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Thursday, October 11, 2018 Vol. 14 No. 1

8-month trade deficit widens 64.7% to $26B I By Cai U. Ordinario

@cuo_bm

NCREASED imports of equipment and other capital goods are expected to further widen the country’s trade deficit in the coming years, according to local economists.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data released on Wednesday showed the country’s trade deficit ballooned to $26 billion in the January-to-August period. This

was a 64.7-percent increase from $15.79 billion in the same period in 2017. Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development (Acerd)

Director Alvin P. Ang told the BusinessMirror, however, that the growth in the trade deficit is not yet a cause for concern. “A big chunk of the country’s imports are still infrastructurerelated,” Ang said. “As long as this increase is not caused by consumer goods, the widening of the trade deficit is not a cause for concern.” Ang expects the trade deficit to continue widening beyond 2022 because of the government’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program and investment growth. University of Asia and the Pacific School of Economics Dean

A big chunk of the country’s imports are still infrastructurerelated. As long as this increase is not caused by consumer goods, the widening of the trade deficit is not a cause for concern.”—Ang

Cid Terosa said the view that the trade deficit is not a cause for concern is only applicable from a long-term view. See “Trade deficit,” A2

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BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR

P25.00 nationwide | 21 sections 120 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

Today’s issue is the first of a 2-part anniversary folio marking BusinessMirror’s 13th year in the industry. It features some of the most remarkable ‘Forward Lookers’ who help make sense of the past and present, and offer hope and a clear vision of the future.

Jobs or environment?

‘US-China trade war could cause bigger damage’

HE high degree of uncertainty resulting from the trade war between the United States and China could cause a “larger than expected” damage to global and economic growth, according to economists from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The assessment was made by ADB Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department Principal Economist Donghyun Park, Senior Economics Officer Cynthia Castillejos Petalcorin, and Eonomist Shu Tian in an Asian Development Blog. The ADB team said, however, that the impact of the trade war on developing Asian countries is still limited. But if it escalates, the impact will be larger and will also hurt financial markets, the ADB economists said. “At the moment, with a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the eventual evolution of the China-US trade dispute, the financial markets seem to be rationally taking a wait-and-see stance. Nevertheless, if the dispute escalates significantly, the damage to trade and growth is likely to be tangibly larger,” they said.

Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

OBS or environment? The firm answer by environmental advocates is both. One can clean up the environment while preserving existing jobs or creating new and better ones. And yet, the public is told—by some economic technocrats or vested interest groups—that it is an either-or situation. For example, mining in hazardous areas, done large scale or small, is justified in the name of employment and the survival of poor mining communities. Continued on A21

In BusinessMirror file photo, hundreds of container vans are stacked at a portion of a port in Manila.

The authors noted that the impact of the US-China trade war on Asian stock markets have been “statistically significant.” The stock index of China dropped 0.37 percent, or 37 basis points, while Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore lost 32 to 46 basis points. They added that the stock indexes of Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and the

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 54.1660

Philippines also slipped by 34 to 118 basis points. The Philippine Stock Exchange index has been one of, if not the worst, performing stock markets in Asia. Last week the PSEi was down 17.3 percent, or 1,730 basis points. The PSEi reached its highest level at 9,058.62 and its lowest at 6,986.88 this year.

ALYSA SALEN

“Financial markets typically react on the announcement days to incorporate the new information into asset prices. However, uncertain wty about implementation means that actual implementation may also produce a market reaction,” the authors said. Earlier, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development See “Trade war,” A4

DOF plays down impact of fuel tax suspension

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

OLLOWING the President’s pronouncement that he may suspend excise taxes on oil, the Department of Finance said on Wednesday the suspension will not significantly lower oil prices. This was after President Duterte said late Tuesday in a press briefing with Palace reporters that he may suspend excise taxes on oil under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. Related story on B3-3. See “DOF,” A23

n JAPAN 0.4796 n UK 71.2066 n HK 6.9150 n CHINA 7.8206 n SINGAPORE 39.1967 n AUSTRALIA 38.4687 n EU 62.2476 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.4420

Source: BSP (10 October 2018 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, October 11, 2018

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PHL rice inventory at lowest level in 11 yrs

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE country’s rice stockpile in September plunged to its lowest level in nearly 11 years as the inventory of commercial warehouses dropped by more than a third, according to the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its report, the PSA said the country’s total rice inventory of 1.168 million metric tons (MMT) as of September 1 was nearly 18 percent lower than the 1.422 MMT recorded last year. “This was 23.19 percent lower than last month’s inventory of 1.52 [MMT],” the PSA said. The September 1 rice inventory was also the lowest held by the country since October 2007, when it reached 1.375 MMT. Of the total volume recorded at the start of September, more than half, or about 52.24 percent, were held by house-

holds, while 38.25 percent were in commercial warehouses. The remaining volume was in the warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA). The rice stockpile in households was estimated at 610,200 metric tons, while the inventory in commercial warehouses and NFA depositories were pegged at 446,730 MT and 111,100 MT, respectively. “Compared with their levels last month, rice stocks in households and commercial warehouses declined by 18.25 percent and 33.64 percent, respectively. Rice stocks in NFA depositories as of September 1 grew by 9.84 percent from the previous month’s inventory level,” the PSA said. “Compared to the previous year, rice stocks in NFA depositories increased by 69.52 percent. However, stocks in households and commercial warehouses decreased by 11.4 4 percent and 33.64 percent, respectively,” it added. The government monitors rice stocks regularly to determine if there is a need to implement interventions, such as importation, to beef up the country’s stockpile. The PSA also reported that the country’s total corn inventory as of September 1 sank by 62.6 percent to 531,070 MT, from its previous year’s record of 1.422 MMT. “Likewise, corn stocks inventory for the period was down by 56.54 percent, from the previous month’s stock level [of 1.221 MMT],” the PSA added. Of the total inventory, around 74.81 percent was in commercial warehouses while the remaining 25.19 percent was in households. “Year-on-year, corn stocks inventory in the households and commercial warehouses decreased by 14.35 percent and 68.61 percent, respectively. There were no corn stocks in NFA depositories as of September 2018,” the PSA said. “Compared with last month, corn stock in the households was almost twice from the previous month’s level of 70,210 MT. However, commercial stocks dropped by 65.51 percent. As of August 2018, there were also no stocks in NFA depositories,” the PSA added.

Trade deficit. . .

Continued from A1

Terosa agreed with Ang that the increase in the trade deficit, which is due to higher imports, is an indication of future investments in the country’s economic growth. In this regard, Terosa said the deficit will continue to widen until next year. However, deficits have a tendency to eventually narrow. Meanwhile, from a short-term perspective, Terosa said the wider trade deficit is bad news, especially when it comes to the possible impact on the Philippine peso. “From a short-term perspective, it’s a cause for concern because it can contribute to the weakness of the peso and consequently to macroeconomic instability,” Terosa said. Action for Economic Reform (AER) Coordinator Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III agreed and said that the country’s weak export performance, in particular, is discouraging. This may be largely due to unaddressed problems in the agriculture sector, as well as low labor productivity in the country. Sta. Ana added that this also reflects the “complacency” of exporters due to the incentives granted to them. “Exporters have been complacent and have not innovated given the protection through fiscal incentives given to them. Fiscal incentives are effective when they are time-bound. But many exporters are given almost perpetual incentives that are not based on performance,” Sta. Ana said. In terms of the increase in imports, Sta. Ana said this was “acceptable” because of the growth in capital equipment and production inputs shipments. This, he said, is an indicator of future economic growth. In terms of the increase in imports, Sta. Ana said this was “acceptable” because of the growth in capital equipment and production inputs shipments. This, he said, is an indicator of future economic growth. However, economists such as Calixto V. Chikiamco said the government’s “Trabaho” bill will discourage exports from expanding. This will further cause exports to slow next year. “[The] trade deficit will even widen next year. Capital imports will surge as BBB takes off. [There is] no reason why exports will increase next year. Agriculture growth remains stagnant while uncertainty on Trabaho bill may keep exporters from expanding,” Chikiamco said.

Government’s take

THE PSA data showed the country’s exports grew 3.1 percent, while imports grew 11 percent in August this year. Total export revenues reached $6.16 billion, while total import receipts amounted to $9.68 billion in August 2018. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) pointed out that the country’s total trade grew for the fifth consecutive month in August 2018 by 7.8 percent, reaching $15.8 billion. In a statement, Neda Officer in Charge and Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon said the total import bill is expected to accelerate further in the coming months driven by capital goods to support the Build, Build, Build program. Payments for oil will also be higher as international prices push upward the costs of importation. She added global growth is projected to remain steady at 3.7 percent in 2018 and 2019 based on the latest International Monetary Fund outlook as of October 2018. However, this is a downward revision from the July forecast of 3.9 percent for both 2018 and 2019 due to waning momentum in some advanced countries, among others. “As trade tensions mount between the US and China, some manufacturing firms may seek to relocate their production, especially to Southeast Asia. This opens up opportunities for the Philippines to become a viable destination for export-oriented firms,” she said. However, Edillon said the government must continue supporting key and emerging export sectors to maintain the country’s trade growth. She said key strategies to improve the overall climate for export development are identified in the Philippine Export Development Plan 2018-2022. These include removing unnecessary regulatory impediments, raising productivity and competitiveness of Philippine enterprises, upgrading export quality and standards, improving access to trade finance and enhancing export sectors’ innovative capacities. “The immediate implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act will also be vital in attracting competitive firms to enter the country’s exporting industry. The approval of the 11th Foreign Investment Negative List should further ease restriction on foreign investments and prop-up domestic economic activity,” Edillon said.

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Duterte certifies rice tariff bill as urgent, Senate OK seen

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

RESIDENT Duterte certified as urgent on Wednesday a measure that would convert the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice into tariffs, according to the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO). The PLLO said the certificate has been issued to the Senate and will also be sent to the House of Representatives. The Senate has yet to pass its own version of the rice tariffication bill while the House version was approved on third and final reading in August. With the urgent certification, a bill need not undergo the three-day rule between the second and third reading, with approval on both levels done within the same day. In a news briefing in Malacañang, the Department of Finance expressed confidence that the

Senate may pass the rice tariff bill within the week. The Senate will go on a break starting October 13. “The Senate is expected to approve the rice tariffication bill this week, and its quick enactment can further bring down food prices,” Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino told reporters. Lambino said the conversion of the rice QR will bring down the prices of the staple by P2 to P7 per kilogram. Economic managers have been banking on the approval of the measure to ease inflation, which

₧2 to ₧7

The amount by which rice prices are seen to go down, per kilo, once the country shifts from quantitative restrictions to a tariff system surged to a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September and brought the year-to-date inflation rate to 5 percent. Lambino also said the removal of nontariff barriers, such as doing away with the need to secure an import license from the National Food Authority (NFA), will help ease high rice prices. “This is reflected in the Senate version which is already in plenary; it is in the period of amendments. In the bicam, we must support the Senate version as the House version retains the import licensing power of the NFA,” he said. Under the House version, the bound tariff rate for rice imports outside the minimum access

volume (MAV) is set at 180 percent. According to the House version, the country will also impose a bound tariff rate of 35 percent for rice from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, regardless of volume while the country will impose a 40-percent bound tariff most-favored nation rate for in-quota rice imports from countries that do not belong to Asean. The country’s MAV for rice shall also revert to its 2012 level of 350,000 metric tons from the current 805,000 MT. The bill also mandates that the NFA will serve as the sole authority that will undertake the direct importation of rice to ensure food security and maintain sufficient national buffer stocks, which is equivalent to 15 days of national consumption requirement. The NFA is also authorized to allocate import permits among certified and licensed importers for the purchase of buffer stocks and to issue guidelines for the export of rice and corn by certified and licensed traders.

Thursday, October 11, 2018 A3

IRRI developing high-yielding, flood-tolerant rice varieties By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE Los Baños-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said it is developing rice varieties that are not only tolerant to extreme weather conditions but also produce higher yield. Dr. Shalabh Dixit, IRRI’s trait pipeline lead for marginal environments, said only a few farmers use flood-tolerant rice varieties as its advantages could only be realized during severe flooding situations. “Farmers always opt for the higheryielding varieties as compared to flood-tolerant varieties,” Dixit said in a statement. He said IRRI is developing rice varieties “that are not only flood tolerant but also has other desirable rice traits favorable for farmers while maintaining the same crop management practices and applying their known methods in growing traditional rice varieties.” Dixit explained that some of the common problems of rice farmers in floodprone areas are pests infestations, crop diseases and income stability. “If farmers do not feel secure, they will not put enough farm input and instead put these into their savings; this results into lower yield due to insufficient farm inputs. If you can give them the sense of security, then they will apply sufficient farm input,” he said. IRRI said new varieties that could

handle multiple stresses like drought, disease resistance, salinity and different types of floods while maintaining, or even producing, higher yield are expected in the future. IRRI developed its first flood-tolerant rice variety in 2008, the IR 64 Sub 1, which came into fruition with the help of a traditional flood-tolerant variety in India. “This traditional variety exemplifies good submergence tolerance and can survive under water better than normal high-yielding varieties. Genetic studies were conducted using this variety which led to the identification of the Sub 1 gene,” Dixit said. “The gene was then introgressed into different mega varieties including the IR 64, TDK 1 from Lao PDR, Swarna from India, among others and several sub 1 varieties of these mega varieties was created,” he added. The IR 64 Sub 1, also known as Submarino 1 (NSIC Rc194), could survive under complete submergence but does not do well under stagnant flooding, according to IRRI. “The stagnant flooding is a condition where water stays more than a month and the lines remain partially submerged. The complete submergence usually happens at seeding-vegetative stage due to typhoons or heavy rains. The anaerobic germination happens in a direct seeding method of planting seed and the field gets flooded, resulting to the poor germination of the rice seed,” IRRI said.

News

BusinessMirror

A4 Thursday, October 11, 2018

PHL banks fare well under new intl accounting metric

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Philippine banking system bucked the trend in the implementation of the new global standard of accounting, an international ratings agency said, as banks sought to gain from the International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9).

In its report on the new standard, Moody’s Investors Service said the implementation of the IFRS 9 had a positive impact on the Philippine banking system’s capital, contrasting the trend of a “modestly negative” impact on most Asia-Pacific banks. The IFRS 9 is an international accounting standard that sets the bar on accounting for financial instruments. In August this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) approved the adoption of the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards (PFRS) 9, the local iteration of the IFRS 9. The new policy sets out the

supervisory expectations in classifying and measuring financial instruments and in recognizing impairment to promote prudence and transparency in financial reporting. The assessed 16 banking systems in Asia Pacific, according to Moody’s, are at varying stages of implementation and have been given a neutral rating on banks’ credit profiles. “The transition to IFRS 9 so far has resulted in average declines of 10 basis points in banks’ Common Equity Tier 1 [CET1] ratios, a very manageable outcome and more modest than the impact on European banks,” Moody’s said.

“There have been a few outliers in Apac. Among them are banks in the Philippines and Taiwan, which saw their CET1 ratios rise, thanks to gains from revaluation and measurement of some assets,” it added. By specific banks, Moody’s cited two local banking giants as major outliers to the Asia-Pacific trend. “By contrast, at Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. [‘Baa2 stable’] and Bank of the Philippine Islands [‘Baa2’ stable] in the Philippines, gains from revaluation and measurement of some financial assets under IFRS 9 resulted in improvements in capital buffers,” Moody’s said.

Trade war. . .

There have been a few outliers in Apac. Among them are banks in the Philippines and Taiwan, which saw their CET1 ratios rise, thanks to gains from revaluation and measurement of some assets.” —Moody’s

Continued from A1

(Unctad) said the trade war between the United States and China could undermine the strong economic growth prospects of Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines. In its Trade and Development Report, the Unctad said Asean countries are poised to register high economic growth on the back of strong demand, rising private consumption and infrastructure investments, especially in the Philippines and Indonesia. After posting GDP growth rates of 5.7 and 5.5 percent in 2016 and 2017, the Unctad said developing countries in Asia are expected to sustain that rate in 2018, as well. The trade war between China and the US will likely cause China’s economic growth to slow to 6.7 percent this year, while India’s growth is expected to average 7 percent in 2018. Cai U. Ordinario

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Espenilla’s first grade as BSP governor: B+ By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. got a B+ as his first rating as the country’s Central Bank governor, an international finance publication recently bared. In its annual Central Banker Report Cards, Global Finance said the Philippine Central Banker Espenilla’s rating was based on recent actions made by the BSP to keep various economic indices stable. This is the first rating given to Espenilla since he assumed office in July 2017, as he was not given a grade in last year’s issue because he was still new to the office. The Central Banker Report Cards are published annually by the international publication Global Finance since 1994. It grades 85 central bank governors of key jurisdictions. Grades are based on an “A” to “F” scale for success in areas such as inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability and interest rate management. “Central bankers are confronting a perfect storm of challenges, from unwinding quantitative easing to shielding economies from political upheavals. Our scorecards for these public finance leaders show who is maintaining control and moving forward, and who is struggling against slippery political or economic changes,” Global

Finance Publisher and Editorial Director Joseph Giarraputo said. The publication noted in its full list that Espenilla pulled back-toback rate hikes this year, as its actions were designed to “safeguard macroeconomic stability in an environment of rising commodity prices and ongoing normalization of monetary policy in advanced economies.” Global Finance also cited the 6.8-percent growth in the first quarter of 2018, close to the government’s 7 to 8 percent target, as well as the rising employment numbers and wages. The only “but” to Espenilla’s commentary was the slump of the local currency to 12-year-lows this year, as government spending on infrastructure drew in imports, widening the current-account deficit. Espenilla’s B+ ranks with Bank of Japan’s Haruhiko Kuroda, Bank of Canada’s Stephen Poloz and the State Bank of Vietnam’s Le Ming Hung, among others. Ten Central Bankers were given Grade A in 2018, including those from Australia, Chile, the European Union, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Paraguay, Russia and South Korea. Three of the 10 2018 Grade A Central Bankers were given a B+ rating in 2017. Former BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. was awarded a Grade A for several years while he was in office: in 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

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

The World

TRUMP AND KIM CONSIDERING 4 LOCATIONS FOR NEXT SUMMIT

RESIDENT Donald J. Trump said he didn’t expect to meet Kim Jong Un until after United States elections in November, as the administration struggles to secure disarmament commitments from North Korea. The US president said his campaign schedule prevented meetings before the November 6 vote, in which Republican control of Congress hangs in the balance. Still, he said the administration had “made incredible progress” in negotiations over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program and was considering three to four locations for a second summit. “I just can’t leave now,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, while en route to a campaign rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Earlier, the president had said discussions about a second summit were progressing and that details “won’t be too far away.” Tr u m p a n d K i m s i g n e d a va g u e agreement in Singapore in June to “work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” but have so far struggled for a deal on the pace and sequence of steps to achieve that goal. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo came away from meetings on Sunday in North Korea without a date for another meeting or news on when key denuclearization milestones might take place.

‘Vague commitment’

“THE fact that they’ve had these meetings— both with Secretary of State Pompeo and with President Trump—and have held back from a clear sign that they’re moving forward, makes me kind of wonder,” Christopher Hill, a former US ambassador to South Korea and

North Korea negotiator under President George W. Bush, told Bloomberg Television. “I’m not seeing a lot of a time schedule, I’m just seeing, you know, sort of a vague commitment at this point.” Trump said that his second meeting with Kim would be in “probably a different location” than Singapore. North Korean officials have suggested Pyongyang as a site, although that would hand a major propaganda victory to Kim, without him having to make a concession. Prior to that meeting, other sites reportedly under consideration were Geneva and Stockholm. Trump said “eventually we’re going to have lots of meetings on US soil and on their soil by the way. That’s a two-way street.”

Developed rapport

TRUMP emphasized the rapport he says he’s developed with the North Korean leader as they negotiate over US demands that Kim abandon his country’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Pompeo told a reporter traveling with him on Monday “we made significant progress. We’ll continue to make significant progress, and we are further along in making that progress than any administration in an awfully long time.” He cited Kim’s invitation to have inspectors visit the already dismantled Punggye-ri test facility, the site of all six of the regime’s nuclear blasts. But when asked when inspectors might arrive, Pompeo offered few specifics. “As soon as we get it logistically worked out, Chairman Kim said he’s ready” to “allow them to come in,” and once the arrangements are made “we’ll put them on the ground,” Pompeo said. Bloomberg News

BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Taiwan president warns China against meddling in local polls

AIWANESE leader Tsai Ingwen cautioned China against any efforts to interfere in local elections next month, in a toughly worded speech that mirrored United States Vice President Mike Pence’s own rebuke to Beijing. Tsai made the remarks during a National Day address in Taipei, in which she described China as a threat to the international order. The Taiwanese president used the speech to issue a warning about election meddling after her administration accused China, along with Russia and North Korea, of testing cyber-hacking techniques on the democratically run island for use elsewhere. “We will relentlessly prosecute cases of creation and spread of untruthful information, technology leaks, sabotage of informationtechnology security systems, interference in elections and politics, if there is solid evidence,” Tsai said on Wednesday. “We will bolster cooperation with other countries

to counter systematic disinformation campaign originating from certain countries.” The speech comes as tensions between Beijing and both Taipei and its main security guarantors in Washington reach their highest in years. Tsai’s comments bore a similarity to a speech by Pence last week, in which he laid out allegations of Chinese election interference in the US and lauded Taiwan’s democracy as a model for Chinese people.

Diplomatic pressure

IN his remarks, Pence specifically criticized China’s efforts to isolate the island of 23 million people by luring away diplomatic partners and forcing US companies to stop

referring to it as a country. Beijing cut off formal communication with Taipei in 2016 after Taiwan elected Tsai, whose Democratic Progressive Party supports independence from China. “We will not escalate conflicts impulsively and we will not cave in and submit,” Tsai said. “Our democratic transition lightens our dark past and provides a ray of light in the dark night for all those seeking democracy. Those in Hong Kong, China and elsewhere in the world seeking democracy can look in Taiwan’s direction.” Tsai will face her first election test on November 24, when the DPP will defend hundreds of seats in local elections. The vote gives the island’s more China-friendly opposition, the Kuomintang, the first chance to claw back influence after being swept from power over the past few years.

Cyber attacks

TAIWAN is bracing for an onslaught of cyber attacks from mainland China ahead of the vote, Howard Jyan, director general of Taiwan’s cybersecurity department, recently told Bloomberg News. The government endured 360 successful cyber attacks last

year after tens of millions of attempts, Jyan said, possibly compromising sensitive and classified data. China has in turned lashed out at Taiwan’s intelligence agencies. On September 16, An Fengshan, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, demanded that the island government “cease infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland to avoid further harming increasingly complex and severe” relations. Taiwan has been a central point of tension between Washington and Beijing since the Republic of China government fled to Taipei and the Communists founded their People’s Republic 69 years ago. China has tolerated Taiwan’s autonomy—and US arms sales to the island—so long as both sides respect there is only “one China.” Tsai has refused to accept that framework. “Protecting the free, democratic lifestyle of the 23 million people, safeguarding the sustainable development of Republic of China, and maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait and regional stability is the common denominator shared by all Taiwanese people,” Tsai said in her speech. Bloomberg News

Thursday, October 11, 2018

The World BusinessMirror

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

Finance chiefs to policy-makers: End trade tensions and bring back growth

HE heads of the International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Bank and World Trade Organization made a joint call for the world to resist a rising tide of US-led protectionism and return to the path of liberalization that had lifted millions out of poverty.

Ahead of this week’s annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Bali, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde called for global policy-makers meeting on the Indonesian island to focus on de-escalating trade tensions this week. Hanging over the meetings is

both President Donald J. Trump’s tit-for-tat tariff war with China and his assault on the World Trade Organization—a global trade system that he argues has worked against American interests and workers for too long. Lagarde pointed to Trump’s recent renegotiation of the North

American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico as one reason for hope alongside EU efforts to close new trade deals. “Let us try to use that momentum to turn tension into rapprochement,” she said on Wednesday. But she also warned that the global trading system was under threat and that the risks of further disruption remained. The IMF this week lowered its forecast for global growth to 3.7 percent this year and next, warning that US tariffs and trade tensions between Washington and Beijing were starting to drag on the global economy. Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank president, said slowing global growth was already starting to have an effect on poverty reduction around the world. He warned that trade tensions were causing companies to put investment de-

cisions on hold, something that would further hinder growth. “Every country will feel the negative effects,” he said. Roberto Azevedo, the WTO’s director general, said the organization’s members had started to acknowledge the need for reform of the institution and global trading rules. There was also a near-universal acknowledgment that globalization had not benefited everyone in the world and that more needed to be done to help those left behind. But he warned that abandoning the WTO, as Trump has threatened to do, and killing the multilateral trading system that had evolved since World War II would mean walking away from decades of work that had broadly benefited the world.

Boulder, hill

“IT took a lot of people a lot of

time to push the boulder this far up the hill,” Azevedo said. “It is vital that everyone who believes in the system raises their voice.” Angel Gurria, the head of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, called for more to be done to find multilateral solutions to problems such as excess global steel capacity. While the OECD has been hosting a special steel forum to try to negotiate a solution to the standoff between China and developed economies over the surge in Chinese steel production in the past decade, those efforts were now largely on hold as a result of US tariffs, Gurria said. But a multilateral solution remained the best hope for solving that issue, he said, and finding a solution that “sticks.” Bloomberg News

UK central bank warns EU of risk to trillions in contracts

ONDON —The Bank of England has warned the European Union it is running short on time to mitigate disruption in trillions worth of complex finan-

cial contracts in the event Britain leaves the 28-nation bloc without a deal. The bank says in a report that the EU must act to protect against disruption to financial derivatives

and insurance contracts, as well as the transfer of personal data. The committee says the “need for authorities to complete mitigating actions is now pressing.”

It is the second warning of its kind. The bank warned in June that the EU needed to do more to prevent Brexit causing havoc in markets. The bank estimates that

unless continuity to existing rules is created, some £41 trillion ($53 trillion) in derivatives contracts face legal uncertainty after Brexit on March 29. AP

SOUTH KOREA CONSIDERS LIFTING SOME SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA

E O U L , S o u t h K o re a — S e o u l i s considering lifting some of its unilateral sanctions against Pyongyang to create more momentum for diplomacy aimed at improving relations and defusing the nuclear crisis, South Korea’s foreign minister said on Wednesday. During a parliamentar y audit of her ministry, Kang Kyung-wha said the government is reviewing whether to lift sanctions South Korea imposed on the North in 2010 following a deadly attack on a warship that killed 45 South Korean sailors. Seoul then effectively shut down all cross-border economic cooperation except for a joint factory park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, which was shuttered in February 2016 after a North Korean nuclear test and long-range rocket launch. Such a move by South Korea would have little immediate effect since US-led international sanctions remain in place. But it’s clear Seoul’s liberal government is preparing to restart joint economic projects if the larger nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea begin yielding results. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has described inter-Korean engagement as crucial to resolving the nuclear standoff. A large number of South Korean CEOs accompanied Moon last month to Pyongyang, where he and Kim Jong Un agreed to normalize operations at the Kaesong factory park and resume joint tours to the North when possible, voicing optimism the international sanctions could end and allow such projects. AP

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The Nation BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, October 11, 2018 A7

PNP files raps vs 8 suspects in ambush of 6 drug-enforcement agents in Lanao By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE Philippine Nationa l Police (PNP) has already identified and filed charges against eight of the 10 suspects involved in the ambush of six agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in

Lanao del Sur last week. PNP chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde said on Wednesday that the suspects were members of a drug trafficking group and relatives of a drug suspect who was killed by the PDEA in previous operations in the province. The PNP identified the suspects as Oscar Capal Gandawali;

Palawan Salem Macalabo; Lala Lolo Amboloto; Jamal Lolo Amboloto; Mizangcad Panonde Gandawali; Aiman Guro Gandawali; Jamel Borar and William Gandawali. The two other suspects remain unidentified. Albayalde said all of the suspects are now the subject of a manhunt operation following the filing of

multiple murder and double frustrated murder against them. The PNP said all of the suspects were linked to the late Comayug Macapagal, a native of Tagoloan, Lanao del Sur, who was killed by PDEA agents in an anti-illegal drugs operation on August 8 in Marawi City. The suspects, who are Macapagal’s relatives, have reportedly vowed

to retaliate as a result of the death of their relative, a high value target in Marawi City. “Oscar Capal Gandawali, his nephew, who has been living with him in MSU [Mindanao State University] Marawi City, where he was killed have organized his close relatives that at any opportune time they will have revenge,” said the police.

They also said that William Gandawali, the incumbent barangay chairman of Inudaran, Tagoloan, is the older brother of Comayog. The PNP said the suspects ambushed the six PDEA agents on Wednesday last week at Barangay Malna in Kapai, Lanao del Sur, after the agents attended an anti-illegal drugs program.

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As Boracay reopening nears, DENR issues call for ‘responsible tourism’

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

NVIRONMENT Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has reminded tourists, particularly those who plan to dive underwater or snorkel, to avoid committing acts that will harm or damage corals and other marine life.

“We call on those who visit underwater sites to dive carefully and avoid damaging the reef or disturbing underwater life by chasing, touching, poking or moving them,” the environment chief said. The call was made as the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), gears up for the much-awaited reopening of Boracay Island later this month. Cimatu expressed concern after photos of two vandalized corals in Batangas went viral on social media recently. A disgusted Cimatu said corals are incredibly brittle and fragile, and take a relatively long time to grow. The photos that went viral show inscription of name “Charlie” and the year “2018” on two separate corals at the house reef of Bauan Divers Sanctuary (BDS) in Batangas. Boracay, which has been ordered closed for six months to pave the way for much-needed rehabilitation from environmental damage,

will reopen on October 26 and it is expected to serve as a model for sustainable ecotourism. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States, some corals, such as massive corals, grow at just 0.3–2 cm per year. Starting from larvae, it can take up to 10,000 years to form a coral reef, and 100,000 to 30,000,000 years to fully form larger coral reef structures like barrier reefs and atolls, it added. Cimatu is hoping that no such similar incident occurred in nearby Verde Island Passage and the Apo Reefs, which are known sanctuaries of marine biological diversity. Dive operators guiding diving enthusiasts and tourists to the two marine sanctuaries in the area, he said, should “adopt sustainable ecotourism practices as early as now” so that it will “not suffer as much as Boracay has suffered.” The corridor of the Verde Island Passage and its embankments are

characterized by high species biomass and abundance. It’s the western part, which is exposed to the West Philippine Sea, there is also an area of highly diverse reefs where evolutionary distinct and globally endangered coral reefs can be found. On the other hand, the Apo Reef is considered “the second-largest connecting coral reef system in the world.” The site is also proclaimed as a protected area under the Natural Park category by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 868. To lessen the adverse impacts of diving and snorkeling on the env ironment, the DENR’s Biod iversit y Ma nagement Bu reau (BMB) has started mainstreaming the implementation of the “Green Fins Approach.” “The Green Fins Approach is a set of standards for environmentally sustainable diving and snorkeling tourism activities. It also includes a robust system of assessment criteria to identify the high-risk practices both above and below water,” said BMB Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez. In 2017 the BMB issued Technical Bulletin 2017-13 on the Guidelines on the Implementation of Environmental Standards for Diving and Snorkeling in line with the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program, a national program which aims to comprehensively manage, address and effectively reduce the divers and threats of degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems.

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Taiwan extends help to Typhoon Ompong victims in North Luzon

AMBASSADOR Michael Peiyung Hsu (right), Taiwan Economic Cooperation Office Representative in the Philippines, hands over a facsimile copy of a check from Taiwan to help victims of Typhoon Ompong to Manila Economic Cooperation Office Chairman Angelito Banayo during the Republic of China National Day Reception at a hotel in Pasay City on Tuesday.

AIWAN has donated P250,000 as humanitarian relief fund to assist with the recovery and rehabilitation work in the areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong in Northern Luzon. Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu, Taiwan Economic Cooperation Office (Teco) Representative in the Philippines, handed the donation on behalf of the Taiwan government and its people to Manila Economic Cooperation Office (Meco) Chairman Angelito Banayo during their Republic of China (Taiwan) National Day Reception at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City last Tuesday. Taiwan’s benevolence fully demonstrates the genuine friendship and solidarity between the peoples of Taiwan and the Philippines, Hsu said. On behalf of the Philippines, Banayo, for his part, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Taiwan’s donation, saying Typhoon Ompong-affected families in North Luzon urgently need various kinds of assistance to recover from the disaster. “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” Teco said. Taiwan, as the Philippines’s closest neighbor in

the north, once again proves to be a valuable and worthy friend to the Philippines in times of difficulties, it added. “Whenever there are natural calamities in the Philippines, Taiwan has always been one of the first countries to extend humanitarian relief efforts without the blink of an eye,” Teco said. Taiwan’s immediate and timely donation is not only an exemplification of the sharing of long-standing robust and cordial friendship between Taiwan and the Philippines, but also the ref lection of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, launched by President Tsai Ing-wen, which attaches great importance to the Philippines and its people. “The core value of the New Southbound Policy is underlined by building people-to-people connectivity through the striking of human touch and caring. Taiwan and its people will continue to enhance and strengthen the friendship with the Philippines and its people by sharing their love and care.” Recto Mercene

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PHL extends $300K help to Indonesia quake victims By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

HE Philippines will extend $300,000 assistance—in cash and in kind—to Indonesia, which was recently shook by a massive earthquake and a tsunami. This was announced by Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Tan Wee in a news briefing in Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Leaders from the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation, including President Duterte, are expected to attend the Asean Leaders’ Gathering and Gala Dinner today (Thursday). “And as of today, I learned that our C-130 plane has flown out of the Philippines to bring all assistance to Palu. We are also placed to give $300,000 for humanitarian assistance, and part of what we are donating are generators, water and medical kits as the need arises,” Wee told reporters. Aside from the government assistance, Wee said, there are also a number of private individuals in the Philippines that are giving donations to the Embassy of Indonesia in the Philippines.

Wee also recalled that the Philippines also helped Indonesia during the Aceh and Yogyakarta disasters. “[But] the recent earthquake and the tsunami in Palu is a very big disaster for Indonesia,” Wee said. He said there would likely be a brief meeting between Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Among the issues that will be tackled include trade, terrorism and the Celebes Sea issue, “which has always been a problem,” according to Wee. “On the trade issue, the last four months that I’ve been here, we have developed—we have asked a lot of stakeholders to revise the DavaoManado route. Probably within the year or early next year, there will be air routes that will come from Davao to Manado. And there’s a fast-food company in the Philippines that will also open in Jakarta,” he said. “Part of the Philippines and Indonesia initiatives would be the peace and order situation—their assistance to the terrorism. We have been talking with Indonesia in many forums to help us develop the peace and order in the Philippines, especially the southern part of the Philippines and also the border between the seas—the Celebes Sea,” he added.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, October 11, 2018 A9

After ‘BBB’ infra program, lawmaker pushes for ‘DDD’ oil exploration plan

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE chairman of the Senate Energy Committee urged the Duterte administration on Wednesday to push for more petroleum exploration activities by launching a “Drill, Drill, Drill” program.

“ The Philippines is blessed w it h r ic h n at u r a l resou rces throughout its exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf, including natural gas and oil. Unfortunately, we have been unable to tap the full potential of these energy resources. Because of this, we have no choice but to import cr ude oi l f rom oi l- e x por ting countries, even if the price has become unconscionably high,” Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian said. The Philippines, the lawmaker said, has been importing 94 per-

cent of its oil requirements, with the total import bill jumping to $9.89 billion in 2017, a 31.2-percent increase from the $7.54-billion import bill in 2016. Importing petroleum products makes the country vulnerable to higher petrol prices. Local pump prices rose on its 9th consecutive week on Tuesday. “As a result of this, Filipino commuters, vehicle owners and public-utility vehicle operators have had to suffer countless economic hardships because of volatile global oil-price movements.

This gives us all the more reason to pursue energy self-sufficiency,” Gatchalian added. The price of Brent crude has reached $84 a barrel, up from around $78 a barrel in July. Gatchalian stressed the need for the country to tap its own untapped oil and gas reserves throughout its islands and waters. Data from the Department of Energy (DOE) show that the country potentially has 3.5 billion barrels of oil deposits and 24.7 trillion cubic feet of gas deposits that are considered undiscovered. The DOE said only 4.6 percent, or 168 million barrels of oil and 3.8 trillion cubic feet of gas had been discovered since 2016. Despite these vast reserves of untapped resources, the DOE reported that the Philippines only has six producing service contracts, three of which are nearing depletion. In July the DOE said it is still eyeing the award of at least nine more petroleum service contracts via its modified Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program.

“It is high time for the government to launch a Drill, Drill, Drill program, which will use these untapped oil and gas resources to pursue Philippine energy independence and pave the way for the country to become an energy-exporting powerhouse,” Gatchalian said. However, the senator noted that perceived instability in some of the country’s energy and economic policies have discouraged foreign players from conducting petroleum exploration in the Philippines. Some of these controversial issues include the Commission on Audit’s ruling on the Malampaya project’s income tax, the Supreme Court ruling on the validity of service contracts signed by the energy secretary, and the looming passage of the Trabaho bill. “Investors, particularly major foreign oil and gas companies, are looking for more certainty and stability before buying into the Philippine energy sector. The government needs to address these problem areas in order for the Drill, Drill, Drill program to move forward,” he said.

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PHL gets $7.54-billion loan for infra buildup from ADB By Cai U. Ordinario

@cuo_bm

HE Asian Development Bank is extending $7.54 billion worth of loans to the Philippines starting next year until 2021, according to the ADB’s updated Country Operations Business Plan (COBP). In a document released this month, the projects will amount to a total cost of $9.21 billion, but only $7.54 billion will be financed using the ADB’s Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR). The remaining funds needed for the projects will be financed through cofinancing with other development agencies and partners. The ADB will be financing around eight to 11 projects annually starting 2019 in its firm pipeline for the next three years. The other projects that were included are placed on standby between 2019 and 2021. “[The COBP’s] three strategic pillars [are] accelerating infrastructure and long-term investments; promoting local economic development; and investing in people,” the ADB said.

“It supports the government’s priorities embedded in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 to raise the country’s potential growth trajectory and reduce poverty incidence and income inequalities,” it added. The ADB’s largest loan assistance worth $1 billion will be allocated for the Malolos-Clark Railway Project. The project has a total cost of $2 billion with the rest of the financing to be obtained from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). The project will support the construction of the 51-kilometer (km) section of a new railway line connecting Metro Manila and the regional center in Clark and the Clark International Airport, located in the Central Luzon region around 100 kilometers north of Manila. The ADB said the government is also constructing the 37-km Tutuban-Malolos section with financial support from Jica. It is also planned to further extend the project toward the north by 18 km to connect the New Clark City to Clark as Phase 2 in the future.

“The new railway line will provide affordable, reliable and safe public transport, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and cut the journey time by half to less than one hour. The project will be cofinanced by Jica,” the ADB said. Meanwhile, the ADB also included in its COBP the list of nonlending products and services to be extended to the Philippines worth $9.75 billion between 2019 and 2021. Data showed that in 2019, the ADB will extend $7.75 billion for Support for Capital Market Generated Infra Financing; Strengthening Infrastructure Capacity and Innovation for Inclusive Growth (additional financing); and Philippines’s Fourth Industrial Revolution. The ADB’s Support for Capital Market Generated Infra Financing and Strengthening Infrastructure Capacity and Innovation for Inclusive Growth will receive transaction technical assistance (TRTA), while the Philippines’s Fourth Industrial Revolution will receive knowledge and support technical assistance. The Manila-based multilateral

development bank will extend $1 billion worth TRTA for Support for Local Governance Reform Program in 2020 and Support to Facilitating Youth School-to-Work Transition. The COBP also aims to include greater support for Mindanao’s development, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, capacity building specifically for local governments, education and skills training, youth employment and disaster-risk management. The ADB has been helping the Philippine government promote growth, development and peace in Mindanao, starting with key infrastructure projects in rural areas in the late-1960s to early-1970s to increase farm productivity and income. The ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, the ADB is owned by 67 member. In 2017 its operations totaled $32.2 billion, including $11.9 billion in cofinancing.

Comelec to impose socmed spending cap in 2019 polls By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

MID the growing role of social media (socmed) in determining the outcome of polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it is now eyeing a stricter enforcement of spending limits for candidates who will use social media for their campaign in the 2019 elections. Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez said the spending cap is necessary as more candidates tap the digital platform to promote themselves during the elections. “In [the] 2010 [elections], we already recognized its potential [to be used for campaigns], but we didn’t anticipate it will be significant [in

the outcome of the elections] in 2016,” Jimenez told the BusinessMirror in an ambush interview. Unlike in the print and broadcast media, he admitted, they were less strict in enforcing the spending restrictions for campaign materials in social-media in the past due to the lack of the necessary legislation for it. “Our laws were not able to catch up...there is only so much we could do with administrative rules. There is still a need for a new law for it,” Jimenez said. The poll official said they are now talking with the representatives of social-media platforms to determine the how much candidates will spend for their online promotion. He said the spending should be

indicated in a candidate’s Statement of Contribution and Expenditure (SOCE). “While the cost of the propagation [of a campaign material] is zero since it will be through shares and likes [by the users], there maybe a cost for its production. That is what were are looking at,” Jimenez said. Under Republic Act 7166 of 1991, candidates are only allowed to spend the following amount per registered voter: P10 for those running for president; P40 for vice president; P3 for senators, district representatives, governor, vice governor, board members, mayor, vice mayor and councilors; P5 for political parties; and P5 for candidates without parties from P5 to P40.

Former Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” J. Uson noted the increasing impact of social media for election candidates. She said this was demonstrated with the election of President Duterte, which she called as the “social-media President.” Uson, who was then an entertainer and blogger, said she was among those who heavily campaigned for Duterte online since he received minimal coverage from traditional media. “Let us admit it, during the election campaign for 2016, the President got negative reports or media blackouts [from mainstream media], so social media had a big role in his victory,” Uson said.

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Report uncovers involvement of 7 police, PDEA officials in drug trade By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

R E SI DEN T D uter te re leased to the public on Wednesday a 15-page document that reveals the alleged involvement of seven high-ranking law-enforcement officials in the illegal-drug trade. The report previously classified as “secret” alleged that the subject officials belong to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Bureau of Customs created their own “pool of agents” to “create networks with different drug lords across the country.” The report, which was distributed to reporters, was mainly the result of a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last month, wherein Jimmy Guban, Customs intelligence agent, was cited for contempt, perjur y and actual involvement in the botched attempt to smuggle P6.8 billion worth of shabu. The report identified allegedly involved in the drug trade as retired Police Supt. Eduardo Paderon Acierto, Police Supt. Leonardo Ramos Suan (dismissed), Police Supt. Ismael Gonzales Fajardo Jr., Police Supt. Leonardo Bacia, Police Insp. Lito Pirote, Police Insp. Conrado Caragdag and Senior Police Officer 4 Alejandro Liwanag. The report accused Fajardo of being a “recycler” of drugs who allegedly has the habit of pilfering drugs seized after police operations, both for reselling and personal use. “At times, Fajardo and his group use those drugs to plant evidence or make a scenario for accomplishment,” the report alleged. Fajardo was also implicated in several incidents of drug recycling and other illegal activities involving drugs since his early days as anti-narcotic operative in the PNP, the report said. His alleged unexplained wealth and lavish lifestyle was also detailed in the report, since initial

background investigation results disclosed that Fajardo accumulated wealth disproportionate to his income as a government employee. The report also recommended that Fajardo must be investigated for violating several provisions of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Defense Act of 2002, and RA 6173, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. It also recommended that a thorough lifestyle check be conducted to determine the true source of Fajardo’s wealth. A c ie r to, w ho w a s a l re ady d i sm i ssed f rom t he ser v ice, earned his reputation of allegedly “amassing wealth by recycling the drugs that they have confiscated and even earning substantial amount of money through extortion from apprehended subjects, especially Chinese nationals.” The report also noted that Acierto’s group was also “known in fabricating stories and planting pieces of evidence, particularly drugs which were recycled from previous operations.” “Together with Fajardo, Acierto has maintained connections with various narcotics financiers and manufacturers inside and outside the country, including those Chinese nationals who are incarcerated in different penitentiaries,” the report read. Also, Guban’s “anomalous” activities and operations were also detailed in the report, such as collecting grease money from the owners of warehouses. “ The raids were his means of showing the owners that he has the power and inf luence in the Intelligence Group of Bureau of Customs so that they will continue to pay tara to his group,” the document added. Guban’s source of wealth was also described as “dubious.” It was also recommended that an investigation be conducted for his violations of R A 6173 and that a lifestyle check must also be done to check on his wealth.

It’s either a Senate or a House seat for Mocha

STHER MARGAUX “MOCHA” J. USON announced on Wednesday that she will run for the 2019 midterm elections as an independent candidate. The former communication assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) made the confirmation on the eve of the filing of Certificate of Candidacy on Wednesday. Uson, however, disclosed she has yet to decide which position she will be running for in the May 2019 polls. “I already told the President that I am going to run either for Congress or in the Senate. I am not sure yet,” Uson told reporters in a media forum. Last week, Uson said she decided to resign f rom her post at the PCOO to spare the office from the alleged harassment from some lawmakers during its budget deliberations. Uson said she already got the support of President Duterte, as well as Presidentialdaughter and Davao Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio when she told them about political plans. If elected, Uson said she will push for the policies addressing

USON

the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The blogger and sexy dancer-turnedgovernment official said OFWs are close to her heart, since she also worked as a entertainer abroad before. “We have so many laws when it comes for migration policies...but when they [OFWs] return, we have no law protecting their welfare,” Uson said. “This will be my focus to fast-track the process for OFWs to…start…their [own] business,” she added. Uson, however, denied she will replace Aniceto D. Bertiz III as representative of ACT-OFWs party-list. Bertiz is currently facing an ethics complaint due several controversies, including violating airport security and mistreatment of OFWs. Uson said she plans to win an electoral seat without spending a single peso by just tapping the 5.7 million followers on her social media. She said most of her followers are OFWs and supporters of the President. “This will prove my followers are not trolls,” Uson said. Bernadette D. Nicolas

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IT-BPM companies face ‘double jeopardy’ amid labor, tax reforms By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

NFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY and business-process management (IT-BPM) firms may find it difficult to adapt proposed labor reforms, as they brace for the impact of the rationalization of tax incentives. In a recent interview with reporters, Rey E. Untal of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (Ibpap) said labor reforms will be hard pills to swallow for IT-BPM firms at a time the government is keen on rationalizing incentives. Under the proposed Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill, corporate income tax (CIT) will be brought down, but tax perks granted to locators will be overhauled. “We need to be looking into many things that are developing. There is this conversation—in fact, I am invited in a hearing in Congress—on [legislating] 14thmonth pay,” Untal, president of Ibpap, said in a mix of English and Filipino. He claimed several IT-BPM firms do give 14th-month pay, but some do not. Untal argued it would be better for the government to maintain the status quo, wherein it is in the discretion of companies to give out the monetary benefit. “Some companies do, some companies don’t [give 14th month pay]. However, now we are talking about legislated adjustments that are structural. It is difficult because once you started legislating cost, it becomes difficult to manage. Once again, you take a step back and you take that

in the context of all other cost pressures,” he explained. Untal pointed out “the tax-reform bill alone is already a cost pressure” for IT-BPM firms. “Costs are piling one after the other. The costs get higher every day, but no additional relief was provided to us,” he lamented. The Trabaho bill is seen to injure the IT-BPM industry, as it will remove several incentives that are crucial for locators in operating here. One tax perk that will be removed under the measure is the 5-percent gross income earned, which firms in economic zones pay in lieu of local and national taxes. “My point is that, while people are worried that the impact of uncertainty will happen when the tax reform is crafted, in reality, the uncertainty is already upon us. While all of us are waiting for exactly what that eventual regime will be, we are all reeling from the uncertainty already,” Untal earlier said. This uncertainty brought about by the Trabaho bill make it doubly hard for IT-BPM firms to recalibrate its work force policies in line with labor reforms, Untal said. However, he vowed the industry will continue to respect the rights of its workers, particularly women, in the face of the extenstion of maternity leave benefit. A congressional bicameral conference last week approved the expansion of maternity leave with pay to 105 days from 60 days regardless of the type of childbirth.

Thursday, October 11, 2018 A11

Close to a million households dealt with hunger in ‘17, PSA data show By Cai U. Ordinario

@cuo_bm

EARLY a million Filipino households went hungry in 2017, according to the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (Apis) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The PSA data showed around 824,000 families, or 3.4 percent, experienced hunger in the past three months preceding the survey. More than half of those who went hungry belonged to the bottom 30 percent of the population. There were around 486,000 families from the bottom 30 percent who experienced hunger in the past three months preceding the survey, while there were 338,000 families came from the top 70 percent. “Of the families who experienced hunger, 22 percent experienced it at least once in each week during the reference period, 40 percent experienced it at least once in each

month, and 38 percent experienced it at least once in three months,” the PSA said. The Apis data also showed the income of the top 70 percent of the population is seven times the income of the bottom 30 percent. Data showed the total income of the top 70 percent reached P2.95 trillion, while the bottom 30 percent reached P437.98 billion in 2017. The total income of all families reached P3.39 trillion last year. Around 49 percent of total family income was derived from salaries and wages, while income from entrepreneurial activities accounted for 19 percent of the total family income. The PSA also said that about 30 percent of the total family income was derived from other sources. “Almost 87 percent of this income or P3 trillion was earned by the top 70 percent families,” the PSA said. Nearly half, or 47 percent, of the P438 billion earned by families in

the bottom 30 percent was contributed by wage and salary workers, while 25 percent of their income was contributed by entrepreneurial activities. Around 4 percent came from family sustenance activities (FSAs), which includes the production of goods for home consumption only. The data also showed that half of the total income of the top 70 percent families came from salaries and wages, while 18 percent was from entrepreneurial activities and 31 percent from other sources. The 2017 Apis is the 12th in a series of poverty indicators survey conducted nationwide since 1998. The survey gathers data that can be used to generate income and nonincome-based poverty indicators to assess and monitor the poverty situation in the country. The survey includes questions about access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, October 11, 2018 A15

Taiwan to help PHL hike rice production By Recto Mercene

@rectomercene

AIWAN is sending its agriculture experts to the Philippines to demonstrate the benefits of its rice variety, which could be propagated in the country, as well as Taiwanese know-how and technology to make rice farming more productive.

“We are sending a four-member delegation to Baguio, Tagaytay and Cebu to demonstrate our ricefarming technology,” said Taiwan Economic Cooperation (Teco) Representative Michael Peiyung Hsu. Speaking at the sidelines of the Republic of Taiwan (ROC) National Day celebration last Tuesday, Hsu said Taiwan “has so much advance technology, that’s why we have to demonstrate and see how Filipinos will be benefited by our know-how.” “Our per-hectare production

is twice or three times more than the Philippines’s and the price is very reasonable. We donated 7,000 kilograms to the victims of Typhoon Ompong in Cagayan province,” he added. According to Hsu, Taiwanese rice tastes “much better” compared to those produced by other countries. Taiwan also has surplus rice, as it produces more than what it requires. He added that the Philippines can now import rice from Taiwan after President Duterte ordered

government officials to buy more rice to ease inflation, which surged to 6.7 percent in September. Manila Economic Cooperation Office (Meco) Chairman Angelito Banayo agrees with Hsu, adding that Taiwan’s rice variety is similar to the expensive Japanese rice. “It is short grain, a bit sticky and fragrant,” Banayo said, noting that the Taiwanese rice is on a par with that sold by the National Food Authority (NFA). “But the NFA will not buy it for the poor.” “Inferior rice is prohibited to be sold in Taipei,” he added. Banayo, who is also a former NFA administrator, said that whenever the Philippines is confronted with a rice-supply problem, Teco officials told him that Manila can avail itself of Taiwan rice. But the “One-China” policy to which the Philippines hews makes it difficult for Manila to resort to government-to-government importation of rice from Taiwan. “Now that private entities can import rice, maybe we can now avail those that Taiwan has to offer,” Banayo said. “Since President Dutere said anyone can import [rice], maybe

EXPERIMENTAL field of nighttime lighting on rice in Taiwan. PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE WEBSITE OF THE TAIWAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

many restaurants could import from Taiwan because the Japanese variety, which is round and sticky and appropriate only for real sushi, is very expensive,” he added. While Taiwan rice is more expensive than those from Vietnam, Banayo said it is cheaper than Japanese rice.

‘Reciprocity’

HSU also urged the Philippine gov-

ernment to reciprocate Taiwan’s gesture of implementing a visafree policy for Filipinos. He said he was informed that Meco could not adopt the same policy because the money earned from visa is used to pay the salaries of Meco officials and employees, aside from other expenses and operations. However, Hsu said the Philippines could probably find ways to

provide visa exemption to Taiwanese nationals, like diplomats and other visa holders. “We could find ways for some sort of reciprocity. They have to do the assessment first, I think they’re doing it now,” he said. Hsu said a vise-free program would promote two-way tourism between the Philippines and Taiwan, and allow the “unimpeded” entry of Taiwanese businessmen and investors. “So far 167,000 tourists from Taiwan with electronic visa, visafree or landed visa, have visited the Philippines,” he said. Banayo said Meco finds it difficult to reciprocate Taipei’s visafree policy “because we are bound by the ‘One-China’ policy, and giving the Taiwanese free visa would violate [this].” He noted that Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand do not reciprocate Taiwan’s visa-free policy, but he said the Philippines charges the lowest fee among Asean membercountries. Banayo said the Philippines has offices in Taipei, Taichung a nd K aohsiu ng. Meco a lone, he said, has 55 officials and employees.

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‘Retail prices of farm goods starting to fall’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE retail prices of agricultural products, especially rice, have started to decline in some areas in the country as supply continues to recover, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a Facebook post, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said rice prices in Iloilo City have fallen to as low as P43 per kilogram from as high as P60 per kg recorded in recent months. “An inspection, which I made of the rice markets in La Paz, Iloilo City, showed that while old stocks and fancy rice were still being sold at over P50 per kilo, prices of newly milled rice harvested this season have started to drop,” Piñol said. He said the drop in the retail price of rice reflected the decline in the

IN this file photo, a vendor arranges vegetables at a market in Makati City.

farm-gate price of palay caused by the impending arrival of over 1 million metric tons of rice by the end of the year. “The drop in the prices of rice, however, has also resulted in the drop in the buying price of palay from over P20 per kilo weeks ago to only P16 now,” he said. Nonetheless, Piñol assured the affected farmers that the government, through the National Food Authority (NFA), would purchase their rice to help them earn. Piñol added that they expect retail prices of the staple to drop further next week, when the rice harvest season reaches its peak. “The NFA will start its local palay procurement program in Iloilo province on October 19,”

he said. “The NFA will buy clean and dry palay at P17 per kilo plus an incentive of P3.70 per kilo.”

Cheaper carrots

IN its latest price-monitoring report, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted that the retail price of rice has started to decline in other parts of the country. “A kilogram of premium rice declined by P1 in Davao City, and P2 in Kidapawan City and Butuan City,” the PSA said in its report on the prices of commodities for the first week of October. “The price for well-milled rice dropped by P0.50 per kg in Iloilo City and by P2 per kg in four regional centers,” the PSA added. The PSA said it also observed

that the retail price of dressed chicken has gone down, especially in Metro Manila. “In the National Capital Region, the price of dressed chicken was cheaper by P10 per kg,” it said. The PSA noted the decline in the prices of fish species and vegetables. “Price declines of P10 and P40 per kilogram of galunggong were posted in Zamboanga City and Davao City, respectively. A kilogram of tilapia dropped by P10 in Batangas city during the week.” “Prices of carrots dropped by P10 to P80 in five regional centers during the week. Price cuts from P10 to P60 per kilogram of habitchuelas were noted in five regional centers,” it added.

Govt vows to assist tomato producers in Laguna town

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it would help farmers in Kalayaan, Laguna, who incurred huge losses and were forced to dump their tomatoes, as there were no takers. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said he has spoken to barangay chairman Froilan Reyes about the matter and assured him that the DA would “find a way to compensate” tomato farmers in Kalayaan. Piñol said the DA would help the farmers sell their surplus tomatoes in the TienDA Malasakit Store in Taguig City, which will open on October 13. “The DA will provide the transportation to haul their tomatoes from Kalayaan to Taguig,” he said in a Facebook post. “Chairman Reyes said they will bring about 5 tons of tomatoes to be sold in the TienDA.” Piñol said the DA would also link tomato farmers with institutional buyers who can buy their produce directly. “They will also be trained to plant other vegetable varieties and provided with production loans under the Production Loan Easy Access program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council,” he added. Photos of abandoned tomatoes along the road in Kalayaan, Laguna, went viral in social media a few days ago. Reports

noted that around 10 metric tons of tomatoes were discarded by farmers, as traders could not accommodate them anymore due to oversupply. According to news reports, the estimated income loss of the tomato farmers is between P4 million to P5 million. According to a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority, tomato production recorded a 1.81-percent year-on-year increase in the second quarter. Production in Calabarzon, which includes Laguna, rose because more farmers planted tomato. “In Calabarzon, bigger fruits were harvested because of the usage of high-yielding variety. Also there was an increase in area planted due to temporary shifting from cabbage to tomato production to maintain soil fertility,” the report read. “Increases in area planted resulting from the provision of seeds from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office through the local government units and higher demand for ketchup processing were reported in Central Luzon. More farmers in Northern Mindanao were encouraged to plant tomato because of the high demand from the Visayas and Metro Manila markets,” it added. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Cacao processors increasing in Davao region–DA 11

AVAO CITY—The Department of Agriculture in Region 11 (DA 11) has reported a spike in the number of emerging local cacao processors engaged in traditional products from tablea to cacao nibs, tea, wine, beauty soap, charcoal and vinegar. DA 11 communications chief Noel Provido on Tuesday said among the emerging processors is Cacao de Davao led by Neal Santillan, an overseas Filipino worker who established a cacao farm and facilities together with 25 other OFWs. Provido said Santillan’s group produces fine chocolates in Barangay Tibungco, this

city, and is marketing its products at a local mall and also ships products to the Middle East. Provido said Santillan’s product of chocolate mixed with coco sugar was accredited as halal, even earning an award in Malaysia, and the tablea got a bronze award in the United Kingdom. Aside from Cacao de Davao, Provido pointed to other cacao product manufacturers, such as Oriental Cacao of Davao Oriental, Cacao & Beyond of Compostela Valley province and the Cacao Cultured PH, which produces beauty products. PNA

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Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Thursday, October 11, 2018 A17

DILG program targets corrupt local officials

HE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) claims its recently launched program aims to bring the Duterte administration’s war against corruption to the level of the local government units.

In a statement, DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año encourages involvement and participation of various stakeholders in the fight against corruption down to the grassroots level. During the launch of the “Bantay Korapsyon” (corruption watch) program in Quezon City on Monday, Año said there should be no corruption whether at the national or local level. “Government positions are not trophies, but are sacred symbols of trust and responsibility accorded to them by the people, laden with high expectations of accountability,” he said. Local officials who have sworn to serve the interests of the public but are instead enriching themselves in power should be held accountable and culpable for corruption, Año added. He explains the DILG’s flagship program “starts from the people being involved in the fight against corruption by airing their complaints” through several channels of communication.

Mother of three transforms sleepy Maguindanao town

ATU ABDULLAH SANGKI, Maguindanao—When Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu won the elections as mayor of this town of 28,000 people in 2013, its state was so bad that 7 out of 10 families were poor. Violence would occasionally erupt between the Muslim and Christian settlers; and also between some residents and that of nearby Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat province. Compounding the problem was the on-and-off clashes between government troops and Moro rebels. Bai Sandra Sema, the congressman of Maguindanao’s First District, recounted that years after it was put up as a separate municipality from the town of Ampatuan in mid-2004, people hardly noticed that this town existed. “People passed by and never noticed that there is a town that bordered Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. There was barely any indication of a town,” Sema said in her speech at the town’s 14th founding anniversary on Monday. Fast-forward 14 years later, Sema said no one would miss this town anymore as they traverse between Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat province. “This gym alone is an eye catcher,” she said of the steel structure that served as a multipurpose hall for the town, right at the back of the two-story town police station building.

Seven springs

THE gym was put to use for the first time on October 8 as this town celebrated its 4th Kagalawan (Revelry) festival. “Some would say Bai Mariam is a superwoman, I would say she is a mother who nurtured your town like her own child,” Sema added. Sangki-Abdullah, a mother of three, said in a separate speech that the first thing she did when she became mayor was to settle the differences between residents of the town and that of nearby areas through dialogues—with the help of Sultan Kudarat officials, headed by her father-in-law, Gov. Sultan Pax Mangudadatu, and her husband, Rep. Suharto Mangudadatu. The differences stemmed from land issues and most of them have been settled through negotiations, she said. While negotiations were being conducted, Sangki-Mangudadatu said she and the town’s officials also started massive concreting and rehabilitation of roads, especially those leading to inner villages—using local funds and assistance from lawmakers. “Now, the seven pool springs are very accessible,” she said of the recently discovered summer destination in Sitio Binasang in Barangay Talisawa. The paving of the road toward the Teduray community made the town’s wonder very accessible that it would now take one only 15 minutes by vehicle from the national highway to the area, unlike in the past when visiting the seven pools seemed to take forever. “We are developing this into a tourist destination,” she added.

Superwoman

TO further help the local economy, Sangki-Mangudadatu said town officials, with the help of the Sangguniang Bayan, required investors to hire 80 percent of their manpower from the locality. “Now, there are 500 locals employed in local businesses and that really helped,” she said. Others who have not found jobs in local firms, such as Delinanas, which maintains a banana plantation here, have been taught skills they could use to start livelihood with. “We have trained them on massage therapy, hair dressing and other skills,” she said. As of today, the 220-square-kilometer sixth class farming municipality of 10 villages is still far from what is considered a prosperous area but things have improved a lot. “Three out of the seven poor people of the past have graduated and are now able to support their families,” Sangki-Abdullah reported. The town also won the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Seal of Good Local Governance in 2017, a testament to its improvement, she added. “We still have a long way to go but with the help of our people themselves, we will make this town economically prosperous and a model for other Maguindanao areas,” she added. Sema said determination among officials would certainly help the town in its bid to become one of Maguindanao’s progressive areas. “Of course, that determination would be naught if the people themselves are not cooperative,” she added. “No superwoman can do it unless you help,” she said. PNA

“The community plays a vital role in this program,” Año said. “What we need is information from our citizens to pin down erring local officials.” If the complaints or allegations are firm in substance and form, appropriate charges will be filed but if not, the DILG will either gather information through fact-finding or call the attention of the local chief executives, the DILG chief added.

On the other hand, if the allegations have corroborative evidence or statements, as gathered through factfinding, a case buildup will be developed, which would, in turn, need the support of other government agencies, Año said. “We will bring the service to the people and to do this we must get rid of corruption,” he added. “[We won’t be selective] as demonstrated by the

President himself by firing officials, even the ones closest to him.” The program also introduces a threepronged strategy to combat corruption through education, determent and interventions. The education strategy includes improving awareness regarding corruption and prevention by reducing opportunities to do corrupt acts. Determent includes raising the probability of catching the corrupt and

rewarding good practices all achieved through partnerships and community mobilization. Año has warned local officials to refrain from shenanigans, as more mechanisms and avenues are now being instituted for the general public to enable them to call the attention of the national government against abuses committed in their backyard. Jonathan L. Mayuga

A18 Thursday, October 11, 2018

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NGCP expects 500-kV Pagbilao project to ease Quezon province’s transmission ills in 2 years

HE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) expects the P4.016-billion Pagbilao 500-kiloVolt (kV) substation project to be completed in March 2020.

The grid operator said the substation project would not only address transmission issues in Quezon province but also accommodate incoming power generation. The latter includes the 420-megawatt Pagbilao Coal-Fired Power Plant Expansion, 500-MW San Buenaventura Power Coal-Fired Power Plant and the 600-MW Energy World Corp. Combined-Cycle Power Plant, among others. “With over 1,500 MW of power coming into the grid once these plants are online, we need a new gateway of power in the Quezon province, which can fully accommodate all these,” an NGCP statement said. “The Pagbilao 500-kV Substation will help ease voltage and load issues of nearby substations like Tayabas and further enhance

transmission of power not, only in Quezon province but in the entire Luzon grid, as well.” Along with the construction of the new substation, the project will also involve the expansion of the existing Tayabas 500-kV substation. This expansion will address the problem of overloading of the Tayabas 500/230kV transformers and fault-level issues. NGCP just completed a series of public consultations with the local government of Pagbilao and the communities to be affected by the project. These talks were initiated by NGCP to present the project, gain support from the communities and to address any issues the public may have, especially in terms of right-of-way acquisition and the possible effect of the project to the

peoples’ livelihood. “Should there be no further delays, the project is set to commence construction by the last quarter of the year,” it said. The NGCP also appealed for the public’s support. “We hope that with the cooperation of the LGU [local government unit] other related government agencies and host communities, we will be able to fast-track the project’s implementation and enable a stronger power-transmission backbone in Southern Luzon,” the company said. The NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. Lenie Lectura

Bacolod in Top 100 cities for global outsourcing

ACOLOD CITY—From 97th place last year, Bacolod City leapt to 89th in the 2018 Tholons Services Globalization Index (TSGI) of the world’s top 100 cities for global outsourcing services. An official of the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT) considered the ranking a big feat for a mid-size city like Bacolod. “This is a result of our strong government-academe and industry collaboration, constant engagement with schools and talent-development stakeholders, and grit and determination to continuously challenge and redesign our own strategies to adapt to the requirements of global digital services,” BNEFIT Executive Director Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said on Tuesday. Tholons International, the leader in global outsourcing locations rankings,

released the research report and ranking of the Top 50 Digital Nations and Top 100 Super Cities for 2018 on Monday. “This feat is also because of the support of the community and key public and private organizations and institutions, especially our growing start-up and digital workers community,” Batapa-Sigue added. The report showed that Bacolod was among the six localities in the Philippines, that entered and inched up on the list of top 100 outsourcing destinations in the world. Last year, Bacolod dropped to 97th from 85th place in 2016. In 2015 Tholons ranked the city at No. 86, seven notches higher than its 2014 ranking of 93rd, particularly for outsourcing and offshoring. Bacolod first made the rankings in 2010 at 100th spot and jumped to No. 94 in 2013. Batapa-Sigue pointed out that last

year, out of nine cities already on the list for 2016, Bacolod barely survived because of the new criteria such as digital and innovation. In 2017 TSGI’s ranking was published with traditional factors, such as talent, skill and quality, business catalyst, cost, infrastructure, and risk and quality of life at 80-percent weightage, with 20-percent weightage for digital transformation. This year’s ranking puts traditional factors with 75-percent weightage and digital with 25-percent weightage. Batapa-Sigue said Bacolod previously measured low for digital innovation, barely enough to be still in the Top 100 Super Cities. However, this year, it measured more than double in this criterion, from a score of 4 to 8.5. Bacolod’s rank this year was fueled by digital innovation, she added. PNA

Divers begin six-month cleanup in Antique

LOILO CITY—A group of divers has partnered with various stakeholders in Iloilo and Antique as it embarked on a six-month underwater cleanup in Antique’s Nogas Island, a favorite diving spot in Anini-y town. “We looked forward to have cleaner reef for Nogas Island and control the overpopulation of the crown of thorns that preys on corals,” Karlo Agao, a dive instructor of the Basecamp Divers Iloilo, said on Monday. The group together with representatives from the Provincial

Environment and Natural Resources of Antique, Community Environment and Natural Resources Belison and the association of banca operators in Nogas gathered on September 30 for a whole day underwater and coastal cleanup drive. The initiative targeted abandoned fishing lines, plastic sachets, straws, shampoo and bottled water and crown of thorns, which belongs to the starfish family. Agao said the problem on the crown of thorns is not endemic to Nogas Island but is a worldwide concern. “Everybody is doing the same to

control the overpopulation of that species,” he said. The cleanup kicked off on September 21 and 22 in partnership with the Jollibee Nogas Island Care for the Environment and the provincial government of Antique. During the cleanup, the divers were able to collect some eight mesh bags of solid waste and crown of thorns. “Nogas Island is a tourist destination. It could not be avoided that some visitors throw their garbage into the sea,” he said, adding that the clean-up activity will be done twice a month. PNA

A20 Thursday, October 11, 2018 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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Unwrapping Duterte’s Christmas gift to nation

RESIDENT Duterte pledged in his last State of the Nation Address to bring in a new telco player to stir up competition and ensure that the country’s telecommunications services are reliable and inexpensive. Given the President’s imprimatur, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) have been acting expeditiously on the matter. However, a legal impediment recently emerged that may delay the President’s intent to name a new telco player before Christmas. Third telco aspirant Now Telecom, an affiliate of publicly listed company Now Corp., filed a case on Monday against the NTC for alleged legal violations in the new major player terms of reference, which took effect last week. Among other issues, the company alleged that the provisions in the TOR were not taken up during a series of public consultations, particularly the P700-million participation security, the P14-billion to P24-billion performance security and a P10-million nonrefundable appeal fee. It said these are barriers to entry and are “money-making schemes” imposed against the third telco. The DICT, however, defended NTC and asked whether the case was filed just to delay the entry of a third telco. “The terms and conditions set in the terms of reference or memorandum circular for a new major player are in the interest of the Filipino people who desire better telecom services in the country. The DICT takes exception to Now Telecom’s allegations that this initiative is a money-making scheme,” DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. said. Rio said the third telco must not only be technically capable but should also have the financial muscle to compete with current telecom giants Globe and Smart. “The entry of a third telco is no small matter and to set the bar low for those who apparently cannot meet the standards is detrimental to the people who are the target beneficiaries,” Rio said, adding that Now Telecom did not question the requirements during the NTC public hearing. The DICT official explained the inclusion of the fees in the guidelines for the selection of the third telco player: “The participation security aims to ensure participation of serious contenders, who have the required financial capability to be a third player that can compete with the existing duopoly. The participant is given certain options on what form they wish to put up the security such as cash, bank drafts or letters of credit.” He said the “performance security seeks to assure the government that the third telco will deliver its commitments for the five-year commitment period. Requirements for cash deposits have been removed and the participant has been given options as to the forms provided in the TOR. And the appeal or protest fee is a usual item in the procurement processes, which will discourage frivolous motions and protests.” Rio said the securities and fees required are consistent with the bidding and procurement processes and are even lower than those set by Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act. “The TOR was the result of public consultations and hearings, review by the Oversight Committee and lengthy and comprehensive studies with international consultants. The public and stakeholders also had the opportunity to submit their position papers on the matter,” he said. “The participation fee of P1 million paid by Now Telecom might have cost a significant impact on its mother company, Now Corp.’s operating income, which only stood at P6.3 million in 2017,” Rio said, adding that Now Telecom filed the case before the Manila Regional Trial Court on October 8, the same day the company bought the bidding documents. Duterte has said the selection process for a third telco should not be delayed. He promised to make the announcement in December. It seems nobody but the Manila Regional Trial Court can stop the President from delivering his promised Christmas gift to 100 million Filipinos in the form of a third telco player.

Stock Market 011: Emotions John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

UMANS are the most emotional of all the beasts. A baby’s laughter can bring a tear to the eye of the strongest man. Of course, so can the sound of a perfectly tuned and running Chevrolet V8 6.6-liter engine.

Stock-market investors are warned that emotions can get in the way of profit making. We are told that markets are driven by two emotions; greed and fear. Markets supposedly reach a top on maximum greed and a bottom on maximum fear. Or maybe it is the other way around. One expert says, “Investors get caught up in greed and prices keep going higher and higher.” Another says, “The premise behind this bull market has been climbing a perpetual wall of worry.” “The one thing to remember is that emotion and investing don’t mix.” But then again, you are supposed to “sell until you can sleep.”

Emotions are a critical part of most of our decisions. Choosing between two shoes, both of which fit perfectly and are of equal price and value comes down to the emotion of which we think will make us look better. Breaking down in wails of anguish because the store is out of our size might be a little extreme. Then again, watching a “moron” dump heavy selling volume on your stock makes having a bulletproof screen in front of your computer monitor a necessity. The most basic of emotion in decision-making is the fight-or-flight response, which we have been using

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February when markets turned turbulent on concerns of trade wars with China.” “Quantitative Investment Management lost 35 percent this year through May.” “Renaissance Institutional Equities Fund eked out a 1.8-percent gain this year through mid-June even as the S&P 500 Index gained 4.9 percent.” “The $8.1billion quant hedge fund, Systematica Investments, has lost money this year.” What we sometimes incorrectly call “emotions” are actually instinct—sensibly defined as knowledge combined with experience. The algorithms could not effectively measure investor response— maybe emotional response—to the trade war for example. If you feel it is time to “fight,” then fight. Or run if that seems best. You will make mistakes. But over time you will learn more and get better. Also, step out and examine your emotions. If you are “euphoric” about the market, it is probably a top. Ready to jump off a tall building? Don’t! You will probably miss a stock-market bottom.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stockmarket information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

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since the time of saber tooth tigers and dragons. Our intellect weighs all the scenarios but it is our emotional response that makes us fight for the victory or run away like the wind. The danger though is that sometimes our emotions incorrectly overrule out intellect and we fight when we should run and run when we should fight. No one likes seeing an issue go up just after we sold. In order to remove emotion from stock investing, computer algorithms have been developed, commonly called “quants.” These are complex mathematical models to detect investment opportunities. From the book: “One of a quant investment strategy’s best-selling points is that the model, and ultimately the computer, makes the actual buy/sell decision, not a human. This tends to remove any emotional response that a person may experience when buying or selling.” Well there you go. No more need to figure out if you should fight-or-flee, worrying about the wall, or losing sleep. No emotions are involved and apparently that is the best possible investing world. Except for one thing. “Quant funds”—like most everything else in life—worked well until they didn’t. “They were caught flat-footed in

DATABASE

Part Six

A matter of comparison

OMPARE the Marcos progressive 20 years in office, including the nine years of martial law, to that of the 31 years of the post-Marcos deregulated, privatized, corrupt and plunderous regimes, beginning with President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, and her favorite son, Benigno III, that ended in 2016 and the three presidents between them, and records will show that all of them largely wasted time and resources, creating and managing crisis, instead of shaping the future.

As a result, the country today remains an economic laggard, stuck in the cycle of deficit-spending and borrowing, high prices of goods, lack of strategic direction, beset by terrorists, serious problems on drugs, corruption, plunder, murder and other heinous crimes. President Marcos’s accumulated official budgets in 20 years was only P486.42 billion, while the five presidents who succeeded him spent close to P35 trillion in 31 years, and yet Marcos had more tangible and intangible accomplishments to show to the people than any one or all of them combined. In his time, Marcos gave much attention to the full and active participation of the citizenry in public and community affairs and the attainment of the highest integrity in public service. The 1973 Constitution, framed by the country’s best thinkers, adhered to these same basic guidelines. In the 1973 Constitution, citizens were obliged to vote; and for the first

time, the 18 to 20 year olds and those who cannot read or write were allowed to vote. The New Society has demonstrated its determination and courage to rid the government of the corrupt and the grafters—so does the 1973 Constitution provided for stiff sanctions against those who abuse their public office. Just as the New Society has made it plain and clear that there will be no buck-passing among those who hold public office, so too does the 1973 Constitution seek to ensure political and official accountability. In the old order, which the New Society seeks to dismantle, the structure of the government was essentially conducive to horse-trading and compromises. The New Constitution joins this movement by adopting the parliamentary system of government to ensure that the Prime Minister and Cabinet become responsible to the country and its people through the National Assembly. The regular “question hour” subjects these officials to an examination of their

actuations. The Prime Minister, as a counter-check, has the right to dissolve the Assembly and demand the holding of a new election of members. No longer is there the permanence of fixed terms. A special anti-graft court, called Sandiganbayan, and a special complaints and prosecution office, called Tanodbayan, have been created for the citizens. Both the New Society and the 1973 Constitution are concerned with the attainment of higher standards of living for our teeming masses. The New Charter empowers the National Assembly to create the National Economic and Development Authority to coordinate economic planning and development designed to maximize our human and natural resources and increase our competitiveness in the world trading market. The New Society seeks to equalize the powers of the citizens and break the oligarchic society. The 1973 Constitution, likewise, seeks the larger distribution of wealth and income among the people. For example, the New Society promulgated the historic land-reform decree and issued various decrees on taxation calculated to bring about uniform and just taxation. The 1973 Constitution considers these same problems by limiting landownership, regulating its use, and prohibiting combinations in restraint of trade and unfair competition. There is free public elementary education; and, in areas where finances are available, secondary education shall be given free. The New Society has made strong moves to decentralize the Manila-based powers of government by giving more autonomy to barrio governments. It has created an executive department for local governments as a sign of its intent in this area. The 1973 Constitution, likewise, mandates the National Assembly to enact a Local Government Code to implement the principles of local autonomy and self-reliance. The New Society has repeatedly stressed the need for the integration of the Filipino nation, despite its plurality and conservative regional interests.

The New Constitution promulgates the unity of the Filipino people as among its primary objectives. It asks all the diverse elements of our society to come under one fold and build one nation, indivisible. The New Society has encouraged stronger ties between the Philippines and all countries regardless of ideology. In mounting quantities, foreign investments are coming to the country, a barometer of the confidence placed on the Philippines by the international community. The 1973 Constitution likewise encouraged this development. When President Marcos certified to the ratification of the New Constitution by the Citizens’ Assemblies on January 17, 1973, the Philippines kissed goodbye an era of frustrations. What propelled us to a new chapter of our history? The inexorable forces of history itself? Or the men and ideas that saw conflict in this decade? Possibly, a combination of both forces. In certifying the ratification by the people of the New Constitution, President Marcos reiterated: n That civil government remains supreme, with the military playing a secondary role in the affairs of state;   n That the American type of democracy which has been practiced by our people since the 1900s “did not die” with the ratification of the New Constitution, but continues except that it is now devoid of its licentiousness and irresponsibility;  n That what has evolved from the Marcos leadership is not dictatorship of any kind or variety, but a constitutional authoritarianism dictated by the needs of the times and the peculiarities of the ideological forces at work trying to destroy our society; and   n That the Marcos Doctrine sought its strength, inspiration and vote of confidence  from the people through the Citizens’ Assemblies and the barangays. To be continued To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@ gmail.com.

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Peco woes: Bad karma for bad service?

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One absolutely absolute Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

ALÁLAONG BAGÁ

Val A. Villanueva

BUSINESSWISE

OR nearly a century now, Ilonggos have not known or dealt with any power distribution company except for the Panay Electric Co. (Peco).

Peco, after all, has been their electricity provider since the time of their great grandparents. If my two Ilonggo friends, Raffy Señeres and Mandy Marasigan, are to be believed—and I can vouch that both are upright and sensible individuals—their relationship with the company is just like a marriage in hell. “How many times,” they asked me, “have you thought of disconnecting your telephone or electric service because of billing problems or bad service from your provider? Many times, for sure, as we consumers always demand the best for our money.” Raffy and Mandy point out that for the longest time Peco subscribers like them could only helplessly gnash their teeth or vociferously rant on Facebook because they had no other service provider to turn to. Recently, Congress did something good for consumers for a change, and acted on the tons of complaints from Iloilo City residents against Peco, which has monopolized electricity distribution in the city for 95 years. The House Committee on Legislative Franchises chaired by Rep. Franz Josef Alvarez is recommending that Congress should rescind Peco’s legislative franchise, and instead give the franchise to another company that promises bigger capitalization for new and modern systems and technologies that would improve service to Iloilo residents. My friends believe that perhaps bad karma has caught on Peco for almost a century of bad service. The House Committee on Legislative Franchises wants to give Peco’s legislative franchise to More Minerals Corp., owned by business magnate Ricky Razon, because of what Ilonggos believe is Peco’s appalling record of inefficiency and outright abuse for being the sole distributor of electricity in Iloilo City. Iloilo residents have filed one complaint after another before city authorities and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the company’s inefficiency and penchant for overbilling. These long-suffering customers are hoping that justice will be truly served now that Peco’s franchise has come up for renewal. Peco is managed by what many Ilonggos call an oligarch family, the Cacho Family of Iloilo. In almost 10 decades of operation, and amid modernization and globalization, Peco has failed to adapt to the times. Management has not done anything to improve its service offerings and evolve into a world-class supplier. Despite the deluge of warnings from City Hall and the ERC for it to shape up, Peco has been committing one mistake after another, continually alienating its customer base. Raffy, in bewilderment, told me: “Peco just implemented a 1,000-percent increase in our monthly bill. Their reason was the overhead cost of its new metering system, which suddenly converted the uncollected electricity consumption into a mega-monthly electricity bill.” Mandy narrated that it took the ERC to pacify the rioting Peco customers, resolving 80 percent of the complaints, but not without a shockwave within Iloilo’s political

and business circles. The sudden monthly bill increase early this year was preceded by a ton of customer complaints filed with the ERC over the past years. The utility firm was officially sanctioned for overbilling its customers, leading to the ERC ordering Peco in 2014 to return P631 million in overpayments to its customers. To date, however, Peco has yet to fully comply with the directive, according to testimonies given to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises. The Singapore-based consulting firm WSP concluded that the utility firm has yet to completely implement measures to make it a world-class utility eight years after the business community made its recommendations. WSP was contracted by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILED) to study the systems of Peco so it could start moving toward world-class service in line with the city government and the business community’s economic development plans for the future. ILED Executive Director Francisco Gentoral also noted that the WSP recommendations are “just the minimum steps that a distribution utility should take to serve its stakeholders,” and not even those that would match the services offered in other regions in Asia. Because of its lackadaisical approach to modernizing its service, Peco lags way behind other utility firms in Manila, Cebu and Davao. When compared with other utilities in Asia, it falls way, way behind global standards, the WSP pointed out. Palawan Rep. and Legislative Franchises Chairman Franz Alvarez said that Peco’s consistently bad record was one of the compelling reasons that the committee members are considering not to extend the company’s franchise. But as far as Peco Vice President for Operations Randy Pastolero is concerned, the realities on the ground are on his company’s side. He said that a newcomer seeking a franchise to distribute power would need considerable time, perhaps more than a year, to set up its own facilities. Peco’s franchise rival, More Electric and Power Corp., still has no distribution network, power rates and supply contracts, among others. Although More Power may have the technical and financial capability, conceded Pastolero, it does not have the facilities. Pastolero reiterated that Peco won’t sell its assets to More Power. In a recent press conference, More Power President Roel Castro assured Ilonggos that his company would be efficient in distributing electricity even if it is a new industry player. “Running an electric utility is not so much a specialized job or skill as we may think. What I am trying to emphasize is there are a lot of talents out there. It is not as if it’s too specialized that you really have to go out and look for them.” But for my friends and residents of Iloilo who were too shocked to see their P1,000 monthly bill shooting up to P100,000 a month, this is poetic justice. Bad karma for bad service. For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com.

Laiya cries for justice Florante S. Solmerin

FACT IS MIGHT!

HIS man dubs himself a “winner.” However, he has done something wrong that brought serious problems currrently plaguing Barangay Laiya in San Juan, Batangas.

In 2013 a Google survey identified Barangay Laiya as the fastestgrowing tourism destination in the country. These days, however, a social powder keg is ready to explode underneath its creamy white-sand beaches and pristine waters. It is

imperative to nip the problem in the bud by removing its root cause, otherwise more people will be hurt and stakeholders will be driven away. Timely intervention is much needed to stop the anarchy. A madman has driven a wedge between

HAT is of absolute importance to us—eternal life or material wealth? In the rampant lotto fever, must we really choose? Can’t they coexist side by side? Must one be absolutely absolute?

The innate quest

THE man appeared in the scene like a jogger, running up to Jesus who was on the way to Jerusalem. Representative of human beings in search of the way to salvation in a world beset with its own self-destructive inclinations, he knelt before Jesus whom he obviously took for a prophet of God. His one question to the “Good Teacher”: What must he do to inherit eternal life? The unsettling response of Jesus immediately touched the fundamental issue in such a quest or hunger. If you come down to it, God alone is good, THE good. Should anything else be considered “good”? Even as we sing “You alone are holy” in the Gloria of the Mass, for God alone is really good and holy, the commandments of God are ir-

replaceable guidelines in our world where evil and danger lurk. They are the Decalogue or “ten words” of wisdom from God to safeguard any traveler in this life, and the man could sincerely say he had lived by them. But he felt something was still lacking; the man’s inquiry indicated some dissatisfaction and a quest for something more. Here was one of the just children of Israel, shaped by the traditional observances, but hungry for more.

The invitation

JESUS looked at the man with love. Here is someone with the makings of a disciple, not happy with the ordinary and aspiring for more (magis). And Jesus invited him to the heights of spirituality and intimacy with

Jobs or environment?

Thursday, October 11, 2018 A21

him: “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor...then come, follow me.” To follow Jesus means to be His disciple, preferring Him over everything, accompanying Him without looking back, detached oneself from anything else whatsoever. Getting rid of what is previously valued as vitally important and giving them to the poor means the discovery of someone truly more important, of something absolutely more indispensable. This is the “more” of life the man was looking for, and what Jesus said was still lacking in him. The invitation, however, proved too much for the man. His face fell and he went away sad, because he had many possessions. He came jogging in full of dreams and he limped away downcast, probably resigned to his passion for material wealth. The soil was indeed rich and fertile, but the seed had little chance with the weeds and the brambles firmly in place. Addressing His disciples, Jesus made the pointed observation, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” To be tied down by earthly things and possessed by material wealth is to deny oneself access to the kingdom. It is tantamount to having another heaven, where another god, mammon, reigns and is served. To be free for God is a prerequisite to receiving

God’s ultimate gift to us, eternal life with Him in His kingdom.

fossil-fuel dependence. However, there is no just transition program in place. No subsidy program for those being asked to make a shift to a greener transport system. As such, the PUV modernization program has become an example of an unjust transition program arbitrarily imposed by government officials on the poor drivers and operators—in the name of environmental protection. At the macro or national level, CEED is asking the government to be more decisive and forthright on its plans on the renewables and how the nation can get out of its dependence on carbon-emitting fossil fuels. Some specific demands of CEED: n No new fossil-fuel projects to be approved; n Phasing out of existing projects based on a clear target year (e.g., 2040 or so); n Formulation of a comprehensive plan for the retirement of the fossil-fuel industries (this, in accordance with the national commitment to the global target of maintaining the average global temperature below 1.5 degrees from preindustrial levels); n Adoption of policies against other harmful energy projects, such as nuclear and waste-to-energy incinerations, and n Full implementation of renewable energy policy mechanisms to expedite the development expansion of clean and affordable renewable energy. Are the DOE and DENR listening to CEED? Do they understand, in the first place, the meaning of just transition?

in the Philippine Revolutionary Web Central online site. These incidents that happened in Laiya are based on facts. All of them can be verified. The people of San Juan, Batangas, hope that authorities will make the man account for his wrongdoings and that he be given the appropriate sanctions for his actions. Furthermore, he should be given the burden of removing the leftists and NPA mass base community from Laiya or from the town itself, since he was the one who encouraged the illegal settlers. But how can he do his job well when he and his wife spend most of their time playing in casinos along Macapagal Avenue and in Tagaytay?

Still another good example, the lack of progress in the realization of the 2010 Organic Farming law. Estimates by some UP Los Baños agricultural experts indicate that the total agricultural land devoted to organic farming is a measly 2 percent or so. There are, of course, no government officials openly opposing the shift to organic farming. The problem is that there is no decisive national effort to make the shift happen. Modern organic farming requires more science and, incidentally, more labor inputs. It is, therefore, job-creating. However, chemical agriculture, which requires larger and larger doses of chemical inputs produced by the big corporations, is easier to promote, policy-wise. The national administrative and infra machinery in support of agriculture leans heavily on the propagation of

chemical agriculture. So how does one reconcile job creation and environmental protection? The Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED) has just come up with a good answer— “Just Transition in the Philippines.” It is a term used by the UN development agencies such as the International Labour Organization and the UN Environmental Program to mean the realization of a green or greener economy while sustaining the jobs and welfare requirements of society. According to CEED, the term “ just transition” was coined by trade unionists after the end of World War II, when governments around the world had to face the challenge of creating millions of jobs for those displaced by the war. Today, the trade unions use the term to mean “the transition

toward a low‐carbon and climate‐ resilient economy that maximizes the benefits of climate action while minimizing hardships for workers and their communities” to be affected during the transition. For CEED, this necessitates the formulation of a truly “just transition” development framework, where the affected workers and groups that are at the forefront of the transition are able to maintain or acquire jobs while gaining a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the employmentenvironmental nexus at the community and national levels. Just transition means there should be full identification of the affected workers and communities in “transitioning sectors” and creation or development of alternative jobs and livelihoods with living wages for the displaced workers and communities; and government guarantee of universal and equitable access of all to basic energy and electrification requirements. As to host communities hosting fossil-fuel projects such as coal plant, just transition means a full-scale program of economic diversification. Thus, based on the foregoing, CEED is asking: Where is the just transition for the jeepney drivers and operators affected by the ongoing public-utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program of the country? How can these drivers and operators afford the stiff price tag of P1.6 million for each e-vehicle meant to supplant each jeepney? As it is, most of the drivers and operators understand the importance of the environment and the need for the nation to get liberated from

the stakeholders of the neighboring barangays of Laiya and Hugom (the heart of the tourism zone) comprised of decent citizens, landowners and resort operators on one side and illegal settlers on the other. He blocked all efforts exerted by the Association of Laiya Resort Owners, agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways, National Economic and Development Authority, town councilors and officers to restore normalcy in the tourism zone. For as long as he is in control of the place, there will be no peace in the area. Had he performed his mandate from the beginning, current problems would not have surfaced. In 2012 he was asked to persuade illegal settlers to move peacefully to a nearby relocation village to avoid the

need to implement a court-ordered demolition. Instead of helping, he irresponsibly sided with the illegal settlers and tried his best to put landowners in a bad light. He incited the informal settlers to rise against legitimate landowners. Then, he allowed the leftists and their armed men to enter Laiya to poison the minds of the illegal settlers. He made no effort to stop their indoctrination and mass organizing activities. Thus, people see him as beholden to the left in his desire to have a piece of Laiya— the best part of this tourism haven. Today, the problem he nurtured has gotten out of hand and everyone in the area is adversely affected. He didn’t realize that the support he showed to the leftists and their armed group can set precedents. His

effort to justify that he was forced to support the rise of armed communist terrorists in the area is a farce. On July 23 the communist terrorists killed two unarmed uniformed security guards in broad daylight. A week after, in an encounter with Army elements, an armed NPA member was killed, with others wounded. The Army recovered firearms, improvised explosive devices (pressure detonated, which is prohibited by the UN) and a Macbook containing two terabytes of subversive data, which could validate suspicions of collaboration by local officials with the communist terrorist group. Earlier in March, a barangay captain who happened to be a caretaker of a landowner was killed, and the communists proudly claimed this

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS Continued from A1

NOTHER is the Philippine implementation of the 2008 Renewable Energy law, which mandates the government to embrace the renewables (hydro, geothermal, wind, solar) and phase out the nation’s energy dependence on coal and carbon-emitting fossil fuel. The opposite is happening. More and more coal plants are being built based on the seductively simple argument that coal, which is being abandoned worldwide, is a lot cheaper. The country’s highest official even cuts the ceremonial ribbon in the inauguration of the new coal plants.

Alálaong bagá, salvation in everlasting life comes from God alone. Nothing we do can earn it; no earthly wealth can buy it. That is why it is an impossibility for us human beings, but not for God, for whom all things are possible. It is His guaranteed gift to us. We can only gratefully and humbly like little children welcome it. It is wise not to be deceived by appearances and to discern what is really good. It is final that to renounce earthly things for the sake of Jesus and of the Gospel would never be in vain. In this present age it means already having a return of hundredfold: you become a part of the community of disciples, and therefore have many more brothers and sisters, mothers and children, houses or lands, and (Saint Mark added with some humor) persecutions, as well! To follow Jesus is indeed to have many more beloved to serve and also sufferings to bear in faith, in joy and in love. But in the age to come, the only currency is everlasting life with God, the One absolutely absolute. Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.

E-mail: fetad@yahoo.com

A22

BM@13: Forward-Looking BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018

www.businessmirror.com.ph

THE PLASTIC PANDEMIC T

By Cai U. Ordinario

HE plastics are coming. And they’re coming for you. Initially, they came for the fish and the corals. Today they are slowly taking over coastlines, one plastic straw at a time. Tomorrow they can be in the fish you’re eating, and the worst part is you won’t even know they’re there.

In the latest Ocean Trash Index by Ocean Conservancy, around 4.22 million items were collected during the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) in the Philippines, 268,983 of which were straws and stirrers. Based on a study by Ocean Conservancy and the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, the Philippines is one of the five countries globally that account for half of the world’s plastic waste. Around half a million metric tons of plastic waste in the country leaks into the ocean every year. In an interview with the BusinessMirror, SMARTSeas PH Project Management Office Project Manager Vincent V. Hilomen said the Philippines can already overtake China given its size and the amount of plastic pollution it creates. He said that based on 2016 data, the Philippines ranked third—behind China and Indonesia—in plastic pollution. “If you look at the size of China as well as that of Indonesia, you divide the amount of plastics by the area of the country, or even by the population, we could easily rank number one,” Hilomen said.

Paradise lost

HE added that if Filipinos think that the problem is something remote and not yet alarming, they need to think twice. Cities are littered with plastic, especially esteros. Plastic waste is also polluting renowned places in the country. There is no escaping this problem. Hilomen said in a recent visit to Tubbataha Reef in Palawan, a natural park and World Heritage Site, he and his team observed a lot of plastic waste coming from all over the country. Plastic bags from various malls nationwide can be found there. It has come to a point where local residents were harvesting the plastics from the sea. “Tons and tons of plastics are produced because it’s so cheap to produce plastic but plastics hardly decompose. So if you throw one in Manila, they go to the drain, the drain goes to the river, the river goes to the sea, and you’ll end up having plastic in the ocean,” Hilomen said. “You’d be surprised [that] when we went to Tubbataha, we saw plastic there from all parts of the Philippines. We knew that the plastic came from [a certain place] because they had labels. So garbage from Manila, Iloilo, usually end up elsewhere,” he added.

Problems

REACHING this point when the world’s waters are being threatened by plastic did not happen overnight and was not the result

of the actions of any one person or company. It was a product of decades of everyone’s plastic use. It stems from many things. Hilomen said poor education and the lack of policies that can force sectors to improve the situation have contributed to the problem. He said there are times families are not that conscious of their consumption of products and the ways by which they dispose of them. This is especially crucial when teaching children since they learn through the examples of adults. Hilomen added that in some cases, culture comes into play since there are Filipinos who would tend to dismiss the problem and say “harina lang ’yan” when referring to plastic waste. Further, Hilomen said in many coastal areas in the country, the most common plastic found on the beach are shampoo sachets. This speaks about the Filipino’s tingi (retail) culture that makes it difficult to prevent people from consuming these tiny sachets. Other problems include poor waste management nationwide. Hilomen said that when it comes to segregation, there are households that carefully segregate their trash into nabubulok, ’di nabubulok (things that biodegrade, those hat don’t biodegrade) and recyclables. While this is good practice, their efforts are all for naught when garbage collectors come. When they arrive, garbage collectors just dump the household waste together into one heap. Hilomen also lamented the reactive rather than proactive stance of the government when it comes to creating campaigns against the use of plastics and pollution. He said it could be really easy to come up with campaigns raising greater awareness among Filipinos. It does not also help that local government units (LGUs) are cashstrapped. Hilomen said that while there is a law on waste segregation, it is difficult to implement because of the lack of financial resources that would allow LGUs to put up their respective solid-waste management plants. If these issues are not resolved, Hilomen said it will fulfill the “prophecy“ that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. This is because when fish swallow plastic or are strangled by nylon strings, they can die.

Beware the nanoplastics

HILOMEN said that more than these plastic materials that can easily be seen floating on the water, there are microplastics or nanoplastics that have the ability to enter any living cell. “The scariest part is that plastics do not degrade. They disintegrate with the sun and elements in the environment, including weather. So that if there’s wave action, they will break, they will shatter but they will not be degraded. They can become nanoplastics, microplastics. If they reach nano size, these plastics can just go through any living cell and they can stay there,” Hilomen said. Hilomen said these nanoplastics can reach humans through biomagnification. This means organisms with nanoplastics can be

CHILDREN wade on the garbage-littered shore of Manila Bay, July 12, 2017.

eaten by bigger organisms, causing these bigger creatures to ingest whatever nanoplastics are in the system of the organism they just ate. The process continues until a person takes a bite off a fish or crustacean with nanoplastics in its system. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Philippines Communications Associate Rosana Ombao said this is not only dangerous for people and fish but also for corals. Since corals are the home, breeding ground and source of food for fish, Ombao said this can affect entire ecosystems. “While nanoplastics have not reached people, you can deduce it because they followed nanoplastics in [a certain] area and the trend is scary because it’s increasing. [If you remember your chemistry] the flow of a gradient is from a region of higher concentration to a region of low [concentration], that’s the natural flow. So if you have a lot of plastic, its flow is toward the organism. Should we wait for that to happen before we act?” Hilomen said. For an island nation like the Philippines, nanoplastics are a great threat because of the high consumption of seafood in the country. Based on the adjusted weights for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) 2012 base year, fish has the third largest weight among basic food items. The largest is rice at 9.59 percent followed by meat at 6.25 percent and fish at 5.74 percent. Unfortunately, many Filipinos living in coastal areas are from lowincome households. This makes them susceptible to any problems that may affect fish and fish supply. “Most Filipinos have seafood in their diet, especially the coastal areas. They are dependent on the sea for their daily food consumption. If the effect of [nanoplastics] will be severe, the poor will suffer the most,” Ombao said.

Circular economy

IN order to help address these problems, the United Nations mounted a #Shape2030 campaign to further the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The global campaign has several work streams, one of which is the circular economy. The UNDP said through the campaign, the UN is “asking organizations to switch to a circular model that will help to reduce waste, recover resources at the end of a product’s life, and channel them back into production, thus significantly reducing pressure on the environment.” Hilomen said the circular economy is very important to the Philippines and the world right

NONIE REYES

now. In fact, he said, the country should have thought about it as far back as 20 years ago because the current structure of the Philippine economy remains linear. “[In a] linear [economy], they just use products to produce a new product and whatever the waste are, they throw them away. Part of that packaging right now are plastics,” Hilomen said. However, a global campaign by an international organization will not be sufficient. Hilomen and Ombao said it has to include all stakeholders, including households, governments and businesses, to put an end to the plastic pandemic. Hilomen said there should be a change in behavior which needs to start with the family or at the household level; improvement in governance; and participation from the private sector. “This is not the problem of just one person of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, it’s the problem of the entire country, not only UNDP. UNDP cannot do it alone, the media cannot do it alone, we cannot do it alone. We need to help one another,” Hilomen said. Hilomen said if good practices such as waste segregation are taught at an early age, before 7 or 8 years of age, these will have a better chance of being adopted by a child. These should go hand in hand with schools teaching students about the perils of using plastic. He said the government can also create its own campaigns to enjoin households. Together with the media, he said the government can play a 20-second commercial or public-service announcement on fighting plastic pollution during prime-time hours when most families watch television together. Ombao said the UNDP is encouraging the private sector to participate more in projects that support or help promote the SDGs, including efforts to shift to a circular economy. “We, in UNDP, are actually pushing for the private sector to finance the SDGs, specifically on the environment, because there are opportunities. They do not even have to change their operations but just the packaging of their products; and include in their mission/vision sustainability efforts within their companies,” Ombao said. One of the ways by which companies can change is by rethinking the distribution of their products. Hilomen said in coastal areas where shampoo sachets are common plastic waste, the shampoo manufacturers can instead distribute dispensers to be used by sari-sari stores in purchasing their products in tingi fashion. Hilomen said Filipinos are no

strangers to this kind of practice. In many wet markets, cooking oil, salt, kerosene for oil lamps and other similar items can be bought by transferring the product to a reusable container. Ombao said this is no different from buying taho from a local vendor while growing up. Back then, she said, there were no plastic cups. If one wanted to buy taho, he or she should have his or her own mug or reusable cup. Hilomen said Filipinos can also start rewarding good practices by companies by only doing business with those that are SDGcompliant. He said it can be easy to boycott companies that still use plastic packaging in their business. He added that households, the government and companies also need to change their mind-set when it comes to investing in sustainable practices. Whatever funds they spend to become sustainable can be recouped in the long term, especially when it comes to responding to disasters. “Yes, you can produce plastic cheaper right now but at the end of the day, you know that if people change their minds, if they change their attitude, you will be left behind. [These are solutions] for the long haul,” Ombao said. The government also needs to improve its data in monitoring the country’s natural resources. Hilomen said there is infrequent data collection when it comes to the composition of garbage that can be collated from annual coastal cleanups. These cleanups are done once a year, making it impossible to perform a trend analysis.

Data limitations

THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has admitted that there is a need to improve environment data generation in the country. Apart from the limited collection and production of data, challenges faced by the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) in generated environment data include limited collection on the inventory of greenhouse-gas emissions from the different sectors; missing, erroneous and conflicting land records in the country; and expensive equipment that can be used to collect data for land cover and land use. Hilomen added that there is a need to generate researches on plastic materials and what alternatives can be used to create biodegradable materials. Information and finances are also needed to not only conduct these researches but also act on the findings of these studies. “There is a need to drive for data, we recognize that, too. That’s why we’re trying to see how we can help the country in this regard,” Ombao said.

Promise

DESPITE the country’s challenges, there is hope. There are many innovations by the private sector. Private companies have introduced alternatives to plastic spoons and forks and even paper plates. There are innovative containers, Hilomen said, that are produced using gelatin, such that after drinking, people can eat the container. In the Philippines, the government is laying down the foundation that will force companies to think sustainably. This is being done through efforts such as the one being done by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC has created Sustainability Reporting Guidelines for Publicly Listed Companies. Sustainability reporting is also known as Environmental, Social and Governance reporting, nonfinancial reporting, or triple bottom-line accounting, in accordance with the SDGs. “The SEC is now requiring businesses, if they want to secure their business permits, [to] have environment-friendly practices and report them,” Ombao said. She added that the UNDP also encourages businesses to share their efforts and activities that boost the achievement of the SDGs by 2030. The UNDP also has the Transformational Business Report, which includes the environmental efforts of big companies. In its Philippine Statistical Development Program, the PSA committed to improving data collection for environment statistics, including the development of an Ecological Footprint Report; accounts and valuation of Forest Ecosystem Services in major river basins; and Ecosystem Health Card, among others. Further, a number of LGUs are now stepping up in terms of their ordinances. A number of cities in Metro Manila, including Makati City and Quezon City, have imposed stringent rules against the use of plastic in their cities. As a result, many establishments have complied with the ordinance. Makati City’s Plastic Monitoring Task Force (PMTF) conducts regular inspections of retail establishments. The PMTF inspected 2,269 retail establishments and food outlets in the first six months of the year. Of these, 114 or 5 percent were found to be noncompliant with the code, particularly its provisions mandating the use of environment-friendly materials. These efforts are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more that are being done to help the country—and the world—be rid of the plastic pandemic. Sustainable solutions are coming. And they are coming to end plastics for good.

News BusinessMirror

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Senate okays on 3rd reading bill mandating universal health care

By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

HE Senate, cramming to pass urgent measures before going on a four-week recess this weekend, approved on third and final reading on Wednesday the universal health care bill that, once enacted into law, assures “equal access to quality and affordable health services for all Filipinos.”

Voting 14-0, the Senate inched closer to final approval of an enabling law embodied in Senate Bill (SB) 1896 principally sponsored by Sen. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography. SB 1896 mandates immediate reforms in the “mandate, responsibilities and jurisdiction” of the different government agencies implementing the universal health care program, including the Department of Health (DOH), Ph i l ippi ne Hea lt h Insu ra nce

Corp.(PhilHealth) and local government units. In pushing early approval of the measure, Ejercito cited records from the Philippine Statistics Authority that “Filipinos spend around P6,345 for their health needs in 2016, or 8.7 percent higher from P5,840 in 2015.” This means, he said, that the majority of Filipinos consulted a doctor only when their illnesses were already at their worst because of the lack of government support in health care. “This bill will

ensure that financial issues will no longer be a burden to our countrymen when it comes to health care,” Ejercito added. As provided in the remedial legislation, the senator assured that “all Filipino citizens will automatically be enrolled” into the National Health Insurance Program whether as direct contributor (those who have the capacity to pay premiums), or indirect contributor (those sponsored by the government like the indigents and senior citizens, among others). Ejercito added that its early enactment into law will also expand the PhilHealth coverage to include free consultation fees, laboratory tests and other diagnostic services. The bill, the senator added, also provides that all Filipino citizens can avail of primary health-care services even without the PhilHealth Identification Cards, noting that those not enrolled in the PhilHealth, once the bill becomes a law, can still avail themselves health-care services, since the premium subsidy will be gradu-

ally adjusted and included in the General Appropriations Act. He recalled that, in 2013, the mandatory coverage of indigent patients and other sponsored members of the Department of Social Welfare and Development has increased PhilHealth coverage to up to 92 percent of the population, or roughly 93.5 million Filipinos. According to Ejercito, the bill also mandates the improvement of doctor-to-patient ratio, upgrading of hospital-bed capacities and equipment, as well as establishment of hospitals in remote areas. The DOH has pegged doctorto-patient ratio at 1:33,000 while bed-to-population ratio was pegged at 1:1,121. In Metro Manila, bedto-population ratio is 1:591 while bed to population ratio in Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao is 1:4,200. Ejercito added that, under the bill, all graduates of health-related courses from state universities and colleges or government-funded scholarship programs will be required to serve for at least three years in the public sector.

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DOF. . .

Continued from A1

Different groups have already called on the government to suspend fuel excise taxes amid rising inflation. Inflation has already soared to a new nine-year-high at 6.7 percent, bringing the year-to-date at 5 percent. However, Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino pointed out that there is a need to look more closely into the potential effect on suspension of fuel excise taxes, as he noted that the additional excise taxes comprise 25 percent of the increase in fuel prices. “The 75 percent will be there whether there is TRAIN or not,” Lambino said. The DOF had earlier on pointed to the steady rise in global oil prices, saying that—and not so much the TRAIN law-mandated excise taxes —are to blame for inflation. “So I think we also need to manage the expectations in that sense that if Congress decides to create a new suspension mechanism. The oil prices will not really go down because the import price rose from around high $40 per barrel to now above $80 per barrel, and the import price is something, unfortunately, we do not control because we are not an oil producer, and we are the price-taker when it comes to the world market,” he added. Nonetheless, he said they are still

looking at all the advice they have received as he took note of what the President said. Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III is studying the issue very closely. “We’ll seek a clarification from Secretary Dominguez as to what the conversation between him and the President is, regarding this matter,” he said. He also pointed out that suspend ing t he f uel e xc ise t a xes prior to the requirement under the law—the TR AIN law says it may be suspended if world prices hit $80 a barrel for at least three months—must still require some sort of legislative action. “Perhaps, such has been recommended, or maybe other legislative action, because the excise tax rates are already in the law. So if we suspend based on the mechanism that is in the TRAIN law, then that can be automatic. But if we do something else, it would require different actions,” he said. Section 5 of Revenue Regulation 2-2018, which provides implementing guidelines for petroleum products under the TR AIN law, states that: “For the period covering 2018 to 2020, the scheduled increase in the excise tax on fuel as imposed shall be suspended when the average Dubai crude based on Mean of Platts Singapore for three months prior to the scheduled increase of the month reaches or exceeds eighty dollars [$80] per barrel.”

A24 Thursday, October 11, 2018

BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph

THE RISE OF ARCOVIA CITY

A 64-feet arch monument, Arco de Emperador, will have a museum at its ground level and is envisioned to become the township's art centerpiece

SPACIOUS units at 18 Avenue De Triomphe offer invigorating views of the township's iconic landmarks – perfect for young residents aiming for greatness.

THE 37-storey Avenue De Triomphe residential tower

REAT achievers “see” their dreams long before they turn into reality.

Artists visualize their ideas before bringing their masterpieces to fruition. Engineers and architects take careful notes from their blueprints about how to best bring their visions to life. Even the greatest athletes swear by this proven habit, picturing themselves celebrating a championship and willing themselves to work day in, day out. Indeed, this habit—one that spells the difference for millennial Filipinos today—is born out of one’s aspirations to succeed. This same virtue has guided property giant Megaworld to create thriving townships that inspire today’s generation of achievers to chase after success and celebrate it as a community. Now, the company is highlighting this thrust even more as it introduces its newest township development in Metro Manila: Arcovia City.

A balance between success and sustainability

SET against the bustling landscape of C-5 in Pasig City, the 12.4-hect-

are Arcovia City is poised to rise as a haven for passionate individuals and young professionals alike. Designed with Megaworld’s pioneering live-work-play concept in mind, Arcovia City will offer residential condominiums perfect for growing families, a retail hub, and state-ofthe-art office towers. “Our vision for this new township is to inspire the young generation to persevere and work harder to attain their own successes and victories in life. There is a deeper story embedded into this development, and we will tell that story through the installations and attractions around the township,” explains Kevin L. Tan, senior vice president, Megaworld. The company is now simultaneously constructing its first office tower—the 17-storey One Paseo that offers 23,000 square meters of leasable office spaces— as well as a lifestyle mall that has its own walk parks, viewing deck, and leisure facilities. The township’s centerpiece,

meanwhile, is the Arco de Emperador, a 62-feet high arch monument inspired by the Arco de la Victoria of Madrid. Designed by Spanish sculptor Gines Serran Pagan, the monument has bronze statues of three horses, two lions, two trumpeting angels and the Emperor on a chariot, which dramatically symbolizes power, strength, passion, and self-made success. The ground level of the monument will house a museum, which will become another major attraction of the township. “Arcovia City is all about selfmade success and is designed to inspire people to embrace their ‘turn to be great.’ We envisioned Arcovia City to rise as a township that offers opportunities to cultivate passions with features that encourage communities to celebrate their milestones,” adds Tan. The entire township will be dotted by over 1,000 trees—iconic symbols of strength, pride, and power—highlighting Megaworld’s commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its integrated developments. This greening feature will help provide an outdoor thermal comfort for the future residents, workers, tenants, and visitors of the township.

A home for today’s young achievers

ARCOVIA City’s first residential development is the 37-storey 18 Avenue de Triomphe, which will have 576 residential units ranging from studio (up to 32.5 square meters); one-bedroom (up to 63 square meters); twobedroom (up to 110.5 square meters); and three-bedroom (up to 154 square meters). All units will have their own balconies overlooking Eastwood, Ortigas, and Fort Bonifacio cityscapes as well as the Antipolo mountains. Packed with amenities, the 18 Avenue de Triomphe features

its own swimming pool, children’s playground, outdoor fitness park, game and entertainment room, fitness center, event hall, outdoor lounge, and a viewing deck, overlooking the various attractions of

the township including the iconic Arco de Emperador. The 18 Avenue de Triomphe will be completed in 2023. Know more about how Megaworld is nurturing the passions of

today’s Filipinos by creating communities that complement their lifestyles and aspirations. Visit https://www.megaworldcorp.com/ townships/arcovia-city to know more about Arcovia City.

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018 B1

PCC tasks UK audit firm to monitor Grab

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has tapped a London-based audit firm to monitor and evaluate Grab Philippines for one year in complying with the government’s commitment decision on the ride-hailing app. In a statement on Wednesday, the PCC said it appointed British auditor Smith & Williamson (S&W) as the independent third-party monitor trustee tasked to track Grab. The auditor will monitor Grab’s compliance on conditions that are part of its voluntary commitments in acquiring Uber. “The PCC considered candidates

for appointment as monitor, including two nominees submitted by Grab. The selection process considered knowledge in competition law, expertise, years in practice and familiarity with the relevant market, among others,” the statement read. “After a thorough evaluation, S&W was determined as the most suited

to conduct monitoring compliance with the parties’ voluntary commitments in the Grab case. Their track record on competition cases includes the most recent task of monitoring Grab-Uber on the interim measures directions in Singapore,” it added. S&W is one of the United Kingdom’s top 10 firms with global reach, including the Philippines. It has over 100 years of experience as an auditor and 13 years of reporting to various competition authorities across jurisdictions. As the monitoring group mandated to audit Grab, S&W must ensure the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) company complies with the PCC’s commitment decision. This includes service quality commitment, wherein Grab shall bring back market averages for acceptance and cancellation rates before the transaction and response time to

rider complaints. The desired result must be reduced cancellation rates and shorter waiting time for customers. Grab should also revise its trip receipt as a commitment to fare transparency. The new receipt must display the fare breakdown per trip, including distance, fare surges, discounts, promo reductions and perminute waiting charge, if reinstated by the government. To ensure fare predictability based on predetermined factors, such as distance and travel time, Grab was also instructed to deviate from charging extraordinary fees from the minimum allowed fares. Grab will be penalized equivalent to 5 percent of its commissions, or up to P2 million, in trips identified with extraordinary deviations. Grab was also directed to remove its feature that allows drivers with low ride-acceptance rates to see the destination of their riders. This is to avoid

discrimination among passengers based on their destination—a common complaint against taxi drivers. The commitment decision also covered nonexclusivity of drivers and operators; monitoring of incentives; and Grab’s improvement plan. PCC Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan pinned his hopes on S&W to keep an eye on Grab’s activities, as it now stands as the strongest, if not the lone wolf, TNVS in the country. “It is one thing to pledge and another thing to carry out the voluntary commitments that bind Grab Philippines to address the competition concerns,” he said. “Smith & Williamson, as the independent monitoring group, will serve as our eyes and ears on the ground. Their reports or recommendations will be evaluated, but the PCC will still ultimately determine any possible transgressions,” Balisacan added.

The PCC vowed to scrutinize any breach of the conditions that will subject Grab to fines up to P2 million per breach, or unwinding of the transaction. Violations or arrangements aimed at circumventing the application of the commitments by parties will likewise lead to appropriate penalties, it warned. Meanwhile, Grab said in a statement that is satisfied with the decision of the PCC to tap S&W as the independent third-party monitor trustee. The firm added it has previously worked with the London-based auditor in Singapore, and found its judgments “truly fair and independent.” “We are looking forward to collaborating with them as we intend to fully conform with and fulfill the voluntary commitments we have submitted to the PCC for the entire duration of the agreed compliance period,” the statement read. With Lorenz S. Marasigan

Maynilad wins arbitration case vs PHL govt in Singapore court By VG Cabuag

@villygc

AYNILAD Water Services Inc., the concessionaire for the west zone of Metro Manila, on Wednesday said it won the arbitration case it lodged against the Philippine government in Singapore. In its disclosure, the company said

the decision of the Singapore High Court became final after the Philippine government decided to no longer appeal the dismissal of its appeal on September 4. The government could appeal the decision after 30 days, or up to October 4. “This latest victory vindicates Maynilad’s position that there are no valid and meritorious grounds to challenge or

set aside the Arbitral Award,” Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said. “Maynilad will now work toward an efficient collection of its claim in a manner that recognizes the interest of its various stakeholders, including its shareholders and customers, taxpayers and the government,” he said. Aside from dismissing the

government’s appeal, the Singapore court also ordered the Philippine government to pay Maynilad S$40,000 by way of costs. In July last year, the Singapore court sided with Maynilad, which claimed the government owed P3.42 billion in compensation for the delayed implementation of upward tariff adjustment for the rebasing period of 2013 through 2017.

The Philippine government appealed the unanimous decision of the three-man panel of the court on Februrary 13, 2018. The panel again awarded the case in favor of Maynilad. “Maynilad has expressed great admiration for the efficiency of Singapore’s justice system given the speed with which the Singapore High Court has disposed of the Philippine Re-

public’s Setting Aside Application,” the company said. The rate-rebasing scheme allowed the water concessionaire to adjust the rate that was agreed upon when the firms first inked the agreement with Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System during the administration of former President Fidel V. Ramos.

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Polls, consumer sentiment lift McDonald’s 2019 outlook

By Dennis D. Estopace

@DennisEstopace

OLDEN Arches Development Corp. (GADC) believes 2019 will be another good year for its McDonald’s franchise business in the Philippines due to its steady sales growth, upbeat consumer sentiments and elections in 2019.

“The 2019 senatorial elections will contribute to our sales, but not that much compared to presidential elections,” McDonald’s Philippines

Managing Director Margot B. Torres told the BusinessMirror. “It would still be the high consumer take-up of our brand that would contribute

much.” Torres said GADC’s McDonald’s business came from doubledigit year-on-year sales in the past 10 years. She said the company ended its consolidated sales in November at 13 percent, adding she did not know yet the figures for the third quarter. Torres spoke to the BusinessMirror after the launch of GADC’s fifth store with self-order kiosks (SOKs), where consumers type onscreen their respective orders before going to the counter. Torres said GADC plans to end 2018 with 15 stores with SOKs. She said 10 percent of the company’s total stores would have SOKs by the end of 2019, and projected to hit 70 percent of total stores by 2020. Currently, there are 620 McDon-

ald’s branches in the country. Torres said GADC targets to open 30 more stores before 2019 ends. GADC has set aside about P2 billion for its capital expenditure this year and plans to spend P3 billion next year. Torres said the company’s achievements showed how it weathered external factors, including inflation that impacted revenues. “We’ll never [undertake an] increase above inflation and the consumer price index or a basket of goods,” she told reporters. “Obviously, it’s in the interest of the whole business to stay affordable.” Torres said there were menu items like those requiring sugar whose prices went up. She pointed to the

additional taxes on sugar as one of the culprits. “We manage our portfolio. You have many items that profit and items you can’t increase because it would be counterintuitive as this would lower demand. And we’re demand-driven,” Torres explained. “There are also items that we committed to retain, like the ‘Happy Meal,’ that have been at P59 for many years before we increased it to P65 because of the sugar taxes. But it’s still at that price range.” She also admitted the company’s sales were affected when the government decided to close Boracay Island beginning April. The company had to close one of its two stores on the island resort.

MPT South to open 1st phase of C-5 South Link 4 months early By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

E T RO Pa c i f i c To l l ways South Corp. (MPT South) aims to open the first phase of the P10-billion C-5 South Link Expressway four months ahead of its concessionary obligation to the govern-

ment, company officials said on Wednesday. Luigi L. Bautista, the company’s president, said his group intends to fast-track the completion of the first phase—tagged as Segment 3A1—which runs for 2.2 kilometers from Merville in Parañaque to C-5 crossing the atgrade segment of the South Luzon

Expressway (Slex) and Skyway. “We can deliver it by February next year instead of the concessionary obligation of June 2019 because we have resolved rightof-way issues in terms of access in the Miaa compound,” he said, referring to the Manila International Airport Authority. He noted the cost of the first

phase—initially seen to reach P1 billion—increased by 20 percent to P1.2 billion as the company had to “change the design” due to the construction’s effects on the operations of Skyway and Slex. Skyway and Slex operator San Miguel Corp. President Ramon S. Ang noted his group is directly coordinating with Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) to assist the group in delivering the project on time. “We have offered assistance to MPIC to make sure its project gets delivered on time to minimize inconvenience and provide the full benefits of C-5 South Link to our motorists in the soonest possible time,” he said. The company started a stopand-go scheme last week from

11 p.m. to 4 a.m. at Nichols Toll Plaza, C-5 (at-grade) and the Skyway elevated segment between Magallanes and Bicutan in order to manage traffic in the area. When done, the first phase of the C-5 South Link Expressway will cut travel time from Cavite to Makati by half to as fast as 20 minutes from one hour currently, Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said. “The project is progressing on time. This is good news to the estimated 50,000 vehicles that will be decongested in Sales Road in Pasay and Edsa when it starts commercial operations,” he said. The whole 7.7-kilometer expressway, when completed in 2020, will help remove about 250,000 vehicles per day from Edsa, Villar added.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PCC reviewing Chelsea, Trans Asia merger By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

HE country’s antitrust regulator on Wednesday began its review of the merger between Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc., which it earlier nullified due to competition concerns. The Philippine Competition Commission commenced the first-phase review of the Chelsea and Trans-Asia deal it voided on July 28. The PCC has earlier decided to invalidate the transaction after the parties failed to notify the government. On the same date, the PCC conditionally approved Chelsea’s purchase of shares in KGLI-NM Holdings Inc., which owns 2GO Group Inc. The antitrust agency argued it eliminated competition concerns brought about by Udenna Corp.’s common ownership of both 2GO and Trans-Asia with the nullification of the deal involving Chelsea and Trans-Asia. The PCC said the parties moved that both decisions be reconsidered and the penalties, resulting from their failure to notify the government, be reduced. Udenna Chairman and CEO Dennis A. Uy and other representatives signified their intent to abide by compulsory notification requirements under Section 17 of the Philippine Competition Act. “They further expressed their willingness to offer voluntary commitments to address the competition concerns from Udenna’s concurrent ownership of 2GO and Trans-Asia. These include the commitment to be bound by a price monitoring scheme and provide necessary information to implement the same,” the PCC said. The subsequent notification and the proposal of voluntary commitments were considered as mitigating factors, which led the agency to set the applicable administrative fine at 1 percent of the transaction value at P11.4 million.

DOF: Loans for 3 infra projects with China to be signed before year-end By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE Department of Finance (DOF) said big-ticket infrastructure projects to be rolled out by the Philippines in cooperation with China are proceeding as discussed, with an initial three loan accords due for signing before the year ends. The DOF reported the Philippines and China aim to conclude three more loan agreements for major infrastructure projects, namely, the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System; the Project Management Consultant for the Philippine National Railway South Long Haul Project of the Department of Transportation; and the Safe Philippines Project, Phase 1 of the Department of the Interior and

Local Government, along with several bilateral documents. At present, the Philippines has already signed four grant agreements totaling 1.25 billion renminbi (RMB), or about $198.77 million, to finance projects and feasibility studies for various infrastructure projects in the country. Under the RMB 500-million grant signed in April 2018, about RMB 110.33 million, or $17.55 million, has been allotted for the project feasibility studies of the Davao City Expressway Project and Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridge Project, to be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways. “In fact, the proposed infrastructure projects we are undertaking with the cooperation of China all go through a very stringent process of approvals to ensure they comply

with the Government Procurement Act and other applicable laws,” the DOF said in a statement. During highlevel meetings between the Philippines and China held in Beijing last August, an indicative list of 12 infrastructure projects proposed for feasibility-study assistance was submitted to the Chinese government for its consideration. On April 10, 2018, on the sidelines of the four-day Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, China, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, on behalf of the Government of the Philippines, and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, on behalf of the Export-Import Bank of China, signed the $62.09-million loan agreement to help fund the construction of the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in Northern Luzon.

Solar firms join forces to apply for mini-grid franchises in Congress By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

OLAR Para Sa Bayan Corp. (SPSBC) said thousands of small and medium solar companies are joining forces to apply for solar mini-grid franchises in Congress. SPSBC President Leandro Leviste said his group has organized several open forums to discuss its proposed mini-grid franchise and provide advice to groups that wish to apply. SPSBC is currently serving minigrid solar service in Dingalan, Aurora; Calayan, Cagayan; Claveria, Masbate; Dumaran, Palawan; and Lubang, Occidental Mindoro.

Addressing 80 attendees in one recent open forum, Leviste said: “We’re glad to see so many people interested to join this movement. One company cannot solve all our country’s problems alone. The more of us are committed to work together on constructive solutions, the faster we can bring cheap, clean, reliable electricity to every Filipino.” It said solar business owners, sole proprietors and enthusiasts were pitching together an average of P20,000 per member to form cooperatives, including the First Philippine Solar Cooperative, the Anak Araw Multipurpose Cooperative, and the United Solar and Renewable En-

ergy Cooperative. SPSBC said these organizations are part of the Solar Energy Association of the Philippines (SEAP), which it described as “the country’s largest solar industry association composed of members of Solar Power Philippines, a Facebook group of over 120,000 Filipinos from across the country.” SEAP said: “We believe Solar Para Sa Bayan’s franchise paves the way for others to secure the same. The solar industry has long needed a solution like this, and now one company is proving it is possible. Our members are coming together to apply for their own franchises.”

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Market forces put America’s recycling industry in the dumps

LBANY, New York—America’s recycling industry is in the dumps.

A crash in the global market for recyclables is forcing communities to make hard choices about whether they can afford to keep recycling or should simply send all those bottles, cans and plastic containers to the landfill. Mountains of paper have piled up at sorting centers, worthless. Cities and towns that once made money on recyclables are instead paying high fees to processing plants to take them. Some financially strapped recycling processors have shut down entirely, leaving municipalities with no choice but to dump or incinerate their recyclables. “There’s no market. We’re paying to get rid of it,” said Ben Harvey, president of EL Harvey & Sons, which handles recyclables from about 30 communities at its sorting facility

in Westborough, Massachusetts. “Seventy-five percent of what goes through our plant is worth nothing to negative numbers now.” It all stems from a policy shift by China, long the world’s leading recyclables buyer. At the beginning of the year it enacted an anti-pollution program that closed its doors to loads of waste paper, metals or plastic unless they’re 99.5 percent pure. That’s an unattainable standard at US singlestream recycling processing plants designed to churn out bales of paper or plastic that are, at best, 97 percent free of contaminants such as foam cups and food waste. The resulting glut of recyclables has caused prices to plummet from levels already depressed by other economic forces, including lower prices for oil, a key ingredient in plastics.

The three largest publicly traded residential waste-hauling and recycling companies in North America—Waste Management, Republic Services and Waste Connections— reported steep drops in recycling revenues in their second-quarter financial results. Houston-based Waste Management reported its average price for recyclables was down 43 percent from the previous year. “A year ago, a bale of mixed paper was worth about $100 per ton; today we have to pay about $15 to get rid of it,” said Richard Coupland, vice president for municipal sales at Phoenix-based Republic, which handles 75 million tons of municipal solid waste and 8 million tons of recyclables nationwide annually. “Smaller recycling companies aren’t able to stay in business and are shutting down.” Kirkwood, Missouri, announced plans this summer to end curbside recycling after a Saint Louis-area processing facility shut down. Officials in Rock Hill, South Carolina, were surprised to learn that recy-

clables collected at curbside were being dumped because of a lack of markets. Lack of markets led officials to suspend recycling programs in Gouldsboro, Maine; DeBary, Florida; Franklin, New Hampshire; and Adrian Township, Michigan. Programs have been scaled back in Flagstaff, Arizona; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Kankakee, Illinois. Other communities are maintaining recycling programs but taking a financial hit as regional processors have raised rates to offset losses. Richland, Washington, is now paying $122 a ton for Waste Management to take its recycling; last year, the city was paid $16 a ton for the materials. Stamford, Connecticut, received $95,000 for recyclables last year; the city’s new contract requires it to pay $700,000. A big part of the problem, besides lower commodity prices overall, is sloppy recycling. In the early days of recycling, people had to wash bottles and cans, and sort paper, plastic, glass and metal into separate bins. Now there’s sin-

gle-stream recycling, which allows all recyclables to be tossed into one bin. While single-stream has benefited efficiency, and customers like it, it’s been a challenge on the contamination side. A tour of Republic’s facility in Beacon, about an hour’s drive north of New York City, makes the challenges clear. A third of the material dumped by collection trucks is nonrecyclable “contaminants” such as garden hoses, picnic coolers and broken lawnmowers. Workers have to pull that out and truck it to a landfill, adding to overall costs. Plastic bags contaminate bales of other materials and tangle machinery. Spilled ketchup and greasy pizza boxes turn otherwise marketable material into garbage.“The death of recycling was completely avoidable and incredibly easily fixed,” said Mitch Hedlund, executive director of Recycle Across America, which advocates standardized labeling on recycling bins so people understand what goes in and what doesn’t. A range of initiatives has been

launched to get people to recycle right. Chicago is putting “oops” tags on curbside recycling bins with improper contents and leaving them uncollected. Rhode Island is airing “Let’s Recycle Right” ads. While some recyclables have been diverted to other Asian markets since China’s closure, there are also signs of market improvement in the US to offset the lost business, said David Biderman, CEO and executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America. He noted Chinese paper manufacturers that had relied on recyclables imported into their country have recently purchased shuttered mills in Kentucky, Maine and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, recyclable materials processors are renegotiating contracts with municipalities to reflect the fact that prices paid for recyclables no longer offset the cost of collecting and sorting them. “What we’re advocating is to step back and relook at recycling,” Republic’s Coupland said. “This is the new normal. The model no longer funds itself.” AP

China’s Tencent Holdings no longer one of world’s top 10 biggest companies

ORE bad news for Tencent Holdings Ltd.: The Chinese Internet giant has lost its spot as one of the world’s 10 biggest companies.

After shedding over $200 billion in market value this year, more than any other company worldwide, Tencent has been replaced by Exxon Mobil Corp. in the top of the rank-

ings based on market capitalization. When its share price hit a record high in January, the Shenzhen-based company was in the top five along with Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc., Mi-

crosoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. Tencent returned more than 67,000 percent from its initial public offering through January, but then turned south this year on a run of

bad news, including a rare drop in profit and a regulatory crackdown on gaming in China. The stock has tumbled nearly 40 percent in Hong Kong since January 23, and fell for a

ninth straight day on Wednesday, on track for its worst-ever run. Tencent’s market cap is now $353 billion, while Exxon Mobil’s is $365 billion. Bloomberg News

World Companies

Thursday, October 11, 2018

BusinessMirror

The Magic Kingdom is going green

VEN the visionary Walt Disney probably could not have imagined this one. The Walt Disney Co. is just months away from generating enough renewable solar energy to fully power two of its four parks at the Walt Disney World Resort in central Florida.

Before the end of 2018, Disney will flip the switch on a sprawling 50-megawatt solar-power facility composed of more than a half-million solar panels, just outside Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The move is aimed, in part, at helping Disney achieve its larger plan to reduce its net greenhouse-gas emissions 50 percent worldwide by 2020, compared to 2012. “At our sites around the world, we’re investing in hidden magic to continually reduce our environmental footprint,” said Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products. The soon-to-open Disney World solar facility, spread along a 270-acre designated renewable-energy area, will produce enough energy to supply 10,000 homes annually and will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 57,000 tons per year, ac-

cording to Disney’s estimates. That is the annual equivalent of removing roughly 9,300 automobiles from the roads, the company said. The energy will not actually go to Disney’s theme parks, but rather into the local power grid. Nonetheless, with one eye on its global reputation and another on its customers’ increasing focus on sustainability, Disney is emerging as a renewableenergy force. Disney’s move toward cleaner energy comes when brand image for global giants goes far beyond, say, merely a ride on Space Mountain— particularly among free-spending, but environmentally sensitive millennials. Indeed, some 79 percent of consumers said they seek out products that are socially or environmentally responsible, a 2017 study by Cone Communications showed. “Our guests tell us the environ-

ment is important, so it’s a big deal for us,” said Mark Penning, vice president of Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment. Since it’s a big deal to guests, it is also a huge deal to Bob Iger, chief executive of Disney, who has repeatedly said he wants Disney to be the most admired company in the world, “Not just for creating incredible content but for being a responsible citizen of the world,” said Penning, who is a veterinarian. Disney’s solar and renewable efforts are not limited to Florida. In Tokyo, Disneyland’s electrical parade light show is fueled by solar panels from eight building rooftops, which generate more than 600 kilowatts of power. In Europe, Disneyland Paris uses geothermal energy to power two of its theme parks and a hotel. At Shanghai’s Disney Resort, a combined cooling and heating plant reduces emissions by 60 percent— partially by converting waste heat into energy. Disney also is building three cruise ships that will be run on clean-burning liquefied natural gas when they head out to sea. But going green hasn’t always worked perfectly at Disney. For example, in 2015, when it first tried to “green” its bus fleet, executives thought the solution might be electric buses. But they discovered that electric buses failed to reduce carbon emission as much as using renewable fuels made with used cooking oil and

nonconsumable food waste. While some renewable-energy advocates would like Disney to do even more to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, Disney’s leadership in this area is likely to encourage others. “What Disney is doing is an important part of the trend that’s changing the nation’s grid,” said Gregory Wetstone, chief executive of the American Council on Renewable Energy. Just five years ago, very few companies were actively producing their own renewable powers, Wetstone said. But now, he said, “the most sophisticated companies are learning how to go out on their own and do it.” Of course, none can accomplish this without enlisting energy partners. Disney’s new facility in central Florida, for example, is a collaboration with the Reedy Creek Improvement District and solar project developer Origis Energy USA. Disney officials declined to discuss the financials of their renewable-energy projects. Also in central Florida, Disney—with the help of Duke Energy—opened a solar facility in 2016 that’s famously shaped like Mickey Mouse’s head. The 5-megawatt solar facility on 22 acres near Epcot is made of 48,000 solar panels. Duke Energy sells the resulting alternative energy—enough to power 1,000 homes—to Reedy Creek. In some cases, Disney park customers can already see solar at work.

At the flagship Disneyland Resort, solar panels sit atop the Radiator Springs Racers ride in Cars Land. The system—which opened in 2016—generates electricity for the Disney California Adventure Park. The 40,000-square-foot operation features more than 1,400 high-efficiency solar panels and generates enough energy to annually power 100 Anaheim homes. Could Walt Disney have imagined all of this renewable energy in his parks? “I’m not sure if he could dream of this,” Penning said. “But his dreams did result in Epcot, which was meant to be the first sustainable development.” Indeed, a sustainable lifestyle has become part of Penning’s daily routine. He has rid himself of singleuse plastics—and instead of driving a car, he prefers to use a motorcycle. “Except when it’s pouring rain,” he said. Some of Disney’s environmental actions sound almost like fairy tales. Take the Cinderella Castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida. Its holiday display of 170,000 lights has been painstakingly switched to LED lighting. Since that change, the energy to power that eye-popping display has been reduced to an amount needed to power just four coffee pots. Even for Disney, renewable energy requires more than pixie dust. New York Times News Service

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Samsung family’s $4-B tax strategy dragged into spotlight

RDINARY families might stash spare cash under a mattress or in a safety deposit box. South Korea’s Lee family are so rich they spent years leaving billions of dollars under the names of their employees. This strategy is back in the spotlight after first being exposed in an investigation by prosecutors that led to the 2009 conviction of Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Kun-hee. He was found guilty of evading taxes through borrowed names and handed a suspended prison sentence. He was pardoned at the end of 2009 to help the country win its bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. A South Korean civic group filed a case against Lee last month, claiming he illegitimately acquired the wealth from his late father, Samsung founder Lee Byung-chull. They accused Lee of failing to pay taxes for the inheritance passed down through accounts using other people’s names. The accusation came several months after police said they uncovered 260 fresh accounts under the names of 72 different Samsung executives harboring about 400 billion won ($352 million) worth of assets belonging to Lee. Police released the details in a statement this February, while a police officer who investigated the case separately confirmed the size of the assets. The accounts were managed by what used to be the conglomerate’s core governing body, whose latest name was Future Strategy Office. The office, dubbed as the control tower of Samsung, was disbanded last year amid mounting public criticism over its involvement in a graft scandal that resulted in the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye and the conviction of Lee’s son, Jay Y. Lee, for bribery. Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Lee was released from prison in February after his sentence was suspended. Bloomberg News

World Features

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

BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018

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Iran widens an already huge rift between Europe and US B RUSSELS—Of all the issues dividing Europe and the Trump administration, Iran has become the sharpest, with the Europeans actively working against US policy, placing them in league with Russia, China and Iran. Since earlier this year, when it pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal that was a centerpiece of former President Barack Obama’s diplomacy, the Trump administration has pressed ahead with punishing sanctions against Tehran. The leading countries of Europe, meanwhile, trying to preser ve the nuclear accord, are looking to set up an alternative payment mechanism that would s id e s te p t he Un ite d St ate s dominated banking system, and Washington’s new sanctions. As they do so, they are pressing Iran to adhere strictly to the terms of the nuclear agreement, to avoid giving the US and Israel a pretext for starting a war—an increasing concern. And they are counseling Tehran to keep calm and wait out President Donald J. Trump’s term, in the hope that he will not be reelected, senior European diplomats say. That, of course, could be wishful thinking, but the divergent policies toward Iran are leading to deeper tensions between the European Union (EU) and the Trump administration. L a st mont h , t he n at ion a l

sec ur it y adv iser, John Bolton, mocked the EU for being “st rong on rhetor ic a nd wea k on fol low - t h rou g h ,” add i ng : “ We do not i ntend to a l low ou r sa nct ions to be evaded by Eu rope or a nyone else.” Tr u mp’s dec ision to w it hdraw from the Iran nuclear deal “opened a rift between the US and its European allies that is unlikely to close again as long as he is in office,” wrote Volker Perthes, director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. “Europe and the US are not simply taking different approaches to Iran, but are actively working against one another in a policy field, which is of significant strategic interest to both sides,” he said. The dispute over the Iran deal, he continued, “is a major driver of European debates about a form of ‘strategic autonomy’” from the US and represents a more serious cleavage in the Western alliance than did the invasion of Iraq in 2003. T he latest US sanctions against Iran, scheduled to take effect on November 4, will be the toughest so far, hitting the country’s oil industry and central bank. The sale of Iranian oil and petrochemical products will be restricted, and foreign financial institutions will face sanctions for transactions with

the Iranian central bank of other financial institutions designated under legislation Congress passed in 2012. To get around the penalties, the Europeans are hoping to create a “special purpose vehicle” to allow payments related to Iranian exports, including oil, and Iranian imports, “to assist and reassure economic operators pursuing legitimate business with Iran,” according to the EU. The mechanism could use a form of barter, offsetting values of imports and exports priced in euros while avoiding banking transactions. The main objective is to allow Iran to keep selling its oil, on which much of its economy depends—exactly the reason Washington is trying to restrict that commerce. But it remains unclear if the European efforts will succeed. Big multinational firms like Total, Peugeot, Renault, Eni, Siemens and Daimler are already pulling out of Iran, saying they cannot risk being shut out of the US financial system. Iran’s oil exports have declined significantly since August, putting pressure on supporters of the nuclear deal in Tehran and strengthening more hardline elements that want to break the deal and start enriching uranium again, in greater quality as well as quantity.

“The primary objective of the European Union is to provide a face-saving way for Iran to stay in the” nuclear deal, said Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “ The Europeans are tr ying with Russia and China to create an economic package for Iran, but also some political steps to keep Iran in the deal, especially after November 4.” The Europeans are also trying to help small and medium enterprises with little exposure in the US to continue trading with Iran. The question is how far the Trump administration will go to enforce sanctions, and whether it will allow waivers, as it has in the past, for work with Iran’s civilian nuclear program, Geranmayeh said. “But if the deal collapses altogether, you can bet Iran will expand its nuclear program,” she said, “and that would put everyone back in the pre-2013 condition, and Europe especially does not want to be there.” Given the existing tensions between Iran and Sunni Arab states like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, not to speak of those with Israel, a war is not inconceivable. A conflict over Syria, especially with Iranian and Iranian-backed forces near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, could create a pretext for Israel to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, as it wanted to do

before the nuclear deal was signed. And while Obama restrained Israel, Trump might not. The Europeans are telling Tehran that the nuclear pact is not just an economic deal, “but has important political and security dimensions for Iran, and so far Iran is listening,” Geranmayeh said. Europe is emphasizing its efforts at de-escalating tensions, and has already had three meetings as part of a new security dialogue with Iran. Washington has said that the nuclear deal was faulty, in part because it did not restrain Iranian actions in the region, like its support for states and groups the Americans consider troublemakers: the Syrian government; Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group; and Hamas, the militant group in Gaza. But European governments say the Americans have done little to roll back Iranian influence. It is the Europeans who are trying to create a platform for dialogue with Iran and other regional actors, and who are pushing Iran to discuss its activities in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. There is one other important difference, Geranmayeh said. W hile Washington now “sees no shades of gray in the Iranian leadership,” she added, “the European Union countries, on the ground in Iran, see competitive

factions inside the regime.” The Europeans are trying to support those in Iran, like Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani, whom they regard as more moderate, and whose political standing has been weakened by Trump’s actions. Joseph Cirincione, a nuclear expert and the president of the Ploughshares Fund, which is committed to nonproliferation, wrote recently that the Trump administration seems to be heading toward a war in the Middle East. He accused both Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of “cherry-picking intelligence and inflating threats,” adding: “They’re making specious connections between Iran and terrorists, including al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. And they’re ratcheting up their rhetoric.” These tensions are about to get worse, Cirincione said, with the imposition of the stiff new sanctions. The likelihood that this pressure will explode into military conflict is rising dramatically,” he said. His dark view is precisely what European officials fear, and precisely why they are trying to persuade Iran to adhere to the nuclear deal, to modify its behavior in the region, and to wait out the Trump presidency. Steven Erlanger/New York Times News Service

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TheBroa

Business

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Neglected tropical diseases, HI T

By Cai U. Ordinario | Reporter With reports from Marc Dela Paz

HERE are worse things than death: the slow and torturous path to the end of life. Some illnesses, to note, can permanently disfigure people, hinder their growth and development and scar them and their families for life. Many of those afflicted can only wish for death to take them sooner rather than later. These are just some of the things that Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) can do to people. In the Philippines, the number of people either at risk of contracting these diseases and those silently living with them is huge. Eliminating these diseases, however, is a tall order considering that under Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world intends to eradicate the “epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and NTDs and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases” by 2030. The world may have forgotten it’s been grappling with HIV/AIDS for 37 years—the pandemic was recognized in 1981 by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it expects eradication in 12 years’ time.

NTDs

THE World Health Organization (WHO) defines NTDs as “a diverse group of disease conditions, mostly parasitic infection, that gravely affect people in tropical and subtropical regions.” WHO Western Pacific Region Coordinator Rabindra R. Abeyasinghe said there are about 20 NTDs globally, and of this number, around 15 are present in the Western Pacific Region. At least one of these NTDs is present in majority of countries in the region. Abeyasinghe said NTDs continue to be a problem for many countries because there is very little interest in addressing them. Unfortunately, these diseases affect large populations that have poor access to treatment. “[NTD prevalence] in Asia is not yet severe,” former WHO Western Pacific Region Regional Director Shin Young-soo said. “Most of these diseases, we know how to treat. NTDs are called poor man’s disease because proper treatment could not be given.” But just because the situation in the region is “not yet severe,” countries should continue business as usual, especially with the deadline for SDGs fast approaching.

PCs

DATA obtained from the WHO showed there are at least three NTDs in the Philippines that imperil the lives of around 52.9 million or more than half of Filipinos. These are soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) or intestinal worms, lymphatic filariasis (aka elephantiasis) and schistosomiasis (aka snail fever). Around 43 million Filipinos are at risk of contracting STH, 7 million are at risk of lymphatic filariasis and 2.9 million are at risk of schistosomiasis. The WHO said these numbers represent those who are not covered by preventive chemotherapy (PC) or mass drug administration. PC is among the primary interventions recommended by the WHO. The other four interventions are: veterinary public health; provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene; vector and intermediate host control; and case manage-

ment and rehabilitation. In terms of STH, which is placing at risk the most number of Filipinos, the WHO said there was a slight decline in the national coverage of deworming among school children in the country to 71 percent in 2016 from 72 percent in 2015. However, compared to the 2011 to 2014 period, it was in the years 2015 and 2016 that saw the highest increase in coverage among school-age children.

Deworming

FOR preschool children, deworming coverage is significantly higher. In 2016 coverage was at 94 percent, significantly higher than the 63-percent coverage in 2015. The coverage in 2016 was the highest level between 2011 and 2016. However, due to the recent Dengvaxia controversy, there is a growing concern that coverage will decline. This is especially the case since some parents are scared to submit their children for deworming due to the Dengvaxia scare. Recent interviews with staff members of the Lias Elementary School in Bulacan confirmed that while there is sufficient medicine, many parents do not want their children to be dewormed because of the thought that they would suffer the same fate as the children injected by Dengvaxia. In some cases, parents of Dengvaxia children who have other school-age children refuse to submit their other children to Dengvaxia. Parents prefer that health centers administer the vaccines rather than the schools, which were the ones that initially distributed the Dengue vaccine. “’Yung iba talaga, hindi talaga sila pumapayag. Kahit may sulat na pinamimigay at may pirma doon na hindi nila pinapayagan, talagang ayaw nila. Halimbawa, 20 ’yung bata, ang magbabalik lang lima, yung 15 hindi. Sa mga bukas ang mga isipan, pumapayag sila,” the School Nutrition Coordinator of Lias Elementary School told the BusinessMirror. “Pero dahil nga doon sa Dengvaxia na nangyari doon na nagkaroon ng isyu. ’Yung 725, bumagsak nga dahil noong may namatay sa Dengvaxia, ayaw na talaga nila [Some parents refused to allow their children to be vaccinated, even if there’s a signed letter explaining the vaccination. For example, of 20 children only five will return to be vaccinated. Parents who are open-minded allow their children to be vaccinated. But the Dengvaxia controversy created an issue. We expect the number to be lower for 2018 compared to the 725 children that were dewormed in 2017. When a child died due to Dengvaxia, parents really refused to deworm their children].”

Forum

NONETHELESS, the WHO said the NTD Unit at the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the Department of Health Philippines convenes the NTD Stakeholders Forum annually to bring together all stakeholders working on elimination and control of NTDs ranging from relevant ministerial partners such as the Environmental Related Diseases Division, the Pharmaceu-

Among the most common misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in the Philippines is that the disease can be transmitted by mosquito bites and that a person can be infected by sharing food with a person who has HIV. tical Division, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, regional and provincial authorities, nongovernmental organizations, local and national universities to international donors and partners. The forum provides a valuable opportunity to update progress of control and elimination of NTDs in the country and research gap, share various best practices to improve advocacy on NTDs, recognize and forge the existing partnership and explore other possible collaboration opportunities to advance the NTD agenda in the country. The forum also enables information sharing between the national program and academia so that translation of scientific evidence into policies and guidance to support control program’s progress is enhanced.

HIV/AIDS

WHO Philippines Representative Gundo Aurel Weiler said HIV affects less than 1 percent of the Philippine population. He said there are about 80,000 Filipinos living with HIV. Further complicating this problem is that half of the number of people believed to be living with

HIV are not aware they have been infected, according to Weiler. This means 40,000 Filipinos living with HIV have not been tested and not properly informed about their condition, posing a threat to themselves and prospective or current partners. “There are many people who live with the virus but have not been tested and who are unaware. And that’s a real problem because if they are unaware of their own infection, they put their own health in danger,” Weiler said. “Of course, people who are not aware of their own infection might be at higher danger of passing on the virus unknowingly to their partners.” Based on the results of the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), only 25 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have comprehensive knowledges about HIV/AIDS. Around two-thirds or 66 percent of women aged 15 to 49 know that using condoms is a means of preventing HIV transmission.

Misconceptions

SOME 84 percent of women know that limiting sexual intercourse to one uninfected partner who has no

other partners can reduce the risk of HIV. Six in 10 women or 62 percent are aware of both these HIV prevention methods. However, misconceptions about this deadly disease abound. Among the most common misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in the Philippines is that the disease can be transmitted by mosquito bites and that a person can be infected by sharing food with a person who has HIV. About 61 percent of women would not buy fresh vegetables from a shopkeeper who has HIV. Seven in 10 women (71 percent) hold discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV. More than half of women or 53 percent age 15 to 49 who have heard of HIV or AIDS do not think that children living with HIV should attend school with children who are HIV negative. “Comprehensive knowledge means knowing that the risk of getting HIV can be reduced by using condoms and limiting sex to one uninfected partner, knowing that a healthy person can have HIV, and rejecting the two most common local misconceptions about HIV prevention and transmission,”

the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a recent presentation. While only 2 percent of young women age 15 to 24 had sexual intercourse before age 15, around 1 in 5 women age 18-24 had sexual intercourse before age 18.

Vulnerability

HOWEVER, around 2 percent of young women age 15 to 24 who had sexual intercourse in the past 12 months were tested for HIV and received their results. Further data showed that 45 percent of women know where to get an HIV test. Knowledge of where to get an HIV test increases with wealth, from 32 percent of women from the poorest households to 59 percent of women from the wealthiest households. However, only 4 percent of women have ever been tested and received their results. Within the past 12 months, only 2 percent of women were tested for HIV and received their results. This is a problem. Weiler said prevention is the key to putting an end to the increase in HIV incidence. He said it is important to get tested and to emphasize the use of contra-

aderLook

sMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace | Thursday, October 11, 2018

B2-3

IV remain silent killers in PHL people who come forward to seek treatment so if there’s a lack of interventions [these are] on the side of awareness so that people can adopt the proper behaviors to prevent transmission. Those who think they might have been at risk in the past [should come] forward to a test because only if people are aware of their HIV status can they seek treatment,” he stressed.

Way forward

OLEKSANDR BILYI | DREAMSTIME.COM

ADDRESSING these silent killers not only requires increased support

ceptives during intercourse, especially among vulnerable groups such as men who have sex with men and the transgender communities.

Awareness

WEILER said there is also a need to increase awareness about the other ill effects of drug use. He added there have also been cases where HIV was contracted through drug use, particularly with the use of injections. He added that openly discussing the dangers of HIV and the importance of prevention are also necessary in all communities, including religious ones, family, and among friends in order for people to adopt safe behavior. “In general we recommend the Philippines to step up HIV prevention efforts and treatment. It is important for more people to have access to antiretroviral treatment and to do so more people should get tested for HIV, for people to become aware of their status,” he said. Weiler admitted that

among the issues that prevent more people from getting tested is the high stigma associated with HIV. This is one of the most important factors why despite the high number of interventions on the health side, HIV/AIDS in the country has been increasing.

Concern

ON October 8 Young-soo said the trend in HIV incidence all over the region has been on the decline except for the Philippines, which is a cause for concern. Weiler said the increase in HIV prevalence in the Philippines has increased by 140 percent in the last six to eight years. Elsewhere in the region and the world, HIV incidence has been on a 20-percent decline. “I think we do have a whole range of interventions from the health side, treatment is becoming available and [there’s an] increasing number of clinics that provide treatment for HIV specifically in the country,” Weiler said. “But we do have a lack of

in terms of financing and facilities but also greater awareness about the dangers of acquiring or transmitting them. The WHO is urging governments to pour resources not only in programs such as mass vaccinations but also in information campaigns, particularly where HIV/AIDS is concerned. The treatment of the disease can only begin when testing has been completed. For Michael R.M. Abrigo of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the treatment of the

disease begins with awareness. The empirical study by Abrigo, a PIDS fellow, showed “that increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge may result in substantial cost-savings from averted” sexually transmitted infection (STI). “When sex education is included as part of regular large-scale public school curricula, the cost of increasing STI knowledge would be trivial, implying considerable resources that could be freed for other government programs because of better sexual behaviors,” Abrigo wrote in his study

titled “HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Sexual Behavior of Female Young Adults in the Philippines.” His documentation of heterogeneous responses to increased STI knowledge across different populations “highlights the need for targeted interventions adapted to particular settings for anti-STI campaigns to be effective.” But while the WHO does not expect any cure for HIV/AIDS any time soon, saving lives can start by taking at least one pill a day. For Abrigo, it’s one step to awareness that’s going to save the day.

B2-4 Thursday, October 11, 2018

World Features BusinessMirror

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

The unknowable fallout of China’s trade war nuclear option

T is often called the nuclear option. In the trade war between the United States and China, economists and investors have long tried to game out how both sides might use their clout. In virtually all the predictions, at least until recently, they revolved around a titfor-tat tariff war. Eve n i n t he g lo om ie st of doomsday scenarios, there is one weapon that has long been considered unthinkable: the Chinese, the biggest holder of US foreign debt with more than $1 trillion, publicly taking a step back from buying US Treasuries—or worse, dumping what they own in the open market. The very idea is typically dismissed as a waste of time to even consider and the reason is a sort of mutually assured destruction. It would be wildly irrational in economic terms, the thinking goes. China selling Treasuries would send interest rates up and hurt the United States, but it would simultaneously severely damage the value of China’s own Treasury holdings. As the indus-

trialist J. Paul Getty famously said, “If you owe the bank $100, that’s your problem; if you owe the bank $100 million, that’s the bank ’s problem.” In the USChina relationship, China is very clearly the bank. But the conventional wisdom about what China might—or might not—be prepared to do could be wrong. China has lately reduced its holdings of US government debt, and a growing number of financiers, economists and geopolitical analysts are quietly raising the prospect that China may look to its ability to inf luence interest rates as its ultimate trump card. After all, China doesn’t have any American imports left to tariff and it is already taking aim

at deals, so what’s left? If China were to undertake such a maneuver, it would do so at a delicate time for the US economy: The rising deficit has increased the Treasury’s borrowing needs. There is more debt to be purchased and the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates, making that debt more expensive. It’s not clear how much China could drive up rates by shedding Treasuries, but it would certainly add to the momentum already present. And it is worth remembering that Beijing’s endgame is not necessarily to ensure the financial health of its country this year or the next. If China were to suffer short-term pain to gain a real and lasting advantage over the United States—or at least not lose any advantages it does have—it might be willing to struggle a bit today. “The negotiation between the two great powers isn’t about how many soybeans or Boeing airplanes they buy by the end of the year,” said Kevin Warsh, a former governor of the Federal Reserve. “We are at a pivotal moment in history. The actions of the US and Chinese governments in the next 12 months will set the course for the relationship of the two great powers of the 21st century.” And the war of words is only

getting sharper. Last week Vice President Mike Pence accused China of using “political, economic and military tools, as well as propaganda, to advance its influence and benefit its interests in the United States.” And on Monday China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, admonished the Trump administration for “ceaselessly elevating” trade tensions and “casting a shadow” over relations between the two countries as he sat directly across from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Still, critics who dismiss the possibility of China trying to upend the US Treasury market say that China’s own economy is too fragile to risk doing anything that would cause instability. St abi l it y h a s long been a watchword in China. Over the weekend, China’s central bank, clearly nervous about a slowdo w n , pu mp e d $175 bi l l ion into the economy by lowering the amount of money that some lenders are required to hold in reserve, allowing that money to circulate freely instead. Supporters of the Trump administration’s tough stance on tariffs with China take actions like that as a sign that the United States holds the negotiating leverage. And it remains an open question whether China could inf lict real damage by selling Treasuries.

“ Treasuries sales in a sense are easy to counter, as the Fed is ver y comfortable buy ing and selling Treasuries for its own account,” w rote Brad W. Setser, a senior fellow for international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. “I have often said that the US ultimately holds the high cards here: T he Fed is the one actor in the world that can buy more than China can ever sell.” Even so, the market dynamics are unpredictable. Chances are, over the past two decades, there have been Treasury auctions at which the Chinese haven’t been bidders. But whether they were active bidders or not, the other bidders have always had to assume they were. It is one thing to show up at Sotheby’s and not raise your paddle. It would be quite another to send out a news release saying you’re never going to Sotheby’s again. T he problem is t hat China wou ld have to f ind somet hing to do with that money—and, in t his case, t he auction house is a lways of fer ing t he best dea ls in tow n. “Even if it could sell its more than a trillion dollars of Treasuries without pushing the market against it, where would it park t he f u nd s? ” M a rc C h a nd ler, global head of currency strategy for Brown Brothers Harriman,

wrote in a note to investors. “It will not be able to secure the liquidity, safety and returns that are available in the US.” But brinkmanship does not breed rational thought. The escalation of hostilities, even economic ones, raises both stakes and tempers alike, which is a dangerous combination. And in this case, there is no proving ground. There is no predictable math, no scale model. If China were to use its nuclear option and the markets didn’t react, it would lose inf luence in stark fashion. If it worked— but was more ef fective than expected—China could inf lict unintended damage on its own economy. And even a perfectly executed strike that left China unharmed would be perilous: A targeted attack on the US economy would have unknowable repercussions. If the fallout cloud settled over Europe or emerging markets, would China be ready for that fight, too? Since the end of the Cold War and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the world has embraced a policy of strategic stability: reducing the incentive for rival nations to unleash unimaginable destruction. That is probably good economic policy, too. Andrew Ross Sorkin/

New York Times News Service

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018 B3-1

Insurance industry slowly but surely adopts to fintech in doing business

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE Philippine insurance industry is slowly adapting to changes brought about by the wave of global technological advancements with the shift to financial technology (fintech), seen to be beneficial for the industry in the future.

Insurance Commissioner Dennis B. Funa told the BusinessMirror that he sees the Philippine insurance industry embracing fintech in the future, as a majority of its markets are adapting swiftly to the changing times. “The insurance industry will surely continue to embrace fintech. It cannot be denied that the evolution of technology has helped our regulated entities to spread their reach. Our people today rely on technology in going about their everyday lives, thus, it is crucial that they have access to insurance products and services at their own convenient time,” Funa said. The Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (Pira), the umbrel-

la organization for nonlife insurance companies in the country, pointed out that the sector is currently in the midst of innovations driven by technological advancements, echoing the sentiments of the Insurance Commission (IC) that the insurance industry will have to incorporate the use of fintech in their operations if they want to remain competitive in the market. “The nonlife insurance industry is actually experiencing a wave of innovations largely driven by the advances in digital technology and the expansion of the availability of Internet service. One area that is most affected by these innovations is in the area of distribution,” Pira Executive Director Michael F. Rellosa

told the BusinessMirror.

Crucial shift

HE explained that the shift by insurance corporations to digital enabled them to widen their respective distribution reach in the country. In the past, he recalled that agents went to visit potential policyholders on a door-to-door basis just to sell insurance products. But with the advent of the Internet and all the technological advancements being presented every day, the sale of insurance products or services can now be done online. “In the past, the only distribution channels our industry had were the agents and brokers with the policies delivered [right on the doorstep] through a piece of paper. Now, clients have access to self-directed services, be it through their computers or their cell phones. The IC already encourages electronic policies. Some even sell insurance through prepaid cards,” he added. The IC, being the regulator of the local insurance industry, continues to encourage its regulated entities to embrace the opportunities offered by fintech but added that the actual initiatives come from the entities themselves.

Making it “safe”

“WHAT the IC does is come up with

policies and regulations that will make this emerging trend safe and truly beneficial for both the insurance providers and their clients,” Funa added. The IC has thus far issued at least five documents to encourage insurance companies to shift to using fintech. In 2014 the IC issued Circular Letter (CL) 2014-47 imposing guidelines on electronic commerce of insurance products. The circular was intended to provide the basic framework on the engagement of electronic commerce by insurance companies. In 2016 the IC then issued two successive CLs amending CL 201447 to further clarify certain aspects of the guidelines for the use of electronic commerce for insurance

products. The IC issued CL 2016-15, to provide more detailed policies for online transactions of variable life insurance products; while CL 201660 allows clients to finalize the processing of their online application by clicking a confirmation button in lieu of an electronic signature. In the same year, the IC also issued CL 2016-61 promoting the guidelines defining the engagement of telemarketing services for insurance companies, brokers and general agencies, enumerating their respective requirements. The CL was issued to establish the minimum standards to regulate the engagement by insurance companies and insurance brokers of the telemarketing platform. This year, the IC also issued CL 2018-7, amending item 7.18 of CL 2014-47, regarding the use of mobile applications for the distribution of insurance products. The new CL sets the guidelines for the use of mobile applications in the distribution of insurance products by the insurance industry. “That said, financial technology is a powerful tool necessary to boost the insurance industry to further growth. With a healthy combination of fintech and intermediaries in the insurance industries, I am confident that we will come closer and closer to the realization of our goals, primary

of which is financial inclusion—a key factor in uplifting lives and strengthening our nation,” Funa said. The IC commissioner also said the commission is veering toward digitizing the process, starting with computerizing insurance agents’ licensure examinations. The insurance regulator also minimized the use of hard copy reports required by its various departments. “For the meantime, some statistical reports are submitted in digital form through USBs [universal serial bus] and we have an ongoing project which will allows online submission of company reports. The project will further create a digital base for financial data submitted to, then verified, by the IC,” he added.

The shift

FUNA reiterated that the incorporation of technological advancements to the operations of companies and businesses do not happen all at once but in small steps, adding that the local insurance industry has already begun the shift to using fintech more. “Nevertheless, our regulated entities have begun the shift. First, they have developed web sites where clients can get to know about their companies, as well as their products,” Funa said. See “Fintech,” B3-2

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BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Crypto industry on brink of an implosion–expert

Banking&Finance

CHOING sentiments of mainstream economists, Juniper Research is warning that many of the metrics in the cryptocurrency world are pointing to a market implosion. Industry bellwether Bitcoin had seen its daily transaction volumes fall from an average of around 360,000 a day in late 2017 to just 230,000 in September 2018. Meanwhile, daily transaction values were down from more than $3.7 billion to less than $670 million in the same period, Juniper said in the study, “The Future of Cryptocurrency: Bitcoin & Altcoin Trends & Challenges 2018-2023.” The market as a whole has contracted quickly, as well. In the first quarter, cryptocurrency transactions totaled just over $1.4 trillion, compared with less than $1.7 trillion for 2017 as a whole, Juniper said. However, by the second quarter, transaction values had plummeted by 75 percent, with total market capitalization falling to just under $355 billion. “Based on activity during the first half of Q3, Juniper estimates a further 47-percent quarter-on-quarter drop in transaction values in that quarter,” the researcher said in an accompanying white paper. The market failed to rally even amid strained China-US trade relations and Brexit-related troubles, the researchers noted—prime conditions for proving cryptocurrencies’ advantage as an alternative to the traditional financial system. “In short, given our concerns around both the innate valuation of Bitcoin, and of the operating practices of many exchanges, we feel that the industry is on the brink of an implosion,” Juniper said. Bloomberg News

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Bangladesh lauds PHL help on $81-M heist

HAKA—The chief legal counsel of Bangladesh Bank has praised the administration of President Duterte for supporting the efforts to recover millions of dollars laundered to a Manila bank in 2016.

Ajmalul Hossain, lead counsel for Bangladesh Bank, said they got a lot of support from Duterte, including the different government

Fintech . . .

Continued from B3-1

Other insurance companies were also pointed out to employ electronic applications, allowing clients to complete the purchase of their insurance policies online. Policyholders of certain insurers can also file their claims, pay their premiums and bring their queries though the Internet.

Pay as you go

RELLOSA explained that new technologies are also ushering what is now called usage-based insurance, line insurance technology or insurtech. He cited as an example the experience from other countries, where certain insurance policies for cars are no longer paid on an annual basis but based on usage.

agencies, in resolving the cyber heist tagged as one of the biggest in the world. “We have been getting assis“These are so-called pay-as-yougo insurance, which are based on the mileage the driver would use the car. It’s no longer time-based. And it makes sense because, through this, insurance companies would have better rates for those who use their cars less than those who use their cars more,” Rellosa said. He quickly added that new technologies like those of other countries, which can be adapted in the Philippines, would require a monitoring technology, pointing out the concept of telematics. “Telematics is like putting a black box inside a car. The insurer would know exactly how and how far the car is used. Telematics is becoming more affordable, so I believe this will eventually be a popular way of insuring motor vehicles,” he added. Telematics is the branch of information technology that deals with

tance from the money-laundering Anti-Money Laundering Council, the BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas], Office of the Solicitor General, the Department of Justice, the chief prosecutor’s office. We are reasonably happy with what they’ve done,” Hossain said in an interview with Filipino journalists in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka. However, Hossain expressed concern about how soon Bangladesh can get the entire amount back considering the slow pace of legal system in the country.

“It is not unusual globally because there are cases like this that take much time and not just in the Philippines,” he said. “We have a rush because the money belongs to the people of Bangladesh and they are out of pocket as it were since February 2016.” Hossain added they are looking into other ways of recovering the money without affecting the ongoing case and that they have plans to seek help from the United States. In February 2016 unidentified hackers—allegedly from North

Korea—stole $81 million from the Bangladesh Bank’s account in New York Fed and transferred it to different fake accounts in Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC). It is alleged the money was laundered through casinos in the country. The Bangladesh Bank was able to retrieve only $15 million from the Philippines after two years of investigation. Due to its failure to prevent the withdrawal of stolen funds, the BSP ordered RCBC to pay a P1-billion fine. PNA

the long-distance transmission of computerized information, while insurtech is the use of technology innovations designed to optimize savings and efficiency from the current insurance industry model.

But he quickly added that data security challenges will not hamper the IC and the local insurance industry’s efforts in line with incorporating technology with its processes. “Technology is here, and it is good, and we just need to know how to use it and protect it from malicious entities. Innovations always come with challenges. When you’re trying something relatively new, you don’t always know what will work or not,” Funa said. Meanwhile, Rellosa said that for the nonlife insurance the cost of migrating to new technologies is seen to be the biggest challenge to date. “Many insurance companies still rely heavily on old systems and adopting new ways of doing business is not always easy. Right now, many companies are facing a major challenge in terms of the high capitalization required by the government. So it is but natural that things like technology are not on their priority list,” Rellosa said.

and at less cost for the insurers. Plus, with less documents in hard copies, there is less need for storage space; less fire hazards, as well,” Funa said. Rellosa, for his part, mentioned that even though the Philippine insurance industry is taking its time to adapt to the changes that technology poses, the good thing is that the country will learn from the experiences of other countries to arrive to what works best for the local insurance industry. “But being a latecomer in this technology race is not really that bad. In fact, it has its own advantages. Because as late adopters, we get to learn from the mistakes of our more advanced neighbors, and we get to choose the best and most affordable solutions for our needs,” he said. Mina also pointed out that the local insurance industry still has room to adapt to technological advancements, specifically shifting to the use of fintech. “There is much room for the rest of the industry players to follow suit in creating better service value proposition to customers through fintech-supported postsale processes,” he said.

Agri insurance

ANOTHER innovation that the nonlife insurance industry is looking at is parametric insurance, which is no longer based on actual assessment of losses but based on certain parameters that are set at the start of the policy, according to Rellosa. An example of parametric insurance is parametric agriculture insurance, where farmers don’t need to prove that their farm suffered a loss in order to file a claim. The insurance company simply needs to establish certain parameters that need to be present for the claim to happen. The Philippine Life Insurance Association Inc. (PLIA), the umbrella organization for all life insurance companies in the country, pointed out that although the organization has not undertaken initiatives incorporating fintech as a whole, several life insurance companies have started to shift. “There is nothing being done as an association level initiative regarding fintech but several leading companies have been building up related capabilities. At least two companies already have their own mobile applications that enable viewing of account status and values...,” PLIA Executive Director George C. Mina told the BusinessMirror.

Data security challenge

ACCORDING to the IC commissioner, data security is one of the major challenges in enabling the insurance industry to fully shift to using fintech. “Probably the biggest challenge in going digital is keeping data secured,” Funa said. He pointed out that governments of developed countries, as well as the biggest Internet communities, such as, Yahoo, Facebook and e-Bay, among others, have had their securities breached at some point. Hackers will always be an issue.

Product complexities

PLIA’S Mina added that changing the rigid sales process, as well as product complexities, still remains to be a challenge for the life insurance industry. “Fintech support in life insurance is mainly postsale-based. Due to product complexity and rigid sales process, it is difficult to overcome the generally accepted ‘insurance is sold not bought’ concept of life insurance. This restricts the opportunities for pushing technology-enabled or online-based life insurance selling. Typically, only simple term and accident plans are marketed in such channel,” Mina said.

Opportunities

THE IC sees more opportunities rather than challenges in terms of shifting to using digital technology, adding that its plan to establish a financial database for the insurance industry is a result of adapting to the changing times. “Definitely, insurance technology brings with it opportunities. In the case of the IC Financial Database project, it will provide opportunities to speed up delivery of services. The online submission will allow us to collate data faster

Geographical plus

PROSPECTS for the local insurance industry to adopt to fintech shines bright in the horizon with a number of industry players slowly but surely adapting to the changing times. “ The Philippines, with our strategic location in the typhoon belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire, will always be a very good market for insurance. And with our fastgrowing population and the low penetration rate of insurance, nonlife insurers have a very big space in which to grow their business,” Rellosa said. Mina pointed out that successfully shifting to new technologies is a two-way street, with private insurance companies as well as the IC working together to accomplish the goal of digitalization. “We should be flexible to adapt and compete on new grounds. Regulation is key in ensuring a level playing field and the protection of the insuring public,” Mina said.

TMTG introduces gold-based virtual currency in PHL market

EOUL, South Korea-headquartered Digital Gold Exchange (DGE) Co. Ltd. formally launched on Monday its The Midas Touch Gold (TMTG), a Korean cryptocurrency token backed by real gold reserves in Korea. DGE is collaborating with Coinzip.co, an easy-to-use digital currency exchange. TMTG has been available on Coinzip. co since September, “giving users a safe ecosystem to use other cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin [BTC] and Ethereum [ETH] to buy, sell or trade TMTG on Coinzip.co,” the company said in a statement. “We at TMTG thought deeply about how virtual money could bring value to the ever yday lives of many people,” DGE CEO Nathan Ryu was quoted in the statement as saying. “As the result of our extensive research, we decided to focus on gold, which is widely used and recognized

globally as monetary and property assets.” Part of TMTG’s mission is to establish an ecosystem with a virtual currency that has a value that can be directly traded for actual goods. Coinzip.co was its partner of choice, which is a global virtual money exchange that currently trades the major coins, such as BTC, ETH, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and now, TMTG. TMTG is a utility token primarily meant to purchase digital gold, which is pegged with actual gold; as such, TMTG is associated with a real asset. With TMTG available on Coinzip.co, users will have a digital trade ecosystem that allows tangible resources, gold, to be easily traded for virtual money in a digital environment using a secure platform on a blockchain network. “TMTG aims for a hyperconnected society and has worked hard to construct an ecosystem

that achieves effective values of real assets through decentralized blockchain,” Ryu said. “Through our collaboration with Coinzip. co, we are able to expand our reach to a broader market, providing more users with access to an easy-to-use cryptocurrency exchange where TMTG can easily be bought, sold, or traded.” In the Philippines adoption of cryptocurrency has been growing rapidly over the past two years. Recent data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas indicate that trading volume between cryptocurrencies and the Philippine peso has been inching toward the $40-million mark in the first quarter of 2018. Users who acquire TMTG tokens through Coinzip.co can then be used on the DGE Platform to purchase Digital Gold Bars, or to trade with other users. They can also be transferred to another user’s wallet.

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Thursday, October 11, 2018 B3-3

Duterte open to suspending fuel excise tax

USPENDING excise tax on oil products is an option being considered to ease inflation, President Duterte said on Tuesday. “Maybe,” D uter te told re p or te r s a f te r ad m i n i ste r i ng the oath of new officers of the M a l a c a ñ a n g P re s s C or p s i n Malacañang. D ut e r t e ’s e c o no m i c m a n agers ea rl ier sa id t he r ising prices of petroleum products is the main contributor to the inflation surge. “Kaya kita mo pag sabi price increase, kinabukasan ang pan de sal, susunod ’yan. ’Pag sinabing price increase sa oil is now 154 or 156 per barrel. Tataas lahat ’yan [When you say price increase, the

LGU, DBP TIE-UP

The local government of General Trias City, led by Chief Executive Antonio Ferrer (left), and the Development Bank of the Philippines, led by Senior Vice President Antonio Owen Maramag, signed a partnership agreement on the bank’s Cash Management Solutions to promote efficiency in managing operating funds, increase productivity and realize cost savings for the LGU. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEN. TRIAS LGU

next day pan de sal will be next. When you say price increase in oil is now 154 or 156 per barrel. Ever y t hing w i l l go up],” Duterte said. Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, the government can suspend the implementation of the higher excise tax if oil prices in the world market will hit $80 per barrel. The President, meanwhile, lamented anew that the Philippines did not have its own oil production and relied on supply from

oil-producing nations. “Ang Indonesia, may reserve. Ma laysia, may reser ve. Tayo, wala. So every time magbili tayo ng gasolina, we use our savings [Indonesia has a reserve. Malaysia has a reserve. But we don’t (have oil reserves). So every time we buy gas, we use our savings],” Duterte said. Aside from the possible suspension of the excise tax on oil, Duterte earlier issued three directives to concerned government agencies in an effort to cushion the impact of oil-price hikes on Filipinos. He ordered the Department of Trade and Industry to monitor and arrest traders who take advantage of the oil-price hike by raising prices further, the Department of Labor and Employment to meet and consider raising minimum wage, and the Department of Energy to import cheaper oil products from countries that are not members of the Organization of the Petroleum E x por t i ng Cou nt r ies (O pec), such as Russia. At present, the Philippines sources fuel from Opec memberstates. PNA

Indonesia has a reserve. Malaysia has a reserve. But we don’t [have oil reserves]. So every time we buy gas, we use our savings.”—Duterte

B3-4 Thursday, October 11, 2018

RENOWNED BOOK AUTHOR SEGUNDO MATIAS JR. DISCUSSES HIV-AIDS ON HIS NEW CONTROVERSIAL NOVEL

A WARHAWK JOINS FIESTAG 2018 Warhawk Gamefowl Series Feeds joined this year’s Fiestag 2018 at the SMX Convention Center. Distinguished gamefowl breeders got to show their finest stags and gamefowl enthusiasts availed themselves of fine brood stags from their favorite breeders. Supported by about 9,000 farms nationwide, the Fiestag 2018 is spearheaded by International Gamefowl Breeders Association Inc. (Figba). Photo shows Senator Cynthia Villar and Bureau of Animal Industry Director Ronnie Domingo as they lead the opening ceremony of this year’s Fiestag 2018, along with Warhawk representatives general manager Lorenzo Mapua, marketing manager Jojo Emata and sales director Joel Durano.

LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ON TERMINATION LAWS

‘Y

OU’RE fired!” That spit-firing charge of famous realestate mogul and US president Donald Trump would say in front of his millions of audiences on the hit TV series Apprentice, when he must let go of his people on the spot. However, in the Philippine setting, such action would be a grave violation of the Labor Code. With the advocacy of educating business owners, administrators, human resource (HR) practitioners and the general public on the lawful dismissal of employees and prevent costly manpower problems, the Center for Global Best Practices will host a special program, titled “Best Practices Guide to Valid Dismissal”, on Friday, October 26, at the Manila Marriott Hotel. Visit www.cgbp.ph for the full details of this training and the complete list of Best Practices programs. Update yourselves with the changes on termination law. This learning initiative will cover topics, such as the rights of employer and employee, substantive and procedural due process before dismissal, just causes for dismissal, such as serious misconduct, sexual harassment, insubordination or willful disobedience, neglect of duties, abandonment of work, fraud, and willful breach of trust and confidence, commission of a crime or offense, and other causes of dismissal under Article 282 identified as “analogous”, among other lectures. Attending to this program will equip you with the right

knowledge on the concept of positive discipline, how to implement the grievance machinery, use of preventive suspension and provide solutions to the most challenging, as well as common, problems encountered by management. Learn valuable lessons and insights from labor law expert practitioner lawyer Elvin Villanueva, who has assembled the most comprehensive, substantive and highly researched materials on this important topic. He has written 25 best-selling books, namely, Digest on Critical Supreme Court Decisions on Labor Cases (released in June); Guide on Employee Compensation and Benefits Volumes 1 and 2; Guide to Valid Dismissal of Employees; Guide on Wage Order and Minimum Wage; Valid Job Contracting and Subcontracting, Gabay sa mga Karapatan ng mga OFWs; HR Forms, Notices and Contracts Volumes 1 and 2; Employee Transfer and Demotion; Leave Benefits, among the roster of his published books. His advocacy is to help companies and employees solve their HR issues. This program is open to the general public. Government officials and employees attending such training programs are exempted from the P2,000 limit set by the Commission on Audit, based on the Department of Budget and Management Circular 563 dated April 22. Interested participants are encouraged to avail themselves of the early-bird and group discounts. Seats are limited and preregistration is required.

MUNTINLUPA EXPANDS LGU CARD PROGRAM

ESIDENTS of Muntinlupa City can now further enjoy the convenience of cashless transactions, as the city governmnt recently launched the expanded Muntinlupa Care Card (MCC) Plus, the country’s most advanced citizen card program. A partnership with the Lingkod Muntinlupa Foundation and PayMaya, the digital financial arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations, the new MCC Plus card combines an ordinary ID with the technology of a prepaid card. Through the new MCC Plus, student scholars, senior citizens, small businesses and other beneficiaries will be able to receive their cash benefits and allowances from the city government and use their accounts to pay for goods and services in 5,000 small businesses and beneficiaries of Muntinlupa’s Joint Resources Financing Program zero interest loan. Residents can also avail of free rides to e-jeepneys plying the city’s main roads by tapping the card into the sensors inside the vehicles. According to Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, the MCC Plus is the country’s

most advanced LGU card, which will bring more convenience to its constituents. He said that, since its launch in 2015, the program already has over 200,000 holders and the partnership with PayMaya will offer more opportunities for the residents in the Philippines’s growing digital economy. MCC Plus cards can also be used to shop online and in-store, pay bills or buy prepaid cell-phone load from all networks using the PayMaya app. Cash credits can be added to their accounts through more than 20,000 Add Money touchpoints, including Smart Padala, SM Business Centers, Robinsons Business Centers, 7-Eleven, Touchpay, UnionBank ATMs, Shopwise, Wellcome, 2Go, ExpressPay, Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop, Smart Padala, Banco De Oro, UnionBank, RCBC Online Banking and other InstaPay outlets. In photo at the launch are (from left) PayMaya head of domestic services Lawrence Ferrer, Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi, an MCC Plus beneficiary family, Lingkod Muntinlupa Foundation program director Grace Carmona-Salvador, and PayMaya chief operating officer and managing director Paolo Azzola.

CCLAIMED and best-selling author Segundo Matias Jr. has recently launched his new book under Lampara Publishing House. Dubbed Mga Batang Poz, Matias’s latest foray into popculture literary is an emotionally gripping account of four teenagers afflicted with HIV-AIDS. The story grows in poignancy as the characters reveal something about their lives throughout the journey, finding comfort and solace in each other’s harrowing experiences and, in return, helping them realize the beauty of life and friendship underneath the suffering. Mga Batang Poz is the first young-adult novel about HIV-AIDS in the Philippines, and a game-changer in the literary front as it singlehandedly confronts misconceptions about the disease. It marks an important step forward in understanding the lives of people living with HIV-AIDS, exploring in greater depth the characters’ lives in the age of social media and dating-app hookups. The author considers the book as a personal advocacy to educate young readers about the stigma and discrimination against HIV-AIDS and, at the same time, raise sexual health awareness affecting the LGBTQ community at large. “Nilalayon ng proyektong ito na makatulong upang unawain ang kultura ng kabataang miyembro ng

LGBT, wakasan ang homophobia at itigil ang stigma sa mga positibo sa HIV.” Matias adds, “Pangunahing nilalayon nito ang makatulong sa kamulatan hinggil sa Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] at Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS], sang-ayon sa mga bagong pananaliksik at estadistika ng Department of Health.” So far, the reception about Segundo Matias Jr.’s Mga Batang Poz has been overwhelmingly positive, with key figures in the literary community praising the book for its provocative and emotionally compelling narrative. Award-winning screenwriter Ricky Lee, in particular, enjoyed the book for its incisive storytelling. “Bawat pahina ng [Mga] Batang Poz ay patalim na humihiwa sa ating kamalayan, ginigising tayo sa katotohanan na sa tuwing may kabataang nagkakaroon ng HIV o namamatay, kasangkot tayo.” Filmmaker and producer Chris Martinez praised the novel for keeping readers on the edge of their seats. “Hindi ko mabitawan,” the Ang Babae sa Septic Tank director recounts his experience reading the novel. “Tinapos ko sa isang upuan. Masakit na masarap basahin ang nobelang ito.” Kilometer Zero author Wilfredo Pascual also waxed poetic about the author and

his latest offering. “Segundo Matias Jr. is a bold writer. In confronting the alarming rate of HIV infection in the country, he zeroes in on youth and social media, young lives about to break into pieces. He lays bare the various shadings of recklessness, the unexpected comfort, the terror, the rage, and the desire to find true connections and real bliss.” Palanca-awardee Segundo Matias Jr. recently launched Mga Batang Poz on September 28 at the Precious Events Center, Quezon City. The event provided a platform to promote HIV awareness and prevention among men who have sex with men and other high-risk segments of the society. An expert in telling stories targeted to a younger demographic, Matias wrote Mga Batang Poz as part of his graduate thesis in University of the Philippines Diliman, where he is determined to come up with a young-adult novel tackling a highly controversial subject that a lot of people are afraid to discuss in public. MgaBatangPoz is available on Precious Pages retail outlets, National Book Store, Pandayan book shop and leading books stores nationwide. For inquiries, e-mail them at lamparapublishinghouse@ gmail.com.

2019 OBG REPORT TO HIGHLIGHT NATIONAL FOCUS ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

HE move to overhaul the Philippines’s tax framework and the mixed reception that some of the planned reforms have been given to date will be explored in detail in a forthcoming report by the global research and consultancy firm Oxford Business Group (OBG). The Report: The Philippines 2019 will provide an in-depth analysis of the decision taken by the Duterte administration to reduce corporate income tax from 30 percent to 20 percent over time, as part of its comprehensive tax reform program. It will also consider the impact of farreaching changes planned for the tax and investment incentives offered to businesses, which are currently being evaluated. At present many of the incentives offered, such as tax holidays, the waiving of customs duties and special treatment for companies when it comes to the acquisition of capital goods, are targeted primarily at larger companies, many of whom are internationals.Theanticipatedadjustments are aimed at rebalancing the business landscape by providing more incentives to the Philippines’s many small- and mediumsized enterprises. OBG will examine the balancing act that the country faces in its efforts to stimulate SME activity, which is seen as key to job creation and sustainable growth, while also retaining its attractiveness to major foreign players. The Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has signed a further memorandum of understanding (MoU) with OBG for its forthcoming publication. Under the MoU, the chamber will help OBG

to research and produce The Report: The Philippines 2019. Commenting after the signing, Alegria Limjoco, president of PCCI, said she looked forward to working with OBG’s team once again, adding that its coverage of the industrial expansion already evident in the Philippines, and the areas of the economy that are ripe for growth, such as ICT and infrastructure development, would be highly beneficial to the business community at home and abroad. “ThePhilippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to promoting entrepreneurship, industrialization and new technology, which we believe are all key to ensuring that future growth and prosperity are sustainable and inclusive,” she said. “[The] Oxford Business Group is recognized as a company of reference in the field of business and investment expertise, and a reliable economic research firm with aninternationalaudience. I’m delighted that we will be contributing to its research once again.” Charlotte Van Camp, country director for Philippines, added that the OBG’s longstanding partnership with the PCCI had undoubtedly strengtheneditscoverage of the Philippines, at a time when the country was keen to strengthen trade relations and investor interest in the Asean region had never

been higher. “As the voice of the Philippines’s business community, the chamber is spearheading efforts to promote trade, investment and commerce, providing it with broad representation across the private sector,” she said. “I welcome the opportunity to work with its team on this important project and document the next, exciting chapter of the Philippine growth story.” The Report: The Philippines 2019 will mark the culmination of more than six months of field research by a team of analysts from the Oxford Business Group. It will be a vital guide to the many facets of thecountry,includingitsmacroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments. The Report: The Philippines 2019 will be produced with the PCCI and the Management Association of the Philippines. It will be available in print and online.

A ‘BREAK’ IN TRADITION

R ATERNIT Y opens its doors outside of the university. The University of the Philippines (UP) Triskelions, or the UP Tau Gamma Phi as they are more popularly known, conducted a media briefing on October 3 at Midas Hotel and Casino. The members of the panel were greatly impressed with as to how they were received by their media guests. Starting the talk was Roy Ordinario, one of the founding fathers, who gave a brief introduction on the fraternity’s history and direction. Roy was only 16 years old when he founded the fraternity. 50 years down the road, he never imagined that the frat would grow to its present number. One notable line from him was

that, “Wherever you are in this world, wherever there are Filipinos, it is most likely that you will find a brother”. Lawyer Jim Villanueva continued the talk by presenting the activities lined up for the frater nit y. T his includes the kicking off of its 50,000 bloodbank donorship, 50,000 treeplanting activity; and the attempt to set a Guinness World Record for a human seal. Lawyer Louie Aseoche reiterated the fraternity’s commitment to comply with the provisions of the Anti-Hazing Act, including its most updated provisions. He stresses on to the importance of lawfulness versus lawlessness, an attempt to, likewise, address the changes in today’s climate.

Closing the media briefing was Clark Coscolluela. Clark sets out to break the misnomers on what fraternities, specially the UP Tau Gamma Phi is really like, with the aim of really being able to introduce the fraternity in a different light. “Because of the fraternity’s reach and inf luence, we truly believe that our organization is now presented with a God-given opportunity to make a difference in the lives of ot he r p e o ple, mo s t s p e c i a l [to] the communities that we are part of, thereby, realizing our roles as responsible members of the society.” The media briefing was conducted by OrangeLead Corp., through Chief Executive Officer Pocholo Calimag.

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Thursday, October 11, 2018 B4-1

FDI inflows in July rise to $914 million

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

OREIGN investors were eager to put their money in the Philippine economy in hopes for long-term economic gains at the start of 2018’s second half, latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. On Wednesday the Central Bank reported a “significant rise” in the country’s foreign direct investments

(FDI) inflows, from $344 million in July last year to an almost threefold rise to $914 million this year.

FDI is the type of investment that is often more coveted, as it stays longer in the economy and creates job opportunities for locals. It is also not easily pulled out of the market unlike its shorter-term counterpart, the foreign portfolio investments. “This reflected the continued positive investor sentiment on the Philippine economy on the back of strong macroeconomic fundamentals and growth prospects,” the BSP said in a statement on Wednesday. More than 60 percent of FDI net inflows during the month was in the form of nonresidents’ invest-

ments in debt instruments issued by local affiliates—or the so-called “intercompany borrowings.” This subcomponent of the FDI grew to $584 million in July, from the $136 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile, net equity capital investments also grew strongly by 90.2 percent to reach $261 million in July, from $137 million in the same month in 2017. This was a result of the confluence of a 60.6-percent increase in equity capital placements to $278 million coupled with the decline in withdrawals by 52.3 percent to $17 million.

The BSP said these equity capital placements were sourced primarily from Singapore, Taiwan, the United States, Korea and Japan. Investments were channeled largely to manufacturing, financial and insurance, real estate, wholesale and retail trade, and administrative and support-service activities. Meanwhile, reinvestment of earnings amounted to $69 million during the month. For the January-to-July period, FDI net inflows increased by 52.1 percent to $6.7 billion, from $4.4 billion last year.

Several private analysts had earlier projected a good year for FDI inflows into the country. In particular, Moody’s Investors Service said while global investors’ need for portfolio rebalancing has led to increased market pressure in emerging markets like the Philippines, FDI will remain “relatively strong overall.” Barclays research director Rahul Bajoria also said among the expected drivers of growth in the third quarter of the year is the foreseen pickup of FDI numbers, as well as higher remittance flows toward the end of the year.

BOC bolsters electronic-to-mobile program to protect data By Rea Cu @ReaCuBM

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued a memorandum order to further strengthen its “electronic-tomobile” (E2M) program to help maintain the integrity of customs data and prevent unauthorized access to customs systems and applications. Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 15-2018 establishes an E2M user-access policy, emphasizing the importance of access and use of the BOC’s systems and applications, as well as protecting data from possible threats and abuses. “This policy defines the BOC expectations of users who have been granted ac-

cess to the E2M systems and other customs applications,” the CMO said. The CMO seeks to help ensure the BOC has adequate controls to restrict and regulate access to its systems; establish the standard procedures for managing the access to the E2M system; instill user accountability when accessing the system; monitor and account all access granted to all users of the system; and conduct regular audit, evaluation and provide recommendations to address any weaknesses within the system. “This memorandum order shall cover all persons with access to the BOC’s E2M systems, their related applications and data stored and processed in and through

SPi Global partners with ePLDT, PLDT Enterprise

PLDT Inc.—the industry-leading enabler of digital enterprise solutions in the Philippines—together with PLDT Enterprise, recently engaged in a partnership agreement with SPi Global for its adoption of Microsoft Office 365. Office 365 is a suite of productivity tools that allows users to work anytime, anywhere and on any device. It boasts of communication solutions built for effective team collaboration—from e-mail and instant messaging to social networking and video conferencing. “We have exigencies in the business, particularly data resiliency and data security, which is why we value partnerships with technology companies that fulfill that need. We are glad that the PLDT Group has met our standards at a time when we need support in the market’s highly competitive space,” said Ratan Datta, president and CEO of SPi Global. SPi Global is the market-leading con-

tent technology and solutions company that provides subject-matter expertise and data services to various industries. The company acquired global Microsoft Office 365 subscriptions from ePLDT for its offices in the Philippines, India and the United States. SPi Global partnered with ePLDT to implement its Office 365 migration services and adoption programs to fully integrate the suite of productivity and collaboration tools into its daily business operations. “ePLDT joins hand with SPi Global in reinventing its workplace to be a venue for growth, productivity, and collaboration,” said Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT group senior vice president and chief operating officer. “It is truly our honor to engage with SPi Global for this partnership. This serves as a remarkable moment for both organizations that both aspire to sustain being game changers in the industry through digital transformation.”

Local vape makers, users urge WHO to reverse e-cigarettes ban

HE group of vape industry leaders, players and users in the country has joined a global initiative to push the World Health Organization (WHO) to change its position on regulating electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Organizations from across North America, Europe, Asia and Australasia have signed the United Kingdom (UK) Vaping Industry Association’s call to action. “We and our international co-signatories are proud to stand up for vaping as a route for smokers seeking a less harmful alternative,” said Joey Dulay, president of Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association Inc. The WHO’s tobacco control group will be meeting at the 8th session of its Conference of the Parties in Geneva, Switzerland to explore global guidance on electronic nicotine delivery systems, otherwise known as vaping products or e-cigarettes. Even if they have recognized the po-

tential of vape to reduce smoking rates, they took the contradictory stance in 2016 that member states could also ban vaping products outright as part of a tobacco control plan. This is at odds with member states, particular the UK and New Zealand, which advocate smokers switching to vaping as part of harm-reduction policy. The Philippines, Australia and the United Arab Emirates are now also considering to lift the bans or restrictions on vaping. Vaping bodies worldwide have banded together on concern that the WHO’s stance may compromise the developments made by countries that have embraced vaping by opening the door to potential bans. They believe the WHO tobacco control group’s messaging is not only harmful to public health, but unaccountable, least of all to the consumers whose taxes fund but do not appear to influence its policies. Roderick L. Abad

it,” it added. Users covered by CMO 15-2018 are BOC organic personnel, accredited value-added service providers and their respective agents, government agencies and all other persons that

access the E2M system. The deputy commissioner for the BOC’s Management Information Systems and Technology Group is the approving authority to

grant access to the system. Access right to the systems will be reviewed at least every three months to determine dormant accounts as well as accounts with excessive privileges.

B4-2 Thursday, October 11, 2018

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CLI books record sales of ₧6.17B in 9 months By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28

Contributor

UBLICLY listed property developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) is on track to meet its full-year financial target, following its posting record reservation sales of P6.17 billion from January to September 2018.

In a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, the company reported it is poised for double-digit fiscal growth representing a 69-percent increase year-on-year and 88 percent of the firm’s 2018 goal of P7 billion worth of bookings. “Most of the sales, along with the total number of units sold,

came from Casa Mira, the CLI brand designed for the Filipino family,” said Jose Soberano III, CLI president and CEO. “Our high-end projects in Cebu and mid-market project in Bacolod City also significantly contributed to our total sales performance.” He noted that about 2,500 units were taken up by the

market at an average price of P2.5 million. Economic-housing brand Casa Mira contributed P1.42 billion from sales of 746 units; Baseline Center, a high-end mixed-use development in Cebu City, accounted for P1.18 billion from sales of 341 units; and MesaVirre Garden Residences, a condominium complex in Bacolod City, sold 427 units to raise P929.93 million. “The strategies we have adopted in the housing market allow us to meet full-year targets,” Soberano said. The top executive cited 14 projects serving the mid- to economic segments in different locations in the Visayas and Mindanao—such as Cebu, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro and Davao—would continue to improve sales. Additional revenues are also expected from upcoming projects in Bohol and Iloilo. “We expect to see continued strong sales performance in the coming years as demand for housing from these segments of the market remains firm,” he said. CLI remains bullish on its busi-

ness prospects on the back of strong consumer spending as shown by a third-quarter survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, saying 9.2 percent of Filipino households intend to buy houses in the next 12 months. The leading local property firm in the Visayas and Mindanao areas has a total of 52 developments in various stages in eight key cities: Cebu, Mandaue, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo and Bohol. On the back of increased property deals closed by the company, CLI posted an increase of 30 percent in net income to P826 million in the first half of 2018 compared to P633 million posted in the same period in 2017. Real-estate sales grew by 45 percent to P2.585 billion, from P1.788 billion last year, mainly from MesaVerte Residences in Davao City, Baseline Center in Cebu City, Casa Mira South in Naga City and Casa Mira Towers Labangon in Cebu City. Combined revenue reached P2.6 billion, growing by 45 percent, from P1.807 billion posted during the two periods in review.

TOP HOSPITAL EXECS GATHER IN FORUM TO DISCUSS BEST HEALTH-CARE PRACTICES IN PHL

O help cocreate value in the country’s health-care system, the chief executive officers (CEOs) of top hospitals in the Philippines gathered at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to share ideas and best practices pivotal to the operations of local hospitals. The Hospital CEO Forum 2018, themed “Creating Excellent Outcomes in the Philippine Healthcare System,” is the first yearly forum conceptualized and organized by the ADB, Novartis Healthcare Philippines and Sandoz Corp. Philippines, with the support of the Swiss Embassy in the Philippines, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Wallace Business Forum. ADB Senior Health Specialist Gerard Servais said hospitals have a significant role in society as places for healing and preserving good health. “The first Hospital CEO Forum will help hospitals prepare for the challenges of the future, particularly in delivering sustainable, inclusive and resilient health care,” he said. For PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Roy Ferrer, this event will “equip local hospitals in adapting to their crucial and evolving role within the health-care system, especially in response to the changing health-care needs of Filipinos and their emerging technologies.” Partnering in this forum was the Swiss Embassy’s way to contribute to the discussion on the fulfillment of a universal quality health care in the country. “I believe that through best practices, the Swiss health system might serve as an aspirational benchmark to possibly trigger and drive transformational reforms in other countries, including the Philippines,” Swiss Ambassador Andrea Reichlin said. “And although clearly, we have no exportable and reproducible models in mind, our ambition is to share lessons learned among partners as at the end, we collectively aspire for the same goals: to allocate efficiently scarce resources, and put our citizens and patients at the center of our attention and services, legitimizing at such our respective institutions and policies. In line with this, we are also keen to note that the Philippines has already begun its reform cycle in health financing and service delivery, especially since recently, the President of the Republic certified as urgent the bill seeking universal health care for Filipinos,” he added. Meanwhile, Novartis takes pride as a partner in this event that aims to facilitate positive changes and lead to enhanced patient care.

“An important area of focus for the future is building the skill of hospital managers to drive innovation, introduce new ideas and novel approaches that can result in significant patient benefits,” said Cheryl Maley, president and managing director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines. “The forum will allow hospital CEOs to share insights on how hospitals can manage challenges and take advantage of trends in technology investment, connectivity, innovations, public-private partnerships and the changing health-care environment,” noted Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon, ADB principal health specialist for sustainable development and climate change. “We envisage the annual Hospital CEO Forum to serve as a strategic platform to facilitate continuous dialogue between the government and private-sector stakeholders on issues and information relevant to models and practices on hospital management systems,” said Christine Fajardo, organizing committee head, Hospital CEO Forum 2018 and corporate affairs head, Novartis Healthcare Philippines. The forum featured resource persons who shared insights on how hospitals can improve access to hospital care and other levels of care within an integrated network while striving for improvement in quality and patient safety; models of integration of health-care provision at various levels featuring innovations on public-private partnerships and financing arrangements; and trends and practices on the use and sharing of data on health outcome and patient demographics across various management units. Among the resource persons were former Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona, who spoke on achieving UHC through equitable provision of quality health-care services. The daylong event had three sessions: ensuring universal access to hospital services, integration of health-care service delivery, and sharing and utilization of health outcome and health-care utilization data across hospital management units. Forum participants included top executives of Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc., Philippine Heart Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City, Qualimed Health Network, Rizal Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao Doctors Hospital, National Telehealth Center/National Institutes of Health, Tarlac Provincial Hospital Cardinal Santos Medical Center, and The Medical City, among others. Roderick L. Abad

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Star Expressway now using RFID tech in toll plazas By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

HE Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (Star) E x pressway is now equipped with RFID technology, Star Tollways Corp. said, offering motorists a more seamless travel south of Metro Manila. In a statement, the company said it has installed homegrown Autosweep RFID tech at toll plazas to complement cash payments in the 42-kilometer toll road that stretches from Santo Tomas, Batangas, to Batangas City. Star said the use of the RFID system will help reduce waiting and transaction times at toll plazas, a usual pain point for tollways in the Philippines.

MUTUAL FUNDS

“This is one of the plans we are implementing in order to lessen hassle and ensure faster travel. We are more optimistic that with the inclusion of the Star Tollway into San Miguel Infrastructure’s Autosweep RFID system, we will be able to handle vehicle volumes at a faster rate,” the statement read. Average daily vehicle traffic on Star is at 58,000 vehicles. Around 28 percent of the vehicles currently use the RFID tech as their preferred mode of payment. “We encourage motorists to utilize the Autosweep RFID access as mode to pay their toll fees,” the statement read. Aside from Star, toll roads under San Miguel Corp. include the South Luzon Expressway, Skyway and the Naia Expressway.

October 10, 2018

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC * 240.25 -16.65% -1.74% 0.37% -18.06% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.* 1.3687 -15.73% 3.32% 1.52% -14.28% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.* 3.7429 -16.75% -0.36% -0.51% -18.5% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP.* 0.8609 -14.58% N.A. N.A. -15.35% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. * ********* 0.7931 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC.* 4.95 -14.96% -3.04% -0.44% -17.68% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. * ****** 112.97 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC.* 0.7913 -19.1% N.A. N.A. -20.29% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC.* 46.7475 -15.51% -0.85% N.A. -17.1% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC.* 486.23 -16.34% -2.12% -0.8% -17.37% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC.* 1.2069 -12.64% 0.03% N.A. -14.06% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC.* 35.0879 -12.48% 0.41% 2.39% -14.62% PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC.* 4.6976 -15.46% -0.18% 2.21% -17.21% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP.* 784.05 -15.42% -0.43% 1.91% -17.09% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. * 0.8108 -15.07% -2.71% N.A. -16.16% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC.* 3.8777 -13.7% -0.46% 0.66% -15.34% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC.* 0.9044 -15.62% -0.34% N.A. -17.28% UNITED FUND, INC.* 3.3354 -11.49% 0.66% 0.52% -14.35% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC.* *** ● 104.9115 -14.88% 0.77% N.A. -16.71% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC.** $0.9642 -9.96% 2.28% 0.09% -13% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC.* $1.2676 4.69% N.A. N.A. 0.19% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC.* 1.6039 -12.8% -3.68% -2.16% -13.93% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC.* 2.1464 -11.67% -0.67% -0.03% -12.64% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC.* 2.4397 -10.63% -4.15% -2.93% -11.92% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION* **** 1.2743 -12.01% N.A. N.A. -12.41% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC* 1.7897 -8.84% -0.51% -0.07% -10.18% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC.* 3.3861 -12.98% -2.38% -1.2% -13.58% PHILAM FUND, INC.* 15.2202 -12.96% -2.36% -1.24% -13.31% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC.* ******** 2.0059 -10.01% -0.51% 1.47% -10.53% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC.* 3.5434 -10.15% -1.18% -0.12% -11.33% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC.* 0.901 -10.32% -1.52% N.A. -11.69% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC.* $0.03459 -4% -0.44% 1.75% -4.18% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC.* $0.9472 -7.49% 1.47% -1.31% -9.53% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC.* $3.6196 2.59% 5.3% 3.55% -0.9% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC.* $1.0827 -0.92% N.A. N.A. -2.65% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC.* 341.47 1.49% 1.81% 1.73% 1.29% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC.* ******* 1.8573 -2.47% -1.16% -0.36% -1.85% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC.* 2.9393 5.46% 5.34% 5.33% 4.16% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC.* 2.1177 -0.01% 1.02% 1.12% 0.74% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC.* 2.2183 -0.01% 0.28% 0.45% 0.09% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP.* P 1.5763 -2.15% -1.01% -1.12% -2.06% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC.* 3.7938 -7.13% -2.15% -0.96% -6.33% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC.* 3.4523 -1.42% -0.66% 0.15% -1.5% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. * 0.8739 -6.17% -2.25% N.A. -5.34% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC.* 2.7562 -0.62% 0.1% 0.48% -0.75% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC.* 1.5328 -1.08% -0.45% 0.01% -1.09% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. * $445.61 0.32% 2.19% 3.1% -0.07% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. * Є213.13 0.29% 1.33% 1.66% -0.28% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.** $1.1196 -1.1% 0.74% 1.74% -1.28% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.* $0.0248 -0.8% 0.68% N.A. -0.8% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP.* $1.6859 -4.96% -0.54% 1.21% -4.83% MAA PRIVILEGE DOLLAR FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. MAA PRIVILEGE EURO FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. ЄN.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC* $1.0235 -5.01% -1.59% -2.8% -4.66% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.* $2.1316 -4.77% 0.2% 2.35% -5.3% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC.* $0.0568587 -1% 0.85% 1.94% -0.6% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC.* $2.8711 -4.68% 0.47% 1.69% -4.7% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.* 119.87 2.29% 1.66% 1.44% 1.92% PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC.* 1.1718 1.5% 0.3% 0.34% 1.24% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.* 1.2094 2.4% 2.14% 1.39% 2.02% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC.* ***** $1.0113 N.A. N.A. N.A. 1.26% * - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY ** - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO *** - LISTED IN THE PSE. **** - RE-CLASSIFIED INTO A BALANCED FUND STARTING JANUARY 1, 2017 (FORMERLY GREPALIFE BOND FUND CORP.). ***** - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 6, 2017 ****** - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 08, 2018 ******** - RENAMING OF THE FUND WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST APRIL 13, 2018. ********* - BECAME A MEMBER SINCE APRIL 20, 2018. ******* - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018 ● - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JUNE 5, 2018.

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Thursday, October 11, 2018 B4-3

PT&T buys bid documents for 3rd telco spot

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

HE Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (PT&T) has signified its intention of participating in the third telco selection process, buying bid documents from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Wednesday.

James G. Velasquez, the company’s president, said his group

finds the content of the terms of reference “acceptable,” noting his

company is confident it has a fighting chance in winning the third telco spot. “We have downloaded the bid documents as soon as it was made available and have reviewed them thoroughly. As it stands, they are acceptable to us. We have bought the bid documents and we are confident our chances are strong,” he said. Velasquez’s statement came a day after third telco aspirant Now Corp. challenged the regulator in a legal battle, filing for a temporary restraining order against the process, citing “legal violations” due to three financial requirements. Now Corp. questioned “the in-

sertion of new requirements not taken upon during public hearings” for the third telco selection, specifically the P700-million participation security, the P14-billion to P24-billion performance security, and the P10-million nonrefundable appeal fee, calling these “barriers to entry.” These allegations were belied by Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr., who also questioned the timing and intent of Now Corp. for filing a legal complaint, when the process is already half-way through. Velasquez said his group is capable of meeting the financial re-

quirements spelled out in the terms of the selection process. “We believe we are the only local company that can comply with the stringent requirements. We have over 50 years of telecommunications experience servicing the Filipino people,” he said. Bid documents for the third telco selection were made available to the public on Monday, with five groups purchasing their copies to potentially join the process. Aside from Now Corp. and PT&T, other parties that bought bid documents were Udenna Corp. of Dennis A. Uy, politician Chavit Singson, European telco Telenor and an un-

named group. Deadline for the submission of bids is on November 7. The third telco player is expected to be announced sometime in December. Aside from the six parties that have bought selection documents, other groups interested in the third telco spot are Converge ICT Solutions Inc., EasyCall Communications Philippines Inc. and Transpacific Broadband Group International Inc. Foreign groups also interested in the third telco spot are China Telecom, Korea Telecom, LG U+, Vietnam Telecom, AT&T and Japan’s KDDI.

Dell EMC, HSBC partner to diversify channel BrandSpeakAsia to hold digital marketing boot camp in Cebu financing for PHL, Indonesia and Malaysia

ELL EMC and HSBC have partnered to expand Dell EMC’s channel financing portfolio for its partners in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The broadened portfolio will offer partners with alternate sources of capital and working-capital management, allowing them to fast-track delivery of digital, IT, security and work force transformation solutions for their customers. Dell EMC’s partners can realize two key benefits through the working capital solutions program in the form of adaptive credit—flexibility of scaling up and down on credit limit—

based on business dynamic and seasonality. This enhanced financial flexibility is specifically engineered to more closely align technology expenses with actual usage, freeing up budgets to enable new offerings for customers to drive digital transformation. It also offers greater predictability, and helps reduce costs and the financial risks associated with the adoption of new technologies. Dell EMC’s tie-up with HSBC in the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region will complement the global Dell EMC Partner Program, which already includes capabilities, offerings and incentives for

partners. This new partnership will further build on Dell EMC Channel’s revenue growth and will continue to validate the program’s commitment to deliver on Dell EMC’s promise to be Simple, Predictable and Profitable. Through this partnership, HSBC will offer working capital solutions tailor-made to support Dell EMC’s channel financing, allowing partners to leverage the bank’s trade solution structuring expertise, strong liquidity position, and the breadth and depth of local client coverage under its commercial banking and global banking franchises across the region.

EBU CITY, Cebu—In just four years, 80 percent of Mani la-based PR f ir m BrandSpeakAsia’s corporate clients have shifted their marketing strategies from traditional to digital marketing. In the last three years, 96 percent of BrandSpeakAsia’s Coffee Talk attendees claimed to get their inspiration and information online. Currently, the Philippines has an estimated total of 67 million Internet users, the same figure attributed to Facebook users in the country. In an effort to provide the market with a learning platform to understand, adapt and leverage on basic digital media tools, BrandSpeakAsia is holding a Digital Marketing Boot Camp on December 7 at Quest Hotel and Conference Center in this city. Digital media have changed the way people connect and interact with each other. Facebook, Twitter

and Instagram are just some of the more popular social-media apps that have revolutionized the way we find, receive and process information, initiate engagement and build communities. Among the many tools available, finding the right platform is an important step for companies and providing relevant and useful content is crucial to the effectiveness of a digital marketing campaign. “Digital marketing should not just be an option today for marketers, but an important staple for businesses, small and medium enterprises, freelancers and corporations. Brands must be conscious to understand and use it properly so they can leverage on technology to ensure that their companies are not left behind by the changing market behavior,” said Leigh de Armas, president and CEO of BrandSpeakAsia, about the marketing revolution that is digital marketing.

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BrandSpeakAsia’s Digital Marketing boot camp will offer a half-day training session that aims to educate the market about the various digital marketing tools, introduce how digital influencers work, share techniques on how companies can create campaigns and measure its results. De Armas will speak at the boot camp sharing her expertise from leading the company into 12 years of branding, PR and marketing experience. She said, “Companies must take advantage of how digital media has revolutionized marketing in way that through free tools, interaction and real-time engagement with the market has been made possible. Social media is just one tool where, without spending hundred of thousands in pesos on billboard placements and print ADS, brands can build a loyal following that can become a community that can grow with you.”

B4-4 Thursday, October 11, 2018

RUNNING FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT MERALCO, CABUYAO CITY CONCLUDE STRATEGIC PLANNING WITH 19 PIPELINE PROJECTS

NOWN for promoting diversity and wellness in the port industry, listed port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) spearheaded a fun run event on Sunday with the theme “ATI SHE RUN 2018: Takbo para sa Kababaihan.” The port-community run dedicated for women empowerment, in celebration of the global diversity awareness month this October, was joined by over 500 runners from ATI’s dockworkers to employees of the Philippine Ports Authority, the Bureau of Customs, major importers/exporters, freight forwarders and shipping lines, as well as customs brokers.

Aside from referring to women, “SHE” in the theme is an acronym for Safety, Health and Environment, corporate principles that the ATI lives by as a leading Philippine port organization. Runners raced the 5-kilometer and 10-km categories, starting from the historic Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta Complex in Manila, through the iconic stretch of Roxas Boulevard. The total distance accumulated by ATI’s SHE runners will be matched by the port company with P50 per kilometer, for donation to charity institutions championing women empowerment.

HE Manila Electr ic Co. (Meralco) and Cabuyao Cit y recently concluded its strategicplanning session. T his completes a series of collaborative planning aiming to ensure the city government and the countr y’s largest electricdistribution utility are aligned about their plans and resources to realize the city’s development strategies for its constituents. Cabuyao City and Meralco gear

tow a rd rapid de ve lopment , f rom its social ser vice initiatives to its biggest project to date: the Cabuyao Industrial Development Authority Industrial Park, a 50 -hectare worldclass commercial and industrial park. With 19 identified major projects, the city is expected to grow its power requirements by 52 percent in the next five years. Cabuyao Mayor Mel Gecolea thanked Meralco for being the city’s

par tner for prog ress. “Madami po ak ong planong ga w in para sa mga Cabuyaoeños, at nagpapasalamat ako sa tulong at dedication ng Meralco upang makamit at matupad namin ang mga planong ito [I have lots of plans for Cabuyaoeños, and I thank Meralco for its help and dedication to achieve these plans],” he said. Said by Ferdinand Geluz, Meralco vice president and head for Supply Chain and Logistics Management, “We are proud to work with a ver y prog ressive a nd for w a rd-lo ok i ng city government that wants to create a complete l iv i ng e x per ience for its constituents. Rest assured that Meralco will remain committed to make Cabuyao’s plans a reality as its end-to-end energy-solution partner.” L e a d i n g t he s t r at e g ic pl a n n i n g session between Meralco and C a b u y a o C it y a r e (s e a t e d , f r o m left) Mera lco Vice President Ber na rd C a st ro, C it y Cou nc i lor A me l ito A l i m a g no, C it y Cou nc i lor I me ld a Ent red ic ho, Mayor R om me l G e col e a , Me r a l co V ic e P re s id e nt Ferdinand Geluz, Meralco A ssi st a nt V ice P resident B enja m i n Nolasco and Meralco Manager Me n R a r a s . St a nd i n g at t he b a c k a re me m b e r s of Me r a l co a nd t he C a bu y ao C it y go v e r n me nt .

ITALIAN COOKING EXPERTISE AND TECHNOLOGY WITH TECNOGAS E

JP Rahnema

Lorelee Sicat

VERY food connoisseur will tell you that it’s not only the ingredients that make food simply delicious. Cooking that perfect dish requires culinary creativity and skill, and not to mention the right kitchen equipment like Tecnogas Italian cooking appliances, to ensure that each meal is cooked with passion and perfection. Founded more than 65 years ago, Tecnogas, the legendary Italian appliance brand has made its way to the Philippines and showcased its line of remarkable cooking appliances that led to its establishment as one of the top premium cooking appliance brands in the country. Whetherit’scookingsimplepasta dishes or preparing a complete fourcourse meal, Tecnogas integrates Italian expertise and technology with its quality cooking appliances built only with top of the line materials that are designed to deliver excellent cooking results. Available in all sizes, colors, and styles, Tecnogas’ widest selection of Italian cooking appliances varies from cooking ranges, built-in hobs, built-in ovens, range hoods, table top ovens, and Vortex stoves that are simply an advantage to have in any kitchen. Tecnogas offers four lines of cooking appliances that are built with high grade materials such as Sabaf and Defendi burners. Each has their unique identity with consistent, strong and elegant design for a professional cooking experience. The PRO line series was inspired by top of the line cookers used by professionals in the cooking industry; it is available

in various colors that seamlessly integrate with your kitchen space and style. The NEXT Line series was designed with the strength of the Italian technology and modern engineering for power and efficiency. Meanwhile, the CUISINE Line integrates the best technology to let you experience the art of cooking. Tecnogas also built The TECHNIK series that features all sizes of cooking ranges that deliver superior quality to satisfy your passion for cooking excellence. Every Tecnogas Italian cooker exemplifies the elements of durability and safety carefully engineered to give you only the best cooking experience. Tecnogas products are exclusively distributed by Appstar Global Distributor, Inc. It is available in all leading appliance stores nationwide and supported with over 200 service centers across the country. Tecnogas also offers

the longest warranty in the business with 2 years on parts and 1 year on service. To know more about Tecnogas, you can drop by their showrooms located at #28 D. Tuazon St. Quezon City, or outside Metro Manila in Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao. You may also visit their website at www.tecnogas.com.ph or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/ TecnogasPhilippines

TOWARD DIVERSITY By Brian Mahoney

The Associated Press

HE National Basketball Association (NBA) coaching box is looking far more diverse these days. When the season starts next week, there will be the league’s first head coach born and raised outside North America and the first Hispanic-American full-time head coach. And there’s a real chance that before long, someone like Becky Hammon could become the first woman to lead an NBA club. In a league where minorities make up the overwhelming majority of stars on the floor, there’s still a movement to make those same diverse strides in who is calling the shots on the sideline. “The league is starting to move in a direction with the coaches of being more diverse,” said Memphis Coach JB Bickerstaff, whose father also was a head coach in the NBA. “And it’s just about opportunity and everybody wants an equal playing field. And I think when you get an equal playing field, you know people from all backgrounds can rise to the occasion.” That’s what the Suns believed when it hired Igor Kokoskov, a native of Serbia, and the Charlotte Hornets did when they tabbed James Borrego—the league’s first full-time Hispanic coach. Borrego’s seat on the front row of the Spurs’ bench was inherited by Hammon after she was promoted by San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich—after a summer where Hammon was a candidate to take over in Milwaukee. Popovich’s team has long been at the forefront of finding talented players in places far outside the United States, and it’s no surprise he’s thought outside the box to grow his coaching tree. Besides employing Borrego and Hammon last season, his top assistant is Italian Ettore Messina, and Brett Brown had been coaching for nearly two decades in

YONGYANG, North Korea—Has Dennis Rodman, the former National Basketball Association (NBA) star-turned pal of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, been benched for Chinese hoop legend Yao Ming? The former Houston Rockets center and eight-time NBA all-star took center court in Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, on Tuesday as Chinese and North Korean basketball players held a friendly match, part of a highprofile sports exchange between the two countries intended to help thaw ties that had been growing chilly over the past year. Senior ruling party officials turned up for the game, but Kim, who was famously serenaded with the birthday song by Rodman in Pyongyang in January 2014, didn’t attend. On the court, Chinese female basketball players who are visiting Pyongyang this week mixed together with North Korean female players to form two teams, called “Friendship” and “Unity.” The Unity team won the match, 107-106. Yao Ming, towering over everyone else in the stadium, congratulated

Sports BusinessMirror

| Thursday, October 11, 2018 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

THE Charlotte Hornets parades James Borrego, the league’s first full-time Hispanic coach, and the San Antonio Spurs has Becky Hammon, who could become the first woman to lead a National Basketball Association club. AP

Australia before Popovich hired the current Philadelphia head coach for his staff. “It’s got nothing to do with quotas or anything like that, just people who are qualified for jobs and getting the opportunity,” Popovich said. “So, there are no ceilings for anybody based on race or religion or gender or anything like that.” Nearly a third of the league changed coaches, providing opportunities for successful

head coaches to quickly land with new teams (Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee; Dwane Casey, Detroit; David Fizdale, New York; Steve Clifford, Orlando), assistants a shot at finally running their own clubs (Kokoskov, Phoenix; Nick Nurse, Toronto; Lloyd Pierce, Atlanta) and second chances to coaches who only had brief stints at the top (Bickerstaff and Borrego). Though they come from such varying backgrounds, they are family. Coaches support

each other even while sometimes competing with each other for the same jobs. Fizdale received calls from coaches around the league when he was fired early last season in Memphis, and he made a similar call to Jeff Hornacek when he was let go by the Knicks. “Because we’re a fraternity,” Fizdale said. “We really do take pride in that in the NBA, that we look out for each other and stay connected with each other, and when I got fired, they all reached

RODMAN BENCHED FOR YA0 MING?

the players at the end of the game. “Today’s friendly match will be a display of top basketball skills and the great sportsmanship of all the players from both of our countries,” Kim Il Guk, the North Korean minister of sports, said before the game began. After a period of frosty ties, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited China three times this year, and traditional proclamations of friendship between the two neighbors have been resurrected. Speculation continues as to whether Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea in return. Yao Ming, who at 7-foot-6 was one of the tallest players in the NBA, is the head of China’s Basketball Association. He arrived with a high-level delegation on Monday that includes China’s equivalent of a sports minister. AP

CHINESE hoop legend Yao Ming (center, rear) poses for a group photo with Chinese and North Korean players after their friendly match in Pyongyang. AP

Basketball player’s father: Louisville assistant gave cash N EW YORK—The father of a blue-chip college basketball recruit testified on Tuesday that an assistant coach at the University of Louisville gave him a secret payment of $1,300 as part of a deal to get the son to sign with the school. At a criminal trial about corruption in big-time basketball, Brian Bowen Sr. described setting up two meetings with assistant Kenny Johnson via text in 2017 to try to collect cash in violation of school and National Collegiate

out to me the same way. And it’s heartfelt because there’s only 30 of these.” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver asked teams to review their hiring practices in the front office following the workplaceharassment investigation of the Dallas Mavericks, with the hope of more women being hired at the senior levels. He doesn’t have the same concerns at the coaching level, in part because of Hammon’s

success. When she coached the Spurs to the Summer League title in 2015, Silver said he had “no doubt” that a woman would someday coach an NBA team. “I think just like we’ve seen enormous change in our society, just in the last decade, I think that’s another ceiling, another barrier that will be broken,” Silver said at the time. He credited women such as Hammon and players willing to follow them for his belief. But Popovich and other coaches say the credit goes to Silver for making diversity and inclusion such important themes in the NBA. “I think our league is probably the most diverse league, whether it’s nationality, race, gender, whatever it is,” Casey said. “I know we have issues as far as things are going on just like corporations in the world, but it starts with Adam’s outlook. He really promotes that from a leadership standpoint of diversity, inclusion, the whole nine yards, but it starts with him.” But it started before Silver became commissioner. There were 16 coaches of color—more than half the league—in 2012, with 14 African-Americans, a FilipinoAmerican in Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Kaleb Canales, who became the league’s first Mexican-American coach when he replaced the fired Nate McMillan in Portland on an interim basis. He’s now an assistant to Fizdale in New York. Kokoskov was well respected in the coaching ranks by then, having won a title in Detroit during six seasons as an assistant and helping the Suns reach the Western Conference finals in 2010. Perhaps the league wasn’t ready then for a European head coach, just as Bickerstaff can remember a time before his father Bernie got his first shot at running a team in the mid-1980s when there wasn’t such of an acceptance of black coaches. “No matter what position it is, no matter what field we’re in, diversity is a huge part of who we are as America, and there’s no better place than the NBA,” Bickerstaff said.

Athletic Association rules. Bowen testified that the first time, Johnson was “shocked” and “flabbergasted” when he told him that defendant Christian Dawkins had promised that the coach would help the father with paying rent. The next time, he said, Johnson handed over $1,300—reluctantly. “He made it clear that this was a one-time deal for him,” Bowen said in federal court in Manhattan. “He said Louisville didn’t pay basketball players.”

There was no immediate response on Tuesday to a message seeking comment from a lawyer for Johnson, who was never accused of a crime. Louisville spokesman Kenny Klein said on Tuesday that the university is monitoring the trial, but he declined to comment further. The testimony about the recruitment of Brian Bowen Jr. came in a case that prompted Louisville to fire both Johnson and its legendary coach, Rick Pitino. Johnson is now an assistant at La Salle. Dawkins, former amateur coach Merl Code

and former Adidas executive James Gatto have pleaded not guilty to charges they sought to use under-the-table payments of up to $100,000 from Adidas in exchange for commitments from top prospects to Adidas-sponsored programs seen as a path to the pros. Their lawyers haven’t disputed that payments were offered, but they argue that the schools never suffered any harm. Brian Bowen Sr. took the witness stand in federal court in Manhattan as part of an agreement with the government that will spare

him from prosecution. On Tuesday he testified that he tried to keep quiet about the “money scheme” that he knew broke the rules, even going as far as keeping his son in the dark about it. “I didn’t want him to get involved in something that was wrong.... And I definitely didn’t want my son to lose his eligibility,” he said. The former police officer testified that, when first confronted by the FBI, he lied to agents by denying he knew about the scheme. He said he later decided he had no choice but to cooperate. Once the investigation became public, Brian Bowen Jr. left the school after it said it would honor his scholarship but not let him play basketball. He is currently playing professionally in Australia. During testimony that ended on Tuesday, the

elder Bowen dropped the names of several major programs besides Louisville that he claimed Dawkins told him were offering similar payfor-play deals. Bowen also described receiving payouts from youth leagues sponsored by Adidas and other athletic-gear companies after his son, then in his mid-teens, played for them. He testified that some of those payments came from two former youth coaches now on staff at DePaul. He said another payment of $5,000 came from Ty Streets, a former Michigan football star who worked with one of the amateur teams. In a statement, DePaul said it’s had no contact with federal prosecutors. Michigan responded it would “continue to monitor this situation.” AP

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BOXING ON HOT SEAT

INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee addresses a meeting in Buenos Aires. AP

THE Filipinos tackle a tough South Korean side.

PHL BAGS 1 SILVER, 3 BRONZES IN SEPAK TAKRAW WORLDS F

ORMING a new lineup hardly mattered for the Philippines in the 2018 King’s Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships. The Filipinos brought home a silver and three bronze medals on the global competitions held recently in Nakhon Rachasima in Thailand where the toughest sepak takraw performers from 31 other countries showed up. “We have tapped new athletes purely for exposure, but we still ended up with good results,’’ Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Association Inc. President Karen Tanchanco-Caballero said.

The women’s team clinched the silver medal in the premier hoop category, while the men’s squad got three bronzes after placing third in the premier hoop, regu and team regu. “It was a great showing for our sepak takraw players despite having a new lineup. Again, they made our country proud,’’ said Go For Gold top executive Jeremy Go, a staunch supporter of the team who helped bankroll their trip. Seasoned players Rheyjey Ortouste, Ronsited Gabayeron, Emmanuel Escote led the

men’s team along with Joshua Gleen Bullo, Alvin Pangan, John Carlo Lee and John John Bobier. Joining the squad backed by Go For Gold and the Philippine Sports Commission are John Jeffrey Morcillos, Joeart Jumawan, Nestleer Bandivas, Christian George Encabo and Regie Reznan Pabriga. During the 2016 edition of the worlds in Thailand, they captured the title in the men’s doubles event and grabbed a pair of silver medals in the team regu and hoop plus a

Velez, Milliam lead crack roster in Dumaguete netfest

OHN DAVID VELEZ and Alexa Milliam banner the crack roster of juniors players slugging it out for top honors in various divisions in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala which kicks off its October tennis festival in Dumaguete City on Thursday.

Although both players are coming off victories in the Asian Tennis Federation tournament in Malaysia recently, Velez and Milliam remain wary of their chances in their respective divisions of the Group 2 tournament serving as part of the Governor Roel Degamo-Buglasan Festival at the

Praxevilla Tennis Courts. Velez, a multi-titled campaigner in the circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by President and CEO Bobby Castro and presented by Dunlop, gains the top seeding in both the boys’ 16- and 18-under categories but expects a tough

bronze effort in the regu. Forming the women’s squad were Mary Melody Taming, Abegail Sinogbuhan, Gelyn Evora, Josefina Maat, Jean Marie Sucalit, Jea Mae Pepito, Jocielle Fernandez, Aisa Sabellita, Allyssa Bandoy and Lhaina Lheil Mangubat. Coaches Rodolfo Eco, Hector Memarion, Metodio Suico Jr. and Junmar Aleta coached the men’s team, while Romulo Ruedas Jr., Esperidion Rodriguez, Gena Mark Saavedra and Deseree Autor called the shots for the women’s squad. challenge from the likes of Alabang’s Sebastian Lhuillier, Revel Justiniani and local bet Gauilian Bandoquillo (16-under) and Troy Llamas, Jessy Elumba and Sydney Eroy (18-under). Milliam, on the other hand, yields the No. 1 ranking to Ormoc City’s Corazon Lambonao in the girls’ 14-under play and is seeded fourth in the 16-U side headed by Rose Bahonsua of Siquijor, Cebu’s Pherl Coderos and Lambonao. Others tipped to contend in their respective groups are Cebu’s Aaron Tabura, Gio Manito and Mitch Largo, Siquijor’s Shara Paliwag, Pete Bandala, Elemar Sealza, Nicholas Tan, Rica Labrador and Elumba from Dipolog, La Carlota’s Khenz Justiniani, Nikhel Nowlakha of Iloilo; Dumaguete’s Faith Banico and another multi-titled campaigner Sydney Enriquez from Salug, Zambo del Norte.

AUSANNE, Switzerland—The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it aims for a first ruling within days on a Kazakh official’s urgent request to be an International Boxing Association (AIBA) presidential candidate. Serik Konakbayev wants to challenge AIBA interim President Gafur Rakhimov, who is defying International Olympic Committee (IOC) warnings not to stand in the November 3 vote despite being implicated by US federal authorities in heroin trafficking. The US Treasury Department has said Rakhimov is “one of Uzbekistan’s leading criminals” and froze his assets in American jurisdiction. Rakhimov was the only candidate on an AIBAapproved list last week. Konakbayev’s application was not accepted. CAS says Konakbayev filed an urgent appeal challenging his exclusion from the election. The court will first decide on Konakbayev’s request to be provisionally added to AIBA’s candidate list pending a final verdict. The IOC, meanwhile, has three official candidates to host the 2026 Winter Games and a new timetable to pick the winner. Now the Olympic body needs to overcome “bad faith”—of local people and activists who believe staging the games is too expensive—to ensure all three candidates stay on the ballot next June, IOC members were told on Tuesday. “We have to make a huge effort in explaining ourselves better,” IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. said on Tuesday. “It is not getting across with sufficient strength.” The 2026 Olympics contest is between Calgary, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; and the combined

ELITE’S ZAMAR NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK

PSC Paragames unwrap in CdO

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will hold the third and final leg of the 2018 “Differently-Abled Sports 4 LIFE [DAS4LIFE]” Paragames at Xavier University– Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro City on November 7 and 8. Around 200 differently abled students from all over the city are set to participate in the games that will be staged in coordination with the Department of Education Division of Cagayan de Oro. “Our para-athletes will play on six different sports, such as athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, bocce and goalball,” DAS4LIFE Assistant Project Director Jan Facundo said. PSC Commissioner Arnold Agustin will attend the turnover ceremony for sports equipment to the local government of Cagayan de Oro City with Mayor Oscar Moreno on November 6. “Starting next year, the games will adopt more events from the Paralympics and will provide seminars for coaches and technical officials with the help of various national sports associations,” Agustin said.

Italian bid of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo after IOC members formally backed the bids recommended last week by their executive board. A fourth contender, Erzurum in Turkey, was dropped by the board last week amid concern about high spending on essential projects. Calgary, which also hosted in 1988, could yet drop out after a November 13 referendum. Full support of federal and local governments is also not guaranteed in Sweden or Italy. These are the latest public tests of trust in Olympic hosting since Russia spent $51 billion to prepare for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Voters in Switzerland and Austria already toppled potential 2026 bids. Recent Olympic hosting contests saw bids fail due to public opposition or government doubts in Scandinavia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Switzerland. Boston also was briefly in the 2024 Olympics contest, before Los Angeles stepped in and was awarded the 2028 edition. IOC member Alex Gilady of Israel blamed it on a “very few, very noisy people” who want to harm the Olympics in a debate on Tuesday about creating more flexible bid races and more efficient hosting projects. Samaranch, who led the IOC panel studying 2026 contenders, suggested some opposition was by “people that do that on bad faith,” and urged Olympic officials to fight with facts. “Be ready to debate with whoever because we are very much right,” Samaranch told fellow members. “The magic of the Olympic Games, the good things, do not come at a significant financial burden, or risk for the communities that will host us.” AP

UST last May, Paul Zamar realized his dream of playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). On Monday the former University of the East Red Warrior got a bonus after being named the Cignal-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period October 1 to 7 in the 2018 Governors’ Cup. The son of San Miguel Beer Assistant Coach

Boycie Zamar stood tall this past week after leading Blackwater to back-to-back wins over Meralco and Rain or Shine to galvanize the team’s top 4 bid in the playoffs. The 30-year-old Zamar averaged 12 points, five rebounds and one assist in the Elite’s last two games to beat teammate Allein Maliksi, Alaska’s Simon Enciso, Chris Banchero and Vic Manuel, Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio and Mark Caguioa, Magnolia’s Paul Lee, Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang, as well as Columbian big men Sean Anthony and Mo Tautuaa for the weekly citation. Against Meralco, Zamar fired 10 of his 13 points in the final period, including a crucial block off Anjo Caram’s lay-up attempt, before capping his heroics with the game-winning three as Blackwater escaped with a 94-91 win last Friday. The former University of the East star sustained his hot-shooting on Sunday night after firing 11 points, grabbing eight boards and issuing an assist as Blackwater shot down winless Rain or Shine, 99-93. Blackwater currently carries an impressive 6-1 wonlost record, its best start ever in PBA franchise history in a seven-game stretch. Selected in the fourth round (35th overall) of the 2012 PBA Rookie Draft by Ginebra but left unsigned, Zamar worked on his craft after playing in the PBA D-League before playing in the Thailand Super Basketball League. PAUL ZAMAR is making a name in the league.

Financial institution partners with e-sports league

IZAL Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has partnered with the country’s first franchisemodel mobile and desktop e-sports league The Nationals. This marks the first time that a local financial institution has officially supported such an event, recognizing electronic gaming community as one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets. Despite being one of the biggest markets for online purchases, gamers know the frustration of not being able to purchase in-game upgrades or special items without a credit card. To address

this, RCBC introduced the MyWallet Virtual Card—a reloadable Visa prepaid card that gamers can use to buy ePins, DLCs and other upgrades online for their favorite games, even without a credit card. The MyWallet Virtual Card has no monthly maintaining balance and users can be assured of security because they only need to load it with as much cash that they’re comfortable with at any given time. With RCBC supporting The Road to Nationals, each participant will be registered

to his own MyWallet Virtual Cards when he signs up for the tournament. Outside of The Nationals, the MyWallet Virtual Card is available to anyone looking for a safe and convenient payment solution for shopping online, booking flights and even paying bills. Applicants can easily sign up for a MyWallet Virtual Card via the RCBC online banking web site for free. Beginning with Road to The Nationals running through until the end of October, viewers will be able to follow their favorite professional Filipino gamers via broadcast and online coverage on ESPN-5.

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sMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018

SASO IN THE HUNT Y

UKA SASO scored a one-over 71 for joint second place at the start of women’s golf, while fencer Lawrence Everett Tan and swimmer Nicole Oliva failed to medal in their events on Tuesday in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Saso, the Asian Games individual champion, had to contend with the wind at the Hurlingham Club after she bogeyed six holes to stay two shots behind leader Alesia Nobilio of Italy.

YUKA SASO has to contend with the wind at the Hurlingham Club in Buenos Aires.

The 17-year-old miscalculated three holes on the front nine and another three coming home, but her five birdies, including back-to-back efforts after a par on the par-3 No. 12, was enough to keep the Filipino-Japanese within striking distance. “It’s windy and luckily, I was able to adjust,’’ said Saso, who shared second place with Maria Fernanda-Martinez of Mexico, Emille Oeveraas of Norway, Grace Kim of Australia and Hoyu-An of Chinese Taipei. Carl Jano Corpus, on the other hand, fired a similar 71 for a share of fifth place in men’s individual play. The Filipino was two strokes behind the leaders after he birdied holes No. 3, 4, 6 and 14. Akshai Bathia of the United States, Vanchai Luangnitikul of Thailand, Karl Vilips of Australia and Andrea Romano of Italy shared the lead at 69. In fencing, Tan bombed out of the medal

stages after falling to Pak Chan of Hong Kong, 11-15, in the round of 16 of the men’s foil event. Chan raced to an early lead, 11-6, in their race-to-15 face-off but had to fend Tan’s rally late in the first three minutes of action. Filipino-Norwegian Christian Tio is still in the hunt for a podium performance after finishing second, fifth and eighth in the three races on Day 2 of the men’s kiteboarding competitions where the medalists will be determined on October 12. Swimmer Nicole Oliva again failed to qualify in the finals of her second event at the Olympic Park pool. After missing the medal race in the women’s 100-meter freestyle on Monday, the FilipinoAmerican based in Santa Clara, California, wasn’t able to make it in the 800-meter free after landing third in her heat with a 8:52.29 clocking.

See, Ricamonte share spotlight in Highlands Cup

San Beda, Lyceum seek semis bonus

AN Beda University and Lyceum of the Philippines University shoot for the twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four as they tackle Arellano University and College of Saint Benilde, respectively, in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. The Red Lions, who lead the standings with a 14-1 (win-loss) record, clash with the

Chiefs at 4 p.m., while the Pirates, second with a 14-2 card, tangle with the Blazers at 2 p.m. “The initial goal is to make the Final Four, which we achieved. The next step is the twice-to-beat advantage, which we are now hoping to get,” San Beda Coach Boyet Fernandez said. San Beda owns the league’s longest active streak thus far at eight after it demolished Saint Benilde, 77-55, with Robert Bolick doing most of the damage with 19 points. The defending champions will be playing an opponent that has nothing to lose and everything to gain as the Chiefs are already eliminated from the race but are hoping to improve their 5-10 record. The Pirates are out to bounce back from a heartbreaking 79-80 defeat to the Letran Knights last Friday that derailed their bid in regaining the top spot. It was a game that appeared to have gone to overtime after regulation ended with the score knotted at 80-all. But game officials downgraded a three-point shot by Jaycee Marcelino to only two points that cost Lyceum the game. Lyceum will be playing a Blazers team that is fighting for a Final Four berth. The Blazers are languishing at fifth spot with an 8-7 card and a loss would send them out of the running. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

La Salle, Adamson cagebelles prevail

E LA SALLE dominated fierce rival Ateneo, 82-56, while Adamson University overwhelmed winless University of the Philippines (UP), 68-51, to remain in the top 4 on Wednesday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 women’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday. Khate Castillo went 8-of-13 from the field to finish with 19 points as the Lady Archers led by as many as 45 points to end the first round with three consecutive victories for a 5-2 record that kept them in third spot. The Lady Falcons, who drew 16 points from Jamie Alcoy, also led wire-to-wire to post their fourth win in seven contests in fourth place. The Lady Eagles stumbled to a fifth straight defeat after a 2-0 start, while the Lady Maroons fell at 0-7.

OHANN SEE fired a gross 72 to capture the low gross championship, while Carina Ricamonte took the low net crown with a 68 from a gross 74 as they shared the spotlight in the Highlands Ladies Cup at the Tagaytay Midlands Golf and Country Club recently. Siblings Junro and Jordan Mamaril came through with identical net 69s but the former, a 5-handicapper, nipped the latter in the countback (five bogeys) to snare the Group A diadem in the 13th staging of the annual event backed

by Diamond sponsors Auto Nation Group Inc., Pacific Online and W Group. Gerry Romualdez bagged the Group B title with a net 69 from a gross 98, beating Antonio Reyes, who made a net 72 from a gross 93, while Joel Javier shot a net 74 and edged Grover Guillermo in the countback (five bogeys) for the Group C crown.

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’s Henri Subido dribbles past University of the Philippines’s Jun Manzo. ALYSA SALEN

TIGERS PLAY RELAXED, FUN HOOPS VS. MAROONS

HE young guns of University of Santo Tomas (UST) preyed on the celebrated University of the Philippines side for a lopsided 86-72 victory in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball action on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Rookie CJ Cansino scored 16 points on a near-perfect 5-of-6 shooting from the field. He grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists to lead the Growling Tigers to their second straight victory and third win in seven games. Renzo Subido also added 13 points and six assists, while Ken Zamora chipped in 12 points, all from the threepoint line, for UST. “Everybody came out to play today. Almost all of my players, they played well. We executed our game play,” Growling Tigers Head Coach Aldin Ayo said. “They were more relaxed. They were just playing basketball and having fun. I think that was the difference compared to our previous games,” he added. The victory was a morale-booster for the Tigers, whose Cameroonian center

Steve Akomo was confined to the hospital because of blood in his brain. Subido led a furious first-quarter onslaught by firing seven of the UST’s 31 points. The gap widened to 54-29 as the young Tigers continued to find their mark before the break. The Growling Tigers erected their biggest lead, 71-41, behind a 9-0 run sparked by Cansino’s two triples with 3:30 left in the third quarter. It was game over for the Fighting Maroons at that point. Bright Akhuetie led UP with his usual double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Coming off the bench, Javi Gomez de Llano registered 12 points and three boards. Juan Gomez de Llano, one of UP’s main weapons, only tallied nine points on a 4-of-10 clip. Free throw shooting was again a problem for UP as the Maroons failed to breach the .500 mark with a 5-of-12 performance. UP fell to 3-4 at the end of the first round of eliminations.

Ramon Rafael Bonilla

Ren Son carded a net 70 from a gross 89 to beat Abby Lapid by one for top honors in the ladies division of the 18-hole fun-filled tournament supported by Powerball Gaming, San Miguel Corp. and Security Bank as Platinum sponsors, Kaiser Health Group and Royal Caribbean International as Gold backers and ComWorks Inc., Fitness First, HBC, Huawei Philippines, Leisure and Resort World Corp., Lucerne, New Golden City Builders, PLDT-SME, Regent Travel Corp. and SM Retail as Silver sponsors. Willy Malida, on the other hand, turned in a net 70 from a gross 98 to clinch the seniors division title over Bum Chil Heo, who settled for a 71 from a gross 84.

WARALEE ATCHARERK fumbles with a double-bogey on the last hole and settled for a 69.

THAI, 5 OTHERS SHARE LEAD

HAILAND’S Waralee Atcharerk fumbled with a double-bogey on the last hole and settled for a 69, enabling five others to gain a share of the lead at the start of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Camp John Hay Ladies Championship in Baguio City on Wednesday. Atcharerk appeared headed to seizing control of the compact field after rebounding from a one-over 36 card at the front with three birdies but dumped her tee shot into the greenside bunker on the par-3 18th of the John Hay layout and three-putted for 5. That kept Princess Superal and amateur Mariel Tee, Thais Chakansim Khamborn and Chommapat Pongthanarak and Korean amateur Lee Ji-hyeon in step with the 18-year-old Atcharerk, who launched her pro career with a joint eighth-place finish at the ICTSI Champion Tour at Midlands in July. “I just want to play my game. Not expecting anything big,” said Atcharerk, who also dropped two strokes on No. 4 and made a bogey on No. 7 against two birdies at the front before rattling off birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 5 to take charge. Tee, in a flight ahead of the last group composed of Atcharerk and Superal, also holed out with a bogey for a 35-34 card while Superal, Khamborn, Pongthanarak and Lee all parred the tricky closing hole, leading to the most crowded ever start to a Ladies Philippine Golf Tour event in years. The six stood just a stroke ahead of Cyna Rodriguez and Thai Onkanok Soisuwan with the former, winner here in 2014, rallying with 32 to save a 70 and the latter missing joining the packed leaderboard with a last-hole bogey for a pair of 35s.

Superal, who dominated here as an amateur in 2013, actually wrested control early with birdies on the first two holes, only to lose her putting touch, resulting to bogeys on Nos. 4 and 6 before closing the frontside on a birdie-bogey stint. She bogeyed the 10th but birdied the par-5 16th to stay in early contention in the P1.5-million event sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. “I made so many errors on putting but I’ll try to handle it right tomorrow [Thursday],” said Superal, seeking her third win this after ruling the Midlands and Riviera stops in the recently concluded LPGT’s sixth season. “I’ll try to get more birdies and stay on the fairways and be consistent on the green.” Tee, meanwhile, turned in an impressive two-birdie, two-bogey effort that could hint at a big performance for last year’s US Kids Golf Teen World titlist in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZGm PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

YANKEES ELIMINATED BY RIVAL RED SOX

EW YORK—Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees couldn’t wait to get back home. Now, that’s exactly where they’re staying. CC Sabathia became the latest pitcher to put New York in an early hole as rookie manager Aaron Boone again stuck with his starter too long, and the Yankees fell just short of extending their season on Tuesday night with a 4-3 loss to the rival Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of their American League (AL) Division Series. “That’s the one team that you don’t want to lose to,” outfielder Brett Gardner said. “We hate losing to them and we love beating them. Obviously, they just had our number this year.” New York mounted a last-ditch rally against wild closer Craig Kimbrel, scoring twice in the ninth inning. But the Yankees’ comeback stalled when Gary Sanchez’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly was caught on the left-field warning track, and rookie Gleyber Torres grounded out with two on to end it—sort of. The play at first base was close, so both teams and a sellout crowd held their breath during a dramatic replay review before the out call was upheld following a 63-second delay. Kimbrel and the Red Sox—suspended in midcelebration for a minute—resumed bouncing around in excitement. “We played a really hard season, we managed to win 100 games and then we get to this point and we just can’t finish off a series against the Red Sox. It’s tough,” reliever David Robertson said. Asked about his long fly, Sanchez said through a translator: “I wasn’t sure about it. I hit it well, but I got under it.” After beating Oakland in the AL wild-card game, it was a humbling playoff exit for a powerpacked Yankees team that added reigning National League (NL) MVP Giancarlo Stanton last off-season and hit a major league-record 267 home runs. With the stakes at their highest, however, the Yankees never left the yard in two home

games versus Boston. They were outscored, 20-4, as the AL East champs took the best-of-five series, 3-1, and advanced to the ALCS against defending World Series champion Houston. “I didn’t expect to come here and lose two in a row. I expected to come back here and win two in a row,” Gardner said. Last year, it was the Yankees who reached the AL Championship Series before their surprising run ended with a Game Seven loss to the Astros. This time, a 2018 season that began with sky-high expectations—now over in bitter disappointment. While the Red Sox got strong starts from Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi and Rick Porcello during the series, Yankees starters were charged with 15 runs over 13 innings in four games. Masahiro Tanaka was the only one to get an out in the fourth. “They just had a lot of stuff going right. We’re very equal teams,” Sabathia insisted. “The ball just bounced their way.” Adding to the humiliation, the Red Sox got to revel in a second champagne celebration at Yankee Stadium in less than three weeks. Boston also clinched its third consecutive division crown on enemy ground on September 20. “They got momentum on their side and never really slowed down,” Robertson said. So while the Red Sox roll on seeking their fourth World Series title in 15 years, the Yankees own but one pennant and championship during that span (2009). On deck, a long winter of wondering how they’ve fallen behind in a rivalry they dominated for nearly a century. All that changed in 2004, when Mariano Rivera was finally unable to close out the pesky Red Sox and they rallied for an unprecedented comeback from a 3-0 deficit to win the ALCS. Boston took Games 6 and 7 at Yankee Stadium on the way to its first World Series championship in 86 years. AP

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| Thursday, October 11, 2018 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Brooks Koepka is the sixth player in the last six years to win the award, the longest streak of different winners since Professional Golfers’ Association Tour players began voting on the award in 1990. By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

S Open and Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) champion Brooks Koepka added to his trophy collection on Tuesday when he picked up the Jack Nicklaus Award trophy as the PGA Tour player of the year. Koepka is the sixth player in the last six years to win the award, the longest streak of different winners since PGA Tour players began voting on the award in 1990. Along with winning two majors, Koepka said he was most proud of his attitude when he wasn’t playing. He missed four months at the start of the year recovering from a partially torn tendon in his left wrist but then made up for lost time in a big way. “I was down when I was missing everything,” Koepka said. “I tried to have the most positive spin on it when I was home. It did stink. It was the worst, emotionally tough times for me. Sometimes when I would question it, I kept saying: ‘I’ll do it. I’ll be fine.’ Good news or bad news, I had positive energy.” In his fourth tournament back, he was runner-up at Colonial. Three weeks later, he held off Dustin Johnson at Shinnecock Hills to win the US Open for the second straight year, becoming the first back-to-back US Open champion since Curtis Strange in 1988 and 1989. Two months later, Koepka held off Tiger Woods amid earsplitting roars on the back nine at Bellerive to win the NEW York Yankees pitcher David Robertson awaits to be relieved during the seventh inning. AP

BROOKS KOEPKA lifts the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the Professional Golfers’ Association Championship. AP

PGA Championship by two shots. Koepka tied a major championship record by finishing at 264. He became the fifth player to win the US Open and PGA Championship in the same year, joining Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. The tour does not disclose how many votes he received from a ballot that included Johnson, British Open champion Francesco Molinari, FedEx Cup champion Justin Rose, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau. Johnson, Thomas and DeChambeau each won three times. Thomas won the Arnold Palmer Trophy for leading the PGA Tour money list for the second straight year, making him the first player since Woods in 2006-07 to win the money title in consecutive years. Johnson won the Byron Nelson Award for having the lowest adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour. He also won the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average, which is awarded by the PGA of America. Koepka’s award was presented at The Bear’s Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, the home course of Nicklaus. Thomas was in Malaysia to start his new season. Johnson came by The Bear’s Club and did a short video with Koepka, one of his best friends in golf, just a week after a British newspaper reported they had to be separated during a skirmish at a European party following the Ryder Cup. Koepka denies being in a fight, saying he and Johnson laughed about the report. Koepka received the award during his one week at home. After the Ryder Cup, he played the Dunhill Links Championship at Saint Andrews. He leaves this weekend for the CJ Cup in South Korea, followed by the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

THE Lough Eske Castle, in County Donegal, Ireland, in an undated publicity photo. Lough Eske’s “Autumn Escape” package is one of many getaway opportunities for travelers looking to embrace the vibrant colors of fall. LOUGH ESKE CASTLE VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES

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Eight affordable fall foliage getaways

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

A GLORIOUS view of autumnal colors from above in Maine

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SHENANDOAH Valley in the fall

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A SPECTACLE of warm reds and honey in Vancouver, Washington

Eight affordable fall foliage getaways By Shivani Vora | New York Times News Service

ROM the West Coast to the Northeast and, beyond, in Europe, fall is a season to savor the transformation of leaves from shades of green to hues of red, gold, amber and yellow. While leaf peeping is undoubtedly a tried and true tourist activity, it doesn’t have to be an expensive one: plenty of hotels around the United States and abroad have attractively priced packages for travelers who want to experience the spectacular fall foliage. PACKAGE DEALS IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, home to the Shenandoah National Park and about a two-hour drive from Washington, is a prime mid-Atlantic destination for fall foliage. Two hotels in the town of Staunton, situated in the heart of the valley, are offering packages for visitors to the area. The recently renovated Stonewall Jackson Hotel, originally built in 1924, has a “Sweater Weather” promotion for October where guests receive a 30-percent discount off usual nightly rates. Bookings start at $149 a night. Blackburn Inn, which opened in May, is offering a “Our

First Fall” promotion, which includes 15-percent off starting rates when booked 14 days in advance and a $15 daily food and beverage credit. Available until November 30. Bookings start at $169 a night. MOUNTAIN VIEWS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. Up north, in North Conway, New Hampshire, The White Mountain Hotel & Resort, in the heart of Mount Washington Valley and with views of mountain scenery that shows of the stunning New England foliage, has a “Fall Foliage Escape.” The offer includes two nights of accommodations, breakfast and one dinner at the property’s elegant Ledges Restaurant. Bookings from $148 a person. COASTAL BEAUTY IN MAINE. Even further up the seaboard, Cliff House Maine, a coastal resort in Southern Maine, has a “Fall in Love with Fall in Maine” package. It includes accommodations, a map of the area’s best fall foliage spots, a $200 credit to the on-site spa, two tickets for a local food tour, a bag of locally made maple candy and a blanket. Bookings start at $519 a night, and the promotion is valid until November 30. ZIP LINE THROUGH THE LEAVES IN GEORGIA. A zip-line ride through autumnal leaves? It’s possible in the North

Georgia mountains. Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge has an “Elevate Your View” package that gives guests the chance to get an up close sight of the changing of the leaves by ziplining past them in Aerial Adventure Park. The package includes accommodations and a zip-line tour in the park. Bookings start from $99 a person. FOOD, WINE AND FOLIAGE IN MICHIGAN. The prime season for Mackinac Island, in Michigan, may be summer, but visitors who come in the fall will get a feast of foliage as they hike on miles of trails, as well as go on horseback and bike rides. Mission Point, an 18-acre lakefront property, has a two-night “Fall Foliage, Food & Wine” package that includes accommodations, a welcome amenity of a glass of wine per adult, breakfast, one dinner with a bottle of wine, a half-day rental of two bikes with a boxed lunch and a private horse and carriage ride. Bookings from $380 a night. EMBRACING “GOLD SEASON” IN COLORADO. Telluride, Colorado, might be known as a skiers getaway, but its so-called gold season in the fall is an ideal time to see the mountains transform into shades of deep gold and red. Travelers can experience the colors by riding the free gondola, going on a hike or booking a four-wheel drive tour. There are

several options for accommodations in the area. Bookings at the Mountainside Inn, in the town of Telluride, for one, start at $119 a night. VisitTelluride.com has a range of additional options in the area. CRUISE THROUGH THE COLORS IN VANCOUVER. In the Pacific Northwest, American Queen Steamboat Co. has several five-day round-trip “Autumn in the Pacific Northwest” cruises from Vancouver, Washington, on the Columbia River. Onboard the American Empress, shore excursions include Astoria, Oregon, where travelers can go on a scenic 6-mile walk along the river and Dalles, Oregon, where the explorers Lewis and Clark camped at Rock Fort during their famous expedition. Tickets start from $599 a person, inclusive of shore tours in all ports, meals and wine and beer with dinner. ENJOY THE FALL FOLIAGE ON THE EMERALD ISLE. Leaf peeping is an Irish tradition, too: Lough Eske Castle, in County Donegal in northwest Ireland, has a “Autumn Eskape Offer,” which gives guests the opportunity to take in the abundance of fall hues in the surrounding countryside. The deal includes accommodations, an Irish breakfast, a €20 ($23) food credit per person, one alcoholic drink per adult and 30-percent off spa treatments. Bookings start from €179 a night. n

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

What Heidi Klum can’t travel without By Nell McShane Wulfhart New York Times News Service

HE model, TV personality and entrepreneur Heidi Klum keeps extraordinarily busy. As the longtime host, along with Tim Gunn, of Project Runway (until the two recently decided to leave the show to develop a new reality fashion series at Amazon Prime Video), Klum spent 16 seasons both guiding and chastising aspirational designers hoping to avoid getting that dreaded “auf Wiedersehen” at the end of each episode. In addition, she appears on America’s Got Talent and Germany’s Next Top Model, and has her own swimwear and lingerie lines, Heidi Klum Intimates. Klum has been traveling internationally for modeling gigs for decades, but didn’t always love it. “When I was much younger, I traveled the world all by myself and, you know, I’m going to Brazil, I’m going to France, I’m going to Africa, I’m going to Malaysia, me and my little suitcase, and I was always scared, kind of, being a young girl on my own,” she said. “So I had all my teeth that I lost—from when I was little, up through to my wisdom teeth—put in a little leather pouch and I always had that with me. It was, like, my good-luck charm for traveling before I had kids. But I don’t do that anymore. I kind of de-spelled myself.” Short trips for work mean efficient packing and a single carry-on. Her tip: try on your outfits before packing the suitcase. “Just throwing things in and then figuring out later what goes with what means that you’re just like, ‘Oh I brought the wrong shoes, that doesn’t go, etc.,’” she said. “So you just put on your outfit before and then you have exactly what you’re going

to wear the next day. It makes it easier, you don’t have a headache, and you didn’t forget anything.” Here’s what she packs on every trip. n BURTON SUITCASE. “I love the Burton luggage. I have the biggest one, and if it’s too heavy, you can separate it into two, which is awesome. It has a zipper that goes all the way around, and then you can actually just halve it because sometimes they’re like [at the check-in desk], ‘Oh my god, we can’t take this on board,’ and then you ask them, ‘Can I pay?’ and it goes on, and they’re like, ‘No, it’s too heavy,” so, boom, I make two suitcases out of my one.” n CAFTAN. “It doesn’t have to be overbedazzled; you’re wearing it just to run around in your hotel room or wherever. Also because I don’t want to get marks anywhere, that’s why I don’t wear tight jeans or anything like that before I have to go to an event, because if you wear tight pants then you have the lines from the jeans that are cutting into your legs and that doesn’t look good.” n SWIMSUITS. “I’m bringing way too many swimsuits. I can probably change into a new swimsuit two or three times a day.” n BLOTTING PAPERS. “I get them from Tatcha, I think they’re from Japan, and I order them online in bulk. This is the best thing that everyone should have. When I go out to dinner at night, I always bring this little packet of blotting paper because instead of re-powdering, re-powdering, and re-powdering, you powder once to set the makeup and the foundation, and that’s it. And you shouldn’t always re-powder and re-powder and re-powder, because at the end of the night, someone pats you on the back and it all falls off your face.” n SUNGLASSES. “I probably bring like 15 pairs, something like that. Is that a lot?” n

Thursday, October 11, 2018

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On tiny Linosa, it’s easy to adopt island’s relaxed rhythms L

By Frances D’Emilio | The Associated Press

INOSA ISLAND, Italy—There are no hotels, but islanders open up their simple, gaily painted homes to those seeking relaxed rhythms. No banks either, but there’s not a lot money can buy here. The sole souvenir shop has a few knickknacks. Costs are modest for meals made from local ingredients—lentils, eggplant, peppers perhaps, plus the catch of the day from the emerald-hued, pristine waters surrounding tiny Linosa island. But stunning natural beauty is free and abundant on this verdant paradise that rises up in the form of an extinct volcano from the Mediterranean seabed. Of the many splendid small Italian islands that dot the Mediterranean waters near Sicily, only Linosa had eluded me, vacation after vacation, perhaps because it takes some determination to get here. Unlike some other islands, like Pantelleria, where Italian VIPs keep summer homes, or Lampedusa, known for lively nightlife, there are no flights from the Italian peninsula, no airport. To enjoy Linosa’s charms, either you take a long ride by ferry, or, if waters are calm, an infrequent hydrofoil from the nondescript Sicilian port town of Porto Empedocle. Or you make a shorter sea journey from Lampedusa, the only other inhabited island in the Pelagie Archipelago, closer to northern Africa than to Sicily. This year, in the waning weeks of summer, I came, accounting by my mere presence for about 5 percent of sojourners those days on Linosa. We swam or snorkeled in coves cradled by dramatically dark, jagged lava rocks, climbed volcanic craters and watched sunsets near the black-sand beach where caretta caretta loggerhead turtles waddle ashore each year to lay their eggs. On any given day during “high” season in July and August, there are at most about 50 holiday-goers who spend a few days or so. In September, there were some 20 of us, several of us solitary travelers. With the exception of a French couple and myself, all were Italians. Those numbers compare to a year-round resident population of about 300 Linosani, as the locals call themselves. In the sole town, tidy streets are lined with houses in hues of fiery ochre trimmed with orange, robin-blue highlighted by white, or sea green with doors framed in red. In early morning—afternoon temperatures in one of Italy’s hottest places can climb into the 90s in Fahrenheit (in the low to mid 30s in Celsius) and feel like 115 or higher—Linosani come out to sweep the tiled sidewalks and water potted plants, including hibiscus that grow as tall as trees. With the cool of the evening, Linosani emerge again, parking kitchen chairs outside homes to chat with neighbors. After a couple of strolls in the few streets, visitors can befriend much of Linosa’s population. “After a few days, you become islanders, too,” said Alberto Ramirez, who runs one of the two B&Bs on the island and whose family has lived here for six generations. Linosa’s only “night spot” is a wine bar, which, on a late summer Saturday night, closed up shop before midnight. Ramirez recalled a couple who lodged by him recently telling him, “Linosa’s not for us, it’s too tranquil. Here you come to relax, go to the sea, maybe have an aperitivo in the evening,” Ramirez said. “There’s no disco.” On maps, Linosa resembles a roundish speck in the sea. One can stroll around the entire island, whose coastal perimeter measures 11 kilometers (under 7 miles), in a few hours. Only residents can bring cars on the island during summer, but motor scooters and motorized bikes can be rented by the day. The electric “bici” are a big hit as well with Linosani, whose cars are easily recognizable because the salty sea air corrodes the paint. Come nightfall in late summer or early fall, on the northerly side of the island you can hear the cries of thousands in a fascinating feathered colony of greater shearwater birds. The bird is known as berta maggiore in Italian. A large group of them fly up and over the Mediterranean from Libya and Algeria, their cheek pouches full of fish for young chicks which have hatched in crannies left by lava rocks near the seaside. After Linosa’s first modern settlement was established, in 1845, with 30 hardy souls, the islanders would eat the birds’ eggs, rich in protein. Now the birds’ evening rituals help feed the island’s economic mainstay, tourism. Giovanni Grana passionately shares with a handful of tourists on his plain wooden motorboat the details he’s learned about shearwater flocks habits from his nightly observations. He makes the facts of bird life sound like poetry. “My aim is to make the tourists fall in love with the island,” said Grana. For a reasonable fee (about €25, or $29), he takes visitors out to sea just before sunset to witness an amazing spectacle. Like commuters crowding their route home, the shearwaters skim the sea in ever increasing numbers to form “clans” that then link together in what the Linosani call “rafts,” creating a sort of a highway of birds stretching to what seems to be the horizon to await darkness before making landfall to check on their chicks. This fascinating nightly ritual is missed by day-trippers who come for a quick-look-tour, a dip in the sea and lunch at port before catching the late afternoon hydrofoil back to their hotels on Lampedusa, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) away. On my last morning, as I climbed 187 meters (600 feet) to the top of the Mount Volcano crater, church bells clanged to gain islanders’ attention. Then a booming voice informed them by loudspeaker that with the midmorning hydrofoil an internist would arrive, for anyone needing a doctor. I would shortly be leaving Linosa, which had seduced me with its naturalness and friendliness, on that same hydrofoil, at vacation’s end. When I reached the dock, some 150 day-trippers poured out of the boat. I promised myself I’d be back when I could again have Linosa practically all to myself. n

God of wisdom

OD of wisdom, You delight in those who wait for Your faithful love. In hope we pray: Teach us Your Wisdom, oh God. Inspire students and teachers engaged in parish religious education and Catholic schools. Help societal and religious leaders to address conflict with dialogue and peaceful action. Guide medical professionals and health-care personnel to serve with compassion and to respect all life. May God bless us, keep us and renew us to love by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

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PARENTLIFE: MORE TALK ABOUT ‘SCREEN TIME’ ISSUE D2-3

Thursday, October 11, 2018

How I trained my husband to be a dad By Jo Piazza New York Times News Service Jo Piazza is the author of seven books, most recently the novel Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, and is the host of Committed, a podcast.

ICK was trying to cut a piece of squid with a butter knife in his right hand as he rocked our baby to sleep with his left while seated in a self-consciously hip tapas joint during a recent family vacation in Spain. “This is harder with a baby,” he said. “What is?” I said. “Life?” “Yeah.” “Yes, dear.” I nodded. “It is.” “But we’re getting pretty good at it,” he said. “We’re definitely getting better,” I said. These days my husband is a good dad. A really good dad. I knew he would be—or rather, could be. We spent more than a year before the birth of our son discussing how we’d have an equal partnership once Charlie came along. We were a team, we insisted. We’ll split our parenting duties right down the middle.

continueD on D2-2

D2-1

D2-2

Thursday, October 11, 2018

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How I trained my husband to be a dad

Continued from D2-1 Well, after I spent 36 hours in labor, partly with a failed epidural, that 50-50 thing went straight to hell. My husband wanted to be helpful. His intentions were in the best of places, but the truth is that he had absolutely no clue how to do that. And that made him feel helpless. In the dead of night, about three weeks after we became parents, I waddled to the bathroom clutching our wailing son to my leaking breast. I was begging him to eat as he beat at my nipples with his tiny hands. I cried as I tried to lower myself onto the toilet because my perineum tear still throbbed if I did more than lie on my back. Suddenly my husband was in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. “Why aren’t you helping me?” I cried. “You didn’t ask me to.” It was true. I hadn’t asked him to. I’d wanted his help to come naturally. I’d wanted him to read my mind, to know when to take the baby from me, to send me out of the house to get some fresh air, to take a shower, to eat food with a fork instead of my fingers. That was where I failed. My husband needed me to tell him what to do. It made me uncomfortable at first because asking for help, especially from men, doesn’t come naturally to me. But I forced myself to do it. I made myself ask for help. I said it over and over again, day in and day out: “Help me pick him up. Help me walk down the stairs. Help me get the stroller into the car. Help me. Help me. Help me.” I asked him to try to pick the baby up before he started to cry, to be the one to try to get him to eat at 3 in the morning, to clean out my breast pump parts with hot water, to empty the Diaper Genie before it started to smell, to make sure we had spit towels in all of the strategic locations where a baby might vomit. I asked him to anticipate what the baby may need before he even knows he needs it. “I can’t read his mind,” Nick said once, in the middle of the night. I gave him a hard look. “We don’t have a choice,” I said. “He can’t ask for help.” There were nights when I pretended to be deeply asleep—so asleep that I couldn’t hear Charlie crying— so Nick would have to be the first one to get up. In order to help him feel less helpless, I had to be a little helpless—something else that didn’t come naturally. I like being good at things. Very good at things. But I needed to make Nick feel like a damn champion at being a dad. In the early days of parenting I pretended to be

our room, not theirs. 3. SCHEDULE & CONSISTENCY. I tried different rules—one hour a day, break every hour, only weekends. I personally saw the effect of too much video. I remember my son liked a cartoon character when he was 4. I allowed him to watch more of it. After just one month, I noticed he was not listening as attentively and seemed fidgety to me. I decided to “wean” him off. I got the physical character toy and played with him while watching his video. I slowly shortened the video time and transformed it to physical playtime. I noticed his focus slowly come back. In the end, my husband and I found the most effective was screen time only on non-school days,

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Matt Bomer, 41; Emily Deschanel, 42; Luke Perry, 52; Joan Cusack, 56. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Review the past, assess the present and consider how to use what you uncover to make the most of your future. Stop wasting time on the things you may have missed out on, and start putting a plan in place that will help you utilize what you know and do best. This is a year of discovery and change. Your lucky numbers are 9, 17, 23, 25, 38, 47, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Volunteer your assistance and get involved in activities that require your skills. What you do to help others will have an influence on how you are treated and what opportunities come your way. A favor you offer now will be repaid. HHH

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look forward, not backward. In order to bring about positive changes, it’s best to let go of regrets. A clean slate moving forward will expand your vision, encouraging you to live in the moment and embrace the future. HHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Pack as much into your day as possible. What you accomplish will make a difference, and it will ward off those who are looking for fault or reasons to complain. Anger and aggressive behavior are a waste of your time. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ve got more going for you than you realize. Don’t be afraid to offer your thoughts and to work alongside people who are unique. Someone from your past will be a reminder of old dreams that you can turn into new possibilities. HHHHH

e confounded by swaddling. I overcomplimented Nick’s ace abilities to wrap our baby like a burrito. This paid off in spades. His confidence in swaddling led to his dominance over bedtime and allowed me to start reading novels alone before bed again. As he got older, Charlie needed different things from us. I decided a full immersion was the best training I could give my husband. So I left. First I left for two days and two nights to copy-edit my novel. Another time I left for five days to go on assignment for a story. I imagined it a little like Outward Bound or one of those reality television shows in which people are thrown naked into the woods, but for parenting. There were some women who criticized me. “How could you leave your 3-month-old like that?” they said. “Because he has another parent,” I said and decided not to be friends with those women anymore. I left him because my husband needed to learn to be a dad the same way I needed to learn to be a mom: through trial and error. Babies are resilient. One day Charlie ripped

off a dirty diaper and pooped right on the couch. Another day he ate dirt. He’s fine. The two of them figured it out and when I got home, Nick’s confidence about being alone with Charlie was nearly as high as mine. These days my husband puts the baby to bed most nights. He’s better at shushing (I tell him this all the time). He does a lot of the feeding. He does the laundry; I usually fold it. He loads the dishwasher and I unload it. He’s just as good at reading Charlie’s mind as I am, which means he gets it right half the time. We both empty the smelly, smelly Diaper Genie. I still hate asking for help. I still wish he could read my mind. We’re not perfect parents. Figuring this out still causes the worst fights we’ve ever had. Charlie took his diaper off again the other day and hid it. We still have no idea where it is. I’m covered in both puke and pee as I write this. Many days there are tears from all three of us. But we’re still trying, and over the course of the past year my husband has learned how to be a very, very good father and I have learned how to ask for help. n

More talk about ‘Screen Time’ issue Continued from D2-3

Today’s Horoscope

with one hour then two-hour rest. They have their individual kitchen timers. They also try to look at something far or green after a certain period to avoid eye strain. I let them see the effect for themselves. There were days when they had too much. They would be cranky or tired. I would challenge them and say: If you are supposed to relax, then why do you feel more tired? I also go back to their goals for the year, then discuss the rules they think are appropriate. Now, my daughter is the one who tells me to keep her gadgets for the week. We also encourage our kids to try many things outside of school. My daughter spends her free time in varsity basketball, advanced math and now fencing. My son spends his free time in robotics, advanced math, violin and fencing, as well. 4. LET’S GET “PHYGITAL”. During my son’s Handy

Manny stage, I gave my son tools. After watching, I lead them to the physical activities. Since both my kids like art, there are nice toys available that encourage drawing and then seeing their art onscreen. And this is where I feel “application learning” happens. Now, game nights can be spent making videos. We can be watching a Netflix movie and then we can pretend to be newscasters or make our own shows. In conclusion, screen time is not the enemy. I believe my kids benefit from a “phygital” world. Technology’s main purpose for me is a tool for information, logic and communication. The physical world of toys and human interaction remains to be my primary source of overall learning. Most of all, my kids’ phygital world becomes our parent-child “phygital” connection. I can’t hate technology for that. n

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Give more consideration to what others may be experiencing before you say something you may regret. Problems at home or at work will result in unexpected changes. How things unfold will depend on your attitude and your actions. HH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take some “me” time. Visit someone you find interesting or sign up for a course that will broaden your scope regarding what you want to achieve. Networking functions will lead to ideas, partnerships and new beginnings. Romance is highlighted. HHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t put off what you can do today. You’ll feel better once you have laid your to-do list to rest, and you’ll ward off complaints from people who like to point out your shortcomings. Hard work deserves a reward. HHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Emotions will be difficult to control. Consider what others say and do before you retaliate. You’ll feel better and accomplish more if you focus on a creative project or something or someone you find unusual or intriguing. HHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Concentrate on work and do whatever you have to do to earn your keep. Refuse to let someone who is a poor influence interrupt you or convince you to get involved in something that could tarnish your reputation. Avoid meddlers. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Live up to your word. How you conduct your day-today affairs will determine how favorably you are received by others. An unexpected or unusual opportunity will change the way you live. Be open to new ideas. HHHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t be gullible when dealing with friends, peers or relatives. Someone will take advantage of you or put you in an awkward position if you don’t stand up for your rights and maintain your integrity. HH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ll have plenty of opportunities today. Look at the possibilities and consider how they can lead to personal gains. A gift, investment, unexpected find or debt repaid will improve your mood and encourage personal or physical improvements. HHHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are intense, passionate and possessive. You are ambitious and unpredictable.

‘get out’ BY TIMOTHY E. PARKER The Universal Crossword/Edited by Timothy E. Parker

ACROSS 1 A guttural laugh? 6 Oboe ancestor 11 Across-the-pond airer 14 Greyhound loading site 15 Mountaintop dwelling 16 State neighboring Fla. 17 The forcing from a fixed position 19 Tough thing to crack 20 Single-masted crafts 21 Crane part 23 Floyd and Cleavon 26 Fen-ish 27 Exit 28 Scald and cool vegetables 30 Like Pegasus 31 Fertilizer from bats 32 Dim going back? 35 “Deck the Halls” verb 36 This puzzle’s topic 38 Tokyo, once 39 Plea to the Coast Guard 40 Signals with a thumbs-up 41 Quick cut

2 Communion plates 4 44 Move sneakily 46 Handy symbol of hard work? 48 Simon Legree and his ilk 49 One way you can say that? 50 Little software program? 52 Coal mover 53 Disturbance of the normal position 58 Deli sandwich 59 Mary of “The Maltese Falcon” 60 Third monastic hour 61 Affirmative reply 62 Strike hard, centuries ago 63 Muse playing a lyre DOWN 1 Throw in 2 Floral necklace 3 Wife of Saturn 4 Handgun sheath 5 Ringlike islands 6 Palms yielding starches 7 Rope-making fiber 8 Greek war god 9 Beat everyone

0 Antifreeze predecessor 1 11 Extreme evictions 12 Cheek application 13 Vindictively tart-tongued 18 Buck lovers 22 Tolkien monster 23 Tips for salespeople 24 Arctic digs? 25 Some surgeries 26 Every ___ king 28 Harbor bouncers 29 Washrooms, for short 31 Male Fed 33 Genius? Not even close 34 Relatives of 33-Down 36 Huge domed rooms 37 ___ out a living 41 Outlawed pitch 43 Heavyweight legend 44 Softest solid 45 Picture in one’s mind 46 Driver for hire 47 Quick on one’s feet 48 Future mushroom

0 Vino region 5 51 Moviegoers follow it 54 Suffix with “professional” 55 Financial portfolio part 56 Fourth qtr. month 57 “New” prefix

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

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More talk about ‘Screen Time’ issue MOMMY NO LIMITS

MAYE YAO CO SAY

mommynolimits@gmail.com

HAVE been discussing “Screen Time” for the past two weeks. In the first week, I wrote about the reality of the issue and the precautions from experts regarding the effect of screen time on one’s physical and mental health. Last week I listed what experts prescribe for their kids at home. This week is the concluding part of this series, summarizing all that I’ve learned into pointers that I today apply at home, as well as the efficacy and woes we encounter in implementing them. 1. “ACTIVE PLAY” COME FIRST. Sensory development is fundamental for me. I believe experts advice parents to refrain from gadgets for infants and toddlers because gadgets hinder our babies to utilize their “primary tools”. I believe that their eyes, ears, nose, tongue and hands, which we develop until their toddler years, are the senses they will utilize for the rest of their lives. I was always conscious about “Active” learning versus “Passive” learning. I always felt when the “screen” teaches concepts, my child sits and listens but has no interaction as they learn the subject matter. I also encourage my family and friends to get them

“Active” toys on special occasions. 2. “WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY’S INTENDED PRODUCTIVE PURPOSE?” Technology for my kids has served the following productive purpose: n CONTENT/INFORMATION. Media is a great source of information. Until my kids were 3, I tried to show them videos with “real” images vs. cartoon images. I especially loved DK videos about dinosaurs and solar system. I was cautious about videos with fast motions. At one point, I did my own content for my kids. I compiled photos from the Avalon, Singapore and San Diego zoos and used iMovie to make a video while putting the name of the animal and saying it with my voice. Today, when any of us has a question we can’t

answer from a trivia about a Marvel character, or on how to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie, we utilize technology as our “Curiosity Assistant”. n STRATEGY AND LOGIC BUILDING. When my kids get interested in a video game or an application, I sift through the skill the game is building. It can be as simple as speed or as complicated as strategy and collaboration. Now that my son is into Fortnite, it has become a bonding session with his older sister. n COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTION. This is my most favorite purpose. My daughter liked watching Maddie Ziegler (the girl who dances in Sia’s videos) at one point. I would ask her about it. Later on, she invited me to watch Dance Moms with her. I would

inject questions regarding her opinions on how certain characters reacted, or how she would handle similar situations. Best of all, it was a good avenue for her to ask questions, as well. Today at 12, I value how “fluid” my conversations are with my daughter. What I prevent technology to be is to be a pacifier or quick-fix tool. Both my kids are picky eaters. It would have been easier to lure them with the “screen” to finish a meal. I saw this done by the nanny and initially felt that it was okay. Then I saw the “passiveness”. I cut it cold turkey. It also helps that their game console and television are only found in

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FROM left: Perfect example of “phygital” play—when Marcus was into Yokai cartoons, he researched more with this Yokai book; the cover image of the animal video I made for Meagan from our various trips from zoos to teach her about animals; and both kids bonding as Marcus shares his interest on the Skylanders video game to Meagan through art.

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A delicate treatment to match the fish By David Tanis New York Times News Service

ROASTED suckling piglet with truffle-flavored toasted bread

JEREME LEUNG PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON ‘ELEGANCE OF ORIENT’ CELEBRITY master chef Jereme Leung recently made his much-awaited return to Conrad Manila (www.conradmanila. com) with a strikingly new collection of gustatory wonders. During the four-day limited engagement, from October 6 to 9, China Blue by Jereme Leung celebrated the passion and timeless elegance of the Orient with artfully modern interpretations of authentic Chinese cuisine, especially curated alongside Executive Chef Eng Yew Khor, all available for á la carte and in a luxurious set menu. In welcoming back Chef Jereme, Conrad Manila General Manager Laurent Boisdron said: “We’re elated to welcome Chef Jereme back at Conrad Manila, with his tireless pursuit of culinary excellence and search of new flavors fastbecoming the benchmark among patrons of Chinese cuisine.” The “Elegance of the Orient” set menu specialties included roasted suckling piglet with truffle-flavored toasted bread, baked beef short ribs with black olive sauce, and steamed live Maine lobster with wintermelon and black garlic sauce. China Blue by Jereme Leung was recently hailed as the Continent Winner for Most Luxurious Ambiance and Regional Winner for Chinese Cuisine at the 2018 World Luxury Restaurant Awards. The restaurant aims to further elevate the local dining experience to new heights with tastefully authentic dishes coupled with plush modern interiors and panoramic views of the bay.

HEN you head to the fish market, you may find small thin fillets of flounder, fluke, sole or plaice, or thick halibut fillets. As different as they may be in size, they are all related, part of the flatfish family— and delicate, mild and sweet tasting, with tender white flesh. They are aptly named, for they are flat. While other species of fish are symmetrical, with eyes on both sides of the head, and upright swimmers, flatfish have eyes on just one side, and swim sideways. They are also two-toned, with speckled and dark tops and pale bottoms, which help them blend in with their surroundings and keep predators from seeing them easily. They mostly spend their lives lying flat on the ocean floor, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting prey. So how to choose? It can be confusing. The thing to know is that flatfish fillets are relatively interchangeable when it comes to preparing them, each one quick and easy to cook on the stovetop in a large skillet. I usually opt for large, 6- to 8-ounce flounder fillets, if they are available, or fluke (also known as summer flounder, but available year-round, go figure). I take a classic approach, dusting the fish fillets lightly with seasoned flour, and browning them lightly on both sides in a little olive oil—about two minutes per side. Then I transfer them to a warm platter while I make a quick butter sauce in the same pan. It is a simple matter of tossing a few chunks of cold butter into the hot skillet, letting it sizzle and begin to get brown and foamy, but not too brown (the flavor I’m going for is toasty and nutty, not burned). A splash of lemon juice stops the browning and contributes acidity. A fistful of chopped parsley and a little chopped tarragon to finish is nice, though parsley alone will do. The sauce takes less than a minute, really, before it is spooned over the fish. This is the kind of fast food that is elegant enough for company but easy enough for weeknight fare.

FLOUNDER WITH BROWN BUTTER, LEMON AND TARRAGON Yield: 4 servings Total time: 20 minutes 1 cup all-purpose flour Salt and pepper Pinch of cayenne 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 flounder fillets of equal size, 6 to 8 ounces each 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons roughly chopped parsley 1 teaspoon roughly chopped tarragon A few tarragon leaves, for garnish Lemon wedges

Put flour in a low bowl or pie plate and stir in a generous amount of salt and pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Place a large cast-iron skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add olive oil and tilt pan to coat bottom. Season the fillets lightly with salt and pepper. Dip each fillet quickly into flour mixture, shaking off excess flour. Lay fillets in skillet in one layer. Cook for about 2 minutes per side, until golden. Transfer cooked fish to a warm platter. Leave the heat at medium-high and add cold butter. Let butter sizzle until foamy and brown, but do not let it burn. Add lemon juice, parsley and chopped tarragon and swirl to incorporate. Spoon butter sauce over fish. Garnish with a few tarragon leaves and serve immediately with lemon wedges. n

Pasta loaded with tender bites of sausage, kale and beans WE had our hearts set on a one-pot pasta loaded with tender bites of browned sausage, hearty kale, and creamy cannellini beans. To streamline the recipe, rather than boil the pasta separately or remove the sausage from the pot once it had browned, we built flavor in layers, allowing the addition of each component to form a creamy sauce that tied the dish together. After browning the sausage, we added chopped onion and a can of cannellini beans and cooked them alongside the meat. Some of the beans broke down, creating an effortlessly creamy sauce, and those that held their shape absorbed lots of meaty taste. To boost the sausage’s robust seasoning, we stirred in minced garlic, fennel seeds, oregano, and red pepper flakes, blooming their flavors in the hearty base. When it came to the pasta, orecchiette’s earlike shape promised to trap the sauce without getting too entwined with the kale. We added the orecchiette along with both water and chicken broth and brought the mixture to a simmer. Incorporating the chopped kale in stages worked best, as adding it all at once caused the pasta to cook unevenly by forming an unwanted insulating barrier around the orecchiette. Plus, the longer-cooked kale blended into the sauce, while the kale added later contributed nice texture. Our finished dish boasted perfectly al dente pasta with plenty of flavor—an ideal weeknight dinner. You can substitute 8 ounces of other pasta shapes for the orecchiette; however, the cup amounts will vary as follows: 2 1/2 cups for ziti, penne, and campanelle; 3 cups for medium shells; and 3 1/4 cups for farfalle.

12 ounces kale, stemmed and chopped 1 ounce Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (1/2 cup), plus extra for serving Salt and pepper Heat 1 tablespoon oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and cook, breaking meat into 1/2-inch pieces, until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in onion and beans and cook until onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel seeds, and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth and water, increase heat to high, and bring to boil. Stir in pasta and half of kale. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and simmer vigorously for 4 minutes. Place remaining kale in pot without stirring, cover, and cook until kale is just tender, about 4 minutes. Stir to incorporate kale and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is absorbed and pasta is tender, 3 to 6 minutes. Off heat, stir in Pecorino and remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste; serve, passing extra Pecorino separately. AP

PASTA WITH SAUSAGE, KALE AND WHITE BEANS Servings: 4 Start to finish: 1 hour 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed 1 onion, chopped fine 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes 3 cups chicken broth 1 cup water 8 ounces (2 1/4 cups) orecchiette

PASTA with sausage, kale and white beans, the recipe for which appears in the cookbook One-Pan Wonders. AP

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

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REELING: A PLACE, A FEAST, A HISTORY: BUSAN D3-3

Thursday, October 11, 2018

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A battle is reborn on a soundtrack as Lady Gaga pits pop against authenticity LADY GAGA and Bradley Cooper (background) star in the latest remake of A Star Is Born, the soundtrack of which was released alongside the movie’s opening last week.

By Jon Pareles New York Times News Service

N the new version of A Star Is Born, the seasoned, fading rock star Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) seizes a private moment with the up-and-coming singer and songwriter Ally (Lady Gaga), just as she ascends to full stardom. Against the backdrop of her new Sunset Boulevard billboard, he tells her she has to “dig deep” in her soul; he continues, “You don’t tell the truth out there, you’re [finished].” (He uses a stronger word.) He’s calling on her to make music with honesty and openness, to imbue her songs with that elastic and elusive concept: authenticity. The movie’s visual style telegraphs authenticity with lengthy close-ups. For the music that functions as outlet and selfdefinition for the characters—the soundtrack album was released on Friday alongside the movie—the equation isn’t as simple. It’s an album of peaks and troughs, of wide-open emotionality and thudding calculation. It’s both a souvenir of the movie—with a lot of dialogue snippets—and a pop statement on its own. And it’s the latest episode in the story arc of Lady Gaga, the self-invention of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. She arrived a decade ago as an over-thetop dance-pop diva, flaunting wigs, costumes, makeup and dance routines in a barrage of proudly superficial guises: Mirrors! Feathers! Roses! Spikes! Bubbles! Meat! Her songs were driven by glossy, thumping dance-club beats, even as her lyrics insisted on darker impulses of attachment and obsession: “Chase you down until you love me,” she vowed in “Paparazzi.” At the same time, she was eager to prove that she was a skilled pianist and singer who had paid her dues at piano bars and remained a flesh-and-blood live performer, regardless of any trappings. Like Madonna before her, she made theatrical pop spectacle and full-tilt selfexpression parts of the same package. But a battle between the perceived ephemerality of pop and the assumed durability of something more authentic has raged on in her music. She followed her 2008 album debut, The Fame, and its extended version, The Fame Monster, with Born This Way, an album that mingled electro-pop tracks with arena anthems, flaunting an emissary from “real” rock music: Bruce Springsteen’s saxophonist Clarence Clemons. The willful Artpop turned back to playful artifice, with art-world ambitions and diminishing returns. So Lady Gaga swung the pendulum far the other way, recasting herself on established ground—as a song-and-dance trouper who’s melding Broadway and movie-musical conventions with the demands of current pop. She sang a medley from The Sound of Music on the Academy Awards; she made an album with Tony Bennett. Joanne, from 2016, made an insistent show of authenticity: a painful story from her family’s past, acoustic guitars, a wide-brimmed hat. In A Star Is Born, she casts herself as simultaneously approachable and larger than life. The album is full of love songs. The 1954 Judy Garland version of A Star Is Born focused its songs on love and showbusiness ambition; the 1976 Barbra Streisand vehicle placed love alongside a woman’s self-assertion. The new one determinedly extols sincerity and truth-telling. Jackson Maine arrives onstage in the movie’s opening sequence to gulp down some booze and pills and then sing, “It’s time to testify/There’s no room for lies.” For his character, the trappings of authenticity are straightforward. He’s a long-running rock archetype: a gruff-voiced, guitar-slinging, hard-drinking, countryrooted road warrior. His record collection is on vinyl; the camera lingers over his vintage stereo system. In the 1970s, his music would

have been categorized as Southern rock or outlaw country; in the 2010s, he lands on the rowdier side of the arena-country mainstream. His songwriting collaborator and onstage bandleader is Lukas Nelson, Willie’s son. As Ally, Lady Gaga gets all of the movie’s best songs; Cooper’s vary from serviceable to embarrassing (“Music to My Eyes” stays as labored as its title). But she also has a far more complicated relationship to supposedly unvarnished self-expression. In the plotline, Ally’s genuine voice and charisma draw Maine to her in the first place, and her psychologically charged songwriting and unspoiled attitude seal their bond. Her room has a photo of Carole King on the wall. But she’s first presented as anything but natural: behind makeup and fake eyebrows, singing “La Vie en Rose” at a drag club. It’s not exactly a roots-rock repertoire. (In a nod to Garland, she also has an a cappella moment singing a snippet of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”) Ally’s stardom is born when a reluctant stadium performance of a song she had just written makes her an overnight sensation by going viral on YouTube. It’s “Shallow,” the leadoff single and most boffo track on the soundtrack album. Though Cooper starts the song, Lady Gaga takes over for its exponential buildup, from throaty and breathy to full-scale belting. It’s another in her catalog of spiraling power ballads, and it’s the immediate sequel to “Million Reasons” from her theatrically naturalistic Joanne. Yet the song also features a Gaga trademark since the dance-pop days of hits like “Paparazzi” and “Poker Face”: a chorus built on stuttering repeated syllables, “in the sha-hal, sha-hal-oh.” The album’s other showstoppers are piano ballads: the Elton John-flavored “Always Remember Us This Way”; the electronics-assisted hymn “Before I Cry”; and “I’ll Never Love Again.” They rely on Lady Gaga’s old-school finesse, timing, emotionality and lung power. But it’s not the 1970s any more, and as soon as Ally gets her big chance, she discards her own truest assets. By the time Maine gives Ally his counsel about staying soulful, she has already taken on a manager and let him recast her with a flamingly unreal hair color and tacky dance-pop numbers that the actual Lady Gaga would have rejected (or twisted and vastly improved) in 2008. And in the movie’s suddenly cynical universe, that’s the material that apparently carries Ally to the Grammy Awards. In Cooper’s A Star Is Born, pop is irredeemably shallow, a mere commercial trick. It’s odd for Lady Gaga, of all people, to be pitting modern pop against authenticity. Not that long ago, her hits insisted—as drag tradition does—that the most outsized artifice could also hold something true. Remaking an old story, the 2018 A Star Is Born relies on the old, time-honored solidity of the pop ballad. It tugs its heartstrings, but its path to authenticity is a return to the past. n

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

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EgyptAir seeks to shift blame for Drew Barrymore interview DOING WHAT THEY KNOW BEST: BALLET MANILA STAGES ANOTHER CLASSIC WITH ‘LE CORSAIRE’

IN true Ballet Manila fashion, the country’s premier classical dance company is staging one of the most thrilling classics of all time—Le Corsaire. Ballet Manila’s Le Corsaire is a volatile cocktail of love, adventure and heart-stopping action. It follows the story of Conrad and his band of pirates as they rescue harem girls— especially the beautiful Medora—from slave traders and the sleazy Sultan Pasha. Their adventure takes the audience through an exotic journey over land and sea, punctuated by the clash of swords and dazzling acrobatics. One of the most exciting things about Le Corsaire is the ruthless difficulty of the choreography. It’s almost as if the danseurs were given free rein to pull out all the stops and perform their favorite tricks. The leaps call for nothing less than peak physical form, while the turns require a rare kind of virtuosity. Luckily, Ballet Manila has plenty of both. Le Corsaire will be headlined by three of the company’s most decorated aces. Fresh from back-to-back wins at the 2018 USA International Ballet Competition (USA IBC) and the 2018 Varna International Ballet Competition, Resident Guest Principal Katherine Barkman heads straight to the Aliw Theater stage as she debuts as the lovely Medora. Meanwhile, her longtime stage partner and fellow USA IBC gold medalist Joseph Phillips will play the swashbuckling Conrad. They will be joined by Katherine’s fellow Asian Grand Prix medalist and USA IBC Jury Encouragement special awardee Nicole Barroso, who will dance one of the most iconic ballet variations in her debut as Gulnara. “Le Corsaire fulfills Ballet Manila’s tradition of staging at least one classic per season,” says Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director. “More important, this unforgiving piece showcases the strength of our Vaganova technique, which is something that’s unique to the company.” Lisa adds that Le Corsaire holds a special place in her heart. She regularly played Medora throughout her storied career, until she decided to pass the role to the next generation back in 2013. “Watch out for Medora’s pas de trois with Conrad and Ali—it’s one of the most celebrated passages in the history of ballet,” she adds. Le Corsaire is scheduled to run at the Aliw Theater on October 20 at 6 pm, and on October 21 at 3 pm. For more information about the shows, including ticket prices and schedules, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph. Tickets are also available through all TicketWorld outlets (891-9999, www.ticketworld.com.ph).

By Hamza Hendawi The Associated Press

AIRO—EgyptAir is trying to shift the blame to a local advertising agency for a bizarre article in its in-flight magazine purportedly based on an interview with actress Drew Barrymore. The airline, in a statement late Monday, said it has an agreement with Al-Ahram advertising agency, which edits articles and interviews for the Egyptian carrier’s in-flight magazine, Horus. According to EgyptAir, the agency is “totally responsible” for the magazine’s editorial content. The article, riddled with misspellings and grammatical errors, led with a description of Barrymore as “being unstable in her relationships” and quoted her as saying that motherhood was “the most important role in my life.” A separate statement by the advertising agency said the introductory paragraphs of the purported interview were not written by the interviewer, Aida Tekla. “It is a product of the editor’s creativity,” the agency said, adding that it would investigate whether the lead of the interview reflected what the actress actually said. “We apologize for any misunderstanding that might be interpreted as an offence to the great artist [Barrymore],” the statement said. EgyptAir last week said it stands by the article, published in Horus’s October edition. US press reports have quoted Barrymore’s representatives as denying any such interview took place, with some suggesting the author must have based her article on misinterpretations of a press conference. Barrymore has yet to issue an official statement on the interview, but the Al-Ahram agency said a representative of the actress contacted Tekla about the interview to say that the American actress never spoke to Horus. The representative did not know that Tekla, a senior member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, contributed to Horus, said the agency. The article says Barrymore had failed relationships because her parents divorced. “It is known that Barrymore had almost 17

relationships, engagements and marriages; psychologists believe that her behavior is only natural since she lacked the male role model in her life after her parents’ divorce,” Tekla wrote. In another passage, she quoted Barrymore as being pleased with recent weight loss after having a second daughter. Another quote describes Barrymore as celebrating women’s achievements in “the West”

because they handle tasks men cannot. “Women exert tremendous efforts that men are incapable of exerting due to their numerous commitments and obligations,” the article quoted Barrymore as saying. EgyptAir’s inflight magazine has Arabic and English sections, but translations are often poor and English-language articles are filled with errors. n

FEU FILM ‘ASWANG’ GETS TICKET TO SHORT+SWEET HOLLYWOOD A SHORT film from Far Eastern University (FEU) earned a ticket to Hollywood after winning the People’s Choice Award at the Short+Sweet Manila Gala Finals held on September 26 at the Century City Mall Events Center in Makati. Hannah Grace Maur‘s Aswang will represent the Philippines in the international competition together with Ar-Jen Manlapig’s Ang Unang Araw ng Pasukan, which bagged Best Film, Best Direction and Best Screenplay. The two winners will be showcased along with other selected films at the Marilyn Monroe Theater in Los Angeles, California, on October 13. Aswang, a final requirement by FEU communication students for their Cinema Production or CNM2 class, tells the story of little Ruben (Alvin Maghanoy), who believes that Lilith (Lyka del a Cruz), the beautiful lady in their town, is an aswang. His world changes upon knowing about Lilith’s suspicious interest in his family. Rowi Du and Gaye Piccio play Ruben’s parents. Written by Marygail Alcantara, Aswang earlier topped the fourth and last heat of Short+Sweet Manila in August. This came after the film won honorable mention at the 30th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video. It also bagged Third Best Film and Best Production Design at the Sinepiyu XI Golden Reel category in May.

Ang Unang Araw ng Pasukan, on the other hand, is about a 10-year-old boy from a poor family who goes to school on the first day of classes in what seems to be a very enticing day for him. The five-minute film also won the grand prize at the first Sinekabataan last year. Or Kantor’s Little Thing won Best Cinematography, while the Best Actor and Best Actress trophies went to Zyren Leigh Luansing of Maghihintay, Tonton (Alvin Baloloy) and Angeli Bayani of Baon (Noel Escondo), respectively. Another FEU short film, Taya by GCay Reyes, also made it to the finals. Written by Lily Gomes, the short is about Magda, a Filipina who comes home from Japan. Caught between her past and her present, she struggles to play around with her fate. The other finalists are Me Too by Ayeshah Rose, Just Fine by Neil Sebastian, Mr. Whistle by Arjanmar Rebeta, Gawilan by Kelsy Lua, The Return by Luidmilla Komrakova and Pikit by Ivan Cortez. Short+Sweet, the biggest 10-minute performing arts festival in the world with events in more than 30 cities across 12 countries, presented the event in partnership with The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute-New York, Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, Casting Network, Pineapple Lab, Asia Pacific Film Institute and Century City Makati.

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

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A place, a feast, a history: Busan AT the event honoring Philippine cinema, with delegates headed by Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairman and CEO Maria Liza B. Diño

REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

WAS running to the hall where the opening ceremonies of the 23rd Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) was happening. The early autumn chill was not enough to make me feel cold and threatened under my Barong Tagalog. Security was strict; my guide was just too fast for me. I lost her in a few seconds and security men in nice, dapper jackets were upon me. The guide was back fast enough to whisk me into the hall. Three huge screens faced the assembly. I saw on the screen Teddy Co and Nick de Ocampo, cool and collected. Both were also in barong and not a bit affected—it seemed—by the strong wind buffeting the area. I was soon near my chair, my name in a thick font against the velvet cover of the chair. That is my chair and no one is taking that, I told myself. Soon, a loud applause, with bits of screams, ensued. I looked at the screens once more. There in his bright G-string and other accoutrements, a mix of the lowland interpretation of our communities up north and the imaginations of ethnicities, was Kidlat Tahimik. He is a Filipino filmmaker, I told my seatmates. The row in front of me knew him. Nat Sitoy was there, the actress in Come Home, Irene. She was with the Japanese production team and her director. They knew Kidlat. Behind me, a group of European filmmakers were applauding Kidlat. The drizzle continued and the wind was becoming stronger. Men who looked like women, prettier and more fey than women, started to walk the red carpet and girls and boys were swooning and screaming. The Filipino contingent started to appear: Joel Torre, Christopher de Leon, Sandy Andolong, all representing the films that were selected to stand for 100 years of Philippine filmmaking. Brillante Mendoza, Wilson Tieng, Remton Zuasola—all were there for the centenary of Philippine cinema. The Korean idols came forth again. The women looked fresh and unmade-up. I was wrong about the lack of makeup. The women in this peninsula had developed makeup styles that didn’t look like they had painted their faces. Then the crowd went quiet. On screen was a lovely girl. Very European. Striking. As the camera went up close. The applause went louder. It was Max Collins who was there for Citizen Jake. The red carpet was interminable. The night was also long. At the end of the opening ceremony, we were asked to go to Haeundae Grande, a name that alerted us how humongous its building was. The protocol was rigid and proper, almost humorless. If you so much as step closer to the road where the cars were, the female security or guides would immediately prompt you to go back a few feet, onto the safer area. We had to pass through a dark passageway, which brought us to the basement of the structure. There we lined up to wait for the cars that would bring us to the next site. We were early for the opening party. Stepping into the wide, warm, huge lobby of Haeundae Grande, we were greeted by a female violinist in a red dress,

playing that old song, “Autumn Leaves.” She was not part of the festival but it looked as if she was playing the melody for us. We were all hungry. The bar was full. We saw a terrace outside, unoccupied. We all went there but in a few minutes, everyone went back in: the autumn wind was much too crisp and cold for us already. The next day was a big day for the three of us who were in Busan: Teddy Co, archivist and chairman of the Executive Committee for Cinema under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts; Nick de Ocampo, film historian; and this writer. Except for Doy del Mundo who could not make it, we were there in Busan for the launching of the commemorative book, Philippine Cinema: A Response to the Nation. We didn’t have a hand in the design of the book. It was a pleasant surprise to see Nora Aunor as Elsa in Ishmael Bernal’s Himala on the cover of the book. By this time, the fans of the great actor may have seen the cover of the book already and are having their own celebration. As the Philippines is the Country of Focus, the BIFF committee had given significant spaces for us. A huge dome was set up on BIFF Hill. This was where Filipino delegates would converge before the special events curated for the country would transpire. The book launch was held in that dome. One had to go through a makeshift revolving door that opened to a circle. Coffee was served. Cookies and candies were on the table. This was Pinoy warmth at its most sincere. Around the wall and onto the ceilings were reflected images of scenes from Filipino classics and other important cinemas: Fernando Poe Jr. was handsome and strong on a horse that was ready to ride into the sunset. To his right, Nora Aunor as Elsa had her back bent, the apparition taking over her spirit. Manuel Conde is a gallant Genghis Khan as imagined by the Filipino artist in the ‘50s. Farther down left and regal were Atang de la Rama and other glamorous shots of actors and actresses of yore. If Nora is here, can Vilma be far behind? On the left curve of the wall was Vilma Santos. As you looked up a bit, a very young Christopher de Leon as Kulas walks through a corridor and into the past and present of our times. The indefatigable Nick de Ocampo was behind this exhibit and installation. Trenchant and compelling, the curator uses the term “archipelagic” to define the

Czech drama ‘Lidice’ screens in Manila IN the culminating celebration of the first century of the Czech statehood, the Czech Embassy in Manila, in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, brings the historical drama Lidice (2011), which portrays one the darkest moments in Czech wartime history. Lidice was directed by Petr Nikolaev, winner of Best DirectorWorld Cinema in the 2009 Phoenix Film Awards. The movie is a historical polemic combined with a love story that showcases the fate of small-town love stories which ended up with the destruction of the village Lidice, as retaliation to the assassination of the Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich during the Nazi occupation in 1942. Starring Karel Roden, who was awarded as Best Actor in the Czech Lion Awards, the film sets up an emotional roller-coaster filled with evocative yet sensitive scenes portraying the characters not only in black and white but rather neatly shows the characters inhabiting the shades of gray. Further, the film showcases a well-

crafted and superb cinematography designed to reveal the events in 1942 well beyond the Czech borders. Despite the traumatic nature of the film and its profound historical significance, the message is as old as humanity featuring the power and ill of human love. More than telling a message, the film desires to evoke emotions that will touch and stay with the people for a long time.

This award-winning film is the 11th installation for the yearlong Czech Movie Gems, which takes place every second Wednesday of the month, aimed to bring different prime Czech films to its Filipino audience. The film will be screened, today, October 11, 6:30 pm, at Cinematheque Center Manila. Admission is free. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to capacity.

cinemas we produce. On the day of the ribbon-cutting of the exhibit, the storm came. As I was hurrying up to finish my breakfast, a text message came through my phone: all events for the day had been canceled. I spent the day watching the waves reach the breakwater below my hotel. The waves went up to several feet.

Nick would be there in the storm, he would tell me. The next day, at 10 am, the opening of the exhibit was done. Nick had to be taken quickly to the airport to catch his flight home. Nothing could stop this show, Nick told us. Well, nothing could stop Philippine cinema, after some hundred years, in Busan, in Manila, in Mindanao, in Europe, and in the United States. n

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

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MADAM Secretary star Téa Leoni (second from left) with former US Secretaries of State (from left) Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright. KYLINE ALCANTARA

MARK BAUTISTA

GMA launches ‘new entertainment experience’ BEGINNING October 14, prepare for a new entertainment experience for the whole family as the brightest GMA stars come together for latest and most exciting musical-variety program, Studio 7. It airs every Sunday at 7:40 pm. Every Sunday night holds a special surprise for viewers as it gives them a chance to hang out with an ever-changing mix of the network’s versatile and best-performing artists. Its first two episode features best-selling balladeer Christian Bautista, multihyphenate Julie Anne San Jose and pop music heartthrob Mark Bautista. Gabbi Garcia and newest GMA hunk Rayver Cruz also join the fun in bringing their trending musical performances and grooves on the dance floor. The network’s sought-after stars Kyline Alcantara, Migo Adecer, Mikee Quintos, Kate Valdez and twins Mavy and Cassy Legaspi offer one-of-a-kind

performances to their fans. Adding more excitement in the show with their amusing brand of comedy are Donita Nose and Tekla. Because of their trending performances, The Clash superstars led by its first-ever Grand Champion Golden Cañedo, Jong Madaliday, Garrett Bolden, Josh Adornado and Mirriam Manalo also showcase their world-class talents on stage. The upcoming spectacle will have new segments every week, including “Trending” which will feature viral, heartwarming and interesting personalities online. In “G na G”, the hosts will take on the challenges given to them by the netizens. “On the Spot,” meanwhile, will showcase a grand vocal showdown among GMA’s finest singers. Studio 7 is under the helm of young TV director Miguel Tanchangco, while heading the creative team is creative director Paolo Valenciano.

Téa Leoni and Madeleine Albright discuss ‘Madam Secretary,’ fact and fiction By Bruce Fretts New York Times News Service

HE secretary of state is running late. The fictional one, that is. Téa Leoni, who plays Elizabeth McCord on Madam Secretary, has been scheduled to do a conference call with the real-life former Cabinet member Madeleine Albright to discuss the CBS drama’s fifth-season premiere, airing on Sunday. In it, Albright guest stars with two other former secretaries of state, Colin Powell and Hillary Clinton, as themselves. After a national crisis, they advise their counterpart on how she should address the nation. But Leoni was shooting until 2 am the night before, so she’s behind schedule. However, Secretary Albright is happy to start without her. These are edited excerpts from the (eventual) threeway conversation.

You’ve appeared on Madam Secretary before, but this was Secretary Powell and Secretary Clinton’s first time on the show. Did you show them the ropes? Madeleine Albright: They certainly have an awful lot of experience in terms of television. Mostly we just had a good time. Why did you appear on the show in the first place? Albright: I do watch television, and I believe there are programs that can send very important messages. Something I watched in the past was Army Wives because it really talked about what it was like to be a military spouse. It’s a good way to have people understand some of the more complex issues in our society. This was your first time shooting in Elizabeth’s office. What did you think of it? Albright: What we found—and I speak for all three of us—was how real the sets were, in terms of the furniture and colors. We all, in some form or another, commented on the fact that an awful lot of work had obviously gone into replicating the settings. Did you ever dream of becoming an actress? Albright: No, but I do like to have a good time. Not long after I got out of office, I got a phone call from the producers of Gilmore Girls, asking if I minded if somebody played me in a scene. I said, “Yes, I mind—I want to play myself!” I had a great time on that. Then I did Parks and Recreation. I am a showoff.

Leoni: (Joining the call) I just came in to hear, “I’m a show-off.” Hello, Secretary Albright. Albright: Hey, Téa. How are you, Madam Secretary? Leoni: Sorry, I was having a hard time getting here. We’re out on location. What was it like for you, Ms. Leoni, to act opposite these three historical figures? Leoni: There’s no comparison: It was my favorite moment in over four seasons of the show, hands down. We started out doing a show that we thought was going to show our world and how the men and women involved in our government worked. Now it seems we’re doing sci-fi against the backdrop of what is actually happening. None of the irony of that is lost on anyone on our set. What was the atmosphere like on the set that day? Leoni: It felt like we were doing a live musical version of Madam Secretary because everybody was buzzing. We were all so excited—we were going to hear from three secretaries of state who have given so much and performed so powerfully and eloquently in that service. In a way, I was a little bummed. I thought, “Well, this is where Elizabeth starts looking really fake.” Albright: Not true! Leoni: There really is no competition. Then, what’s worse is as the take went on, their performances were so exquisite, I thought, “Just stay with your work, guys.” How did you two first meet? Albright: Téa was about to take this role, and I got a call to see if we could get together for her to talk to me about what it was like to be secretary of state. Leoni: That first coffee was very helpful—and frightening. I didn’t know if I could ever even endeavor to play a part with this kind of gravity. That became very real, sitting down with Sec. Albright. But I was also very encouraged. We talked about how at times of particular import, secretaries will reach out to prior secretaries, and that’s what this scene is pulled from. In this moment in time, that is extraordinarily important for our democracy and our government. I go there when my nightmares get too deep. Secretary Albright, have you had any contact with President Donald J. Trump’s secretaries? Albright: It has been minimal, which is why I think that particular message is a very important one. First of all, Colin and Hillary and I are very good friends. The

first person to call me when I got named secretary was Henry Kissinger, and I spent a lot of time talking to my predecessors. That kind of sustained aspect is not going on at this point. Did you read the lines as scripted, or was there any improv? Albright: We had a script, but we did do some impromptu stuff. Leoni: There was quite a bit of improv. When I first saw the script for this episode, it had Elizabeth talking quite a bit, and I went to our show runner, Barbara Hall, and I said, “I’m so sorry, but I can’t possibly talk that much. We have the three greatest minds in foreign service in the room. Can Elizabeth just shut up today?” How would you compare Madam Secretary to other political shows that take a more cynical view of government, like House of Cards or Veep? Albright: I used to think that House of Cards was totally off-the-wall. I would like to see Washington portrayed as a place where people care about public policy and work hard and try to balance their family lives with important issues, which is what happens on Madam Secretary. House of Cards was so dark that it contributed to a complete distrust of institutions, which is a problem, frankly. Ms. Leoni, your character is considering running for president on the show. Did Secretary Clinton give you any advice about whether she should? Leoni: No, we didn’t talk about that. I’m not really interested in talking about that right now. It’s going to be hard for me if we really follow this storyline, which it appears that we will. I’ve learned a tremendous amount about the office of secretary of state and how critical it is. From where I stand, I’d rather stay there. You weren’t eligible to run for president since you weren’t born in this country, Secretary Albright, but would you have ever considered it if you could? Albright: It never would have occurred to me. Part of the problem of being president is you have to understand domestic and foreign policy. There are not a lot of people who can use both parts of their brain like that. I happened to work for one who could, Bill Clinton. Secretary of State is a fantastic job. This may sound sentimental and hokey, but to sit behind a sign that says “United States” all the time is incredible. Which is why I’m so dismayed about the way diplomacy is being treated at the moment. You actually need diplomats to do diplomacy. n

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www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, October 11, 2018 E1

Biomass expert harnesses uplands’, nipa’s potentials

By Henrylito D. Tacio

RAIG JAMIESON may have been in the Philippines for only six years, yet he already considers this country as his very own home. He had been to other parts of the world, but he chose to reside here after the United Kingdom, particularly in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, where he was born. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from the Scottish Agricultural College and a master’s degree in bioenergy via the Royal Agricultural College, he is introducing some technologies that may help save the archipelago’s uplands and rediscover the potentials of nipa palms, which are abundant across our islands. Geographically, the Philippines is considered as an “upland country,” because 60 percent of its 30 million hectares are classified as such. The uplands are rolling to

steep areas where both agriculture and forestry are practiced on slopes ranging from 18 percent upward. Uplanders, which comprise about 30 percent of the country’s total population—with almost half of them living within forests—are often referred to as the “poorest of the poor” among Philippine society, since they survive below the poverty line. Upland inhabitants are primarily poor farming families with unsecured land tenure. Most of those who are engaged in farming belong to “the least educated, least paid, least healthy, least hopeful and most neglected [in terms of] agricultural development of all people in the Philippines.”

A study commissioned by the National Research Council of the Philippines found out that subsistencebased food production, rather than forestry, is the overriding priority of upland farmers. It’s no wonder the Philippines is almost devoid of its forest cover now. But there is a solution in sight. “The problems that beset the uplands in the Philippines, particularly deforestation, can be curtailed by planting perennial crops,” observed Jamieson.

Biomass consultant

IN agriculture, perennialization refers to the conversion from an annual-based crop system to a yearlong, enduring one. As advocated by the World Agroforestry Center (founded in 1978 as the International Council for Research in Agroforestry, or ICRAF, in Nairobi, Kenya), where Jamieson serves as a biomass consultant, perennialization involves “the substitution of annual crops with perennial plants and trees as they provide continuous ground cover and deep-root systems for soil

protection and stabilization, while increasing carbon stocks and reducing soil nutrients lost by leaching.” Jamieson explained: “The integration of trees into arming practices has the potential to sustain land productivity, [and provide] useful tree products such as firewood and fodder.” Based on existing studies, he said the system can provide the following benefits to the environment: extend the productive life of soils; develop resilience to extreme rainfall events, droughts and insect pressures; reduce land run-off that creates coastal dead zones with disastrous effects on fisheries; maintain the quality of surface and groundwater; and build food security. “Compared to annual crops, perennials have many ecological advantages,” Jamieson said. “First, they live longer and develop deeper root systems over time; hence, perennials have greater access to groundwater. Also, their deep-root systems make them less prone to wind and rain damage, [and thus help] farmers adapt to climate extremes and protect the

soil from erosion.” With such, farmers can save money from buying chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. “Aside from the obvious savings on expenses, the planting of perennials, likewise, reduces the impact of chemicals on local watersheds,” the consultant explained. The ICRAF official went on to say that perennials could be in the form of grasses, herbs, vegetables and fruit trees. Examples include avocado, banana, grapes, basil, fennel, garlic, ginger and radish. “Finding alternatives to annual cropping systems becomes more urgent as the world faces the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” Jamieson said. “Perennialization could play a significant part in providing more robust, productive and environmentally benign agricultural systems in the future.”

Nipa: livestock feed

IN the lowlands, Jamieson observed that nipa palms grow profusely along the country’s coastlines and estuarine habitats. These could be one possible solution to the prob-

lem of expensive feed for livestock. “For hundreds of years, indigenous populations in the Philippines and Indonesia have been tapping the sweet, sugary sap of palm trees and feeding them to animals as their primary energy source,” he told the BusinessMirror, and added that nipa palm can be considered as feeds for livestock. “Two-thirds of the world’s agricultural land is actually used for feeding livestock, rather than humans directly,” Jamieson stated. He lamented, however, that, “Despite its potential for being a major solution for food insecurity, this traditional technology has been largely neglected and almost forgotten by farmers, agricultural scientists and policy-makers.” Using nipa palm as feed for livestock is not only viable, but economically feasible. “In the modern era, scientific studies have backed up the effectiveness of this practice, showing the palm sap to be the livestock equivalent of rocket fuel,” the Briton revealed. Continued on E2

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E2 Thursday, October 11, 2018

EMBASSIES, EVENTS, ETC.

Unified Germany: ‘Reliable partner on global, bilateral issues’

HE Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Philippines Dr. Gordon Kricke and his wife, Anke Mackrodt Kricke, received distinguished guests from politics, business, culture, as well as the diplomatic and consular corps, on October 3 to celebrate 28 years of German unity. In his address, Kricke highlighted the shared experiences of Germany and the Philippines through peaceful revolutions. He then hailed the courage of their peoples who overcame political as well as social divisions, and fought for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The envoy also emphasized the role of European integration that

led to German reunification. According to him, the foreign policy of his country is committed to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, free trade and the defense of a rules-based international order. He said Germany would continue to be a reliable partner on global issues and, important, a dependable

DR. Gordon Kricke, ambassador of Germany to the Philippines (left), and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Ma. Amelita C. Aquino

partner of the Philippines in bilateral relations, which include trade, development cooperation and peopleto-people exchange, among others.

With a delicious banquet of culinary treats, the guests were also treated to authentic “Oktoberfest” brew, as well as a variety of excel-

lent wines from vineyards all over Germany. They also enjoyed musical highlights courtesy of up-andcoming young Filipino musicians.

Gandhi’s life celebrated in Manila, rest of the world A

S a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, October 2 was declared “International Day of Nonviolence” as numerous parts of the world, including Manila, celebrated his 150th birth anniversary. In Taguig City, the Indian Embassy in the Philippines marked Gandhi’s birthday and the global “nonviolence day” through a short video presentation that featured the life of the revered Indian leader. The embassy, through its First Secretary M.S. Patiyal Mahendra Singh, also

released commemorative postage stamps of Gandhi in the Philippines. At the United Nations, SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres urged the global community to emulate the former’s commitment to human dignity and social justice. Gandhi was the leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule and the pioneer of peaceful resistance. “At a time when inequality is on the rise and a fair globalization is an impera-

tive, we also recall Gandhi’s commitment to social justice,” Guterres said. “And in a period when the world is striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, ensure gender equality and leave no one behind, Gandhi’s commitment to human dignity can light our path,” he added. Guterres reaffirmed that “a world free of violence,” as well as the achievement of a “resolution of differences through nonviolent means,” remains at the core of UN’s work. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

COMMEMORATIVE stamps of Gandhi EMBASSY OF INDIA IN THE PHILIPPINES

Australia joins Natl Indigenous Peoples Month celebration

HE Australian Embassy will join the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) Dayaw: The 2018 Philippine International Indigenous Peoples’ Festival. Organized by the NCCA and the province of Capiz, the gathering is the largest among indigenous groups in the country and attracts participants from other countries. Festival activities include cultural performances, fora, culinary arts demonstration and Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan exhibits. “’Dayaw’ is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the similarities between Australia and the Philippines, [as both have] vibrant indigenous cultures that form vital parts of our national identities,” Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines Amanda Gorely said. To mark the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Month, the Australian Embassy in Manila invited to the Philippines an eminent academician in the person of Professor Emeritus Mary Ann Bin-Sallik, AO, a Djaru elder from Australia’s East Kimberly who was the first indigenous Australian to graduate as a trained nurse, be employed full-time in the highereducation sector in Australia, and the first to gain a doctorate degree from Harvard University. During her visit to the Philippines, Bin-Sallik will present at Dayaw’s Maaram Conference in Roxas City and will deliver talks at the University of the Philippines’s Iloilo and Manila campuses. She will also take part in the launch of the Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route exhibit in Roxas City—a collection of graphic prints of indigenous Australian art curated by the National Museum of Australia. “We are very pleased to have an Australian of Professor Bin-Sallik’s caliber as a delegate to the Dayaw Festival. Her involvements in government, university, as well as community advisory and review groups, have greatly influenced education and equity policies for indigenous Australians,” Gorely averred. “On a personal level, this visit is a ‘homecoming’ for Bin-Sallik. Her maternal grandfather is originally from Antique and was among the ‘Manila Men,’ or young Filipinos who migrated to Australia in the early 20th century to work in the pearling industry,” the ambassador revealed. Australia celebrates its indigenous heritage with the annual observance of National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week in July to honor the history, culture and achievements of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Bin-Sallik was named 2016 NAIDOC Female Elder of the Year. Australia’s partnership with the Philippines on indigenous issues extends to development cooperation. The former’s government assistance to Philippine indigenous peoples has helped improve education with the implementation of a targeted curriculum benefiting more than 60,000 children under PRIME, or the Philippines’s Response to Indigenous Peoples and Muslim Education programs with the Department of Education. Over the years the embassy’s Direct-Aid Program has provided about P17 million to efforts that contribute to the welfare of indigenous people.

Biomass expert harnesses uplands’, nipa’s potentials Continued from E1

He cited a study conducted in Cambodia: “Pigs fed daily with 7 to 8 kilograms of palm syrup had an average growth rate of 250 to 550 grams per day over five months. This lean gain is much higher than the 60 gram per day average growth rate of pigs which consumed conventional feeds.” The study showed that to produce the aforementioned volume of palm syrup requires tapping one to two palm trees per day. “Aside from increased daily lean gain, using nipa sap for producing palm juice to feed pigs gave farmers 14 times higher economic returns per tree than using it for producing sugar syrup,” Jamieson reported. The productivity of palms is truly extraordinary, he said. “Unlike annual crops, they are able to photosynthesize 365 days a year, converting sunlight to sugar that can be directly extracted and used,” he explained. “It’s fundamentally a more efficient process than most of today’s food production.” In addition, the consultant affirmed it “enables much higher yields: typically, four times the calorific yield per hectare, compared with annuals like corn.” Jamieson observed that the common annual crops have been the focus of agricultural science and technology development over the

CRAIG JAMIESON HENRY TACIO

last century. In comparison, nipa palm tapping remains a cottage industry until today. As nipa palm grows in brackish water, it does not require precious freshwater for its production. As such, the tree “saves both land and water—two critical resource issues facing world food security,” Jamieson said.

Largest scientific community

JAMIESON earned his master’s degree in 2006 and came to the Philippines six years later. “I had done lots of consultancies in bioenergy prior to that: for the UK government, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, [as well as] others, but I really wanted to go beyond just consultancy and try to put something into practical use.”

NIPA palms ROBERT FINLAYSON

He went straight to Los Baños in Laguna, as it has the largest scientific community in Southeast Asia. “It has a lot of good people in my field whom I could work with, to write proposals, and develop ideas together.” “I had no job offer when I first came here; it was one of those calculated risks that worked out in my case,” he recalled. “About a year after moving to the Philippines, I had

DENUDED UPLAND HENRY TACIO

secured about $1 million in funding for a project to research bioenergy from rice straw, and I ended up leading the three-year project on behalf of International Rice Research Institute.” But it was during his stint at ICRAF where he got the opportunity to live in the Philippines for longer period. “I have done work for them, mainly around preparing funding proposals and using my horticul-

ture and bioenergy backgrounds to develop project proposals for trees on farms,” he said. On why he preferred to stay in Los Baños, he said: “[It] is a very suitable base for me to do what I wanted. I like that it’s close enough to Manila to be convenient, but far enough away to have some peace and fresh air. I like to have space to think.” When asked about the people, he

replied: “I enjoy being with Filipinos. When I lived in London before, [they are] some of my best friends. I find them easy to get along with. Jamieson further revealed, “I have traveled around many amazing countries in Asia, but whenever I go back to the Philippines, I [say to myself:] ‘Ah, that’s better.’ It feels like ‘home away from home’ somehow. I’m thankful to the Filipinos for taking me into their hearts.”

&Expats

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Sweden to codevelop ‘smart cities’ K EY stakeholders came together on October 4 in New Clark City with the aim of establishing partnerships and new forms of cooperation to develop advanced urban areas in the Philippines with the launch of “Philippines-Sweden Smart City Collaboration,” cohosted by the Embassy of Sweden in Manila and Business Sweden.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade inspired the audience about the importance of increasing mobility and connectivity to ensure future growth and sustainable development. Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines Harald Fries highlighted the importance of collaboration and continuity, then stated

that progress could not be achieved through one-time events. In all, almost 150 participants gathered to listen to speakers from a number of Swedish companies. Several representatives of the Philippine government were also present and shared their visions and plans for a number of upcoming large infrastructure projects.

BUSINESS Sweden market Area Director for Southeast Asia Martin Glaumann (from left), Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade and Ambassador Harald Fries

A recurring theme throughout the day was that of “quality of life.” Putting citizens at the center, it was

emphasized by many of the speakers that an urban environment that is clean, safe and efficient has enor-

mous benefits, both economic- and health-related, for people living in the cities.

To achieve sustainable progress in these areas, more efforts are to be made to find innovative solutions, as well as learn from best practices. Three different breakout sessions were organized to explore possible ways forward, as ABB headed a session on energy. Volvo and Sweco focused on urban mobility, while Axis Communications shared experiences from working to improve public safety in metropolitan cities. As the Philippine government makes a big push for infrastructure building, as well as developing world-class smart cities, and with Swedish companies at the global forefront of sustainability, the embassy is upbeat about the future of this Philippine-Swedish collaboration. It also said that more Swedish companies are beginning to discover opportunities in the Philippines, as the latter has shown a genuine willingness to work with foreign companies to improve the urban situation around the archipelago.

Switzerland contributes to EU takes part in cleaning Manila Bay T Phil. Red Cross for Ompong HE European Union’s delegation to the Philippines recently joined the Manila Bay cleanup along Roxas Boulevard. Ambassador of the EU to the Philippines Franz Jessen said the delegation’s participation in the cleanup is an “expression of solidarity of the EU with the Philippines [to ensure] that our oceans are rid of plastic wastes and other pollutants.” The EU delegation collaborated with the Philippine Coast Guard-Auxiliary, as well as the International Coastal Cleanup volunteers, and was joined by other staff members from the Danish and the French embassies. Jessen revealed that in the early part of the year, the European Commission adopted a Circular Economy Action Plan to foster a transition to a stronger and more circular economy, where resources are used in a more sustainable

PHILIPPINE Red Cross executives led by Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard J. Gordon (second from left) and officials from the Embassy of Switzerland, including Ambassador Andrea Reichlin (second from right), formalize the contribution of the Swiss Confederation and the Swiss Red Cross for the national relief efforts in the wake of Ompong.

HORTLY after the devastating onslaught of Typhoon Ompong (international code name Mangkhut), Switzerland immediately lent its support to the emergency response and recovery efforts of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). This transpired as the European country offered humanitarian assistance, then expressed its most sincere condolences and sympathies to the government of the Philippines, especially to the Filipino people,

for the loss of lives and the severe damages. The Swiss Confederation and the Swiss Red Cross contributed approximately P23 million (CHF 415,000) to the emergency appeal of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which is supportive of the PRC for its ongoing emergency response and recovery phase—particularly, to cover urgent basic needs, with a focus on water, sanitation and hygiene.

In a meeting at its headquarters, PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard J. Gordon and Ambassador Andrea Reichlin discussed the ongoing response and further cooperation opportunities. Reichlin extended Switzerland’s sympathies to those affected, and acknowledged the Philippines’s and PRC’s widespread efforts in disaster-risk reduction and preparedness, as well as the latter’s massive response before, during and after the disaster.

Stronger ties with Kuwait forged F OREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano recently agreed with Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to continue moving forward and working together and further strengthen ties between both their countries. Meeting on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the two top diplomats said the current momentum in bilateral relations should allow both countries to explore other areas where they could cooperate.

“We had a very warm and productive discussion; both of us are convinced that, while bilateral relations are stronger than ever, we should not stop there. We both agreed to continue creating the right environment to further strengthen these ties,” Cayetano said after his meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart. The secretary disclosed that he and AlSabah also discussed the planned visit of President Duterte to Kuwait, as well as the peace process in Mindanao and possible trade and investment opportunities for

Kuwait’s private sector. He thanked Al-Sabah for the latter’s offer to provide development assistance to Mindanao through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, where he serves as chairman. Meanwhile, Cayetano also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality extended to 255,000-plus Filipinos who worked in Kuwait via the amnesty program that paved the way for the repatriation of more than 5,000 undocumented Filipinos. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

way. The plan aims to ensure all plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable by 2030, the consumption of single-use plastics significantly reduced and the intentional use of microplastics restricted. Plastic litter has become a major concern in Asia, including in the Philippines. The EU delegation is currently engaged in a close dialogue with the government on the development of a national strategy for improving plastic waste management and reducing leakages of plastic waste in the marine environment. A regional program is also foreseen for a period of three years starting in 2019 to enhance policy dialogue, exchange shared knowledge and lessons learned from Europe, capacity enhancement, technology transfer and piloting of solutions for better plastic waste management in the continent.

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BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018 F1

WHAT PLANET DO WE

WANT TO LIVE IN? S

By Lenie Lectura

USTAINABLE energy management is a key issue among industry stakeholders. They all strive to strike a balance between profitability and social responsibility regardless of whether one is an advocate of renewable energy (RE) or clean-coal technology, or perhaps both fossil fuel and RE.

SOLAR panels are installed on the roofdeck carpark at a mall in Pasay City. NONIE REYES

Take, for instance, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), which has been in the power business for over a century. Aware of the fact that markets and customers are constantly changing, the country's largest power-distribution firm has started transforming itself from a distribution utility to become an “end-to-end energy solutions partner.” “Our customer base is evolving with the growing population Continued on F2

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WHAT PLANET DO WE

WANT TO LIVE IN? SAN Miguel Corp.’s 628-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Malita, Davao Occidental. NONIE REYES Continued from F1

of millennials, which requires us to look beyond the hard assets and anticipate their emerging needs, changing consumption behavior and habits, and product and service expectations,” Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said. The changing needs of a new

generation of customers prompted the utility firm to disrupt its traditional business to give way to new technologies. In the distribution business, Meralco now offers smart meters, smart grids, advanced metering infrastructure and prepaid electricity service, among others. These are all part of Meralco’s “Smart Grid

Journey to 2027.” Meralco’s power-generation arm is involved in a couple of coalfired power projects, including a so-called first super-critical and ultra-super critical coal plants. These are expected to inject additional capacity to the Luzon grid. Alongside plans to put up clean coal plants in the country,

SAN Miguel Corp. President Ramon S. Ang, Meralco Chairman and Light Rail Manila Corp. Vice Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade during the signing of the memorandum of agreement in January 2017 for the construction of the common station of the government’s railway project. ALYSA SALEN

Meralco has also contracted and participated in the RE space. It has also formed its RE unit called Spectrum. Another unit, e-Sakay, will be involved soon in operating transport service networks of charging stations, batteries and vehicles utilizing electric energy. Jeffrey Tarayao, One Meralco Foundation president, said an integral component of Meralco’s mission, which is to be a responsible energy-solutions provider, is to ensure that sustainability principles are integrated in its business strategies and operations. “These are best lived out when communities in our franchise areas are resilient, productive and are contributing to the economic, social and environmental goals of the country,” he said. “Leading innovations in our industry such as renewables and environment-friendly power generation, e-vehicles and a digitally enabled power distribution business plays a role in our continued commitment to support the nation’s continued progress.”

More than just a buzzword–SMC

SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) President Ramon S. Ang said sustainability is integrated into the conglomerate’s business practices. “Sustainability is more than a just a buzzword for us. We see it as an integral part of how we do business in SMC. In recent years, we have been increasingly integrating meaningful sustainability practices in all our businesses,” Ang said in an e-mail reply. He said the company’s water sustainability project—where it targets to cut water use by 50 per-

cent across all of SMC’s businesses—is driving accountability into its corporate culture and instilling a culture of conservation within the organization. For its power unit, Ang said San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. maintains a diverse portfolio consisting of facilities that utilize new, clean-coal technology, RE and natural gas. This mix, Ang said, allows the company to balance the capacity needs of power users with the need to provide the lowest power rates, and to utilize renewables. SMC Global Power is determined to increase its RE capacity in the next 10 years. “In particular, we are looking at tidal energy, wind power and hydro,” Ang said. Its new power plants also utilize circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustion technology, among the most advanced pollution-mitigating technologies in the power industry. Essentially, with CFB technology, emission levels from its power facilities are drastically cut. Ang cited the company’s Limay, Bataan, and Malita, Davao, plants that yield emissions way below government, and even World Bank, standards. “These, along with our many other initiatives across the San Miguel Group, demonstrate our commitment to sustainability,” Ang said.

Wanted: balanced mix

ANOTHER leader in the power industry is Aboitiz Power Corp., which noted the Philippines is a leader in the environmental sustainability category. “However, we rank lower in

JEFFREY TARAYAO, One Meralco Foundation president

energy security or availability of enough power supply or energy equity, which affects the cost of power. This is what we seek to address,” said company chief operating officer Emmanuel Rubio in a recent forum. To address this, Rubio said there should be a balanced-mix portfolio of generation assets. For Aboitiz Power, he said, a balanced mix allows it to maximize the use and dispatch of RE sources while taking advantage of the reliability and cost-efficiency of its thermal facilities. “More than compliance, we make an effort to align with globally recognized standards and best practices, living our values and respecting the rights of our communities,” Rubio said in an interview.

AC ramps up RE portfolio

AC Energy Inc., the power unit of Continued on F4

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WHAT PLANET DO WE

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ENERGY Development Corp.’s Mount Apo geothermal plant. EDC Continued from F2

conglomerate Ayala Corp., has also set its sights on ramping up its RE portfolio as a way to attain sustainability in the power business. “We have big ambitions to scale up renewables to 5 gigawatts by 2025. We hope to expand in the Philippines, especially when storage batteries become feasible. We will also expand regionally, especially where renewables are potentially strong,” said AC Energy President Eric Francia in a text message. Sustainable business transformation in developing countries such as the Philippines is often approached with pessimism, mostly due to the challenges that it demands, not the least of which is cost. However, there are pioneering power firms engaged in RE proving that sustainability is an attainable goal, as well as a rewarding one.

Carbon-negative EDC

LOPEZ-LED Energy Development Corp. (EDC), the country’s largest producer of geothermal energy, said in its 2017 Sustainability Report that it has effectively attained the status of a carbon-negative enterprise, the first in the Philippines to do so. Its carbon footprint of a little over 790,000 carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) is only around 22 percent of the carbon absorption of all the trees it has planted in its environmental drive in the past four decades—in effect, even making it a carbon-negative enterprise, or what industry experts also call “climate positive.”

EDC is also the lone Filipino company included on the Carbon Clean 200 list of the world’s 200 biggest publicly listed companies. The company’s early adoption of disclosing its impacts based on standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) provided the initial drive of becoming a carbon-neutral organization, said Dr. Stan Padojinog, president of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). UA&P is the long-standing sustainability partner of EDC, and Padojinog is a member of the External Review Committee (ERC) tasked to evaluate the company’s sustainability report. The ERC report determined the external and internal drivers for EDC’s carbon neutrality, which can also be useful in understanding how sustainability is evolving in the Philippine business scene. First is increasing demand from capital providers to account for the triple-bottom line performance of “profit, people, planet.” “Many foreign investors have begun to demand accountability and transparency on the impacts of their fund beneficiaries not only on returns to their capital, but also on the environment and society,” wrote Padojinog in his individual review. In addition to geothermal energy, EDC has also made investments in solar and wind. Last but not least is the EDC management’s strong commitment to integrate sustainability principles in the heart of its operations and decision-making.

EDC Chairman and Chief Executive Federico Lopez: “We need to be off carbon in 30 years or less if we are to make it as a livable planet.”

EDC Chairman and Chief Executive Federico Lopez announced an unequivocal directive to pursue alternative clean-energy sources and to refuse fossil fuels such as coal. Lopez is also the chairman of First Gen Corp. “We are the only large energy company in the Philippines to declare unconditionally that we would not do coal-fired power,” Lopez said during the recent National Sustainability Summit for Millennials and Gen Zs. Natural gas is First Gen’s largest platform. Coal, given its abundance in the world, is traditionally among the cheapest fuels for power gen-

eration. Lopez noted this has changed in the last year or two. “We’ve always been staunch believers in a decarbonizing pathway, but I’ll be the first to admit we believe the world still had more time to get its act in order. “However, that view changed immensely in November 2013, when our largest geothermal plant in Leyte was directly hit by one of the most powerful typhoons on record to ever hit the planet,” he said.

Headwinds

AS an energy company in the Philippines, the Lopez group faces quite a number of challenges.

Lopez cited intense price competition and the short-term perspective of a government ambivalent about climate-change issues. Adding to these pressures is the fact that the majority of banks, local and foreign, continue to finance coal production and coal-fired power generation. He said the recent coal tax was a step in the right direction, but will only amount to a measly one centavo to three centavos per kwh in tariffs to coal-fired power plants. Recent efforts of TRAIN 2 or the Trabaho Bill even threaten to remove fiscal incentives from RE, placing an inordinate tax bur-

den that’s close to 10 times that imposed on coal-fired power. “Coal-fired power plants, being the easiest to develop and its fuel supply the simplest to procure, every competitor and all the big Philippine conglomerates are seeking to build more coal-fired power plants in a blinding race to fatten their bottom lines,” Lopez said. “Sometimes it’s so easy to be disheartened by so much greenwashing, hypocrisy and lack of urgency around us.” He thus urged his young audience to make their voices heard, vote as consumers, as potential employees and future employers. “The one major reason I’m still optimistic about the future is that I see the youth, particularly Gen Z and the millennial generation, coming of age. In survey after survey done on your generation, it clearly stands out how a majority of you consider the environment and sustainability as among your top concerns, and rightly so. “My generation and those before us have failed you. But I know many of you are keenly aware that actions taken or not taken today will create the world you and your children will have to live in. “So, in a hopeful sense, your direct engagement in energy and sustainability issues is the only assurance we have that the country and the world does not blindly lock itself into the old paradigm that got us into this sorry state,” Lopez said. “We need to be off carbon in 30 years or less if we are to make it as a livable planet.”

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BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018 G1

MARITIME NATION Staring at the future of trade and commerce, Doris Magsaysay-Ho of the renowned shipping empire lays down the key challenges the Philippines must address to optimize its access to the sea and its rich resources, especially its people.

THE MOL (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines)-Magsaysay Maritime Academy in Dasmariñas, Cavite. NONIE REYES

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

OR an archipelago like the Philippines, being a maritime nation—one that is dependent on ships, boats and nautical highways to move goods, services and people across the thousands of islands in the country—is but natural.

Its long history as a maritime country could be traced to that era even before the mighty galleon ships of the Spanish colonizers arrived centuries ago. Ancient peoples of the Philippines used native boats and outriggers to trade goods—both lo-

cal and international. With the advent of religion, and bigger ships coming from Spain for trade, the Philippines became a transshipment hub, with goods traversing the vast oceans and seas surrounding the islands of the Pearl of the Orient. Fast-forward to today: The Philippines, despite being a maritime country, is no longer a transshipment hub. It is merely a feeder economy, no thanks to the wrong mindset that has long been hounding the country for decades now, according to Magsaysay Maritime Corp. President Doris Teresa Magsaysay-Ho. As sad as it may seem, the Philippines is far from regaining its title as a transshipment hub, she said, as it lacks products to export. This Continued on G2

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MARITIME NATION Continued from G1

stark reality is what limits the Philippines from further expanding and developing the local maritime industry, despite the fact that the Philippines is a maritime nation. “We need to push shipping— we need to push trade. We need to make sure that we are producing because we are a negative export country,” Ho said in an interview. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that in June, the country’s total export sales declined by 0.1 percent to $5.70 billion, primarily due to decreases in mineral products, chemicals, ignition wiring and other wiring sets for vehicles, aircraft and ships, and fresh bananas. Imports, on the other hand, grew by 24.2 percent to $7.29 billion. “So we need to promote real clustering of industries near ports and build economies of scale,” Ho explained. “We should have an overall vision to develop trade, and many ships will come in.”

‘What is wrong with us?’

THE Philippines, she said, has a lot of resources to offer. The problem, however, is it failed to develop industries that could potentially be the world’s sources of goods. She cited the Philippine mango and coconut as examples. The demand for these two products is

high, but the country cannot produce enough to be known globally as the number-one source of the two commodities, unlike how Brazil is known for its oranges. “We are not planting,” Ho said. “What is wrong with us?” Hence, she said, the government and the private sector must come to an agreement that developing clusters of industries near ports is the best solution to pushing trade, and demand for the shipping sector will follow. “We need to promote real clustering of industries near ports and build economies of scale,” she said. With the idea that shipping follows trade, Ho said the clustering and the development of industries around ports could help lessen the costs of shipping in and out of the country, enticing companies in other countries—Walmart, for example—to ship local products from the Philippines. Clustering helps in making parcel sizes bigger, hence, lowering logistics costs. This, she said, requires a vision and a strategy, not just a policy. “It’s a strategic thing,” she said. “We have to get out of the ‘poor me’ mindset and start talking about prosperity for all.” Ho added: “We need to know where the root cause of shipping is; to really make it meaningful is to have a

The cluster strategy for trade, Ho proposed, will involve the creation of regional clusters around the ports in Clark, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Leyte, Davao, Sarangani and General Santos.

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

MAGSAYSAY Maritime Corp. President Doris Teresa Magsaysay-Ho: “We need to promote real clustering of industries near ports and build economies of scale.”

really big trade ambition.”

Economic regional mindset

LOCAL governments then, she said, should start a single dialogue to determine the strengths of each region and develop them to boost production for trade. “I think we should have a kind of economic regional thinking. Each governor should sit together and think what they do well. They should start from what they do well,” Ho said. “Then create from those clusters that promote economies of scale, and that can help small businesses.” This is how Thailand, China and Malaysia developed their shipping industries. And this could potentially work for the Philippines as well, in her view. The cluster strategy for trade, Ho proposed, will involve the creation of regional clusters around the ports in Clark, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Leyte, Davao, Sarangani and General Santos. Clark, which also includes Tarlac and Subic, could have a high-tech innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) sector, selected manufacturing clusters, ship building and repair clusters, and mango production and processing cluster. Batangas, on the other hand, could build on its strengths in the automotive sector, the Japanese manufacturers, and food production such as hogs and chicken processing businesses. Cebu could serve as the main gateway to and from markets in the Visayas area; Leyte could bank on its coconut production for trade; Cagayan de Oro could be a food basket for the country and Asean; and Sarangani could be a world-class fishing hub. Davao could have successful clusters for its banana. “My whole job is to look for customers. Here, we have a lot of customers, but we don’t have production,” Ho lamented. “We could help farmers to become clustered to create economies of scale—then we will put up our ships.”

Domino effect

SHE said the development of trade will have a domino effect on the country’s local output, as the Philippine maritime industry could further grow, given that the industry will have to accommodate the huge demand for shipping and logistics. This will then entice shipping companies to order more ships, shipbuilders to build more vessels, repair shops to set up port-based hubs—other consequences: more Filipino

seafarers produced, more port facilities built, and more portrelated infrastructure constructed. According to Ho, the contribution of the maritime industry to the Philippine GDP has yet to be determined, as each subsector under the industry—shipbuilding, repair, domestic shipping, education, ship management services, and human resources, among others—is weighed separately. “Today, each sector’s contribution to the GDP is small. What we envision is to have each sector’s contribution to GDP together to make maritime Philippines more visible,” she said. “Let us have a real belief that this is a driver of our economy.”

A bigger idea

WHEN the Philippines achieves higher trade, then it can tick off two out of four boxes on the key elements to make a country a transshipment hub. These are trade, people, location and a good flag registry. China, she said, has all four. Singapore and Panama have their location to boot. And Malta has a good flag registry. Right now, without trade, she said, the Philippines has people to boast. “Nations have to build on their strengths. And our strength is people. We don’t have cargo, but we do have shipping knowledge because we have 7,000 islands with a lot of ships that go around, and we have a shipbuilding sector, which is beginning,” Ho said. “Why can’t we build around our strength to be a really maritime hub—a center of maritime services?” To develop people, the industry, she said, has to come up with a good and viable curriculum that could help improve the skills and talents of Filipino seafarers and aspiring marine practitioners in the country. “We could build on seafaring—making our people really good in education,” Ho said. “We should have a vision that builds on our strength, which is people, service, determination, islands.” She added: “Our domestic ships can form the seed to be the ones that go to Asean. We could be the one doing regional trade, so we need to build on our people.” Ho noted that services such as shipbuilding and repair could also benefit with the right manpower development programs. This—should trade inflows become robust in the next few years—could help create the Philippines as a one-stop shop for maritime

and shipping needs. “So we have to have a bigger idea,” she said.

People development

ACCORDING to Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator Leonardo B. Guerrero, his agency is pushing for the development of maritime industry in the Philippines, starting with the crafting of a 10year Maritime Industry Development Plan. The said blueprint for all maritime industry-related activities, both promotional and developmental, is expected to be done within the year. It covers four sectors in the industry—domestic shipping, overseas shipping, maritime manpower and shipbuilding and repair. It also includes emerging subsectors such as maritime tourism, fishing and logistics. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has extended its assistance to Marina in drafting the said road map. Roughly, the road map, which is required of Marina under Presidential Decree 474 of 1974, is expected to

include globally proven strategies on how to further grow each sector and subsector under the maritime industry. It shall also contain revitalized and reengineered strategic directions and action plans responsive to existing conditions, in anticipation of future challenges in the maritime industry, both in the domestic and global arena. “Our maritime agenda is among the priorities of the President, and this is why we are exerting efforts to complete our maritime industry development program for us to be able to orchestrate these different sectors in the maritime industry to move together and push for the maritime development agenda,” he said. This, Guerrero added, includes the development of manpower in the industry — marine engineers, captains, officers and machine operators, among others. “We provide 30 percent of the total global requirement, which is about 1.6 million seafarers all in all, or about 300,000 seafarers to 400,000 seafarers,” he said. These maritime experts remit

about $5.8 billion annually, contributing to the growth of the Philippine economy. Domestically, there are about 400,000 seafarers deployed in different areas of the Philippines. Hence, Guerrero said, the agency is strengthening the country’s standards of training, certification and watch keeping (STCW). As part of the agency’s initiatives to keep the whitelist status of the Philippines in the European Maritime Safety Agency (Emsa), Marina has conducted an extensive review and revision of seven existing national provisions and the development of six training course packages. These, Guerrero said, are ready for implementation.

Legislative agenda

ASIDE from this, he said his agency is coordinating with companies and foreign government offices to promote the maritime sector in the Philippines. The agency is trying to come up with incentives and packages that will entice investors to do maritime business in the Philippines. However, to do all these, his group

needs the support of Congress to pass legislations that will help accede to international conventions and promulgations that will help elevate the Philippine maritime sector in the global scene. “We should be aligned with international laws and regulations. There are already 59 conventions, but only 26 have been ratified by the Philippines so far. And of these, only six have been acceded,” he said. In Congress, party-list group Angkla is pushing for passage of several laws pertaining to sea safety. For one, Ronald S. Enrile, the vice chairman of Angkla, said the group is pushing for the passage of House Bill 456, which aims to provide a Maritime Code for the full implementation of international instruments. Carlos C. Salinas, the Philippine ambassador to the International Maritime Organization, noted that the Philippines must develop and enforce appropriate and applicable regulations, including global commitments to ensure safety and a level playing field in the industry. “Domestically, we need to have Continued on G4

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“Nations have to build on their strengths. And our strength is people. We don’t have cargo, but we do have shipping knowledge because we have 7,000 islands with a lot of ships that go around, and we have a shipbuilding sector, which is beginning,” Ho said. Continued from G3

national laws that regulate shipping organizations and they should reflect the highest levels of standards. Only through this mirroring of rules [can] a true level playing field be developed,” he said.

Infra development through PPP

TO complement these initiatives, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), which operates various ports in the country, is implementing billions of pesos of projects to develop necessary infrastructure to sustain growth in the industry. Jay Daniel R. Santiago, who heads the port regulator, said his group is initiating projects meant to improve the capacity, service standards and efficiency of ports, consistent with the government’s agenda and strategic objectives. “The government is not letting up on improving the port sector in the Philippines. In fact, numerous projects are now under way to further improve not only port infrastructure but most importantly, efficiency and productivity of the different ports nationwide,” he said. He cited for example the upgrading of ports in Iloilo, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga for container operations. These ports are also being certified for best practices on quality management system and port safety, and health and environmental management, among others. “The PPA continues to pour a large portion of its resources in port infrastructure facilities nationwide and has allotted approximately P7 billion for projects,” he said. Santiago noted that his group is also procuring a traffic management system that will help facilitate movement of ships in its ports. “In addition to the ports of Batangas and Manila, we are in the process of procuring a vessel traffic management system equipment to cover additional five locations. However, the long-term intention is to install appropriate facilities in most of the major ports to ensure that offshore safety is addressed,” he said. The agency will be closely coordinating with relevant agencies to develop public-private partnership (PPP) deals— subject for review—to further modernize the ports of DavaoSasa, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Zamboanga. “These five ports have been identified as both strategic and commercially important, with Davao-Sasa being the priority target for redevelopment, although on a more conservative and cost-efficient level than originally planned,” Santiago said. He admitted that with limited resources, the PPA will have a hard time to further develop ports in the Philippines. However, with the help of port companies, the agency may be able to accelerate infrastructure and traffic growth. “While we admit that elevating the standards of the ports to world standards is no easy task, we are initially setting our sights on the major ports for the private sector to participate in, such as the Manila

South Harbor, the Manila International Container Terminal, the North Port, Sasa Wharf in Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Zamboanga. These ports already handle the bulk of local and international passage and cargo volume,” Santiago said. Santiago added that portrelated facilities such as road projects will also help drive growth into the sector, citing projects being undertaken by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) in Manila. “Same projects are also in the pipeline or already being implemented in the Visayas and Mindanao, which are also aimed at easing vehicular traffic to and from major ports. Before the end of the term of President Duterte, we will be seeing great improvement in terms of cargo turnaround in and out of the ports due primarily to the Build, Build, Build Program of the government,” he said.

No longer just a catch-up game

ALL these are the Philippines’s answer to the catch-up game that it is playing with its neighbors in the maritime world. But for Guerrero, the game is no longer just a play of catch-up. “What we need to do is leapfrog,” he said. In leapfrogging, his agency is now tracking future trends that may affect the local maritime industry either positively or negatively. “For example, cruise tourism is now booming, and yet we are still crafting rules and regulations and policies concerning cruise tourism. We have to anticipate other future trends and emerging requirements,” Guerrero said. Marina, he said, is also studying the effects of technology on the local industry, citing countries that successfully used autonomous ships. “There are new technologies emerging in the market, and these are also things that we need to address,” Guerrero explained.

Change the narrative

FOR Ho, all these can be done effectively and efficiently if the President leads and makes the maritime agenda a priority. “It really needs the President to lead this,” she said, citing Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s Poros Maritim Dunia (PMD), which calls for Indonesians to “work together to develop Indonesia into a global maritime access, a global civilizational hub.” The said initiative seeks to transform Indonesia into a maritime powerhouse with the development of a coherent and holistic maritime strategy, given the country’s archipelagic nature. “Everyone is blaming the wrong things—the one that’s missing is the head, and we are wagging the tail,” Ho said. The government, she said, must institutionalize a change in narrative. “The problem is government officials are not one— there’s one thinking about trade, and the other thinking about transport are not together, they are ‘siloed.’ We should talk as if we are one enterprise called the Philippines—holistic beginning to end,” Ho said.

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Thursday, October 11, 2018 H1 BusinessMirror PHL FIRMS LEVEL UP CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVES

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GOLD STANDARD FOR ‘CSR’

By VG Cabuag

S the general perception goes, every company in the country has its own corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative simply as a way to avail itself of tax breaks. become the new mantra of the industry in the last three years. “It’s a buzzword that comes to the fore. It is to know who do we work for, and where we get responsibility from,” he said. Limcaoco, a finance specialist who worked for BPI Family Bank, admitted his view is based on his position that a finance person should create on shareholder value and not on sustainability. He said people should understand the difference between sustainability, philanthropy and CSR.

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer Jojo Guingao discusses the Aboitiz Corporate Center’s agile workplace concept on the 9th and 15th floors of NAC Tower, Bonifacio Global City, and introduces KINDer, a crowdfunding app platform that allows users to support worthy causes in a convenient and engaging manner.

The last few years, however, have seen a big shift as conglomerates lead the way in taking CSR a notch higher—beyond just giving out a little out of their own corporate pockets to the needy but sustaining their operations in order to give out more. Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco, Ayala Corp.’s chief finance officer, said the term “sustainability” has

Distinctions

“PHILANTHROPY is not more than sacrificing your wealth to help somebody else. It is basically helping someone improve [his] welfare coming a little from your pocket, a standard for many corporations. They [companies] take a little of their profits, take it out [and] give it [to] someone else to manage,” he said. Continued on H2

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GOLD STANDARD FOR ‘CSR’ Continued from H1

CSR, on the other hand, is merely “cool philanthropy,” Limcaoco said. Marrying all three together, however, will result in shared value, also now a buzzword among corporations, to take their CSR efforts to the next level, he added. “This is pooling everything we know about doing good for the environment, good for the society, good for economics and they live a credible comfortable, profitable, long-lasting business model,” Limcaoco said.

Expanded platform

THE Aboitiz group, one of the country’s oldest conglomerates, has also integrated its efforts to promote a higher kind of CSR. In September, the company held its Advancing Business and Communities Summit, which merged its annual reputation, sustainability and CSR forums. “This is to create a more expanded platform for discussion surrounding our group purpose and brand promise, to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities,” Erramon I. Aboitiz, the company president and chief executive officer, said. “The summit provides a venue where we can share with our partners and stakeholders how the Aboitiz Group is championing sustainability not only through our CSR programs but more importantly, through our businesses—their products and services,” he said. “Simply put, we agree that financial gains should translate into meaningful benefits for society, creating shared value in the long run. Sustainability is the singular thread that weaves through the fabric of our company’s history, which shows our constant pursuit for opportunities. We are always on the lookout for opportunities that not only help accelerate our country’s economic growth per se, but more importantly, become catalysts of positive change through our products and services,” he said. The sustainability efforts of

THE first Aboitiz Advancing Business & Communities (ABC) Summit featured, among other sessions, a panel discussion dubbed “ABC Talks” moderated by ANC anchor Mimi Ong. Part of this panel were (from left) AboitizPower Chief Operating Officer (COO) Emmanuel Rubio, Pilmico COO Tristan Aboitiz, Republic Cement President and Chief Executive Officer Nabil Francis, AboitizLand Acting COO Rafa de Mesa, and UnionBank Chief Technology and Operations Officer Henry Aguda.

the companies are based on the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals, a list of 17 items that it needs to attain and give funding through 2030. Many of the local companies have already hewed

sustainability into their operations, which benefit both the firms themselves and the community that they serve.

Direct link

FAST-FOOD company Jollibee Foods Corp., for instance, has established a direct contact

with farmers supplying the vegetables and spice requirements vital to its operations. Through its foundation, the company was able to do away with the brokers and other intermediary markets to get its supply. It then teaches farmers to

TRISTAN ABOITIZ, Pilmico vice president and chief operations officer of animal feeds division

increase their productivity and quality of their produce since they have to transact directly with Jollibee, the company, to sell their products. Pilmico, the food group of Aboitiz, is doing the same. “We anchor our efforts to educate our end users about hog raising on what we call our four-pillar diamond program, which consists of ensuring excellent nutrition and proper feeding, proper genetics and breeding, good farm management practices and complete health care,” said Tristan Aboitiz, Pilmico vice president and chief operations officer of animal feeds division. “Without the proper implementation of even one of these four elements, it is difficult to create a practice that is successful and, more importantly, sustainable,” he said. In the Caraga region, backyard hog raisers were discouraged from continuing to raise animals because they lacked access to most of the key elements that would enable them to create an enduring business, Tristan said. “Upon recognizing this, our desire to advance our end-user business led us to address this problem head on. With the diamond program in mind, we teamed up with partners that could support Pilmico in our drive to create a sustainable business for the backyard farmers of Caraga,” he explained. The swine repopulation project was implemented in 2014, with the objective to breed a set of the 450 sows to yield target 1,400 parent stock gilts. These gilts would become the mothers of the future backyard swine population of the region. To date, it now has a 1,300-sow population and plans are in place to purchase

an additional set of 500 breeders in order to benefit more farmers. “The story does not end there. While, initially, our efforts were focused on equipping backyard raisers with the proper genetics, nutrition and farm management practices, we quickly realized that it was just the beginning of a bigger project that would help cement the sustainability of backyard pork production in Caraga,” Tristan said. Taking off from his statement, the UNDP has criticized companies for giving out so little to make a dent on society in general. But the two largest Philippine firms assert that they are going an extra mile to help attain the UN’s list of goals. The Aboitiz group said it has allocated some P4.2 billion for its CSR activities over the past 10 years. The Ayala group, on the other hand, was among the first companies to track its sustainability efforts through a report that it is printing alongside with their annual report. “Through our investments and operating activities, our businesses have funneled back to society billions in the form of taxes, royalties, payments to the government and suppliers, and benefits for our host communities,” Erramon Aboitiz said.

Why we do business

FOR Ayala, they are looking at their longterm survival as a corporation and rethink its strategy as an institution. “We're not doing a business to solve a problem. We’re finding problems to solve and build business that surrounds it: To build a sustainable business,” Limcaoco said.

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

Charting the country’s course A By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

S the saying goes, progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. More than three decades since the country last changed its Constitution, the Duterte administration is now attempting to usher in a shift from unitary to federal form of government in a bid to spread economic growth across all regions and not just in the so-called Imperial Manila. No matter how uncomfortable it is to go against the tide, the 22 members of the Consultative Committee (Con-com) handpicked by the President were one in pushing for the major change in the country’s form of government, which they believe will set the country free from decades of political and economic shackles—entrenched systems and practices that lie at the root of most problems. Coming up with a proposed federal constitution in less than six months was surely no easy feat. Yet the Con-com members accepted the challenging task, seeing this as a big window of oppor-

tunity toward the realization of their dreams for the country and for the Filipinos. It bears noting that among the key people tasked to shape a new federal charter—and help guide the nation to the future, as it were—were distinguished figures from the past. At the helm of the committee composed of esteemed individuals from different intellectual disciplines was retired Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno. Puno told the BusinessMirror that it was a great challenge crafting the Constitution but thanks to the good mix of individuals chosen by the President to be included in the committee, he had no doubt that the committee will be able to accomplish the tall order from the President—to finish the draft charter by July. “Well, the members of the committee turned out to be professional in their attitude and in the manner they discharge their obligations and Continued on H4

Key leaders of the Consultative Committee that drafted a federal constitution share their insights on why, despite the odds and a tough deadline, they dared produce a map for the country’s foray into uncharted territory.

PRESIDENT Duterte greets Consultative Committee member Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremony of newly appointed officials at Malacañang on February 13, 2018. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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Charting the country’s course Continued from H3

to me, the mix of the members of the committee is quite a good mix. I came to know they came from different intellectual disciplines,” Puno told the BusinessMirror. “Some are political scientists. Some were experts in governance. Some were former members of the House, and of course, we have the former Senate President there, [and former] Senator Aquilino Pimentel. And the military was represented and we have a lady representative and former justices of the Supreme Court and representatives from both the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), so that’s quite a good mixture so we came to discuss the different issues that confronted us from various intellectual perspectives,” the former chief magistrate said. Besides being well-qualified, the members of the committee, in Puno’s view, were all passionate and hardworking in drafting the Constitution. All of them worked all day until early evening, even bringing homework and going through so much material to read; and writing during weekends or even during holidays. But, he also pointed out, the Con-com also took advantage of the expertise of other people who helped them craft the draft federal constitution. The hard part of drafting the

Constitution by the committee is already done, but there is still a long and harder way to go as the committee is busy attending conferences and going to almost all parts of the country to promote the notion of federalism, and persuade the people to support the proposed draft federal charter, since it is expected that a plebiscite will happen after Congress goes into a Constituent Assembly. If the committee can persuade Congress and the people to approve and ratify their proposed draft federal constitution, Puno said, people from all regions can expect an economic improvement of their lives, especially those who live in far-flung areas, noting that it is beyond debate that the cause of widespread poverty is the overconcentration of powers in the national government under a unitary setup. “Because of this overconcentration of powers, our regions are not given their proper resources in order to develop themselves and [with] this overconcentration of powers, our regions are also not given the political autonomy to govern themselves,” Puno said. “So with these shackles, the regions, almost all of them except three, are very poor, and that translates to widespread poverty of our people. In other words, if we are able to unlock the economic potentials of these regions and we are able to give them the power to govern themselves I like to think that our

CON-COM member and business executive Arthur N. Aguilar

people could look for a better future.” Of course, as any change will be met with some form of resistance, federalism is not an exception.

Amend Local Government Code?

ONE argument against federalism is that the government can just amend the Local Government Code (LGC) instead of going all the way to change the charter. But no less than the father of the LGC, Con-com member and former Senate President Pimentel Jr. agreed to change the charter, saying that this is the only way to bring substantial change to the country. “You see, the problem when you amend the Local Government Code is that they [Congress] can re-

CONSULTATIVE Committee Chairman and former Chief Justice Reynato Puno (right), former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. attend a Senate committee hearing on the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution on July 17, 2018. ALYSA SALEN

update. In other words, what they do, they can undo. But if you make it into a constitutional provision, they will have a hard time because it is the people who will have the last say on what they really want,” Pimentel told the BusinessMirror. At the same time, he gave assurances that the powers of local government units will not be reduced under their proposed charter since they have included a clear provision that it is the obligation of federated regions to ensure the protection of local government units. Asked why he accepted this task at his age (84), Pimentel said it is because he has many things to share with the people. He is also hoping that one day

the people will be liberated from living under the poverty line and will enjoy the fruits of freedom. “I want a situation wherein Filipinos no longer need to go abroad to look for work,” Pimentel said.

Better prospects–Aguilar

CON-COM member and business executive Arthur N. Aguilar added that although prosperity is not guaranteed under federalism shift, the country will have better prospects for economic growth. Aside from this, there will also be better response to things like agriculture. “We will be able to respond to our problems effectively and faster,” he said.

Asked why he is pushing for federalism, Aguilar said: “It’s a lifelong vision and advocacy. It’s the only way to run this country.” He thinks it is inevitable that the Philippines will federalize because the country’s growing population will make it hard for one group of people to decide for everybody. “Federalism, I think, is an idea that you can only delay and you can frustrate but you cannot kill,” Aguilar said. But Puno said it is timely that the country shifted to federalism now because it is a move to address poverty, which has been the country’s “bedfellow” not just for a few years or for a few decades, but for centuries. “If you cannot check the spiraling of poverty, you will have a peace and order problem in your hands,” he added. Pushing for federalism is also his “last crusade for the people,” Puno said. “Although I am already retired, I see what is good for my country, so that is why I am working for this. It’s not for my own interest, because as I said, I am already 78, I am already retired. I am doing this for the people.” Asked what kind of legacy he wants the Con-com to leave to future Filipinos, Puno said: “The improvement of their lives. I think that is the lasting legacy that our people deserve.”

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BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018 I1

MOBILITY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM I

PORSCHE AG Chairman of the Executive Board Oliver Blume with the Taycan. ELECTRIVE.COM

By Randy S. Peregrino

NDEED, the world is heading to the future where vehicles will be run by electric motors and other alternative green fuels. But years back, various automakers had already taken their respective steps in reducing carbon footprints and even went as far as zero emission from the array of hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrids (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEV) to plug-in electric vehicles (EV). Continued on I2

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MOBILITY IN THE N Continued from I1

In fact, these types of automobiles were already being sold and started plying the streets around the world. Of course, Tesla Motors was among the first to manufacture electric-type entirely and there are others including Nissan’s Leaf, Honda’s Clarity, as well as Toyota’s Prius plug-in hybrid, to name a few. However, mainstream cars powered by internal combustion engines are obviously still the leading choice to this day—factored by affordability and lower cost of ownership, among others. Somehow, developed countries have started utilizing electric vehicles and the demand continues to grow. To date, China has the largest market as well as in terms of units sold for plug-in electric cars. Europe came in second and followed by the United States. Factors driving sales are, of course, demands from the customers, price points and, more essentially, incentives from the government. While the rest of the world are either beginning to embrace or are continuing to increase the market, several automakers have already taken steps to advocate green solutions and also realigned their respective market strategies to sell more electric vehicles.

The race to electrification

BEYOND the advocacy to go green, some car companies have taken the bold move and commitment to lessen their carbon footprint or even zero emission in the near future. For one, Volvo Cars has declared that it is taking the lead into electrification in the auto industry. Spearheaded by its President and CEO Håkan Samuelsson, the premium carmaker aims to have fully electric cars account for 50 percent of its sales by 2025. “We are determined to be the first premium carmaker to move our entire portfolio of vehicles into electrification. This is a clear commitment toward reducing our carbon footprint, as well as contributing to better air quality in our cities,” he said. This recent announcement means that all new models released from 2019 will be available as a mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle. That strategy to generate 50 percent of its sales from electric vehicles by 2025 would mean targeting the Chinese market as the world’s leader in electrified car sales. “Last year, we made a commitment to electrification in preparation for an era beyond the internal combustion engine,” said Samuelsson. “Today, we reinforce and expand that commitment in the world’s leading market for electrified cars. China’s electric future

THE T5 plug-in hybrid version of the new XC40

HONDA Motor Co. Ltd. Presiden

VOLVO PHILIPPINES

VOLVO Cars President and CEO Håkan Samuelsson VOLVO CARS

is Volvo Cars’ electric future.” During this year’s Beijing Auto Show, Volvo Cars visually reinforced the company’s position as an industry leader in electrification with all cars on display plugged in. The event also marked the first time the company displayed only plug-in hybrid vehicles at an auto show. The T5 plug-in hybrid version of the new XC40 also made its debut. Honda Motor Co. Ltd., on the other hand, also announced the company’s target to achieve twothirds sales of EV models, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, as well as battery/FC EV, globally by 2030. But in order to achieve that, the Japanese carmaker has to face several technical challenges, as well as the cost to reduce in order to offer its products at more affordable levels. Another challenge is the infrastructure, but company President and CEO Takahiro Hachigo is confident that it can meet the daily EV requirements with its existing setup. “For 2030, we think that this will be mostly achieved with hybrid and plug-in hybrid and we think that the current infrastructure is efficient. Another is the Hydrogen EV; we have to think about the charging station requirement,” he explained. When it comes to Europe, China, Japan and North America, the company will have charging stations for Hydrogen EV. Aside from the drive to see more electric vehicles, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. is also committed to expanding human possibilities, as well as creating enriched lives through mobility. “Honda has strengths in producing a broad range of products, including motorcycles, automobiles, power products and even business jets. Such strengths as a manufacturer and relationship with our customers are proof that Honda has been embodying its passion to ‘serve people worldwide with joy of expanding their life’s potential,’”

Hachigo explained. During the 45th Tokyo Motor Show in 2017, the Sport EV Concept, the Urvan EV Concept, the Honda NeuV and the Riding Assist-e EV bike were the crowd drawers. While Honda has been into developing hybrid and plug-in hybrid models with enduring passion, this further transcended into developing EV models. “Without compromising the merits of electrification, we will create products which will enhance convenience and fun for our customers. We are planning to begin sales of a new model based on this Urban EV concept first in Europe, and then Japan in 2020,” Hachigo revealed. Currently, Honda’s front-runner is the Clarity Fuel Cell (FCV)—the world’s first marketed full-electric motor sedan. Impressively, it holds the highest driving range of approximately 750 km. The PHEV model, on the other hand, offers all-electric range plus long-distance capability. Based on Sport Hybrid i-MMD, its two-motor plug-in hybrid has an increased battery capacity and longer driving range compared to the conventional ones. Meanwhile, even the German sports car company known for producing ultraperformance internal combustion engines has also taken the race to electrification. Recently, Porsche announced its Mission E concept involving the brand’s first fully electric sports car named Taycan. Set to begin production next year, the first purely electric Porsche derived its name’s translation— “lively young horse”—to the imagery at the heart of the Porsche crest, which has featured a leaping steed since 1952. “Our new electric sports car is strong and dependable; it’s a vehicle that can consistently cover long distances and that epitomizes freedom,” Porsche AG Chairman of the Executive Board Oliver Blume explained. The oriental name also signifies the launch of the first electric sports car with the soul of a Porsche. Also, the German sports carmaker announced the name for its first purely electric series as part of the “70 Years of Sports Cars” ceremony. With its electro mobility campaign by 2022, Porsche plans to invest more than €6 billion, which doubles the company’s expenditure as originally planned. Around €500 million will be allotted for the development of Taycan variants and derivatives, then around €1 billion for the electrification and hybridization of the existing product range. Other portions of the budget are for ex-

panding production sites, new technologies, charging infrastructure and smart mobility. Is the Philippines ready to embrace vehicle electrification? Right now, we’re still in a continuing momentum stage brought about by the various ongoing public and private initiatives. The recently concluded 6th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit campaign was to step up partnerships to electrify public and private transport. “Our two-day event was all about building partnerships, aligning objectives, and taking collective action to facilitate further adoption of electric vehicles in the country,” Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) President and Spokesman Rommel T. Juan said. Juan is positive that the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law exempting electric vehicles from the excise tax would make EV models more affordable. This would also increase investments in supporting infrastructure which will help sustain the momentum for electric mobility. With the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) in full swing, there’s a target to upgrade some 200,000 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) during the next six years, about 10 percent of which will be electric. “In support of this program, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Board of Investments are putting in place an Eco-PUV Program to provide the vehicle solution to the PUVMP by giving incentives to both EV platform suppliers and body builders. LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines now have loans available for the modern PUV. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority [Tesda] is working on a technical regulation that would allow it to offer EV maintenance, servicing and repairs in all Tesda learning centers nationwide, which will help facilitate EV sales outside of Metro Manila,” Juan added. Meanwhile, several car companies in the country have already expressed intentions to bring in their respective electric vehicles in the country. Nissan Philippines Inc. is considering bringing in the brand’s best-selling EV model Leaf, which sold over 350,000 units globally, in the future. During the all-new Leaf’s presentation, none other than Nissan global director for EV business Nicholas Thomas conducted the product walkthrough. Continued on I4

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

NEW MILLENNIUM

nt and CEO Takahiro Hachigo with the Sport EV Concept

RANDY S. PEREGRINO

THE all-new Nissan Leaf EV

RANDY S. PEREGRINO

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MOBILITY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM Continued from I2

“This new Leaf is the new electric vehicle that we’re introducing to the region and we’re very excited about it. We introduced it globally last year and now we’re bringing it around Asean,” he said. The latest model has a bigger battery, which enables the vehicle to travel a longer range of up to 400 km. “It also brings not only a new and exciting contemporary styling, but also sweet technologies as well,” Thomas added. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp., meantime, is positioning the Outlander PHEV for future introduction in the country. So far, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) of Japan has donated five units of this model along with other EV models and quick-charger units to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for business use, and probably for evaluation. But MMC CEO Osamu Masuko also sees the advantage of deploying EVs in the country. “We are in the midst of developing e-vehicles for public transport. We started our production on the CARS Program and we would like to expand our business in the Philippines. The Philippines has so many small islands. In such a small island, an e-vehicle is very safe there because running distance is not so long, maybe 20 or 30 kilometers is enough. E-vehicles are more efficient, more convenient on a small island. I think in the Philippines, e-vehicles will be main-

THE Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV BYD Philippines Managing Director Mark Andrew Tieng

RANDY S. PEREGRINO

MITSUBISHI Motors Corp. CEO Osamu Masuko ZIMBIO.COM

THE BYD Tang PHEV

BYD PHILIPPINES

stream in the car lineup. So, we would like to challenge ourselves, someday, to produce electric vehicles in the Philippines, but we

need government support to start producing new cars. So, we would like to talk to your government,” he said.

“MMC is part of this turning point. Sophisticated technologies and new values are our contribution to this rich world of exciting automobiles. The new values we provide give customers an experience they never had before. We are the brand for customers who want to expand their activities and meet new challenges,” Masuko added. Meanwhile, Solar Transport and Automotive Resources Corp. (STAR Corp.), the exclusive distrib-

utor of BYD vehicles in the Philippines, has already brought in its electric vehicle range in the country. A few years ago, it introduced the Qin PHEV compact sedan. Just last summer, it launched the Tang seven-seater PHEV executive SUV, which can run an 80-kilometer range on pure EV mode. Paired with a 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine, the combined power output is at 505hp on Hybrid Electric Sport mode. It can sprint from 0 to 100 kph in less than five seconds. The best part is that you can charge the vehicle to your home’s or office’s 220-volt socket. “Since BYD’s inception in the Philippines, we have been preparing for the day that the Philippines will be ready for electric cars. That day is today. When we started in the Philippines, we launched our e6 and became the first to bring in an electric vehicle in the Philippines. We worked with government and

various stakeholders and shared with them the astounding benefits of electric vehicles not only to the environment, but also to the economy and its owners. Today, with the TRAIN law, the leadership in the Philippine government recognized the benefits of electric cars and granted zero excise taxes for electric cars,” said STAR Corp. Managing Director Mark Andrew Tieng. “We move ahead into changing the game in transportation, guided by our mission to be the leading mobility solutions provider, built on excellence in technological innovations, committed to environmental sustainability and delivering the best brand ownership experience by a team of passionate individuals,” he added. The next move is to establish more infrastructure to support the need of more charging stations. So far, only the DENR as well as the Department of Trade and Industry have inaugurated fast-charging stations in their offices in Quezon City, Makati City and Davao City, in partnership with Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Unioil Philippines now also has two charging stations in its Edsa-Guadalupe branch. The motoring public can only hope that Congress would be able to expedite the passing of laws that would provide incentives for EVs just like what the other developed countries are doing—all in the belief that electric vehicles can dramatically reduce carbon pollution from transportation and improve air quality.

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BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018 J1

‘I HAVE A DREAM’ A quarter century since the end of the bases era catapulted it into a new, transformational phase as a bustling free port, Subic gears up for more, grander visions of progress. At the helm is a woman who grew up in and with Subic, and embraces its past, present and future.

SUBIC Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma at a recent BM Coffee Club forum. NONIE REYES

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

MAGINE lounging in a veranda overlooking the vast ocean while sipping a glass of red wine; waves cascading against stone cliffs, the sun setting and gradients of pink, orange, blue and violet blending in harmony in the sky like a painting. Below you see custom-designed houses, hotels, restaurants and shops; street lights illuminating the crawling alleyways and stairs, couples holding hands with their child on their way to dinner. Sounds like Amalfi Coast in Italy? Yes and no. Yes, because that is the vision. And no, because it is envisioned to be in Subic a decade and a half from now, according to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma. Even after hours of discussion over the developments and issues about her hometown, Amy, as those who are close to her call her, was still full of energy when she shared with the BusinessMirror how she envisions Subic in the next 25 years. Armed with a paper full of images of Sorrento, Italy, Eisma enthusiastically said the future of Subic is for it to be developed as a tourist destination similar to Amalfi Coast in Italy or Santorini in Greece, both of which have terrains and coastlines that echo the best features of her proposed area of development. “My dream of 25 years from now is to transform Subic into a worldclass resort destination,” she said. “It’s not a burden, I would like to say that it’s a challenge,” she said, upon prodding by the BusinessMirror at

a recent BM Coffee Club forum. The vision is to develop Anawangin Beach to sport its own port, where cruise ships can dock directly so that tourists can disembark. From there it will take just 20 minutes to reach San Antonio, Zambales, where the tourism center will be. Hotels will dot the rugged cliffside area, rustic restaurants will be spread out to offer Filipino and international delicacies, and inviting shops and other businesses will be set up to attract more tourists. “I don’t want the shoreline to be developed. I want the development to be up in the mountains, because the coastline is a rugged terrain. The development is up, and we will not touch the shoreline, because the sea is our main selling point. It will remain pristine,” Eisma, a native of Subic, explained. The area that she mentioned is virtually empty of development. It used to be a target practice range for the artillery of the US troops when they were still here, before the Philippine Senate voted in September 1991 not to renew the bases treaty.

Bridge to Redondo Peninsula

TO complement this and to cut travel time from the Subic Bay Freeport to San Antonio, Eisma said her group is also planning to

build a bridge from Blue Bay Marina to Redondo Peninsula. The bridge will run for about 6 to 12 km, depending on the final design and alignment, and could cost roughly P9 billion. “Once the bridge is there, investments will come in,” she said, noting that the multiplier effect could help boost revenues for both the government and the locals. It will take billions of pesos to build her dream, and Eisma is now working on securing deals with investors to build one infrastructure and real estate after another— that’s Plan A. “We’re all dreaming, and hoping to take it there and we’re actively searching for people who will make it happen,” she said. Already, the feisty leader of the government-controlled corporation is in talks with several investors who are interested in developing Subic into a bustling central business district, which may involve some P2 billion of investment in terms of reclamation alone. “Someone is seriously looking at it—that someone is a very, very serious taker,” Eisma added. Eisma, a former lobbyist, was known to have secured money from the national government to fund certain infrastructure projects in the Subic Bay Freeport. She wants to Continued on J2

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‘I HAVE A DREAM’ Continued from J1

replicate and multiply this to a higher magnitude to turn her vision into a reality. However, if she fails to strike deals with investors to build her dream, her Plan B involves getting money from the government coffers. “I want to jump-start everything to make this happen—whether I will take in an interested investor or get money from the national government,” she said, noting that the second plan will involve the similar manner by which nearby Clark City was developed. However, if she fails in the first two plans. Eisma’s Plan C is to put in institutional and legal templates to strengthen SBMA and generate enough funds to bankroll projects that will further propel Subic to higher heights. Currently, Subic has about 1,600 business locators with a total work force of about 133,940 employees, majority of which are locals of Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan. As of June, the SBMA has so far approved 45 new investment projects with a total worth of P2.85 billion, resulting in cumulative investment commitments in Subic to P499.6 billion. The investment pledges for the first half was 290 percent higher than the P731 million generated in the same period the year prior. These are expected to create some 2,500 new jobs in the free-port zone alone. Likewise, from January to June, 13 business locators have proposed expansion projects for their companies to the tune of P276 million combined, generating roughly 290 new jobs.

EISMA: “What we need is for everyone in the agency to be strong and deeply convinced to make the right decisions over popular ones.” NONIE REYES

“Subic is not stopping from going out there to sell itself as the investment haven in the Philippines. We continue to attract more investments, and the new thrust for good governance and transparency has increased investor confidence as reflected by our numbers,” Eisma said. To keep this trend going, Eisma’s Plan C involves the institutionalization of the changes that she has so far implemented, the updating and improvement of the law that created her agency, and the adoption of a single vision for the development of Subic. “Assuming for the sake of argument that I fail on this dream, what I want to leave Subic with—so they could move on to the next 10 years to 25 years—is first to leave them this dream so they can continue working on it,” she said.

SAN Antonio, Zambales: From a fishing village to a world-class resort destination.

ebSOLO FLIGHT

MOUNTED PATROL, A GAME CHAN IN PNP’S ANTICRIMINALITY DRIVE

By Rene Acosta

ESPITE the apparent breakdown of discipline in the lower ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP), as no less than Director General Oscar Albayalde admits, the organization is still not wanting of heroes. In the PNP’s unwritten gallery of heroes, one, however, stands out. He is Senior Inspector Dennis Ebsolo, the current chief of police of Villanueva Police Station in Misamis Oriental, and he is legendary. Ebsolo pioneered in setting up the mounted patrol in 2015 as chief of police of Station 8 of the Cagayan de Oro Police, a successful tack that is yet to be officially recognized by the national police leadership. While the police patrol on horseback may seem like a

throwback to the days of the cowboys for the modern-day PNP—with its modern vehicles and other technology-driven equipment in its anticriminality campaign—it has worked excellently in the unforgiving terrain of Misamis Oriental.

Honor from Metrobank

IN fact, the success of Ebsolo’s legendary policing technique was even recognized by the Metrobank Foundation, which adjudged him as one of its 10 Outstanding Filipinos for this year.

The foundation tagged him as Misamis Oriental’s “HorseMounted Cop.” The 42-year-old Ebsolo joined the PNP in 1998 as a police officer 1, the lowest rank in the PNP, and was assigned with the Regional Mobile Group 10. In 2010 he was promoted to the rank of inspector as a lateral entry. In 2015 or five years later, he was tasked to head the Station 8 in Cagayan de Oro City, a designation he initially saw both as a promotion and a nightmare, since his coverage area sits at the tri-boundaries of Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur. In Bukidnon, there was this problem of rebel insurgency, while Lanao del Sur is beset by terrorism, lawlessness and the Moro conflict. Ebsolo’s newly found kingdom, which also includes 12 hinterland barangays, covers a land area of 12 million hectares where the word “government” seems not to exist. The area, which is a combination of a marshland, and hilly and virgin forests, breeds and harbors criminals. It spawns crimes of all sorts, including illegal mining and illegal logging. There are also clan wars, which could be violent. Continued on J4

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Strengthening the BCDA

EISMA explained that her fallback is her current work in amending Republic Act (RA) 7227, known as the Bases Conversion Development Act of 1992, to strengthen the organization. “If you ask me what I want to leave, so they can continue with the kind of development and that the growth trajectory would not go down and will continue to go up, is to put on the systems that should have been placed many, many years ago so they can follow this trajectory,” she explained. The law remained untouched from its promulgation 25 years ago, when the Americans left Subic after the devastation caused by Mount Pinatubo. “We have to amend the law. It’s been 25 years, and I’m hoping that before the end of my term, we could put in the needed amend-

O T

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SENIOR Inspector Dennis Ebsolo, the current chief of police of Villanueva Police Station in Misamis Oriental

ments to strengthen us some more to become attractive,” Eisma said. Her proposed amendments include the allocation of a certain portion of the revenues to SBMA’s cashflow for capital and operational expenditures. Locators— or businesses that set up shop in Subic—pay 5 percent of their gross income taxes to the national government. “We don’t get any portion of that, we are just collectors,” she said. “Hopefully, we can get a share of the income.” Eisma lamented that over the last 25 years, her agency had very little wiggle room in terms of budget, given that it does not receive a portion of the corporation’s revenues. She noted that she even had to ask both the Legislative and Executive branches of government for money to bankroll road projects

that were very much needed to improve mobility in the area. “We have to have a stronger system based on the law—if we are able to amend RA 7227 and give them this additional, revitalized law, where we could get a little bit of money,” she explained. Currently, the House of Representatives has concluded deliberations on the committee level for the amendments, and a committee report has been finalized. “My fear is for the legislative calendar to end—that is why I’m working ahead, having engagements thinking that if it doesn't pass now, I don’t want to start from scratch again,” she said. Her hope now is for the next batch of lawmakers in the House to just adopt the committee report, so that the work done during the 17th Congress will not be put to waste. Once she’s done with the

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Lower House, she can start working on the Senate “to finish it in the next three years.”

Legal, institutional templates

ASIDE from this, another amendment that she proposed was to include a representative from indigenous peoples (IPs) of Subic on the SBMA board. “Because at the end of the day, a big amount of property belongs to the IPs. This is to protect their interest,” she said. Eisma is confident that the amendments will come into play before her term ends, as she “takes advantage of that love for Subic from both the Lower and Upper Houses.” “We now have all legislative districts finally coming into a dream of what is best for all of us and putting aside all our political differences. I am very happy that we are on that

track already,” she said, referring to how the decades-long rivalry between Olongapo and Bataan, which stalled both their development, had finally been broken. Strengthening the agency that she leads through legislative amendments, she said, will help Subic achieve the dream that she painted—something that she describes as grand and bizarre. “My dreams are lofty and surreal and it will take longer than 10 years to make it happen. But I want to be able to put in systems so that whoever follows me and my people who will stay behind will be able to follow through these dreams,” she said. The administrator and chairman of the SBMA is coterminus with the Philippine President. “What we need is for everyone in the agency to be strong and deeply convinced to make the right

decisions over popular ones. With that, we bring Subic to where it’s supposed to be without the need for a new vision from a new administrator,” Eisma said. Continuity and consistency, she said, are key to achieving the agency’s goal of further developing Subic into a haven of tourism and investments. “We don’t need a new vision every time there is a change in administration, but there should be an overall vision for the place itself,” Eisma emphasized. “It’s not about the administrator.” She said she is “working very hard” for these initiatives to turn the vision into a reality, doing all three plans concurrently to optimize results. “The job is very hard…it’s my people who continue to inspire me to just do more and do better,” Eisma said.

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ebSOLO FLIGHT

With the “policemen on horses” led by Ebsolo, members of Station 8 accomplished so much in establishing peace and order in the 12 barangays and in giving villagers a glimpse or taste of government. Continued from J3

Where angels fear to tread

“THESE barangays are almost unreachable, they could not be reached by patrols. The road condition is really very poor,” Ebsolo said of the areas under his jurisdiction. Drawn against the puzzle of establishing even just a semblance of police existence in the barangays, the police chief bought a motorcycle on his own for his patrol. Later, he also encouraged his men to buy a motorcycle on their own for the patrol, but with Ebsolo shouldering their gasoline requirement. Again, the barangays are virtually nonexistent. If under extreme cases any of their residents needed to go to the city, he has to pay P1,000 just to emerge from the village on a hired motorcycle, and the amount is only for a one-way travel. “Regardless of the situation, the residents just prefer to remain inside their barangays,” Ebsolo said. If crimes are committed, they are not reported to the authorities since no one dares to come out of their villages just for this purpose, as they even run the risk of being ambushed along the way. “There are even areas where the local residents and indigenous people are afraid of coming out of their villages because there are bandits who would kill them,” Ebsolo said. “These groups of bandits really wanted to control and maintain their hold over the areas,” he said. The police chief remembers that even with their motorcycles, there were still barangays that they could not reach and cover for their patrol, prompting him to think of uncanny ways to reach the villages. This led him to entertain the idea of riding horses in their patrols. “There are some residents who are using horses, and this gave me the idea. I asked around for the cost and I was given the amount of P90,000 for a horse that is not [of] a high breed, riding equipment included,” Ebsolo said. The police chief approached the local government of Cagayan de Oro through a councilor for possible assistance, but his request was not acted upon. Some members of nongovernment organizations then agreed to provide horse-riding training for members of the Station 8 for free. As he was intent on establishing police presence in the isolated barangays, Ebsolo reached out to other stakeholders, who chipped in and gave members of the police station at least four horses. “Some had teased us because we were supposed to be using vehicles and not horses in this modern age. But the area is mountainous,” he said. As it is, the mounted patrol even drew the policemen one step backward since they were already using motorcycles.

So much accomplished

BUT with the “policemen on horses” led by Ebsolo, members of Station 8 accomplished so much in establishing peace and order in the 12 barangays and in giving villagers a glimpse or taste of government. “Because of the program, crimes decreased and their occurrence is no longer treated as normal by the local residents. Clan wars have stopped and the barangays have stopped harboring areas for criminals and wanted persons,” the police chief said. Ebsolo and his men arrested a total of 75 wanted persons, a number of whom had been on Cagayan de Oro’s list of wanted persons for a long time. Under Ebsolo, Station 8 recorded the highest number of buy-bust operations in its history, seizing millions worth of illegal drugs and arresting 83 drug suspects, including some high-value targets. Likewise, loose firearms and explosives were confiscated and even illegal loggers have stopped their operations. “Even marijuana plantations were cleared,” Ebsolo said. The police chief also mobilized the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and the Barangay Intelligence Network. For all of his feats, the police chief, however, never received any recognition from the leadership of the PNP. When the mounted patrol was first implemented, the villagers were not even receptive; at one point, Ebsolo and his men were even ambushed but luckily survived. Later, however, the policemen were able to develop a good relationship with the villagers. Moving forward, Ebsolo told the BusinessMirror that the access to some of the barangays has been developed and in time, while it may diminish the romantic image of the mounted police, he hopes the villages would be so well-connected by decent roads there will no longer be any need for the cop on horseback.

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Thursday, October 11, 2018 K1

THE VOW: STAY CLEAN, HEALTHY AMID DEVELOPMENT FRENZY

PROPOSED museum

PROPOSED City Engineer’s Office

By Manuel T. Cayon

AVAO CITY—This southern Philippine city that was thrust into the limelight since the 2016 election of its longtime mayor to the presidency is determined to assert the primacy of ecological balance amid a frenzy of development—where industry locators demand ample space for housing, factories and office.

Developers have flocked to Davao City since 2016, not just because it hosts the country’s First Family, but also because of its natural attractions and potential for multi-use projects. The city’s leadership and people, however, are determined to maintain its ecological balance in urban development. No matter how much business the presidential currency may bring, the city is determined to remain liveable and comfortable both to its residents and transient residents brought there by the thousands of jobs generated by its boom sectors, notably in business outsourcing. Presidential daughter and this city’s Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio defined this direction in her recent State of the City Address when she said her administration “would be

firm on greening the city”. She was particularly dismayed at the recent flooding at the uptown portion of the city, where a subdivision built two decades ago has periodically caused flooding at a national highway. In the section of Solid Waste Management and Environment in her address on October 2, Duterte enumerated in a nutshell the importance of ecology as integral to her administration’s 10-point program. Continued on K2

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THE VOW: STAY CLEAN, HEALTH Continued from K1

“We have also been firm in our campaign in greening our city, as we opened new parks and playgrounds. Last December 2017, we opened the Davao City Botanical Garden located at Marfori Subdivision and three new playgrounds at the People’s Park, Davao City Botanical Garden and Osmeña Park,” she said. This statement assured environmentalists that her administration would uphold ecological breathing spaces in the city, where a third of the 244,000-hectare area has been grazed by urban construction. Only two years ago, environmentalists clashed with the City Council on the Council’s plan to remove the green and open space provision for housing developers to observe in their constructions. Duterte said these parks would allow families and children “to have more options for rest and recreation, and safe play places for children”. She bared three new playgrounds to be constructed in Mintal, Toril and Calinan before the year ends. “We have conducted coastal clean-up and mangrove tree planting activities along the Davao Riverbank at Barangay 40-D and by virtue of Executive Order 2 Series of 2017, we have intensified the massive clean-up in the 32 coastal barangays of the city through the Bantay Dagat program. The program has engaged 300 volunteers to ensure that there is regular clean-up with the end view of clean coastal waters for the Dabawenyo,” she said. But her administration would not succeed with a nonchalant and lazy population, she said, including a lack of a legal catch net to back a clean city in the backdrop of a scaledup urban development where developers are observed to be scrambling already for available space.

Changing skyline, road network

THE city government has paid attention to modernizing its own public buildings to demonstrate its clean, uptight design accommodating the concepts of fuel cost-saving green technology. It has also begun to plan ahead with construction of bypass and coastal roads to ease traffic, now afflicting many of the country’s metropolises and cities. Recently started were “some of our banner infrastructure projects”, like the Davao City Investment and Tourism building, the City Library and Information Center, the 18-Classroom Alternative Learning School facility, the City Social Services and Development Office building, and the Archives building. In the pipeline are the Davao Museum, the City Health Office, the New City Engineer’s Office, the extension to the Pasalubong Center building, and the eight-story extension to the City Hall Building.

Priority infra projects

ITS recent engagement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), Japan’s official financial and technical assistance arm, has given this city the finalized study on Infrastructure Modernization for Davao or “IM4Dvo”. This study spelled out priority infrastructure projects the city should undertake from 2018 up to 2045 in order to achieve a sound and sustainable city, Duterte said. In it were identified such bigticket projects as the extension of the Panacan-Buhangin diversion road, the Davao River boulevard, the Talomo viaduct, the extension of the coastal road now being constructed, the Bunawan-Buhangin road, and the Davao-Samal connector bridge or tunnel. Last year and until the mid-

MAYOR Sara Duterte-Carpio said her administration “would be firm on greening the city”. GUALBERTO M. LAPUT/PNA

dle of this year, the city government completed 517 infrastructure projects amounting to P570 million. A year previously, it finished 542 projects. The city has seen an increase in various construction projects from various private firms, from residential to commercial and other miscellaneous construction. Ancillary permit applications and revenues netted for the Office of the Building Official (OBO) a total collection of P44 million, a 52.22-percent collection efficiency rate of its P85-million annual target collection for 2016. This went up to P103 million the following year and for the current year, the OBO “is on track to surpass its P125-million target since it has already collected

66.52 percent of the target just this midyear,” she said. The city will likewise bat anew for Congress’s nod in allowing the Davao airport to be granted the status of an airport authority to position itself better as the acknowledged gateway of the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines-East Asean Growth Area. Local government and tourism officials have been assailing the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) for using the income of the airport to help subsidize the other airports in the country. Also, Duterte bared her move to impose a building height limit in the city to achieve safe air travel. “Once we have finalized the tech-

nical guidelines in coordination with [Caap], we expect this ordinance to provide a skyline safe for air travel, allow our utility agencies the needed density control, and provide our search-andrescue team a manageable area to cover in times of disaster.” “I emphasize the urgency of this measure and I hope the Sangguniang Panlungsod will do everything necessary so that we will have the ordinance in place to cope up with the current infra surge,” she added. Also next year, the Sasa Wharf will embark on a P2-billion expansion project to include the upgrading of the general cargo berthing facilities, as well as the expansion of the port to increase its capacity.

These twin moves on the city’s point of entry will boost travel and cargo transport. On energy, she said the Aboitiz-owned Davao Light & Power Co. will replace, over three years, the sodium lamps in the streets with the cost- and energy-efficient LED lighting. As it undertakes the program, Davao Light’s underground cabling project to rid downtown streets of the messy wiring on the streets is also under way. To back the needs of the industries, the city will start the construction of the water infrastructure under the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project, with the 6.8-hectare water treatment and processing facility in Barangay Gumalang, north of downtown. This is seen to ease the city’s reliance on the underground aquifer for drinking water and shift to surface water of a river system inside its protected watershed. “This would ensure the sustainability of the water needs of the present and future generations,” she added. With funding from the Department of Public Works and Highways, the 1.7-kilometer bypass road was opened in June this year to help motorists going to the Davao International Airport avoid congestion, particularly along Mamay Road and CP Garcia Highway. The construction of the 18.2km coastal road is ongoing under a multiyear funding scheme and she said the People’s Republic of China committed “to donate P1.5 billion for the construction of a bridge that will connect the portions of the road disconnected by the Davao River”. The Comprehensive Transport and Management Plan is being crafted to implement the most viable mass public transport system and public transport routes for the

EASING TRAFFIC

CAN BE DONE,

PROMISE MMDA Command Center

ROY DOMINGO

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

ILL traffic jams—which force millions of Filipinos to stay on the road for many precious hours, and drain the economy of billions of pesos daily— be a thing of the past in the metropolis in the coming years? Yes. According to a former official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) who looked into the future and saw a silver lining, no matter that most of us still wake up

each day with dread at the thought of how we will survive yet another day in the urban jungle. He believes that with the “improved skills” of the agency, the Continued on K4

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

HY AMID DEVELOPMENT FRENZY

PROPOSED Pasalubong Center

city. A benchmarking activity was conducted in Australia from May 20 to 30 this year. Meanwhile, the City Traffic and Transport Management Office (CTTMO) has issued citation tickets to 26,982 traffic violators as the number of traffic violators has increased in the first semester of 2018 compared to the data of 2017 and 2016. The citation cost violators of jaywalking and other traffic rules some P16.8 million in fines. The CTTMO also towed a total of 796 vehicles and continued to remove and confiscate unauthorized signages.

Protection needed

TO avoid loss of its agriculture, which comprises almost twothirds of its land area, the Office of the City Agriculturist is currently coordinating with other sectors to

come up with an Agricultural Development Master Plan. She also instructed the office to work out a plan to protect the loss of agriculture lands, although she admitted that the private nature of the business transaction between landowners and project developers would hinder the city government from fully ensuring that the farms are maintained. The city government’s support will nonetheless be continued. She said the Davao Agriculutural Trading Complex in Daliao, Toril, will be started soon and the project was initiated by the Department of Agriculture. “The food terminal bridges the producers’ need for maximum benefits and consumers’ need for quality-based and affordable agricultural products. It will help facilitate fast and efficient movement of goods, particularly, fresh farm

products, in and out of the city and the whole region; and it is designed to improve marketing for basic producers,” she said. Protection is also being extended to the coastal areas under the Coastal-Based Resource Management Program-Marine Protected Areas Development Program. This program seeks to establish 10 Marine Protected Areas in 10 barangays “identified as a response to the need of fisherfolk for sustainable fish catch allowing for food security, poverty alleviation and environment management.”

hectares for close protection following a landslide at its northern edge that blocked traffic at the diversion road for weeks. But cleanliness will not be abandoned with urbanization, to ensure that the city keeps its reputation as a clean city. “With this, we are now looking into improving our garbage collection processes, whereby collection of properly segregated garbage will be strictly implemented following a fixed schedule based on categorization and utilizing specific collection vehicles for the purpose,” she said.

No more landslides

Waste-to-energy

AT the Shrine Hills, the City Council has supported her intention with amendments and supplement to the Urban Ecological Enhancement Subzone segregating 200

PROPOSED City Hall

SHE announced that the city will shift to waste-to-energy mode, a project being opposed by environmentalists who fear its adverse effect on waste segregation

PROPOSED Archives building

and management. Groups like the Greenpeace and the Interface Development Initiatives warned that the huge garbage volume requirement to feed the operation of the waste-to-energy machine would render waste segregation useless. Duterte said the city has also identified at least six sites to put up the sewerage treatment systems. “As we continue to improve, rehabilitate and build new drainage systems, we shall complement this with the creation of these sewerage treatment facilities all over the city. We will continue to study on how to best build these sewerage treatment systems to ensure the city’s compliance with waste water regulations,” she added. To cope with climate change and the continuous rising of sea levels all over the world, “this past year, together with the DPWH, we have commenced work on 14 key drainage

improvement projects all over the city with more than P900 million in funding,” the mayor added. She warned, though, that “all of these efforts, even with the continuous, daily and nightly cleaning of drainage lines, rivers and coastal areas in the city, would not be enough if we continue to violate laws on proper development and as we all indiscriminately dispose of our garbage all over the city.” “I encourage everyone to partner with us in the campaign against single-use plastics and we have endeavored to implement this in our departments. We invite everyone to use reusable alternatives to lessen the plastic waste of the city.” “We can send one million people to clean our coastal areas, but this would be put to nothing if we continue to be lazy and disregardful of how we dispose of garbage,” she said.

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EASING TRAFFIC CAN BE DONE, PROMISE Continued from K2

perennial problem of traffic and flooding will, in time, no longer bother Metro Manilans. “Generally, MMDA had innovated using ICT technologies [that are] available and applicable. Applications to traffic management, flood mitigation and public safety. Continuing upgrade of equipment for many applications across all MMDA services. Risk management approach has also advanced by the uptake of science-based information and processes,” Mon Santiago, former director for special operations, shared in an interview with the BusinessMirror. Santiago has retired from the MMDA but still continues to serve the agency as a consultant and heads the Metro Manila Crisis Monitoring and Management Center. He noted that today, there is an extensive collaboration with other government and nongovernment partners like the private sector and volunteers, unlike the time when he first joined the then Met-

ropolitan Manila Commission in December 1979 as a special operations officer and became a director 10 years after. “The use of social-media platforms for sharing and obtaining information is also a big help in putting solutions to traffic problems,” he observeed. He is hoping that the MMDA will continue to move toward adopting international standards or conform with international practices. Meanwhile, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia expressed hope that Metro Manila will become a traffic-free metropolis. With the infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) improvement of mass transportation, resolving much of the current traffic woes can be done under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration. As a matter of fact, the recent International Organization for

Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certification chalked up by MMDA is proof, he said, that the agency is “on the right track” when it comes to quality management systems. Garcia said the certification validates the agency’s commitment to efficient public service, under Lim’s leadership. “We always want the process to be transparent, ensuring that standardized processes are consistently followed,” said Garcia. The ISO 9001:2015 is the latest version of the ISO 9001 standard which is widely known and internationally accepted for quality management, and acknowledges organizations that are able to provide effective customer and regulatory services.

Chairman Lim: ISO was a fond dream

FOR his part, MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said that having the ISO certificate has been a dream since he took over as chairman in May 2017. “Today is the realization of

that dream after more than a year in office,” Lim added. This is the first time for the MMDA to be ISOcertified in a full scope. In the coming years, Lim said he dreams that the agency will be able to build a new office. “This building is not ours. I want us to have a place of our own, and with our continued efforts we can look forward to a groundbreaking ceremony soon,” said Lim. AJA Registrars is an independent third-party registrar (certification body) operating from a global network of offices providing third-party registration and training services at a local level.

Infra and mass transport

GARCIA said that MMDA is closely coordinating with different government agencies like DPWH and DOTr in seeking solutions to the problems faced by the highly congested metropolis. “If DPWH will finish soon [the major infra projects] and with the ongoing improvement of mass

transportation like Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit and even the planned subway, I think we can do more and help ease the lives of our [commuting] people here in Metro Manila,” he added. Garcia was referring to the drastic improvements that champions of the “Build, Build, Build” program say will soon be made in the flow of traffic in the metropolis. Among these projects are the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway connector, and the Skyway Stage 3 projects, which will be done by 2020. Also, the Laguna Lake Highway and the Harbor Link Segment 10, which connects MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City and C-3 in Caloocan City, will be completed this year. These projects are on top of the C-6, bypass roads for Edsa, and the construction of 12 bridges across the Pasig River. “In the next few years, through the leadership of Chairman Lim and the ISO certificate, I know we we are on the right track. We can

have a long-term solution, but it will take more years; that is why we need a band-aid solution. But we don’t want these short-term solutions like odd-even scheme [to] be our disability. We need to think of a long-term solution. Because the public will just continue to suffer. Those who can afford will just buy another car to avoid the scheme. That is why we are promoting car pooling,” Garcia said. Garcia revealed that they are also taking their traffic expertise outside the metropolis to other key cities in the provinces. “What we are doing right now, [we] inspire people to do the right thing. We impose discipline,” Garcia said, adding that at the end of the day, discipline is still the most important thing that should be observed in an urban area. Now that—dealing with human nature—could be even tougher, in the future he sees quite optimistically, than laying down big bridges and connecting mega-highways.

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BusinessMirror

FARM NEGOTIATOR, BIRD ENTHUSIAST The longest-serving undersecretary in the Department of Agriculture, and one of the countryâ€™s best negotiators in international farm issues, sees a future that grants him quality timeâ€”with family, and with Mother Nature.

Thursday, October 11, 2018 L1 By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

N the first day of his retirement, Segfredo Serrano will hike to Mount Makiling, stay up there for a week, and look for the Luzon bleedingheart pigeon. Continued on L2

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FARM NEGOTIATOR Continued from L1

Segfredo will bring with him the usuals: liters of water, packs of Skyflakes, a shawl and his black bag of photography equipment. “Dati kasi iyang [Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon] nakikita ko pa riyan sa Makiling forest. Ngayon, naririnig ko na lang [Before, I could still see that bird in Makiling’s forest; today, I just hear it],” Serrano, an agriculture policymaker for over two decades, shared with the BusinessMirror. Serrano, known to his colleagues as Fred, chuckled after he was asked what he would do on the first day of his retirement. He paused. Wrapped his arms over two seats. Glanced at the ceiling. “I’ll probably climb Mount Makiling and look for my target birds,” Fred, who turned 61 years old this year, said and smiled. “And if my legs are still strong enough, I would like to see the Philippine Eagle nesting in Samar,” he added. To photograph the Philippine Eagle is every bird watcher’s dream, and it is Serrano’s, too. He did achieve it a few years back. But seeing, staring and photographing it once is not enough for Fred, who has been a full-time policy-maker and part-time bird photographer. “I’ve done it in Mindanao. But I want to go to Apayao and Aurora. Aurora is Northern Sierra Madre, while Apayao is Northern Cordillera,” said Fred, who uses an Olympus EM5 camera. But the thought of a weeklong journey atop the Makiling is quite far from Fred’s hands as his request for an early retirement was not granted by no less than President Duterte. Serrano is now the country’s longestserving agriculture undersecretary in the 21st century.

Purview

AT the age of 35, Serrano seemed to have already achieved his 16-year-old self’s dreams: be independent and have a family of his own. “I was always in a hurry,” he said. “I said back then that I want to be independent, have

work and have a wife and family as soon as possible.” “I don’t want to have a child when I’m too old and weak. I want my children and me to enjoy each others’ company,” he added. And he actually did. By 21, he got married and had his first child. “And I’ll have five before [reaching] 35 years old,” he said. By 35, Serrano already held a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños. He also earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the same university with the same course. “My parents were teachers. So, my first option was really to teach...or maybe do research in field,” said Serrano, whose father is an Agriculture Graduate Major in Soil Science and Chemistry. Serrano’s interest in agriculture was a nobrainer for a boy born to a family of farmers and grew up in the foothills of Mount Arayat. “My father is from Porac, Pampanga, and his parents were sugarcane farmers, while my mother is from Floridablanca but grew up in Tondo, Manila,” he shared. “We’re not rich, landed people. As you know, the sugarcane farmers in Pampanga were different. We were not hacienderos. My grandparents were small sugarcane farmers,” he added. Serrano first taught in the former Mountain State Agricultural College, now Benguet State University, from 1978 to 1979 until he transferred to Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC), wherein he stayed for 13 years.

Progress

IN 1992 Serrano accepted the offer of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to be a chief research science specialist. He accepted the work on the heels of a beef with the administration of PAC, who accused him of labor union activities. “After one week working at PhilRice, I revived the labor union,” Serrano said. “I believed that all government employees have rights. The remnants of the dictator-

SEGFREDO SERRANO is now the country’s longest-serving agriculture undersecretary in the 21st century. NONOY LACZA

ship were still evident in the government agencies. The heads of the agencies were acting like dictators,” he added. Serrano said he fought for a fair treatment of workers at PhilRice, especially when it came to their salary and benefits. “There should be greater protection to the needy, to the weak, to the voiceless. Those people should be the ones given a voice,” he argued. Serrano was then given the job to create a “credible” social science program team for PhilRice. And so he did. “I recruited more people. And 100 percent of my recruits were women,” he said. The increase in female workers caused by Serrano’s recruitment caught the PhilRice officials’ ire. One of them told Serrano that recruiting women would be disadvantageous as they are indisposed for a week every month and they cannot work when they get pregnant and go into labor. “I told him, ‘I cannot do that, sir. We have a gender law. It’s common sense,’” he recalled. “As a member of the union, that is something anathema to our goals. I recruit women because they are the ones who have the balls,” he added.

Photography

FRED’S love for photography developed in his high-school years. Fred said his first camera was an Olympus specialized camera that was meant for surveillance and spying. It was in 1970, and he was second-year high school. “It was a gift from my uncle who was then in the US Navy,” he recalled. “The good thing about that camera is that you can go to photography shops and have it inserted with a film.” However, the whereabouts of Fred’s first camera remains unknown today as he made a crucial decision when he was entering college. “Film was very prohibitive during my college years as developing photographs was already costly. I had to choose between my photography or cigarettes, beer and women?” he shared. “It was a no-brainer. I chose cigarettes, beer and women,” he chuckled afterward. Serrano went back to photography in

the early 2000s, when taking pictures was already digital. And his first camera in the digital photography era? A spycam. “I like people photography. I don’t like post shots. Still photographs are not truthful and realistic,” he said. “My objective in photography is to be able to discover the essence of a person, of a landscape or of a place or scenery. What is in it? The emotions evoked,” he added. Since then, photography has been Serrano’s hobby outside life as a government official. Serrano’s interest in bird photography grew when his family moved to Los Baños, after his wife was offered a chance to teach at UPLB.

Pavement

IN 1998 the change in leadership in the agriculture department saw Serrano’s transfer to Manila from Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Serrano was picked by one of his former PhilRice bosses, Dr. Obien, to be part of former Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara’s transition team. “What Secretary Angara did at the time was to instruct all the DA agencies to contribute to his transition team and his request was four agency units to identify ’good’ UP alumni,” he said. “So, our [PhilRice] executive director Dr. Obien took advantage of this and labelled us as good and got rid of us,” he added. Two months after being the leader for policy of the transition team, Serrano was offered the position of Assistant Secretary. “I had my misgivings. The only real incentive for me that time was instead of driving every Monday and Friday some 250 kilometers from UPLB to Muñoz, it was now possible for me to be 70 kilometers away from my family in Laguna,” he said. “I did not know what the work is like. And I found out it was not as simple as I thought,” he added. Serrano held the position of Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning until 2004.

Policy-making

ONE of the most memorable achievements that Serrano made in his stint at the DA would be the establishment of Task Force World Trade Organization

ward-Looking

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

R, BIRD ENTHUSIAST (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture Re-negotiations (TF-WAR). The TF-WAR was a brainchild of Serrano which came into being by virtue of a special order by then Agriculture Chief William Dar. Serrano was appointed chairman of TF-WAR. TF-WAR was a multisectoral group composed of at least 28 representatives from farmer groups, industry associations, business federations, nongovernment organizations, people’s organizations and government agencies. The TF-WAR was created amid the clamor by the public, particularly of farmers and agriculture stakeholders, to have a closer relationship between the government and the private sector when it comes to trade negotiations. The TF-WAR’s purpose was to create a better negotiating stance for the Philippines by getting the views of the industry stakeholders.

The government had drawn flak for its lack of consultations with concerned stakeholders when the Philippines acceded to the WTO in 1995 and adopted the rules of free trade. “The number-one gripe of the stakeholders about the liberalization policy is that they were not consulted. They were forced into it,” Serrano explained. “There were no consultations during the negotiations in the Uruguay Round [in 1995]. They felt betrayed. And it was treacherous for the Department [of Agriculture] to employ consultants, negotiators and technical people paid by the USAID,” he added. The TF-WAR was created to break the technocracy and make the country’s negotiating positions rooted in the position of the affected ones: the small-scale farmers. “If that kind of system persisted in the DA, I would not last as as-

sistant secretary. Hindi ko masisikmura [I won’t be able to stomach it],” Serrano said. “You cannot just say that the public has no right in participating in the negotiations. It’s wrong to say that the only ones knowledgeable and righteous are the technocrats. That’s a lot of bullshit,” he added. Since then, Serrano has promised to himself and to the farmers: “It has been my policy that I would not go to any negotiations unless I have the stakeholders behind my back.” It was the start of the making of a patriot of Fred. Since then, he has been leading the country’s negotiating stance on agriculture and other related matters. And Fred admits that he was not ready for such kind of job. “I did not have a training as a negotiator.” “But if I have the backing of the stakeholders and we have a resolution on trade issues, then I am

ready for war,” he said. “And if you have five children and a wife who is hands-on taking care of your children together with you, negotiations become easy— you get proficient, you can negotiate with anybody,” he added.

Patriot

WHEN asked if it was right for the Philippines to accede to the WTO in 1995, he frankly said: No. “We wanted government to front-load domestic support measures for farmers before ascending. But what happened is that our negotiators fast-tracked the ascension,” said Serrano, who was still with PhilRice during the negotiations. “We had every reason to delay the ratification. We are a developing country!” he added. If Serrano had been the chief trade negotiator then, he would have decided to postpone the as-

cension to the WTO for two years. “If I would be the one followed, we should have conducted consultations first. And then promised to the people that domestic support would be front-loaded two years prior to ascension,” he said. In 2005 Serrano was promoted to Undersecretary for Policy and Planning, a position he holds until today. Serrano said it is hard to be a trade negotiator. Being one requires extensive practice and exposure. “A negotiator must be able to extract more from the other side, but in order for him to do that he needs to invest in judicious use of information and details,” he said. “What people do not tell you tells you a lot. You have two ears and only have one mouth—you should listen more than speak. A stupid declaration in an engagement might be prejudicial to your own country,” he added.

Progress

SERRANO considers the institutionalization of the TF-WAR in the DA’s policy-making scheme one of his biggest achievements as an official. Today, the TF-WAR has become part of the Philippine Council on Agriculture and Fisheries and has been transformed to the Committee on International Trade. The CIT is now a private-sector-driven committee that crafts the country’s negotiating stance on trade talks and issues. Serrano said he would also consider an achievement the country’s winning an extension—twice—of the shift to a quantitative restriction on rice. He also considers as victory the preservation of the Philippines’s policy space in the multilateral negotiations. “Before, the big countries such as the US did not mind the Continued on L4

BM@13: Forward-Looking BusinessMirror

L4 Thursday, October 11, 2018

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FARM NEGOTIATOR, BIRD ENTHUSIAST Continued from L3

Philippines in negotiations. But now, once the Philippines makes a statement, expect that there is a debate until the end,” Serrano said. “And we are prepared. We have fully engaged our stakeholders in the negotiations. We have fully represented the interest of the Philippines,” he added.

Portrait

SERRANO looks up to his father. “What I learned from my parents is that: you do something because it is right. It is not because you are afraid of hell or whatsoever,” he said. “You do something because you know that it is right.” Serrano’s father was a former Pampanga provincial agriculturist, Region 3 regional director and national director of the Bureau of Agricultural Extension (BAEX). After which, his father became one of the founding directors of BAEX’s successor, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). “My father suffered a heart attack while defending the budget of the DA in the Senate in 1994. I was not there. I only learned the news from ATI employees,” he recalled. “It was very painful. He was one year away from retirement.” One of the conference halls in ATI has been named after Fred’s father Segundo C. Serrano. The death of the older Serrano confronted Fred with the biggest realization in his life and career: he would not die serving the government. “My father left my mother and

then I asked myself: would I want my mother to suffer the same pain again with me? Of course not!” “Why would my family suffer the same pain? I have fulfilled my duty to my country, but I also have responsibilities to my family,” Serrano added.

Privation

THAT realization came more truthful and painful to him when he took the reins in leading the country’s position in global agriculture negotiations. “To be a trade negotiator, you have to be more than an ordinary patriot for your country. You have to have the absolute preference for the interests of your country, nothing else,” Serrano said. “And if necessary, be prepared to sacrifice your own interests to attain the interests of the country,” Serrano added. Indeed, Serrano spoke from experience. His love for the country and the local farm sector took a toll on him: he missed the graduation rites of his children, missed wedding anniversaries and family gatherings, and forgot birthday celebrations. “As a parent, I should have been present at my children’s graduation rites. But because of work, I wasn’t able to do it, and it was so painful,” he said. “And at times I forget to greet my children happy birthday as I have a lot of things in mind,” he added. If Fred doesn’t want to follow in the footsteps of his father, so do his children. “The good thing is that no one

wants to follow in my footsteps. And I don’t want them to follow me too,” he said. “I don’t want them to repeat the mistakes I made. I have a lot of shortcomings for my family, which is my biggest burden,” he added. “My small contributions to the government and service of the people, [they were] not because of me alone...my family sacrificed for it.” And Serrano’s sacrifices for the country did not stop there. “You know what is the worst? My grandmother died,” he said. “And I was not there. It was just phoned to me. It was my grandmother who took care of me,” he added. Serrano wanted to have an early retirement in 2016 but postponed it due to delicadeza as the administration had just changed. Serrano submitted to Duterte a letter requesting for his early retirement. But his request has not been acted upon to date, according to him. In fact, Serrano is still a holdover official from the previous administration and is still waiting for his appointing papers. “I just want to take care of my mother. I just want to make amends for my shortcomings to my family. I want to fix everything,” Fred said. “I just want my wife to experience to be with me for one whole straight week. We only get to be together during weekends,” Fred added. Fred still hopes that Duterte would allow him to retire early. And if the government would want to tap him as a consultant afterward, he would be more than willing to do it for free.

SERRANO: “To be a trade negotiator, you have to be more than an ordinary patriot for your country. You have to have the absolute preference for the interests of your country, nothing else.” NONOY LACZA

BM@13: Forward-Looking

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BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018 M1

THE GREENBACK FAUCET Are remittances and BPO revenues, leading sources of fresh dollars for the country, at a crossroads? Is a structural shift up ahead for the Philippines as labor markets change and inflows seem to have hit a plateau? Experts look into the future.

By Bianca Cuaresma

SPACEPORT9 | DREAMSTIME.COM

OR years, the Philippine economy has benefitted from the flow of fresh dollars from our so-called modern-day heroes—the Filipino migrant workers. With thousands of Filipino workers deployed all over the world, the local economy is being pumped with about $25 billion of fresh dollar infusion from their cash remittances alone, and accounted for about 10 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in recent years. The constant supply of greenbacks from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) was a pillar of the local growth story, pushing private consumption upward and supporting the value of the local currency against the dollar. But in recent months, the decade-old industry has been showing signs of a slowdown—moving into a more “normalized” growth number from years of rapid expansion. At the end of the year’s first

half, for example, money sent by Filipino migrant workers declined by 4.5 percent to hit $2.357 billion during the month. The dollar volume of the dollars sent home by OFWs in June was $112 million lower than the previous month’s aggregate cash remittances and $110 million short of the remittances in June 2017. This was on the back of rising labor issues particularly in the Middle East.

BPO sector

THE “normalization” of remittances puts focus on another major dollar driver of the country, one that is a relatively new sector and has been on a rapid expansion in the last years—the business-process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

In 2017 the Philippines was said to be the largest location for delivery of contact services in the rest of the world, leaving India in the second place, Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) said, citing international data and research. Under the BPO industry’s 2022 road map, the industry is projected to post an annual growth rate of 8 percent to 9 percent and by end-2022, is seen to generate revenues of up to $38.9 billion. This has sparked talk of the BPO industry outpacing remittances when it comes to being the top dollar driver of the country.

BSP welcomes structural shift

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Continued on M2

Thursday, October 11, 2018

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THE GREENBACK FAUCET

ARIC.ADB.ORG

FILIPINO workers gather at the HSBC building in the central business district of Hong Kong, China, on August 13, 2006. With thousands of Filipino workers deployed all over the world, the local economy is being pumped with about $25 billion of fresh dollar infusion from their cash remittances alone, and accounted for about 10 percent of its GDP in recent years. PAUL HILTON/BLOOMBERG NEWS

Continued from M1

Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo welcomed the forward-looking development, saying having two strong dollar drivers in the country will always be a win-win situation for the economy. “We call both remittances and BPO revenues as structural flows in the current account. In many ways, both have a large degree of stability and certainty: our overseas workers are highly in demand and new markets are continually found. On the other hand, BPO revenues are also very steady because we have a good cost advantage that translates into stable demand for our workers and processes here. Businesses can be competitive in business upcycle while they can cut costs during business downcycle,” Guinigundo told the BusinessMirror.

Structural shift

HE however, recognized the possibility of a possible structural shift in the country’s main dollar source down the road. “It is possible for BPO revenues to overtake remittances in terms of dollars and cents. Remittances are growing by around 4 percent average on an annual basis while BPOs could grow by as much as 9 percent to 10 percent. Unless new markets are found and new skills are offered to the global markets, and BPO workers continue to be competitive against their counterparts, we might be seeing such convergence in a few years and remittances being overtaken by BPOs,”

“I would like to see the day when we finally break away from dependence on foreign remittances because we shall have been able to create job opportunities for our skilled labor right here in the Philippines. The focus on infra and increasing our productive capacity is a step in the right direction.”—BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo the central bank official added. In their annual target assessment of external indicators, economic managers chalked up a 4-percent growth in remittances for 2018, from the $28.0 billion total in 2017. Last year, remittances grew 4.3 percent. In the first seven months of 2018, however, growth is still lagging behind the government’s projection at 3 percent for the January to July period of the year. Guinigundo further said the structural shift of the Philippines’s main dollar driver from remittances to BPOs shows no immediate downside risk to the economy. “In fact, I would like to see the day when we finally break away from dependence on foreign remittances because we shall have been able to create job opportunities for our skilled labor right here in the Philippines. The focus on infra and increasing our productive capacity is a step in the right direction,” he said. “On BPOs, it would be most desirable when our local firms are the actual ones benefitting from the natural talent and skills of our own people—whether in services, manufacturing or engineering,” he added.

Downside to BPOs

ING Bank Manila economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa, however, said remittances will continue to be the most stable and structural flow of foreign currency into the country. “Throughout the years, remittances have been able to grow at a steady pace, now seen to be pla-

teauing at a 3-percent to 4-percent range, but given the inherent driving factor behind a remittance, we probably won’t be seeing remittances contract altogether,” Mapa told the BusinessMirror. “These transfers are sent because family members look to provide or augment incomes back home in the Philippines, and this altruistic nature of sending a remittance is stronger than any incentive as it is ingrained in our Filipino familial culture. Come hell or high recessions, remittances will flow,” he added. BPO centers, on the other hand, have provided an additional source of structural flows but just like remittances, are likely to see a plateauing in growth rates as the sector moves into maturity, according to him. “I don’t see the shift happening any time soon, and am actually skeptical that BPO net exports will ever overtake remittances,” Mapa said. “What I do foresee is that these structural flows will continue to expand at a steady pace and provide support to the country both as a stable source of FX and as a driver for the local economy through the provision of incomes [earned onshore and offshore] and employment for the industries that support them,” he added. “For now, the structural flows will continue, to help the Philippines ride out this current increased outflow of foreign exchange as we move into our new growth trajectory,” he said.

ward-Looking

sMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018

FINANCE ministers, bank governors and delegates from Asean countries pose for an official photograph at the Asean Finance Ministers’ Meetings on April 6, 2018, in Singapore. In photo are (from left, back row) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance from Lao PDR Somdy Dougangdy; Bank of Lao Governor Somphao Phaysith; Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance Undersecretary Azah Hanim Binti Ahmad; Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Muhammad bin Ibrahim; Myanmar’s Ministry of Planning and Finance and Deputy Minister Maung Maung Win; Central Bank of Myanmar Deputy Governor U Soe Thein; Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor A. Espenilla; and State Bank of Vietnam Deputy Governor Tran Xuan Ha; (front row) Cambodia’s Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy and Finance Vongsey Vissoth; National Bank of Cambodia Deputy Governor Neav Chanthana; Indonesia’s Minister of Finance Sri Muiyani Indrawati; Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo; Singapore’s Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat; Monetary Authority of Singapore Managing Director Ravi Menon; Thailand’s Minister of Finance Apisak Tantivorawong; Bank of Thailand Governor Veerathai Santipbabhob; Brunei’s Minister of Finance Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah; Authority Monetary Brunei Managing Director Awang Yusof bin Haji Abdul Rahman; and Asean Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi. AP/WONG MAYE-E

UNITED WE STAND S

By Estrella Torres

INGAPORE—The last two decades have been challenging to the global markets but 10 economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) remain steadfast amid Western criticism of the regional bloc’s noninterference policy. While America and Europe have to deal with China’s strength, economies of Asean focus on their own dream of creating a single market that promotes the development of members. In 2007 the Asean Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint was adopted to create a single market and production line from 2018 to 2015. The AEC, with its huge market of US$2.6 trillion and over 622 million people, has since then attracted global economic giants such as China, the European Union, Canada, Japan and South Korea. Now on its second phase of economic integration under AEC 2025, the Asean market continues to gain traction. Dr. Alladin Rillo, Deputy Secretary General of Asean Economic Community, said the populations of member-economies have yet to fully benefit from the gains of economic integration because AEC agreements have not been implemented on the ground. Asean members need to pass national laws to implement AEC agreements on single market rules. The late Asean Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan had reminded members to be “complementing and not competing to achieve the AEC success.” At the same time, external challenges such as the US-China trade war are expected to have an adverse impact on the region’s financial market since members have strong roles in the global value chain. Rillo said the trade war between the US and China “creates uncertainties” and can be problematic once it escalates to the macroeconomic market of Asean. “Economic ministers of Asean recognize the implications [of US-China] trade war due to our strong participation in the global value chain or regional production network, particularly China…that really affects us,” said Rillo at the 7th Editor’s Roundtable of the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia (ERIA) held in Singapore over the weekend. Asean groups the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia,

Lao PDR, Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. Professor Hidetoshi Nishimura, president of ERIA, said the regional bloc has gained importance both economically and politically. “But the region must adhere to the emerging challenges, such as health, aging society, sustainable environment and agriculture, as well as disaster risk reduction and building smart cities,” said Nishimura during the ERIA forum. Ambassador Bilahari Kausikan, chairman of the Middle East Institute of National University of Singapore (NUS), said Asean needs agility, unity and resolve to cope with the US-China war. He agrees with some analysts that the trade war between the two giants will open medium-term opportunities for Asean when foreign investors shift production out of China into Southeast Asia. “This is possible but short-sighted,” Kausikan said. “Shifting production out of China is easier said than done and no one, trade war notwithstanding, will forgo the Chinese market, although new and upgraded investments will probably be postponed.” Kausikan, who was keynote speaker at the roundtable, agrees that the trade war between the US and China will change the supply chains, once accusations that China planted spy microchips in motherboards used by the CIA and Pentagon are proven. “Shifts in supply chains could derail or seriously complicate efforts by Asean members to move up the value chain. Asean members must in any case resist the temptation to act as a backdoor into the US for Chinese companies,” said Kausikan, who served as ambassador at large of Singapore’s Foreign Ministry. He said Asean, now entering its second phase in creating a single market and common production platform, needs to take advantage of opportunities in the US-China trade war by dealing with domestic politics. Asean members remain divided in adopting the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea amid Beijing’s expan-

sive military buildups in the South China Sea and uproar from claimants—the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. For his part, former Asean secretary general Ong Keng Yong said members need to promote Asean centrality amid global tensions. Ong is now the executive deputy chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School

of International Studies at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. “Asean needs [to maintain] devotion to rule of law, Treaty of Amity and Cooperation that peacefully settles disputes on sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as multilateralism,” said Ong, who was also speaker at the forum.

In a world anxious over the impact of the USChina trade war, Asean moves to become an epicenter of the global market.

M4 Thursday, October 11, 2018

A BusinessMirror Special Feature

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SAVOY HOTEL BORACAY NEWCOAST

EXPERIENCE A COLORFUL GETAWAY

OTHING beats a perfect getaway in this beautiful island of Boracay. Filipinos and foreign travelers are captivated with Boracay’s pristine clear blue waters and amazing sunset. For that stylish comfort, unparelled fun and pure relaxation, Savoy Hotel Boracay is the perfect place for you. Nestled in the heart of Boracay Newcoast, it features four-star facilities with its 559 well-appointed rooms and access to a 295-metre white sand beach. If you’re longing for a private beach time, a good 10-minute walk to Cove 2 of Newcoast Beach would indeed fill your perfect getaway. After a day of exploration on the island, Savoy Hotel’s chic rooms

offers you a chance to relax with its view of the outdoors through your own balcony, a perfect spot to cool down after a day in the sun. Whether it’s chilling or having a great time, Savoy Hotel Boracay got you covered! Spend your mornings with sumptuous buffet breakfast at Savoy Café or indulge in local and international cuisine at Vienne Lobby Lounge for a more satisfying treat with its trendy ambiance that makes dining much more gratifying. On days that you

do not feel like doing outdoor activities, the Chambery Pool Bar offers you a quick recharge with its refreshing fruit shakes and cocktails while having a dip in the pool

and relaxing in the poolside cabanas and loungers. More than just a place for relaxing and eating, Savoy Hotel Boracay offers facilities for kids to enjoy too with its daily poolside activities and its mini indoor game room for kids and adults alike that will surely tickle your interest. Why lounge around in bed when the hotel has also planned of eco-friendly activities? A whole lot of exciting activities awaits the entire family with its poolside movie nights, yoga, biking, sunset watching, non-motorized aqua sports activities such as snorkeling and kayaking and a lot more! For those active bodies, the fitness center is equipped with up-to-date gym equipment to keep your body in shape while the Lila Spa provides a welcome respite to soothe, refresh and rejuvenate your senses. Our tagline, Color Your Experi-

ence, is our inspiration as it captures a total package of how we emotionally connect to our guests in the most unique, personalized and experiential way. Our goal is to excite our guests’ five senses to create a long and lasting emotional bond that will last them a lifetime and even more. Find your waves soon and be among the first ones to step on the pristine beaches of this worldrenowned destination! Take advantage of our re-opening promo and enjoy an overnight stay in a deluxe room with buffet breakfast for two, a head and shoulder massage, and a

10% discount in F&B outlets from October 27, 2018 to January 25, 2019 for as low as Php 5,000 per night and let Savoy Hotel Boracay color your experience! Savoy Hotel Boracay Newcoast is located at Newcoast Drive, Boracay Newcoast, Brgy. Yapak, Boracay Island, 5608, Malay, Aklan. To find out more about our promos and offerings, visit our website at www. savoyhotelboracay.com.ph or call us at +63 2 720-1860 for inquiries. Like us on facebook at www.fb.com/SavoyHotelBoracay and follow us in Instagram at savoyboracay.

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BM@13: Forward-Looking BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 11, 2018 N1

HOW A THIRD-GENERATION FAMILY IS TAKING THEIR

BUSINESS TO NEW HEIGHTS Plus: Lessons on working with relatives

HILE the economy is dominated by family businesses, many tend to be shortlived. Few even make it to the third generation. Coursing through decades of ever-changing market landscape poses the challenge of longevity for these firms. But for a Cebu-based clan, it is but an opportunity to take their ventures to new directions. JEG Development Corp. (JDC) Chief Operating Officer, Marko Sarmiento

Like most family-run companies, things did not come easy for real estate developer, JEG Development Corporation (JDC). Initially starting out as a holdings company founded by Jose E. Garcia, JDC only went fully operational after he passed away in 2003. Through and inspired by him, his family aimed to become a major player in the industry during the thriving years of the Visayan capital. And even though that was the case, building their business still proved to be a challenge for its founding members. “In the beginning, just dealing with the family members was a struggle. Transitioning from a family office to a fully functional real estate developer, it was difficult to draw the line between work and family in terms of professionalism,” says JDC brand manager Ayla Gomez. “More than that, we also have encountered a number of different hitches, exceeding budgets and making decision-related mistakes while getting to know the business and the industry.” Issues, however small, are crucial especially to companies like JDC. These complicated situations call for a set of complex solutions which the Garcias were able to develop over the years. Their silver lining? Building connections that go beyond work. “We make an effort to spend time together–from coffee meetings to family trips; we make sure that we share experiences that let us grow with each other. Because of these experiences, we’ve grown really close, even professionally, that we like working with one another. Personally, I think that is our greatest achievement so far,” says Stefan Garcia, the firm’s Estate and Business Development Head. Since arguments are inevitable, the Garcias have also developed their own family constitution where a set of guidelines are laid out in writing. Listed are things that they need to do in case conflicts arise, and methods for resolution on different situations. “I think for any business that’s run by a clan, the family constitution is really important because it helps alleviate things from getting too personal. Boundaries and policies are set ahead of time,” says Stefan. “This also helps family members be more objective when it comes to the company, as matters can get very emotional

JEG Development Corp. (JDC) Brand Manager Ayla Gomez

(FROM Left) JEG Development Corporation (JDC) Chief Operating Officer, Marko Sarmiento; JDC Estate and Business Development Head Stefan Garcia; JDC Brand Manager Ayla Gomez

easily,” adds Ayla. Speaking at the Family Enterprise Excellence Conference (FEEC) in Cebu City last September 29, the Espina-Garcia cousins talked about the challenges and rewards of the cousin consortium stage. “It was important for us to share with the other families in attendance our family history and experience in crafting a family constitution since we take a lot of pride in what we have accomplished so far. Despite the challenges that every family goes through, we are united in our goals for JEG Development and our core values continue to guide us." says Marko Sarmiento, COO of JDC. The establishment of the

family constitution was just one step to keep the company a success despite internal struggles. While competing with several other firms, the Garcias always make sure that it puts its values at the forefront of making business decisions and putting family lessons into practices. “We are very conscious that the sense of entitlement is strong in any family business so we make an extra effort to address this problem with our generation. There has to be a need for a family member to work in JDC and he or she has to be qualified. We definitely encourage family members to pursue their own passions but if they have plans to work with the family, early on we make sure the goals

are aligned." says Marko. More than a decade since its establishment, the newest generation of Garcias now run JDC with a strengthened mission of becoming a bigger and more diverse enterprise. Equipped with a renewed energy and dynamism, as well as the support from their second generation leaders, JDC is now on to new heights as it seeks to complete its highly aspirational project, the JEG Tower, in 2020. “Throughout the existence of JDC, we have always wanted to do things differently. We want to pursue projects that are not only innovative but relevant as well. Our latest project, the JEG Tower, is a testa-

ment to that. We’re building a high-end, LEED precertified Silver, sustainable office retail building which we’re taking as both a huge risk and opportunity to do something different than anyone else in the game,” Marko finishes. With this flagship undertaking, JDC now aims to create a brand known for sustainably-efficient and collaborative solutions. By providing a working environment that improves the productivity and well-being of people, the company continues to transform itself into a relevant and socially responsible real estate firm. KMC Savills is the sole leasing agency of JEG Tower @ One Acacia.

JEG Development Corp. (JDC) Estate and Business Development Head Stefan Garcia

BM@13: Forw

Busines

N2 Thursday, October 11, 2018

THE PHILIPPINE RET

WHERE ARE J

By Marane A. Plaza

UST like any other industry, the world of retail has been greatly impacted by the advancement of technology today. The benefits of digitalization have trickled down to the lifestyle choices of consumers, particularly their shopping habits and taste-making choices. While on the other side of the coin, these same choices of the customers influence how retail businesses run

their game in terms of levelling up the quality of their products and services, as well as their business operations.

Rose Ong, the newly elected president of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), shared her insights on the current retail landscape in the Philippines. She noted that although digital advancements have overall changed the business game among retailers, brands should consider being “omnichannel”, highlighting that the physical presence of a brand is still a huge factor in the growth of a retail business. “For several years now, being omnichannel is stressed upon retailers. That simply means being equally present in both online and offline to cater more to the needs of the customers. While there is a rise of e-commerce or online shopping lately,

we believe that brick and mortar stores will remain to be relevant, especially here in the Philippines, “she said. “The share of online shopping is only about 1-2% of our total retail value, and there is still a continuous expansion of malls and retail businesses in the country.” Ong said that due to urbanization, real estate developers and retail businesses are expanding in emerging and secondary cities in the Philippines such as Davao and Cebu. “Every retailer today would like to expand in those emerging new markets. And a huge part of that is really making their physical stores in those areas present and dynamic—always adjusting to the need for convenience of Filipino customers. Filipinos generally love shopping, be it offline or online, so the key for retailers to grow is to be omnichannel and be adaptable to technological changes in retail today. Physical stores often see online stores as their competition when in reality, they can be relevant and high-performing by simply being excellent in both their online and offline presence,” she said. The key is to be creative in improving both offline and online stores to offer excellent customer service. “Retailers today are now focusing on having better customer service and providing a unique customer experience in both their physical stores and online shops. Some stores inject new ways and gimmicks in their stores by using different digital innovations. Some have Chatbots that use artificial intelligence in messaging apps, while some use Augmented Reality for retail entertainment so as to entice customers to go inside their stores,” she said. “Others offer digital payment modes in their physical stores, which offer convenience to customers.” Ong mentioned that although all these techie advancements are readily available, retailers have to be smart in choosing what digital innovation is going to work for their businesses: “Being the country’s premier organization for retailers, we at the PRA want to motivate our local retailers to reinvent (their retail business) but at the same time be prudent in choosing the right strategy for their business, as the options can be overwhelming. We hope to empower and educate Filipino retailers thru our seminars, networking activities, and other initiatives”, she added. The PRA has been organizing various seminars for retailers that can help them improve their overall business flow and sales growth. “We have seminars for our members about what’s the latest in trade policies because we have partnerships with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other relevant government agencies. We conduct seminars on retail security measures, merchandising and other functional areas that can help them boost their business. They just have to check out our website for schedules and topics.” One of the PRA’s mantras is that its only business is helping retailers’ business to grow through education. The PRA embodies its mission to support members’ efforts to expand globally and to empower and guide our local retailers in attaining global competitiveness. The PRA organizes Retail Excellence Seminar Series (RetailEx), a series of monthly seminars aimed at helping retailers upgrade their skills and competencies through tailor-fit programs and topics on retail. The organization also takes pride in its regional development programs,

PRA President Rose Bosch-Ong

particularly catered to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the regional provinces of the Philippines. They intend to spread the benefits of retail education to as many retailers as possible all over the country. PRA offers Retail Master Classes as well, an intensive two-day seminar geared towards training SME retailers and middle managers. While its Lakbay Turo Para sa Micro-Tourism Enterprise Program, conducted in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) offers trainings and seminars for microtourism retail, aiming to help micro and small retailers in key tourist areas by upgrading their skills and competencies in operations and customer service. With the digitalization and education through seminars, Ong’s next aim is to empower retailers by positioning the Philippines as the next shopping destination in Asia, through the help and efforts of the PRA. She said that aside from education among retailers, redirecting the focus on some overlooked retail facets are some of the strategies they want to execute. “I believe the Philippines can be positioned as the next shopping destination of Asia, so we are doing efforts to drive tourists here. Those startups that are not organized, we help them in merchandising and customer service. For example, souvenir shops—we help them on how to improve their spaces, their operations and their efficiencies. We teach them how to secure their business, control costs, use technology to their advantage, and more.” “There are so many Chinese tourists and they do not have cash with them when they travel, so they do cashless transactions. So imagine if these souvenir stores actually take advantage of these cashless payment trends? As retailers, we have to consider

being cashless in transactions and to level up credit card penetration to be globally competitive in giving customer satisfaction. These limitations on not being able to offer cashless payment modes, we have to address such issues. And I appreciate the efforts of BSP in promoting cashless transactions. “ Ong highlighted that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is still working on having a 20% rate of cashless transactions by 2020. “Because of our poor internet infrastructures and very low rate of credit card penetration, it is hard to impose cashless payments among Filipinos because they are not used to those yet. But with the combined efforts of the government and private business organizations, I am positive that we can increase the rate of cashless transactions in retail. Digital payments through QR codes or apps are being utilized in major malls and retail stores. Even sari-sari stores these days are being educated on how they can take advantage of cashless transactions. Aside from giving customers convenience, it also gives them more options for their payments modes.”

The modern Filipino shoppers

NOWADAYS, due to the technological innovations and the social media, we have a more discerning Filipino market. Some research online first through reviews before actually purchasing anything. And that tells a lot on how much retailers should improve the quality of their products and services alongside overall customer experience. Although the Philippines may not be as technologically advanced yet as other countries in Asia, we see here that the internet and social media are big influences in helping people discover what to shop, where to eat or even

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TAIL SCENE IN 2018

E WE NOW? whether they should buy an item or not. Because of an even faster pace of lifestyle, customers demand for more efficient and convenient customer services. This may include as simple as being able to know prices easily. “Customers are very demanding. That’s why DTI is very strict in imposing price tags. Consumers are comfortable with being able to look at price tags, so they do not need to ask anybody and just conveniently shop. People are too busy that they won’t pass up any measures that can make their shopping easier,” she said. She noted that digital price tags help in better shopping experience, and some retailers have item-level sensors that

could also be leveraged to power a more seamless checkout, as well as a tool to drive future customer engagements in physical stores. Ong also emphasized that one of the key characteristics of Filipino customers today is being advocacydriven and environmentally conscious. “Less use of plastic bags is very much trendy among the shopping habits of Filipinos today. Most retailers now use eco-bags, and they even give incentives and rewards to customers who use eco-bags, “she said. “Retailers minimize the use of plastic bags, and that is very much influenced by the consumers’ preferences. Filipinos are much empowered and informed now.

Because of the awareness they have about being environment-friendly, they support retailers that have advocacies for preserving our nature.” The PRA president also acknowledged how Filipinos are very much technology-oriented these days when it comes to shopping. “For online shopping and e-commerce, we are among the people in Southeast Asia with the highest hours spent in the internet from 3.36 hours using mobile device and 5.23 hours using desktop. I think Filipinos enjoy online shopping all in all. They are exposed to online shopping so much so that they have accounts with digital shopping platforms such as Amazon and Lazada. Filipino consumers are more

into convenience now when it comes to shopping, especially the millennials and xelennials. They’re very adapted to these online trends, and even us, who are baby boomers, try to embrace the digitalization also.” Ong believes retailers should take advantage of that. “It is beneficial for retailers to strengthen their social media presence, website, online stores and all these digital platforms that can help put their brands out there and improve sales. These days, it is actually a lot easier to be a retailer. Just open a store on Instagram and Facebook and make your brand known online, and you can have customers right away. But of course, the power of brick and

mortar stores is here to stay.” All in all, Ong concluded that the local retail scene these days is continuously booming. “The market is there. Even if we’re all talking about high inflation recently, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is still high and still within the targets. Consumption is still the number one driver in retail because of our high employment rate. We have more than 95% employment rate, while unemployment rate is just under 5%. If you compare us to Spain, we have a much higher employment rate. Also, one of the drivers in retail is the remittances from OFWs. It has been growing and growing over the years. The business is growing, the

market is growing so there could be speed for every retail company that wants to expand.” Retail has a come a long way but at the same time remains to be just the same. Several years ago, we don’t have any of these technological innovationschatbots, augmented reality, and digital payments. However, despite the entry of these new advanced factors, retail is still about relating to its customers and giving good quality product and service. By giving customers good service and an enjoyable shopping experience, be it at the physical store or online shop, it would be without a doubt that Filipinos would continue to purchase and empower the retail scene today.

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Global retail experts share latest insights on reinventing retail at the 25th NRCE

VER 800 retailers – CEOs, presidents, top level executives – trooped to the SMX Convention Center for the 25th National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo (NRCE)—the biggest and most relevant gathering of retailers in the country—to listen to the latest insights and updates on retail industry from global and local experts last August 9-10, 2018.

Globally-recognized author and futurist on retail and e-commerce Wijnand Jongen led the roster of speakers this year as a keynote speaker for Day 1. He gave insights on the “End of Online Shopping” and detailed how the consumer behavior and technology are shaping the current retail landscape worldwide. He also shared how online and offline retailing can marry seamlessly to serve the consumers’ needs. Jongen is the co-founder and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Ecommerce Europe, the European umbrella organization with more than 75,000 merchants and author of the best-selling book—The End of

Online Shopping. Newly-appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat also served as keynote speaker on the first day who shared how retail is a vital aspect and driver of the local tourism industry. Central Pattana Deputy CEO Ms. Wallaya Chirathivat set the tone of the conference on Day 2. She shared insights on the changing role of malls from being a place to shop into becoming a destination, where people do not only buy stuff, but gain experiences as well. Central Pattana is Thailand’s largest retail property development and investment company.

Chirathivat’s talk was followed by Mr. Massimo Volpe, Chairman of the Forum for International Retail Association Executives (FIRAE) who discussed the “Global State of Retailing” including the latest trends in retailing in various parts of the world. Anchored on this year’s theme Reinventing Retail, PRA President Rosemarie Ong called on the delegates to revamp their strategies to keep up with the times and stay ahead of the game. “With all the challenges the brick and mortar stores face today, especially from the emergence of the online digital retail channels, it is now time for retailers to step up the ante in their business. Keep up with the pace of the industry and create strategies to meet the current consumer demands, as well as achieve a perennial advantage in an increasingly demanding industry,” she said during her welcome address.

Talks on Retail Reinvention Strategies from Experts

LATEST reports on the current retail landscape and the future of the industry were discussed during the two-day conference with inputs from global research companies Kantar Millward Brown (Philippines) which shared tips on achieving brand growth and resilience through meaningful disruptions and Euromonitor International which shared insights on the driv-

ers of the new consumer trends and mindset. An insightful talk on sustainability was discussed by H&M Singapore Sustainability Manager Xin Yi Wong who shared the efforts of the global fashion brand in leading and changing into a circular and renewable fashion brand while being a fair and equal company. Homegrown telecommunications and digital services giants PLDT Enterprise and Globe Business inspired retailers through their presentations on “How to be Fearless in the Mobile Retail Era” and “Enabling Retail Transformation” respectively. While Business Works’ Consultant and Stylist Nika Diwa gave tips on how companies can build their brands and tell their story and artist and Dream Big (Spain) CEO Juan de Lascurain gave an inspiring talk on dreaming big and following one’s dream. Amazon Web Services’ Santanu Dutt shared innovations at Amazon, while JDA Software’s Lee Gill talked about the global perspective of retail transformation. TaskUs also shared their company’s culture and their goal of delivering the best customer service. Two lively and inspiring panel discussions also took place, on Day 1 focusing on the role of leisure and entertainment in transforming the retail landscape in the country, with panelists including some of the coun-

try’s biggest entertainment providers such giant TV network ABS-CBN, family amusement arcade center Timezone, Viu Philippines which offers Korean dramas, variety shows and other Asian programs thru their website and app, and indoor play city for kids Kidzania. The second day featured successful women in retail including Wilcon Depot President and CEO Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, AllValue President Camille Villar, Oryspa CEO Sherill Quintana, DMark Beauty CEO Nikki Tang, Echostore Sustainable Lifestyle and Great Women co-founder Jeannie Javelosa, who shared their insights and experience as women in retail leadership.

Delegates Flocked Breakout Sessions

DUE to the success of the Breakout Session on Supermarket Track last year, the NRCE has brought back the breakout session on Supermarket Track, which again received a wide audience. Topics included are megatrends in supermarket, unmanned supermarket-Bingobox, retail transformation in Europe, and digital transformation real world example. New this year is the Digital Transformation Track, which also received great interest from NRCE delegates. Topics included are using social media to drive e-commerce conversions, analytics for retail, creating new experiences through

design thinking, customer service in digital world, and newest technology and concepts in Singapore’s Capital Land.

Retail Innovations Featured in the Expo

TO complement the conference, the Stores Asia Expo featured “tools for global retailing” from over 100 exhibitors offering products and solutions for the retail industry such as Retail Solutions, E-Commerce & M-Commerce, Shop Fittings & Store Design, Digital Marketing, Commercial and Real Estate Developers, Web Developers, Nontraditional Advertising, Financial Services, Storage and Distribution, HR Solutions, and Billboard Locations among others. The Stores Asia Expo, which is the biggest in the Philippines and is one of the longest running retail suppliers’ expo in Asia, has drawn more than 3,000 visitors and decision makers from the retail and related industries. Talks on the latest innovations in retail also took place at the Retail Learning Lab inside the Expo Hall. “We hope that you take both the conference and the expo as opportunities for you to grow your business allies and networks as well as build valuable partnerships in the industry,” 25th NRCE Overall Chairman and PRA Vice Chairman Frederick Go said during the opening program.

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Health&Fitness

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS

TO SIX-PACK ABS SUICIDE SNATCHES ONE LIFE EVERY 40 SECONDS

WWW.FREEPIK.COM | DESINGED BY YANALYA

October 11-17, 2018

Inspirational stories, Zumba and free screening in SM’s Pink Ribbon Day well as talks conducted by the Philippine Breast Cancer Society on how to detect and protect women against the risk of breast cancer. As a division that supports communities, SM Cares makes it a point to help support women in communities where SM Supermalls are present. Breastfeeding stations across all SM Supermalls nationwide are provided as part of its program to allow mothers the convenience and freedom in nourishing their babies. Last August, Breastfeeding Pinays and the Department of Health joined in the annual “Hakab Na!” simultaneous breast-feeding event at SMX, attended by over 6,000 mothers, children, family members and advocacy supporters. Through Pink Ribbon Day, SM Cares looks forward to serving women in the community by promoting regular breast examinations for early detection and a healthy lifestyle. To know more about SM Cares, visit www.smcares.com.ph or e-mail smcares@prime.com.

WOMEN'S group from all walks of life join the Zumba with the SM cares mascots during this year's Pink Ribbon Day, in celebration of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, organized by the SM Cares in partnership with the Philippine Breast Cancer Society held at the Skydome, SM North EDSA in Quezon City. NONOY LACZA

HE Philippines tops the list of breast-cancer incidences in Asia, with 1 in every 13 Filipinas at risk of getting it in her lifetime. With it being the leading type among all others, the need to inform and educate women has become vital. This is why SM Cares, the corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, is persistent in spreading awareness on breast cancer through Pink Ribbon Day. This year’s Pink Ribbon Day is held in celebration of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, organized by SM Cares in partnership with the Philippine Breast Cancer Society (PBCS) and SM City North Edsa. With a total of 1000 attendees comprising of different women’s groups, doctors and advocates, the project aims to encourage women to have their breasts examined for early detection and early intervention. “Coming from the success of last year’s Pink Ribbon Day, this year’s celebration

continues to promote awareness, early detection and early intervention to help fight breast cancer among women. We at SM Cares make it our duty to reach out and empower Filipinas all over the country. Breast cancer is a fight that can be won with early detection, prayers, and support of family and friends,” said Berna Velasco, SM Cares Program on Women and Breastfeeding program director. The event was held at the Skydome of SM City North Edsa, where free clinical breast examinations took place. Pink Ribbon Day also featured a Zumba session led by Regine Tolentino, inspirational stories from celebrity breast-cancer survivors and advocates Maritoni Fernandez, Alya Honasan and Toni Abad, as

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2 Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018

SUICIDE FREEPIK.COM | DESIGNED BY DASHU83

SNATCHES ONE LIFE EVERY 40 SECONDS

By Henrylito D. Tacio

EACHERS are supposed to be pillars of education but some of them were making headlines recently for committing suicide. There was Emylou Malate, a 21-year-old gradeschool teacher of Bagacay West Primary School in La Paz, Leyte. She reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself. Another one was Jay Rubina, a public-school teacher, who also committed suicide but gave some hint a few weeks before his death. “We don’t have a good data on suicide in the Philippines but in 2012, there were 2,550 recorded suicides,” Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle of the Department of Health was quoted as saying in one of the daily newspapers in the country last June. If that’s frightening, the statistics worldwide is even more scary. Every 40 seconds, someone dies by suicide, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). “Every year, close to 800,000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt

4 Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018

suicide,” the United Nations health agency reported. “Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries, and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind.” Most of these suicides occur in industrialized countries like the United States and Japan, as these are oftentimes reported in the media. Suicides in developing countries are low because they are not always reported. “Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries, but is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world,” the WHO pointed out. “In fact, over 79 percent of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-

income countries in 2016.” An earlier WHO report said the Philippines has suicide rates (per 100,000) of 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women. This fact may be appalling for Filipinos, but the numbers are way too small compared to those in Western countries. In fact, the Philippines has one of the world’s lowest suicide rates. The 2000 Philippine Health Statistics from the health department showed only 1.8 per 100,000 people to have inflicted harm on themselves. In comparison, European countries had the highest figures, which ranged from 30 to 42 per 100,000. According to the WHO, approximately 32 percent of the world’s suicides occur in the Western Pacific region, of which the Philippines is a part of. “While acknowledged as an important and neglected health issue, it remains a low priority in most Western Pacific countries due to competing health problems, stigma and poor understanding of the condition,” wrote Maria Theresa Redaniel, May Antonnette Lebanan-Dalida and David Gunnell, authors of Suicide in the Philippines: Time Trend Analysis

(1974-2005) and Literature Review. Dr. Dinah Nadera, a psychologist at the University of the Philippines Open University, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that suicides happened between 8:01 in the morning and noon on weekdays, “when other people were not around in their homes.” The information was based from studies made on 300 cases from hospitals and police reports in 2008 and 2009. Least suicides occurred between 12:01 and 4 a.m., the studies found. All in all, there may be more Filipinos who committed suicide than what was being recorded. “Certainly, the actual rate in the Philippines is probably higher, with many doctors agreeing not to report deaths as suicides because of the stigma. But even if we could get the true figure, it would probably still be relatively low,” Dr. Michael Tan wrote in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Suicide, the process of purposely ending one’s own life, has always been viewed negatively in most culture. But not in Asia, where 60 percent of all the suicide deaths in the world are reported from. In fact, two of the countries with relatively huge suicide rates are Japan and South Korea, which have a very high level of competition that starts right from childhood. “Although some attempted or completed suicides come as a shock even to family and friends, clear warnings are given in most cases,” points out The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “Any suicide threat or suicide attempt is a plea for help and must be taken seriously. If the threat or attempt is ignored, a life may be lost.” Suicides come in various forms. “It is estimated that around 20 percent of global suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, most of which occur in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income countries,” the WHO said. “Other common methods of suicide are hanging and firearms.” In the Philippines, a study showed that the methods of committing suicide included shooting oneself, 40 percent; hanging, 30 percent; poisoning, 16.7 percent; and jumping from high places, 13.3 percent. In 73 percent of the reported cases, suicide was com-

his or her life could have someone to lean on. “When a person is positive to having suicide thoughts and killing himself or herself, people around should take action by never leaving someone suicidal on their own and removing the means of suicide available to the person if it is safe to do so,” the WHO said. “It’s important to realize that suicide is preventable,” the UN health agency said. “And that having access to the means of suicide is both an important risk factor and determinant of suicide.” In a press statement, the WHO talked about some protective factors, which include high self-esteem and social “connectedness,” especially with family and friends, having social support, being in a stable relationship, and religious or spiritual commitment. The WHO believes that with proper support, a suicidal person can be saved. In the Philippines there are support group institutions that one can turn to with issues on love, relationships, gender issue (including gender confusion), family matters, and bullying in the workplace, school and social media. “Early identification and appropriate treatment of mental disorders is an important preventive strategy,” the WHO said.

PIXABAY.COM

mitted in their own homes. Sen. Joel Villanueva pointed out during a Senate hearing last year that 46 percent of the total suicide cases recorded since 2010 were from the youth. Filipino children as young as 10 years old resort to suicide because of depression, he said. Suicide is generally equated with mental health. “While the link between suicide and mental disorders [in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders] is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship breakup or chronic pain and illness,” the WHO said. In addition, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behavior, it added. Studies have also shown that suicide rates are also high among the vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex persons; and prisoners. “By far the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt,” the WHO affirmed. But deaths could be avoided if only the person who wants to end

There is also evidence that educating primary health-care personnel in the identification and treatment of people with mood disorders may result in a reduction of suicides among those at risk. Media—print, television, radio and social—have a significant role to play, too. “Evidence also suggests that media reporting can encour-

age imitation suicides and we would urge that the media show sensitivity in their reporting on these tragic and frequently avoidable deaths,” the WHO pleaded. “The media can also play a major role in reducing stigma and discrimination associated with suicidal behaviors and mental disorders,” the UN agency concluded.

Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018 5

HONG KONG FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES PROFESSOR TALKS ABOUT

HEALTHY BREAKFAST

DR. ZHEN-YU CHEN

S a company whose purpose is to make the world healthier and happier, global nutrition company, Herbalife Nutrition brought to Manila Hong Kongbased professor Dr. Zhen-Yu Chen, an expert in food and nutritional sciences, as its guest speaker at the Philippine leg of the 2018 Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Wellness Tour on September 22 and 23. The Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Wellness Tour featured a series of medical symposia, nutrition talks and health workshops held in more than 10 cities across the Asia-Pacific region—including the Philippines. “Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day. Several researches have already proven this. Studies have shown that skipping breakfast is linked to an increased risk of having diabetes, cancer or hypertension,” he said, adding that, “Herbalife has a complete breakfast meal. You can take the Formula 1 Shake, Herbal Tea Concentrate and Herbalife Aloe before you start your day. It is very easy to make.” Dr. Chen, who was appointed to the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board last year, has over 28 years of experience in food and nutritional science. A doctorate degree graduate of food science and nutrition at the University of Massachusetts in the United States, he returned to Hong Kong and became a professor at The Chinese University of

6 Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018

Hong Kong. He is now the head of the Graduate Division of the School of Life Sciences at the university. Dr. Chen is a multiawarded nutrition expert. His awards include the Advancement of Application of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Award by the American Chemical Society in 2016, the High Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award for Natural Science by the Ministry of Education in China in 2010 and the Research Excellence Award by The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2009. He received a fellowship award from the Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division of American Chemical Society in 2012 and another from the Royal Society of Chemistry (the United Kingdom) in 2015. Dr. Chen has also served as deputy chairman of the Expert Committee on Food Safety at the Food and Health Bureau of Hong Kong SAR Government, council member of the China Nutrition Society and associate editor for the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

CONQUERING THE BIATHLEFIELD By Gale Tamon

T’S 4 a.m. on a breezy Sunday morning at the PhilSports Complex. The sun’s not even up yet, however, our biathletes are already pumped up and ready to go, getting their bodies marked for the race.

Biathle 2018, one of your family’s favorite sprint events, is better and more exciting than ever as it is powered by Fastrack. There were booths for our sponsors Neptune Actives, the official distributor of Funky Trunks, Funkita Swimwear and Mobot, and Fastrack Courier Services, who gave away vouchers for all Biathle participants. There was also the Online Races booth, which gave away freebies to all who registered for it. This year’s Biathle came back to the PhilSports Arena, formerly Ultra, with a 50-meter pool and a run course with uphill and downhill sections, which did not faze our biathletes like Sonny Chua, who said, “The run route in [Philsports Arena] is amazing and very challenging because of the uphill area.” Additionally, according to Fastrack Standard Distance Overall female first placer Kira Ellis, the course was “challenging, but mostly fun. The swim was nice, not so crowded, so it was lots of fun.” A total of 183 participants, supported by their families and friends, completed the two distances sprint aquathlon; the Lite Distance with a 100-m swim, sandwiched by two 750m runs and the Standard Distance with a 1.5-km run, followed by a 200m swim, finished off with another 1.5km run. With these distances Biathle was designed to help athletes ease into multisport. For Alvin Labine, who was second place in his age category in the Standard Distance, Biathle was the platform that launched him into becoming a triathlete. This is what keeps him and many others coming back every year. After a day of family fun, not only were the podium winners per age category awarded, giveaways and special prizes from our sponsor, Anytime Fit-

ness Araneta, also filled the awarding ceremony. Representatives from our sponsor, Ms. Mewa Martinez and Ms. Villa gave out the medals for out podium finishers and trophies and vouchers from Fastrack ranging P1,000 to P3,000 worth of services for our Fastrack overall winners for the Lite Distance, namely, Matt Giancarlo Molino (first), Reimar Comia (second), and Daniel Louw (third) for the male category, and Zuleikarich Monares (first), Chantal Isabelle Calolot (second), and Reiodafel Grence Galera (third) for the female category and for the Standard Distance, namely, Jonathan Reyes (first), Meynard Bautista (second), and Lorenzo Joaquin Solda (third) for the male category and Kira Ellis (first), Mackenzie Bocauto

(second), and Missy Hermione Bocauto (third). Overall, the sprint aquathlon was a rousing success and was thoroughly enjoyed by our participants. Biathle 2018 is brought to you by Trisports Solutions Inc. And all these would not be possible without our gracious sponsors. We would also like to thank our venue partner, the PhilSports Complex. Our marketing partners Neptune Actives, the official distributor of Funky Trunks and Funkita Swimwear, Fastrack Courier Services Philippines, Clara International Skin & Body, your skin’s best friend and Anytime Fitness Araneta. And of course, our media partners BusinessMirror, Pilipino Mirror, Health & Fitness, Multisport.Ph, SwimBikeRun.Ph.

Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018 7

HEALTH MONITOR

SHAREHOLDER VICTORY AS COURT REBUKES BENGZON CLAIMS

HE new board of directors and new management team of The Medical City, elected and appointed by a majority of its stockholders, scored a legal victory today against ex-CEO Dr. Alfred Bengzon. Citing that there is “no dispute that a Special Stockholders Meeting took place on September 13, 2018, where members of the Board of Directors were elected by a majority of the stockholders,” the court ruled that the new board and management should stay in place at TMC as they “appear to have a clear and unmistakable right that is entitled to protection.” “This is a clear victory for TMC stockholders, who have struggled to protect their rights against a former CEO who ignored the pleas of the majority of stockholders asking for better governance and more respect for shareholder rights,” said TMC Chairman Jose Xavier Gonzales. “The by-laws state that stockholders have a right to vote, and Dr. Bengzon, by arbitrarily refusing to hold scheduled elections last June, took out that right from them.” Mr. Gonzales also said that it is “worth noting that Dr. Bengzon owns 0.1 percent of TMC shares, but seemed intent on controlling the money and investments of shareholders who put in 99.9 percent of the capital of TMC.” The courtroom victory also gives momentum to a continuing series

of reforms now being undertaken at TMC. “There’s a sense of freedom in the air, and the previous atmosphere of fear has been lifted,” says newly appointed CEO Dr. Eugenio Jose F. Ramos. “More people are speaking up and contributing ideas on how we can improve, and that is the kind of collaboration that we are all hoping for.” Dr. Enrique T. Ona, former secretary of health and a TMC shareholder, agrees. “I like what I am seeing now, as there is more organization, more openness and transparency. It is now beginning to look like a bettergoverned, well-managed public corporation instead of a domineeringly patriarchal family business.” One significant event in recent weeks has been the formation of the Medical City Doctors Association an independent group of doctors who aim to “protect the rights and interests of its members and maintain integrity, transparency and open communication among all TMC stakeholders.” Dr. Alan Olavere, the elected head of MCDA, vowed to work on much-needed reforms that would allow for more doctor participation and better patient

care. “There is now a renewed feeling of hope and confidence amongst the stakeholders of TMC, and we all want to work together to make sure that needed changes will continue to take place.” New measures to improve transparency and governance are being put in place, despite the ongoing attempts of Bengzon to get back into power. Under Dr. Bengzon’s watch, TMC found itself mired in debt and suffering losses in recent years as the hospital struggled to keep costs controlled. To prevent a repeat of these mistakes, the new board has activated several committees for oversight, as well as authorizing a forensic audit to take place. Dr. Augusto P. Sarmiento, the last surviving founder of TMC and now chairman emeritus, remarks wistfully that if Bengzon really cared about TMC, he should step aside and let the new generation do their work. “It doesn’t help anyone in TMC for him to insist on coming back and forcing young people to follow the old ways. The world of medicine has changed tremendously, and we have a group of young, intelligent and passionate doctors and medical support staff who are at the forefront of innovation, not just in the Philippines but in the region.” Besides, adds, Dr. Sarmiento, Bengzon should finally accept the reality that, “since he never put in the capital needed to make this hospital grow, he is not in any position to claim ownership.”

Duque: PHL joins campaign vs TB By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

EALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III once again reiterated the country’s commitment to fight tuberculosis (TB) before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 26. The UNGA is the main deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations, which serves as a platform for providing equal representation for all member-nations. The overall theme of this year’s first UNGA high-level meeting on TB is “United to End Tuberculosis: An Urgent Global Response to a Global Epidemic.” Duque joined world leaders and senior representatives in adopting a po-

8 Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018

litical declaration with commitments to accelerate action on eliminating tuberculosis. According to Duque, “This highlevel meeting sets the global mood to do things differently, especially if we want to win this long-standing war against TB.” The health chief emphasized that the Philippines is pursuing business “not-as-usual” in its fight against TB. “Recognizing the need to modify the social determinants of TB and the need for the health sector to step up its leadership, the country in 2016 signed into law one of the most comprehensive global laws on TB. This created the High-level National Coordination Committee, which consists of

17 secretaries or ministers of various government agencies and heads of five private organizations. This very well reflects the fact that TB is as much a socioeconomic issue as it is a health issue,” Duque said. He added that appreciating advances in TB screening, diagnosis and treatment, the country is scaling up rapid molecular tests as the initial diagnostic test countrywide. “With a highly devolved and fragmented public health system and with as much as a third of TB care rendered by the private sector, managing our TB burden will only be possible with reliable information to hold key stakeholders and providers, in particular, accountable,” the health secretary said.

D.O.H. GEARS UP FOR ALL-OUT WAR AGAINST H.I.V.

HE Department of Health (DOH) is gearing up for a large-scale battle—one that aims to put a stop to the increasing number of individuals affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). “The number of Filipinos affected by HIV and AIDS has drastically increased over the last couple of years,” shared Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III. He said that, just over the past decade, the average rate of new HIV cases in the Philippines has grown from one per day to 31 per day. “And this figure does not include undocumented cases. We also currently have the highest percent of increase of new HIV cases in the Asia and Pacific region from 2010 to 2016, at 133 percent,” he furthered. “More than anyone else, we at the DOH take this very seriously, that’s why we’ve decided to partner with people and organizations that will allow us to address the root cause of this growing epidemic,” he added. Enter LHIVE FREE, a campaign created by the DOH and Integrative Competitive Intelligence Asia. Using modern means to disseminate information about HIV and AIDS, as well as to promote safer sex, LHIVE FREE aims to make conversations about the virus a normal thing among today’s youth. “We need to equip people with the right knowledge about HIV and AIDS. Oftentimes, they are not open to talking about anything that has to do with the disease in general because they see it as something that’s very distant from them, when, in fact, there’s a big chance that someone they know might already be infected by the virus—and there’s an even bigger chance that that person infected by the virus is not aware that he or she has it already,” Duque said. As part of its initial wave of initiatives geared toward spreading information and debunking myths about the virus, the DOH launched Lhive Free Redvocates: The Search for 2018 HIV & AIDS Advocacy Ambassadors. A three-way pageant open to men, women and transwomen aged 20 and above, the search is the first among a series of activities that LHIVE FREE’s newest face, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, will be spearheading. The chosen ambassadors will lend their voices to communicate to the populations who are at risk of HIV and enabling organizations, and help the DOH promote the HIV services available in the country. Following the pageant, the DOH is planning to produce educational video materials that will be disseminated to schools, local institutions, targeted people’s organizations and communities all over the country. There will also be talks and seminars targeting support groups of People Living with HIV, including family members, friends and other enabling organizations. The aim for this is to help create a safe and accepting environment for individuals with the virus, so they will not feel afraid to ask for help or feel condemned. “We are bringing relevant and updated information to the people, and presenting it to them in a fun and easily understandable way. By doing this, we hope to erase fears, promote safe sex and provide a level of understanding that will open people to the idea of getting themselves tested regularly, and to seek for help, should they test positive of the virus. This is just the beginning. Like I mentioned before, we are taking HIV’s threat seriously and are looking at every possible means to make sure that we stop this virus in its tracks,” Duque ended. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

FITNESS RULES By Greggy H. Romualdez

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS

WWW.FREEPIK.COM | DESIGNED BY YANALYA

TO SIX-PACK ABS

ATELY I have noticed the resurgence of ads— mostly on social media—of products and contraptions that lavishly promise six-pack abdominal muscles in just a few minutes a day. Simply attach the device to your abdominal area, flick on a switch for a few minutes a day to burn away the fat, then voilà! Ripped abs on demand. Then there are the magic pills, the creams, the abcrunch machines and whatnot. To be blunt about it, these socalled gadgets, when used alone devoid of an exercise and diet program, will not give you abs. You cannot use an external contraption to burn or melt away visceral fat. That’s just not how science works. These instant abs ads are like

beaming politicians with celluloid smiles during campaign season making lofty promises and scampering back into the darkness along with the unfulfilled promises once elected into office. There are no shortcuts to having abs. Save for the fortunate few who

are genetically predisposed to a sixpack, the rest of us have to earn it the hard way. These ads prey on our desire to look good. They take advantage of our vulnerabilities and deceive us into handing over our hard-earned money for a product that simply cannot and will not deliver. The only way to shed body fat and work toward having visible abdominal muscles is to create a systematic calorie deficit. A calorie deficit is when your body burns off more than what you consume. If, for instance, you consume 2,000 calories in one day and burn 2,200 calories, this equates to a 200-calorie deficit, which, if accumulated over a long period of time, can lead to significant weight loss.

How then can we realistically begin our journey to six-pack city? By committing to a sensible diet and exercise program that ultimately leads to a calorie deficit, this must be something that we can sustain over the long term. Everyone who has lost weight whether he or she is aware of it or not, achieved it through a calorie deficit. No ifs and buts about it. No one has ever achieved a sixpack by attaching a gadget to their belly area and flicking on a switch while sitting on the couch, munching on chips, or by simply gulping a handful of costly diet pills. You will not be the first one, no matter what that perfectly sculpted model in the infomercial will tell you. Keep your money, set your goals and be prepared to do the hard work.

Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018 9

BULLETIN BOARD

‘Zombie Land’ adventure at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel EASTWOOD Richmonde Hotel’s most-awaited Halloween event for the whole family is back with another delightfully terrifying, funfilled afternoon. On October 28, journey to the realm of the undead in “Zombie Land” and battle brainmunching monsters to survive the apocalypse and enjoy the awesome treats and thrilling prizes in store for everyone! The kid-friendly event, which happens from 1 to 5 p.m. will serve up fun frights and a hearty snack buffet with drink, plus snack stations and food carts for French fries, ice cream, cotton candy and cupcakes. For the enjoyment of the little ones and the young at heart,

there will be a magic show and musical entertainment, games and prizes, glitter tattoo, a photo booth, and loot bags. For some grownup chills and thrills, the Horror House is sure to bring on screams and laughter. This attraction will be open from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The highlight of the party is the costume parade where children and parents who come in their favorite Halloween costumes get the chance to win hotel gift certificates. Tickets are priced at P900 net each for both children and adults. Toddlers 2 years old and below are free. For inquiries and reservations visit www.eastwoodrichmondehotel.com.ph.

QCinema unveils a wide lineup of films for its sixth year AWARD haulers Shoplifters by Hirokazu Koreeda and Piercing by Nicolas Pesce’s take the spotlights in the sixth edition of the QCinema International Film Festival (QCinema). QCinema, which will run from October 21 to 30 will will open with Shoplifters, a Japanese film that took the prestigious Palme d’Or award at the 71st Cannes Film Festival. It tells the story of a family of criminals scraping a living in downtown Tokyo. Their story takes an interesting turn when they adopt a little girl despite their livelihood. Piercing will be the closing film of the 10day festival. It tells of a man who checks himself into a hotel room to accomplish his longtime dream—executing a perfect murder. QCinema offers over 40 films worldwide, ranging from award-winning films to fresh stories from emerging filmmakers.

at the Asian Next Wave section are Yeo Siew Hua’s A Land Imagined, Bi Gan’s Long Day Journey Into Night, Anoocha Boonyawatana’s Malila: The Farewell Flower, Huang Hsin-yao’s The Great Buddha+, Ashleigh Mayfair’s The Third Wife and Kamila Andini’s The Seen and Unseen. The Asian Next Wave is a dedicated section featuring the promising works of emerging Asian filmmakers from across the continent. QCinema will also give visibility to noteworthy cinematic craftsmanship with a wide array of LGBT international films for its “RainbowQC ” section. Among the featured films are Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon‘s Tinta Bruta,John Tengrove’s The Wound, Marcelo Martinessi’s The Heiresses, Christophe Honoré’s Sorry Angel, Yann Gonzales Knife + Heart,and Yen Tan’s 1985.

Competition section

Non-competition section

THE “Circle Competition” of QCinema is a section for independent features of new and seasoned homegrown storytellers where select films are given production grants of one-and-a half million pesos each. Films that were given grants are Samantha Lee’s Billie and Emma, Timmy Harn’s DOG DAYS: Pinoy Hoop Dreams, Dan Villegas’ Hintayan ng Langit, Gutierrez Mangansakan’s Masla A Papanok and Dwein Baltazar’s Oda sa Wala which focus on the intricacies of life, love and history. Among the new features to be showcased

DOCUMENTARY films All Grown Up from Wena Sanchez and Pag-ukit sa Paniniwala from Hiyas Baldemor Bagabaldo will comprise the “DocQC” section of QCinema on documentaries. The section also provided seed grants of 300,000 to the filmmakers. Several critically acclaimed films worldwide will be showcased in the “Screen International” section of the festival. The lineup includes Lee Chang-dong’s Burning, Agnés Varda and JR’s Faces Places, Gaspar Noé’s Climax, Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War, Phuttiphong Aroonpheng’s Manta Ray and a

10 Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018

rescreening for Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters. Iconic films of the 70s and 80s, which have been digitally restored will be shown in the “Digitally Remastered” section of the festival. Among the highlights are Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz, Herbert Ross’ Footloose, and John Badham’s “Saturday Night Fever.” QCinema pays tribute to the richness of French cinema by highlighting memorable titles in the French Classics section. Among the films in the section are Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Diabolique, Roger Vadim’s And God Created Woman, and Pierre Rissient’s Five and the Skin. Five films from China, Austria, France, and Denmark, and Japan will take a spotlight at the Special Screenings’ section of QCinema. The five films featured are Elephant Lying Still by Hu Bo, Ala Changso by Sonthar Gyal, Tomcat by Klaus Händl, La Priére by Cédric Kahn and Come On, Irene by Keisuka Yoshida. The festival has a free screening that will feature children’s films from Denmark. They will include Ask Hasselbach’s Antboy, Renée Simonsen’s Karla’s World, and Esben Toft Jacobsen’s The Great Bear. QCinema will run at the following cinemas: Gateway Mall (Cineplex 10); Robinsons Galleria (Robinsons Movieworld); SM City North Edsa; SM Megamall; SM Manila; SM Mall of Asia; and Ayala Malls Cinema in Trinoma and UP Town Center. For more information, visit qcinema.ph.

BULLETIN BOARD

SPEND HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AT

RICHMONDE HOTEL ILOILO IT’S that time of the year when kids go trick-or-treating, jacko’-lanterns come out on display and everyone dresses up in their scariest costumes. Celebrate the Halloween long weekend at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and enjoy the spookiest holiday with a luxurious staycation with family and friends. Have a horror movie marathon as you delight in the comfort of our spacious rooms and king-sized beds, savor the delectable weekend dinner buffet spread at The Granary for only P950 net, spend the night with spirited music and drinks at BizBar, or, weather per-

mitting, bring the fun outdoors and take pleasure in a dip at the pool or savor the Iloilo breeze with a drink or two at Zabana Bar. From October 31 to November 5 room rates start at P4,500 net (single occupancy) and P5,000 net (double occupancy), and come with breakfast buffet, Wi-fi access, parking for one vehicle and use of the fitness center and swimming pool. So what are you waiting for? Plan your Halloween weekend getaway and reserve a room with us now! For more information on Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, log on to www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph.

WHITE IS IN! THE holidays are just around the corner, and if you’re like most homemakers, you’re probably thinking of how to make your celebrations extra fun and memorable for your loved ones this year. Mom bloggers Anne, Kris and Isha, all known for their housekeeping and other practical tips, are one in saying that planning is important so that you can be ready for the whirlwind of activities that come with the holiday season. Here are some of their musthaves so that you can have an awesome celebration: n A hardworking smartphone and data plan. Share your holiday adventures by taking lots and lots of photos. Make sure your smartphone has a good camera and plenty of storage so that you can take all the photos you want—from the food you served to the selfies and groufies you’ll have with the family and friends. Upload your photos quickly on social media so that everyone can partake of the fun, even virtually. n Healthy food. With all the partying going around, some people may overindulge and break their

doctors’ orders. To make sure that even those who are on a diet or have special medical considerations also get to enjoy the holiday feast, have something prepared especially for them. Fruits and vegetables are always be good to have and are healthy for you too. n Christmas-themed décor. To evoke that holiday feel, make it a white Christmas! The mom bloggers all agree that white is in this Christmas. Have some white table runners and white napkins for a wintery look. While you’re at it, bring out your white pillow cases and throw pillows as well, and combine them with reds and golds. You can have a holiday wonderland right in your own home.

n Extra gifts. The last thing you want to happen is to find out you forgot to put someone in your Christmas gift list. Since you can’t really tell who this person will be and when you’ll need the item, prepare one or two gifts that you can easily pull out anytime. Some ideas would be plain white shirts (one size fits all), white hankies and face towels. n Holiday frocks.You want your

family members to have the right holiday gear so that they can be comfortable yet presentable in the rush of holiday activities. When choosing clothes, go for classic colors such as white, which is easy to mix with just about anything and never goes out of style. Just because your family members haven’t worn some clothes for a long time doesn’t mean you should throw them away. By using a deep cleaning detergent with intensive cleaning power, putim shirts can be brilliant white again, just in time for the holidays. The blogger moms all swear by Tide, whose intensive cleaning power keeps clothes so white that they actually look new. Enjoy white clothes you’ve always loved, as well as those lovely colors you enjoy, by using detergents that have been especially formulated to bring out your clothes’ whiteness. “Filipino moms are practical, so we are happy to bring them Tide, which allows them to keep their families’ clothes looking and smelling new. At the same time, they are able to save money by not having to replace clothes so often,” ends Procter & Gamble’s Country Marketing Manager for Laundry Jonn Terence Dy. With Tide, white is in. “Kikinangkinang ang damit nyo sa kaputian ngayong Pasko,” concludes Mommy Anne.

HOTEL SOGO: 36TH AND BEYOND

HOTEL Sogo, the largest hotel chain in the Philippines and one of the best and affordable lodging companies in the industry, officially opened its 36th branch—Hotel Sogo Yabut lately this year,as part of the corporation’s aggressive expansion to render and cater more guests. Attended by local media partners, bloggers and Hotel Sogo executives, it was a day to remember as the management celebrated the official opening of the branch with a Holy Mass, led by Fr. Romeo Castro of Christ the King Seminary. It was followed by the ribbon-cutting headed by Hotel Sogo Yabut Manager Mr. Cris Arman Velasco, Sector Head Mr. Juanito B. Co and Marketing Manager Ms. Maria Suzette G. Geminiano. The event was capped with a motorcade to Kalayaan Avenue via the streets of Ramon Magsaysay Avenue and Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe, where flyers and different merchandise were given as souvenirs. Hotel Sogo continues to grow and innovate as new branches are situated in different strategic locations with top-class services at affordable rates. The company promises to reach and cater to more guests as it will open its 37th and 38th branches this year in Alabang and Makati Avenue. For inquiries like/follow its Facebook (www.facebook.com/HotelSogoOfficialPage) and Instagram (@hotelsogo).

Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018 11

GOOD NEWS

Apollo Hospitals gives newfound hope to 21 Filipino babies

IVEN the rising cost of medical and health services and medicine in the country, Filipino families continue to struggle financially with liver transplantation costs. The average medical cost of liver-related illness is expensive for the middle and lower-class Filipinos.

As a solution, these families seek medical attention abroad. India is perceived as economically viable when it comes to intricate treatments like liver transplants and Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, India, has been discovered as a suitable medical facility for liver transplantation. With their proven expertise, international patients now look toward the country for their treatment. Twenty-one paediatric liver transplant cases from the Philippines were undertaken in the said hospital in the last 18 months. Baby Genesis Louis de Guzman, Baby Jermaine Briseis J. Belista, and Baby Fortune were among the Filipino babies who were successfully treated at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. “Our transplantation success rates are some of the best in the world, which is truly a credit to the excellent team at Apollo Hospital that adheres to the highest standards of clinical care,” said Dr. Anupam Sibal, group medical director, Apollo Hospitals Group and Senior Paediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. “Liver transplantation in small babies are more complex than a regular liver transplant,” said Dr. Neerav Goyal, senior consultant, Liver Transplant Department. “We are now able to perform transplants in high risk cases, very small babies, patients with difficult anatomy and patients with multi-organ dysfunction. It is this expertise that gives hope and happiness to patients from world over who come to Apollo Hospitals to seek respite from their ailments.” “Our team tries to ensure the convenience and comfort of Filipino families during their stay in the hospital by providing them with value-added services such as a dedicated lounge. We even offer Filipino cuisine that

12 Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018

makes our guests feel at home at the Apollo Hospital,” said Raj Raina, general manager—Marketing & Strategic Business. Families were also offered free airport transfers and free transportation services around the city. Baby Jermaine from the Philippines underwent successful liver transplant last year. “He was diagnosed with chronic liver disease with Caroli disease, which is a rare congenital disorder of the intrahepatic bile ducts. She underwent liver transplant and her operation was successful, then was discharged after three weeks,” Jonalyn, mother of the baby, quipped. The father of Baby Fortune said “Fortune is our first kid and when we found the complications, we were very tensed and didn’t know where to go. “The LITRO Babies Philippines, Inc. and the Hope Foundation came to us to help, and in the next few days, we were at the Apollo Hospitals for treatment. I am thankful to the doctors and the hospital for giving my son a new life.” Hope Foundation Germany EV was founded in 2006 as a branch of The Hope Foundation. Hope Germany solicits donations to finance the organization’s projects. Hope currently operates 60 projects, in part with 12 Indian partners. Its programs include protection, education, health care and vocational training of the street children of Kolkata and bringing them closer to the public. Hope Germany currently supports the Hope Punorjibon Rehabilitation Center for drug addicted street children. The home helps detoxify them, gives them protection and a chance to lead an independent life later on. Meanwhile, the LITRO (Liver Transplant Operation) Babies Philippines Inc. was first organized on December of 2014. Jennifer Mohamad Sumalpong, the president and founder of LiTrO, organized the

PROF. Anupam Sibal, group medical doctor, Apollo Hospitals Group and senior paediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist and Raj Raina, general manager – Marketing and Strategic Business the children of successful pediatric liver transplantation cases and their parents.

group together with parents of infants diagnosed of biliary atresia, a life-threatening liver disease for newly born. After the successful liver transplantation of her son, it became her advocacy to help others babies most especially those with liver transplant concerns. It started with 21 members. Due to the required big amount of funds for the liver transplant surgery, only a few of the babies survived and had their surgery. As of to date, there are 64 infants/members who were doing their best to raise the needed funds amounting to P1.6 million at the Apollo Hospital India. The main objective of LITRO Babies was to spread awareness to the community regarding a rare liver illness of a newborn called biliary artesia. Aside from awareness, the organization aims to educate the parents of the victims on proper handling of their child. Also, the group teaches the families on how to raise the needed funds and helps organize events and opportunities that would help these babies with their needs, such as diapers, milks, vitamins, medicines, etc. Furthermore, the group helps the patients with their communication and arrangements to Apollo Hospital in case of liver transplant operation schedules. The Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals,

on the other hand is India’s first Joint Commission International accredited hospital, is a joint venture between the Government of Delhi and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. Commissioned in July 1996, it is the third super-specialty tertiary care hospital set up by the Apollo Hospitals Group. Spread over 15 acres, it houses 57 specialties with more than 300 specialists and more than 700 operational beds, 19 operation theaters, 138 ICU beds, round-the-clock pharmacy, National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited laboratories, 24-hour emergency services and an active air ambulance service. Apollo Hospitals Delhi has the leading program in kidney and liver transplant in the country. The first successful paediatrics and adult liver transplants in India were performed at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. The hospital is at the forefront of medical technology and expertise. It provides a complete range of latest diagnostic, medical and surgical facilities for the care of its patients. The hospital has introduced the most sophisticated imaging technology to India with the introduction of 64 slice CT and three Tesla MRI, Novalis Tx and the integrated PET Suite. For more information, visit www. apollohospitals.com.

GOOD NEWS

Golf cup raises funds for 96 scholars

ARKING a milestone this year, New World Makati Hotel and AG New World Manila Bay concluded a successful third annual New World Hotels and Resorts “Golf Cup for a Cause” on September 28, where proceeds will help close to a hundred young Filipino students. A joint corporate social responsibility effort of the sister properties, the Golf Cup 3 was able to raise P400,000 to support 96 Springboard Foundation scholars in continuing their secondary education, 20 of which are already completing senior high school this academic year. The Golf Cup 3, held at The Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club in Carmona, Cavite, was in line with the National Literacy Month in September.

NEW World Makati general manager Farid Schoucair and AG New World Manila Bay general manager Mark Heywood with Golf Cup 3 players

Declared champion of this year’s tournament is the team of Steve Borril, Michael Denison, Tony Kennerly and Phil Connolly. Coming in close at second place is the team of Antonio Payumo, Javier Berenguer-Testa and

Raymond Lacdao. Third place is the team of Kim Yong-min, Yoon Hui-cheol, Park Sang-yun and Ahn Jun-seong. Winners were given trophies, gift certificates, and other prizes from New World Hotels and Resorts and

its sponsors. The event is in collaboration with Fortunegate Holdings Philippines Inc., Jeeves of Belgravia Manila, media partner Solar Sports and airline partner Philippine Airlines.

Mega Sardines announces exciting new variants

ASSIONATE and fun-loving Filipinos have a new cause for celebration—heartthrob Piolo Pascual has extended his term as Mega Sardines’s brand ambassador, coinciding with the reintroduction of an excit-

ing array of Mega Sardines variants. It was a veritable fiesta as Piolo signed his new contract with Mega Sardines, a Filipino staple that is loved by people across the country. Piolo, after all, reflects the heart and

passion behind Mega Sardines, as well as its promise of #MegaGandaAngBuhay, which is word play of the phrase may igaganda ang buhay. The relaunch of Mega Sardines’s variants evokes the joy that comes with a true Filipino fiesta. The variants are a festive assortment of exciting flavors and create a feast of the senses, with new offerings, such as Mega Sardines in SpanishStyle, Mega Sardines in Natural Oil, Mega Extra Hot Sardines, Mega Fried Sardines Tausi and Mega Fried Sardines Hot and Spicy. Through the years, these well-loved flavors have become an important part of family meals and have come to define the Filipino way of life. Piolo’s association with the Mega Sardines brand is deep-rooted. Not too long ago, Piolo starred in Mega Sardines’s multi-awarded TV and radio ad, which showcased the brand’s unique and meticulous 12-hour catching-to-canning process. The process captures the company’s ded-

ication to bring only the best to Filipinos, para sa ikagaganda ng buhay. In the ad, Piolo takes Mega’s fishing boat as a witness to the hard work of the men and women who bring Mega into the tables of thousands of Filipinos around the country. It also shows Mega Sardines’s state-of-theart equipment, which ensures the freshness, cleanliness and quality of its products. Mega Sardines will also be launching a series of short films called #MegaGandaAngBuhay which features inspiring short films that is sure to touch the hearts of Filipinos everywhere. The short films will showcase contemporary Filipino stories about their struggles, passions and unwavering resilience. With the renewed collaboration between Piolo and Mega Sardines, Filipinos can look forward to enjoying the brand’s promise that #MegaGandaAngBuhay. For more information, visit www. megaglobal.com.ph.

Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018 13

HEALTHY FINDS

n F.D.A. PHL SIGNS POLICY TO CREATE NAT’L. PHARMACY INFORMATION SYSTEM

FOR half a century, pharmacists were required by the 1969 Philippine Pharmacy Act to maintain paper logbooks in which they wrote down prescription information word for word. This meant spending less time with patients and more time, with paper bureaucracy. Now, for the first time as a part of the FDA’s modernization efforts, electronic reporting is required. The FDA signed the circular “Guidelines for the Use of the Electronic Drug Safety System [eDSS]” on June 27 announcing that paper prescription logbooks will be modernized with a new mobile app called the electronic Drug Safety System. The eDSS mobile app, available to pharmacies and the FDA, digitizes the information written on prescriptions. Pharmacists use the eDSS mobile app to snap a photo of each prescription they receive and enter a few fields using their phones, significantly reducing the amount of time needed to comply with old regulations. Most important, the data generated from these prescriptions will save lives. By analyzing upticks in specific medicine use, the government can quickly fight outbreaks and understand patterns of treatment for diseases like diabetes or TB. The data generated from these prescriptions will also help the government know where medicines are available and how to allocate resources—a great challenge considering there are over 10,000 active pharmacies spread across more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines. When SupertyphoonYolanda hit, many people faced dire medicine shortages in areas without knowing that those same medicines were available in towns nearby. With a national pharmacy information system, however, the government

n WHY CLEAN WATER IS NECESSARY FOR POSTNATAL CARE

A WOMAN who has just given birth needs to drink more water than her regular intake to safeguard her and her newborn’s health. More important, she must make sure that the water

14 Health&Fitness October 11-17, 2018

and aid agencies can advise people on where to find life-saving medicines in an emergency situation, even if ports and airports are closed. FDA Director General Nela Charade Puno stated: “Paper logbooks were used for long enough— it’s time to modernize and innovate. That’s exactly what the eDSS does. Not only does it cut bureaucracy, but the eDSS mobile app is going to help millions of Filipino patients each time medicine is purchased. The data generated from the eDSS creates a national pharmacy information system that helps the FDA allocate resources efficiently, as well as protect patients. The data will

help us find counterfeits and recall dangerous or ineffective medicines instantly.” The new requirement will be rolled out in tiers, starting with Manila, Cebu and Davao in 2018, leading to all cities nationwide by 2020. The eDSS mobile app was developed by mClinica, a social enterprise, and donated to the FDA to improve public health data at no cost to the taxpayer. It is the latest effort by the FDA to place the Philippines on the map as a country on the cutting edge of health care by harnessing the power of mobile technology to generate never-before-seen insights to protect citizens.

she drinks is absolutely clean and potable for proper hydration. Dr. Mary Anne Ilao, chairman of the Department of Newborn Medicine of Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, emphasized the importance of hydration during pregnancy and after delivery to avoid health implications and difficulties. The need for a clean drinking water is more necessary for postnatal care as mothers undergo physiological recovery while taking care of their newborn babies at the same time. Aside from hydration, it is also important for mothers to know the right amount of water to drink to help in the production of breastmilk. Water intake must be increased during humid days when the body naturally demands for better hydration. To help promote proper hydration and overall health for mothers and their babies during postnatal care, Absolute Distilled Drinking Water

provided wellness bags to mothers in the Fabella Hospital’s maternity wards. The hospital is only one of more than 40 hospitals in GMA, Cavite; Bulacan; Laguna; Pampanga; and Cebu which are beneficiaries of the same advocacy in celebration of Absolute’s 4th Mommy Welfare Month. The Absolute Mommy Welfare Month is a program of Absolute Distilled Drinking Water that focuses on supporting first-time mothers and their newborns as they go through postnatal care and wellness. Through this advocacy, mother and child are given access to safe, pure and 100-percent distilled water. “The brand Absolute advocates pure love between a mother and her child. Absolute wants mothers to know how much they are valued and how their well-being is just as important as caring for their little ones,” says Alveen Ramos, Absolute brand manager. Absolute Distilled Drinking Water goes

HEALTHY FINDS

through a high-quality distillation process certified by the National Sanitation Foundation International; and a member of the International Bottled Water Association, which ensures compliance among bottled water makers around the world. With this, it sure will give new mothers the peace of mind that they made the best choice to guarantee their newborn’s right nutrition.

feel full for a longer time decreasing your need to eat more within the day. n Take iron to fight anemia.

EXERCISE n Go for a walk. Walking is a low-intensity exercise that uses your extra energy without making you exhausted and prompts you to breathe in more air, refreshing your body system. n Yoga and stretching help. Make yoga your relief therapy and you’ll be surprised with how calm and relaxed you will be.

MANAGE STRESS

n SMART HABITS TO HELP YOU MANAGE PMS SYMPTOMS

RED dot, Aunt Flo, code red and girl flu—these are just some of the many names we call menstruation. And why, whoever mentioned that having a period is such a pain, we’re with you. While there’s no single cause of PMS and it’s a combination of many different factors from a low level of the hormone serotonin, thyroid dysfunction, poor or imbalanced nutrition, stress, environmental pollution and lack of sleep, it’s a condition that reveals an imbalance in the body. Pre-Menstrual Syndrome or (PMS) occurs during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, a naturally occurring period immediately after an egg is released from the ovary and lasts from day 14 through day 28 of a normal menstrual cycle. While this is the duration where terrible mood swings, irritability, bloating and other hosts of unpleasant physical manifestations happens, there are ways to manage PMS and making it less disruptive with good, healthy habits as the beginning.

DIET

n Eat leafy greens and fruits. n Water is crucial. If you are not a fan of water, flavored water will do but keep it natural. n Calcium helps. Yogurt, milk, soy products and low-fat cheese are all rich in calcium and can reduce PMS symptoms. n You need vitamin D, a natural supplement that boosts the immune system helping you to fight the pain. n Have nuts or go nuts! Skip the chips and snack on unsalted nuts instead. Nuts make you

n We need a little help from our friends. Friends always make us feel better, and having them around when your PMSing offers a little comfort. n Hang out with your special someone. Our reproductive years last about 2.5 decades of our life. It is important to share with him how you feel when you have your period for him to better understand you. n Write a journal and take time to enjoy activities that you enjoy. While it may seem that you’ll need medication in order to make PMS a whole lot easier for you, remember that balancing of hormones might be more effective instead of psychoactive drugs. Incorrect treatment leads to frustration and distress—both of which can be avoided by playing it right. When it comes to your sanitary pad, choose something that will make you feel lighter and a whole lot better. Jeunesse Anion is enhanced with anion strip that helps to reduce odor and bacteria so you can look forward to longer hours of freshness without the worries. For more health tips, visit www.jeunesseanion.com.

n ON THE MOVE: OFW MISSIONS CONFERENCE AND DIASPORA SUMMIT

BE a positive influence in a global setting! Join the first OFW Missions Conference and Diaspora Summit on October 24 and 25 at the Greenhills Christian Fellowship in Ortigas, Pasig City, and learn different ways and best practices on how you can minister to the Overseas Filipino Workers in your church, community or country. Get a glimpse of the situation of the migrant worker sectors and their families, expand your network and connect to other like-minded organizations and to start and strengthen your OFW ministry. In this two-day event, there will be plenary sessions, panel discussions and breakout activities from seasoned OFW ministers, partners and advocates. The roster of seasoned and experienced speakers comes from different sectors who have been working with the OFWs, making the discussions insightful and relevant.

Registration is open until October 15. Program fees include full meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks), program kits, learning investment and participant gift pack. Scholarship grants are available upon request. This event is brought to you by Global Filipino Movement Foundation Inc. in partnership with The Generics Pharmacy and State Properties Corp., and with the support of Genesis Transport Service Inc., Novellino Wines, BusinessMirror, Pilipino Mirror, The Filipino Channel, PLDTGlobal, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Worship Generation, FEBC, Center for Community Transformation and Blas Ople Policy Center. You may also contact the event secretariat at 669.18.08 and 0998.578.7640, or e-mail at info@ globalfilipinomovement.com.

n SMILE TRAIN PHILIPPINES PARTNERS WITH LAO GOVERNMENT

SMILE Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, announced its partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Lao PDR, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Lao Ministry of National Defense. The partnership will help bring awareness to Smile Train’s local programs and focus on training local medical professionals to provide future cleft care for patients in Lao. To kickoff the partnership, one of Smile Train’s local partner hospitals in the Philippines, Philippine Band of Mercy, led by Dr. Hector Santos Jr., medical director and Smile Train Partner Plastic Surgeon, will host an orientation for medical professionals from Lao, including training on the latest cleft techniques and comprehensive postsurgical care. “We are grateful for this partnership and all of the awareness it will bring not only to Smile Train Philippines, but also locally in Lao. Through this partnership, we hope to reach more children with clefts that are in need of our help,” said Susannah Schaefer, president and chief executive officer, Smile Train. Smile Train Philippines’s sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training, funding and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children in the Philippines. By funding additional training for local medical professionals and partnering with local hospitals within the Philippines, Smile Train can support comprehensive cleft treatment all year round. “The Lao government welcomes this partnership with our friends from the Philippines, as this will help the many cleft patients in the country,” said H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Through this project, we can better serve the cleft community in the future.” For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to make a donation, visit smiletrain.org.

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