy actions, and economies that are recovering well have begun to scale back those measures.

But, given the constant mutation of the virus to more infectious and possibly more vaccine-resistant variants, policy responses will also need to be as nimble and quick to

change as the virus. Any premature or miscommunicated withdrawal of the financial support measures could potentially trigger a cliff effect.

“Tapering pandemic support will be the great balancing act for the Asean+3 in 2022,” said Li Lian Ong, group head of Financial Surveillance and Regional Surveillance. “Exiting too quickly risks derailing the region’s recovery; exiting too slowly risks propping up unviable businesses and sectors at huge expense to the fiscal purse,” she cautioned.

AMRO said any withdrawal of policy support needs to tread the fine line between preserving the remaining policy space and supporting the rebound.

Achieving both objectives will require successful vaccination campaigns, stronger health-care systems, and transformations of the work force and industries to address challenges exposed by the pandemic and seizing opportunities in the new normal, it added.

Cai U. Ordinario

able to conclude the investigation “early next week.”

“If the findings confirm our suspicion that a portable cell site was used, the perpetrators will be punished for violating the Radio Control Law and the Free Emergency Alert Service Law,” he said.

Probe

MEANWHILE, election watchdog Kontra Daya said the alleged recent “hijacking” of emergency government channels for campaign purposes could set a dangerous precedent in future elections if left unchecked.

Kontra Daya issued the statement after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would let other concerned government agencies to look into the matter since it falls beyond its jurisdiction.

“It is not enough for Comelec to say that it is ill-advised and for

NDRRMC to deny sending the emergency alert. There is a need to know who is responsible, what kind of technology was used and why this is available to certain nefarious characters,” Kontra Daya said. “If the incident goes unchecked, this could be repeated on a grander scale from now until election day,” it added.

On Wednesday, the group said, some mobile users reported they received an emergency mobile alert, which appeared to be an election promotion material.

The message did not identify a particular candidate, but instead made use of the acronym BBM. Among the aspiring candidates for the 2022 polls is Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is being campaigned by his supporters using the BBM acronym.

Kontra Daya wants the camp of Marcos to be probed over the incident.

Comelec sets rules for ‘11th hour’ COC and CONA filers

A

NTICIPATING the surge in the number of last minute filers today, Friday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it can “extend” the operations of the venues, which process certificates of candidacy (COCs) and certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONAs).

Citing Comelec Resolution 10717, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they can still process the COCs even beyond the 5 p.m., if it is stamped “received” before the said deadline.

At 4:45 p.m. of the last day of the COC filing, the receiving officer shall list the names of the aspirants inside the designated queuing area consecutively, while indicating the time of listing.

Likewise, at 5 p.m. of the last day, Comelec will also list down the names of aspirants inside and within 30 meters from the designated queuing area.

Jimenez stressed only those with “completed” COCs will be listed.

COCs will be considered “incomplete” if it has no documentary stamp attached; no signature of the aspirant; not notarized COC, no signature of the notary public; has incomplete address; has no photograph; and a COC not completely filled out.

Comelec will then call out the names of those listed in the order they arrived in the filing venue.

Those who will fail to appear when their name is called may result in non-acceptance of COC.

Samuel P. Medenilla

BusinessMirror

A14 Friday, October 8, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 5th-6th-7th Flr., 81 Newport Bl Newport City, Brgy. 183, Pasay City

1.

HAN, CHENCHEN Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns.

Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience. *Detailoriented and has the ability to multi-task.

No.

2.

JIANG, WEI Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns.

3.

MAO, WENQIN Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns.

15.

4.

SU, YINGHAO Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns.

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

5.

YUAN, LU-YU Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns.

Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience. *Detail-oriented and has the ability to multi-task.

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

3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/f Double Dragon Plaza, 255 Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City DANG HUU PHUOC Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking 6.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. Maintains customer records by updating account information in mandarin format.

DANG NGOC MAN Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking

7.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. Maintains customer records by updating account information in mandarin format.

LUYEN TUAN HIEP Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking

8.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. Maintains customer records by updating account information in mandarin format.

NGUYEN THI PHUONG TRUC Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking

9.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. Maintains customer records by updating account information in mandarin format.

NGUYEN VAN THO Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking

10.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. Maintains customer records by updating account information in mandarin format.

PHAN DO TRIEU Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking

11.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. Maintains customer records by updating account information in mandarin format.

TRAN THI THU HUYEN Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking

12.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. Maintains customer records by updating account information in mandarin format.

YU, LAN Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking

13.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. Maintains customer records by updating account information in mandarin format.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in spoken & written mandarin and other dialect spoken in other parts of china.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in spoken & written mandarin and other dialect spoken in other parts of china.

16.

14.

Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls

Brief Job Description: Responsible for driving operational excellence within the team, raise relevant quality and or scope issues which may impact delivery and streamlines decision making process NEHA Tech Writing & Translation Analyst

17.

Brief Job Description: Provide first line of support and resolves simple to complex technical and nontechnical issues reported by the users or systems

DECHEREUX, JEREMIE FABRICE Bilingual Customer Care Representative - French 18.

Brief Job Description: Work with client consumer’s internal dept as well as their partners to solve issues and answers questions.

PHAN VAN AN Senior Customer Service Officer-Vietnamese Speaking 19.

20.

Brief Job Description: Handling phone calls involving selling, pacify and good service rendered

JIANG, QILIANG Relationship Manager - Global Corporate Banking Department Brief Job Description: Generates revenue growth & account profitability of the company

PHATTANACHAIPINUN, SOMPAK Thai Language- Officer Customer Service 21.

Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs, develop rapport with the customer base, greet by name, knowledgeable on the account ownership.

SAENGTHONG, CHANTRA Thai Language- Supervisor Fund Management

22.

Brief Job Description: Managing clients; meeting investors to discuss investment strategies

TE SLAA, STEVEN Project Design Manager 23.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for drafting specifications and procedures for the realization of the project and designs within the set framework of customer and contractual requirements.

YE, FANGSHENG Chinese Speaking Cabling Infrastructure Technician 25.

Brief Job Description: Installs Cat5e,Cat6, Cat6a, and Fiber optic cabling system

CAO, YAOGUO Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 26.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

NIU, BENBEN Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 29.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelors degree in Information Technology Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Language: French and English at least 2yrs of college education is required or vocational program preferably in customer service

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

SHA, JUNXIANG Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 30.

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

WANG, PENGFEI Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 31.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent communication and presentation skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

WANG, YUMIN Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 32.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in both English & Mandarin language Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: Degree holder; Must fluently speak and write Thai language to cater foreign markets.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Extensive experience as Project Design Manager of at least 10 years in Dredging and Land Development Industry; University or higher professional education; related to the comprehensive understanding of the quality process associated with design and construct projects with focus on dredging/land development/building on soft soils.

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

FU, CHUNFENG Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 27.

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 5 years of experience as Chinese speaking cabling infrastructure technician.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

XU, TONGWEN Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 33.

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

YUAN, YE Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 34.

Basic Qualification: Ability to liaise effectively with clients and other organizations.

CHINA COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 12/f One/neo Bldg, 26th St. Cor 3rd Ave., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: College graduate and fluent in Mandarin and English ZHANG, SHIMIN with full knowledge of Chinese Speaking Business Consultant diverse business matters 24. such as telecommunication Brief Job Description: and network Plan, organize, and manage business projects for clients

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in spoken & written mandarin and other dialect spoken in other parts of china.

Basic Qualification: Bachelors degree holder in any field is preferred; fluent in both Korean and English language

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in spoken & written mandarin and other dialect spoken in other parts of china.

28.

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

BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. R-5008-b12/f A-place Bldg., Cbp Coral Way Drive, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in spoken & written mandarin and other dialect spoken in other parts of china.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LI, JUNZHI Chinese Speaking IT Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in spoken & written mandarin and other dialect spoken in other parts of china.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelors degree in information technology, computer science, or other relevant fields

BANK OF CHINA (HONG KONG) LIMITED - MANILA BRANCH G/f, 2/f, 28/f, West Retail The Finance Centreblock 55 Lot 1 & 2, 26th St. Cor 9th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Basic Qualification: Fluent in spoken & written mandarin and other dialect spoken in other parts of china.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in spoken & written mandarin and other dialect spoken in other parts of china.

No.

APRICUS TECHNOLOGY INC. 8/f Aguirre Building, 107 Aguirre St. Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

ALTA RESOURCES (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION 34th Floor, Wynsum Corporate Plaza, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

66 A-IDEA CONSULTING INC. Rm. 404 Caeg Building, Dela Rosa St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati LUO, WEIYONG Chinese Customer Officer

Brief Job Description: Communicate w/ the client functional design, in charge about the detail of requirement definition and function design KIM, TAE HUN Service Delivery Sr. Analyst

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience. *Detailoriented and has the ability to multi-task.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

DELAUNE, FLORIAN SEBASTIEN FABIEN Application Development Analyst

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience. *Detailoriented and has the ability to multi-task.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience. *Detailoriented and has the ability to multi-task.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

ZHU, XIAO Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 35.

Brief Job Description: Resolving all issues coworkers have with their IT systems and software

GU, XIANWEI Mandarin Speaking Project Supervisor 36.

Brief Job Description: Act as communication liaison between low-level employees and senior management

HUANG, JIAOLIN Mandarin Speaking Project Supervisor 37.

Brief Job Description: Act as communication liaison between low-level employees and senior management

PENG, DAWEI Mandarin Speaking Project Supervisor 38.

Brief Job Description: Act as communication liaison between low-level employees and senior management

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English with good communication skills and preferably 2 years of experience as Chinese speaking IT specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 yrs experience as Chinese speaking IT Specialist Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate; Outstanding leadership skills; Fluent in Mandarin and English preferably with 5 years of experience as project supervisor Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate; Outstanding leadership skills; Fluent in Mandarin and English preferably with 5 years of experience as project supervisor Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate outstanding leadership skills; Fluent in Mandarin and English preferably with 5 years of experience as project supervisor.

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

CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING COMPANY 5/f Rm 501 Ramon Magsaysay Center, 1680 Roxas Blvd., 076, Bgy. 699, Malate, City Of Manila

LUO, SHENGTING Mandarin Project Coordinator 39.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Project Coordinator will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Project Coordinator, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

CHINA PHILIPPINE LAWYER ASSOCIATION INC. Unit 1212 12/f Vellagio Tower, 2010 Leon Guinto St., 079, Bgy. 723, Malate, City Of Manila WANG, XIYAN Marketing Officer (mandarin Speaking Clients) 40.

Brief Job Description: Reads and rewrites technical documents in specified language

Basic Qualification: College degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CHIYODA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Mezzanine, Ug, 5th, 6th, 15th-22nd Floor Sun Plaza Building, 1507 Shaw Boulevard Corner Princeton St., 1555, City Of Mandaluyong

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION USUKI, KENICHI Technical Supervisor/adviser

41.

Brief Job Description: Assessing process for their relevance and assess the adequacy equipment and preparing reports, flow diagrams and charts, managing the cost and time of projects.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

Basic Qualification: Strong and precise familiarity w/ industry and codes. Proficient in English written and language etc.

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

56.

DIGIDO FINANCE CORP. (UNAPAY, AND UNACASH) Unit 3&4 15th Floor Ibp Tower, Jade Drive, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig GVILDIS, ALEKSEI Chief Operations Officer 42.

Brief Job Description: Directly oversee operations, HR and accounting and partner with the CEO on sales management to budget for sufficient investment capital to achieve growth targets over the near term.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in written and speaking in Russian language.

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

FAREAST OUTSOURCE PROCESSING INC. 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Nu Tower, Moa Coral Way, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

43.

DU, WEIBIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum. Can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin. Can operate computer mandarin characters

YU, XINYOU Project Manager 57.

44.

JING, JIANGUO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

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

45.

LI, JIAXIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum. Can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin. Can operate computer mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

46.

LI, XIAOFEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum. Can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin. Can operate computer mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

47.

LIN, JINHUI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum. Can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin. Can operate computer mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

48.

PENG, SHAOQING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

49.

SHANG, CHENYANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum. Can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin. Can operate computer mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

50.

WAN, LIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

51.

XU, JICHANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

52.

YANG, XINCHENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

53.

YE, WENZHOU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum. Can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin. Can operate computer mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

54.

ZHU, YAJUAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

FIBERHOME PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

CHU, CHENGJING Finance Manager 55.

Brief Job Description: The Finance Manager will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Finance Manager, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

Brief Job Description: The Project Manager will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Outsourcing Manager , Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

LEE, SHUO-PU Marketing Consultant (mandarin Speaking Clients) 58.

Brief Job Description: Studying company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs.

Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Project Manager, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months experience with the above position.

Can multi-task and keen to details. Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently.

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

FOKUSI CONSTRUCTION INC. #5 Carlo Drive Sta. Maria, Industrial Estate, Bagumbayan, City Of Taguig

59.

60.

61.

QIN, JIANNING Project Assistant Brief Job Description: Construction HU, JIANSONG Project Manager Brief Job Description: Construction TANG, CHAO Project Manager Brief Job Description: Construction

No.

73.

74.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, both oral and written

75.

76.

77.

78.

79.

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

GENX SPORTS & MEDIA PRODUCTION CORP. 26th And 27th Flr. Eastwood Cyber One Bldg., Eastwood City Cyberpark, No. 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Bagumbayan 3, Quezon City 11/f Aseana I Bldg., Bradco Ave. Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: HUANG, TINGTING Proven working experience Customer Service Representative - Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 62.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services by communication skills management Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers Needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LEI, GAOQUAN Proven working experience Customer Service Representative - Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 63.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services by communication skills management Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers Needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LU, YAHUI Proven working experience Customer Service Representative - Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 64.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services by communication skills management Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers Needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XIE, ZHENYI Proven working experience Customer Service Representative - Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 65.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services by communication skills management Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers Needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZOU, NINGHUI Proven working experience Customer Service Representative - Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 66.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services by communication skills management Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers Needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YONG SING PING Proven working experience Customer Service Representative - Malaysian Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 67.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services by communication skills management Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers Needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHEN, YIN Proven working experience Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 68.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services to communication skills management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: FAN, KEXIN Proven working experience Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 69.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services to communication skills management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HE, HAORAN Proven working experience Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 70.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services to communication skills management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: JIANG, HAILONG Proven working experience Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 71.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services to communication skills management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WEI, WEICHUN Proven working experience Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking in digital marketing particularly within 72.

Brief Job Description: the industry and good Recommends potential products or services to communication skills management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proven working experience in digital marketing particularly within the industry and good communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven working experience in digital marketing particularly within the industry and good communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GLVICTORY TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit 1, 14/f 6789 Tower, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs DINH VIET HIEU Customer Service Representative-Vietnamese

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHAO, WEN Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking

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

FLY ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Eighty One Newport Blvd., Newport City, Va, Brgy. 183, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters

Brief Job Description: The Outsourcing Manager will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

A15

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LI, AO Outsourcing Manager

Friday, October 8, 2021

80.

81.

82.

83.

84.

85.

86.

CHEN, QIAOLING Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail FAN, WENJIE Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customers through chat and e-mails HUI, HANSI Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail JIANG, HEJIN Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail KOH WEI EE Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail

LIM CHENG KEAT Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail

NG KEH WIN Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail SHI, JUNMIAO Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customers through chat and e-mails WANG, WENTING Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail YU, HUI Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail ZHANG, CHUANXIAN Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail ZHANG, CHUANYI Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customer through chat or e-mail

Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled using MS office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: MANDARIN SPEAKING, SKILLED IN USING OFFICE WITH 1 YEAR WORK EXPERIENCE Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled using MS office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking, skilled in using office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

H&M HENNES & MAURITZ INC. U 2, 3 & 4, 30/f Zuellig Bldg., Makati Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, Urdaneta, City Of Makati

87.

MAESTRO BASCONES, TAMARA Head Of Merchandising Brief Job Description: Responsible for selling of market and its profitable

Basic Qualification: With 2 years experience as head of merchandising Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

HI-M SOLUTEK PHILIPPINES INC. 15, Francisco Legaspi, Maybunga, City Of Pasig

JANG, WOO JONG Managing Director 88.

Brief Job Description: Management and coordination with Philippine clients and counterparts in Korea

Basic Qualification: M.D. In Business Administration And Extensive Korean Working Experience Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

INFOVINE INC. 8th, 9th, 10th/f Aspire Corporate Plaza Bldg., Macapagal Blvd. St., Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City

CAI, DELIN Chinese Speaking Program Designer 89.

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

LAI YONG KANG Chinese Speaking Program Designer 90.

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

LI, QUANLI Chinese Speaking Program Designer 91.

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

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

BusinessMirror

A16 Friday, October 8, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

INNOVATIONS FOR POVERTY ACTION IN THE PHILIPPINES Unit 8b, 8/f Belverdere Tower #15 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

LIANG, YUNYU Research Coordinator

92.

Brief Job Description: • Ensure project adherence to general research design, sample selection, data management and general research protocols • Supervise project research staff, lead training on data management, work with field office staff and oversee project financial management • Attend meeting with local government officials and appraise the Country Director of all project developments

Basic Qualification: • Master’s in development economics, or a field related to international economic development or education • At least three years of project management experience • Extensive experience supervising data collection and teams of field workers, designing surveys and implementing programs • Experience with data management and econometrics

No.

93.

LEE, JEONHWAN Marketing Manager Brief Job Description: Will manage and lead the Marketing team.

Basic Qualification: Has an excellent managerial experience.

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

94.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

95.

NING, ZHIBO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

96.

OU, GUANBIAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

97.

WANG, ZIYU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

98.

ZHANG, BO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

110.

MAHMOUD, HAIDARAH Treasurer And International Sales Manager 99.

Brief Job Description: Reaching out to international client for export and import deals. Launch a marketing campaign targeting international clients

Basic Qualification: 5 years of working experience in sales, 2 years experience in social media marketing; can speak and write English and Arabic Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: HU, XIN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Customer Service reading and writing in 100. mandarin Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHONG SHUE SHIEN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Operations Specialist reading and writing in Mandarin 101.

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and Salary Range: operational efficiency Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HE, JIANSHEN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Operations Specialist reading and writing in 102. mandarin Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and Salary Range: operational efficiency Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIEW YIH REN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Operations Specialist reading and writing in 103. mandarin Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and Salary Range: operational efficiency Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CAI, ZHENGJUN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Technical Support reading and writing in 104. mandarin Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer Salary Range: system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, FAN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Technical Support reading and writing in 105. mandarin Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer Salary Range: system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, NING Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Technical Support reading and writing in 106.

Mandarin Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer Salary Range: system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XIE, LU Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Technical Support reading and writing in 107.

Mandarin Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer Salary Range: system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHANG, WENFENG Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Technical Support reading and writing in Mandarin 108.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer Salary Range: system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 NANYANG TELECOM INC Unit 1509 15th Floor One Park Drive, 11 Drive Corner 9th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig ZHANG, YU Chinese Marketing Officer 109.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in working on the data entry or information processing field and constantly updating a company’s data base with more current or accurate information

Basic Qualification: Solid knowledge of marketing techniques and principles. Good understanding of market research techniques, statistical and data analysis methods Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

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

111.

112.

GUO, YALONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

PHAN BA QUYET Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

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

No.

113.

114.

HAN, JIHUN Korean Interpreter Brief Job Description: To assist all Korean clients inquiry KIM, HYUNGKI Korean Interpreter Brief Job Description: To assist all Korean clients inquiry

127.

115.

Brief Job Description: Ship super intendency and Fleet maintenance management.

116.

Brief Job Description: Accountable to the board of directors

128.

117.

Brief Job Description: Develop fleet management techniques and management methods to ensure all vessels are available to meet the customer’s operational requirements

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Speaks and write Korean fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Maritime Degree

129.

118.

119.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring the daily progress of accounts and projects ZHOU, YANG Mandarin Accounts Coordinator Brief Job Description: Monitoring the daily progress of accounts and projects

130.

120.

Brief Job Description: Oversee operations, checking for quality of output and integrity of process flow

Basic Qualification: Makes decisions within existing policies and plans, organizes

121.

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

LAI, BAOZHEN Chinese Customer Service Representative 122.

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

LIN, LILING Chinese Customer Service Representative 123.

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

LU, YANYUAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 124.

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

QIU, CHUANNONG Chinese Customer Service Representative 125.

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

WANG, YADAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 126.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin, both oral and written, expert in hairstyling.

HE, SIXIN Chinese Beauty Consultant Brief Job Description: Beauty parlor activities.

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

Basic Qualification: Must have onboard and technical superintendent experience to provide technical management advice in operational matters to support decision making Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak Mandarin Chinese and English Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak Mandarin Chinese and English

131.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience

132.

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

WEI, RONGYU Mandarin Customer Support Representative 133.

Basic Qualification: BS Architecture graduate with 5 years of experience in construction industry.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin/Fukien and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin/Fukien and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin/Fukien and at least college level with related BPO experience.

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

URBANDIDEAS INC. Unit 17-m Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati LIU, PEIPEI Mandarin Team Leader 134.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and team

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

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati CHANG, JIA-HAO a.k.a. CHANG CHIH-HAO Bilingual Admin Support Specialist 135.

Brief Job Description: Handles administrative requests and queries from senior managers/officers

Basic Qualification: Excellent in speaking, reading and writing in bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VTS TRAVEL AND TOURS AGENCY INC. Metrowalk Commercial Complex, Meralco Ave., Ugong, City Of Pasig KU, JAEIN Marketing Representative Brief Job Description: Facilitate coordination of all marketing activities.

Basic Qualification: Any nationality that can speak and write Korean fluently.

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

YUANHANG INTERNATIONAL SERVICE CORP. (GUO KITCHEN, ONE PLUS COFFEE Rm. 321 3/f Peninsula Court Bldg., 8735 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

137.

138.

ZUO, YUJIE Sales Marketing- Chinese Mandarin Speaking Brief Job Description: Sales/Office Works

Basic Qualification: Sales, Marketing Qualifications. Can speak/ understand ChineseMandarin.

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

YU, YANG Sales Marketing-Chinese Mandarin Speaking Brief Job Description: Office and Field

Basic Qualification: Sales-Chinese Mandarin Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZTE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 1201 & 1202 12th Floor Fort Legend Towers, 3rd Ave. Corner 31st St., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

139.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience

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

LIU, FENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak Mandarin Chinese and English

Brief Job Description: Manage task completion and project resource by developing project plans and assist in estimating project cost; collaborate with clients to determine project parameter and develop project plans in line with business objective.

LIN, YUJIE Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

RIGHT CHOICE FINANCE CORP. 5e-1 Electra House Bldg., 115-117 Esteban Street, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati HUANG, LIXIAN Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West, Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

136.

FANG, ZENGXIAN Mandarin Operations Manager

DENG, YI Chinese Customer Service

HAYASHI, KAZUKI Japanese Assistant Manager

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

PHOENIX INFOMAX GLOBAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION Unit 25d, 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati SUN, JIAYE Mandarin Accounts Coordinator

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

SUPER CUT MING JIANG SALON INC. Unit 209-210 Monarch Parksuites Condo., Bradco Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Basic Qualification: Speaks and write Korean fluently

PHELIPPE BARKO MANAGEMENT, INC. 4/f 107 The Exchange Corner Bldg., V.a Rufino St. Leg. Vill., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati JUNG, EUI CHANG Technical Manager

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience

TAISEI PHILIPPINE CONSTRUCTION, INC. Equitable Bank Tower 23/f, P. De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

PARIS MIKI PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 2302 23/f 139 Corporate Center, 139 Valero St., Bel-air, City Of Makati KASHINO, TAKAYUKI President/managing Director

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg., Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

OCEA S.A. - PHILIPPINE BRANCH U-903 9/f 139 Corporate Center, 139 Valero St., Bel-air, City Of Makati JEGONDAY, YANN Project Manager Engineer

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION XU, LIUMEI Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

NOM NOM NOM REALTY DEVELOPER CORP. 463 Remedios St., 076, Bgy. 699, Malate, City Of Manila

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

MIDEAST MANILA INC. 11th Floor One Corporate Center, Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

AN, ZHIPENG Chinese Speaking Business Analyst

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg., Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City LIU, MENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 KEPCO KPS CARABAO CORP. 18/f Pacific Star Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Cor. Makati Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

www.businessmirror.com.ph

140.

PAN, WEN Project Manager SS Brief Job Description: In charge of quality working project

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any business course Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Graduate of any business course

YUAN, TAO Project Technical Manager Brief Job Description: Project technical management

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Oct 7, 2021

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

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on September 17, 2021, the ZHANG, ZHIXIAN under EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION, should have been read as ZHANG, SHIXIAN and not as published.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience

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.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience 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.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A18 Friday, October 8, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Are we ready to embrace EVs?

H

ungarian inventor Anyos Jedlik created in 1828 the first model carriage that was powered by an electric motor. In 1832, British inventor Robert Anderson built a three-wheeled electrically powered vehicle, which he presented at an industry exhibition in 1835. Anderson’s car could travel around 12 kilometers per hour, and was a bit cumbersome to steer.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have existed long before gasoline and diesel cars were invented. Since the beginning, they have faced the same hurdles they do today: limited driving range and a lack of charging infrastructure. But things are changing fast.

There are about 1.5 billion vehicles traveling the streets and roads of the world today, greatly contributing to global air pollution. The adverse environmental impact of gasoline and diesel engines and increasing oil prices could speed up the transition toward EVs. Zero-emission vehicles will need to hold a dominant automotive market share by 2035 to help attain the Paris Agreement’s global warming target of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“The EV industry is entering a golden age,” Wedbush Securities Managing Director and Equity Analyst Dan Ives said in a research note, citing improvements in battery technology, tax incentives and more affordable models that could lead to soaring demand.

In August, IHS Markit forecast that cars over the next decade are going to flip from being mostly gasoline-powered to mostly electric-powered. Electric vehicles accounted for 2.2 percent of US light-vehicle registrations through May 2021.

IHS Markit sees EVs growing from 3 percent of sales in 2021 to 32.3 percent by 2030, while gasoline-powered vehicles are forecast to shrink from 87 percent of sales to just 36.5 percent.

Are Filipinos ready to embrace the electric car? A Nissan-commissioned study by market research firm Frost & Sullivan shows that Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand are the top 3 nations in Southeast Asia with the highest inclination to adopt EVs. The study identified the top 3 factors that will motivate Asean consumers to buy electric cars: Better safety standards, environmental awareness, and the low cost of charging the vehicle. It said there is a growing environmental awareness across Southeast Asian consumers that their adoption of EVs will contribute to environmental protection.

The House of Representatives last week approved on final reading a measure providing a national energy policy and regulatory framework for the use and development of electric vehicles and their development as an industry. House Bill 10213, or the proposed “Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act,” seeks to establish the Philippine electric vehicle industry. It aims to create a national policy and framework to encourage the uptake of EVs in the public and private sectors with the creation of the Electric Vehicles Advisory Board, as well as the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry.

The bill’s overwhelming approval—195 affirmative votes against zero negative vote—is seen as an important milestone in the country’s pursuit to become a hub for electric vehicles. Other Asean members like Thailand, which aims to sell only zero-emission cars from 2035, and Indonesia have already announced their own electric vehicle programs.

Deputy Speaker Wes Gatchalian, the bill’s principal author, said a gradual shift to renewable sources of energy to diversify the power mix will help address the Philippines’ energy supply problem.

“This proposed measure stands on a constitutional provision that mandates the state to “protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature” as electric vehicles will help promote renewable energy development,” he said.

The bill mandates that private and public buildings and establishments designed with 20 or more common parking slots must designate dedicated parking slots for the exclusive use of EVs. Gasoline stations will also be required to install charging stations for electric cars.

Of the country’s 4.7 million registered vehicles in 2019, only 7,000 are EVs, according to the Land Transportation Office. The Department of Trade and Industry said Philippine EV players consist of 54 manufacturers/importers, 11 parts manufacturers, and 18 dealers/traders. There are 19 charging stations in the country, mostly in Luzon.

We need a law that will help build an entire ecosystem supportive of the country’s EV industry. It should require the Department of Energy to create an Electric Vehicle Roadmap that will form part of the Philippine Energy Plan. There’s a need to develop a nationwide charging infrastructure to make the plan work, on top of giving fiscal and non-fiscal incentives attractive to EV investors.

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Dr. Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes

EAGLE WATCH

I

T is said that to be human is to be creative. So, what does creativity mean exactly?

In his book titled Human Motivation, Robert Franken defines creativity as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining oneself and others. Franken provides three reasons why people are motivated to be creative. One, people have a need for novel, varied, and complex stimulations. Two, people have a need to communicate ideas and values. Three, people have a need to solve problems. To be creative, one must be able to view things in new ways or from different perspectives. Among other things, one needs to be able to generate new possibilities or new alternatives.

In relation to economics, the socalled creative economy, as explained by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), is an evolving concept that builds on the interplay between human creativity and ideas and intellectual property, knowledge, and technology. Essentially, the creative economy refers to the knowledge-based economic activities upon which the creative industries are based.

The UNCTAD notes that the creative industries—which include advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, fashion, film, video,

photography, music, performing arts, publishing, research and development, software, computer games, electronic publishing, television, and radio—are the lifeblood of the creative economy. They are also considered an important source of commercial and cultural value. The creative economy is, therefore, the sum of all the parts of the creative industries, including trade, labor, and production.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) cites the creative economy as one of the most rapidly growing

In reference again to Franken’s definition of creativity, the accelerated digitization of the creative industries nicely illustrates how human beings can manage to use their God-given intelligence to satisfy their different needs, which include communication, self-expression, entertainment, and even economic survival.

After all, it takes creativity to conquer a crisis. sectors in the world and currently accounts for about 3 percent of global gross domestic product. One of the unique features of the creative economy is the dual nature of the value it creates—both through physical manifestations of creativity (e.g., films, paintings, and books) and intangible expressions of creativity (e.g., dance, music, and performances). As an economic model dependent on the monetization of ideas, the protection of intellectual property becomes a decisive factor for the growth of the creative economy.

Moreover, the Unesco notes that at the heart of the creative economy are cultural and creative industries, which operate at the crossroads of arts, culture, commerce, and technology. CCIs generate about $2.25 trillion annually and employ about 30 million people worldwide. They are also the biggest job providers for workers aged 18 to 25—making

them the industries of tomorrow.

Tragically, however, Covid-19 has exposed pre-existing vulnerabilities within the culture sector. Owing to its heavy reliance on venues and shared experiences, the sector has been among the hardest hit by Covid-19. Cultural tourism suffered a double blow of travel restrictions and physical distancing measures. For instance, according to the International Council of Museums, nearly 13 percent of museums may never reopen. Many small creative enterprises and organizations, lacking cash reserves or endowments, are fighting for their survival. Due to the mostly informal nature of employment in the sector, many freelance and part-time workers have slipped through the cracks of conventional social safety nets.

Nevertheless, Covid-19 has also accelerated paradigm shifts and reinforced some positive trends, particularly in the areas of e-commerce, digital marketing, digital content streaming, digital conferencing, and remote working, which, together, are opening new opportunities for creative industries and creative freelancers. In the Philippines, for instance, House Bill 8101 (An Act Providing for the Promotion and Development of the Philippine Creative Industries and Providing Funds Therefor) aims to, among other things, push for the digitization of Philippine creative See “Eagle Watch,” A19

Outage highlights how vital Facebook has become worldwide

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

Creativity to conquer a crisis

By Mae Anderson | AP Business Writer

N

EW YORK—The six-hour outage at Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp was a headache for many casual users but far more serious for the millions of people worldwide who rely on the social-media sites to run their businesses or communicate with relatives, fellow parents, teachers or neighbors.

When all three services went dark Monday, it was a stark reminder of the power and reach of Facebook, which owns the photo-sharing and messaging apps.

Around the world, the breakdown at WhatsApp left many at a loss. In Brazil, the messaging service is by far the most widely used app in the country, installed on 99 percent of smartphones, according to tech pollster Mobile Time.

WhatsApp has become essential in Brazil to communicate with friends and family, as well as for a variety of other tasks, such as ordering food. Offices, various services and even the courts had trouble making appointments, and phone lines became overwhelmed.

Hundreds of thousands of Haitians in their homeland and

abroad fretted over the WhatsApp outage.

Many of the country’s more than 11 million people depend it to alert one another about gang violence in particular neighborhoods or to talk to relatives in the US about money transfers and other important matters. Haitian migrants traveling to the US rely on it to find each other or share key information such as safe places to sleep.

Nelzy Mireille, a 35-year-old unemployed woman who depends on money sent from relatives abroad, said she stopped at a repair shop in the capital of Port-au-Prince because she thought her phone was malfunctioning.

“I was waiting on confirmation on a money transfer from my cousin,” she said. “I was so frustrated.”

“I was not able to hear from my love,” complained 28-year-old Wilkens Bourgogne, referring to his partner, who was in the neighboring Dominican Republic, buying goods to bring back to Haiti. He said he was concerned about her safety because of the violence in their homeland.

“Insecurity makes everyone worry,” he said.

In rebel-held Syria, where the telecommunication infrastructure has been disrupted by war, residents and emergency workers rely mostly on Internet communication.

Naser AlMuhawish, a Turkeybased Syrian doctor who monitors coronavirus cases in rebel-held territory in Syria, said WhatsApp is the main communication method used with over 500 workers in the field.

They switched to Skype, but WhatsApp works better when Internet service is shaky, he said. If there had been an emergency such as shelling that he needed to warn field workers about, there could have been major problems, he said.

“Luckily this didn’t happen yesterday during the outage,” he said.

But hospitals treating Covid-19 patients in the region were thrown into panic. They lost contact with oxygen suppliers who have no fixed location and are normally reached via WhatsApp. One hospital sent staff member searching for oxygen at nearly two-dozen facilities, said Dr. Fadi Hakim of the Syrian American Medical Society.

In Lima, Peru, the breakdown complicated dental technician Mary Mejia’s job. Like most Peruvian medical workers, she uses WhatsApp for a multitude of tasks, including scheduling appointments and ordering crowns.

“Sometimes the doctor will be working on a patient and I need to contact a technician for job,” she said. “To have to step away and make a phone call? It trips us up.

We’ve become so accustomed to this tool.”

Millions of Africans use WhatsApp for all their voice calls, so “people felt they were cut off from the world,” said Mark Tinka, a Ugandan who heads engineering at SEACOM, a South Africa-based See “Outage,” A19

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Opinion

The making of ‘trapos’

We are all teachers

BusinessMirror

Manny F. Dooc

Tito Genova Valiente

TELLTALES

N

owadays, it is de rigueur to look down on people in government. And we cannot blame the public who generally hold our elective public officials in contempt. While campaigning for votes, they would endlessly talk about their deep compassion for little people. But once they assume office, they show their real character—unprincipled, dishonest and devoid of integrity. And the least they would do while tinkering with the privileges of their exalted position and deploying the vast powers of their office is pay scant attention to the poor and less privileged who installed them into office.

T hey are wolves disguised in sheep’s clothing to win votes but prey on their constituents and abuse their power and perks once they have taken their oath of office. The longer they stay in office, their popularity declines and the outpouring of support that they enjoyed at the beginning of their term evaporates. That is the inevitable law of shrinking support in politics. So, to remain in elective public office, the incumbents exploit to the hilt, lawfully or otherwise, the resources of their office. They cash in on the massive political capital that they have built up while in power and tap on the extensive network and IOUs they earned during their tenure. And they will have no compunction doing this even if they become beholden to their predatory patrons. They become well entrenched in power that they can create their own political dynasty in their bailiwick or anoint their subalterns to protect their interests and turf. This is the common narrative of greenhorn politicians who start their political journey with all the vigor and idealism of youth. At the early stage of their political career, they exude decency and integrity, honorably fulfilling their promise and potential. But as they go up the leadership ladder and get elected to higher office, they begin to compromise their principles to gain more support and the clinks in their armor appear. And before they know it, they become the perfect embodiment of the dreaded traditional politicians we now derisively call “trapos.” nnn

Old-timers in the political games believe that there are fundamental rules and criteria to observe to succeed in politics. In fact, political parties including the convenor 1Sambayan have spelled out their requirements in picking their presidential nominee, which eventually went to VP Leni Robredo—CHARACTER, COMPETENCE, INTEGRITY, TRACK RECORD and WINNABILITY. They believe that their official bet will rise or fall based on these critical factors.

Generally, the candidate’s initial concern is MONEY. A political enterprise requires sufficient funding. Waging an organized and effective campaign requires adequate logistics. For instance, seeking the presidency necessitates a minimum of a billion and a half pesos to launch a decent campaign.

It does not need to be raised upfront but necessary expenses should be bankrolled on time. With a bottomless pocket, a candidate will be able to ensure extensive MEDIA coverage and POLITICAL ADS. This will include SOCIAL MEDIA, and mobilizing an army of trolls, to support the campaign. Thus, the candidate with the most money enjoys a definite advantage. But money is not everything in politics. His money failed to land former Speaker and Senate President Manny Villar to Malacanang. Twice, Vice President Fernando Lopez never became president despite the huge resources of his family’s business.

Another sugar baron, Jose Yulo, lost to President Carlos P. Garcia while his running mate, Diosdado P. Macapagal, more known as the “Poor Boy from Lubao”, emerged victorious as vice president, and

To all those who have filed their COCs until today, I doff my hat to all of you. You have taken the greatest risk of your life to be of service to our people. You have done an unselfish act if you were goaded by your sincere desire to serve our people. I fully subscribe to the view that “there is no greater challenge and there is no greater honor than to be in public service.” eventually elected president over an incumbent. If money is the only thing that matters, businessmen with oodles of money like Ramon Ang and Enrique Razon, among others, who obviously love public service and helping the needy, should make their own presidential run instead of just playing kingmakers. MACHINERY and ORGANIZATION are also critical factors that help elect a candidate. A campaign should be run by an organization that can deploy human and material resources effectively. The campaign team should be oozing with talents and teamwork to address issues and emergencies on the ground efficiently. Nothing beats a good machinery with good operatives. Better ask Messrs. Ronnie Puno or Lito Banayo why they are most wanted every election time. Messaging and communication are indispensable proficiencies that every campaign should possess. Many times, the medium is as important as the message. A good spox should not only be competent but credible. A slick and smoothtalking communicator estranges listeners and offends voters. Verbosity and highfalutin words do not make a good message or speech. As the famous wordsmith H. L. Mencken had described it: “It reminds me of a string of wet sponges; it reminds me of tattered washing on the line; it reminds me of stale bean soup, of college yells, of dogs barking idiotically through endless nights. … It is rumble and tumble. It is a flap and doodle. It is balder and dash.” Amen.

Finally, it is important that the candidate is winnable. The candidate matters the most. Without a good candidate, all the other preparations will come up short. If you don’t have a good product, you cannot sell your ware to the public. The candidate’s personal MOTIVATION in seeking the office is the driving force behind a winner. Public service is a commitment. It means subordinating one’s personal and family interest for the common good. It’s a lifelong crusade and one must devote all his talents and resources to the worthy pursuit. As Lord Tweedsmuir, a British baron and intellectual, has once said: “Public life is the crown of a career, and to young men it is the worthiest ambition. Politics is still the greatest and most honorable adventure.”

And to all those who have filed their COCs until today, I doff my hat to all of you. You have taken the greatest risk of your life to be of service to our people. You have done an unselfish act if you were goaded by your sincere desire to serve our people. I fully subscribe to the view that “there is no greater challenge and there is no greater honor than to be in public service.”

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annotations

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ut Teachers’ Day or any month dedicated for teachers is not for all of us.

The day is supposed to fall on the fifth of October, following the World Teachers’ Day established by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1994.

Be that as it may, when I think of teachers whose day is commemorated this month, I think of a particular group of teachers—those who teach in the elementary and in particular those whose services are under the public school system. This is not to diminish the role of these teachers as I do not wish to count out how special other teachers instructing on any level and in any system. I am rather reminding myself what the task of this particular day is—to remember them.

I wish for the world to ask on this day, what have we done for them?

I want the world to see and remember what we had, from the inception of all kinds of schooling, embedded in the roles of these teachers and what assumptions and expectations are to be summoned from those roles. In the process, I want to clarify what achievements have they accomplished that we are now acknowledging, because in the end, any improvement on this varied population of teachers will invariably affect the recipient of their works, their pupils.

History vouches for the distinct and heavy roles we attribute to our public elementary school teacher.

In 1934, the Department of Public Instruction through its Bureau of Education issued a Teacher’s Manual on Health-Teaching Activities for all teachers. I found one of these materials in the National Library way back. It was signed by then Director of Education, Luther B. Bewley.

The manual was for Grade II level but taking its details and the language used and relating it to the present conditions, one can only be amazed how rigorous the production of education materials then. You are confronted with a language in English that college students at present may have difficulty understanding.

In the foreword, for example, one important message to teachers was how to make the work or activities cumulative. All throughout the

Outage. . .

continued from A18

Internet infrastructure company.

Many Africans also use WhatsApp to connect with relatives in other countries. Tinka’s stepdaughter lives in Caldwell, Idaho, and lost her father on Sunday, but could not speak with her family back in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, to arrange travel for the funeral.

“It’s amazing just how little folks understand the impact of three or four content companies on the utility of the Internet,” Tinka said.

Facebook said the outage was due to an internal error related to a “configuration change” but gave no details.

The outage came amid a crisis at Facebook, accused by a whistleblower on “60 Minutes” and on Capitol Hill of profiting from hate and division and suppressing research showing that Instagram

Eagle Watch. . . continued from A18

industries.

In particular, HB 8101 seeks to create a Philippine Creative Industry Development Council that will, in partnership with the DICT, provide access to digital services and digital training platforms for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and

instruction, the pronoun used for teachers was third person, female.

Professions then, especially teaching was heavily gendered. One can conclude that male teachers would never have been placed in grade II or even the higher primary grades; they would be assigned to the intermediate for the industrial arts classes or given supervisory positions.

The manual enjoined teachers to make twenty 10-minute lessons on health education, with units on safety in going to school and preparing for the first day in school.

Part of health education then, was the monitoring of weights of pupils, which then would ask teachers to use weighing scales. The manual was practical though when it mentioned how, in the absence of weighing scales (this was 1930s), the teacher could observe and ask pupils about their health conditions.

Under one unit, the teacher was to conduct inspection at the start of classes. There was a command for teachers to inspect for clean hands and nails. Most interestingly, at this portion, something was underscored: Do not touch the children during inspection.

In 1925, the same Director of Education, Luther B. Bewley, released an Elementary Home Economics book, described as a “Textbook for Girls in the Intermediate School of the Philippine Islands.” This was for teachers in fifth, sixth and seventh grade. Again, the details inside the book were noteworthy and one could not help but be interested in the end result the instruction was made for.

Going through the contents for the Grade V, for example, one encounters the following subject matters: Personal habits in the kitchen (dress, towels); Sweeping and dusting (care of dust cloths and brooms); Care of floors; Kitchen fire; Cleaning the kitchen table; Kerosene lamps; Household pests; Setting the table; Table manners; Table services with-

out a servant; and, ending with how to bake cakes.

Were we training trainors to train future slaves?

The lessons for the sixth grade focused on Home Nursing, with greater demands from the teachers to be almost health workers. Then for the last grade, it was back to being a wife with the final lessons on Housekeeping and Cooking.

The fact is ever since the Americans introduced public education, the subservience of the woman and the repression of the teacher, usually female, accomplishing that training for the oppression of girls became the recurring and persistent theme in our society.

It was therefore fate accomplished that when the 50s, the 60s and 70s came, the teachers were burdened with tasks that went beyond teaching and bordered on exploiting them.

Social events in their respective towns became their responsibilities.

Participation in fairs and exhibitions were required. Part of the unsaid in all these events was the absence of

subsidies for the teachers when they stepped out of classrooms.

The respect accorded these teachers was inversely proportional to wages and securities given them. In days of dangers and times of difficulties, these teachers were all the time looked up to as able to protect their pupils and their classrooms.

They stayed in schools even when storms were raging; in times of distress and accidents they were the first to be questioned and blamed.

Then when election time came, they were there first in the voting places. A society on a standby for any flaw that it was ultimately the source of was ready to negate the presence of these teachers. The same vicious society ultimately urged these teachers to subvert the democratic process.

When they refused and, in a thousand and one instances, they did, these teachers were mocked, hurt, and even killed.

To them belongs this Teachers’ Day.

contributes to body-image problems, eating disorders and thoughts of suicide in young women.

For small businesses, the outages meant hundreds or thousands of dollars in lost revenue.

Andrawos Bassous is a Palestinian photographer in the Israeli-occupied West Bank whose Facebook page has more than 1 million followers. He has worked with companies including Samsung and Turkish Airlines to create social media content. He said the social media blackout meant he was unable to book appointments or share videos online for companies that employ him.

“Imagine if you promised one of the companies you work for to share their product at a specific time and there is a blackout,” Bassous said.

Sarah Murdoch runs a small Seattle-based travel company called Adventures with Sarah and relies on Facebook Live videos to promote her tours. She estimated the

breakdown cost her thousands of dollars in bookings.

“I’ve tried other platforms because I am wary of Facebook, but none of them are as powerful for the type of content I create,” Murdoch said. As for her losses, “it may only be a few people, but we are small enough that it hurts.”

Heat her R ader r u n s How Charming Photography in Linton, Indiana. She takes photographs for schools and sports teams and makes yard signs with the photos. She has her own website but said parents and other customers mostly try to reach her through social media.

She said she might have lost three or four bookings for photo sessions at $200 a client.

“A lot of people only have a specific window when they can do ordering and booking and things like that,” she said. “If they can’t get a direct answer, they go to someone else.”

Tarita Carnduff of Alberta, Can-

ada, said she connects with other parents on Facebook just about every day, and the outage drove home for her how crucial that support is.

“As a parent with special needs kids, it is the only space I found others in similar positions,” she said.

“There’s a lot of us that would be lost without it.” But for others, the breakdown led them to conclude they need less Facebook in their lives.

Anne Vydra said she realized she was spending too much free time scrolling and commenting on posts she disagreed with. She deleted the Facebook app on Tuesday.

“I didn’t want it to come back,” said Vydra, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and does voiceover work.

She added: “I realized how much of my time was wasted.” AP reporters Sarah

freelancers in the creative industries.

Technical and financial assistance will be provided to Filipino entities that will endeavor to create digital content distribution platforms that benefit the creative industries. Dedicated high-speed infrastructure and bandwidth will also be provided to Internet service providers in the creative industries.

Indeed, these could well be wise investments in training and technology.

As many argue, there will most likely be no return to normal, as Covid-19 appears to have permanently reshaped the way people live and work.

Some of the behaviors developed in this crisis—including wide-scale digital adoption—will most likely outlast the pandemic, well after restrictions on activities are lifted.

In reference again to Franken’s definition of creativity, the accelerated digitization of the creative

industries nicely illustrates how human beings can manage to use their God-given intelligence to satisfy their different needs, which include communication, self-expression, entertainment, and even economic survival. After all, it takes creativity to conquer a crisis.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

El Deeb in Beirut; Jack Jeffery in Ramallah, West Bank; Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Diane Jeantet in Rio de Janeiro; Débora Álvares in Brasilia, Brazil; Joseph Pisani and Tali Arbel in New York; and Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report.

Dr. Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes is the Associate Director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.

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PHL can access ₧380-M UN fund to prepare for typhoons

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By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE Philippines will be able to tap P380 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund mechanism (CERF) to prepare for the upcoming typhoon season.

United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitar ian Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez said on Thursday the funds will be allocated as part of an innovative pilot test for anticipatory actions.

With the two-year funding from the UNCERF, the pilot’s anticipatory interventions will be executed by agencies while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

will provide overall coordination.

“The framework is designed to support 270,500 most vulnerable people in 44 municipalities across Regions 5 [Bicol] and 8 [Eastern Visayas] three days prior to landfall of a category-4 or 5 typhoon,” the UN said in a statement on Thursday.

The announcement for the assistance was made in the context of a High-Level Meeting co-chaired

by Gonzalez and Defense Secre-

tary Delfin Lorenzana, who is also chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

A collaborative dialogue explored ways in which anticipatory approach can address challenges of the climate crisis.

Lorenzana noted the government was “eager to further explore how to contextualize the pilot and ensure it empowers the local government units which are our first line of defense.”

The Philippines’s defense chief also said that the “current focus provides a good start to eventually roll out the pilot to other areas.”

“This work would not be possible without international collaboration and I welcome the resource partners and recognize their commitment, both globally and nationally, in advancing humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction and addressing climate change,” said Gonzalez.

“UK, Germany, EU and Canada are key contributors to the CERF and these resource partners, together with the World Bank, are also pioneering supporters of anticipatory action,” he added.

The UN agencies which will participate in the pilot in the Philippines include Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), among others.

A series of anticipatory pilots are facilitated by the CERF around the world as there has been compelling evidence that acting before the disaster hits reduces cost and saves lives.

UN said acting before disasters strike cuts the costs of humanitarian response, preserves people’s dignity and allows for a faster recovery by protecting hard-won development gains that were already achieved.

CHEL, NERI, CARL, ALAN, GIBO SENATE HOPEFULS

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

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UMAN-RIGHTS Lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Jr., former party-list representative Neri Colmenares, and entrepreneur, educator and media personality Carl Balita were among those who filed their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) on Thursday.

Diokno, who is running for senator under the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP), drew President Duterte’s ire for citing gaps in the government’s response to Covid-19.

In several recent public addresses, Duterte lambasted the lawyer, son of the later former senator Jose W. Diokno, making fun of his prominent front teeth.

In a press conference after filing his COC, Diokno said he does not mind Duterte’s antics and will continue raising important issues in the public forum.

“Whenever I talk about issues in our country, my teeth are being

BALITA

made fun of. It is okay with me since the teeth are insignificant. But we should continue discussing [in public] the big gaps and festering systems [in the society],” Diokno said.

Justice with a bite

IF he wins in the next polls, Diokno said he plans to pass laws, which will boost alternative court settlement through arbitration and mediation in the barangay justice system.

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Robredo files COC for president sans VP bet, vows ‘fight’

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

& Samuel P. Medenilla

W

@sam_medenilla

I T HOU T a ny pol it ic a l party or a running mate, Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo filed her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) on Thursday to formalize her presidential bid in the 2022 polls.

In a surprise move, Robredo chose not to affiliate herself with the Liberal Party, which helped in her campaign in the 2016 elections.

Instead, she decided to run as an independent candidate wearing a blue blouse with a pink ribbon—her new symbol for her upcoming 2022 campaign.

She was not clad in yellow, just like when she ran for vice president in 2016. The 53-year-old lawyer was accompanied by her daughters Aika and Tricia.

After filing her COC at around 3:30 p.m. at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent, Robredo immediately left the venue without giving a press conference as what most presidential aspirants did.

Robredo was not accompanied by any vice presidential candidate.

Earlier on Thursday, Robredo declared she is running for president in 2022, in a race that pits her anew with her 2016 rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., but this time in a contest that also includes three other strong contenders.

Robredo announced her decision during a speech at her office in Quezon City.

“Buong-buo ang loob ko ngayon: Kailangan nating palayain ang sarili mula sa kasalukuyang situwasyon. Lalaban ako; lalaban tayo. Inihahain ko ang aking sarili bilang kandidato sa pagkapangulo sa halalan ng 2022, [I am very confident now: we need to free ourselves from the current situation. I will fight. We will fight. I am offering myself as a candidate for president in the election of 2022].

“Ina akong nakikita ang pagdurusa ng minamahal kong bansa. Naniniwala akong ang pag-ibig hindi lang nasusukat sa pagtitiis kundi sa kahandaang lumaban, kahit gaano kahirap, para matapos na ang pagtitiis. Ang nagmamahal, kinakailangan ipaglaban ang minamahal,” [I am a mother who sees the suffering of my beloved country. I

believe that love is not only measured by suffering, but rather, the readiness to fight, no matter how hard, to end suffering. Someone who loves should be ready to fight for who they love,” she added.

A coalition of the country’s major labor groups, the Alliance of Labor Leaders for Leni (ALL4Leni), committed to back her election campaign.

“She walked with us, with the workers, farmers and those in the laylayan ng lipunan [the margins of society] in the past several years,” ALL4Leni said in a statement.

Members of ALL4Leni include the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP), National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE), and the Unified Filipino Service Workers (UFSW).

Unity attempts

EARLIER, Robredo was in talks with other presidential candidates Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Sen. Panfilo Lacson to find a “common ground.” But no agreement was reached between them.

Pacquiao, Moreno, and Lacson have already filed their COCs for president.

For his part, Marcos expressed confidence that he will beat Robredo in the 2022 national elections if it’s a head-to-head battle between them for the country’s highest post.

Marcos filed an electoral protest agaist Robredo before the Supreme Court but it was dismissed earlier this year.

Robredo, the 14th Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, was thrust into the national consciousness following the death in a plane crash of her husband, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. She stepped into the political arena in 2013, when she won as representative of the Third District of Camarines Sur. Robredo led the crafting of Office of Vice President’s flagship antipoverty program, Angat Buhay—an endeavor inspired by six key advocacy areas, including food security and nutrition, women empowerment, education, health care, rural development, and housing.

VICE President Leni Robredo delivers a speech outside her office on Thursday right after announcing she will join the presidential race for 2022. NONOY LACZA

Ronapreve gets EUA; Faberco, RiteMed tie up

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

T

HE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for Covid-19 antibody drug Ronapreve to treat mild to moderate infection.

FDA director general Eric Domingo told the BusinessMirror that with the EUA issued to Ronapreve, the government has more treatment options in the fight against Covid-19.

Ronapreve, a combination of two monoclonal antibodies, casirivimab and imdevimab, was granted EUA on October 1.

It will be used to treat mild to moderate Covid-19 for patients 12 years old and above.

Ronapreve is intended for people at high risk of developing severe Covid-19.

Also, it can be given to those already showing symptoms or those exposed to someone infected.

Domingo said that since it is combination of two antibodies, it is fighting the infection and should be given during the early part of the illness.

“First days of Covid symptoms when it is given to the patient,” Domingo said in another media interview. Ronapreve is administered by injection or infusion.

Partnership for Molnupiravir

MEANWHILE, Faberco Life Sciences Inc. (Faberco), appointed distributor of Molnupiravir, the first oral anti-viral drug clinically proven to reduce the risk of Covid-19 hospitalization or death in the Philippines, has partnered with RiteMed Philippines, Inc. (RiteMed) for the latter to distribute the oral drug to

hospitals, medical institutions, and treatment sites in the Philippines.

Once compassionate special permits (CSP) are filed with and approved by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Molnupiravir may be available in the country as early as next month. They can be accessed initially through hospitals and other health-care facilities.

“We are confident that through the distr ibution channels of RiteMed, Molnupiravir will reach health-care facilities throughout the country faster, giving more Filipinos access to this lifesaving drug the soonest possible time,” said Kishore Hemlani, founder of Faberco.

RiteMed president Jose Maria A. Ochave said the partnership with Faberco puts RiteMed in a good position to “help more Filipinos survive the pandemic and is aligned

with our mission to provide access to essential medicines by partnering with like-minded doctors and health-care facilities.”

Faberco was appointed Philippine distributor of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., a partner manufacturer of Merck & Co. (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), which developed the Molnupiravir 200mg capsule.

The initial batches of Molnupiravir could be available in the Philippines by the second week of November, subject to regulatory approvals.

FDA chief Domingo has said the oral anti-viral drug can be used by doctors and hospitals for Covid treatment via the CSP. The FDA allows the use of investigational drugs—or drugs not yet registered or in the process of registration—if they are covered by CSP.

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, October 8, 2021

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Smart, Globe tussle over MNP service

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

T

he mobile number portability (MNP) service has created tension between the two largest wireless services providers in the Philippines, with Smart Communications Inc. alleging that Globe Telecom Inc. has employed a “constructive denial” of network switching to subscribers.

Smart and Globe traded barbs over the MNP service. For one, Smart said in a statement that Globe is delaying the implementation of the porting service causing inconvenience to consumers.

Smart alleged that Globe’s system rejects network transfer requests for

subscribers even those with Globeissued valid unique subscriber codes, which in a nutshell, means that subscribers have been pre-cleared

by Globe for transfer to another network.

“When the Globe customer comes to Smart stores to transfer to Smart, Globe’s system rejects the request due to ‘bundled services.’ Globe has admitted that this is a system error and that the customer is entitled to port in to Smart, but has failed to fix the system error to date. After one week, Globe’s system continues to generate the same error to the frustration of its customers wanting to transfer to Smart,” Smart said.

Smart added that Globe had already attempted to “apply a fix” on

the issue, but “the invalid rejects continued even after the attempted fix.”

Smart has since logged a 38-percent rejection rate by Globe due to these technical issues.

“We demand a firm commitment on timelines so we can handle appropriately and cascade with our store frontliners accordingly. Globe’s shortcomings are seriously putting a strain on our own resources as we implement extraordinary measures to bridge the serious gaps that Globe’s issues have created, and keep ported customers digitally connected,” said Smart Regulatory Affairs Manager Kenneth E. Regañon.

“These shortcomings reveal a failure on the part of Globe to give its customers the freedom to keep their

mobile numbers when they choose to switch to their preferred mobile network. Moreover, there is no urgency to commit to defined timelines for permanent fixes.”

Aside from this, Regañon said Globe subscribers that ported into Smart had issues when loading their mobile phones via GCash, a Globe-owned financial technology provider.

Smart has already asked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to look into this issue, specifically the delays on the part of Globe-branded mobile service provider GOMO. In a separate statement, Globe said it “strongly denies any malice or intent to violate the MNP law.”

“Being transparent to our GOMO customers, we have sent out SMS advisories on the delay of MNP service readiness to keep our customers fully informed,” Globe said.

It said the issues are simply “birth pains” related to the new porting service.

“This is especially true in our case because of our multiple brands that have multiple functionalities which are differentiated from our core brands,” said Globe.

Globe also called out Smart for bringing the issue to the NTC, saying that this should be resolved within the Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. (TCI), a joint venture among the three telcos for the porting service.

“All issues and wins of the MNP service are being discussed at length at the management committee of TCI. All service providers are aware of the challenges currently being experienced. It does seem this complaint is being done in bad faith on the part of Smart,” Globe said.

Globe said GOMO will be able to provide porting service by October 12, a 12-day delay from the September 30 deadline of launching the MNP. “We want to make sure that the service will be offered without posing additional problems or complications to our customer. So far, the company has not received a request from a GOMO customer wanting to avail of the MNP service.”

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Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, October 8, 2021

Govt told to prioritize set up of renewable energy market

By Lenie Lectura

T

@llectura

he Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said the proposed renewable energy market (REM) should be implemented ahead of the other policies aimed at increasing renewable energy (RE) production and meeting RE targets.

“To date, there is still no operating REM, which is the venue where the accumulated RE Certificates of mandated participants are traded.

We would like to respectfully note that the institution and operationalization of the REM is essential to ensure the smooth implementation and operationalization of the GEAP [Green Energy Auctions Program], GEOP [Green Energy Option Program] and this draft circular,”

said Meralco Vice President and Utility Economics Head Lawrence Fernandez.

Under GEOP, consumers with peak demand of at least 100 kilowatts may choose RE as their source of electricity.

GEAP, meanwhile, covers power generation companies that will participate in the market as suppliers for consumers who qualify for the GEOP.

The third proposed RE policy is the adjusted annual percentage increment of the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) for on-grid areas to 2.52 percent from the current 1 percent.

Fernandez, in a letter to the DOE, asked for the timeline of the establishment and commercial operation of REM. The REM allows mandated participants, such as distribution utilities and retail electricity suppliers, to buy or sell RE certificates. This also helps them comply with RPS, a policy that requires them to source a portion of their power needs from renewable sources.

In the same letter, Fernandez told the DOE that any changes in the RPS percentage would require careful planning on their sourcing strategy and program. He said any increase in increment should consider that “we are already in the third quarter of 2021; competitive selection process can take up to six months, resulting power supply

agreements will need to undergo ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission] proceedings; and it takes two or more years to develop and construct a power plant.”

Fernandez appealed for mandated participants, such as Meralco, to be given enough time to comply with the proposed adjustment.

According to Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola, preparations for REM are underway. “I think the systems audit has just been completed. We are just finalizing the agreements on the use of the system. Go Live can be done this year but most probably without the trading of RECs since this has to be approved by the ERC.” The DOE official assured that it will take into consideration the request of Meralco.

“We are still going through all the comments and position papers submitted on the increase. As always, we will look into all their arguments,” Delola said in a text message.

AllDay is ready for shifts in shopping behavior

By VG Cabuag @villygc

A

llDay Supermarket, the grocery chain of the Villar Group’s AllDay Marts Inc., said Thursday it is ready to deliver the premium shopping experience being sought by local consumers.

AllDay, whose stores are mostly new or renovated, said it was able to capture discerning shoppers who put a premium on their overall shopping experience. It said it placed the supermarket chain in a prime position to benefit from

the growing Filipino middle class, a segment of the population that now includes 54.2 million Filipinos in 2020 from just 37.6 million in 2015, according to GlobalData.

“AllDay has always held itself to a global standard as we differentiate ourselves from the local supermarket landscape,” Manuel B. Villar Jr., chairman of AllValue, AllDay’s parent company, said.

“We have always believed that the Filipino deserves to be able to access a global standard of grocery shopping experience, and we believe that by remaining committed

www.businessmirror.com.ph

URC program boosts yield of potato growers

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

toes for P30 to P35 per kilogram.

Gabriel Bandao, head of the Imbayao Community Participatory Action Research Association, said farmers in Imbayao town, in Bukidnon, were able to sell nearly 10,000 kilos of potatoes for P65 to P70 a kilogram.

“The program helped 100 percent of farmers here in Imbayao.

That’s why we are very thankful to URC. They’ve helped us improve our yield and, with it, our lives,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

URC said cooperatives that are beneficiaries of the program also receive quality training, as well as access to the latest research and technology on potato farming.

“This initiative has been a win for everyone. Farmers get the resources they need to weather the pandemic. There is a boost in efforts to promote high-value crops like potato. URC, meanwhile, realizes its goals under its peopleand planet-friendly strategy,” said Laurent Levan, URC’s SVP for Corporate Development & External Affairs.

Levan added that the Sustainable Potato Program is part of URC’s move towards becoming a global sustainable organization.

“Our company is building its sustainability roadmap alongside the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This includes responsible sourcing, production, consumption and developing the capabilities of communities for better livelihood,” Levan said.

@jearcalas

S

ome potato farmers in Benguet and Davao del Sur have quintupled their average yield with the help of a program which gives them access to highquality seeds, Universal Robina Corp. (URC) said Thursday.

URC said potato farmers in Benguet, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur are now reaping the benefits of the company’s joint program with the Department of Agriculture which seeks to provide them with Granola potato seeds from Canada.

The program, dubbed Sustainable Potato Program, started in 2018. “Since then, potato yields from the program have grown by more than fivefold.”

“Farmers are now able to harvest 10 to 15 kilos a year out of a kilo of seeds from just three to four kilos previously,” it added.

URC said the farmer-beneficiaries of the program were able to harvest some 1,258 metric tons (MT) of potatoes last year.

The company said it donated up to 135 MT of Granola Elite 3 table potato seeds imported from Canada to over 1,000 farmers.

“These were really quality seeds, and have been a big help for us,” said Ardan Copas, head of the United Potato Cooperative in Benguet.

“Despite the pandemic, we were able to produce a million kilos, thanks to this program,” he added. Copas’s group sold their pota-

mutual funds

October 7, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

224.69

15.37%

-2.37%

-3.28%

-1.1%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.6817

58.94%

7.29%

3.9%

28.08%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1119

18.32%

-6.03%

-6.12%

-0.67%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.744 11.69%

-4.96% n.a.

-8.46%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7902 18.44%

-0.15% n.a.

6.55%

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

22.84%

0.85%

-0.91%

3.8%

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

0.7573

16.45%

-1.82%

-5.05%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

98.05

16.8%

-5.29% n.a.

-3.75%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

46.3929

19.07%

-0.41%

-1.84%

-0.95%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

483.01

15.16%

-0.37%

-2.42%

-1.21%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

1.1221

26.53% n.a. n.a.

2.26%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.2804

28.37%

1.99%

-0.04%

9.6%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

35.4924

21.49%

0.33%

-0.72%

2.08%

5.1293

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9011

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.7672

19.8%

17% n.a. n.a.

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

797.45

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7215

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.6872 United Fund, Inc. -a

3.3327

-1.3%

0.33%

-1.16%

-0.5%

19.87%

0.41%

-1.19%

-0.52%

19%

-3.93%

-4.4%

0.36%

20.25%

-1.77%

-2.31%

1.75%

0.05%

-1.36%

-0.83%

-0.06%

-0.5%

0.42%

0.54%

-0.71%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9101 19.42% 19.42%

-2.46%

Exchange Traded Fund

BusinessMirror file photo

First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c

107.1102

19.93%

-0.41%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities

to a higher standard, AllDay will continue to enrich this experience for each and every customer.”

In its 2021 scan of consumer trends in the Philippines, Euromonitor International reported that consumers are now looking for more choices and more value tiers, shifting from an inclination to value to a preference for the premium, or the ability to spend on what matters most. It also said that consumers at all income levels are now seeking products, services and experiences that reflect their personal identity.

The Philippine middle class, as identified by Euromonitor International, is quality-conscious, further driving a growing market for premium products, services and experiences. In Euromonitors’ Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyle Surveys 2021, half of Filipino respondents, compared to a global reading of 38 percent, said they prefer to buy fewer but higher quality items.

They are also much more keen to seek out hard-to-find items and prize convenience, with 27 percent of Filipino respondents saying they seek niche brands that are unique while 57 percent percent are willing to pay a premium to save time.

In the same study, 58 percent of the respondents say that they are seeking curated experiences that are tailored to their tastes.

“The market preference shifting to more premium experiences and selections is something we saw in

our benchmarking trips in the region as well as in the United States.

We welcome this as a challenge, and we believe AllDay is well-prepared,” said Camille Villar, president of AllValue, AllDay’s parent company.

“As we have already established an elevated in-store and online customer experience for the brand, we want to ensure that we remain consistent in the experience we offer, as we believe that this will resonate strongly with a growing Filipino preference for an elevated, premium experience.”

Both the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission gave their green light for the P6.02-billion initial public offering of AllDay, which could be the sixth listing at the Philippine Stock Exchange for the year.

The company will sell some 6.85 billion in common shares as its primary offer and an over-allotment option of 685.71 million shares as its secondary offer. Both will have a par value of P0.10 and will be sold at an indicative price of P0.80 per share.

The final price of the offer is scheduled on October 12, while the start of selling of the shares will be on October 18 to 25. It will be listed at the PSE for trading on November 3.

Net proceeds from the sale could amount to P5.82 billion, which it said will be used for debt repayment, capital expenditures and initial working capital for store network expansion.

$1.1343

7.06%

4.52%

4.34%

-5.7%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.758

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

15.44%

10.61%

10.91%

5.09%

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

1.6794

8.88%

1.42%

-1.29%

0.65%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.224

9.38%

1.12%

-1.14%

-2.69%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6792

12.42%

2.95%

0.54%

1.99%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2013 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.9809

8.37%

17.24% n.a. n.a.

3.34%

0.92%

0.7% -2.34%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7012

7.46%

2.79%

-0.41%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.5711

7.63%

2.69%

-0.42%

-2.18%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0746

9.14%

1.08%

-0.35%

-0.79%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6083 11.62%

0.52%

-0.9%

0.98%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9876

6.23% n.a. n.a.

-3.42%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9184

11.62% n.a. n.a.

-3.24%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.908

13.71% n.a. n.a.

-2.69%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

15.93%

0.9191

0.54%

-1.1%

1.62%

3.54%

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

$0.03758

-3.47%

2.62%

0.9%

-3.89%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0572

1.49%

2.83%

2.36%

-6.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.6519 11.76%

8.17%

7.65%

3.08%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.2007 5.09%

4.68%

3.99%

-0.12%

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

373.03

1.2%

2.98%

2.45%

0.51%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9277

-1.26%

1.26%

0.22%

1.44%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.242

1.23%

3.35%

4.15%

0.83%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2525

-1.91%

2.05%

1.35%

-1.99% -0.93%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4304 -0.92%

3.17%

1.71%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4466

-4.33%

5.08%

1.33%

-3.96%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.317

0.31%

3.98%

2.62%

-0.33% -0.72%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9722

0.35%

4.66%

2.43%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0287

-1.04%

5.32%

1.65%

-1.42%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1967

0.28%

5.03%

2.76%

-0.29%

4.3%

2.1%

-0.93%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7386

-0.57%

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

$487.74

1.85%

3.06%

2.11%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.1

1.34%

1.07%

0.79%

0.4%

$1.1877

-3.89%

1.93%

1.04%

-7.2% -2.63%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0259 -1.89%

0.77%

1.46%

0.63%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0257

-5.54%

-0.05%

-1.43%

-5.9%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.461

-1.43%

4.67%

1.56%

-3.11%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.0627392

2.11%

3.34%

2.01%

0.7%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1142 -1.92%

2.63%

0.41%

-3.39%

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

2.54%

0.75%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0556 0.97% n.a. n.a.

130.79

1.22%

0.72%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3109

1.08%

1.53%

2.95% 2.74%

2.55%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0589

0.89%

1.55% n.a.

0.5%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3182

29.48% n.a. n.a.

16.7%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a,d

$0.97

3.19% n.a. n.a.

-1.02%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

"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."

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

‘Expiry of PSALM corporate life may increase govt debt’

A

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

@joveemarie

lawmaker is pushing for the extension of the corporate life of Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp., saying its corporate life expiry could have “serious fiscal consequences.”

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda warned that the government may have to shoulder as much as P198 billion in debts from the liabilities of the PSALM if its corporate life is not renewed.

“If PSALM’s debt is not isolated from those of the national government, however, we would see an instant increase in the national government debt stock of at least P198 billion, given the delays in the privatization efforts,” Salceda warned.

The corporate life of the PSALM is expiring on June 26, 2026.

Salceda, meanwhile, asked the PSALM to present its plans for the extension.

“If we will extend your life by 50 years, better present what you want

to do with it. I thus request, that the PSALM submit its 50-year and medium-term plan for financial management and privatization to my office,” Salceda said.

‘Potential financial risk’

Citing his assessment of PSALM’s debt management capabilities, Salceda said he expects some P198 billion of its debts will remain in 2026, following delays in the privatization of key assets due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I wouldn’t wait until the next administration to extend its corporate life,” Salceda said after a hearing last Wednesday on a proposal to extend the government corporation’s charter for another 50 years.”

“The fiscal consequences are serious, especially since that period will still involve fiscal recovery.”

Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), was enacted to ensure the solvency the National Power Corp. (NPC). The EPIRA created PSALM in 2001, a government-owned and -controlled corporation, with a corporate life of 25 years.

PSALM has the principal mandate of managing the orderly sale, disposition, and privatization of the NPC generation assets, real estate and other disposable assets, and Independent Power Producer (IPP) contracts to optimally liquidate all NPC financial obligations, including stranded debts and stranded contract costs, which were transferred to and assumed by PSALM pursuant to the EPIRA. At the end of PSALM’s life, all its assets and outstanding debts and IPP contract costs will revert to and be assumed by the national government.

“We were originally set to see the obligations begin to almost disappear by 2026, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, certain privatization efforts were delayed,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker said that “unless PSALM’s privatization thrust is completed, this reversion is a potential

fiscal risk that could affect our credit standing and the national government’s overall fiscal health—strained as it already is by the Covid-19 pandemic and implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling increasing local government units’ share of national taxes.”

Salceda also said that certain privatization efforts are also in imminent need of a longer PSALM corporate life.

“The proposed development of the NPC property in Diliman, Quezon City, for example, into a mixed-use commercial complex will warrant the corporate life extension of the staterun corporation,” he said.

Salceda said the development blueprint initially cast for the 5.195-hectare NPC property aims to convert it into a mixed-use commercial strip patterned after the business district metamorphosis of Fort Bonifacio Global City. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, re-adjustments have to be incorporated in the earlier crafted privatization design for the property.

“Given the experience of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority with developments such as Fort Bonifacio, whose planning began in 1995, but only started being developed into a full-scale master-planned com-

munity in 2003, the Diliman property could take at least a decade before it realizes its promise as a revenue-driver for the PSALM,” Salceda said.

Creation of TWG

Meanwhile, the House Committee on Energy chaired by Deputy Majority Leader Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo has created a technical working group (TWG) that would further discuss the proposals, extending the corporate life of and strengthening the PSALM. Several resource persons expressed their agencies’ support for the bill extending PSALM’s corporate life.

Among them was Department of Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin who said it would be beneficial for the country to have the life of PSALM extended considering its substantial debts.

He said if PSALM’s life would be allowed to expire, its debts would be absorbed in the balance sheet of the government and would increase the country’s deficit.

Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. President Anne Estorco-Montelibano said her group fully supports any measure that would allow PSALM to perform and complete its mandate under the EPIRA.

Friday, October 8, 2021

B3

IPOPHL wants local SMEs to secure global trademarks

T

he Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is urging at least 100 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to secure trademarks with global recognition by 2024.

On Thursday, the IPOPHL launched Juan for the World program which seeks to aid SMEs in applying for trademarks under the Madrid Protocol. It provides IP protection in up to 125 countries with just single application.

“We hope to empower SMEs on a global scale. We hope to make them realize the opportunities in the global markets and how early protection of trademarks can help them grow their business,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said during the launch.

Barba said IPOPHL has received only 154 applications from SMEs out of the total 436 since the Philippines’s accession to the Madrid Protocol in 2012 until last year.

He attributed this to “lack of financing and know-how on the international trademark application process,” which the program seeks to address.

Stressing the benefits of registering trademarks abroad, Bureau of Trademarks Director Jesus Antonio Z. Ros said the program will “provide the trademark owners with the necessary technical and financial assistance with respect to branding and registration as well as in gaining market access abroad.”

He noted that securing IP protection in foreign markets will allow SMEs to have additional revenues, bolstering the country’s bid for achieving inclusive growth. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Bank Secrecy Act must not protect govt workers–solon

By Butch Fernandez

L

@butchfBM

OOKING to boost efforts to “curb corruption,” Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson insists that all government workers “from the clerk all the way up to the President” must not be covered by the protection of the Bank Secrecy Law. “Whether you are a janitor or clerk, all the way up to the President, you should not be protected by the Bank Secrecy Act,” the senator emphasized during a televised interview last

Thursday.

Lacson referred to Republic Act 1405, or “An Act Prohibiting Disclosure Of or Inquiry Into, Deposits with Any Banking Institution and Provid-

ing Penalty Therefor.”

Section 2 of the law considers all deposits of whatever nature with banks or banking institutions in the Philippines including investments in bonds issued by the Government of the Philippines, its political subdivisions and its instrumentalities, “as of an absolutely confidential nature and may not be examined, inquired or looked into.”

However, the law provides exceptions “in cases of bribery or dereliction of duty of public officials, or in cases where the money deposited or invested is the subject matter of the litigation.”

Lacson asserted the exclusion of government workers from the privileges accorded by the law will help curb corruption as government officials and employees who enrich themselves while in office will “have a harder time

hiding their ill-gotten gain.”

In the interview, Lacson lamented the provision of RA 1405 prohibiting the disclosure of or inquiry to bank deposits has frequently been exploited to “hamper and stall investigations” of government officials and employees suspected of enriching themselves while in public office.

The Senator recalled filing bills in the last three Congresses to exclude public servants from the Bank Secrecy Act’s protection in the last three Congresses, including Senate Bill 26 in the 18th Congress.

Lacson laments that “unfortunately, these bills were not passed.”

“Once you enter government service, you should be excluded from the Bank Secrecy Act. Unfortunately, my bills to that effect were not passed,” he rued.

BSP asks banks to apply SBLs to curb undue risk-taking

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) urged banks to apply the separate Single Borrower’s Limit (SBL) for project-finance exposures after monetary authorities earlier relaxed measures on the limit.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said applying the separate SBL is still subject to compliance with certain conditions.

To be eligible for the separate SBL

for project finance, the BSP said bank exposures must meet the conditions under Section 362 of the Manual of Regulations for Banks.

Among the conditions is that the purpose of the obligation should be to finance projects that are in line with the priority programs and projects of the Philippine National Government. Some of these projects are for water supply, wastewater and sanitation services.

The terms of the obligation must also give the lender a substantial degree of control over the assets

and the income that it generates by instituting standard prudential controls to safeguard creditors’ interests.

The BSP also said the lending bank shall consider its total project-finance exposures in managing risks and complying with its internal limits on large exposures and credit risk concentrations pursuant to existing BSP regulations.

This is to curb excessive credit risk-taking, the BSP said.

The separate SBL for project finance has been tempo-

PSE supports financial-literacy initiative

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

T

HE Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. has joined the global “Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy,” an initiative of the World Federation of Exchanges.

The move marks the self-regulatory organization’s third straight year of supporting this advocacy.

PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon and Securities and Exchange Chairman Emilio B. Aquino led the bell-ringing event.

The “Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy” initiative is WFE’s program in support of the World Investor Week hosted by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco). Close to 80 members of WFE are participating in this annual activity.

Monzon noted in his message the growing number of retail investors in the Philippine stock market, most of whom are considered stock

market neophytes.

He also cited the various investor education activities of the PSE to equip potential and new investors with basic and practical stock market knowledge.

“All the financial literacy programs we do in PSE is our contribution to help make financial inclusion a reality,” Monzon said. “We want more Filipinos to reap the rewards of their hard work through investing.”

Among the ongoing financial literacy activities of the PSE are the twice a month webinars, online certified securities specialist course and daily stock market information posting on the PSE’s official social media accounts.

Aquino, for his part, highlighted the need to improve the financial literacy level in the country and how the SEC Communication Advocacy and Network helps address this need.

“We believe that financial education will empower our investors to protect themselves from unscrupulous players in the financial market,” he said.

“All market infrastructures, whether large or small, whether in a developed market or a frontier market, should prioritize investor education at the heart of their business and as a foundation of market integrity,” Aquino added.

The SEC’s advocacy is an initiative aimed at deepening and broadening investor education and protection among Filipinos. PSE is one of the SEC’s partner organizations in this network along with 10 other public and private organizations.

For the rest of the week, the PSE will continue to share investor education information on its official social media accounts. The PSE will also host a webinar on October 8 on debunking stock investment myths.

CPAs gear up for audit of sustainability reports

T

HE country’s certified public accountants (CPAs) are gearing up to perform assurance work on sustainability reports that publicly-listed corporations (PLCs) are required to submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

For CPAs to do so, they must go beyond crunching the numbers and audit the so-called “triple bottom line” of companies, Chris Ferareza, partner in the advisory services division of P&A Grant Thornton, was quoted in a statement as saying. “To remain relevant, accountants must acquire the knowledge and skills to show clear links between sustainability issues with financial performance,” Ferareza said.

According to the executive of the audit firm, the skills needed go beyond traditional accounting and auditing as the role requires the ability to quantify and/or evaluate risks, as well as opportunities related to the environment and to society or the two other bottom lines in “profit, people and planet.”

The SEC has made it mandatory for PLCs to submit sustainability reports by 2023. Since it required companies to submit their sustainability reports under an approach called “comply or

explain” in 2019, the compliance rate among PLCs has been growing: from 90.4 percent in 2019 for the 2020 reports to 91.07 percent for the 2021 reports. However, Ferareza noted that many sustainability reports are yet to be at a level of quality that goes beyond mere compliance.

“It’s still a far cry from those in other developed countries such as Japan, as we’re just in the nascent stage in sustainability reporting and much still needs to be improved,” he added.

Ferareza said this may be the case because sustainability has yet to be embraced by reporting entities and incorporated in their businesses. Other challenges of PLCs are the lack of sustainability reporting expert within the organization, and a possible conflict of interest among companies engaged in businesses that pose harm to the environment or society.

This is where independent auditors have an edge, he said.

“We are duty bound to verify whatever information is provided to us, just like in auditing financial statements.”

Accountants are trained to provide clear and reliable information, gather evidence, and ensure that necessary

processes and procedures are established.

“We usually know the business inside out so it’s easier for us to marry financial and non-financial aspects of the business operation,” Ferareza said.

“Perhaps this is also the reason studies show that CPAs are the professionals of choice for assuring sustainability information.” As non-financial issues such as carbon emission, human rights, and diversity increasingly affect companies’ reputation and, ultimately, profitability, Ferareza said accountants will thus have to “upskill and evolve to become specialists” in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

To prepare for auditors’ expanded role, the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Picpa) entered into a memorandum of understanding with the SEC and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) last year to conduct capability building on sustainability and integrated reporting.

The Picpa also created a national committee on sustainability and integrated reporting to mainstream the reporting of sustainability practices and advocate business activities that consider the “Triple Bottom Line” framework.

rarily increased to 30 percent from 25 percent until end-December this year.

“The adoption by the BSP of a separate SBL for project finance aims to mobilize private sector funding toward projects that support the country’s economic recovery efforts and nation building,” Diokno said.

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, October 8, 2021 B2-1

Lockdowns, unemployment hobble PCSO performance

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

S

TATE-run Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) missed its P11.59 billion revenue target in the second quarter, marking the second consecutive time that it missed its quarterly targets this year.

In its accomplishment report, the PCSO said that from April to May it only generated a total of P8.313 billion, 28.3-percent below its target for the period.

The PCSO said its revenue were impacted by the imposition of quarantine classifications nationwide and unemployment.

“Hence, the decrease in sales.”

For the second quarter of this year, the PCSO earned most of its revenues from Small Town Lottery (STL) accounting for P4.73 billion. This is followed by lotto and digit games (P3.35 billion), National Instant Sweepstakes program (P176.13 million) and Keno (P55 million).

In the second quarter last year, PCSO did not generate any revenue from its gaming operations after these were suspended following the declaration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine on the National Capital Region and a state of calamity and public health emergency throughout the country.

Nonetheless, the PCSO also provided P634.09 million as health-and medical-related assistance to 75,082 Individuals, 22 local government units (LGUs), 14 hospitals and 20 institutions during the second quarter.

The PCSO said that as part of its mandate under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, it contributed P103.79 million for this quarter. Including its contributions to the UHC fund pool in the first quarter of this year, the PCSO’s total contributions for 2021 have so far reached P277.75 million.

It also allocated a total of P94.24 million to various institutions as part of its mandatory contributions in the second quarter of this year.

The lottery regulator also released P59.625 million as lotto shares to local government units and P32.711 million to the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and four local government units. The PCSO said it also paid P2.082 billion as taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

In the first quarter of this year, the PCSO also fell short of its P11.59 billion revenue target as it only collected P11.24 billion.

PCSO A ssistant General Manager Arnel N. Casas earlier said the agency forecasts sales to reach P35 billion this year.

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

B2-2 Friday, October 8, 2021

BSP: 1-in-5 monthly payment transactions now done online

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By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

NE in five monthly payment transactions are now done online, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Thursday.

In a virtual briefing, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno reported that the BSP achieved its target of reaching 20 percent of digital payments volume by 2020, due largely to the behavior shift catalyzed by the pandemic.

According to the BSP’s latest data, 20.1 percent of monthly payments volume was done digitally by the end of 2020, improving from the 17-percent digital transactions in the first

six months of last year.

The “20 percent by 2020” target was set when the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) was launched in 2015. The value of digital payments, likewise, substantially grew from 25 percent to 26.8 percent for the same period.

“The health protocols that entailed social mobility restrictions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic have emerged to be a strong catalyst

for the wider adoption of digital payments in the country,” Diokno said.

“More consumers are becoming digitally-engaged and have adapted to the use of digital payments for their financial transactions as shown by the sustained rise in the volume and value of merchant payments and remittances.”

The increased usage of digital payments was largely driven by highfrequency, low value retail transactions such as person-to-merchant payments and person-to-person (P2P) payments such as electronic fund transfers.

“While the Covid-19 pandemic may have disrupted our way of life, it also created exceptional opportunities to boost digital payments and financial inclusion in the country,” the central bank chief said.

Merchant payments surged by

47.8 percent in volume in 2020 from its volume in last year.

Significant contributors to the overall rise in digital payments volume include remittances, which grew by 18.1 percent and the payment of government institutions for salaries, and payroll, which registered an increase of 21.1 percent. The payment of salaries to government employees was fully digitized by the end of 2020.

Diokno vowed to continue pushing for digitization in the financial services sector, and said many projects are in the pipeline such as the PESONet multiple-batch settlement initiative.

“We remain committed to the economic empowerment of the Filipino people by giving them universal access to safe, affordable and convenient digital payment services,” the governor said.

Fintech touts honors for QR code pay tack

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INANCIAL technology (fintech) services provider PayMaya Philippines Inc. announced it was recently recognized as having the “Best QR Code Payment Offering” (Gold) at the 2021 Future Digital Awards organized

by United Kingdom-based Juniper Research Ltd. PayMaya President Shailesh Baidwan said the award is special because it is the only Philippine company that earned an award this year.

Baidwan said PayMaya was feted for its role in driving QR

(quick response) payment adoption across consumers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and large companies in the Philippines. The awards recognize “challengers and disruptors” who have made “outstanding contributions to their industry and are positioned to make a significant impact in the future.”

“Our dual-approach of enabling both consumers and enterprises has made PayMaya QR a growth engine for digital payments adoption in the Philippines,” Baidwan was quoted in

a statement as saying.

The company claims its registered customers are now more than 38 million.

In 2019, PayMaya adopted the QR Ph for consumer accounts, the national standard implemented by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. In January this year, PayMaya began expanding its digital financial services offerings with “sachet” loans for MSMEs through its lending arm, PayMaya Lending Corp., and health and device protection products with insurance partners.

Last June, its parent company Voyager Innovations Inc. announced it would use a $167-million funding raised from PLDT Inc., Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., Tencent Holdings Ltd. and a subsidiary of an International Finance Corp. division, “to expand its PayMaya services and to continue enabling more unbanked and underserved individuals and MSMEs with new and inclusive products, such as credit, insurance, savings, and investments, through a soon-to-be-established digital bank.”

Rizal Raoul Reyes

Global insurance brokerage firm renews BGC office lease

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HE British multinational risk management, insurance brokerage and advisory firm Willis Towers Watson Public Ltd. Co. (WTW) announced the renewal of a lease in its Makati City office.

In a statement, the company said it “expanded” its partnership with office building developer W Group Inc., for renewal of the lease with the latter’s prime office building, W City Center. WTW said it moved its main operations to the building, located in the business district of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), when the company expanded its business operations in the Philippines.

WTW now houses over 1,400 of its employees working for its business process outsourcing (BPO), brokering and consultancy operations.

WTW said that BGC’s prime location, together with the W City Center building facilities and management has been a major factor in the firm’s

This undated photo courtesy of Willis Towers Watson Public Ltd. Co.’s Philippine office shows (from left to right) WTW Facilities Manager Mary Grace Tuppil, WTW Philippines Inc. President James G. Matti, W Group Inc. Chairman Norman Wee and W Group CEO Francis Wee. The British multinational risk management, insurance brokerage and advisory firm WTW announced the renewal of a lease in its Makati City office owned by the W Group. Photo courtesy Willis Towers Watson Philippines Inc.

decision to renew its contract with W Group despite the ongoing pandemic.

“The pandemic has only furthered our efforts to maintain the safety and security of our tenants across all

fronts,” W Group CEO Francis Wee was quoted in the statement as saying. “As we continue to strengthen our partnership with our clients, like WTW, we hope to also provide oppor-

tunities for growth and allow them to sustain operations efficiently in our properties.”

W Group is the holding company behind the following: business groups W Hydrocolloids Inc., a world-class manufacturer of seaweed carrageenan; Marine Resources Development Corp., one of the leading providers of innovative food ingredient solutions and products in the Philippines; and, W Landmark Inc., W Group’s property management and real estate development business.

Since the company’s entry into the Philippine property industry in 2008, W Group through W Landmark Inc., has been developing and managing office buildings and structures strategically located in the BGC. W Landmark operates boutique office buildings W High Street, W Global Center, W Fifth Avenue, Citi Plaza and W City Center. Dennis D. Estopace

The umpire and the association CEO: A tale of two careers

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AN an international tennis umpire transition to become an adept association CEO? What umpiring skills can be effective assets in managing an association and in relating with the association’s staff and governing board?

Mike Morrissey, CEO of the European Cancer Organization and president of the European Society of Association Executives, addressed this in our recent webinar, “Re-energizing Associations: Governance and People.”

Mike’s early career puts him as one of the leading tennis officials in the world working for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) who umpired many finals in Grand Slam and Davis Cup events. Over the last 20 years after his umpiring days, he had leadership roles in associations relating to engineering and technology, airline, retail, and medical sectors. He also set up his own management company, Morrissey Global Management, based in Cannes, to advise and support international organizations.

Association World Octavio Peralta Using all these experiences working with various associations in different industries, Mike came up with the following insights (with my own short annotations) on adopting the skills of an umpire in building leadership skills to re-energize associations in terms of governance and people: 1. Facilitating big occasions.

An umpire of a tennis championship game is in the midst of an auspicious moment for the players, officials, and the spectators. Similarly, the association CEO is in the middle of an annual general meeting of members, invitees, and guests. Both circumstances require planning, execution, and facilitation skills.

2. Dealing with unforeseen situations. A parachuting or a streaking person in the center of

the tennis court and a heckler or an obstructionist in an association’s general assembly meeting call for the umpire and the association CEO, respectively, to act immediately and decisively.

3. Managing pressure and tension. A perceived umpire miscall of a play by a tennis player in a tense part of the game can cause frayed nerves and angry outbursts.

An unintentional error in delisting an association conference attendee can cause the same tension. Good judgment and a somber demeanor can calm down the situation.

4. Creating an atmosphere of trust. Be it in the tennis court or in the boardroom, building mutual respect among the participants and personalities involved will pave the way in making sure that there is trust and confidence in working together for the common good.

5. Never stop learning. Whether an umpire or an association CEO, one thing constant is to use every opportunity, situation or event to learn from the experience.

The key role of an umpire is to maintain standards of play in sporting events. Jobhero.com cites essential umpire job duties as observing game rules, awarding points, imposing penalties, determining results, identifying infractions, examining participants to make sure they follow safety regulations, verifying scoring regulations, and announcing the winners.

While not having entirely the same job description of an umpire, an association CEO’s prime role is similarly about maintaining the standards and culture of the organization. Associations and games are about people. To create harmony in working relationships, both the association CEO and the umpire, as Mike puts it, should have people skills.

Octavio Peralta is founder and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) and concurrently, President of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations. The views Peralta expressed in his column do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror. E-mail: obp@ adfiap.org

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Digital-only bank-account holders to double–survey

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HE number of Filipinos with a digital-only bank account is expected to double in the next five years, a recent survey said.

According to a dot-com’s “Digital Banking Adoption” report, 18 percent of Filipinos currently have a digital bank account and an additional 18 percent plan to open one in the next five years.

That means 36 percent of Filipino adults, or an estimated 26 million people, will have a digital-only bank account by 2026.

Across 30 countries included in the survey, the Philippines ranks 12th for digital banking adoption, but in the next five years the country is expected to climb to 5th place.

The survey includes 30 countries namely: Australia; Austria; Brazil; Canada; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Hong Kong; Hungary; Indonesia; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Singapore; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; The Netherlands; the United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; Vietnam; and the United States.

Finder.com’s global fintech editor Elizabeth Barry said the large number of unbanked Filipinos gives the country space to grow its digital-only

banking foothold.

“Estimates suggest around 71 percent of Filipinos are currently unbanked and I suspect it’s this part of the population who are planning to open accounts,” Barry said.

The survey also showed that Filipino men are more likely to have a digital bank account than women, with 20 percent of men compared to 16 percent of women saying they have an account.

Earlier this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced that it is closing their window for the application of new digital banks in the country starting September 1 this year.

The Monetary Board (MB) has approved the applications of six banks: the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank), Tonik Digital Bank, Inc., UNObank, Inc., Union Digital Bank, GoTyme Bank, and the latest being Maya Bank, Inc., BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said based on their profiles, the approved digital banks intend to serve Filipino migrant workers, the underserved, unbanked and the mass market, but are open to venture into investments, insurance, and payment services, to broaden their reach.

RCBC extends digitized cash solution promotion to SMEs

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UCHENGCO-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) said it expanded its digitized cash management solutions with complimentary e-services targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Under the marketing tack, SMEs availing of any one of RCBC’s two latest online collection solutions it calls “Pay Portal” and “Check Scan” could avail other digital cash management solutions for free.

These include payroll, on-site corporate-check writer and payments to the Bureau of Internal Revenue through RCBC’s online corporate banking platform.

Payroll annual daily balance, for up to 200 employees, shall be waived, the lender said. For the on-site corporate-check writer, clients get one free checkbook per month for the next six months.

“All that the SME would have to do is to comply with the required maintaining balance for checking account,” the bank said in a statement.

The bank explained its “Pay Portal” is a “one-stop shop online payment enabler for businesses, which aids businesses in the collection of sales settled via e-commerce payments, whether they already have an online store or not.” The payment

platform enables the business to collect from individual customers using comprehensive electronic payment rails, such as credit cards, direct debit through bank accounts, online banking, electronic wallets and even over-the-counter payments.

“Check Scan” is a “first-in-market cash management solution that enables corporate clients to process bulk checks safely and efficiently through digitalization. The solution has a mobile app that allows businesses to process their check deposit transactions using handheld devices.

RCBC First Senior Vice President and SME Banking Group Head Ma. Angela V. Tinio was quoted in a statement as saying the universal bank “keeps looking for ways to make it easier and more affordable for businesses, especially SMEs, to digitalize their operations and have an efficient payment system.”

“We know how hard it is to sustain a business operation during these tough times, and we hope that this offer will help encourage SMEs to avail of our bank’s cash management solutions, which will in turn help them improve their overall business operations,” Tinio said.

The said offer is for a limited time only and will run until end of the year. VG Cabuag

CIMB Bank notes 323% growth in gross digital transaction value

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HE Philippine business of Malaysia’s CIMB Group announced recording a 323-percent growth in gross transaction value to more than P142 billion end-September as against the same period in 2020.

In a statement, CIMB Bank Philippines Inc. also announced to have acquired close to five million customers to date and currently have almost a million lending customers in its portfolio. The bank touted this as “reinforcing [its] role in driving financial inclusion and contribution to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) digitalization goal for the country.”

“As the pandemic continually reshapes various aspects of daily life—including banking—CIMB Bank Philippines continues to make banking easier and more accessible to all Filipinos,” the lender said. “This led to significant growths across multiple categories versus the same

period last year.”

The bank said its deposits increased by 247 percent to more than P62 billion, while loan disbursements grew by around 1100 percent to P9.3 billion.

CIMB Bank Philippines CEO Vijay Manoharan was quoted in the statement as saying that the driving force behind this growth “has always been to provide Filipinos real value and accessible financial solutions that enable them to provide more for their themselves and their families.”

Manoharan added they are “humbled with the overwhelming loyalty of our customers over the two years we have been in operations.”

Recently, CIMB Bank Philippines released an all-digital and ondemand credit product. Through this, Filipinos can have a credit line of up to P250,000, which they can use to pay bills, withdraw cash, and shop online.

World Banking BusinessMirror

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

ECB studying new bond-buying plan to replace existing crisis tool P

Friday, October 8, 2021 B2-3

PBOC adviser calls for giving migrants same status as locals to boost spending

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he European Central Bank is studying a new bond-buying program to prevent any market turmoil when emergency purchases get phased out next year, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The plan would both replace the existing crisis tool and complement an older, open-ended q u a nt it at i v e - e a s i n g s c h e m e t hat ’s c u r rent ly acqu ir ing 20 bi l l ion eu ros ($23.1 bi l l ion) in debt ever y mont h, sa id t he of f ic i a ls, who asked not to be ident if ied because t he d isc ussions a re conf ident i a l.

No decisions have been made, they said. An ECB spokesperson declined to comment on the report, while noting that staffs discuss a wide array of ideas that

aren’t necessarily presented to the Governing Council or the Executive Board.

Such an initiative would act as an insurance measure in case the scheduled end in March of the 1.85 trillion-euro so-called Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program, known as PEPP, prompts a market selloff of bonds from highly indebted countries such as Italy, according to the officials.

Under the plan, purchases would be conducted selectively, they said. That would circumvent

a rule applying to both of the existing programs that requires central banks to buy debt in relation to the size of each country’s economy.

That rule has been in place since large-scale asset purchases started in 2015. It’s intended to assuage concerns that the ECB is financing governments, which is something forbidden by law.

Cognizant of the market crisis that engulfed Italy at the start of the pandemic, ECB policy makers are trying to smooth the exit from existing emergency stimulus settings while keeping a lid on investor speculation, now that governments are even more exposed after building up debts to fund massive fiscal support.

Italian debt

Italian government bonds rose, sending the yield on 10-year securities down almost 3 basis points to 0.86 percent as of 07:34 a.m.

in London. The bonds have sold off in Europe over the last two weeks, with yields rising around 20 basis points.

The difference in yield between benchmark Italian and German debt—a closely watched gauge of risk for the region— is currently around 107 basis points, testing the upper end of its multi-month range.

ECB President Christine Lagarde and her colleagues have del ayed to December an up date to the path of monetar y stimulus next year. She said in a Bloomberg T V inter view in July that the pandemic program could be followed by a “transition into a new format,” without elaborating.

Vice President Luis de Guindos said Monday that the ECB would decide at its final policy meeting of the year “what alternatives there are” to that program—“if any alternatives are needed.”

Bloomberg News

roviding migrant workers in Chinese cities with full access to local government services would boost their consumption by as much as 30 percent and help China double its middleincome population, an adviser to China’s central bank said.

Nearly 64 percent of Chinese people live in towns and cities, but only a bit more than 45 percent have an urban “hukou,” an official document providing full access to local public services such as schools and hospitals, Cai Fang, a member of the People’s Bank of China’s monetary policy committee, said in a speech posted online.

Granting city residents full urban hukou status would unleash potential spending, Cai said, citing research that migrants would boost consumption by 27 percent-30 percent if they had such a status.

Beijing in recent years has been reducing the link between hukou status and access to services.

China’s government said last year the status would be eliminated in cities with fewer than 3 million residents and relaxed in cities with populations of 3 million to 5 million. Local governments have long

resisted such plans, citing fiscal constraints.

‘Common prosperity’

President Xi Jinping called in August for expanding China’s midd le-income population as part of a push for “common prosperity.” Economists linked to the government have said the country should aim to double the size of that group, which now numbers about 400 million.

Cai said growing China’s urban population would be key to that goal.

“Urbanization can also set up social ladders, allowing migrant workers and their families to move upward in terms of education level, occupational category, income level and social identity, and truly become a middle-income group,” he said.

Cai, who is also an economist at China’s Academy of Social Sciences, argued last month that authorities should strengthen efforts to control technology companies’ expansion because the development of Internet platforms leads to a “winner takes all” dynamic, increasing inequality and slowing economic growth. Bloomberg News

Poland raises interest rates, StanChart to face shareholder resolution on reaching net zero seeking to tame inflation

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ARSAW, Poland—Pol and ’s centra l ban k unexpectedly raised interest rates on Wednesday as the central European nation faces an accelerating inflation rate that is currently the highest in the European Union.

The annual inflation rate rose to 5.8 percent in September, the highest in two decades, while economists have predicted that it is likely to accelerate even further in the coming months.

Either way it is already well above the central bank ’s target of 2.5 percent, and it is common to hear Poles grumble these days about the rising price of food, gas and utilities.

The Polish authorities had until recently seemed to play down the risk of inflation given that wages are also rising amid fast economic growth in a country that has been an economic success story since the fall of communism three decades ago.

But not all Poles benefit from the wage increases, and as inflation made an unexpected jump in September, it became clear that the economy faces the threat of a dangerous wage-price spiral.

The National Bank of Poland, or NBP, raised the reference rate by 40 basis points from 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent. The decision, which marks the first interest hike in nine years, came as a sur prise to economists.

E x per ts had not e x pected interest rates to go up now because many of the reasons for the rising inf lation—including a su rge i n ga s a nd oi l pr ices—a re rel ated to tempora r y shoc k s beyond t he inf luence of t he cent ra l ba n k.

However, the NBP governor Adam Glapinski said earlier this week that monetary tightening may be needed to prevent inflation from consolidating at an elevated level when the shocks pass. In its decision Wednesday, the bank cited the risk of inflation remaining elevated longer than expected so far.

“There had been concern that the NBP had its head in the sand for too long, but these comments suggest that they are taking the fight against inflation more seriously,” Capital Economics said in a note.

Danske Bank called the move surprising in part because the central bank had said that Poland should be largely out of the Covid-19 crisis before hiking rates, while the country has in recent weeks been seeing a rise in new infections.

The historically low interest rates in Poland, like in many other countries, are one factor that have buoyed strong growth, but also contributed to skyrocketing prices of real estate that have made it impossible for many to become homeowners. AP

Holders of Evergrande-linked jumbo fortune bond yet to be paid

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reditors have yet to receive repayment of a dollar bond they say is guaranteed by China Evergrande Group and one of its units, in what could be the firm’s first major miss on maturing notes since regulators urged the developer to avoid a near-term default.

Some investors had n’t received the principal payment for a note that matured October 3 as of Thursday in Hong Kong, according to people with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be named discussing private matters. As October 3 was a Sunday, the effective due date was Monday. Evergrande did not respond to requests for comment regarding its debt obligations during a holiday in China.

The next step would be to send a notice to Evergrande and

its law yers to formally request it to honor its guarantee obligation, the people said.

T he bond was issued at a n i n it i a l a mou nt of $260 m i ll ion by Ju mbo For t u ne Enter p r i s e s , B lo om b e r g - c omp i l e d d at a show. T he f ir m is a joint vent ure whose ow ners inc lude He n gd a R e a l E s t at e G r o u p, E v e r g r a n d e ’s m a i n o n s h o r e unit. Details of the g uarantees a ren’t broad ly k now n as t he note prospect us isn’t publ ic ly ava i l able a nd t he dea l wasn’t l isted on e xc ha nges.

Holders of t he bond have formed a creditor committee and the law firm W hite & Case LLP is advising various investors with regards to Jumbo Fortune. A spokesperson for W hite & Case declined to comment.

Bloomberg News

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tandard Chartered Plc shareholders will vote next year on whether the bank is doing enough to deliver on its commitment to reach net-zero emissions across its operations and lending activities. Australian nonprofit Market Forces and UK charity Friends Provident Foundation co-filed a resolution requesting that Standard Chartered “match its net-zero rhetoric with action” and end its “misaligned financing of fossil fuels.”

They asked the bank to manage its fossil-fuel exposure “in accordance with a scenario in which global emissions reach net zero by 2050” and commit to no longer provide financing for new or expanding fossil-fuel projects in line with the International Energy Agency’s recommendations.

They also want the bank to develop short-, medium- and longterm targets to reduce fossil-fuel exposure and report annually on its progress.

Standard Chartered isn’t the biggest funder of fossil fuels, as London-based rivals Barclays Plc and HSBC Holdings Plc provide considerably more financing to the sector, yet its financial support for companies that are perpetuating climate damage and failing to prepare for a low-carbon future has attracted criticism. Banks and asset managers of all stripes are under increasing pressure to match their statements on sustainability with concrete actions as regulators scrutinize greenwashing and world leaders prepare to ramp up climate ambitions in advance of a United Nations conference starting this month. “If you’re funding companies that are completely misaligned with where we are supposed to be going on global temperatures, then that’s the true acid test of your climate commitments,’’ said Adam McGibbon, UK Campaign Lead at Market Forces.

“We have no confidence at all that Standard Chartered will be anywhere close to where the science demands unless pushed, and this is all the more necessary given how incredibly influential they are in Asia.” While Standard Chartered has pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions from its operations by 2030 and from its financing by 2050, Market Forces contends the bank “is aligning its investment practices and policies with the failure of these goals, exposing itself and its shareholders to unnecessary and unacceptable finan-

cial, reputational, policy and legal risks.” A spokesman for the bank said Standard Chartered has “made major strides” in its coal policy and

continues to review its positions in light of stakeholder feedback.

The company intends “to remain leaders in articulating a path to

net zero by 2050.” The bank also plans to put its transition strategy and plan to a shareholder advisory vote in 2022, he said. Bloomberg News

B2-4

Friday, October 8, 2021

AQWIRE partners up with Xendit for hassle-free online real estate billing

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QWIRE, the leading real estate settlements platform brings an easier and hasslefree billing for its real estate partners made possible by Xendit, the leading payment gateway for Southeast Asia.

Sharing the same goal of making payments easy, simple, and secure for clients, AQWIRE and Xendit have teamed up to accept and process local payments via Direct Debit, Xendit’s online banking payments service.

The partnership will give way for AQWIRE customers who want to use their Philippine bank accounts, such as UnionBank and BPI, to pay for their real estate bills via Xendit's platform. Xendit also plans to expand partnerships with other local banks in the coming months for wider coverage.

Being the leader in international real estate-related settlements, the majority of AQWIRE’s users are living overseas and use international cards and bank accounts when settling their dues. AQWIRE’s move to partner up with Xendit is its answer to the growing real estate market in the Philippines. Considering Xendit’s world-class payment infrastructure, its products and services are the perfect fit for the needs of AQWIRE’s local and international users who use local online banking.

“We are always looking for ways to give our customers the best payment experience. The partnership with Xendit now allows us to offer local bank payments which add to the variety of payment methods that AQWIRE already offers. The more options we have integrated into our service translate into added value for our customers,” says Kenji Yuchengco, AQWIRE’s Chief Operating Officer and Head of Strategy.

Xendit’s Direct Debit product is unique in the market because it allows customers to make payments in real time.

The Xendit solution provides a seamless experience - users no longer need to hop

off AQWIRE’s website/app, open their banking website, or provide a screenshot of their bank transfer to complete the payment. The whole payment flow is done securely and reliably through the AQWIRE platform.

“Xendit is the simplest solution for the digital transaction needs of every Filipino business. Our advanced payments system is designed to make digital transactions simple, secure, and easy. This enables Filipinos to do more of what they love and for entrepreneurs and companies to focus on growing their business,” says Chris Reyes, COO of Xendit Philippines.

Prime C and I APAC boosts exports of Philippine Halal products, services Benefits of being Halalcertified and working with Prime

PRIME’S accreditation as the Philippines’ first Halal Certification Body will augment the country’s Halal industry, contributing significantly to the trade of locally-made Halal products and services in the international arena

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RIME Certification and Inspection Asia Pacific Inc. (Prime) was officially awarded as the first local Halal Certification Body (HCB) accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), in a virtual ceremony held recently.

With the accreditation, Prime is able to strengthen the country’s Halal industry and allow Philippine companies to tap into the lucrative global Halal economy estimated to reach PHP158.98 trillion (USD3.2 trillion) by 2024. This enables Philippine homegrown businesses producing and developing Halal products as well as services to competitively penetrate the international market.

A DTI advisory released earlier specified that only Halal products certified by an internationally accredited and/or recognized Philippine HCB will be allowed by the Bureau of Customs to exit the country, given that the HCB has already applied for accreditation with PAB prior to the shipping out of the products.

In addition, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act No. 10817 states that no Philippine HCB can certify products, processes and services for export as Halal after one and a half years from the effectivity of the said IRR, unless accredited by PAB. HCBs are given until December 31, 2021 to abide by this regulation.

Ahead of the deadline, Prime became the first HCB found to be in adherence to the requirements of PAB, and was granted accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 Conformity Assessment - Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes, and services, in addition to the Philippine National Halal Certification Scheme (PNHCS) of 2018. This permits Prime to Halal-certify food products, beverages and food supplements.

“The PAB management and technical team congratulate Prime for this accreditation which reflects their commitment to deliver Halal certification services in compliance with the international standards, requirements and practices. Through this accreditation, PAB wishes to assure that the Halal products, processes and services certified

by PAB accredited HCBs truly comply with the general, technical and religious requirements,” says Engr. James Empeño, Director of DTI-PAB. Further, Prime is the only local HCB accredited by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, which also follows the requirements and standards of the Organization of Islamic Countries. The company is, likewise, an accredited and approved HCB by the governing authorities of the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Qatar, and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

THROUGH Prime, exporters can comply with both national and international Halal standards and meet manufacturing as well as hygiene requirements. This gives them the opportunity to gain a better share of the global Halal business and trade their products to the largest Halal consumer markets.

“We have gone through series of rigid and strict accreditation processes just to ensure that we provide the highest quality of Halal certification service, while ultimately benefitting Philippine companies across various sectors. This presents an opportune time for them to expand their business internationally and widen their customer base by attracting Muslim and non-Muslim consumers of Halal products worldwide,” says Dr. Mary Jane Alvero-Al Mahdi, Group CEO of Prime Group of Companies, the mother company of Prime Certification and Inspection Asia Pacific Inc. She adds, “Halal certification is a competitive advantage because it does not only verify that religious necessities are met but it also signals the implementation of an effective hygiene, health, and safety management system. It gives a seal of trust, demonstrating that products are fit, safe and pure for consumption, and that services are of superior quality.”

Since Prime has the required national and international accreditations, companies need not to approach multiple HCBs in order to comply with the Halal regulations that are in place in different countries and regions.

It is backed by the competency of highly experienced Halal auditors and technical experts who implement a well-established certification process. They perform comprehensive assessments supported by Halal integrity analysis through laboratory testing, in addition to a systematic Halal shipment inspection procedure.

Attacks surge in 1H 2021, Trend Micro successfully blocks 41 billion cyber threats

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LOBAL cybersecurity leader Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704) announced in early September that it blocked 40.9 billion email threats, malicious files, and malicious URLs for customers in the first half of 2021, a 47% yearon-year increase.

Ransomware remained the standout threat in the first half of the year as cybercriminals continued to target big-name victims and used Advanced Persistent Threat tools and techniques to steal and encrypt victims' data.

Ransomware was a major threat to global organizations in the first half of 2021, but it was not the only one. Trend Micro's report also reveals: Business email compromise (BEC) attacks increased by 4%, potentially as a result of new COVID-19 opportunities for threat actors. The Philippines ranked fourth among Southeast Asian countries that encountered BEC threats at 8.4%, with Singapore ranking first at 55.8%.

Cryptocurrency miners became the most detected malware, having surged ahead of WannaCry and web shells in recent months.

The Zero Day Initiative reported 770 vulnerabilities, a slight (2%) drop from 1H 2020.

A total of 164 malicious apps related to COVID-19 scams were detected, 54% of which impersonated TikTok. Healthcare is the top industry affected by ransomware in the Philippines, followed by food and beverage, then banking.

According to a report by Hootsuite, the Philippines ranks the highest in internet and social media usage in the world. A Pew Research

study conducted in 2020 also revealed that 60% of Filipinos own a smartphone. Given this, Filipinos are more likely to be exposed to malicious links and Android malware, especially if not equipped with proper internet security knowledge. The Philippines ranked first among Southeast Asian countries and third globally after the US and Japan in terms of users accessing malicious URLs, and second among Southeast Asian countries in terms of Android malware detected.

“Mitigating cyber risk effectively necessitates the thorough understanding of the scale, complexity, and specific characteristics of the threat landscape.” said Alma Alvarez, Trend Micro Threat Hunting Director.” “Alongside the comprehensive protection Trend Micro provides against fast-evolving threats and our biannual roundup reports, our annual cyber security conference DECODE brings together industry professionals and presents the latest in local cybersecurity to empower and inform the continuous transformation of organizations’ digital infrastructures.”

The report's overall findings highlight the effectiveness of – and increasing need for – a holistic and scalable cybersecurity solution at the enterprise level. As threats continue to increase in frequency and sophistication, enterprise SOC teams will require a platform that can streamline security processes without sacrificing reliability.

To read a full copy of the report, Attacks from All Angles: 2021 Midyear Security Roundup, please visit: https://www.trendmicro. com/vinfo/us/security/research-and-analysis/ threat-reports/roundup/attacks-from-all-angles2021-midyear-security-roundup

First virtual QEFF features short films finalists highlighting pandemic stories of Filipinos

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HIS year's 4th Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health (QEFF4) features short films from 8 film finalists and 13 film proposal finalists, all of which reflect the unique stories of the Filipino people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Cinemata, QEFF4 proudly brings these films to the online platform in its first-ever online film festival.

The film screening for the QEFF4 will open on October 15 and will be running for two weeks until October 29 on the CCP Vimeo platform. Meanwhile, the Awards Night will be held on October 30.

“In its current iteration, QEFF4 wants to focus on the stories behind the individuals affected by the pandemic”, said Benjamin K. Valdez, Co-Head of the QEFF4. “The films from our finalists are compelling and definitely capture the essence of our theme ‘Bilang Nilalang’. We hope that more people get to see these insightful and relevant films.”

In addition, this film festival aims to create an archive that represents the greater narrative of the Filipino people during the pandemic for future generations to see.

These films will be added to a film library which will be distributed to partner schools, agencies and organizations all over the country. Government agencies, non‐governmental organizations, medical institutions and other concerned parties will be able to use these films for their own health education and advocacy programs.

This year’s winner will be determined by judges from various esteemed institutions including the World Health OrganizationWestern Pacific, Department of Health, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Philippine Association of Communication Editors. The Gawad Quisumbing-Escandor will be given to the film submission that best embodies the film festival's advocacy, having effectively depicted the most pressing, stirring and most controversial health issue.

The award comes with a grand prize of Php 100,000.00 and a trophy. Meanwhile, the winner of the Best Film award will get Php 75,000, the first runner-up Php 45,000, and the second runner-up Php 30,000.

QEFF is a nationwide film-making competition and film caravan organized by the Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity of the UP College of Medicine. Since its inception in 2008, it has aimed to promote awareness about the most pressing health issues in the country through film.

Updates are available at www.facebook. com/QEfilmfest.

Home Buddies goes to SM Southmall

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HE popular online home community, Home Buddies, known for home inspirations and budol finds is finally stepping on ground. The group is celebrating with big discounts and awesome freebies in their first ever Home Buddies Fair at SM Southmall’s Event Center on October 8-17.

Check out the fun festivities lined up:

SHOP for Home Buddies-approved items at the Haul Buddies Fair from Oct 8-17. Check out trending budol items firsthand from quality shops like Cherry Home’s vacuums and smart locks, SM Home’s Team Kahoy aesthetics, Adelina Home’s gorgeous weaves, Our Home’s minimalist sala sets, Hoton’s budol kitchen tools, and Sweet Freya’s lush vertical wall gardens.

Enjoy up to 70% off on discounts at the Grand Budol Weekend on October 9-10 when you shop from Our Home, Cherry Home, Hoton, Forty Winks, SM Home, and Ace Hardware.

If you’re thinking of re-designing your space but is not sure where to start, you can

get FREE interior design consultation from the professionals at Dizenyo.PH on October 8-9.

There’s more! Here are some of the kapitbahay-exclusive promos to check out on SM Southmall’s page: Our Home is raffling off Team Puti & Team Kahoy furniture sets, bolsters, and mystery boxes, Dizenyo.PH is giving away a coffee bar, Cherry Home is gifting a lucky winner a shoe dryer, and SM Supermoms Club is giving away gift certificates!

Don’t miss any of the fun sur-prizes Home Buddies and SM Southmall have in store for you! For more information, follow @ SMSouthmall on Facebook and Instagram.

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

TheWorld

WHO working to get Covid-19 medical supplies to North Korea

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EOUL, South Korea—The World Health Organization is working to ship Covid-19 medical supplies into North Korea, a possible sign that the North is easing one of the world’s strictest pandemic border closures to receive outside help.

WHO said in a weekly monitoring report that it has started the shipment of essential Covid-19 medical supplies through the Chinese port of Dalian for “strategic stockpiling and further dispatch” to North Korea. WHO officials on Thursday didn’t immediately respond to requests for more details, including what those supplies were and whether they had yet reached North Korea.

Describing its anti-virus campaign as a matter of “national existence,” North Korea had severely restricted cross-border traffic and trade for the past two years despite the strain on its already crippled economy.

UN human rights investigators in August asked the North’s government to clarify allegations that it ordered troops to shoot on sight any trespassers who cross its borders in violation of its pandemic closing.

While North Korea has yet to report a single case of Covid-19, outside experts widely doubt it escaped the illness that had

touched nearly every other place in the world.

The North has told WHO it has tested 40,700 people for the coronavirus through September 23 and that all the tests were negative. Those tested in the last week reported included 94 people with influenza-like illnesses or other symptoms and 573 health care workers, according to the WHO report.

The latest WHO report came weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered officials to wage a tougher anti-v irus campaign in “our style” after he turned down some foreign Covid-19 vaccines offered via a UNbacked immunization program.

UNICEF, which procures and delivers vaccines on behalf of the COVA X distribution program, said last month that North Korea proposed its allotment of about 3 million Sinovac shots be sent to severely affected countries instead.

UNICEF said the North Korean health ministry said it will continue to communicate with COVAX over future vaccines.

Some analysts say the North is angling to receive more effective jabs amid questions about the Sinovac vaccine’s effectiveness and may also have issues with COVAX involving legal responsibility and reporting requirements. AP

Strong earthquake in Pakistan kills 20

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U E T TA , P a k i s t a n — A p o w e r f u l e a r t hq u a k e collapsed at least one coal mine and dozens of mud houses in southwest Pakistan early Thursday, killing at least 20 people and injur ing more than 200, an official said.

The death toll was expected to rise even further as crews searched in the remote mountainous area, said Suhail Anwar Shaheen, the local deputy commissioner.

At least four of the dead were killed when the coal mine in which they were working collapsed, said Shaheen, citing coal miners in the area. As many as 100 homes also collapsed, burying sleeping residents inside.

The epicenter of the 5.9 magnitude quake was about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north-northeast of Harnai in Baluchistan province, according to the US Geological Survey. The initial measurement of the quake’s strength was 5.7 magnitude. It struck about 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) below the Earth’s surface; shallower quakes tend to cause more damage.

The area, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Quetta, the provincial capital, is dotted with coal mines, which has Shaheen worried the death toll could rise. It struck in the early morning while scores of miners were already at work, he said.

Pakistan’s military was deployed to the earthquake area to airlift dozens of injured from

mountain peaks. At least nine critically injured people were taken to the provincial hospital in Quetta.

Search and rescue teams have arrived in the mountains, an army statement said.

Concer n h a s g row n about scores of coal miners who might be trapped. Homes lay in heaps of mud and straw. Residents of small mountain villages were seen wandering stunned among the rubble.

“Women, children, everyone, was running here and there,” said resident Ghulam Khan. “We were scared and we didn’t know what to do.”

Ambulances soon arrived to transport the injured to the hospital in Harnai.

Doctors treated patients outside the hospital as 4.6 magnitude aftershocks continued into the morning hours. Children with bloodied bandages were in stretchers outside the hospital as ambulances brought more wounded.

“So far we have treated more than 200 casualties,” said Manzoor Ahmed, medical superintendent of the Harnai district hospital. The small rural facility has been taxed to the limit, he said. As many as 15 bodies were brought there.

Most of the population in the area live in sunbaked mud houses, many of which collapsed. Rescue efforts were underway, but Shaheen said it would take hours just to reach many of the hardest-hit areas. AP

BusinessMirror

Friday, October 8, 2021 B3-1

More than 120,000 US kids had caregivers die during pandemic N

EW YORK—The number of US children orphaned during the Covid-19 pandemic may be larger than previously estimated, and the toll has been far greater among Black and Hispanic Americans, a new study suggests.

More than half the children who lost a primar y caregiver during the pandemic belonged to those two racial groups, which make up about 40 percent of the US population, according to the study published Thursday by the medical journal Pediatrics.

“These findings really highlight those children who have been left most vulnerable by the pandemic, and where additional resources should be directed,” one of the study’s authors, Dr. Alexandra Blenkinsop of Imperial College London, said in a statement.

During 15 months of the nearly 19-month Covid-19 pandemic, more than 120,000 US children lost a parent or grandparent who was a primary provider of financial support and care, the study found. Another 22,000 children experienced the death of a secondary caregiver—for example, a g ra ndpa rent who prov ided housing but not a child’s other basic needs.

In many instances, sur viving parents or other relatives remained to provide for these children. But the researchers used the term “orphanhood” in their study as they attempted to estimate how many children’s lives were upended.

Federal statistics are not yet available on how many US children went into foster care last year. Researchers estimate Covid-19 drove a 15 percent increase in orphaned children.

The new study’s numbers are based on statistical modeling that used fertility rates, death statistics and household composition data to make estimates.

A n ea rl ier st udy by d if fer ent researchers estimated that roug h ly 4 0,0 0 0 US c h i ld ren lost a pa rent to Cov id-19 as of Febr u a r y 2021.

The two studies’ findings are not inconsistent, said Ashton Verdery, an author of the earlier study. Verdery and his colleagues focused on a shorter time period than the new study. Verdery’s group also focused only on deaths of parents, while the new paper also captured what happened to caregiving grandparents.

“It is very important to understand grandparental losses,” said Verdery, a researcher at Penn State, in an e-mail. “Many children live with grandparents,” a living arrangement more common among certain racial groups.

About 32 percent of all kids who lost a primary caregiver were His-

panic and 26 percent were Black.

Hispanic and Black Americans make up much smaller percentages of the population than that. White children accounted for 35 percent of the kids who lost primary caregivers, even though more than half of the population is white.

The differences were far more pronounced in some states. In California, 67 percent of the children who lost primary caregivers were Hispanic. In Mississippi, 57 percent of the children who lost

primary caregivers were Black, the study found.

The new study based its calculation on excess deaths, or deaths above what would be considered typical. Most of those deaths were from the coronavirus, but the pandemic has also led to more deaths from other causes.

Kate Kelly, a Georgia teenager, lost her 54-year-old father in January. William “Ed” Kelly had difficulty breathing and an urgent care clinic suspected it was due to

Covid-19, she said. But it turned out he had a blocked artery and died at work of a heart attack, leaving Kate, her two sisters and her mother.

In the first month after he died, friends and neighbors brought groceries, made donations and were very supportive. But after that, it seemed like everyone moved on— except Kate and her family.

“It’s been just like no help at all,” said the high school junior from Lilburn. AP

B3-2 Friday, October 8, 2021

TheWorld BusinessMirror

‘Historic moment’: UN endorses Z world’s first malaria vaccine

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Biden and China’s Xi expected to meet virtually by year’s end

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ONDON—The World Health Organization on Wednesday endorsed the world’s first malaria vaccine and said it should be given to children across Africa in the hope that it will spur stalled efforts to curb the spread of the parasitic disease.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called it “a historic moment” after a meeting in which two of the U.N. health agency’s expert advisory groups recommended the step.

“Today’s recommendation offers a glimmer of hope for the continent, which shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease.

And we expect many more African children to be protected from malaria and grow into healthy adults,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Africa director.

WHO said its decision was based largely on results from ongoing research in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that tracked more than 800,000 children who have received the vaccine since 2019.

The vaccine, known as Mosquirix, was developed by GlaxoSmithKline in 1987. While it’s the first to be authorized, it does face challenges: The vaccine is only about 30 percent effective, it requires up to four doses, and its protection fades after several months.

Still, scientists say the vaccine could have a major impact against malaria in Africa, home to most of the world’s more than 200 million cases and 400,000 deaths per year.

“This is a huge step forward,” said Julian Rayner, director of the Cambridge Institute for Medical

Research, who was not part of the WHO decision. “It’s an imperfect vaccine, but it will still stop hundreds of thousands of children from dying.”

Rayner said the vaccine’s impact on the spread of the mosquitoborne disease was still unclear, but pointed to those developed for the coronavirus as an encouraging example.

“The last two years have given us a very nuanced understanding of how important vaccines are in saving lives and reducing hospitalizations, even if they don’t directly reduce transmission,” he said.

Dr. Alejandro Cravioto, head of the WHO vaccine group that made the recommendation, said designing a shot against malaria was particularly difficult because it is a parasitic disease spread by mosquitoes.

“We’re confronted with extraordinarily complex organisms,” he said. “We are not yet in reach of a highly efficacious vaccine, but what we have now is a vaccine that can be deployed and that is safe.”

W HO s a id side ef fec t s were r a re, but s ome t i me s i nc lud e d a fe v e r t h at cou l d re s u lt i n t e mp or a r y conv u l s ion s .

Sian Clarke, co-director of the Malaria Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical

In this October 30, 2009 file photo, a mother holds her baby receiving a new malaria vaccine as part of a trial at the Walter Reed Project Research Center in Kombewa in Western Kenya.

The world’s first malaria vaccine should be given to children across Africa, the World Health Organization recommended on October 6, a move that officials hope will spur stalled efforts to curb the spread of the parasitic disease. AP/Karel Prinsloo

Medicine, said the vaccine would be a useful addition to other tools against the disease that might have exhausted their utility after decades of use, like bed nets and insecticides.

“In some countries where it gets really hot, children just sleep outside, so they can’t be protected by a bed net,” Clarke said. “So obviously if they’ve been vaccinated, they will still be protected.”

In recent years, little significant progress has been made against malaria, Clarke said.

“If we’re going to decrease the disease burden now, we need something else,” she explained.

Azra Ghani, chair of infectious diseases at Imperial College London, said she and colleagues estimate that giving the malaria vaccine to children in Africa might result in a 30 percent reduction overall, with up to 8 million fewer cases and as many as 40,000 fewer deaths per year.

“For people not living in malaria countries, a 30 percent re-

duction might not sound like much. But for the people living in those areas, malaria is one of their top concerns,” Ghani said.

“A 30 percent reduction will save a lot of lives and will save mothers (from) bringing in their children to health centers and swamping the health system.”

The WHO guidance would hopefully be a “first step” to making better malaria vaccines, she said.

Efforts to produce a second-generation malaria vaccine might be given a boost by the messenger RNA technology used to make two of the most successful Covid-19 vaccines, those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, she added.

“We’ve seen much higher antibody levels from the mRNA vaccines, and they can also be adapted very quickly,” Ghani said, noting that BioNTech recently said it would begin researching a possible malaria shot. “It’s impossible to say how that may affect a malaria vaccine, but we definitely need new options to fight it.” AP

French senators meet with Taiwan President Tsai amid China tensions

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AIPEI, Taiwan—A group of French senators visiting Taiwan as part of a regular parliamentary exchange met with President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday morning during a trip that comes in a particularly tense moment between China and the self-ruled island.

Tsai spoke briefly before their meeting, giving France’s former defense minister, Alain Richard, the Order of Propitious Clouds, a distinction recognizing “his contributions to Taiwan-France relations.” She thanked him for leading an effort in the French Senate to pass a resolution in support of allowing Taiwan to participate in international organizations like the World Health Organization.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and opposes any international engagement with the island that suggests a separate status, such as WHO membership and meetings with foreign government officials. It tried to

discourage the French senators’ visit, with its embassy in Paris saying ahead of the trip that it would undermine ChineseFrench relations.

Richard along with the three other senators also plan to meet Taiwanese economic and health officials and the Mainland Affairs Council during their five-day stay.

This is the third visit to Taiwan for Richard, after 2015 and 2018. He heads the Taiwan Friendship group in the French Senate.

The trip is a recurrent one that French lawmakers make as part of the Taiwan Friendship group, especially as new senators are elected every three years.

Tsai also met with former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was visiting the island to give a speech.

Abbott spoke in a pr ivate capacity, but said he advocates for Taiwan joining an 11-nation trade group that China has also applied to join.

“I can’t think of a stronger signal of democracies standing shoulder to shoulder with Taiwan than Taiwan’s accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” he said Thursday. “And I do hope that your application will be welcomed by its existing members.”

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, and China has increasingly mobilized military, diplomatic and economic pressure to undermine Tsai’s independence-leaning administration while threatening to bring the island under Chinese Communist Party control.

Taiwan’s defense minister described the current situation as the most severe in 40 years.

In its most recent display of sustained military harassment, China flew fighter jets 149 times toward Taiwan over four days from last Friday to Monday.

US Secret a r y of St ate A nto ny Bl in ken, spea k ing in Pa r is on Wed nesd ay on a n of f ic i a l

v isit, said the Chinese militar y f l i g ht s tow a rd Ta iw a n we re “ dest abi l i zing.”

“We strongly urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure and coercion directed at Taiwan,” he said.

China has often pointed to US selling weapons to Taiwan and its ships navigating the Taiwan Strait as provocative actions.

“China feels necessary to react to the United States and allied forces when they conduct exercises in the area that China considers their sphere of influence,” said Alexander Huang, professor at Tamkang University.

The f lights were in international airspace but prompted Ta iwa nese defense forces to scramble in response. Analysts say the f lights display China’s increasing mi l itar y advancement as the US and other rivals are pushing back against China’s assertions of territorial ambitions. AP

UR ICH—Wit h tensions rising between the global powers, President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to hold a virtual meeting before year’s end, according to the White House.

The agreement in principle for the talks was disclosed after White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi met for six hours in Zurich.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the two sides are still working through what the virtual meeting “would look like.”

The presidential meeting was proposed after Biden, who spent a substantial amount of time with Xi when the two were vice presidents, mentioned during their call last month that he would like to be able to see Xi again, according to a senior administration official, who was not authorized to comment publicly on the talks between Sullivan and Yang and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Xi has not left China during the coronavirus pandemic and is not expected to attend in person the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Rome and a UN climate conference in Scotland.

A White House statement on the Swiss meeting said Sullivan stressed to Yang the need to maintain open lines of communication, while raising concerns about China’s recent military provocations against Taiwan, human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and Beijing’s efforts to squelch pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

Sullivan made clear that while the United States would “continue to invest in our own national strength,” it sought better engagement at a senior level “to ensure responsible competition,” the statement said.

US officials have expressed frustration that interactions with high-level Chinese counterparts, including Yang, in the early stages of Biden’s presidency have been less than constructive. But the talks Wednesday were described as respectful, constructive and perhaps the most in-depth between the sides since Biden took office in January, according to the administration official.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency echoed that description, saying the two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views.

It quoted Yang as saying that “China attaches importance to the positive remarks on ChinaUS relations made recently by US President Joe Biden, and China has noticed that the US side said it...is not seeking a new Cold War.” Yang added, however, that China opposes defining the relationship as “competitive” and urged the US to stop using Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights and other issues to interfere in what China calls its internal affairs.

T he W hite House said the meeting was intended to serve as a follow-up to last month’s call between Biden and Xi in which Biden stressed the need to set clear parameters in their competition.

Still, the US-China relationship has been under strain, exacerbated recently by the Chinese military’s flying dozens of sorties near the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which

Beijing considers part of its territory.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday reiterated concerns that Beijing was undermining regional peace and stability with its “provocative” action.

China sent a record 56 fighter planes toward Taiwan on Monday alone.

“We strongly urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure and coercion directed at Taiwan,” said Blinken, who was in Paris for talks with French officials.

At the start of Biden’s presidency, he pledged to press Beijing on its human rights record. His administration has affirmed the US position, first made late in the Trump administration, that China’s repression of Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in its northwest Xinjiang region was “genocide.”

In March, the United States, in coordination with the European Union, United Kingdom and Canada, imposed sanctions on top communist party officials for their roles in detaining and abusing Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.

At June’s Group of Seven summit in England, Biden successfully pressed fellow leaders to include specific language criticizing China’s use of forced labor and other human rights abuses in the leaders’ joint statement.

Human rights advocates and Republican lawmakers in the US have raised concerns that the administration might be easing pressure on human rights as it looks for cooperation from Beijing on the global effort on climate change and in thwarting North Korea’s nuclear program.

The White House said last week it did not have a position on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which was passed by the US Senate in July.

US Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican and sponsor of the legislation, wrote in the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that “the Biden administration is choosing to ignore the Chinese Communist Party’s egregious human rights abuses to strike a deal on climate.”

Psaki pushed back against the criticism. She asserted that Biden, unlike President Donald Trump, “has spoken out against human rights abuses, has raised his concerns about human rights abuses directly with President Xi and we have done that at every level.”

The US signaled this week that, for the time being, it plans to stick with tariffs levied against China during the Trump administration.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, in a speech in Washington this week, said she would begin engaging her Chinese counterparts to discuss Beijing’s failure to meet commitments made in the first phase of a US-China trade agreement signed in January 2020. Biden has criticized Beijing for “coercive” trade practices, including its use of forced labor, that has led to an unfair playing field.

“We will use the full range of tools we have and develop new tools as needed to defend American economic interests f rom harmful policies and practices,” Tai said. AP

Australia welcomes back French ambassador after submarine spat

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A NBER R A , Austra lia— Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed France’s decision to return its ambassador to Australia and said Thursday the bilateral relationship was bigger than the canceled submarine contract.

Morrison dismissed suggestions that Australia needed to rebui ld its relationship w ith Fra nce a f ter c a nce l i ng a 9 0

billion Australian dollar ($66 bil lion) contract last month, an act French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described as a “stab in the back.”

“We already have cooperation.

See, the Australia-France relationship is bigger than a contract,” Morrison said.

“France’s presence and significance and influence in the IndoPacific isn’t about a contract. It’s

about the fact they have an actual presence here, in the Indo-Pacific, that they have a long-standing commitment and work with Australia across a whole range of different issues,” he added.

France reca l led its amba s s adors f rom Wa sh i ng ton and Canberra after Australia dropped the contract with majority French state-owned Naval Group to build 12 conventional

diesel-electric submarines.

Under an alliance that includes Britain, Australia will instead acquire a fleet of eight nuclearpowered submarines built with US technology.

France quickly returned its ambassador to the United States, a NATO partner.

Le Drian told a parliamentary committee that Ambassador JeanPierre Thebault would return to

Canberra to help “redefine the terms” of the bilateral relationship and defend French interests in winding up the contract.

It is not yet clear how much the termination of the contract signed in 2016 will cost Australia. It had already spent AU$2.4 billion ($1.8 billion) on the project, Morrison said last month.

He did not elaborate on the costs when asked on Thursday.

“We have a very good understanding of how we’re going to proceed with that matter. We’ll be working within the contract as it’s set out,” Morrison said.

France and its European Union partners have reacted with hostility toward Australia over its shock decision to ditch the French deal.

Morrison said French President Emmanuel Macron wouldn’t take his calls. AP

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, October 8, 2021 B3-3

RE-IMAGINING, REDEFINING REAL ESTATE:

Alveo Virtual Showroom projects upscale living in a new light

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T is often said that presentation is everything, especially when it comes to Philippine real estate.

This industry has definitely seen itself evolving over the years, and continuously redefines trends that help enhance the customer experience.

Alveo Land, in particular, understands the need to better appreciate a potential space, as it launches a highly immersive virtual showroom experience at the heart of Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

With the ability to create multiple floor projections, this unique showroom can house a full range of one, two, or even three-bedroom Alveo units with a click of a button. It's a complete virtual experience for both Alveo prospects and clients alike—and a first of its kind in Ayala Land.

The technology creates an impressive vision of any Alveo condo property to scale, bringing any project to life through digital-floor renderings. Step inside the virtual showroom and discover life-size unit plans from Alveo’s various locations and unit types. Detailed unit plans are beamed on the floor (think LED projection… albeit vertically from the ceiling), which can instantly transport you from one premium Alveo development to another. Get to compare a spacious The Lattice at Parklinks studio unit in C5-Pasig with Solinea’s multi-

bedroom units in Cebu, all in a matter of seconds.

There are also recommended furniture layouts incorporated in these plans, so it’s a great way to help imagine your future Alveo home. W here does that sofa sit perfectly in the living room? How many family members and friends can you invite over for Sunday dinner?

W hat type of bed can I choose for my new bedroom?

Unique showroom experience

THE Alveo virtual showroom experience truly offers clients a special opportunity. Incorpo-

rating the latest technologies available, easily switch from being within Alveo Land’s prime Quezon City condominiums, to high-rise offerings which redefine the Makati skyline. Imagine the comfort and convenience of getting to see all the possibilities and (virtually) visiting multiple Alveo developments in one place.

Complementing the experience is a digital display of fully furnished unit renderings and project virtual tours for added inspiration. There’s also an Alveo finishes display rack available to present actual deliverables that come with the unit upon turnover, manifesting the hallmark of an Alveo home.

All these can help complete the full visualization of your chosen Alveo unit, and your imagination can only dictate the numerous design possibilities that can truly make it your own.

Mike Policarpio

(The Alveo Virtual Showroom is available for viewing by appointment. Visit www.alveoland.com.ph to learn more.)

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Friday, October 8, 2021

Giving a voice to carers of stroke patients

Honda celebrates 31st anniversary, gives back best cash discounts

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ONDA Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines celebrates its 31st year in the country through the “Drive the Dream” promotion campaign. HCPI extends its appreciation and gives back to the customers by providing the best deals and exclusive cash discounts from October 1 to 31, 2021.

Exciting Cash Discounts

Honda Upgrade Program ALL current Honda vehicle owners who would purchase any variant of the City (sedan), BR-V, Brio, Civic, CR-V, and HR-V will receive an additional PHP 5,000 cash discount on top of other cash promotions offered for the month. Customers must present two (2) valid government-issued IDs, latest vehicle official receipt, and certificate of registration together with a notarized deed of sale (for second-hand units) to avail this exclusive offer.

Special Discount for Honda Accessories FURTHERMORE, customers may avail 31% off on select car accessories for All-New City (sedan), All-New City Hatchback, and other Honda models at any Honda Cars dealership nationwide.

Easy Low All-in Downpayment and Low Monthly Amortization

*Special Low All-in DP – based on 10% downpayment **Regular Low All-in DP – based on 15% downpayment ***Low Monthly Amortization –based on 20% downpayment at 60 months payment term

Financing Options A SPECIAL all-in financing program is applicable for 10% downpayment with 3660 months payment terms for select models are available with the following details:

Moreover, customers are entitled to

different financing promo offers such as low cash-out, low monthly amortization, free one (1) month amortization at 15%, 20%, and 25% all-in downpayment offers, available with the following bank partners:

All these offers include a three (3) year LTO Registration and Chattel Mortgage and a free one (1) year Comprehensive Insurance with Acts of Nature through select bank partners. Customers may submit their bank loan applications online at www. hondaphil.com through the auto loan link page for select bank partners, subject to the preferred bank’s approval.

“This October, as we celebrate our 31st anniversary in the Philippines, HCPI reaffirms its commitment to provide world class mobility as we navigate these challenging times. Through our vehicles, we aim to serve Filipinos with the joy of expanding their life’s potential and keep them safe.” said Masahiko Nakamura, President of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI).

Visit the nearest Honda Cars dealership, or Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.’s VIRTUAL SHOWROOM at HCPI’s official website www.hondaphil.com to know more about the promo mechanics and the latest offers from Honda.

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ARERS are the unsung heroes in a patient’s health journey. They provide time and effort to help family or loved ones who need support and who couldn’t move independently.

Caring for stroke patients is certainly not a task for the faint-hearted.

Stroke, a “brain attack,” can happen so suddenly and could come as a shock.

Depending on the severity of the stroke event, it is a life-altering situation that affects not only the patient but also the people around him.

While deciding to be a carer is an act of selflessness and love, it can also be quite challenging at times, leaving one overwhelmed and burned out.

Stroke is a dangerous condition that can strike in the most mundane of times and in the most regular of places. Time makes a difference between life and certain death or disability. Among the symptoms to watch out for is represented by the acronym: BE FAST. B stands for balance (loss of balance, headache or dizziness); E for eyes (blurred vision)’; F for face (face drooping); A for Arms (arm or leg weakness); S for speech (slurred speech) and T for time (time to seek medical help). It is important to note that when a patient experiences symptoms of stroke, the patient has to be rushed to the hospital immediately.

Stories of Stroke Carers

MYRNA Lumeran, a carer for nine years to her stroke survivor husband Tony, says that when she noticed her husband’s face drooping and could not wear his shorts on his own, she went on emergency mode. Having been a neuroscience clerk at St. Luke’s Hospital, she recognizes the urgency of the situation.

“Naitakbo namin sya in 15 minutes from Project 8 to St. Luke’s Quezon City,” she remembers. Once in the emergency room, the medical team took Tony for MRI and the doctors saw that a large portion of the frontal brain suffered stroke, leading to a surgery.

They stayed for one month at the hospital’s Neurological Critical Care Unit (NCCU). Tony was advised to start doing therapy just a week after the operation.

When Tony was discharged, the doctors advised Myrna to prepare their home for patient care.

With all those things in place -- oxygen, suction machine, wheelchair hospital bed and air-conditioned room—Tony thankfully recovered and was able to walk and talk again albeit differently.

“With continuous therapy and rehabilitation din,” Myrna notes. In less than a year after his stroke, he was given the medical clearance to fly to Busuanga in Palawan and was able to make 365 steps on an uphill climb.

Nine years later, he can still travel with Myrna and even spent 2020 in Australia.

Likewise, Enrique “Boy” Arlac was fortunate to have been at home when his wife Solita experienced symptoms of stroke this year.

MYRNA Lumeran is a carer for nine years to her stroke survivor husband Tony “Naglalaba po sya ng hapon tapos biglang pumasok sya ng bahay. Nakaramdam po sya nang pagkahilo at sumuka ng tatlong beses. Noong sumuka, nawalan ng malay saglit,” Boy says.

They initially went to a hospital nearby but later transferred to Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

“Nag-check po sila ng sintomas tapos aneurysm (which turned out to be subarachnoid hemorrhage— an uncommon type of stroke) daw po ang findings pagkatapos ma-CT scan,” Boy recounts.

Thankfully, his wife Solita received the urgent surgical care she needed and there was no sensory motor deficit. While she is recuperating, Boy stayed with her at the hospital, attending to her needs like feeding her, taking care of her hygiene and discussing medical matters with the doctors.

Caring for Stroke Patients

DR. ATHENA del Rosario, a resident doctor of Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, advocates the importance of stroke prevention and regular meetings with doctors especially those with co-morbidities.

Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center is considered a stroke-ready hospital by Angels Initiative, a global healthcare initiative spearheaded by Boehringer Ingelheim to increase the number and optimize the quality of stroke treatment at acute stroke centers. In the Philippines, Angels Initiative is partnering with the Stroke Society of the Philippines (SSP).

When discharged after the stroke, the doctor reminded the ones involved in patient care to be mindful of their loved one’s needs.

They also have to make sure the maintenance medications are taken daily and to have a follow-up checkup with their healthcare provider. A phone or any gadget that can be used for video calls or streaming videos is helpful especially this pandemic since physical therapists stream videos that patients can use in their therapy.

The healthcare expert is also aware of the many challenges that carers face. She agrees that to avoid carer burnout, there should be someone who can be an alternative or additional help to share the responsibilities in caring for the patient and for the carer to also have a chance to rest and recharge.

For a complete list of stroke-ready hospitals, visit https://www.strokesocietyphilippines.org/.

Summit SuperSHEroes come in pink! 100+ leaders of breast cancer patient groups band together

Spice up relationships this pandemic with DJ Chacha, Sam YG, and Subway’s Spicy Buffalo Chicken

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ave you fallen out of love with your partner or special other during the pandemic? For couples, married or not, it is a fact that the quarantine has greatly impacted our lives and relationships with the people around us.

And when everything gets too chaotic, the best thing to do is listen in and learn from each other’s experiences during COVID-19 and one place to do so is by tuning in to DJ Chacha and Sam YG’s podcast, “Lecheng Pag-Ibig 'To!” Sam YG or Samir Gogna, known professionally as Samir Young Guy. Is an Indian Filipino radio and television personality. He is the one of the three Boys Night Out hosts on Magic 89.9 along with Tony Toni and Slick Rick. And he was also a co-host for Eat Bulaga!.

DJ Chacha or Czarina Marie "Chacha" Balba-Guevara, wife of Michael Guevara, is Filipina radio disc jockey, actress

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and broadcast journalist. On radio, she presents the news as a segment anchor for the segment, Showbiz Balita, on Radyo Patrol Balita Alas-Siyete and Gising Pilipinas, and co-anchors her radio programs, Radyo5 Network News and Ted Failon at DJ Chacha sa Radyo5.

Together, they host the podcast “Lecheng Pag-Ibig ‘To!” to bring you some up-to-date news on COVID-19 situation in our community. In addition, they also provide suggestions on how to remedy lost love, repair broken relationships, and most importantly, how to get through a bad breakup and experiences by spicing things up!

Subway® chose DJ Chacha and DJ Sam YG because they can definitely connect with their audience to spice things up!. In their recent podcast episode, they talked about a letter sender confessing how she has fallen out of love with her husband when they are just two years into their marriage.

There’s going to be a lot of interesting and useful advice for couples out there, married or not!

Don’t forget to tune in and subscribe to “Lecheng Pag-Ibig ‘To!” podcast on Spotify with DJ Chacha and Sam YG today and try the new Subway® Spicy Buffalo Chicken!

AST September 11, 2021, Olympic Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz surprised a group of breast cancer patient advocate leaders of the 2-day Patient Power Summit led and organized by the ICanServe Foundation Inc. Diaz related her humble beginnings, how she hurdled the battles that got in the way of her dreams with the grace and determination of a champion’s heart. Diaz emphasized, “Hindi ako sumuko. (I didn’t give up).” She said, the formula was simple “level up your game to reach your goal.” As a sports icon and an authentic leader in her field, she said the goal should always be to become a survivor and a victor.

“We continue to believe that early detection saves lives and we need to continue to make strides. But we also see the need to reach out and help each other, to share cancer resources, to work together to make an even bigger difference, to possibly come up with sustainable solutions for the breast cancer community,” Crisann Celdran, co-founder and Chairman of the ICanServe Foundation. She opened the summit with a call to the forerunners of the community to work closely together, elevate the advocacy and work towards speaking as one.

Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, founding

Chairman of the ICANSERVE Foundation, pointed out this is a unique time in the health space where one witnesses the most number of founders of cancer patient groups carving a new path. “It’s a historical moment in the cancer space, as we witness the evolution of a new frontier we call the patient movement.

We’re all founders, pioneers, and first or second generation volunteers. We have to be navigators for each other, as we shape a future, free of cancer,” Alikpala said.

ICANSERVE President Nikoy de Guzman also observed they shared the same burning desire to serve, “walang survivor na hindi lumaban.”

The patient leaders vowed they will not rest nor be complacent till breast cancer is diagnosed in its early stage cancer when it’s most curable, till every patient with cancer, no matter the stage, age, income bracket, religion, ethnicity, are given quality care and a chance to be with family for longer. Till they see the end of breast cancer.

To find out more information about how you can support breast cancer advocacy, like and follow the official ICanServe Foundation Facebook Page, www.icanservefoundation.org, and ICANSERVE on Instagram and Twitter.

HIDILYN INSPIRES YOUNG NEIGHBOR

By Josef Ramos

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IDILYN DIAZ’S Olympic success has started to cascade to young potentials dreaming of following in her footsteps as Rose Jean Ramos clinched two gold medals in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Youth World Championships on Thursday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Turning only 16 on November 6 and already with a stocky frame barely a shade above four feet, Ramos lifted 67 kgs in the snatch to win gold and despite hoisting 80 kgs in clean and jerk, her 147-kg total lift was good enough for her to rule the girls’ -45-kg division.

“Everybody wants to be like her [Diaz],” Ramos, a first-time competitor overseas, told

BusinessMirror by phone. “She inspires us all.”

Ramos, currently a 10th grade, is Diaz’s neighbor at Barangay Mampang in Zamboanga City. She trains at the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist’s weightlifting gym she set up in her barangay and is trained by no less than Diaz’s cousin, coach Allen Diaz.

“Our coach always tells us that Ate Hidilyn sacrificed 16 years to achieve her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal,” said Ramos, who took the sport when she was only 12, practically the same age when Diaz started her career.

Poland’s Oliwia Drzazga lifted 85 kgs to bag gold in clean and jerk and settled for a a silver with her total lift of 143 kgs. Spain’s Ruth Fuentefria made 63 kgs in snatch to pocket silver, while Indonesia’s Najla Khoirunnisa earned three

‘Super Marcio,’ Beermen seek repeat against TNT in Game 3

Josef Ramos

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| Friday, October 8, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

ROSE JEAN RAMOS lifts her way to two gold medals in world youth tourney.

bronze medals (snatch 62 kgs, clean and jerk 80 kgs and total lift 142 kgs.

“My opponents are very strong but I never gave up,” Ramos said.

“I just followed the advice and instructions of my coach.”

Ramos’s achievement was a major follow up to the bronze medal

that 14-year-old Jeaneth Hipolito clinched in snatch (51 kgs) in the girls’ 40-kg class.

Ramos is the second in a brood of four of construction worker Gerry Boy and housewife Ana Rose Ramos. Besides dreaming of becoming another Hidilyn Diaz, she

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LDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), through the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF), are bolstering their support for the women’s national football team after the Malditas’ stellar performance at the recent Asian Cup qualifiers.

“We are very proud of our women’s national

ROBBING opponents of victory at crunch time is becoming to be a habit for Marcio Lassiter.

Five para sports featured in PSC coaches’ seminar

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OAL ball, para swimming, wheelchair basketball, para athletics and para table tennis will be tackled during the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-Pilipinas Para Games (PPG) Para Sports Coaching Webinar series starting on Saturday.

The six-day program to be staged in partnership with the Philippine

football team which demonstrated its strength, resilience and determination to win despite the challenges brought about by the global pandemic,” said Alfredo Panlilio, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO. Panlilio, also the president of MVPSF and First Vice President of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said that the team’s accomplishment is “a step toward our goal—for the Philippines to qualify in our first ever Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia.”

MVPSF has been supporting the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) through its various programs.

Following the breakthrough win of the Az-

THE Malditas celebrate success at the recent Asian Cup qualifiers.

Paralympic Committee will feature veteran coaches and experts who will impart their fundamental coaching knowledge and experiences.

“After the PSC’s successful webinar on para athlete sensitivity, this coaching program will complement and boost the knowledge of our coaches and trainers in para

sports,” PSC Oversight Commissioner for para athletes Arnold Agustin said.

The webinar for wheelchair basketball starts on Saturday, followed by goal ball on Monday, para swimming on October 12, para athletics on October 14 and para table tennis on October 15.

Five hundred participants are

Tap DMV brings Formula 1 racing to Filipino fans

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HE Formula 1 Rolex Turkish Grand Prix 2021 in Istanbul Park, one of the most challenging racing circuits in the world, returns this Sunday to the F1 calendar as well

as to Philippine audiences via Tap DMV. The Turkish GP is back for the second consecutive year and produced one of the most dramatic races of 2020 with

Lance Stroll getting his first pole position before Lewis Hamilton secured his seventh drivers’ title.

Filipino fans will also get a close up view of another title

NBA will not test players for marijuana this season

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HE National Basketball Association (NBA) has agreed to not randomly test players for marijuana this season, a continuation of the policy that was put in place last year for the Covid-19 “restart bubble” and has remained since.

Drug testing will continue for things such as human growth hormone and performanceenhancers, along with what the league calls “drugs of abuse”—such as methamphetamine, cocaine and opiates. But the league’s agreement with the National Basketball Players Association over random marijuana tests will continue for at least another season.

“We have agreed with the NBPA to extend the suspension of random

testing for marijuana for the 202122 season and focus our random testing program on performanceenhancing products and drugs of abuse,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Wednesday.

The agreement was revealed to players in a memo from the union, the details of which were first reported by ESPN. The league suspended testing in March 2020 when play was suspended in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, then agreed with the players to test for performanceenhancers in the bubble at Walt Disney World that summer.

But marijuana wasn’t on that list, wasn’t tested for last season and now won’t be this season either.

Decriminalizing marijuana has been a major topic at the government

level for years, as has been the case in the sports world as well. Earlier this year, American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson was left off the US team’s Olympic roster following a positive test for marijuana, costing her a chance at running on the 4x100 relay team in Tokyo, in addition to her spot in the 100-meter individual race.

After Richardson’s suspension was announced, two members of Congress—US Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland—wrote US and global anti-doping leaders to say in part that “the ban on marijuana is a significant and unnecessary burden on athletes’ civil liberties.”

More than half of the states in the US have decriminalized possessing small amounts of marijuana. AP

Choco Mucho settles for 6th in Asian club tournament

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also wants to be a soldier someday.

Faith was also a major factor for Ramos.

“I prayed to God and asked for His spiritual guidance before I lifted the barbell,” she said. “I never expected the gold, all I wanted was just a medal.”

PLDT, Smart boost support for Malditas’ World Cup bid

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INKING game-winners at crunch time has become a habit for Marcio Lassiter.

Called “Super Marcio,” the 10year veteran nailed a close range buzzer-beater on Thursday to lift San Miguel Beer past TNT Tropang Giga, 98-96, to tie their best-ofseven semifinals series at 1-1.

Lassiter could again find himself at the right place at the right time in Game 3 of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup series that is set for 6 p.m. on Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

“I just love making winning plays—and that’s my motto ever since,” Lassiter told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “It’s good to have a habit like that, but I’m just always in a good or right position.”

“For me, I’m just trying to be ready anytime, anywhere,” said Marcio the fourth overall pick by the defunct Powerade squad in 2011. “I know my strength which is shooting all the time.”

The 34-year-old shooting guard has been a Beerman for nine straight seasons. He played a major role in the 2016 Philippine Cup “Beeracle” where San Miguel Beer overhauled a 0-3 Finals series deficit to win the crown over Alaska.

But Lassiter, father of four boys—Montae (12), Myles (8), Marcel (5) and Melo (4)—with wife Jerlyn, said winning time is not just all about making a shot with a fraction of a second left, but also making the best decision when necessary.

“It could be a rebound, a pass or anything,” Lassiter said. “But I’m so thankful that we’re winning as a team.”

Lassiter said be believes TNT will make adjustments in Game 3 as the Tropang Giga will still play without Kelly Williams (health protocols).

“There’s going to be a lot of adjustments especially in the shaded lane,” he said. “They will quickly double June Mar [Fajardo] once he gets the ball down low, so we have to find ways to be open.”

Magnolia, meanwhile, goes up for a commanding 3-0 lead over Meralco in the other semifinals at 3 p.m.

The Bolts will be playing without Raymond Almazan who sprained his left ankle in Game 2.

“Without Raymond, we will just go ahead with what we have and the other guys will have to step up,” Meralco coach Norman Black said.

Sports BusinessMirror

kals in 2010, the MVP Group decided to invest in football across the country through the PFF-Smart National Club Championships 2011-2015.

The foundation then began its support of the women’s national team program when the organization decided to invest in talent identification of heritage Filipinas playing in the US, Fifa’s top-ranked country.

MVPSF has also been actively promoting grassroots football, running leagues for under-7, under-9 and developing young talents with under-11 and under-13 regional and provincial cluster festivals for both boys and girls.

MVPSF also believes in the PFF Coaches’ Education initiatives including the PFF-MVPSF National Coaches’ Convention.

“We believe in the potential of our athletes who are training under PFF. We also want to build on our network and bring in Filipinas all over the world to train and compete with international athletes as we actively develop and promote the beautiful game of football in the Philippines,” said Jude Turcuato, First Vice President and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart and Executive Director at MVPSF. expected in the webinar series.

Participants who will complete the series will receive certificates and commemorative event shirts.

Interested participants may register through https:// bit.ly/ParaSportsWebinar or contact pilipinasparagames@gmail. com and its official Facebook page.

race—between Great Britain’s Hamilton and the Netherlands’ Max Verstappen.

Hamilton is chasing an historic eighth Drivers’ Championship, while Verstappen is looking to bag his first title.

HOCO MUCHO fell to Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu, 2514, 25-11, 25-23, to finish sixth at the 21st Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship on Thursday at Terminal 21 competition hall in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Already, the sixth-place performance was an improvement on the eight-place finish a Philippine team achieved in the same championship the Philippines hosted in Biñan City in 2017.

But more importantly, the tournament served its purpose for the two Philippine squads—the other seventh-placed Rebisco— that went deep into training only two months ago.

“Well done for the national team program that’s still in its infant stage,” Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said. “In time, these ladies will blossom into one solid team that could stand heads and shoulders with the best in Asia.”

Choco Mucho coach Arthur “Odjie” Mamon agreed that errors still hound the team but has improved each day in the competition.

“Although we have been really erratic and started on the wrong foot, we can see the improvement each day we play,” Mamon said.

Choco Mucho lost in straight sets to the Central Asian team for the second time in the tournament, but not without a fight.

The Kazakhs raced to 22-15 in the third set but the hard fighting Filipinas clawed back to threaten at 23-23 capped Ria Meneses’s quick hit.

Zhetysu, however, survived the pressure being the much more experienced squad and clinched the next two points on Valeriya Chumak’s go-ahead kill and Kalei Mau’s error on her attack.

Choco Mucho exited the continental club tournament with one win in four matches—it beat Rebisco, 22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-17, in an all-Philippine qualification duel on Wednesday.

Outside hitter Mau took the scoring mantle for Choco Mucho with 12 points on eight attacks and four blocks, while middle hitters Meneses and Dell Palomata, who was solid at the net, combined for 11 points.

Mau was satisfied with the team’s overall performance.

“I think the future of the Philippine volleyball program is going to be very bright as long as we continue to bring up each other and build on the program,” Mau said. “The younger girls showed really, really great performances and if we just keep on building up on a core, I think we can get better.”

“There’s no other way but up from here,” added Mau, whose team yielded to Zhetysu, 22-25, 10-25, 15-25, the first time they met in the championship.

The two teams’ participation in the tournament was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Asics.

CHOCO Mucho shows potential to improve.

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Friday, October 8, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Relationships BusinessMirror

Is social distancing unraveling the bonds that keep society together?

PHOTO BY THE BLOWUP ON UNSPLASH

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By Ilana Horwitz Tulane University

By Eugenia Last

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CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Ksenia Solo, 34; Bruno Mars, 36; Sigourney Weaver, 72; Chevy Chase, 78.

Happy Birthday: Finish what you start. Leave nothing to chance. Don’t labor over what you should do; just do what you must and keep moving forward.

Expand your interests, dreams and friendships.

Stabilize your home base, and rid yourself of dead weight. Seek the freedom to follow your heart and to head in a direction that brings you joy. Be true to yourself. Your numbers are 8, 13, 20, 29, 31, 43, 45.

a

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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A change may not be welcome, but it will be in your best interest. Take a moment to think matters through, and you’ll come up with an alternative that will encourage you to use your skills, knowledge and experience efficiently. HHH

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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Plan to get out and have some fun. Mix business with pleasure by getting to know some of the people in your industry, and you’ll receive some interesting perspectives on how to improve and advance.

Romance is on the rise. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Say less and do more. Reach out to someone who shares your sentiments and your interests, and you will avoid getting involved in an argument. Make home improvements that will help you avoid negativity and complaints. Keep the peace. HHHHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Problems at home will mount if you are overly generous with outsiders while neglecting domestic issues. Be prepared to do something special for someone close to you, and avoid getting into unnecessary trouble. HH

f religious or social dimensions of Jewish life.

How does a study of Jews help us understand the flow of social capital during a pandemic?

Both Jews and non-Jews can develop social capital by participating in religious organizations. It’s not religious rituals that cultivate social capital—it’s all those social interactions that occur outside of religious rituals.

RELATIONSHIPS PAY OFF WHEN Covid-19 hit, millions of Americans needed to avoid social contact and couldn’t participate in religious services. That also meant they couldn’t participate in the social dimensions of religious life— they couldn’t help people mourn their dead, volunteer in soup kitchens or gather with people for meals during holidays and the Sabbath.

For Jews, limiting social interaction was especially difficult because many rituals require a minyan—a quorum—of 10 people.

My interviews revealed two key phenomena.

First, social capital gets activated differently during a pandemic than it does during weather-related disasters.

During hurricanes and heat waves, social capital manifests itself in people physically helping their acquaintances get out of dangerous situations.

But during a pandemic, the physical help itself is what’s dangerous. Working parents couldn’t turn to their neighbors or friends for child care help without putting their acquaintances, as well as their own children, at risk of contracting Covid-19.

Continued on C3

Mandaluyong City Jail partners with LSGH for education project THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) of Mandaluyong City Jail has partnered with the Department of Alternative Education of La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) for Liwanag Project, a program that provides basic education and technicalvocational classes to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

This academic year, the initiative benefits 57 students in elementary and 135 in junior high school. There are also over 50 participants for the technical-vocational hairdressing courses. The monthly Values Formation seminars accommodate approximately 700 inmates.

Today’s Horoscope

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Align yourself with people who get what you are trying to do and are willing to assist you in reaching your goal.

The information you share will help you adapt and head in a direction tailored to fit your lifestyle. HHH

ITH birthday celebrations being downsized, religious services moving back online and indoor playdates getting canceled, millions of Americans are having fewer social interactions because of persistently high case numbers and high rates of transmission.

It’s not just interactions with friends and families that are getting cut. Routine yet beneficial interactions with people at fitness and child care centers and volunteer organizations are also being eliminated.

Social distancing is vital to combating Covid-19.

But is it unraveling the social bonds that keep society together?

SOCIAL CAPITAL ADDS UP AS a sociologist of religion and education, I study how Americans develop social ties, and how these social ties influence people’s lives. Scholars refer to relationships that exist between and among people as “social capital.” When people interact, even briefly, they start to trust one another and feel comfortable asking each other for help. But for that trust to develop, people need to physically interact with one another.

Social capital is highly valuable during times of crisis. During Hurricane Ida, for example, people waded through rising water to save neighbors. A similar thing happened during Chicago’s 1995 heat wave when hundreds of people who lived alone without air conditioning were rescued by neighbors and acquaintances.

Having trusting relationships with people ahead of crises is key—and building those relationships requires people to spend time together.

While isolating at home in spring 2020, I started to wonder: Does the need to social distance affect how social capital gets activated during a pandemic?

From August to October 2020, I interviewed 36 middle- and low-income Jewish parents in the greater Philadelphia area who had school-aged children.

There was a range among parents in how involved they were in Jewish communities and organizations.

Some were regular synagogue-goers. Others rarely went to services but actively volunteered for Jewish organizations. And some rarely participated in any

www.businessmirror.com.ph

In 2019, the venture commenced as a series of formation sessions, when Br. Vincent Fernandez FSC, the current chairman of the Commission on Alternative Education of the De La Salle Philippines, together with Br. Ruben Caluyong FSC, now based at the Jaime Hilario Integrated School-De La Salle Bataan, started to conduct recollections for the PDLs of Mandaluyong City Jail.

At the onset of the pandemic, the PDLs expressed their interest to further their education. This inspired the Lasallian Brothers and the volunteer-teachers of LSGH to collaborate and elevate the

sessions into full-fledged online classes for basic education and technicalvocational trainings. The Liwanag Project, which follows the school calendar of the Department of Education, has since produced a number of graduates: 14 for basic education, 49 for junior high school, 20 for technical-vocational hairdressing and eight for food and beverage classes.

“The project was established to fulfill the call to mission of our founder St. John Baptist De La Salle, and we have always been convinced that it will continue for as long as we are needed,” stated LSGH Alternative Learning System team leader

Catherine Laguitan. “We are always open to welcome all because education is for all.”

Their department likewise keeps in touch even after graduation or release from jail, so they can continue their education and participate in reunions.

The Liwanag Project recently extended its efforts to the San Juan City Jail for alternative learning system and values formation classes. It likewise facilitated recollections to the personnel and PDLs of Valenzuela City Jail.

More information about the advocacy can be found at www.facebook.com/ALS. LSGH/.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Check in on someone who may need help. A kind gesture will make you feel good and help you realize how lucky you are. Time spent with someone who faces different battles will be eye-opening and encourage you to explore new possibilities. HHHH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Establish what’s happened and what you want to do, then get the ball rolling. Use intelligence to make decisions that will lead to personal growth and new beginnings. Address issues concerning loved ones, and you’ll resolve matters quickly. HHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Follow through with your plans. Let your imagination lead the way. Sign up for something that brings you joy. Make a decision that will improve your lifestyle and encourage you to follow your heart. Don’t give up or give in; get started. HHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Examine your current situation, then consider what you can do to improve your day-to-day living conditions. Rethink how you use your skills, and you’ll come up with a plan that encourages you to expand your interests and qualifications. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are overdue for a change, but first evaluate the pros and cons. Refuse to let anyone push you in a direction that isn’t going to have long-term benefits.

Keep your anger level down, and do what’s best for you. HHHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Emotions will spin out of control if you let personal matters escalate. Stand back and be observant, and you’ll come up with a solution that will put you in an excellent position to persuade others to see things your way. HH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look for a unique investment that will supply financial stability. Stick to a budget, and be cautious of any deal that requires shared expenses. Moderation will be essential if you want to be stress-free and in control.

HHHHH Birthday Baby: You are responsible, caring and resourceful.

You are flexible and generous.

‘big talk’ by jake houston The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Becoming author Michelle 6 Hot tub feature 9 One is full of garbage 13 Violinist’s block 14 Sound within “Tabernacle Choir” 16 October birthstone 17 Live and breathe 18 “Is it really necessary?”

20 Period of intense competition 22 Feel bad about 23 That guy 24 ___ Equis 25 Inclined (to) 28 Lacking color 31 “What’s ___ to like?”

33 Black and Red 35 Compensation to an intermediary 40 Capital on a fjord 41 Kerfuffle 42 Prepares to shoot a basket 43 Panel that discusses a product 47 Highway entrance or exit 48 Mom and pop org.?

49 Habeas corpus, for one 51 Catch some rays

2 Dating profile datum 5 55 Online convo parts 57 Sports ___ (jogging garment) 59 What a quarterback shouldn’t do 64 Race against the clock 65 Fairy-tale creature who says the starts of 20-, 35-, 43- and 59-Across 68 Cookie Cobblestone ice cream brand 69 Tennis match subdivisions 70 World’s second most populous country 71 Take a breather 72 “Get it?”

73 Chavez honored with a national holiday DOWN 1 Miner’s discovery 2 Word with “music” or “voice” 3 “In your dreams!”

4 Penny-pincher 5 Pay for a poker hand 6 Foe of the Sith 7 Demand elasticity’s subj.

8 Chicken serving 9 Bird that might be white

0 Topple 1 11 Bread served during Passover 12 Ruses 15 “Sure, whatever!”

19 Knight’s getup 21 Like many sign language users 25 Starting from 26 100 centavos 27 Soft mineral 29 “That isn’t true!”

30 Fund 32 Former resident of Russia’s Winter Palace 34 Progresso product 36 Gloomy 37 Italian automaker 38 Political activist Goldman 39 SportsCenter channel 44 Circus prop 45 Some play “Valorant” 46 ___ Xtra (soft drink) 50 Like Romeo and Juliet 52 Caption on a flattering picture, perhaps 53 ___ dog (service animal) 54 Saturday Night Live has 71 of them

6 Dorm rooms, stereotypically 5 58 Flared dress style 60 Outdo 61 Nasty tweet’s sentiment 62 “Who ___ is coming?”

63 Young fellows 66 Actress Long 67 Paving goo

Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Is social distancing unraveling the bonds that keep society together?

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, October 8, 2021

From the Manunuri: The ‘Gawad Dekada’ films

CONTINUED FROM C2 Since physical interaction was off limits, the role of social capital transformed. Jewish parents were able to use their social connections in Jewish organizations to get supermarket gift cards, groceries and even lump sums of cash to offset lost income. For these economically fragile families, the immediate resources helped them feel secure and cared for in a time of profound uncertainty.

Parents were more likely to get these resources if they had been actively engaged in the social life of the Jewish community before Covid-19. Parents who weren’t embedded in Jewish communities didn’t even know that they could ask for help.

At the same time, rabbis who had received funds through larger Jewish organizations to help their congregants and community members knew whom to distribute funds to only if they had relationships with them ahead of the pandemic— relationships that were developed through social interactions outside of formal religious rituals like prayer.

RECIPROCITY REQUIRED THE second major finding is that extended periods of social distancing threaten the flow of social capital. Parents who received material resources from Jewish organizations or rabbis were often those who contributed in some capacity to the system prior to Covid-19. Some served as greeters or as security guards during synagogue events; others organized meal trains; and some volunteered for their local chevra kadisha, or Jewish burial society.

The key point is that social capital requires reciprocity—people need to give in order to receive. Physical and reciprocal acts of generosity are crucial for maintaining the social bonds of society.

But what happens to our social bonds when social distancing limits our ability to physically help each other? While individuals can still contribute money, there is little opportunity for people to give their time and join in physical communal efforts.

If human interactions are hindered for long periods of time, social capital could break down.

This could profoundly unravel the social ties that bind Americans together and motivate them to transcend their self-interests to help others.

Americans may survive the pandemic, but will they have anyone left to turn to the next time they need support? THE CONVERSATION

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T the end of each decade (technically, the beginning of another decade), the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino selects 10 films to represent the achievements for the said period. For 2021, however, 11 films were chosen. They will be formally honored during the Gawad Urian Awards Night on October 21, 2021.

Herewith is the list of films with words written about them by the critics. These are not yet their citations.

Remton Zuasola’s Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria was the first recipient of the Gawad Urian for Best Film with dialogues not in the national language. A film on diaspora set in a migratory island for birds, Ang Damgo is noted for its attempt to create a film in one long take.

Arnel Mardoquio’s Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Dilim ng Gabi. Here depicted is not the Mindanao usually imagined as exotica; this is the vast land from where three individuals attempt to escape a land and their own identities in the night that offers, it seems, only darkness.”

Alvin Yapan’s Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa: “In the film, poetry, dance and art are the repository of authentic emotions. The instances of eros and eroticism occur in the power of the gaze, in the interrelationship of the characters registered in the reading of the poem and the performance of the dance.” (Translated from the review of Roland Tolentino written in Filipino).

Rae Red’s Babae at Baril: “The story is deceptively simple with all the features of film noir, from cynicism, dark alley settings, stark lighting, frequent flashbacks, interweaving plots, and an underlying existentialism.... The complexity of the film lies in the intricate weaving of these side stories....” (Gary Devilles) Bagane Fiola’s Baboy Halas. “Fiola shoots this mythic narrative with a documentary sensibility. Like an explorer’s journal, Fiola’s mise-en-scene is rich in ethnographic detail and the raw authenticity of this milieu is validated by the lumad cast who play the various roles.” (Mike Rapatan)

Khavn de la Cruz’s Balangiga: A Howling Wilderness “is a historical film that succeeds in making more palpable to a contemporary audience the effects of the Balangiga massacre of September 28, 1901.” (Nic Tiongson) Erik Matti’s BuyBust: “Known for his visual inventive-ness and visceral storytelling, Matti directs this high-energy action spectacle with virtuosity, orchestrating the cinematography, production design, editing, sound design, and musical score to deliver an intense somatic experience for the spectator.” (Gigi Alfonso) Lav Diaz’s Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan: This discourse on justice, family and fate begins from the chaos of a man committing a crime, with another man being accused for the same. The wife of the ill-fated man works to keep the lives of her family together while the guilty man roams free with his tortured perorations on all things intellectual, including a revolution.

Treb Monteras’s Respeto: “Brave but controlled, this film possesses somewhat a calmness in its

narration of the violence employed by the powerful in solving drug use. The film opens with a loud and deafening exchange of expletives and insults between two rappers amid an audience shouting and applauding in support of the poets engaged in a verbal joust.” (Translated from a text written in Filipino by Bienvenido Lumbera) Arnel Barbarona’s Tu Pug Imatuy: “[The film] is instructive, because it aimed in revealing how global forces have been relentless in their drive to erase societies in the peripheries in collusion with the state that is acting in the name of progress.” (Patrick Campos) Sheron Dayoc’s Women of the Weeping River: “...the film’s greater achievement is in its ability to make us understand how rido destroys people as human beings, how it dismisses tenderness as weakness and replaces compassion with hatred. In this the film succeeds because both conflict and character are simultaneously developed in the scenes that show the characters’ innermost thoughts and feelings.” (Nic Tiongson) ■

Kim Atienza joins GMA’s growing roster of talents VERSATILE host, triathlete, wellness and biodiversity advocate, and everyone’s favorite trivia man Kim “Kuya Kim” Atienza embraces a new chapter in his life as a GMA artist, joining the growing roster of talents and personalities of the leading broadcast company.

The grand welcome to Atienza happened on October 4 on GMA’s flagship newscast 24 Oras, where he will soon be seen as one of its segment hosts.

“Isang malaking karangalan na mapunta ako sa GMA,” said Atienza, who regards his move to his new home as a blessing.

“Nothing happens by accident. I was given this opportunity by GMA and I intend to make the most out of this opportunity.”

Aside from 24 Oras, he will also be part

of Mars Pa More and GTV’s upcoming news magazine show Dapat Alam Mo! GMA Network chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon led the welcome of Atienza. “Ikinatutuwa namin na makakasama ka namin sa paghahatid ng ‘Serbisyong Totoo’ sa lahat ng Kapuso sa loob at labas ng bansa,” said Gozon.

“Una na nga rito ang magiging bahagi ka ng 24 Oras at ng bagong programang Dapat Alam Mo. Makakaasa ang iyong fans na marami pa silang aabangang proyekto mo dito sa GMA. May the Lord guide your journey as a Kapuso.”

“I’m really happy that you’re with us,” shared Joel G. Jimenez, vice chairman of the network’s executive committee.

“We’ve been friends for such a long time,

so you being with us makes me really happy.”

Likewise, executive vice president and CFO Felipe S. Yalong echoed the anticipation of Atienza’s supporters on this new chapter in his life. “Excited na ang mga Kapuso na mapanood at makilala pa nang lubos si Kuya Kim. Welcome to GMA and congratulations!”

Also giving her welcome was GMA Films Inc. president and programming consultant to the chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes.

“Kuya Kim, welcome to GMA! I’m so happy that you’re now a Kapuso. You will be such a great

addition to our network.

And may God continue to lead you to achieve greater things for His glory. I’m very happy that GMA will now be part of your journey.”

Conveying her delight over Kim Atienza’s transfer, senior vice president for GMA Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable said, “Kuya Kim is known for his entertaining way of sharing new and unique information, and educating our fellow

Filipinos on TV and even on social media.

And now that he is a Kapuso, I’m excited to see more of what he can offer to our viewers. Congratulations and welcome to GMA, Kuya Kim!” With a career spanning 17 years in the broadcast industry, Kim Atienza is known for the weather updates he creatively presents and various trivia he shares. He also inspires people to lead healthier life with his love for sports. A known advocate of wildlife preservation, Atienza also uses his influence to spread awareness in protecting the environment.

“I am so happy that you are accepting me wholeheartedly. Damang-dama ko ang pangalan ng ating istasyon,” Kim Atienza said parting.

Advice for new ‘PBB’ aspirants

MANY are called but few are chosen when it comes to reality show Pinoy Big Brother. Now that this famous house in the country will once again open its doors for a new edition, titled Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10, we gathered some past notable housemates to share their tips on how applicants can stand out and possibly be chosen as a housemate.

1. BE AUTHENTIC—‘PBB SEASON 1’ WINNER NENE TAMAYO: The very first PBB winner said that a surefire

way to nail the auditions is to be true to oneself.

Magpakatotoo sa sarili is one the values that is always highlighted inside the PBB house, and is also the same trait that will lead you into becoming an official housemate. “Be authentic, be true to yourself and always give your best,” said “Kumander Nene.”

2. DON’T BE PA-SHOWBIZ—‘PBB SEASON 1’S’ CASS PONTI AND SAY ALONZO, ‘PBB ALL IN’S’ FIFTH SOLOMON AND ‘PBB CELEBRITY EDITION 1’ WINNER KEANNA REEVES: There’s no room for pretenders in PBB, according to Say and Cass. They said that one’s true character will surely show in the reality TV program. Reeves echoed their statement, saying that there’s really no point in trying to be someone you’re not just to impress the panel. The best thing to do is to present yourself as you are. In the words of Solomon, “huwag mo pilitin ’yung parang magda-drama ka. Ipakita mo kung sino ka ’pag mag-isa ka.”

3. DON’T PLAY IT SAFE—‘PBB TEEN EDITION 4’S’ JOJ AND JAI AGPANGAN: Twins Joj and Jai know that PBB auditions are always a blockbuster. They said to

stand out from the crowd, avoid playing it safe. Show what you’re capable of and put the spotlight on your uniqueness in the short span of time you’re given.

“Ipakita mo kung ano’ng kaya mo, kung ano ’yung kakaiba sa ’yo. ’Wag safe kasi baka hindi mapansin,” said the ladies from Bacolod.

4. EMBRACE YOUR QUIRKS—‘PBB 737’S’ DAWN CHANG AND ‘PBB CELEBRITY EDITION 2’S’ BARON GEISLER: Leave your insecurities at the door, says Chang. Instead of being embarrassed about your quirks, embrace them because they makes you unique. “Unahin niyo weirdest stuff about you, mga nakakahiya at nakakatawa.” Geisler agreed, saying, “Hindi naman judgmental si Kuya. Mas gusto niya ’yung mga taong makulay, may karakter.”

5. SHOW YOUR INTERESTS—‘PBB OTSO’ WINNER YAMYAM GUCONG AND ‘PBB LUCKY SEASON 7’S’ NIKKO NATIVIDAD: For Gucong and Natividad, it’s more important to share your different interests and be natural because PBB looks for personality and character than looks. “Be natural sa video mo. May hinahanap si Big Brother na uniqueness mo,” said

Yamyam. Meanwhile Nikko said, “Huwag niyo na lagyan ng filter. Mas mag-focus kayo sa ano ang ugali niyo, sa’n kayo interesado.”

6. PRAY ABOUT IT—‘PBB CONNECT’ WINNER LIOFER PINATACAN: When you think you’ve done everything right, it’s time to offer it up to the Most High. That is the advice of Pinatacan. As a spiritual guy, Liofer shared that it’s all up to Him if being a housemate is in your cards. “Prayer lang din talaga. Kung para sa ’yo, para sa ’yo yan. Ipakita mo kung ano ’yung napakagandang kwento ng buhay mo,” said Liofer.

7. DON’T OVERTHINK IT—‘PBB OTSO’S’ FUMIYA SANKAI: Sankai has a simple advice. Don’t overthink your audition and just focus on how you can make your personality shine. “Don’t think too much. Just be yourself,” he said.

In the meantime, for this season, the show’s theme song “Pinoy Tayo” will be reinterpreted by OPM star Rico Blanco. “It’s such an honor to do the song. Just what it stands for. The original version is so wellloved,” he said. “This is a chance to rediscover it.”

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C4 Friday, October 8, 2021

Motoring BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Ford kicks off 13th DSFL with emphasis on ‘Safe Driving in the New Normal’

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Story by Randy S. Peregrino

ORD Philippines recently kicked off one of its most significant corporate social responsibilities (CSR) programs bringing to life its longstanding advocacy on road safety—the Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program.

Now on its 13th edition, this United Nations-recognized training program has already successfully trained over 26,000 Filipino drivers since 2008. Over the years, the program has been relevant considering the changing road conditions, policies, and government regulations.

What is new this year is the theme “Safe Driving in the New Normal.” DSFL will cover timely topics, including pandemic car care

and maintenance tips, car sanitation and disinfection, and driving techniques during the rainy weather.

These are in addition to the existing DSFL training module, which covers fundamental vehicle dynamics and handling, driving in various conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving. Further, this year’s sessions will be conducted virtually to foster a safe and physically distant learning environment. The

Tuason Racing School founder JP Tuason demonstrating some engine maintenance tips

supposed 2020 session was deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, over 3,300 public and private drivers participated in the DSFL. “We are excited to bring the DSFL back this year as part of our Global Caring Month, bringing to life our long-standing advocacy on road safety on the digital platform,” shared EJ Francisco, AVP for Communications,

Ford Philippines. “This year, we are making the DSFL a more relevant training program for our participants by sharing the necessary driving habits and skills as they navigate the roads in the new normal.”

Long-time partner and training facilitator Tuason Racing School will conduct the virtual DSFL program for Ford Philippines and aim

to provide an interactive training session with more instructional videos, games, and contests. Part of it is valuable tips on vehicle maintenance, road safety measures, and fuel-efficient driving skills.

Of course, relevant topics such as pandemic car care and maintenance tips, car sanitation and disinfection, and driving techniques during the rainy weather.

The training program has been a consistent recipient of awards in the country. It earned a Gold Award under the Road Safety category in the 4th Driven to Serve Awards by the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) in 2020. What makes the DSFL program effective is that it utilizes a combination of

classroom training with modules on vehicle handling, driving in particular conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving, as well as a hands-on driving simulation (pre-pandemic). It allows participating drivers to apply their learnings from the classroom sessions. In 2017, DSFL was rolled out in the Visayas and Mindanao region.

Driving Skills for Life was established in the United States in 2003

by Ford Motor Company Fund, the US Governors Highway Safety Association, and a panel of safety experts, to teach newly licensed drivers the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what is learned in standard driver education programs.

Several DSFL sessions will be open to the public to register and participate. Interested parties may go to Ford Philippines’s Facebook page to know more about Ford Driving Skills for Life.

Geely Opens Marilao, Sumulong Highway, Pangasinan Dealerships T

rue to its commitment to bring exciting, smart, and luxurious vehicles complemented with a new level of vehicle ownership to Filipinos, Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP) network expansion plans for the Geely brand continues with the inauguration of 3 more dealer outlets. SGAP is adding Geely Marilao, Bulacan; Geely Sumulong Highway, Cainta, Rizal;, and Geely Dagupan, Pangasinan to its roster of operational dealerships.

Geely Marilao, SGAP’s second dealership in Bulacan, is owned and operated by Autospeedygo Group under the Autospectrum Corporation. Autospeedygo also operates Geely Baliuag in Bulacan which started operations March of this year.

Geely Marilao is located at 150 Mac

Arthur Highway, Marilao, Bulacan. It is a 1,300-sq m showroom and service center which can accommodate a five-car showroom display and 7 service work bays.

The dealership is open from Monday to Saturday 8 a.m.–6p.m.

Meantime, the Autohub group, which also owns Geely Quezon Avenue, has also established a new dealership in the East of Metro Manila. Geely Sumulong will be catering to its customers in Marikina and Rizal. Autohub group has been in the Philippine automotive business for over two decades. Through the years, it has established its name and credibility through the luxury European brands it handled.

Geely Sumulong is located at Sumulong Highway, Cainta Rizal. Its 440-sqm show-

room can display 5 cars while its offsite service center has work bays for six vehicles. The dealership is open from Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

SGAP is capped off September with the opening of Geely Dagupan, Pangasinan. This is Geely’s first dealership in Northern Luzon, operated by the Motorcentrum Corp. under the Guanzon Group of Companies.

Geely Dagupan, Pangasinan is located along the Jose de Venecia Highway in Pangasinan. Its 465-sqm showroom can display 5 cars while its service center has work bays for 5 vehicles. This outlet in Pangasinan will be open from Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

SGAP President and CEO, Yosuke Nishi said, “We are really ecstatic that we were able to open 4 outlets this month of September, inspite of the challenges brought by the pandemic. This month alone we were able to open Sta. Rosa, Laguna followed

by Marilao, Bulacan; Sumulong Highway, Cainta; and Pangasinan. These bring the total Geely outlets to 19, with more to be opened by yearend.”

“We thank our business partners the Autospeedygo Group, Autohub Group, and

the Guanzon Group for their confidence and commitment to the Geely brand through the

Warranty worth watching finally here

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MID the uncertainty due to the pandemic, it pays to be ready, alert. Study the landscape well. There’d be new detours that are sometimes too parsimonious to take. Careful.

Take the matter of warranty for our used vehicles. We should be doubly observant, sensitively vigilant always to a platform being dangled at us. Check the offeror’s track record first before taking the plunge.

And so, the birth of the Premium Warranty Services Philippines, Inc. (PWSPI) bears watching. You’ll instantly find that the so-called new kid on the block is impeccably credentialed and, therefore, seen to revolutionize the used-car buying business in the country.

In the first place, it is backstopped by Japan’s No. 1 automotive warranty provider.

In the second place, the “kiddo” is being headed by Vince S. Socco, an unparalleled industry giant whose peers absolutely respect and put to a pedigreed pedestal befitting an immortal icon.

How then can the PWSPI go wrong when it’s been also forged by a slew of auto world heavyweights that include GT Mobility Ventures, Inc. (GTMV), GT Capital Automotive

Dealership Holdings, Inc. (GTCAD) and Mitsui & Co, Japan, and Premium Group Co. Ltd., Japan’s number one automotive warranty provider?

Socco’s template for his new babe: To become the premier provider of both inspection and warranty services for secondhand vehicles in the Philippines, and to harness the strengths of its worldclass partners to introduce a new and unmatched consumer experience to the pre-owned car market.

“We aim to radically change the purchasing and ownership experience of preowned car buyers,” said Socco. “Through our inspection and warranty services, we empower customers by assuring them of the quality of the used vehicles they are purchasing for a worry-free car ownership. PWSPI also helps used-car sellers to build a stronger relationship with their buyers and provide better value on the vehicles they are selling.”

Socco brags of his Japan partner’s clientele of more than 1 million contracts and 23,500 partner dealers—the largest in Japan—in 14-plus years of warranty experience.

opening of additional outlets under their respective franchises,” Nishi added.

“The Filipino deserves—and demands—no less than the same world-class standards for pre-owned vehicle services offered in more developed countries,” Socco said.

The same Japan outfit is firmly entrenched in Thailand and Indonesia, making the Philippines another timely target.

“Our goal is to create a more transparent used-car marketplace in the Philippines that benefits both buyers and sellers,” Socco said.

“We welcome pre-owned car dealers to join our journey and together provide a better used-car experience to all Filipinos.”

Socco’s secrets: n The company offers a 188-point inspection on the used vehicle. n It removes the guesswork and minimizes the risks in completing a purchase with confidence. n A 1-year or 2-year warranty period. n “As is where is” is eliminated as PWSPI provides repair and service on more than 200 parts. n Vehicles are repaired at no cost to mostly major Japanese, American and Korean models.

Well done, Sir Vince.

For more details, call Christopher Kho at +63 0917-540-0177, or visit him at christopher.kho@pwsp.com.ph.

PEE STOP

The CCCI, headed by Atty. Albert Arcilla triumphantly, launched the new, best-selling MG on Oct. 5. Cheers!...Round 1 of the GITI-Formula V1 was recently ran at Clark Speedway with much success, Nikki Viola reports. Round 2 is on December 4 to 5. Vrrrm!

The Business of Living: Staying Strong at 16 BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, October 8, 2021 D1

THE ‘NEW OXYGEN’ IN A PANDEMIC WORLD PHL telco sector rises to challenge of helping millions stay alive, as remote work, studying, government and business transactions, and telemedicine become matter of life and death.

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

It has become so critical that the Internet has often been described as the new oxygen—no longer just gold or oil—for both individuals and businesses to stay, almost literally, alive.

There is no exaggeration here—just check the panicked calls made by Internet subscribers to their telcos each time their online work or study is disrupted.

It is, literally, a life-or-death matter, as government and health experts have deemed work-from-

home arrangements the first important barrier to catching Covid-19. At the start of the pandemic, one writer whose Internet subscription was disrupted told her telco, “I’ve been forced to go out and work elsewhere, and risk getting Covid. Can I lay this at your doorstep if I get sick?”

And, in the same way that oxygen has become scarce due to the increasing demand for it, you’ll be surprised to know that access to the Continued on D2

NONIE REYES

ROM being a luxury to becoming a right, access to the Internet has transformed into a very essential need for many Filipinos during the pandemic.

The Business of Living: Staying Strong at 16 D2 Friday, October 8, 2021

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The ‘new oxygen’ in a pandemic world

NTC DEPUTY COMMISSIONER EDGARDO CABARIOS Continued from D1

Internet is likewise still limited.

As National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Deputy Commissioner Edgardo V. Cabarios put it so well: “Blood carries oxygen throughout the body, and you have to reach all parts of the body to deliver oxygen. Otherwise you will die. In the same vein, data connectivity is the new oxygen, but you have to reach the entire country to really thrive, and, in some cases, for you to live.”

Due to the pandemic, majority of Filipinos are required to stay at home, working and studying remotely via digital solutions to be safe from Covid-19. This paved the way for the acceleration of digital transformation for many industries and the creation of various hybrid business and learning models.

10 million is still too many

WHILE the Philippines has a 4G penetration rate of roughly 90 percent, Cabarios admitted that Internet access has yet to be fully democratized.

“Not all areas in the Philippines have connection to the Internet. Telcos don’t build their infrastructure in far-flung areas because it’s very expensive to extend lines and there are no commercial returns,” he said.

Even the 4G penetration rate, he said, could be misleading.

“Ninety percent of the towns have access to 4G, but not the entirety of the barangays has service—some are just in the poblacions. There are many areas that need to be served, and that’s around 10 percent of the population. If you think about it, 10 percent is still big—that’s still 10 million Filipinos who do not have access to the Internet,” Cabarios said.

Even fixed broadband is still far behind the access race.

According to the latest Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) National ICT Household Survey, only three out of 10 barangays have fiber connections.

The limited access to the Internet results in inequalities: Filipinos without Internet access are being left behind of the benefits of the Web, especially in education, information and finance, among many others.

Telco initiatives

TELECOMMUNICATIONS companies are pitching in to help bridge

the digital divide, especially now that the Internet has been touted as a lifeline for many.

“Globe recognizes how crucial reliable connectivity is during this ongoing pandemic. Internet connectivity has been touted as the great equalizer. This is why through Globe’s robust network improvements nationwide and connectivity solutions made more affordable for every Filipino, we’re able to reach more homes across the country and enable them with means to pivot their businesses to digital, and continue operations despite the challenges,” Globe Telecom Inc. Spokesperson Yolanda C. Crisanto said.

Globe is spending roughly P76 billion to further modernize its mobile and fixed line networks. Bulk of the capital or about 91 percent will be invested in data-related requirements “to support the fast-growing data usage and provide superior data customer experience.”

PLDT Inc. and subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. has also allotted a total of P92 billion to expand their footprint for both wireless and broadband.

“The quality of our network and our superior customer experience continue to strengthen our revenue growth as our individual business continues to address the data requirements and digital lifestyle of Filipinos. Our Home segment continues to tap into the large unserved demand for home broadband, and our corporate digital transformation initiatives and data center business support our Enterprise segment’s growth,” PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

Third telco licensee Dito Telecommunity Corp., meanwhile, has programmed over P50 billion in capital expenditures to further expand its network and meet the commitments to the government.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has also set a P20-billion capital expenditures plan for 2021, as it embarks on widening its reach to more areas in the Philippines this year.

“Our mission to reach the underserved and unserved areas in the country became even more critical,” Converge CEO Dennis Anthony H. Uy said.

But these investments are not enough.

Gov’t should step in

HISTORICALLY, Cabarios said, local telcos have spent almost P500 billion to build a network that

could achieve average speeds of 33 Mbps for mobile and 77 Mbps for fixed line, “and still 10 percent is unreached for mobile and about 30 percent to 40 percent have no access for fixed.”

“The demand for Internet connectivity continues to rise day after day, and as we increase demand, we have to also increase the supply,” he said.

This is where the government should step in, Cabarios said. Missionary areas, or locations that are unprofitable for commercial broadband or mobile data, should be prioritized by the government.

“Telcos won’t put up infrastructure in areas that have no economic return on their side. So government should really invest in ICT infrastructure in order to reach those who are unreached,” he explained.

Cabarios noted that the DICT is right on track when it comes to providing Internet access to farflung areas.

“We’re expecting that in the coming months and few years, with government investment doubling—even tripling—we can provide access to those without access and let the private investments compete in areas that they can compete,” he said.

He cited initiatives such as the National Broadband Network, the Free WiFi Program, and the Common Passive Infrastructure initiatives as examples.

“The whole country—both the private sector and the government—should have to invest a huge amount of money to satisfy the need for high-speed data connection, which is not cheap,” Cabarios said.

Still, the government has yet to fully “appreciate” the impact of the Internet in the lives of Filipinos, especially during the pandemic.

The DICT has proposed a P34.63-billion budget for 2022.

The Senate recently approved this.

“We have observed that the entire ecosystem is limited in the appreciation for ICT-driven connectivity that will allow us to manage effectively and proactively. The government has yet to fully understand that ICT is the future, especially during the pandemic,” ICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan III said.

Cabarios added that the government ought to invest in ICT infrastructure as this can help boost economic activities, citing a World Bank study.

Continued on D4

NONIE REYES

‘There are many areas that need to be served, and that’s around 10 percent of the population. If you think about it, 10 percent is still big—that’s still 10 million Filipinos who do not have access to the Internet.’

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THE ‘NEW OXYGEN’ IN A PANDEMIC WORLD

‘We want to bring this world-class technology to the majority of our people. After all, if internet is the ‘new oxygen,’ then everybody is entitled to this life source.’

Continued from D2

“The government should invest because it has economic returns. A study conducted by the World Bank showed that in developing countries, a 10-percent increase in penetration results in a 1.3-percent increase in GDP—that’s a huge contribution. So there is a direct relationship between expanding Internet coverage and increase in local output,” he explained.

Policy reform

BUT aside from spending more to expand the coverage and improve the quality of Internet services in the country, the government should also implement several policy measures to ensure the acceleration of digital transformation initiatives.

For instance, Crisanto said, Globe hopes the government extends or even makes permanent the provisions of Bayanihan 2 Law that suspended national and local permits and licenses for the rollout of telecommunications infrastructure.

Globe has always advocated the reduction of bureaucratic red tape in infrastructure builds, as this has slowed the deployment of much-needed infrastructure in many areas for several years.

The Ayala-led telco, Crisanto said, is also seeking the amendment of the Local Government Code to “prohibit or limit the imposition of tower fees to only an amount that is commensurate to the cost of supervision and inspection of the facilities of the telcos.”

It is also proposing to amend the building code to “mandate the developer or building owner to provide technology-ready facilities, similar to other utilities like power and water,” Crisanto said.

So far, the government has implemented various initiatives through the Anti-Red Tap Authority (Arta) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to provide more leeway for telcos to build their infrastructure.

Smart, Converge weigh in

SMART President Alfredo S. Panlilio lauded these programs, saying that they help accelerate the group’s infrastructure builds despite limitations and restrictions.

“We stand with our government, and grateful for these undertakings, as we work toward providing world-class connectivity for all Filipinos. Together, we will continue to support our increasingly connected societies, especially in the new normal,” he said.

Uy added that Converge is also pushing for the reduction of the required permits and quicker processing for the deployment of fiber-optic cables.

He is also seeking the authority to immediately conduct repair works, especially during night time when the offices are already closed.

“With new technologies in fiber rollout such as the microtrenching equipment that we use, we are able to lay down cables

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CONVERGE CEO DENNIS ANTHONY H. UY

with minimal disruption on thoroughfares. Thus, we hope that we will be allowed to install cables even during the day since the use of these new technologies will have minimal impact on traffic flow during the day. If we are able to roll out fiber-optic cables nonstop, we will be able to deploy faster and immediately serve the connectivity needs of our people,” he explained.

Cabarios, for his part, cited almost-century-old laws that need to be updated, such as the Radio Control Law and the Public Service Act, to facilitate faster processes for infrastructure builds.

Better Broadband Alliance Convener Mary Grace MirandillaSantos agreed, adding to the list the approval of the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill to the group’s wish list.

“While the pandemic has fasttracked broadband rollout, policies such as the Open Access in Data Transmission bill must be put in place to continue the momentum beyond the crisis. The amendments to the Public Service Act, which seeks to reclassify telecommunications as a public service instead of a public utility, should be passed in order to open the industry to more competition,” she said.

Investment climate, competition

THESE policy reforms, Cabarios explained, will create a “better investment climate” for the telecommunications sector and the ICT industry as a whole.

“We have to improve the investment climate to allow more investments to come in,” he said.

“As much as possible, regulations should be only to the barest minimum. Let us allow our telcos to play. Leave them free, but regulate if needed.”

By improving the investment climate, the government will be able to foster a more intense competitive environment, which will then benefit consumers, Santos added.

“It’s very clear that the status quo of restricting market entry and focusing on just the big players, especially in the broadband industry, cannot and must not continue. The only way we can see real change in the state of Philippine Internet is when the market environment becomes conducive to competition and innovation, and where the consumer has a real choice,” she said.

Santos, also an independent ICT researcher, noted that “there are indications” that Converge and Dito are forcing incumbents to step up their game.

“Having a choice of more than two service providers and beyond mobile cellular service will create real competition and real choices. Can you imagine how much more things can improve and how many more Filipinos can benefit from digital transformation if market entry restrictions were eased and barriers, like the Congressional franchise, were removed for Internet services?

Broadband infrastructure will

become available in more parts of the country. Digitalization will be further accelerated, and no one will be left behind,” she said.

provider with footprints in fintech, healthcare, entertainment, adtech, e-commerce, manpower, IT services, and venture capital,” she said.

Digital is the new normal

Everyone entitled to a life source

DIGITAL has been slowly becoming the new normal for many parts of the Philippines and the world, and access to the Internet is the bedrock by which these services operate.

Cabarios said the Internet will be key to digital transformation initiatives, which will also help the Philippines become more competitive in the global scene.

“We have to hasten it because the faster we go into digital, then we can compete globally. We have to accelerate transforming the Philippines into digital, or else, we’ll be at a loss,” he said.

And, despite challenges, Crisanto said the future of the telco industry remains “very promising.”

“The pandemic reinforced the need for connectivity as people and businesses shifted their activities from offline to online or digital.

Aside from connectivity, Globe is also leveraging the strengths of the core business—brand, customer base, distribution capabilities, market knowledge and synergies with strategic partners to invest in adjacent businesses. These will enable Globe to unlock values beyond telco, by expanding into various digital solutions businesses, thereby transforming the company into a technology-based solutions

SANTOS said the industry must act quickly to provide these services to the underserved and unserved sectors of society by democratizing access to the Internet.

“Across the board, we’ve all realized that ICT infrastructure, in particular, the Internet, is an essential service that can support inclusive economic growth and improve people’s lives, pandemic or not. In response to the pandemic, many of our legislators filed bills on digitalization, such as digital payment, e-government, e-health, and digital transformation, among others, only to realize that these services will be difficult to carry out if Internet connection is poor or absent. Either that or the digital services will be available only in the urban areas where Internet connection is concentrated,” she said.

After all, Converge’s Uy asserted, “Internet connection at home has become the lifeline of our people as we now do everything online, at home.”

“Our mission has always been to democratize connectivity. We want to bring this world-class technology to the majority of our people. After all, if Internet is the ‘new oxygen,’ then everybody is entitled to this life source,” he said.

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Friday, October 8, 2021 E1

AS COVID DEATHS RISE, SO DOES THE PHL DEBT Govt taps various financing tools to keep economy afloat

J

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

UST right before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, the Philippines notched its record-low debt-to-GDP ratio of 39.6 percent in 2019.

Now, almost two years since the pandemic began, the government sees the country’s debt-toGDP ratio surging to its highest level in 16 years at 59.1 percent by yearend, and to peak at 60.8 percent in 2022—slightly above the higher end of the threshold set by the International Monetary Fund for emerging markets and developing economies like the Philippines.

However, this is seen to gradually taper off to 60.7 percent in 2023 and 59.7 percent in 2024.

In nominal terms, the national government projects that its outstanding debt would reach P11.73 trillion this year and P13.42 trillion by 2022.

Given the rise in the country’s

debt levels along with the drop in revenues and the widening of the budget deficit, groups like Freedom from Debt Coalition warned in a recent forum that the country may be facing a crisis similar to that seen in the 1980s.

However, Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven, who heads the Department of Finance’s (DOF) International Finance Group, said the current debt situation is still manageable, even if the debt-to-GDP ratio peaks at 60.8 percent next year.

“I think we have to consider this, this debt-to-GDP [ratio] basically it’s not an absolute number, you know, once we reached 60 percent, it’s already unsustainable. It’s

a factor of various things, among which is our ranking as against neighboring countries,” he said.

Unlike the ’80s situation

THE debt situation is different from that of the 1980s, Joven pointed out, because back then the country was dealing with a bad Balance of Payments position, a high external debt load as a share of its economy, and a notso-robust tax effort.

While Philippine economy also contracted in the 1980s, the DOF official expressed confidence that the worst is finally over and that the economy is on track to recover.

“Right now, GDP shrank but I think the worst is over and we’re seeing shoots of revival in our economy,” Joven told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

“Now, we can see that, notwithstanding the pandemic, the tax effort is not deteriorating drastically, so with all of these factors, I think we can get through this without necessarily feeling the pain of the economic crisis in 1984 to 1986.”

Financing mix

LOOKING at the DOF’s projection

on the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio, UnionBank Chief Economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion still believes that it may take a decade for the ratio to return to its prepandemic level based on historical evidence.

“There is a chance [that it would take] 10 years if monetaryfiscal policy coordination misses the mark,” Asuncion said in a mix of English and Filipino.

While Joven said it would take some time for the Philippines to see its debt ratio going back to the 2019 level of around 40 percent, he said he does “not necessarily agree” that it would take a decade.

In managing the country’s debts, Joven said the government seeks an optimal financing mix of foreign and domestic loans. The government is also considering other factors, such as overall financing cost or the overall cost of interest when borrowing.

“So basically during times when we see…risk increasing, we shift toward domestic debt versus international debt,” he said.

“Our other strategies include prolonging the tenor, so basically this would mean extending or borrowing as much as possible from

ODA [Official Development Assistance] sources because these have the longest tenor, then moving toward commercial external debt, then commercial domestic debt, which typically has the shortest tenor.”

To bring down the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio to prepandemic levels, Joven said the country needs to outgrow its debt.

“As you know, one of the main reasons for the sudden increase in the debt-to-GDP [ratio] was the drastic drop in GDP. In other words, one of the main determinants of a lower debt-to-GDP is really moving back to the growth trajectory that we have been experiencing for the last two years.”

The DOF said the government is also working on a fiscal consolidation plan, which includes recommended measures for the succeeding administration. This will not only bring down the debt-toGDP ratio but also narrow the budget gap.

“The plan is, of course, to reform the tax system to make tax collection more efficient. Number two, to make the GOCC [government-owned and -controlled Continued on E2

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AS COVID DEATHS RISE, SO DOES THE PHL DEBT corporations] system also more efficient to enable us to collect more dividends; and number three, to control the expenditures to the extent possible, of course, without harming the economic growth,” he said.

Asuncion said it would have been better if government spending is more robust to support the country’s economy and allow the Philippines to grow out of its debt.

He said, however, that the current level of government spending is already enough for the country to somehow bring down its debt ratio.

Capital market devt

BESIDES supporting the country’s economic growth, Asuncion said the government can also focus on capital market development which could create more jobs, improve incomes and result in more revenues for the government.

He also stressed the importance of passing the pending priority economic bills, such as those that will expand the country’s tax base and encourage more investments.

These include the bills on taxation of digital transactions, the remaining packages under the Comprehensive Tax Reform, particularly the Passive Income and

Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, Real Property Valuation Reform Act, amendments to Public Service Act, Foreign Investments Act, and Retail Trade Liberalization Act.

On the Makabayan bloc’s proposed imposition of a wealth tax, Asuncion said he supports this but he said the timing of its implementation is crucial. “As for the wealth tax, I think this could be done later.

Maybe after we have fully opened up the economy, because timing is key. In this way, you don’t scare off people right away.”

Aside from imposing wealth tax to increase revenues, some sectors have also proposed the declaration of a debt moratorium.

According to Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Habitan and Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran, the Philippines had a “standstill arrangement” in the 1980s.

“We did not use the term ‘debt moratorium.’ It was called a ‘standstill arrangement.’ Interest payments continued, but amortization payments on most debts were postponed,” Habitan said.

Asuncion said the government can use debt moratorium as a last resort but he warned that doing so may affect the country’s investment grade rating.

“If we still have the means, the

’Now, we can see that, notwithstanding the pandemic, the tax effort is not deteriorating drastically so with all of these factors, I think we can get through this without necessarily feeling the pain of the economic crisis in 1984 to 1986.’

FINANCE UNDERSECRETARY MARK DENNIS JOVEN

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Continued from E1

space and the ability, I don’t think [debt moratorium] is an option.

I would say it should be the last resort, the very last chair in the classroom.”

For Joven, declaring a debt moratorium is not an option for DOF even in a worst-case scenario,

adding that taking this route may put the country at risk of a credit rating downgrade, which can lead to higher financing costs.

Finance Assistant Secretary Ma. Edita Tan agreed with Joven, adding that the country has already learned from dealing with

past crises.

“We’ve learned from that and then we improved on our macroeconomic structures and we’ve done a lot of reforms. Because of that, we actually survived a lot, even the Asian financial crisis and the Lehman crisis,” Tan said.

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Friday, October 8, 2021 E3

SM GOES ONLINE!

W

ITH the community quarantine due to COVID-19, many of us stayed at home and downloaded various apps on our phone to have convenient access to essential products and services. However, having so many mobile apps – from food delivery, shopping, to restaurants can sometimes be very confusing, especially when you need keep track of all the pop-up notifications, payment transactions, and not to mention, the expensive delivery fees.

Here’s one app you need to download because it has just about everything you need: the SM Malls Online app. With this app, you can safely and conveniently buy from various trusted essential and retail stores and restaurants from select SM malls and have them delivered straight to your doorstep – all in one app.

By downloading the SM Malls Online app, you can enjoy all these – and more, without stepping out of your home: One-stop-shop. When you shop on the SM Malls

Online app, you don’t need to worry about the hassle of multiple online checkouts or multiple costly delivery fees that add up. You can buy all the products you need from your favorite brands all in one online checkout and pay only one delivery fee – and just like that – it’s sent right to your home. That includes the leading international and local retail and dining establishments from SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM City North EDSA, and SM City Fairview – with more SM malls available soon.

In-store pickup. During

check-out, you may also select ‘in-store pickup’ to get your order when you’re already at your chosen mall. Proceed to the specific mall at your own convenience within 72 hours to claim your order, show the seller representative the order ID and other details on SM Malls Online app then you’re good to go.

Safe virtual shopping experience. For your safety, leading brands and trained riders follow #SafeMallingAtSM protocols in fulfilling your orders on the app. Shopping bags are sanitized and the riders are required to wear face mask and face shield, have their temperature monitored, and maintain a 6-ft. distance when handing your order.

Great deals and promos.

As a special treat for firsttime app users, SM is offering up to P200 off of shoppers’ fave brands when they use the code, SMGOESONLINE, upon checkout with a minimum purchase of P500. Shoppers can also buy from two or more brands and enjoy free shipping when they use the code, 2orMORE, for at least two non-food brands with a minimum of spend P750 or 2orMOREFOOD for at least two restaurants with a minimum spend of P300.

This promo is currently available from August 1 – September 30, 2021. Be sure that you have the latest version of the app from Google Play or the App Store so you can enjoy these great deals from SM. Awesome retail and dining brands. Just like

other SM malls nationwide, SM Malls Online Mobile app guarantees Filipinos easy access to a wide array of trusted brands for everything from essentials and restaurants to gadgets and more. Foodies can savor appetizing dishes from places like Manam, Panda Express, Wendy’s, Frankie’s Buffalo

Wings, and Auntie Anne’s.

Shoppers can also look forward to top brands on the app ranging from clothes to gadgets to beauty like Adidas, Office Warehouse, PC Express, Samsung, The Body Shop, and Watsons.

Cyberzone also offers the lowest price guaranteed on gadgets and laptops from

Villman, Silicon Valley, PC Express and more, just in time for online classes and perfect for work-from-home set-ups.

Download the SM Malls Online App for free on Google Play or the App Store.

For the latest news and deals, follow @smmallsonline on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.smmallsonline.com.

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PHL TURNS TO PROGRAM LOANS

TO SURVIVE PANDEMIC New program loans worth total of $8.16 billion in 2020 give govt flexibility to quickly fund emerging priorities as part of pandemic response

‘Because of our strong fiscal position, we were able to procure a total of 195 million vaccine doses from both the government and private sector, provide emergency cash transfers for those affected by the quarantines, and strengthen our overall response to address the pandemic.’

NONIE REYES

SOCIOECONOMIC PLANNING SECRETARY KARL KENDRICK T. CHUA

T

By Cai U. Ordinario

HE pandemic which turned the world upside down also had the same effect on the borrowing priorities of the Philippines, which favored quick-disbursing program loans over project loans in 2020.

In the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Portfolio Review of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), the government signed as many as 20 program loans in 2020 alone. The Philippines had a total of 106 loans as of last year.

These 20 new program loans amounted to $8.16 billion, nearly nine times the $915 million for the five new project loans signed by the government last year. With this, the 30 program loans as of 2020 worth $11.81 billion were more than double the 14 program loans worth $5 billion registered in 2019.

Compared to 2019, this was four times higher than the five new program loans signed that year. Of the 16 new loans in 2019, one program loan became effective, while four were signed but did not become effective that year.

Program loans differ from project loans since these can be

used for several projects, while project loans only focus on one specific project. Program loans generally have no government counterpart, according to Neda.

“The unprecedented challenges brought by the pandemic prompted a shift in sourcing and utilizing ODA financing in the new normal, from project-specific to quick-disbursing program loans,” the Neda report read.

The agency said that in 2020, the government secured more quick-disbursing program loans to finance reforms needed for priority sectors, such as improving the country’s health system capacity and addressing the fiscal and economic impacts of the pandemic.

The government, Neda said, also secured loans to ramp up spending on public infrastructure as one of the major drivers of economic recovery, given its multiplier effect in job generation and other economic activities.

“Because of our strong fiscal position, we were able to procure a total of 195 million vaccine doses from both the government and private sector, provide emergency cash transfers for those affected by the quarantines, and strengthen our overall response to address the pandemic,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua.

Sectors

BASED on the report, the new program and project loans and grants

secured for 2020 saw most of the loans going to activities classified under Governance and Institutions Development (GID). This means the loans were used for tax reforms, human resource development and management, judicial reforms, and local governance.

Data showed GID accounted for 45.12 percent or $5.038 billion of the loans and grants.

Loans amounted to $4.93 billion, while grants amounted to $105.96 million.

The second top area where ODA was used is for activities under the Social Reform and Community Development (SRCD). This pertained to activities that supported primary, secondary and tertiary education, and technical and vocational education training.

The SRCD also included activities related to arts, culture and humanities education, maternal and child health services, hospital services, nutrition and population, social welfare and development, multipurpose buildings and school buildings, potable water supply, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

Data showed the new ODA loans and grants that went to SRCD activities accounted for 30.69 percent or $3.426 billion in 2020. This was composed of $3.4 billion worth of loans and $22.63 million worth of grants.

Another major sector that received the most new ODA loans and grants was Infrastructure De-

velopment (Infra). These included activities related to power, energy, electrification, and information and communications technology.

The Infra’s new ODA loans and grants were also used for air, land (roads and bridges), rail and water transportation, flood control and drainage, solid waste management, water supply and sanitation, and other public works like public markets and bus terminals.

The data showed that new ODA loans and grants for Infra accounted for 16.4 percent or $1.83 billion in 2020. This was mainly composed of loans.

However, Neda noted in the past three years, SRCD, GID, and Industry, Trade and Tourism (ITT) have significantly increased. ITT activities pertain to trade and investment, environmental technologies in industries, and microfinance and microenterprise development.

“A three-year comparison shows that investments in SRCD, GID and ITT sectors significantly increased in 2020. While there was a continued increase in ODA to the Infra sector, 2020 data showed that more ODA loans and grants were contracted in support of programs and projects toward Covid-19 response (SRCD and GID) and promotion of digital economy (ITT),” the report read.

Sources

BASED on the report, 59 new ODA loans and grants entered the port-

folio in 2020. Around 38.46 percent or 15 loans amounting to $4.29 billion were secured from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

It may be noted that the Philippine government secured several loans from the ADB in 2020, including a $500-million loan to expand the country’s conditional cash transfer program and the $1.5-billion Covid-19 Active Response Expenditure Support (CARES) Program, which is being cofinanced by the ADB with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

This was followed by loans from the World Bank, which accounted for 27 percent or $3.06 billion for nine loans; and Japan, with 22 percent or $2.5 billion for five loans and two grants.

However, cumulatively, Japan remained the country’s top ODA source, accounting for as much as 36.44 percent or $11.185 billion of the total ODA portfolio. The country’s total ODA portfolio, which includes active loans and grants signed prior to 2020, amounted to $30.69 billion as of last year.

ADB came in second with 28.52 percent or a total of $8.75 billion as of 2020; World Bank, 20.97 percent or $6.435 billion; and AIIB, 3.12 percent or $6.435 billion.

Neda conducts the ODA portfolio review annually, pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 8182 or the ODA Act of 1996, as amended by RA 8555.

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Friday, October 8, 2021 F1

Buffeted by pandemic headwinds, aviation sector flaps its wings for calibrated takeoff ESPITE uncertainties that caused dwindling revenues, aviation industry stakeholders are still optimistic, albeit very cautious at the same time.

Continued on F2

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

F2

Friday, October 8, 2021

The Business of Living

Business

Buffeted by pandemic headwinds, aviation Continued from F1

‘For the sake of our economy, I beg our decision-makers to listen. Set up prudent policies that are very supportive of our economy, because lockdowns may result in zero Covid cases, but the trade-off is the death of our economy.’

PAL PRESIDENT GILBERT F. STA. MARIA

restructuring program should end this year.

AirAsia Philippines, meanwhile, is also beefing up its domestic operations, as it expects demand for leisure travel to rise within the fourth quarter of the year. It is now adding frequencies to Bohol, Boracay and Cebu.

“By December, we intend to open our international routes, such as Taipei, Singapore and Hong Kong, to cater to returning overseas Filipino workers while our other airline operation centers, such as AirAsia Malaysia and AirAsia Thailand, will operate the Manila-Kuala Lumpur and Manila-Bangkok via Don Muang Airport, respectively,” AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve F. Dailisan said.

Digital airlines

WHILE the pandemic wreaked havoc on the global airline industry and caused profitable carriers to bleed, it somehow paved the way for the acceleration of digital transformation among industry players.

Romero said digital transformation is one of the initiatives of Cebu Pacific in order to remain agile and relevant and ensure that the business “remains sustainable in the years to come.”

“This pandemic gave way for digitalization to develop across all businesses. We expect that these contactless and self-service procedures are here to stay as people have now grown accustomed to this hassle-free experience,” Romero said.

Dailisan agreed, citing the whole AirAsia Group’s transformation into a so-called super app, one that is “tech-driven” to serve more customers beyond the usual airline offers.

For instance, AirAsia leveraged its airline operations to offer logistics services, including lastmile deliveries to create more value out of its core business.

“Contactless transaction and digital transformation is the future of the aviation industry for AirAsia. Beyond that is a one-stopshop super app-related services to airlines,” he said.

Cargo helps

ASIDE from creating new revenue streams and mounting stronger digital presence, airlines have also been capitalizing on the strong demand for cargo.

Romero said Cebu Pacific is strengthening its cargo operations.

It introduced “hybrid flights,” which means that one sector carries passengers, while the return flight carries purely cargo.

This has worked to the advantage of Cebu Pacific, as it recorded revenues of P2.81 billion in the first six months of the year, a 27-percent rise from P2.22 billion the year prior. Cargo now accounts for 48 percent of the airline’s total revenues.

AirAsia also introduced Teleport, its cargo company, which utilized the belly portion of the jets for cargo transport.

Teleport’s operations include “warehousing, machines for X-rays, logistics operations and manpower on ground,” in locations such as Zamboanga and General Santos.

“We’re boosting our Teleport cargo business because we need to continue our progress with regard to transfer of goods to the city,” AirAsia Philippines President Ricardo P. Isla said.

PAL, Sta. Maria noted, has also put prime focus on cargo “until the recovery of demand [for commercial passenger flights] from other regions” normalizes.

Flight plan to recovery

ALL these, however, are not enough to keep airlines profitable. Each one of them is still on the red, with PAL the most affected of all three local carriers.

However, they are still “hopeful” of returning to their normal day-to-day operations once the Philippines—and other nations—achieve substantial herd immunity.

“No one can tell for sure when this pandemic will end—we might even have to prepare transitioning to when Covid-19 becomes an endemic. All we know is if all stakeholders in the industry work together, the public’s trust and confidence in air travel will be restored in no time, and we will bounce back stronger. We continue to become agile and stick by our business transformation plan to ensure we remain formidable in the years to come,” Romero said for Cebu Pacific.

For his part, Sta. Maria said PAL does not expect a quick recovery from the effects of the pandemic.

“We won’t be back to the 2019 network that we flew until much later. Given our reduced fleet size, given the restrictions that are currently still in place, our planning is looking out in short six-month to one-year horizons. With the remaining fleet we have to see if those destinations have opened up,” he said.

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) projects in-

ternational air travel to return to its pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023. Domestic travel, on the other hand, is a different story.

AirAsia Philippines is more hopeful. It targets returning to its pre-pandemic operation levels as early as the last quarter of 2022 depending on the local and international restrictions and protocols.

“AirAsia Philippines is expecting the full recovery of its domestic pre-pandemic level once herd immunity is achieved or as forecasted by health experts by the second quarter—around April or May— of 2022. International recovery meanwhile is expected to return to normal by the fourth quarter of 2022 or mid-2023,” Dailisan said.

The three airlines are also banking on Bayanihan or repatriation flights to boost their revenues.

Reduce limits, encourage people to fly

BUT as early as now, the three carriers all believe that demand for air travel can recover—if only the government formalizes a plan to reduce travel caps and ease travel restrictions to encourage tourism, especially for fully vaccinated individuals.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricardo P. Isla, also the president of the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (Acap), said the national government should scrap the use of negative RT-PCR tests as entry requirements for incoming visitors who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

“AirAsia is 100 percent behind our local government units in calling for a more relaxed travel restriction and requirement for fully vaccinated individuals to lessen the cost of air travel. It is also one way to incentivize those who took the shot and encourage more to do the same,” he said.

The local governments of Palawan, Aklan and Cebu have asked the national government

NONIE REYES

They are in fact, ready to flap their wings and paint the skies red, blue and yellow, should demand return at any given point. After all, they have all been waiting patiently to fly more people from one airport to another.

“We remain hopeful for our industry. Studies show that a lot of people miss traveling and there is definitely latent demand. We anticipate that more destinations will ease travel restrictions soon and we continue to be cautiously optimistic as we ramp up our network to prepare for the recovery of domestic travel,” Cebu Pacific Spokesperson Carmina ReyesRomero said.

Cebu Pacific is reintroducing some of its international flights and is increasing frequencies for its domestic operations this month, by which it will operate at 38 percent of its pre-Covid capacity.

For his part, Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Gilbert F. Sta. Maria said the group, despite the headwinds that it currently faces, will also “increase domestic and international flights in late October as travel demand recovers.

“We will roll out new products and services that help make flying more convenient,” he said.

PAL is currently under restructuring following the approval of its Chapter 11 plea in a US court. The

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sector flaps its wings for calibrated takeoff

to scrap the RT-PCR test result before entry for fully vaccinated individuals.

“It’s Christmas season in the Philippines, and after almost two years of not being able to travel due to the pandemic, Filipinos would surely want to spend time with family in the provinces or just simply enjoy the beach and the sun in the many leisure destinations in the country,” Isla added.

AirAsia Philippines is also pushing for the easing of travel restrictions for fully vaccinated foreign tourists, such as the shortened five-day quarantine period.

These measures are expected to help revive local tourism, support local businesses, and jumpstart economic recovery.

“We have always been for the standardization of travel as we believe this is the best incentive to encourage Filipinos to start flying again. Discussions around making travel easier for fully vaccinated individuals are a very welcome development and we hope protocols will be implemented as soon as the government is confident. We believe that even if we see an increase in passenger arrivals, it does not increase the overall risk levels for the country but will instead benefit the economy as a whole,” Romero added.

She added that there is a “pent-up demand for travel,” and reducing travel restrictions could not only help boost and stimulate economic activity, but will also help improve passenger confidence.

“We know there is a pent-up demand for travel, and reopening domestic travel and promoting responsible travel amidst the pandemic are both critical to rebuilding the trust and travel confidence of passengers. We have in fact began ramping up our domestic network as we anticipate local travel to bounce back in the fourth quarter,” Romero said.

For his part, Sta. Maria urged the government to also increase international arrival caps, especially in the main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

“For the sake of our economy, I beg our decision-makers to listen. Set up prudent policies that are very supportive of our economy, because lockdowns may result in zero Covid cases, but the trade-off is the death of our economy,” he said.

Sta. Maria said PAL is asking for “some reasonable restrictions be lifted and done in sync across the entire archipelago so all carriers can fly.”

“This is important for the survival of PAL, but I’m not asking on behalf of PAL. I’m asking on behalf of everyone who needs to fly,” he said.

Creative way to increase caps

FOR his part, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said his agency plans to increase the arrivals cap for international passengers to accommodate more overseas Filipinos returning home.

The government is exploring alternative gateways to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to increase the arrivals cap.

“The capacity today is around 2,000 passengers…if we’re going to increase the capacity from 2,000 to, say, 3,000 passengers, we have to add more gateways. We have to stop limiting the arrivals to Naia, Cebu and Clark. Let’s explore if we can open arrivals to General Santos, Panglao, Ilocos, Laoag, or Vigan,” he said.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, on the other hand, gave assurances that the agency will be focusing on “protecting the livelihoods and the workforce, as well as broadening and deepening the roots of community engagement, capitalizing on the country’s strengths.”

“The department will continue the push for the vaccination of its tourism workers, the enforcement of health and safety guidelines, and the development of tourism products and circuits that reflect the changing preferences of the traveler amidst this pandemic,” she said.

Puyat added that her group is now “preparing for the return of inbound tourism, ensuring that our destinations are safe and our programs are sustainable.”

“We look forward to the day when we can join other nations in welcoming foreign travelers,” she said.

Business as usual, but not normal

FOR now, it will be business as usual for the three carriers, serving passengers, while implementing protocols that are beyond what was normal two years back.

All three carriers assured the public they are following both local and international best practices in flying passengers safely to their destinations.

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By Bianca Cuaresma

HILE local financial consumers have historically been relatively aloof from the traditional banking system, it looks like financial technology (fintech) is winning them over on convenience and increased reliance on digital means due to the pandemic.

Earlier this year, Moody’s Investors Service released an indepth analysis on the Philippine banking system, claiming that fintech companies in the country have the ability to overtake incumbent banks in retail services.

Moody’s said fintech companies in the Philippines are “poised to grow rapidly” while conventional banks “remain slow in digital services.”

The credit watcher said because the Philippines has been wary of banks in general—with 70 percent of adults lacking access to formal banking services—fintech companies win these unbanked population over as traditional banks are keen on retaining their current business model.

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) Financial Inclusion Survey in its Financial Inclusion Dashboard as of the third quarter of 2020, 12.2 percent of respondents have bank accounts, while 8 percent have electronicmoney/wallet accounts.

During the pandemic, however, e-money accounts have gained popularity, while bank accounts re-

graphic environments are broadly favorable for fintech adoption, with the country’s large, scattered population providing a sizable market on which to leverage mobile banking.

“At Fitch Solutions, we believe the fintech market in the Philippines is weighted slightly to the upside. Mobile operators are often key enablers of fintech solutions, and banking services offered by Globe and PLDT have quickly capitalized on the country’s large unbanked population and the shift in customer behavior accelerated by the pandemic—benefiting from a first-mover advantage,” Fitch Solutions said.

Both these international research bodies said the country’s regulatory environment has been playing a big part in the proliferation of fintech in the country.

Over the last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has announced key digital initiatives, regulations and rules for fintech and digitization of financial services in the country.

Digital roadmap

mained broadly stable. From 2019 to 2020, the survey indicated that respondents with bank accounts grew by 0.7 percent, while respondents with e-money accounts grew by 6.7 percent.

Moody’s is not alone in this assessment. Also earlier this year, Fitch Solutions—the research arm of the Fitch Group—said the Philippines’s regulatory and demo-

IN October last year, the BSP unveiled its Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap 2020 to 2023, a blueprint of targets to increase the adoption of digital financial services in three years.

Two months later, the BSP also announced its guidelines on the establishment of digital banks in the country and recognized these neobank—or banks that do not have branches and only operate online—as a new banking classification in the country.

Since then, six banks have been given regulatory approval to operate

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PHL fintech continues march toward digitally driven economy

‘Mobile operators are often key enablers of fintech solutions, and banking services offered by Globe and PLDT have quickly capitalized on the country’s large unbanked population and the shift in customer behavior accelerated by the pandemic—benefiting from a first-mover advantage.’

FITCH SOLUTIONS in the country. The BSP has since closed the application for more digital banks in the country for three years for close monitoring.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said based on their profiles, the approved digital banks intend to serve Filipino migrant workers, the underserved, unbanked and the mass market, but are open to venture into investments, insurance and payment services, to broaden their reach.

In April this year, the BSP also proposed an e-money protection fund protection, which aims to

protect users in the event that fintech companies experience liquidity issues.

The BSP also announced the guidelines for the adoption of the Open Finance Framework, a blueprint that aims to facilitate the move of the local digital payments landscape toward an open finance ecosystem.

According to Diokno, an open finance ecosystem fosters datasharing scheme with consent-driven data portability, interoperability and collaborative partnerships among incumbent financial insti-

tutions and new third-party players who adhere to the same standards of data security and privacy.

“With access to consumer data, banks and third-party providers could tailor a broader array of financial products, such as banking products and services, investments, pensions and insurance,” Diokno said.

The rise of fintech, however, does not come without its challenges. Diokno said data privacy concerns, money laundering and electronic fraud are among the issues that can undermine confidence in this arena.

Moody’s Analytics, meanwhile, said an impediment to the adoption of electronic money in the country is the absence of insurance for it, while deposit insurance for bank accounts protects customers’ funds in the event of a liquidity crisis.

Fitch Solutions, on the other hand, said the relatively undeveloped digital infrastructure nationwide and the limited Internet access in the country restricts the full potential of fintech in tech in the country.

Despite these, the BSP encourages more fintech innovations in the country, especially while Filipinos seem to be embracing the shift.

Last month, Diokno directly addressed the fintech industry in a speaking engagement and urged them to seize the window of opportunity of Filipino consumers’ increased takeup of electronic transactions due to the pandemic.

“Strike while the iron is hot.

Tap into your innovation DNA to create worthwhile solutions. The conditions are ripe and the time to act is now,” Diokno said.

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IS PHL TOURISM FINALLY IN FOR A REBOOT?

OMESTIC tourism is seen picking up once more, with residents in the National Capital Region (NCR) again allowed to travel to leisure destinations in the country.

Continued on G2

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IS PHL TOURISM FINALLY

IN FOR A REBOOT? Continued from G1

For instance, on Boracay Island, famous the world over for its fine white-sandy beach, visitor arrivals rebounded to 6,702 in September, compared to just 24 in August, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). NCR, the main source of domestic visitors for many tourism destinations, went into another lockdown on August 6, as the Delta variant of Covid-19 wreaked havoc in the metropolis. But under government’s new Covid Alert Level System, which went into effect on Septem-

As the tourism industry tries to reboot, the DOT is constantly reminding our foreign friends that “More Fun Awaits” them in the Philippines. The agency’s new brand campaign has an ad airing on CNN International, the BBC, CNBC, National Geographic, and the History Channel. (Last year, it started with the “Wake up in the Philippines” campaign.)

ber 16, tourists between 18 and 65 years old are now allowed to travel, point-to-point, to any leisure destination, subject to the local government’s entry requirements.

Barring any new travel restrictions, Philippine Tour Operators Association president Cesar Cruz expresses optimism, “Before the end of the year…we [tourism] can already take off.”

He observes domestic tourists have already “embraced the challenge” of paying for RT-PCR tests, which increases their travel costs, or getting their QR codes from local government websites.

Vaccination is the key

TOURISM Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat believes vaccination will be the key in helping put the travel industry back on the road to recovery, as she continues to push for more tourism workers to get their jabs.

As of September 16, 2021, NCR registered the most number of vaccinated tourism workers at 94 percent, followed by the Davao Region at 88 percent, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 80 percent. The DOT is targeting some 74,000 tourism workers from Boracay, Bohol, Palawan, Siargao and Pampanga for vaccination.

SIARGAO, Surigao del Norte BENJAMIN REMHOF | DREAMSTIME.COM

For specific leisure destinations, Romulo Puyat says 100 percent of Boracay’s tourism workers should already have been vaccinated before the end of September. Baguio’s tourism frontliners are already 100-percent vaccinated. “I hope before Christmas, tourism workers in the country will be 100-percent vaccinated,” she stresses.

The DOT is trying to pattern its strategy after the Phuket Sandbox model, where 70 percent of the island’s residents have already been vaccinated, prior to reopening to foreign tourists. “We are closely watching Phuket, and their sandbox approach [to reopening to international tourism],” says the DOT chief.

Under the sandbox scheme, vaccinated tourists have been allowed to enter Phuket, but initially had to “quarantine” for 14 days before being allowed to travel to other destinations in Thailand. The quarantine has since been cut to seven days, with the Thai government now allowing tourists from

any country to visit. The Bangkok Post reported only 95 Covid cases directly traced to the sandbox scheme as of September 17. The island has recorded some 30,000 foreign tourists since it reopened on July 1.

Veteran tour operator Jose C. Clemente III supports the efforts of the DOT to reopen tourism, especially with regard to vaccinating tourism frontliners. But he underscores, “It has to be 70 percent of the [destination’s] residents, not just tourism workers, that have to be fully vaccinated before being reopened to foreign tourists.”

Also president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, Clemente adds, “There is still a need to exercise extreme caution as the virus is still with us. And medical experts believe fully vaccinated persons can still act as [Covid] carriers.”

Lift age restrictions, shorten quarantines

THE immediate priority of the DOT is to have age restrictions lifted for Metro Manila residents

traveling for leisure. “You know that Filipinos like traveling as a family. So it’s unfortunate if you have to leave your lola or your baby behind,” says Romulo Puyat.

She is also firm on cutting or eventually lifting the quarantine period for vaccinated foreign tourists, thus the rush to inoculate the country’s tourism workers. “As long as we are accepting fully vaccinated [guests], then we should reduce quarantine days.”

For now, only returning Filipinos, balikbayans, foreigners with valid and existing visas are allowed to enter the Philippines, unless they come from nations that are on a red list or banned country.

Only Filipinos returning on government-approved repatriation flights are allowed entry if they come from a red-list country, but have to quarantine for 14 days at a government-approved facility.

Vaccinated persons arriving from countries on the so-called green list undergo a seven-day quarantine, while people coming Continued on G4

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Friday, October 8, 2021

BusinessMirror

FAB FIVE: FORD TERRITORY OWNERS REVEAL THEIR TOP 5 FAVORITE FEATURES

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Friday, October 8, 2021 H3

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ODAY’S car consumers have become more discerning and sophisticated when it comes to their preferences. The SUV has become a popular choice for Filipino buyers over the years, thanks to its versatility, practicality, driving performance, and value for money.

Launched last year, the Ford Territory made its presence felt in the small SUV category as a feature-packed vehicle that combines design, technology and functionality to offer a new driving experience to young professionals and starting families. Since then, the Ford Territory has garnered an impressive following among SUV buyers, which led to the formation of an online community composed of customers, enthusiasts, and fans – the Ford Territory Club Philippines or FTCP. Founded in July 2020, the FTCP is a Facebook group composed of over 11,000 members, many of whom are owners of the Ford Territory. The online group allows members to share their experiences in buying, owning, and driving a Territory. One of the most discussed group topics is #Carflex, where members post photos of their Ford Territory. Group admins also introduce various contests with prizes up for grabs, as well as upload polls for members to answer, to create and sustain engagement.

In a recent poll, FTCP members were asked about their five (5) favorite Ford Territory features.

These 5 features are as follows: nPanoramic Moonroof The Panoramic Moonroof is a nifty feature that takes the driver and passenger experience to the next level. It allows natural light into the cabin with the simple press of a button and can be accessed whether you’re sitting up front or in the back.

n360-Degree Around View Monitor Gain complete visibility on your surroundings with the Territory’s 360-Degree Around. View Monitor.

This is a true gamechanger when driving at low speed or backing up, offering a safer and more convenient driving experience. nBlind Spot Information System Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) alerts the driver when a vehicle is detected alongside and

difficult to see in a blind spot.

When a vehicle is detected, drivers are alerted with an indicator light found in the side view mirror. n10-inch Infotainment System The Territory is equipped with an intuitive 10-inch in-vehicle infotainment system that lets you control the vehicle’s audio, air conditioning system, ambient lightning, settings, and many more with ease and convenience.

nApple Carplay and Android Auto Compatibility Drivers can effortlessly connect and display their smartphone information on the Territory’s touchscreen through its Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility.

Simply connect via Bluetooth and gain easy access to your favorite apps.

“Whether it’s your daily commute, essential travels, work or personal errands, or a leisure trip with the family, you can definitely own every driving moment with

the Ford Territory with features that make it a comfortable and fun to drive SUV,” says Patrick Manigbas, marketing director, Ford Philippines.

The Ford Territory Club Philippines members have spoken – they love their Ford Territory and are raving about its smart, safe, and convenient features.

To know more about the Ford Territory, visit www.ford.com. ph/suvs/territory or a Ford dealership nearest you.

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IS PHL TOURISM FINALLY

BERNARD TESTA

IN FOR A REBOOT?

Legazpi City, Palawan (Coron, El Nido, San Vicente), Clark Freeport in Pampanga, Puerto Galera, Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales, Zamboanga City, to name a few. (Check Guide to the Philippines for entry requirements.)

New products, uniform travel protocols

Continued from G2

from yellow-list countries—regardless of vaccination status— undergo a quarantine period for 10 days.

The DOT chief’s good intentions aside, however, she is still faced with formidable opposition.

“In every IATF meeting, I constantly bat for the lifting of more travel restrictions to help tourism stakeholders regain their footing.

But we always have to defer to the health experts, to the DOH [Department of Health].”

Also, not every leisure destination is ready to receive visitors, even as vaccination of their residents has already begun. At present, popular leisure destinations that are accepting visitors are Baler, Bacolod City, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu City, Dumaguete,

UNDER its revised National Tourism Development Plan for 20212022, the DOT has drawn up new strategies and new directions to help the industry rebound.

“While we continue to sustain our engagements in our key, strategic and opportunity markets, the department is also preparing and recalibrating its tourism products, adapting them to new market preferences in the post-pandemic era, where more sustainable, greener and immersive tourism experiences are expected to be in high demand,” says Romulo Puyat.

The DOT will also “develop and/or improve the tour quality and experience in the priority tourism circuits that match market preferences for safe travels in open spaces/outdoors, naturebased, curated, sensorial and inclusive products.”

The DOT also wants to speed up safe and green travel infrastructure and facilitation initiatives, such as “[improving] access and destination management infrastructure in the areas of sanitation, engineered landfill, health-care facilities and emergency response system, among others.”

Among these green initiatives are “uniform safe travel

protocols to facilitate domestic mobility and conduct rapid assessment on readiness for international initiatives.” These include online visa application, adoption of the International Air Transport Association’s Travel Pass, and an “immunity/green/ safe passport.”

The agency will develop “Green Corridors” as a strategy to reopen borders utilizing more gateway airports like Clark, Cebu, Davao, Bohol, Puerto Princesa, among others, for direct flights.

Perhaps a litmus test of sorts for the industry is the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, which the Philippines is hosting in March 2022.

Albeit to be held under hybrid conditions, the summit is expected to attract some 800 private sector leaders and tourism government officials, along with representatives of travel and trade companies and the international hospitality sector, while over 30,000 delegates are seen participating online.

The event will give the DOT

the chance to show off the country’s breathtaking tourist destinations, and allow local tourism stakeholders to listen to inspirational speakers on many pertinent global topics, as well as hobnob and share their views and insights with the world’s travel giants.

And as the tourism industry tries to reboot, the DOT is constantly reminding our foreign friends that “More Fun Awaits” them in the Philippines. The agency’s new brand campaign has an ad airing on CNN International, the

BBC, CNBC, National Geographic, and the History Channel. (Last year, it started with the “Wake up in the Philippines” campaign.)

Under the most optimum conditions and best-case scenarios, the DOT is targeting foreign tourists to reach as high as 5 million and domestic tourists at 100 million in 2022.

For the 4.8 million tourism workers affected by the Covid losses, travel and tourism leaders are crossing their fingers these shall come to pass.

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Friday, October 8, 2021 H1

LIBERALIZING PUBLIC SERVICES A DELICATE BALANCING ACT HINK tanks, government officials and business groups have stressed the need to bring in more foreign direct investments (FDI), especially at a time when a country is battling an enemy strong enough to send it to an economic recession. FDIs are expected to generate more employment and revenues—both of which are on the top of the must-have list of the country.

Continued on H2

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By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

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H2 Friday, October 8, 2021

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LIBERALIZING PUBLIC SERVICES A DELICATE BALANCING ACT Continued from H1

This is what the move to amend the 80-year-old Public Services Act (PSA) is seeking to achieve. It limits the industries considered as public utilities—or those sectors that, if destroyed, will adversely impact national security. As a result, the industries outside of the scope will not be subject to the 40-percent foreign equity restriction of the 1987 Constitution, like public utilities are, thereby liberalizing the said sectors.

The bill identifies the distribution of electricity; transmission of electricity; and water pipeline distribution systems and sewerage pipeline systems as public utility.

But other public services may be considered as public utility given certain criteria, including them being a natural monopoly.

While liberalizing the economy, the PSA amendments also seek to protect the national security. This is where the government is expected to perform a balancing act: FDIs on one end and national interest on the other.

This caveat brings worries to the business sector, however, as this may expand the list of public utilities in the country, which means more may be subject to foreign equity restrictions. As such, foreign investors may be discouraged to set up shop here.

Competition body

JOHANNES BERNABE, commissioner at the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), noted that the list of public utilities has been amended and expanded under the Senate Committee report, including petroleum and petroleum products pipeline distribution/transmission systems; airports and seaports; and public utility vehicles (PUVs).

PCC is among the agencies being consulted in classifying public utilities.

“The inclusion of the items on petroleum seems logical enough, from an economic standpoint, as these would seem to be natural monopolies,” he told the BusinessMirror. “Airports can also be justified as they are also natural monopolies (or at least, arguably should not be redundant) within a certain geographic area.”

He said, however, that “seaports are probably less of natural monopolies, since they can be constructed adjacently along the foreshore.”

In addition, the PCC official said PUVs cannot be justified as a natural monopoly because multiple

operators can ply a route. However, he explained that the inclusion of such may be for the protection of the micro and small operators.

“Theoretically, any foreign equity-based limitation can discourage foreign investments,” Bernabe said. He reiterated that it is justified for sectors with natural monopolies.

“For other business activities, however, particularly those where huge capital outlays are necessary [and such capital, or the propensity to invest such capital, is not necessarily available in the Philippines], we should be promoting rather than discouraging foreign investments,” he added.

Bernabe explained that the foreign ownership cap has been a “de facto disincentive and a legalized barrier to entry of foreign investors.” It is among the reasons why the FDIs in the Philippines have not yet reached maximum potential, he added.

National security

WHILE liberalizing the economy, the PSA amendments also seek to protect the national security. This is where the government is expected to perform a balancing act: FDIs on one end and national interest on the other.

“The proposed PSA amendments already provide for certain safeguards with respect to business activities that will be liberalized,” Bernabe said.

The measures, he noted, in-

clude subjecting foreign investments in public services listed as critical infrastructure to scrutiny by the National Security Council and prohibiting foreign stateowned enterprises from having equity or increasing their existing equity in such critical infrastructure after the passage of the proposed amendments.

In addition, he said the proposal prohibits sovereign wealth funds or pension funds from a single country from owning more than 30 percent of the equity of such critical infrastructure.

“These safeguards should allow us to balance the need to liberalize the economy and protect national security,” said Rizalina Mantaring, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) national issues committee chairperson, in an interview with the BusinessMirror.

However, the safeguards could still be improved, Bernabe said.

The PCC commissioner said he reached out to Sen. Grace Poe, primary sponsor of the bill, suggesting considering foreign entities which receive substantial subsidies from their government as stateowned enterprises. This excludes them from having a stake in critical infrastructure.

“Further, standards and principles that will guide the pertinent regulatory agency in establishing the qualification and licensing requirements, as well as technical standards, may also be additional-

ly included in the amendatory bill so that regulatory agencies [particularly those which may be weak or prone to ‘regulatory capture’] may already be constrained in their discretion,” Bernabe said.

Avoid protectionism –biz groups

FINANCIAL Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) President Francis Lim agreed that the Philippines should follow the lead of other countries and further open up its economy to foreign investors. He noted that the Philippines is the third most restrictive in the world, next to Palestine and Libya.

“Let’s forget about protectionism as it has been anathema to making our country an attractive investment destination to the prejudice of our people,” the Finex official said.

As such, liberalizing the publicservice sectors will allow the Philippines to “catch up in the race for global investment,” Makati Business Club Director Francisco Alcuaz Jr. told the BusinessMirror.

Mantaring added that FDIs will also bode well for the consumers and competition in the country.

“Foreign capital also often brings in newer technologies which allow for better service at lower costs, and forces the industry to similarly invest in modernization and provide better and more competitive services to consumers,” she said.

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Friday, October 8, 2021

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GAC MOTOR PH

INTRODUCES 2021 GN8 MASTER’S EDITION

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FTER the debut of the GN8 in 2018, GAC Motor Philippines is releasing the Master’s Edition of the minivan, a new body kit to make the refreshed model more muscular- and elegant-looking.

The 2021 GN8 Master’s Edition has a bolder exterior look, highlighted by its massive vertical grille design in silver finish.

Along with the new grille, the front fascia is also accented with a new set of fog lights and a silver skid plate beneath. The side profile is embellished with a side skirt in black and silver finish. Its rear also features a large bumper with a new exhaust pipe finish, a pair of LED brake lights, and a silver skid plate.

The 2021 GN8 Master’s Edition is still powered by a Euro 5-compliant 2.0-liter turbocharged engine mated to an Aisin 6-speed gearbox that is capable of producing an output of 199 horsepower at 5,200 rpm, and 320 Nm of torque between 1,750 rpm to 4,000 rpm.

Offering comfortable seating for seven passengers, the GN8 can take your family and friends to new destinations whenever you like. Long-hour rides are comfortable as it comes with a second-row heated and ventilated Ottoman car seats equipped with back massager, and aircraft headrests to provide you comfort while you travel.

The third-row seats also offer large legroom for optimum comfort on the road.

The interior features a 360-degree Serene Sanctuary, with a 32-color LED adjustable ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, premium upholstery, and a 10-inch TFT screen to ensure full access to its functions. This executive minivan is well-ventilated with a three-zone automatic air conditioner and an air purification system.

Compatible with Apple CarPlay, the GAC GN8’s infotainment system is an eight-speaker Harman and Kardon audio system, equipped with Bluetooth and a handsfree phone system.

To ensure the safety of passengers, the GN8 boasts of fully functional parking sensors, a 180-degree backup camera system, an antilock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), stability control system, three-point seat belts, seatbelt warning, anti-collision sensor, airbags, and child safety locks.

The 2021 GAC GN8 Master’s Edition is now available at an SRP of Php 2,958,000.

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Friday, October 8, 2021 I1

PANDEMIC PROMPTS PHL

LABOR-EXPORT POLICY PIVOT OFW who didn’t return abroad finds way to create jobs for others ‘before my savings dry up,’ thus showing that, for half a million migrant workers displaced by Covid, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

By Jeremaiah M. Opiniano

OFW Journalism Consortium | Special to the BusinessMirror

M

AYBE it was the dust collected at the tips of a whisk broom her wrist flicked rightward. Maybe it was the doldrums of wiping the top of tables in the familyowned travel agency that has seen its last customer in 18 months ago.

Whatever: after 120 days of clicking on a mouse and getting “no job opening” messages, returned overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Reign Barcelona became Archimedes; outside a bathtub.

Her eureka moment—a pink microfiber cloth abruptly stopped in the middle of swiping a table’s top—was to offer jobs rather than seek employment.

Thus, Cleanica Express, which

offers disinfection services to homes and offices in the Calabarzon region, came to fruition.

“Before my savings dry up, something must happen,” Barcelona told members of a socialmedia group of overseas Filipino entrepreneurs.

Thanks to online instructional videos and self-study, Barcelona assembled a disinfection team Continued on I2

CLEANICA Express training session

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PANDEMIC PROMPTS PHL LA Continued from I1

A COAST Guard personnel holds placards directing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and non-OFWs to their designated areas upon arrival in the country at the national airport in this January 13, 2021, file photo.

NONIE REYES

dispatched after securing a cleaning contract via its website (https://cleanicaexpress.com/).

Barcelona’s venture fits the era echoing the 18th-century phrase “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”

Cleanica Express shows Barcelona changing gears after lockdown measures disrupted the overseaslabor market and workers’ source of income.

Crash landings

BARCELONA is one of the more than 700,000 OFWs who voluntarily or involuntarily returned home.

They returned home not on a red carpet but on an economy in the red: two consecutive quarters of contraction in gross domestic product and a swelling rank of the jobless.

Repatriated and retrenched OFWs want to return to their jobs abroad. But there’s limited demand for foreign workers in many economic sectors of labor-receiving countries. The numbers tell it all: In 2019, the Philippines deployed 2,156,742 OFWs as new hire and rehired workers. That number plunged by 75 percent to 549,841 last year.

The overseas recruitment sector felt the crunch: the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported late last year that the recruitment sector has around 600 agencies to 700 agencies closing shop. (https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2020/12/28/ recruitment-agencies-shutter-operations-due-to-pandemic) In a recently released survey (N=54) of recruitment agencies, the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Philippine office reported that nearly eight in 10 recruitment agencies have fully or

partially closed operations.

Last year, cash remittances from overseas Filipinos were initially feared to drop by some $3 billion to $6 billion (https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/04/06/

virus-oil-price-plunge-to-cut-400-kofw-jobs) less than the $30.133 billion sent in 2019. Heroically, Filipinos abroad still managed to send home $29.903 billion in 2020, or just some $230 million less (0.76

percent) year-on-year. (https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/11/ mysteries-shroud-higher-migra-dollars-to-major-remittance-receivingcountries) For this year’s first seven months, the $17.771 billion of cash remittances were higher by some $969 million year-on-year. (https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2021/09/15/ july-remittances-hit-2-85b-highestin-2021)

Health crisis

OVERSEAS employment was cemented with a provision in the 1974 Labor Code of the Philippines that regulates recruitment of workers for jobs abroad.

For nearly five decades, several laws and regulations added layers to the burgeoning industry. These also sealed overseas migration as a “development strategy” from just merely a temporary policy to boost the country’s dollar reserves.

The pandemic and government’s handling of the health crises have altered the country’s approach to international migration and the Filipino families’ fantasies that dollar earnings conjure.

The pandemic provided “a wake-up call” to rethink the place of overseas migration in development, Maruja M.B. Asis of the Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC) told the OFW Journalism Consortium.

“I think at both the national level and at the level of individual migrants and their families, working abroad may not be realistic in

the next three to five years,” Asis, executive director of SMC, said.

“We cannot always wait for overseas job prospects to come,” she added. “Even our migrants and their families should also manage their expectations—or even tighten their belts.”

Interacting with customers

GIVEN the continued droves of repatriated and returning OFWs, the Philippine government’s migration management agencies have been handing out P10,000 cash assistance. Employees of these agencies have also been facilitating mercy flights, quarantine stays and return trips of OFWs to home communities for over 702,000 returnees.

Such is why a gamut of government agencies, including government-run financial institutions, have rolled out numerous credit programs for returnees. (https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/29/ still-on-queue-returning-overseasworkers-and-their-growing-economic-needs-at-home) Interventions related to economic reintegration for returnee OFWs became a whole-ofgovernment approach.

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) had already devoted a separate chapter in the mid-term Philippine Development Plan for overseas Filipinos. (https://businessmirror.com. ph/2020/06/18/amid-covid-impactphl-development-plan-will-haveofw-chapter) This “strategy” sees

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ABOR-EXPORT POLICY PIVOT

the country continually protecting the welfare of overseas Filipinos and maximizing their earnings for productive purposes in the home country, including for migrants’ reintegration.

Yet with businesses continuing to reel from the newer SARSCoV-2 variants, economic activities in foreign countries and in the Philippines are still hampered. The current situation even challenges returnees’ start-up businesses that bank on interactions with customers, according to Asis.

Pandemic, digitalization

THE Philippines may be feeling the social and economic pressures of a

reverse exodus of Filipino workers.

A survey of returnees (N=8,332) by the International Organization for Migration-Philippines (IOM-Philippines) finds that eight in 10 returnees were jobless three months upon arrival. Half of these returnees sustained a 60- percent drop in their household incomes.

The primary challenge for nearly eight in 10 of returnees surveyed is finding a job or an incomegenerating activity; nearly half (48 percent) of surveyed returnees want to re-migrate.

Backing up the need for overseas job opportunities, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said last

September 26 that the Duterte administration is forging bilateral labor agreements with Russia, China, Canada and Thailand to “help bring back” overseas jobs for displaced OFWs. (https://www.pna. gov.ph/articles/1154725)

For Alvin P. Ang of the Ateneo de Manila University, the pandemic and the rising shift to digital ecommerce limit the need for many “low-skilled” workers in both developed and developing countries.

“The pandemic has facilitated the digitalization of many work processes, creating a downstream effect to other low-skilled work that employs migrants,” Ang said.

“Work from home became the mode to deliver output, creating a lack of foot traffic for restaurants, accommodations, retail and transportation, while also limiting the need for cleaners and other basic services.”

Ang, ADMU Department of Economics professor, added that the pandemic and digitalization reinforce each other.

Prospects dim

THE pandemic may have also sanitized the re-migration wishes of returnees: 45 percent of IOM’s respondents want to do business at home.

However, Asis noted that two features of the Philippine economy—a small manufacturing sector and feeble agricultural productivity—may sap the entrepreneurial spirit of migrant returnees.

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Pandemic prompts PHL labor-export policy pivot

Barcelona is addressing one of the drivers today with her start-up.

Yearnings, actions

Continued from I3

Until vaccination rates ramp up, Asis said finding bright prospects for the country’s economy “will remain difficult.”

The government needs to “re-focus” its migration policy, according to Ellene Sana of the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)-Philippines.

Sana, executive director of the nonprofit group, clarified that to re-focus is not to stop migration “but to [use reintegration to] seriously address the adverse drivers of migration in the Philippines.”

ACCORDING to Barcelona, a psychology graduate, Cleanica Express’s initial clients were those in San Pablo City and nearby towns and cities in Laguna, a province 98 kilometers south of the capital.

Barcelona said her staff of at least a dozen people provides antibacterial mist treatment, aroma steam sterilization and post-construction scour. According to her, the disinfecting solutions they use are approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that sanitize dust mites, bacteria and even the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

According to her, she employed her marketing skills honed overseas to reach target clients.

Barcelona is a marketing professional hired in Singapore in February last year but was retrenched a month later.

She said she would continue her business even after Covid-19 cases dwindle as health awareness has been rising among Filipinos.

Barcelona appears to have pivoted from overseas work.

Maybe it’s due to the scent of a newly polished table. Maybe it’s the doldrums of waiting for the “new normal.”

Whatever: after more than a year of searching for a source of income, Barcelona decided to rely on herself.

OUTBOUND seafarers get their vaccination jabs against Covid-19 at the Bonifacio High Street Mega Vaccination Hub in Taguig City in this July 7, 2021, file photo. NONIE REYES

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PROLONGED ARRIVAL, COSTLIER GOODS:

A ‘new normal’ of PHL logistics and supply chain

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas & Cai U. Ordinario

L

OOK northwest. That’s where the future of the world’s and the country’s logistics and supply chain lies post-pandemic.

That is what a former Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations (Solair) told the BusinessMirror.

Rene E. Ofreneo pointed out that Hong Kong-based logistics giant Li & Fung Ltd. could be the poster boy of the “new normal” of the world’s supply chain. “[Before the pandemic] even the postal-parcel-courier industry was being taken over, while industrial outsourcing management under ‘Factory Asia’ [global value chain] was falling under the control of these logistics integrators,” Ofreneo said. “Hence, business

management, mainly chain management, was from trading to production and distribution.”

According to the economist and former dean, such was “essentially the work of the giant Li & Fung.”

As far as Ofreneo knew, Li & Fung suffered under Covid “obviously due to the difficulty of maintaining global and/or regional chain management under the pandemic.”

In its announcement of 2019 financial results, the logistics solutions provider said its core operating profit “decreased by 22.9 percent to $228 million.”

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CARGO trucks queue up to get deliveries at Manila’s port in this April 3, 2020, file photo. BERNARD TESTA

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Continued from J1

“This was largely due to reductions in turnover and margin pressure in the supply chain solutions business. Turnover decreased by 10.1 percent to $11.4 billion due to continued destocking by customers, store closures and customer bankruptcies, as well as the company exiting a number of higherrisk and non-strategic customers.”

The downfall of Li & Fung seems to be the whole picture of the current situation of the world’s supply chain and logistics, which has been stretched beyond its limit due to complications brought about by the pandemic.

It’s not.

It is just a pigment of a collage of frailty and near collapse that extends up to the pockets of Filipino consumers.

Related consequences

INDUSTRY players told the BusinessMirror that the new normal for logistics and supply chain for the Philippines is this: prolonged arrivals and more expensive goods.

The arrival of shipments to the Philippines from Western countries has been extended by 30 days to 60 days; some taking longer by nearly three months. The reason: lack of containers and vessels as a result of Covid-19-related consequences, such as mobility restrictions and personnel debilitated by the virus, among others.

“If you are importing from Europe, do not plan for a 30-day arrival; it is already between 60 and 90 days.

And that is our new reality,” Royal Cargo Inc. COO Jet B. Ambalada told the BusinessMirror.

Because of this, Ambalada pointed out it is now imperative for companies, particularly manufacturers who are dependent on imports for their raw materials, to have bigger inventory levels.

Ambalada pointed to the country’s frozen pork inventory, which has skyrocketed to recordhighs of beyond 80,000 metric ton (MT) levels. Such volume would have been surprising if there were no mobility restrictions.

But this volume, according to Ambalada, is the ideal level of inventory to ensure the country’s two-month pork supply.

“The supply chains have been disrupted and we have to keep extra inventory levels,” he told the BusinessMirror. “Besides, we have to secure our own supply chain and we must spread the availability of food supply.”

End result

IF there is one thing vulnerable to the current global supply chain crisis and to future shocks, it’s the country’s food supply.

“It is really affecting the supply of our imported food products and ingredients. All these supply chain problems—from lack of container to vessel positioning and port activities—contribute to the aberration,” Cold Chain Association of the Philippines President Anthony S. Dizon told the BusinessMirror.

“The end result is that the food industry must plant accordingly due to the impact of the shipping problems,” Dizon added.

He concurs with Ambalada’s view that the “new normal” includes having a higher inventory of goods to cover the gaps and lapses in the supply chain, which he pointed out has, in turn, an impact on the country’s cold-storage capacity.

Dizon also noted that this is the right time for the government and even companies to rethink their raw material supply chain given the constraints faced by imports today.

“Part of the current thinking now is that we should try to create a start of a directional shift toward food sufficiency especially if imports are choked by these current logistical problems,” he told the BusinessMirror.

Costlier goods

AMBALADA emphasized that the rise in freight costs will not decelerate or stop anytime soon. And what this means for Filipino consumers is that goods could be more expensive than ever, since costs incurred by importers are usually passed on to the retail level, particularly for consumer goods or items that are in a cost-plus value chain.

“Shipping costs have gone wild. The cost of shipping one twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container to the West Coast of the United States is $10,000,” he said.

The BusinessMirror has been publishing series of stories about the impact of the global supply chain and shipping problems to the country’s economy and food security.

Earlier, the BusinessMirror reported that higher freight costs have derailed export deliveries due to untenable shipping rates while importers are forced to spend more just to ensure that their goods will arrive in the country.

One of the problems the Philippines faces in terms of shipping is that it is not considered as a ma-

jor port or transshipment point in the world. Due to this, the Philippines relies heavily on charter freights that pass through other transshipment points like Vietnam and China, leaving it vulnerable to more challenges and shocks that may arise from the concerned transshipment ports.

Tight market

EARLIER, University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus Epictetus E. Patalinghug explained to the BusinessMirror that the logistics industry is currently plagued by a shortage of shipping crew.

Patalinghug said many of these crew members are residing in countries with limited vaccines such as the Ukraine, Greece, Indonesia, Panama and, of course, the Philippines.

The difficulties in global trade have slowed down the pace of recovery of many economies.

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) President Sergio Ortiz-Luis has told the BusinessMirror that local exporters are feeling the crunch.

An exporter of marine products based in the Visayas has been quoted in a PhilExport statement as lamenting the shortage of available space aboard container vessels for Philippine cargoes bound for the US market.

The exporter said Philippine cargoes are at a big disadvantage: either these are “not getting priority” or being “shut out/bumped off from whatever available space.”

Meanwhile, freight costs have soared because of the tight market.

What is sad, the exporter added, is there is now market demand, especially for food and furniture and other products since major markets have reopened, “but we are still constrained by supply chain and logistics issues.”

Optimistic performance

THE challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic are evident in the government’s official external performance trade data.

The July 2021 data on the country’s external trade performance shows slowing growth of the country’s exports and imports after recovering from the deep plunge that occurred in the second quarter last year.

Exports this year peaked at a growth of 74.1 percent in April, but this has since slowed to a growth of 12.7 percent in July. Imports, meanwhile, peaked at a growth of 153.1 percent in April and slowed to around 24 percent in July.

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‘If you are importing from Europe, do not plan for a 30-day arrival; it is already between 60 and 90 days.

And that is our new reality.’

ROYAL CARGO INC. COO JET B. AMBALADA The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also showed the average growth of exports was pegged at 19.7 percent, while imports was at 30.2 percent between January and July this year.

“Export growth should remain in the positive territory for the rest of the year, although unlikely to reach a double-digit pace again,” First Metro Investment Corp.-University of Asia and the Pacific (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Markets said.

Nonetheless, hope springs eternal. The local think tank said even if exports growth has been slowing, the growth remained in double digits, which is a good sign.

The think tank said the country’s external trade performance is expected to boost the economy.

They said exports have kept their double-digit growth at 12.6 percent in July.

Marching forward

THE Covid-19 pandemic made

the world stop—figuratively and literally.

After the Duterte government restricted mobility in March last year, trucks carrying goods from the North to the capital lined highways as if in a religious procession.

Shelves inside humongous supermarkets were emptied as consumers hoarded canned goods and tissue papers.

More than a year and a half later, the long queues of trucks are

now absent and shelves now filled with goods.

But as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has written, what is essential

is invisible to the eyes.

Indeed, the ills plaguing the world’s logistics and supply chain network—the invisible hand that

brings food from farms to the table—provide ominous difficulties to the Philippines’s own sector and food requirements.

OANA UNGUREANU | DREAMSTIME.COM

normal’ of PHL logistics and supply chain

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Christmas at risk as supply chain ‘disaster’ only gets worse

Early in the year, the hope was that the bottlenecks that gummed up the global supply chain in 2020 would be mostly cleared by now. They’ve actually only gotten worse—much worse—and evidence is mounting that the holiday season is at risk.

Across Europe, retailers such as apparel chain H&M can’t meet demand because of delivery delays.

In the US, Nike cut its sales forecast after Covid-19 triggered factory closures in Vietnam that wiped out months of production. And Bed Bath & Beyond’s stock plunged amid shipping woes, with Chief Executive Officer Mark Tritton warning that disruptions would last well into next year. “There is pressure across the board, and you will hear about that from others.”

Covid outbreaks have idled port terminals. There still aren’t enough cargo containers, causing prices to spike 10-fold from a year ago. Labor shortages have stalled trucking and pushed US job openings to all-time highs. And that was before UPS, Walmart and others embark on hiring hundreds of thousands of seasonal workers to take on the peak of peak.

“I’ve been doing this for 43 years and never seen it this bad,” said Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, one of the world’s largest toymakers. “Everything that can go wrong is going wrong at the same time.”

Now comes the rush of goods into the US for Santa’s sleigh, which will only exacerbate all of this. It’s going to be a daunting holiday season—one that investors appear to be shrugging off despite analysts raising concerns that margins will likely take a hit. The S&P Retail Select Industry Index, which encompasses 108 US companies including Amazon, Macy’s and Best Buy, is up about 40 percent this year and almost doubled since the start of 2020. Its combined market cap is $3.3 trillion, just a sliver below a record high from earlier this year.

ENDOSTOCK | DREAMSTIME.COM

I

T’S the beginning of October, just the start of what the retail world simply calls “peak.” But the industry is already in various forms of panic that usually don’t take hold until the weeks before Christmas.

Can’t fill shelves

THAT jubilance clashes with what’s happening behind the scenes. Retailers have resorted to buying goods made a couple years ago to make sure they at least secure some inventory, according to Steve Azarbad, co-founder and chief investment officer of the hedge fund Maglan Capital, which invests in retailers and distressed companies.

In normal times, these items would be liquidated at closeout stores or in foreign markets, but not now.

“Retailers are having a really hard time filling their shelves,” Azarbad said. “I talk to a lot of suppliers, and they’re telling me ‘I just can’t fill all the orders I’m getting.’”

On the supplier side, Jay Foreman’s been making toys with manufacturing partners in China for

more than three decades, and he’s never seen anything like this. His mid-sized toy company, Basic Fun, is on pace for its best year ever— possibly reaching $170 million in sales. There is no shortage of demand, with parents loading up on gifts as the pandemic drags on. But a dearth of cargo containers has left thousands of the company’s Lite Brites and TinkerToys waiting to be shipped. At just one factory in Shenzhen, there’s roughly $8 million worth of finished goods that could fill 140 containers.

“I got Tonka trucks in the south and Care Bears in the north,” Foreman, the company’s CEO, said of logistical troubles in China. “We’ll blow last year’s numbers away, but the problem is we don’t know if we’ll get the last four months of the year shipped.

The supply chain is a disaster, and it’s only getting worse.”

MGA’s Larian is willing to pay more than $20,000 per shipping container—up from about $2,000 a year ago—and counts his blessings that he runs a private company that doesn’t have to answer to shareholders. He’s having trouble simply getting goods off cargo ships in the port of Los Angeles.

MGA recently had more than 600 containers, filled with toys like its top-selling LOL Surprise dolls, waiting to be unloaded for more than six weeks.

“There will be a shortage of toys this fall,” Larian said. “It’s going to be a tough year for retailers.”

When the pandemic knocked the global economy down in early 2020, factories slowed output or closed. Turns out, that was the easy part. Restarting has been much more difficult. The supply chain has been choked by so many events, such as the Suez Canal blockage, and market dynamics like labor shortages and the spike in transportation costs that it feels like there’s been one “black swan” event after another, according to Lee Klaskow, a logistics analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence.

“The supply chain has never had the opportunity to get back to normal,” Klaskow said.

One of the better scenarios for the fourth quarter is that big retailers drastically increase spending on logistics—including resorting to using costlier air freight or chartering entire cargo ships—but still maintain their sales targets.

That will likely mean they’ll see a hit to profit margins, but it could also lead to taking market share from smaller competitors who can’t match their deep pockets.

“We feel better than most that we’ll get our product here for holiday,” said Michael Mathias, chief financial officer for apparel chain American Eagle Outfitters. The retailer has spent more on air freight to secure goods for Christmas. “There will be some players out here who might not even get their product.”

Ken Hicks, chief executive officer of Academy Sports and Outdoors, is counting on that advantage to boost results. The chain, based in Katy, Texas, has been using its scale to prep for this peak season for months. That’s included

importing goods sooner, moving shipments away from the overwhelmed west coast to ports like Galveston, Texas, and booking cargo capacity earlier in the year.

But even with all those mitigation efforts and the scale of a company that generated $4 billion in sales last fiscal year, Hicks said inventory levels were only “adequate.” There’s enough items to meet its sales goals, but he estimated the retailer is about 10 percent below where he’d like it to be. During the peak of the pandemic last year, the chain simply couldn’t source items like bicycles, exercise equipment and fishing rods. Now it can, just not as much as it wants. For example, each store would ideally have seven treadmills in stock, but it’s actually about half that, he said.

Making smart decisions on shipping and supply chain was enough for Janine Stichter, an analyst for Jeffries, to recently upgrade shoemaker Steve Madden to a “buy” after having a “hold” on it since starting coverage at the beginning of 2018. The company has shifted about half its production to Mexico and Brazil, reducing exposure to Asian markets, such as Vietnam. Making goods closer to the US has made its lead times twice as fast as competitors, she said.

“Supply chain issues are getting continually worse,” Stichter said. For the rest of the year, “the key success factor will be the ability to supply product on time, or relatively on time.”

Bigger, systemic risk

MEANWHILE, Bank of America last week downgraded department-store chain Kohl’s from the equivalent of a buy rating to a sell and cut its target price on the shares by about a third because of mounting logistical costs.

The bigger, more systemic risk—one that could hurt every retailer—is that Americans spend less than expected because there isn’t enough inventory. The available goods may also not be all that enticing. The boom in shipping prices has forced manufacturers to make hard decisions about what to transport. Hicks, the Academy Sports CEO, predicted that shoppers “will have to settle more because they just won’t have as good of a selection.”

Shipping big items and goods with lower value don’t make as much economic sense right now. iPhones are small and pricey, making them an ideal good to ship or air freight amid spiking transport costs. But the same case can’t be made for low-end furniture or big stuffed animals. At Basic Fun in Boca Raton, Florida, Foreman is exporting a lot more Mash’ems because $135,000 worth of the small, squishy collectibles can fit on a single container. He’s moving far fewer Tonka trucks because they are bulky and take up more space, limiting the dollar value that can go in a container to just $36,000.

At Whom Home in Los Angeles, CEO Jon Bass said he had to remove about 70 percent of the company’s products—totaling thousands of items including wall decor and furniture—from the

websites of retail partners such as Walmart and Wayfair because the company can’t source them. Or in some cases, surging costs for materials and transportation made an item pricer than a retailer was willing to pay.

“Consumers lose because their options are limited,” said Bass, who has been manufacturing goods for three decades. “It’s not a normal time in the business world. There is no stability.”

Rising costs in the supply chain, such as cotton prices hitting a 9-year high, and labor are also likely to boost what consumers pay, which could dampen spending. Or it might cause a bigger shift from hard goods to experiences and services—a trend already in place this year as Americans get back to traveling and eating out.

The industry also expects much fewer promotions than usual because inventories are tight, which will turn off bargain hunters.

Add that consumer expectations are sky high, thanks to the ease and speed of e-commerce, and the retail industry is primed to severely disappoint the masses.

If last holiday season was dubbed “shipageddon,” what will this year be called? It’s easy to see a boom in gift cards out of frustration as Americans tire of out-of-stocks and logistic mishaps.

“There is a certain amount of underappreciating for the risk” to the results of retailers, said Jennifer Bartashus, an analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence whose coverage includes mass merchants. “Supply chain affects everybody. Meeting customer expectations in an environment where everything is up in the air is nearly impossible.”

Some investors are wising up.

Short interest in the SPDR S&P Retail exchange-traded fund, which mimics the S&P Retail Select Industry Index that’s surged this year, recently hit the highest level since late 2019.

But the retail industry has seen this coming. Large firms with the financial wherewithal have been storing goods in their own warehouses or renting space to make sure they can start filling shelves over the next few weeks. It’s another example of how “scale will be the pivotal differentiator” this holiday season, Bartashus said.

There’s also a push to get Americans to shop sooner for the holidays. One effort is trying to create a new shopping event in early October that will include retailers such as Guess? hosting livestream events on their websites. However, this seems like a gargantuan task considering e-commerce has trained the masses that purchases arrive in a few days like clockwork.

Retailers have also traditionally saved some big promotions for the week before Christmas to drive a late spending push.

“Consumers might see news about port backups, but that won’t hit home until they try to buy the toy of the year and can’t get it,” Bartashus said. “That’s when they’ll hit crisis mode.”

Many retailers are already there. Bloomberg News

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Government hospitals step up Covid response, in awe of health workers’ dedication, sacrifice

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By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

“Our lives changed in ways that we could not have imagined!

In a blink of an eye, people in all sectors suddenly stopped. Once busy streets were suddenly emptied. This also included hospital management. The Covid-19 virus changed the way the Ospital ng Makati management ran the different hospital operations, which include physical resources, financing and cash flow management and human resources, among others,” Dr. Binay told the BusinessMirror.

In terms of physical resources, Dr. Binay said the hospital set up different barriers from the screening area up to the different areas Continued on K2

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BERNARD TESTA

N January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the public health emergency of international concern for the Covid-19 virus outbreak. Two months later the world was already facing a pandemic, Dr. Vergel P. Binay, medical director of Ospital ng Makati, recalled.

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Human resources

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inside the hospital which were converted and dedicated for Covidrelated cases.

While the Ospital ng Makati implemented appropriate social distancing of their hospital beds, it resulted in a decrease of their bed capacity including the non-Covid related beds.

“There were areas where negative pressure equipment were installed for infection control. CCTVs per cubicle and remote patient cardiac and vital signs monitors were installed for close monitoring. Different hospital equipment were dedicated for Covid-19 virus cases,” Dr. Binay said.

In terms of financing and cap-

“IN terms of human resources, we have established a full-force manpower contingency plan wherein the staff are divided into Covid group, non-Covid group and reserve staff and they are rotating every two weeks vis-à-vis their load,” the hospital official said.

Dr. Binay added: “They were provided with accommodation, meals and transportation, among others. They were also given honorarium in terms of Makati Hazard Pay, Special Risk Allowance and Active Hazard Duty Pay. Different hospital operation procedures and guidelines were revisited and revised. Covid-19 pandemic just hastened the implementation of Digital Age in the hospital which include E-consult, Tele-Kamustahan, and daily virtual meetings, among others.”

Instituting several strategies

FROM the start of pandemic, Dr. Binay shared that they instituted several strategies to abate and mitigate its impact, and up to now, they still manage to have a regular management committee meeting.

“We revisited several operating procedures and guidelines and revised them to fit the current situational need. We have established and institutionalized several policies that will adapt and work for the current issues. Our proactive and flexible approach and implementation of different revised policies made us very ready to deal with the virus even for the next two years,” he said.

“We were not forced but we had to adapt to the situation. This is where situational leadership must come in,” he stressed, adding that there were services that could not be done like outpatient consultation services but need to “continue our ambulatory service.”

Considering that the hospital already has electronic gadgets like tablets, WiFi routers, smart phones and a functional Hospital Information Management System, Dr. Binay pointed out the need to utilize these resources to adapt to the current situation.

Hence, E-consultation and Tele-Kamustahan were implemented easily and swiftly. These services were then expanded to the barangay health centers.

“Initially, RT-PCR tests were scarce but eventually, we were able

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to have it outsourced for fast release of results. The availability of Rapid Antigen Tests has also been a factor in easy and fast determination whether the patient is positive or not for their prompt segregation to dedicated areas,” he added.

Initially, not Covid referral hospital

ACCORDING to Dr. Binay, the Ospital ng Makati was not a Covid referral hospital. It, however, turned into a Covid hospital when the majority or almost a third of the bed capacity were dedicated to the Covid-related cases aside from managing the non-Covid cases.

“The Covid Referral Hospital like Philippine General Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and San Lazaro Hospital were eventually overflowing with Covid cases that they could not accommodate them already,” he said.

However, prior to this event and anticipating it to happen, the Ospital ng Makati, he said, already had a plan to accommodate its own constituents, particularly the Makati Health Plus members.

Aside from the E-consult, TeleKamustahan, RT-PCR tests, and accommodating more Covid-related cases, the hospital shifted its dialysis patients to its outsourced ambulatory dialysis centers.

Meanwhile, those Covidconfirmed patients who were discharged and recovered were transported via the hospital ambulance to their homes and they were also given Covid Home Care Kits.

“For those who died of Covidrelated cases, our social service facilitates the financial assistance of their hospital bills as well as the burial and cremation of the cadaver with the support of the office of Mayor Abigail Binay and the Makati Social Welfare Department,” he added.

Journey toward new normal

DR. Binay noted that the pandemic

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‘We revisited several operating procedures and guidelines and revised them to fit the current situational need. We have established and institutionalized several policies that will adapt and work for the current issues. Our proactive and flexible approach and implementation of different revised policies made us very ready to deal with the virus even for the next two years.’

DR. VERGEL P. BINAY, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF OSPITAL NG MAKATI war is a changing factor like any other war “when many people were affected and died but life must go on in another episode or generation, maybe the Digital Age.” “We have to be flexible and swift but accurate in our action.

In this journey towards the new normal, situational leadership is befitted wherein the leader should dictate, coach, collaborate or delegate depending on the situation

that will exist because the situation varies and all are still under experimental conditions,” he said.

“We should still be guided by the fadeless basic principle of management that is planning, organizing, leading and controlling.

Finally, we must always thank God and pray to Him for we are living with the virus already,” Dr. Binay concluded.

Continued on K4

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ful management, he said that the hospital management prioritized the admission of patients who are Makati Health Plus (MHP) members, known as the yellow card holders, and Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) members.

“Since most of the patients who were admitted were Covid confirmed, we were able to enroll them to PhilHealth, which helped patients in their hospital bill aside from the Makati subsidy, the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) of the Department of Health and the Congressional Guarantee Letter of Congressman Luis Campos.”

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BERNARD TESTA

, in awe of health workers’ dedication, sacrifice

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Government hospitals step up Covid response, in awe of health workers’ dedication, sacrifice

Continued from K2

Pasay hospital: dedication, resilience

FOR Dr. John Victor de Gracia, officer in charge of Pasay City General Hospital (PCGH), the dedication to work and resilience of health-care workers (HCWs) in facing the challenges posed by the pandemic is extremely laudable.

“I have seen and experienced how HCWs, both the medical and nonmedical employees of PCGH, passionately work through long and hard hours of duty. It is truly

amazing and inspiring how our hospital staff, especially those assigned in the high-risk areas, bring their ‘A game’ and more so that they can properly care for their patients,” Dr. de Gracia said, noting that the HCWs have overcome all kinds of difficulty such as “foregoing their personal needs like food, sleep or bathroom breaks.”

“Some have voluntarily not taken their mandatory vacation leaves for almost two years now, just so the hospital’s manpower resources will not be strained,” he said, even as he lamented that some of them caught the virus and were hospitalized.

But once recovered from their illness, he said with pride and admiration, they went right back to work, seemingly unfazed by their recent illness.

“Managing patients and the hospital operations would have not been possible if our HCWs are not dedicated to their work 100 percent,” he added.

Furthermore, another important aspect in ensuring optimal hospital operations in this pandemic is the support that revolves among all the stakeholders of the hospital.

“First, the support given by hospital staff to each other is important to uplift each one’s fighting spirit. Second, the support given by the new hospital management to the entire staff is also

‘It is truly amazing and inspiring how our hospital staff, especially those assigned in the high-risk areas, bring their ‘A game’ and more so that they can properly care for their patients.’

DR. JOHN VICTOR DE GRACIA, PASAY CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL OIC crucial as this is the backbone for efficient performance of duties and provision of services to clients. Finally, the support given by the local government, headed by our beloved Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano and the other city departments, is foremost in the successful operation and performance of the entire hospital,” he stressed.

Managing healthcare operations

“WE came up with measures that segregated the hospital into Covid and non-Covid areas. This was implemented by having permanent glass partitions and temporary partition doors in some of our high-risk areas like the Emergency Room, Operating Rooms, Medical wards and

OPD [outpatient department] areas.”

When it comes to managing their finances, he said that the PCGH prioritized procuring equipment such as high flow nasal cannula and mechanical ventilators.

“With regard to our consumables, we have purchased more medicines and supplies that we use for our Covid patients,” Dr. de Gracia added.

Likewise, protection of their HCWs is of utmost priority, he said.

To lessen exposure and control infection rate among the employees, HCWs were grouped into teams.

He explained that each team would go on duty for a certain period of time and will then be replaced by the next team in line, and so on.

“We have allowed our nonmedical offices to be on skeletal duty especially in times of Covid surges or when the government implements a stricter quarantine classification. Aside from segregating our areas, we make sure that we provide the appropriate and complete personal protective equipment (PPE) for our HCWs especially those handling Covid patients.

They are also subjected to RT-PCR swab tests after a certain period of time after their Covid rotations or if they have a history of high-risk exposure,” he said.

Response to the pandemic

JUST like in other hospitals, the PCGH started to implement tele-

consultation for OPD. “This enabled our hospital to continue to see and manage our clients in the midst of the pandemic by using technology. Smartphones and Internet connection have made teleconsultations of patients with our medical specialists possible,” he said.

Using such modality, he added, not only made their consultations easier but also significantly lowers the risks of exposure to Covid for both patients and staff members.

More capable now

DR. de Gracia has expressed confidence that PCGH is more capable of dealing with the pandemic when it comes to managing Covid cases.

The almost two years of pandemic experience, he said, have taught them so many things.

“One, we were able to create our own protocols in our Covid operations and to make sure that they are in line with the government’s implementing guidelines.

Second, we hired more nurses and doctors to handle severe and critically ill Covid patients. Third, we have procured an adequate number of equipment and consumables like supplies and medicines that are needed to treat our Covid patients,” he explained as he thanked the full support given by CalixtoRubiano to be able to deal with the pandemic efficiently.

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PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND THE CHALLENGES OF

NAVIGATING THE NEW NORMAL

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By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

HILE hospitals are equipped to deal with emergency situations that involve multiple casualties, they were not prepared to deal with an invisible enemy known as the Covid-19 virus.

Imagine the concerns and the fears going through the heads of hospital administrators. Will frontliners get infected? What rooms can accommodate Covid-19 patients? Do we have enough medicines to treat them? Do we have enough PPEs for frontliners? How can we get non-Covid patients to come back to the hospital so that their illness will not worsen?

The BusinessMirror had the opportunity to interview the executives of nine private hospitals to get their views on how the pandemic has changed the way they run and manage the hospitals.

One theme was common with all the nine hospitals—the challenges they face with PhilHealth and how they managed to keep afloat financially in spite of this.

Cardinal Santos Medical Center

IT all started in Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) last year when on March 6, 2020, the doctors at CSMC diagnosed the first local Covid-19 case. While he had no history of foreign travel, the 62-year-old was hypertensive and diabetic. He started coughing on February 25, 2020, went to CSMC on March 1 where he was admitted and diagnosed with severe pneumonia. The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed he was infected with Covid-19 on March 5.

On March 16, 2020, President Duterte announced the imposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) over Luzon, including the National Capital Region effective 12 am of March 17, 2020. This

DR. ZENAIDA M. JAVIER-UY, CSMC Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer FACEBOOK.COM/CARDINALSANTOS

ECQ was to be extended on several occasions.

This first local Covid-19 case prompted CSMC to put in motion the safety protocols and the other services that they needed in order to address the expected influx of Covid-19 patients.

On managing physical resources

DR. ZENAIDA M. JAVIER-UY, CSMC Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, said the direction from day one was for the hospital to increase its capacity to handle Covid cases.

“That was the direction that we took up and as we speak, we are building another wing in our hospital that will really handle our Covid cases,” Dr. Uy said. “It will be well-equipped to handle our Covid cases and there will even be Intensive Care Unit (ICU) cubicles for Covid cases. So increasing capacity is one we have addressed.”

According to Deidre Arnold Able A. Malapitan, AVP and Head of Facilities and Management and Safety Division, the facility is a duplication of the ER with a triage area, isolation rooms and beds.

“We are not treating our Covid patients in a temporary shelter but in a rigid structure that was built in 15 to 20 days,” Malapitan said. “We also converted two operating rooms (OR) into negative pressure ORs.” Since the hospital did not have any dedicated ICU beds for Covid patients, Malapitan said they started building Covid ICUs last June and they are expected to be ready some time in October.

“It is a 28-bed Covid ICU, eight ICU beds and 20 isolation rooms. That is how Cardinal is preparing and continuously improving its response to Covid,” he added.

Another step that CSMC took to address the pandemic was to construct its own Molecular Laboratory which became operational sometime in September or October last year.

Prior to that, Cardinal had been sending out its RT-PCR samples to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), the Lung Center and then to a private laboratory.

“One of the things that I will always be proud of is our strong collaboration with our local government.

From day one, we were in close touch with the San Juan City local government and we collaborated on all efforts even on where to quarantine our healthcare workers,” she said.

More Covid-19 patients meant a growing demand for RT-PCR testing.

Cardinal designated their parking area located in front of the Emergency Room as the swabbing station to provide enough ventilation.

“I think the doctors and the patients also appreciated the fact that they do not need to go inside the hospital or the Emergency Room just to get their swab. So we had swabbing schedules from Monday to Sunday,” related Dr. Monserrat S. Velasquez, Assistant Vice President

and Head of Clinical and Specialty Services Division and Offsite and Ancillary Services.

Velasquez said they also faced challenges in sourcing Covid-19 medicines amid growing demand but a dwindling supply. The Pharmacy had to project how much the hospital actually needed to purchase for patients so that they would not have to stock up on them for a long period.

“We were actually well ahead of other hospitals, if I may say, in terms of making sure that we actually have all those medications,” she said. “And I think one of the advantages is that we worked closely with our infectious disease doctors. They are actually the ones recommending that this will be coming up soon and that we would be needing these medications in the next few months.”

A standard procedure for all Covid-19 patients is to undergo a CT scan and Cardinal devised a schedule where all clean cases, or non-Covid cases, are scheduled in the morning. Covid patients are scheduled in the evening until the early morning hours.

“The direction of the hospital is since we accommodate all these patients, we cannot admit all of these patients. We try as much as possible to treat them on an outpatient basis so that we can include doing ancillary diagnostics on an outpatient basis,” Velasquez said.

On financing and cash flow management

IN terms of CSMC’s financial standing, Marivic S. Mabuti, Vice President and Chief Finance Officer, recalled that on the first month of the lockdown, CSMC’s revenues “really shrank, probably by 50 percent, and it was aggravated by the fear of people to come to the hospital.”

“Despite the significant drop in our census and revenues, we still decided at that time to retain everyone, all the employees and staff. As such, we had to bear the burden of having a huge fixed overhead cost versus the low revenues,” Mabuti said.

Every year, the hospital has a purchase plan and at that time, CSMC’s inventory levels were at an all-time high because “management was gearing for an increase and higher growth in 2020, coming up from the momentum of 2019.”

“So we were ready to take off. We had a huge inventory on hand and then suddenly the census of the hospital dropped. So we had to bring down inventory,” she explained.

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Private hospitals and the challeng

In handling and protecting human resources

IN any hospital, nurses usually are majority of employees and according to Leona Paula L. Macalintal, Director for Clinical Nursing Operations, two aspects influenced the way nursing services and resources were managed during the pandemic.

The first is in the way staff are allocated. Per Macalintal, in the nursing field, nurses tend to be assigned in one area and it is difficult to reassign them abruptly to special areas or other areas of practice they are not familiar with.

“But with the pandemic, we had the flexibility to move them around so that we could be able to accommodate both our Covid and non-Covid cases. We can also attribute this to the training programs that we have instituted to prepare them to also handle critically ill patients beset by Covid,” she said.

“So that’s the first thing. We were able to move them. Those assigned in the special areas can be assigned in general wards and vice versa. And even our nursing managers and educators are on board and are not limited to their administrative functions but can also perform clinical duties,” she added.

The second aspect gave Macalintal and the nursing team “a wider perspective in terms of how we can rationalize our nurse-to-patient ratios and the number of staff that we would need in each of the areas.”

“Prior to the pandemic, the nursing team was only focused on patient acuity and the other factors that we consider for nurse staffing.

But because of our daily management meetings, and what is really happening around, even our nursing managers’ perspective of what to consider like the quarantine rate of healthcare workers, the total census of the hospital, the capacity we need to comply with have all to be considered in planning for the assignment of nurses in the different areas,” she explained.

Apart from the operational side, Macalintal said they also had to look out for the welfare of nurses and other employees. Maria Louzel L. Diaz-Tiozon, Vice President and Head of Human Resources Division, said the hospital decided to focus on the basics first.

These basic needs include transportation, shelter and food. Management also booked 20 rooms in a hotel to accommodate employees needing quarantine.

It was also in March of last year when management decided to push through with its plan to increase nurses salaries by 40 percent. This was based on their earlier growth projections for the year.

“This resonated very well with our people. That was the story of 2020. It was about investing in the

quire hospitalization and to accommodate these patients. Dr. Catan said they came up with the Outpatient Covid Care, which enables the hospital to manage patients with mild Covid symptoms in the comfort of their homes.

“We did come up with some packages wherein laboratory procedures were done and the patient remained at home and they are monitored by a physician and a specialist for 14 days. The service was launched last March 24 and as of September 21, we already had 606 patients; 80 percent of this were fully recovered and 20 percent are still in the program. We only have 1 percent mortality,” she added.

Cecile Marie L. Escaño, Vice President and Head of Information Technology Division, said her team developed additional modules in CSMC Consult that would help deliver new products and services.

This includes the interface with Med Express which allows patients to order their medicines and have them delivered to their homes.

Earlier this year, the hospital also migrated to a new hospital information system complete with an end-to-end electronic medical record system. While the system was initially to comply with the requirements of the Department of Health, Escaño said the system came in handy during the pandemic.

“The system allowed us to come up with our very timely and accurate data that would come up to our dashboards and would allow management to adjust and provide support wherever it is needed,” she said. “The HIS also comes with a doctor’s portal which allows doctors to access their patients’ EMR anytime, anywhere.”

Lessons learned

RAUL C. PAGDANGANAN, CSMC President and CEO FACEBOOK.COM/CARDINALSANTOS

basic necessities, addressing the psychological needs of our people,” she said.

On services and upcoming plans

EVEN before the Covid-19 pandemic, CSMC had already introduced Cardinal on Wheels where the hospital brings its services to its patients. Dr. Marichu L. Catan, Vice President and Head of Business Planning and Development Division, noted an increase in demand for Cardinal on Wheels last year. Another service that generated a lot of interest were e-consults where patients could consult with their doctors online.

“We have extended the same e-consults platform to our corporate accounts. This is for primary care doctors. We will do 24/7 consultation of the employees with the primary care doctors so that we can address the needs of the employees. This is what you call the eclinic management and we already have one client.”

Not all Covid-19 patients re-

PERHAPS the biggest lesson that CSMC learned during the pandemic is the importance of collaboration.

Dr. Uy noted that from day one, they were in close touch with the San Juan LGU and “we collaborated on all efforts even on where to quarantine our healthcare workers.”

Macalintal noted that the pandemic also taught them that apart from the operational side, they also had to look after the welfare of their nurses and their employees.

Tiozon echoed this: “The response we had was the crisis of Covid is a people down scenario.”

“The pandemic has been infecting people and people are also the ones responding at the hospital. So ever since, our actions were always guided by three principles. The first priority is down the line people are empowered to make decisions to protect the health of our employees and our people,” she explained.

The second is to ensure the continuity of hospital services especially during this time of a high demand for it. The third is to serve the greater community.

“One thing that I think we have learned is that there is no sense in solving this crisis individually, like Cardinal cannot just continue adding healthcare workers and adding rooms. That is not the way to do it. We need to collaborate with our government,” Tiozon said.

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Mabuti said Cardinal already had several committed capex and projects underway. Due to the pandemic, some of the projects had to proceed while the necessary adjustments were made to either cancel or defer the other capital expenditures.

“All of those contributed to the erosion of our operating margins and the deterioration of our cash position. So what did we do?

As they say, the worst thing that could happen is to do nothing during a crisis,” she said. “In our case,

last year, when the hospital was treating solely Covid-19 patients.

This patient mix has, according to Mabuti, “provided us with a good source of revenue for us to be able to cover the fixed expenses or the fixed overhead expenses of our hospital.”

“I would also say that we now have a better handle on the medicines and supplies, the stocking level, so we minimize the use of our working capital. On the receivables side, we remain diligent in collecting for our patients especially now that we are struggling with our ballooning receivables from PhilHealth.”

Raul C. Pagdanganan, CSMC President and CEO, added that the focus at the start of the pandemic was for the hospital to be liquid and come up with different scenarios.

“We call this scenario planning and what is important is whenever you have scenario planning, it is essentially what you call contingency provisioning because you really have to adjust in a pandemic situation with a magnitude such as Covid, you really have to prepare for what comes next, you really have to be agile,” he said.

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we turned our focus to cash, realizing that we need cash in order to survive during the crisis.”

Concrete steps were taken on the drivers of the hospital’s cash position and these include receivables, inventory, payables, purchases and capital investments. On the receivables side, Mabuti said the hospital reinforced daily collection from admitted patients. Online payment facilities were provided to patients, especially patients’ families who had a difficult time getting to the hospital because of transportation restrictions.

Adjustments also had to be made in CSMC’s operational expenses. Mabuti said management had to reallocate some of its budget to more important activities like, for one, the Covid support programs for employees, which included shuttle services and medical assistance.

“For our payables, we also worked with our vendors to restructure the payment terms as we tried to cope with the pressure of cash payments for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other Covid medicines and supplies,” she said.

“Aside from taking these concrete actions on the drivers of our cash position, we also did a more frequent cash flow forecasting exercise. Instead of monthly, we made it weekly and even daily updates.”

After a year, Mabuti noted that the hospital is treating more non-Covid cases now compared to

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ges of navigating the new normal

Perpetual Hospital and Medical Center Las Piñas

“WE are more prepared this year compared to last year in dealing with the pandemic. We have had our learnings and these have helped and guided us in our strategies, action plans, and decisionmaking efforts.”

So said Lt. Col. Richard Antonio M. Tamayo, President of Perpetual Help Medical Center Las Piñas, who added that the hospital had learned to cope with the pandemic which, in turn, has resulted in better management of resources, better supply chain management, among others, which have been helping businesses to survive and even thrive.

“The whole world was stunned and every human being was shellshocked in 2020 with the sudden emergence of a global pandemic.

Covid-19 brought daunting challenges with everyone in great fear of getting infected with the coronavirus,” Tamayo said.

People started to stay away from Perpetual and the other hospitals.

Patients with chronic illnesses and even the doctors shied away from the hospitals. Nurses, allied medical staff and even the doctors were getting infected with the virus.

On managing physical resources

TO accommodate the growing number of Covid-19 patients, Tamayo said they converted newly constructed patient rooms to be used as Covid-19 wards. An area in the hospital was renovated to serve

On financing, cashflow management and managing human resources

LT. COL. Richard Antonio M. Tamayo, President of Perpetual Help Medical Center Las Piñas

as an Emergency Room Triage solely for confirmed, probable and suspected Covid-19 patients.

“We launched and offered services to deal with the pandemic situation such as the RT-PCR test and antigen test at the most competitive pricing levels,” he said. “We offered promotional discounts and packages to convince our patients not to delay their diagnostic tests and medical treatment.”

Tamayo recalled a time they had to shorten the operating hours of some of their centers because their staff had either been infected by the virus or were in quarantine while waiting for their RT-PCR test results.

“At some point, we had to adjust the working hours or work schedule of our employees to decongest and reduce the number of personnel to comply with the ruling of the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, or IATF,” he said.

IMPLEMENTING strict safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus meant additional costs as the hospital had to spend for regular and frequent disinfection, acquisition of PPEs and supplies for all medical staff, nurses and other frontliners. Construction and renovation had to be done in order to segregate the hospital into green, yellow and red zones.

As employees had no means of transportation, Perpetual had to provide shuttle services for their employees and board and lodging for many of their frontliners.

“At some point, we gave free meals and multivitamins to our medical workers and all other workers. Thanks to benevolent donors and sponsors, we received donations in kind, mostly food, drinks, face masks and face shields, PPEs, disinfecting supplies, vitamins, medicines, toiletries and many more. These helped us a lot in controlling our costs,” Tamayo said.

Supply chain management was also affected as some manufacturers and suppliers could not fulfill their orders because of the lockdown. Some suppliers demanded cash payments for their deliveries.

“A major challenge was the nonpayment or very minimal payment of claims by PhilHealth which affected our collection, and thus, our cash flow,” Tamayo added.

On services and future plans

WHILE adjustments had to be made in

Perpetual’s budget target and financial plan, management did not allow the pandemic to stop them from pursuing the expansion and enhancement of hospital facilities and acquisition of medical equipment with the latest or advanced technology.

“Thus, we were able to launch new services as we have stayed committed to providing quality and excellent healthcare services to our patients and the communities we serve,” Tamayo said.

To date, the management of Perpetual has completed construction of the new Clinic Building or the U-MAB (Unilane Medical Arts Building); the new state-of-the-art ICU complex, a connecting bridgeway to the Operating Room, expansion of the ER, creation of a separate area for the ER Triage and separate area for positive/confirmed, probable and suspected Covid-19 patients (Isolation and Critical Care Area), expansion and upgrading of the Heart and Vascular Institute complex, and the construction of the new multilevel parking facility, among others.

“We have also been accredited or identified by the Las Piñas City local government as one of the vaccination sites and have also been providing vaccine administration for the community and corporate clients,” Tamayo said.

On lessons learned

FOR Tamayo, the pandemic was a wake-up call for everyone, for all industries and businesses.

“For Perpetual Help Medical Center Las Piñas, it reminded us of the great value of our business continuity plan amid situations such as the pandemic. It also validated and reinforced our fundamental principle for corporate culture, our decisions, strategies, plans, actions, practices, processes, attitude, behavior,” he said.

He added that patient safety will always be the hospital’s top priority.

“Patient safety is achieved when we maintain and practice a culture of safety among our medical personnel, our healthcare workers, our Patient Care staff, all our frontliners and all of our employees,” Tamayo said.

VRP Medical Center

“WE were all confronted with an unseen and unknown virus which no institution, no specialist, really nobody was prepared for.”

This was the statement that Veronica Regina P. Vergel De DiosGarcia, the administrator of VRP Medical Center (VRPMC), made during a webinar organized by Philippines Graphic in February 2021 titled “Hospital Best Practices in Handling Covid-19 Patients.”

While VRPMC is now more prepared to deal with Covid-19, the hospital had to overcome many challenges in order to provide the best quality of care not only to its patients but to its healthcare workers as well.

“Well, actually almost every-

VERONICA Regina P. Vergel de Dios-Garcia, VRP Medical Center Administrator

thing in all aspects changed. We changed the way we managed the hospital compared to the pre-pandemic time so the focus is really different now because we have to ensure that everything we do is safe and compliant to infection control standards,” Garcia explained.

On managing physical resources

VRPMC is a 10-story building and in order to accommodate Covid-19 patients, Garcia said they had to implement zoning, where the 9th and 10th floors were Covid floors and the other floors are clean floors.

“We have floors that accommodate suspect patients, patients who are waiting for the results of their RT-PCR tests. Once their results are out, they will be transferred to where they should be admitted,” she said. “We also had to divide our ICU into clean and infectious areas.”

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Private hospitals and the challenges of navigating the new normal Continued from L3

Asian Hospital and Medical Center

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ANDRES M. LICAROS JR., Asian Hospital and Medical Center President and CEO

charge patients over a shorter period of time.

While Asian can still manage to accept patients whose conditions are quite serious, Licaros said their chances of survival would depend on how soon they are brought to the hospital.

On managing physical resources

LICAROS thinks they are very fortunate because Asian is designed like an American hospital with its own road network around the hospital. Hence, it was easy for the hospital to offer drive-through RTPCR testing. It also has two towers, with Tower 1 catering to the clean or non-Covid cases and Tower 2 dedicated to Covid cases.

Since the ICU was already full and the Emergency Room had to accommodate critically ill patients who had to be intubated, Licaros created a new annex at the ER to accommodate an additional 18 beds.

He related that for the past

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WHEN Asian Hospital and Medical Center was undergoing reaccreditation with the Joint Commission International (JCI), an organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs across the globe, back in September 2019, Andres M. Licaros Jr., the hospital’s President and CEO, recalled that the reaccreditation team found Asian Hospital was not prepared to handle a globally infectious disease.

“The last infectious disease we encountered was the MERS-CoV but we did not have problems with that.

JCI was saying that we were not ready because they saw some gaps like our numerous entrances and exits. So we were able to submit a plan and it was eventually approved,” Licaros recalled. “But little did we know that a few months later, come March 2020, Covid-19 would be upon us and all of it was new to us.”

While the Covid-19 pandemic caught everyone off-guard, Licaros said Asian was ready to deal with the virus on the clinical side and that it responded quite well.

“What changed was our attitude. We treated it more seriously.

We were more careful because from day one, it was clear to us that we cannot protect others if we do not protect ourselves,” he said.

He added that the outcomes showed that Asian is more ready now to deal with the virus. The mortality rates have dropped and the hospital has been able to dis-

two weeks, Asian was able to discharge three patients who were admitted in the ER. The first patient was intubated for 22 days and he was able to walk out of the ER with tears of joy. In fact, the other patients clapped for joy when he was discharged.

Another patient was sent home after being intubated for 19 days.

The third patient was discharged on the day Licaros was interviewed by the BusinessMirror.

“This experience tells you that if you don’t give up, you do the right thing and you keep focusing and providing the appropriate care, it can be done only because we work together and we were confident that we would be able to do it,” he said. “And the outcomes are showing this.”

On financing and cashflow management

IN terms of financial resources, Licaros said Asian Hospital is very fortunate that they did their work early so that the hospital would be debt-free. He recalled that when he inherited Asian in 2012, it had a P2-billion loan and he managed to pay it off in 2018.

“Since the hospital was debtfree, we had a very strong cash position which served us well because the cost of care escalated with Covid.

You have to buy PPEs, you have to increase the level of protection, and alcohol consumption was at an all time high. In spite of that, we were able to sustain ourselves,” he said.

Even if the hospital experienced a drop in revenues and census, Asian was able to support its operations, which included protecting their healthcare workers and providing them with accommodation so that they would not bring the virus home.

“So the cost of operation for the hospital really escalated, which means your margins are reduced tremendously because of the high cost of goods and the decrease in revenues because people stayed away from the hospital,” Licaros explained.

After each surge, Licaros noted that the non-Covid cases would return to the hospital to seek medical attention. The hospital did surgeries and had to care for a number of heart attack and stroke patients.

“We are 10 months into the year and we have grown against last year.

We are more profitable now but it is not back to the 2019 levels yet. We may just be approximating 2019,” he

said. “So I expect 2022 is going to be a bounce-back year.”

In handling and protecting human resources

DESPITE the lower revenues and margins, Asian Hospital did not let go of any of its staff. However, by natural attrition, some employees resigned because their parents did not want them working in a hospital at that time. These were quickly replaced so that hospital services would not be compromised.

The staff’s health and security were Licaros’s top priority and he made sure that they were accommodated in the hospital as well.

“While business was affected, Asian Hospital remained committed to its people, As long as you want to work for Asian Hospital, you will keep your jobs,” Licaros said.

On services and upcoming plans

WHILE Asian Hospital offers “virtually everything already,” Licaros said, “the difference now is that we are getting out from the model where we build and they come. We are going to bring the services close to home.”

Among the services Asian has already developed based on this model is Covid homecare, continuing chronic care for highly compromised patients and they even have personnel going to patients’ homes for blood extraction. Since it is difficult and more costly to cater to just a few of these requests, the plan is for Asian to bring their services closer to the communities that they serve.

“The plan is to put up diagnostic and treatment clinics that are going to be in our catchment areas of Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, where the communities are already growing and in place,” Licaros explained.

“But the difference is this is not the regular satellite clinic. This will be linked to the hub, which is Asian, where all the specialists are on a digital platform.”

The patients can be diagnosed and treated at these treatment clinics while the more complex cases will be referred to Asian Hospital.

“Asian will really become a hospital without borders, without walls,” he said. “We can even bring the care home.”

Those who need to go to rehab can do so at home so that they will not be exposed to the virus and these same patients can be cared for remotely. However, Licaros ad-

mitted that this would be provided at a higher cost.

“But because people need it, there’s a substantial market and that’s the kind of market Asian caters to anyway,” he said. “But our vision is to provide this for everyone, through health insurance, through the National Health Insurance Program so that everyone can avail of this service.”

On lessons learned

FOR Licaros, the biggest lesson is what he did early on in Asian and that is to transform the culture of the organization into a strong culture of accountability.

“This means that we put ourselves to task that we are in this kind of work because we must serve the needs of our community, nothing more, nothing less. The risks to our lives and to our families do not matter because if we turn our back to our sense of duty, who else will do it?” he said.

“We want to stand by our promise that we are as good as we are because we are able to translate them into better outcomes at lower cost.

And for that to happen, you have to have a strong culture of accountability, a commitment to quality outcomes, a commitment to bring down the cost of care because in truth, the single biggest barrier to access to quality of care, to safe patient care is cost,” Licaros added.

Licaros said he has been at the helm of Asian Hospital for the past 10 years and during those 10 years he wanted to achieve two goals— better outcomes at a lower cost of care and care anywhere, any time.

This, he said, can only happen if the service is transformed solely into a digital platform.

“You can only do so if your focus is the patient. It has to be patientcentric as a service and therefore you have to be extremely obsessed with your customers,” he said.

“And these are the lessons that I learned. And I also learned how valuable our services were and that is why it is difficult for us to turn our backs to that kind of a need.

And it is all anchored on trust, and trust is earned if you make your patients feel the way you make your employees feel,” he said. “That’s why it is important to prioritize our employees and our doctors. If you create a good working environment, they can deliver that warm, caring service to our patients.”

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The Medical City

“THE pandemic has exposed the deficiencies and ineffectiveness of our health systems. It has stresstested our individual and collective capacities to deal with unplanned and overwhelming exigencies. The only way we can make significant contributions to the solutions is to help one another and work together and to keep that optimism up and running. Those who are of no help or use shouldn’t be allowed to continue, those who can help should be tapped and supported.”

That was the assessment made

by Dr. Eugene F. Ramos, President and CEO of The Medical City Enterprise, who added that the pandemic has not only affected TMC but the country’s entire healthcare system.

He recalled that even if TMC’s staff nurses and frontliners were trained for these kinds of situations, they were initially overwhelmed with the flood of

Covid-19 patients. He had to make sure that his staff was safe and well protected.

“After a while, we slowly realized that we had to take care of the hospital ourselves and during the first months, you can really see, you can really sift through the different preparedness, individual preparedness of the staff, those who really stepped up and you can see the resilience and the readiness to fight,” Dr. Ramos said.

Increased capacity for Covid cases

HE also raised concerns about the Department of Health’s order requiring private hospitals to increase their capacity for Covid patients from 20 percent to 30 percent, without knowing the situation in the hospital.

“You have to understand that it is not just about the number of beds that we don’t have. It’s not just about the resources and the supplies that we don’t have. It’s also about our Continued on M2

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By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

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PhilHealth woes

IN addition to dealing with the shortage of nurses, hospitals also have to contend with PhilHealth and its failure to pay the hospitals. Prior to the lockdowns, Phil-

DR. Almario G. Jabson, President and CEO of The Medical City Clark

DR. Eugene F. Ramos, President and CEO of The Medical City Enterprise

Health had declared that it would shoulder all Covid cases, perhaps not realizing that the number of cases would balloon to alarming levels. This forced PhilHealth to rethink its policies and it decided that it would just shoulder a maximum of about P750,000 for critical Covid patients.

“When the government lifts the lockdowns, there is going to be another spike and then they all go again to the hospitals. They prefer the private hospitals. They really do not want to go to public hospitals. And so the private hospitals have to bear the brunt of all of this.

So this is where we are now,” Dr. Ramos said.

Natural attrition

DUE to the challenges with PhilHealth, TMC had to cut down on

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nurses because they are gone,” Dr. Ramos said. “Even before the pandemic, we already had problems with nurses going abroad.”

He added that the “injustice” of it all is that the hospitals train the nurses who go into OR and Emergency Room nursing, and then they leave the Philippine hospitals to go for the United States, the Middle East and Europe because there is a need for them.

“When you step back and you take a look at the overall system, the broken health system is not just within the hospital or within the country. It is the world, the immigration and the departure of nurses from developing countries who develop the nurses to developed countries who don’t really invest in nursing and just get all the benefits,” he said.

“That by itself is inequity and that already shows that there is a problem in the health system.

And you can’t blame the nurses if they need to go there because here they are overworked and underpaid. That is still part of the broken health system,” he added.

some costs and to let go of 50 people who, by natural attrition, did not report back to work anymore largely because of the fear of getting the virus.

“Then the other thing is really to restructure loans in the banks and really make sure that our relationships with the banks are based on good faith and we had a good track record,” he said.

When it comes to dealing with Covid patients, Dr. Ramos said TMC has the good fortune of being a big hospital. It has two Emergency Rooms, one of which caters exclusively to Covid patients, two different entrances and different sets of elevators. When it comes to admitting patients, zoning is done through floors. The hospital has a floor for Covid patients and floors for non-Covid patients. There are also separate MRI and CT scan machines for the patients to use.

This also led the hospital to develop two systems in one hospital to ensure that there will be a separate team of healthcare workers attending to non-Covid patients as well.

“We have cash flow from our non-Covids and that’s precisely why we came up with these two systems to ensure that the nonCovids come because these are individuals—paying patients—kasi hindi sila Covid [because they are not with Covid].” In contrast, “Covid cases are PhilHealth receivables.

That’s the cash flow and then we really tried to restructure, we did that,” he said.

New services

ON whether the pandemic had affected their planned services, Dr. Ramos said as much as possible, they did not want to play up Covid and they chose to concentrate on cardiovascular diseases, neurosciences, cancer, wellness, because “these are the diseases of the future, of modern developing countries because of lifestyle.”

He continued: “TMC has beefed itself up in terms of its virus laboratory, in terms of preparing for the viral diseases and we have also propped up our molecular laboratory. So, even beyond this Covid, we know for a fact that there will be another pandemic because things are changing, the climate change is happening.”

In addition to climate change, Dr. Ramos said people are also infringing on the habitats of animals and there are reports saying that the Covid-19 virus were started by bats.

“We have to look at it in terms of are we dealing with all the other reasons why this is happening. This is an ecosystem so this is related to the broken health system,” he said.

“We are ready for that and we have already stressed test the people who are okay to deal with it.”

Lifestyle diseases

WHAT, then, is to be expected in the coming years? Dr. Ramos expects people will be having problems with cancer. As they grow older, people will develop a lot of lifestyle diseases

like hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes.

“The other thing that I think people should prepare for and… focus on is that people should assume more accountability over their own health and this is where wellness comes in. Wellness is going to be a big market,” he said.

When it comes to lessons learned during the pandemic, Dr. Ramos said if you feel that you are doing the right thing, you should do it.

“I realize that when you are out there, you really have to make the right decision and judgement call, and I think that is where leadership comes in. People are not used to making decisions and they wait for their bosses to decide. You will be amazed that during this stress testing, many of the bosses did not live up to expectations,” he said.

Bosses exposed

THE bosses he was referring to were the bosses in government and since their ineptitude has been exposed, Dr. Ramos said he would be more than willing to work with them so that they can help run things better.

As for issues with PhilHealth, Dr. Ramos said he has been collaborating with other hospitals to work out a solution with them. He noted that PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran is a former director of the National Bureau of Investigation so his background is forensic, not health financing.

“So his attitude is to look for fraud. However, if they discover that only 5 percent of what is due the hospital is fraudulent, why should the other 95 percent suffer?

We are talking to them and hopefully they realize that they need to help out,” he said.

The Medical City Clark

PANDEMIC or no pandemic, The Medical City (TMC) Clark will continue to move forward and introduce more services until it meets its goal of becoming the referral center of Central and Northern Luzon.

Dr. Almario G. Jabson, President and CEO of TMC Clark, added that while the hospital was better equipped to handle Covid-19 cases, it can never be ready because of the surges.

“If it is just a stable Covid population, it is okay. You are ready to deal with that. You can more or less address the Covid and the non-Covid cases. But when the surges come and our resources are finite, and you see people in the Emergency Room and in the tents already, no hospital can be ready for that,” he said.

Managing physical resources

THE entire TMC network adopted a “One Hospital, Two Systems Strategy” where, according to Dr. Jabson, in one hospital, there are two systems in play. One system will be able to cater to Covid patients and the other non-Covid patients.

“The teams that are assigned to these patients are also separate.

We have one team for Covid patients and another team for nonCovid patients,” he said.

Adopting this system also meant that TMC Clark had to invest a lot in facility improvement.

Prior to the pandemic, the negative pressure patient rooms were scattered all over the hospital.

When the pandemic struck, Dr. Jabson said they retrofitted and converted 31 of their ward rooms into negative pressure rooms and made sure that they were all in one area. This area would then be assigned to Covid patients.

“This will not only be safe for the Covid cases but for our personnel as well. The safety of everyone is a paramount concern for whatever monetary cost that will entail,” he said.

On finance and cash flow management

SINCE it has been a challenge for all hospitals to collect from PhilHealth, Dr. Jabson said what can be done in terms of managing the finances is to just prioritize payments.

“You have to talk to your suppliers just to make sure that the cycle keeps spinning. If you collect a certain amount, allot this certain amount for your priority payments,” he said.

While PhilHealth has remitted some amount to the hospital, Dr. Jabson stressed that the hospital will continue to deliver quality care because “it is of the national interest to keep on serving.”

“We just have to learn to allocate our resources better and talk to our suppliers so that we can manage their expectations, he said.

On handling and protecting human resources

IN addition to the facility conversion which retrofitted negative pressure rooms and adopted separate zones for Covid and non-Covid patients, another way that employees were protected throughout the pandemic was the institution of medical benefits for all employees two years earlier, Dr. Jabson said.

“This was a big help to them and since we now have our own Molecular Laboratory, they can be tested there on a regular basis,” he said. “During lockdown, we housed our staff in the hospital and we provided shuttle services.”

The hospital did not let go of any of their staff because this would be “adding to the burden of society.”

On services and future plans

TMC Clark introduced a number of new services to entice patients to go to the hospital and to not delay their health needs. Patients can opt to do online consultations.

The hospital, Dr. Jabson said, has a pool of doctors who are specialists and are board-certified to talk to patients and to look after them while they are at home.

“Instead of going to TMC Clark for their laboratory procedures, we have TMC Clark on Wheels where we bring the laboratory to you,” he said. “We can provide you Pharmacy services and diagnostic procedures and X-ray and the results will be made available online.”

The hospital has also deployed two programs for contactless payments. Patients can now pay for their laboratories and other diagnostic procedures at the Outpatient Department through Pay-

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ges of navigating the new normal es and 30 to 40 percent are Covid cases,” he said.

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On lessons learned

Maya. TMC Clark has also made arrangements with different banks and credit card companies and patients can actually pay for their services online.

“Despite Covid, we were able to offer new services like the Fibroscan, Nuclear Medicine Facility, research units, Animal Bite Center and so many more,” Dr. Jab-

son said. “The challenge now are the non-Covid patients who have put off their treatment for several months already.”

Figures indicate that more non-Covid patients visit the hospital now because they can no longer delay their medical needs.

“For the early part of October, 60 to 70 percent are non-Covid cas-

DR. Jabson says there is no stopping TMC Clark from its goal to become the referral center of Central and Northern Luzon.

“Regardless, whatever it is, whether the virus is present or not, the hospital keeps on improving itself. The hospital has to keep on moving,” he said.

Moving means introducing more non-Covid services, and Dr. Jabson is optimistic that TMC Clark will be opening its own Cancer Center some time next year.

“When you build a Cancer Center, there should be four elements— a chemotherapy infusion unit, Genomics and Molecular Laboratory, Nuclear Medicine and the Linear Accelerator. We are in the final stages of procuring the Linear Accelerator, one step closer to achieving our goal,” Dr. Jabson said.

Other plans include expanding the ICU and Critical Care Units and the capabilities of the Cardiovascular Center; opening a Stone Prostate and Treatment Center, and acquiring a more powerful MRI.

For The Medical City Ambulatory Clinic, the plan is to beef up its laboratory capability, its dialysis unit and vaccination program.

It will soon launch its out-patient surgery services.

“We will end 2021 on a high note. Revenues have been up and in terms of gross revenue, Clark will be hitting P1 billion this year. That, however, will only be on paper because we have yet to collect from PhilHealth,” he said.

The Medical City South Luzon

“ONE stark difference between this year and the early months of the pandemic last year is the absence of the pervasive atmosphere of panic and the feeling of helplessness. We now know how to handle the infection in its various presentations and severities.”

That was the assessment made

by Dr. Cesar Ramon G. Espiritu, President and CEO of The Medical City (TMC) South Luzon located in Santa Rosa, Laguna. He explained that while there will still be deaths caused by the virus, the major factors for survival are “how virulent the new variant has become and how early treatment is started.”

“This means, therefore, that patients have to seek treatment early,” he added.

On managing physical resources

WHEN it comes to dealing with Covid-19 patients, Dr. Espiritu said TMC South Luzon was probably the first hospital in the country to build a totally separate facility behind the main hospital, which was

DR. Cesar Ramon G. Espiritu, President and CEO of The Medical City South Luzon

named “Complex of Hope.”

“The original structure, which quickly expanded because of demand, had a main complex with three ICU beds and even private rooms. Beside it was an extended quarantine facility with 15 beds,” he said. “This was built in a record 17 working days during the lockdown and became operational in May 2020. Currently, the hospital’s capacity for Covid patients has grown to 46, of which 12 are ICU beds.”

The hospital also introduced a drive-through testing facility initially intended for RT-PCR tests.

Later on, blood chemistry and Xray were added to its services.

Dr. Espiritu noted that the surges “resulted in unmanageable ER consultations and a worsening bed availability situation,” and this gave birth to the Covid

HomeCare Program.

“This allowed patients to teleconsult first with a physician or the ER hospitalist-on-duty to determine if they needed hospital care or if they could still be managed at home,” he said. “If the latter was still possible, the hospital would provide the necessary support like medication, monitoring devices, regular consultations, and even oxygen tanks, if needed.”

However, if the patient’s condition deteriorated, the patient would have priority for admission to the hospital.

On financing and cashflow management

LIKE all industries and businesses, Dr. Espiritu said healthcare and hospitals took a big hit financially. People stayed away because of fear and forced lockdowns. This also included those who chose to neglect their existing non-Covid health problems.

“For almost a year, even most of our doctors chose not to practice until they had a better grasp of the pandemic—its transmissibility, pathogenicity, prevention and management—and were confident that the precautions were in place for them to see patients safely,” he said. “This resulted in a huge drop in patient census to as low as a third of pre-Covid numbers.”

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To control the financial crisis, it became important for the hospital to be responsive, innovative and agile, Espiritu said.

“Recognizing the challenges, analyzing situations, discovering solutions and implementing strategies ahead of the competition were the key factors that kept our organization afloat,” he said.

Thanks to these interventions, Dr. Espiritu said TMC South Luzon ended 2020 profitably with 2021 looking “to even be a stellar year.”

In handling and protecting human resources

IN terms of protecting their healthcare workers, the very first thing they did was to provide them with the safest environment possible so they can continue delivering quality service to patients, Dr. Espiritu said.

“We had to modify our physical setup and processes within the workplace. This required having an adequate supply and proper use of PPEs, implementing safe practices, proper segregation of cases, crowd control and prevention protocols, among others,” he said.

Since Covid-19 transmission was airborne, Dr. Espiritu said a large chunk of their budget was spent on incorporating negativepositive pressure systems in the facility. With this system in place, the hospital was transformed into a safe zone.

Early on, the hospital had already accepted the fact that they would be unable to handle an influx in Covid-19 patients because of challenges in manpower and in the facility. As such, the hospital’s prime concern was to care for their frontliners physically and emotionally.

Regular health monitoring, psychological support, crisis management, performance recognition with a benefits and rewards program and social activities were some of the activities that the hospital provided for its employees.

To address the transportation problem, the hospital adopted a work-from-home schedule, provided shuttle services and accommodation by way of in-hospital quarters and by renting a staff house in a nearby community.

“These initiatives afforded obvious benefits. First is the convenience of eliminating the need to frequently commute. Second is the safety aspect by minimizing their exposure to commuters and people in their communities from where there was a higher risk of acquiring infection,” Dr. Espiritu said.

As a result of the hospital’s efforts, Healthcare Asia awarded

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Private hospitals and the challenges of navigating the new normal

TMC South Luzon with its “Employee Engagement Initiative of the Year” award for 2021. According to healthcareasiamagazine.com, the Healthcare Asia Awards aim to honor hospitals and clinics that have risen above the challenges and made a remarkable impact on their patients most especially amid the massive disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“By providing the needed tools and opportunities for staff development, our organization nourishes a culture of engagement as well as an incentivized environment where everyone’s efforts are recognized and valued,” Dr. Espiritu said. “Exposed to such a positive workplace condition, employees develop a sense of pride, purpose

and pleasure in what they do.”

On services and upcoming plans

THE pandemic, Dr. Espiritu said, has definitely “shifted their priorities away from the traditional and conventional hospital-centered healthcare towards remote health, wellness and digitization with the convergence of technology and biology.”

Since patients were having second thoughts about going to the hospital, hospital services had to be geared towards remote health.

This meant that the hospital would bring their services to their patients, wherever they might me.

“Telehealth became a priority and major endeavor. Our Medical Services Group, IT, Ancillary and Marketing departments quickly

responded to the need and we were quick to get this started using the different platforms then available,” he said. “Our TeleHealth hub was created and it was a room that had multiple cubicles, each equipped with all the equipment and gadgets needed for teleconsultation. We are currently working on creating our own platform for better service coordination and data handling.”

In March 2021, TMC South Luzon rolled out its Mobile Clinic: a custom-built truck that offers Xray, ECG, blood chemistries, Covid testing and eye consultations. To date, the Mobile Clinic regularly visits eight communities and one company on a monthly basis. Future plans include expanding coverage to additional residential and industrial areas.

To push wellness, Dr. Espiritu said the hospital aims to empower patients to prevent disease instead of seeking treatment. They will receive personalized health solutions that can be integrated into their daily routine. All this, he explained, will be enabled by data and algorithms provided within their healthcare system.

“There will be less emphasis on treatment and care, and more on prevention, diagnostics, and digital solutions such as mobile apps, smart monitoring devices and artificial intelligence enabled analytics tools,” he explained.

TMC South Luzon will also see the opening of the Kidney and Stone Center, Neurocritical Care and Stroke Clinic, Molecular Laboratory and Blood Bank in the last quarter of the year.

“These are in-hospital services by necessity. But through technology and further adaptation of AI, we will improve on the accessibility, efficiency and quality of service

these units will provide,” Dr. Espiritu said.

On lessons learned

ONE of the lessons Dr. Espiritu learned in the pandemic was the importance of preparedness. While there had been warnings about the pandemic, they all fell on deaf ears.

Hospitals were ill-equipped in their facilities, supplies, manpower and processes to deal with the health problems of such magnitude.

“Now that it has happened and knowing that there will be other pandemics to come, health institutions have already started adopting the needed countermeasures and they will continue to do so as new information comes out,” he said.

While the pandemic has disrupted our lives, Dr. Espiritu believes “it had accelerated a future which normally would have happened in five to 10 years from now.”

“In particular, here is the marriage of healthcare and technology. Individual monitoring devices, wearables, AI, robotics and other equipment that will allow us to care for more patients with limited manpower and extend our health reach outside the hospital setting is now a priority initiative and investment,” he said. “Our remote health program offering laboratories, diagnostics, rehabilitation, wound care, pharmacy services and teleconsultations are already fairly mature.”

While all these services were already available prior to the pandemic, Dr. Espiritu said “its growth was accelerated because of the demand from patients who were anxious to go to the hospitals.”

“We are committed to developing this, further convinced that, even after Covid-19, the demand will still be there as a preference for convenience,” he said.