BusinessMirror October 26, 2020

9-MO BORROWINGS HIT

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Monday, October 26, 2020 Vol. 16 No. 18

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 16 pages |

P2.56T ON COVID IMPACT

Top view of the Skyway Stage 3 project linking southern and northern Metro Manila, as provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), will soon open to the public. Secretary Mark Villar lauded the DPWH ROW (Right of Way) Task Force for its role in speeding up resolution of ROWs, allowing the project to be completed on time. Meanwhile, motorists who use the expressways operated by San Miguel Corp. have until November 30 to shift to RFID as these shift to cashless transactions by November 2. These include the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), the Skyway, Slex, Naia Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx). In photo, a motorist shows his Autosweep RFID card. NONOY LACZA

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By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE Philippines posted another record high as the government’s gross borrowings, ramped up as part of the Covid response, neared the P3trillion mark as of September, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

Based on BTr data, the government’s gross external and domestic borrowings reached P2.56 trillion in the January-to-September period. In the eight months from January to August 2020, it had already reached P2.47 trillion, which is the highest in 16 years.

The gross external and domestic borrowings in the January-toSeptember period this year was

a 179.145-percent increase from P917.283 billion posted in the same period in 2019.

Under external borrowings, the country’s program loans reached P344.889 billion while project loans reached P19.313 billion in the January-to-September period.

In ter ms of domestic borrowings, Retail Treasury Bonds amounted to P827.107 billion in

the January-to-September period while Fixed Rate Treasury Bonds reached P492.859 billion.

Meanwhile, the data also showed that the government’s gross borrowings reached P90.592 billion in September, a 8,851.78-percent increase from the P1.012 billion.

In terms of the country’s external gross borrowings, BTr data showed it reached P40.575 billion, a 162.45-percent increase from the P15.46 billion in September last year.

For September, program loans reached P38.353 billion and project loans reached P2.222 billion, according to BTr data.

With regards to gross domestic borrowings, BTr data showed it reached P50.017 billion, a 246.186percent increase from a decline of P14,448 billion.

The data showed Fixed Rate

Treasury Bonds reached P45 billion while net Treasur y Bills reached P5.017 billion in September 2020.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) earlier said it expects the country’s debtto-GDP ratio this year to increase to 53.91 percent of GDP—a level it has not seen in over a decade— from a record low of 39.6 percent of GDP last year.

By the end of this year, the national government expects its outstanding debt to reach P10.16 trillion, up by 31.42 percent from last year’s amount.

As tax collections are down amid the pandemic, the DBCC projects the country’s budget deficit to more than double to 9.6 percent of GDP or P1.815 trillion from only 3.4 percent of GDP or P660.2 billion last year.

As pork prices rise: DA probes, groups weigh in

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

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@jearcalas

OCAL hog raisers said pork prices climbed beyond P300 per kilogram in Metro Manila due to lack of supply in Luzon, as 40 percent of the sow population nationwide is gone due to African swine fever (ASF)-related actions.

In the view of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), there is no pork shortage in the country but only a distribution problem that has not been resolved as early as January.

“We have been urging the DA to bring 30 percent of live hogs from VisMin to Luzon but they did not do it,” the group said in a statement.

Meanwhile, meat importers are

PESO exchange rates n US 48.5900

now proposing that the government reduce pork tariffs to be able to bring in cheaper supply and prevent skyrocketing of prices.

Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. (ProPork) President Edwin G. Chen told the BusinessMirror the Philippines is experiencing what China and Vietnam suffered a year after ASF

outbreaks: loss of sow population leading to lack of pig supplies.

Chen explained that the government’s data of over 350,000 pigs culled by the government only captures the figure of officially reported cases but not the herd that was early harvested by raisers to avert further losses caused by ASF. Continued on A2

BSP: 4-M NEW BASIC DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS OPENED IN PANDEMIC

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

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ILLIONS of Filipinos opened basic deposit accounts (BDA) since the nationwide lockdown was implemented, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said, as people are being forced by the Covid-19 to do away with cash and more into online financial transactions.

“During the pandemic, over 4 million new accounts were opened via digital platforms, along with new online sign-ups and app downloads for digital financial services [DFS],” Diokno said in a recent speaking engagement.

These BDAs are accounts designed by the BSP to encourage more people to open bank accounts and promote financial inclusion. Among its key features include simplified know your customer (KYC) processes to open, no maintaining balance, no dormancy charges, and zero percent reserve requirement for the bank.

In 2018, the BSP allowed banks to offer these BDAs. By the end of that year, BDAs reached 428,000.

The surge in the opening of BDAs

was tied up with the rise of online transactions due to movement and travel restrictions. These BDAs are usually used as “transaction accounts.”

“A transaction account serves as the gateway to financial services. With it, a user can store funds and electronic payments then eventually avail of more products such as credit, insurance, and investments,” Diokno said.

BSP’s 2019 Financial Inclusion Survey (FIS) showed that account ownership also increased to 29 percent from 23 percent in 2017. The six-percentage point increase translates to 5 million new accounts in just two years.

Also, among the poorest, account ownership hit 27 percent, closer to the national average and nearly double the 14 percent previously reported.

E-money accounts drove the overall growth in account ownership, increasing to 8 percent from 1 percent.

Account usage more than doubled to 39 percent from 18 percent.

Uptake of other financial services also increased in the same two-year period of 2017 to 2019: formal credit rose to 19 percent from 14 percent; insurance to 23 percent from 18 percent; and investment to 25 percent from 23 percent.

n japan 0.4635 n UK 63.5752 n HK 6.2697 n CHINA 7.2685 n singapore 35.8122 n australia 34.5669 n EU 57.4528 n SAUDI arabia 12.9663

Source: BSP (October 23, 2020)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Monday, October 26, 2020

El Nido reopens to tourists, but with strict Covid testing

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

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HE white-sand beaches, multicolored coral reefs and fish, and massive limestone cliffs in El Nido, Palawan, will be within reach once more as the municipality starts welcoming tourists on October 30.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat made the announcement over the weekend while visiting the municipality for a series of meetings with local government officials and executives of some resorts.

In a news statement, she said, “We thank and congratulate the provincial and local government officials and tourism stakeholders of Palawan for moving on to the second phase of El Nido’s travel bubble. Tourists must undergo RT-PCR test and get their negative test results at least 72 hours prior to their trip.”

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has been trying to persuade local government units to reopen their destinations to tourism, to help the sector’s workers regain employment and lift the economy.

The closure of El Nido, Puerto Princesa, and San Vicente in Palawan due to Covid-19 travel restrictions has resulted in some P3.2-billion losses in tourism receipts and the displacement of close to 14,000 tourism workers by the first half of the year. (See, “Key destinations in Palawan lose over P3 billion in tourism receipts,” in the BusinessMirror, July 4, 2020.)

“The tourism industry’s reopening is gradually building momentum, especially after the news about the reopening of Boracay and the Ridge and Reef travel bubble between Baguio and the prov-

inces of Region 1 [Ilocos]. Considering that Palawan’s El Nido has been consistently voted as the world’s best island, I would also like El Nido to be seen as part of the industry’s rebirth,” Romulo Puyat underscored.

There are nine resorts in El Nido accredited by the DOT that have secured a certificate of authority to operate (CAO), and 27 with a provisional (CAO).

El Nido Resorts was the first tourism enterprise in Palawan to obtain a CAO and reopen its doors to tourists from outside the province through the “travel bubble” or point-to-point strategy. Since July, guests from Manila who tested negative for Covid via RT-PCR test 72 hours prior to departure, have been allowed to board eight flights to Lio Airport via AirSwift, and stay at one of the island locations of the resort chain.

(See, “Leisure trips OK’d in playgrounds of the rich,” in the B usiness M irror , September 1, 2020.)

Romulo Puyat told the BusinessMirror visitors have to log on to the El Nido municipality’s web site to fill up a health declaration form and thereafter will be given a unique QR code as part of the contactless tracing process. The DOT is now taking further steps to increase visitor confidence and awareness about Palawan’s preparedness in terms of medical services and facilities, as well as emergency response protocols, sharing the best practices employed in the Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor Plan between Baguio City and Ilocos, and in Boracay Island.

While Ayala Corp.’s AirSwift is the only carrier that currently flies directly to El Nido, other tourists may access the municipality via five-hour land trip from Puerto Princesa, where Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have passenger flights.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Manage risks, don’t avoid them –govt agencies to business, LGU

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By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE government has issued an advisory appealing to local leaders to reduce their curfew hours and to business owners to distribute their work shifts, as the country shifts its Covid-19 policy to managing risks instead of avoiding them to reopen the economy.

In Joint Advisory 20-01 dated October 22, the national government called on localities to relax their curfew as part of efforts to reopen the economy. Business establishments one by one are getting the state’s approval to resume operations in spite of the virus threat.

The joint advisory, issued by the Departments of Trade and Industry, of Labor and Employment, and of the Interior and Local Government, suggested cutting the curfew hours to between 12 in the midnight and 4 in the morning,

from 10 in the evening to 5 in the morning.

Likewise, the advisory called on managements to adopt multiple and staggered work shifts to allow workers to travel to work in batches.

The government said this should maintain physical distancing in public transport units, as well as spread out the traffic in roads.

Under the advisory, business establishments are advised to adopt work shifts starting 7 in the morning, then 8, then 9, and so on and so forth.

In a statement on Sunday, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III explained the easing of curfew will generate economic activities in the evening to the benefit of workers taking the night shift. As for the call to scatter work shifts, he said this will bring back people to their workplaces with the risk of contracting the virus reduced.

Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año, for his part, said the government is now moving to revive the economy, while securing the safety of the people.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez reminded firms and workers to comply with minimum health standards enforced by authorities.

These protocols include wearing face mask and face shield and staying 1 meter apart when in public places.

“The transmission of the virus will definitely slow down even if we open more of the economy; thus, this will allow more people to go back to work and generate more income, and bring back our strong

momentum in reducing poverty and malnutrition,” Lopez said.

Most industries, except those in the entertainment sector, are now permitted to resume their operations in areas under general community quarantine. Firms offering professional services, including legal and accountancy, architecture and engineering, and management consultancy, may now operate at full capacity.

The government is permitting firms to open one after the other with the hopes of reversing the economic setbacks suffered by the country with the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

GDP in the second quarter shrank 16.5 percent—the worst reading since 1981—as nearly all of commerce was suspended from April to June. Likewise, unemployment rate in July doubled to 10 percent, from 5.4 percent during the same period last year, translating to at least 4.6 million Filipinos jobless in a time of economic crisis.

As pork prices rise: DA probes, groups weigh in Continued from A1

“Seeing that there are a lot of ASF outbreaks in their area, some raisers harvested their pigs early and sold them in bulk at lower prices. Once you unload all your stocks, there will not be another cycle [due to threat of ASF],” he said.

“Based on the industry’s estimates, reckoning last July, about 40 percent of the total sow population in the country is gone.

If we lose that volume of sow, then the natural consequence is that we will have a shortage,” he added.

The estimate, Chen pointed out, could be even higher today as ASF spread to more areas in the country after July.

It takes about nine months to 10 months to harvest a pig for meat consumption from the time of its birth to slaughter. Hence, the country lost the potential pork supply from the sows there culled by the government from last year until early this year.

DA investigates Latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed that the country’s total number of sow as of July 1 declined by 9 percent to 1.6 million heads while total inventory of fatteners declined by almost 24 percent to 3.015 million heads.

PSA data also showed that the country’s grower inventory fell by 11 percent to 2.885 million heads from last year’s 3.245 million heads.

Last Friday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) declared that it will investigate the high prices of pork in the market amid high levels of frozen pork inventory.

The DA said it is possible that there is a deliberate effort by traders to withhold the release of pork products in the market.

The DA added that as of October 21, prices of pork kasim (ham) has reached P320 per kilogram while pork belly (liempo) climbed to P360 per kilogram in most Metro Manila markets. The prices were P20 to P40 higher than their quotations two weeks ago, according to the DA. “We’re looking into reasons why there’s a very slow withdrawal of frozen pork products despite the availability of supply, and demand has started to pick up as the government opens up the economy,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said.

“The DA will not hesitate to file cartel charges if hog growers and traders were found engaging in anti-competitive practice and restricting the supply of pork products, resulting in higher prices at retail markets,” Dar added.

The retail prices are just reflective of the prevailing live-weight prices of hogs in Luzon, which has reached a P200 per kilogram average quotation, Chen said.

During a House of Representatives hearing, Philippine Swine Industry Research and Development Foundation Inc. President Arnulfo Frontuna estimated back then that the ASF has wiped out 30 percent of the P260-billion hog industry.

He also projected then that it could wipe out 60 percent of the industry by September based on the rate the ASF was spreading.

‘Pig highway’

Chen proposed that the government create a “pig highway” to allow the easier transport of live hogs from Visayas and Mindanao to boost domestic supply in Luzon.

Chen said the government could persuade more shipping lines to transport live pigs from Visayas and Mindanao to Luzon.

He noted that only one shipping line ferries pigs between the island regions.

Furthermore, he proposed that the DA use its limited fund for ASF in re-stocking population in ASF-free areas, preferably in Visayas and Mindanao.

Visayas and Mindanao are not yet ready to export carcasses to Luzon due to lack of blast-chilling and blast-freezing facilities, Chen said.

It takes 3 days to transport live hogs from Mindanao to Luzon, and about 1 and a half days to 2 days from Visayas.

‘No shortage, just distribution’ The Sinag said there is no pork shortage in the country but only a distribution problem that has not been resolved as early as January.

“We have been urging the DA to bring 30 percent of live hogs from VisMin to Luzon but they did not do it,” the group said in a statement.

Meanwhile, The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) agreed that bringing in hogs from Visayas and Mindanao would temper the high pork prices in Luzon.

Citing industry estimates, Pcafi President Danilo V. Fausto told the BusinessMirror local hog production has been down by 30 percent to 40 percent.

Fausto said the pressure is on the government to intensify its efforts against ASF to regain investor confidence in pig farming, particularly in Luzon.

Worse, Fausto said Filipinos are running out of cash due to the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic; hence, resulting in a persisting anemic demand.

Cold Chain Association of the Philippines President Anthony S. Dizon said consumers could start shying away from buying pork from the mere fact that its prices are already over P300 per kilogram.

Based on its latest projections, the DA estimates that the country would have a 45-day pork shortfall by year-end.

Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. President Stephanie Nicole Sarmiento-Garcia told the BusinessMirror that their commercial hog feed sales are down by 30 percent to 40 percent in Luzon.

Sarmiento-Garcia added that integrators, those who have their own feed mills and hog farms, have reported a 20-percent downsizing.

She is “very pessimistic” on the recovery of the hog industry in Luzon sans a clear road map from the government.

“What we need to do right now is to find a way to transport meat from VisMin

as cheaply as possible. We need to find a middle ground on how we can achieve that,” she said.

Chen said if not for the current movement of live hogs from Cebu and General Santos City, among others in the past months, pork prices in Luzon could have gone way higher to the vicinity of P400 per kg.

Reduce tariffs Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) President Jesus C. Cham said the government could consider reducing the current tariff on pork imports from 30 percent to 15 percent to encourage the entry of cheaper products.

Chen pointed out that consumers did not shift from buying fresh pork meat to frozen meat due to little price disparity, with the latter being even more expensive.

Besides, Filipino consumers still prefer freshly slaughtered pork meat over frozen imported ones.

Cham said the landed price of imported pork kasim is at about P220 to P230 per kilogram while pork belly is around P250 per kilogram, which fetches a retail price of about P300 per kilogram in supermarkets.

“The DA should take a close look at their projections of pork production in the Philippines and consider now reducing import duties from 30 percent to 15 percent,” he said, adding that the government should reopen its borders to pork products from Belgium and Germany to widen supply sources.

For Cham, demand remains anemic for meat products since Filipinos’ purchasing power declined in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Besides, he said, it is hard to point out where the bottlenecks in the unloading of frozen imported pork inventory are sans the availability of market segmentation data.

“We need to see how much volume is intended for the wet market, for restaurants, for processing. The DA has to establish that data so we can determine where the logistics problem is,” he added.

According to an industry source, it is possible that a certain volume of the current 51,530.39 metric tons of imported frozen pork inventory is for the production of hams.

“It’s not because the economy opened, then the demand will go back to its normal levels. Restaurant capacity is at 30 to 50 percent and yet only few people buy and dine out,” Cham noted.

Nonetheless, most industry stakeholders agree that the current retail prices of pork could go even higher next year as the country reels from lower hog inventory.

“By the time of first quarter to first half of next year, we will feel the impact of further tightening of supply caused by the spread of ASF in Region 4A,” Chen said.

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, October 26, 2020 A3

Palace urged to sign scholarship law with intact budget

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

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ALACAÑANG was asked to sign into law the Congress-approved Medical Scholarship Bill to enable Congress to provide adequate funds in next year’s national budget in order to ensure its early implementation, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto suggested over the weekend.

Recto indicated, however, he was relegating to the backburner a companion proposal to name the scholarship after former barrio doctor-turned Senator Juan Flavier, who originally pushed for the Doctors to the Barrios

program as Secretary of Health prior to his election to the Senate.

“But before we attach his great name to a great program, let us first make sure that the law’s maiden year of implementation is not marked by a budget cut,” the senator said.

The Senate President Pro Tempore recalled reports on Malacañang’s plan to cut in half this year’s P167-million financial subsidy to 1,789 medical scholars to P83.5 million next year, as proposed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the 2021 budget bill.

Recto rued that worse, according to CHED, this year’s P167-million financial stipend to medical students

in eight state universities has been impounded “for later release.”

According to the senator, among those affected include the Bicol University, Cagayan State University, Mariano Marcos State University, Mindanao State University, University of Northern Philippines, UP Manila College of Medicine, UP Manila School of Health Sciences, and Western Visayas State University.

“So embargoed ngayon; cut bukas, [Embargoed today, cut tomorrow.]”

Recto lamented.

At the same time, Recto reminded that the CHED scholarship program in eight SUCs is but one of the tracks the Congress-approved bill creates

in producing doctors whose services are needed in the provinces, of which only 25 out of 81 have enough public doctors.

He added that another program is run by the Department of Health (DOH), which had 1,142 scholars in various medical schools last year.

The senator pointed out that under their contract, “they shall repay their state-granted tuition and allowances by serving in rural areas” after passing the board examinations.

“So more or less, the CHED and DOH tracks have a combined 3,000 beneficiaries. [Let’s increase this] by including financially-challenged but academically excelling medicine stu-

dents in private schools,” he added.

Recto said that besides the late Senator Juan Flavier, who once served as Senate President Pro Tempore, “there are other names in the constellation of Filipino MD greats to choose from.”

For instance, he suggested the Eastern Visayas scholarship “could be named after Dr. Bobby de la Paz, while another region could be renamed in memory of Dr. Fe del Mundo, a Harvard-trained pediatrician who went home to serve Filipinos for 80 years.”

De la Paz, on the other hand was a UP-PGH trained doctor who left a potentially lucrative big city practice

for Samar, where he ran primary health-care programs until he was assassinated inside his Catbalogan clinic in April 1982.

Recto reminded that even among Covid-19 heroes, “there are lots of names in the honor roll to choose from.”

Noting that naming scholarship programs “after people who distinguished themselves in a profession is done in many countries,” Recto reminded, however, that “unlike the Fulbright scholarship in the US and the Rhodes in England, our medical scholarship will not be named after benefactors, but after Filipino role models.”

‘Only 86 of 17,000 families were able to return to Marawi’

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

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WO years after the start of its rehabilitation, Marawi City still remains a ghost town as most of the families who used to live there have yet to return.

Task Force Bangon Marawi Chairman and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario admitted that only 86 of the estimated 17,000 families in the most affected areas (MAA) in the war-torn city were able to return to construct or repair their homes.

A total of 2,138 people have applied for construction or repair

permits in Marawi City.

Of these applications, 1,838 were accompanied by the necessary document including proof of ownership of the land, where they will rebuild their homes.

The local government, however, was only able to approve 482 of the said applications.

Overlapping claims

MARAWI City Mayor Majul U. Gandamra said they have to “scrutinize” the submitted documents to ensure there will be no land dispute during the reconstruction period in his city.

“Some of our personnel and that of the building official encountered some application [that] overlapped [with one

another] so we have to scrutinize all of these applications to ensure we will not create a problem in Marawi City,” Gandamra said.

Further slowing down their operations, Gandamra said, is the onset of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, which government addressed by limiting the movement of people.

However, the local chief executive noted that even among the approved application, only 86 were able to go back and live in their previous homes.

“There are many that were approved, but until now have yet to start the construction probably as mentioned by del Rosario, it depends on

the capacity of their constituents to rebuild their homes,” Gandamra said.

Both Gandamra and Del Rosario said they hope Congress will pass the proposed legislation that will provide “compensation” for those who were affected by Marawi siege from May 23 to October 17, 2017.

If passed into law, both expect more families would be able to return to their homes.

Focus on livelihood

CONFIDENT that the rebuilding of infrastructures in Marawi City are on track, del Rosario said they now focusing on providing sustainable livelihood for the affected families.

He pointed out that of the P60 billion funds allocated by the government for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, only P13 billion is for infrastructure intervention.

The remaining P47 billion of the budget, he added, will be for non-infrastructure measures, which include providing livelihood.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reported many of the beneficiaries of its livelihood kits to start a bakery or eatery in Marawi City are now thriving.

For its part, the Department of Social Welfare and Development aims to provide more livelihood opportunities to the affected families with its pro-

posed P166 million budget next year.

“We will be providing P1 million each to 120 association to the IDPs in MAA, so that we can start their business,” Social Welfare Undersecretary Felicisimo C. Budiongan said.

Tourism potential

WITH these initiatives, del Rosario said he is confident will be able to fully recover a decade after its completed rehabilitation next year due to its potential to become a tourist spot.

He noted Marawi City’s elevated location, which is between that of Baguio City and Tagaytay, give it a cool climate and makes it an attractive summer destination.

Agriculture/Commodities

A4 Monday, October 26, 2020 • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

BusinessMirror

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DA halts carabeef imports from Uttar Pradesh

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has suspended the accreditation of 11 foreign meat establishments (FMEs) in Uttar Pradesh, India, to export buffalo meat to the Philippines over foot and mouth disease (FMD) concerns.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar on October 22 issued Memorandum Order (MO) 54 which imposed the suspension pending the response of the Indian government

to a letter sent by Manila.

Under the MO, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror, Dar explained that government auditors found out that there are FMD outbreaks in Uttar Pradesh, India, as indicated in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease (ICAR-DFMD) Annual Report 2017-2018.

A team composed of members from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) went to India last

March as part of its annual surveillance audit of Indian FMEs. Dar said the BAI has sent on August 10 official communication to India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) which sought clarification on the FMD outbreaks “seen” in the ICAR-FMD annual report.

Based on the ICAR-FMD annual report, India had a total of 149 outbreaks of FMD in 2017 and 2018.

“The DAHD of India has not yet responded to the letter of BAI to further explain the FMD out-

breaks in their country,” Dar said in the MO. “Until the BAI receives an official response from the DAHD regarding the FMD outbreaks, especially on Uttar Pradesh, where eleven [11] FMEs are previously accredited by the Philippines, these FMEs will be temporarily suspended,” he added.

With the issuance of the MO, Dar has also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import

clearance (SPS-IC) of Indian buffalo meat from Uttar Pradesh.

“All previously approved SPS Import Clearances which have not yet left India after the issuance of this order are hereby revoked and therefore advised not to sail their shipment,” he said.

“All shipments which are already in transit will be accepted provided intensified inspection of documents and Indian Buffalo Meat shipments shall be conducted by DA-BAI veterinary quarantine officers at the ports of entry,” he added.

Dar has ordered a “more rigorous and tight inspection on all arrivals of Indian Buffalo meat products from India by DA-NMIS Plant Officers assigned at DA accredited cold storage warehouse.”

T he Ph i l ippines impor ted 23,730.228 metric tons of carabeef or Indian buffalo meat products from January to September, based on latest BAI data.

The World Organisation for Animal Health officially declared the Philippines as free from FMD without vaccination in 2015.

Expert: Create more jobs by modernizing PHL agri Tesda, farm school to train youth leaders in Manila

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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ETURNING migrant Filipino workers can turn to agriculture if the government is able to put in place targeted policies and programs that will develop the sector, according to an expert from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In an Asian Development Blog, ADB agriculture economist Matthias Leitner said an improved farm sector would be able to provide employment to thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who are being displaced abroad due to the ongoing pandemic.

Leitner said that in the Philippines, the government expects more than 400,000 overseas workers to return home by the end of the year. Covid-19 is displacing migrant workers from Southeast Asian countries.

He also noted that the government is already providing free reskill programs in for displaced OFWs. “The agriculture sector will play a crucial role in the country’s [Philippines] recovery from Covid-19 impacts, albeit struggling with persistent low labor productivity,” Leitner said.

“Average wages for non-agricultural workers are about 10 percent higher than the maximum dailywage rate in agriculture. For the sector to absorb additional incoming labor, it needs to modernize and improve its competitiveness.”

One way to modernize the sector,

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

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PHOTO from the Facebook page of the Department of Agriculture

Leitner said, is through agricultural digitalization of the production, processing, transportation, and marketing of agricultural goods.

He said, however, that the government is pushing for a “new thinking” in agriculture and is focusing on modernization and value-addition to be an engine of growth and create much-needed capacity for labor absorption.

Leitner said sustaining these efforts will require having the right policies in place in the coming months and years.

The agriculture sector in many Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, already has com-

monly known shortfalls, even before the pandemic struck.

These include low labor productivity, low diversification, low levels of mechanization and limited valueaddition. Absorbing additional labor will both be an enormous challenge as well as an opportunity.

“Returning rural migrants are often highly skilled and home countries can use this potential by creating the right job opportunities. Through targeted policies and programs, returning labor can strengthen agricultural value chains through novel infrastructure know-how, engineer-

Did some parties sabotage PRC, PhilHealth testing deal? Possibly, says Gordon continued from a8 However, after Red Cross helped LGUs ramp up testing capacities, Gordon noted that in some instances, certain parties were diverting OFWs to other private testing enterprises, where fees are much higher than Red Cross’s P4,000. Worse, when turnaround time for results is longer, the government ends up paying higher quarantine fees to the accredited hotels.

Zamboanga, Cebu, Bacolod asked Red Cross to set up local testing capacities, Gordon cited

by way of example. However, in Cebu, Gordon said, many times “they were not sending people to us for testing,” so PRC pulled out two units, leaving only two.

Duterte steps in

LAST week, President Duterte, in his weekly televised briefing, vowed to pay PhilHealth’s debt to Red Cross.

The new PhilHealth chief, exNBI director Dante Gierran, also met with Gordon to thresh out repayment of the debt.

At the same time, however,

the national government said it will “review” the emergency agreement to ensure procurement laws were not violated. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, tasked for this, said the DOJ will fast-track the review.

Gordon, in Sunday’s radio interview, said he cannot conceive of any company, not even those big companies that played humanitarian roles in the pandemic, that would allow such a huge debt to go unpaid for a long time.

Sotto sees no need for ‘same-sex union’ law; House’s Zaldy Co pitches for one continued from a8 Sotto explained that obviously, the Pope “used the word ‘homosexual’ because he was referring to the individual [being oppressed in some families that disown them], not the pair.”

At any rate, Sotto added, what is termed as “same-sex union” is in fact “accepted here in the Philippines.”

He explained why: “We know that when two people live together, or we find out they’re living together, no one takes an issue with it, especially if they’re both unmarried, right?

There’s no problem. What is there to legislate?”

Unless, Sotto added, “you just want to open the door for same-sex marriage. If that is your goal, then

you must change the Constitution and the Family Code.” That, he said, might be the real goal, not the protection of civil rights, since, “under our civil rights [statutes], we are all equal, homosexual or not.”

‘Check what Pope said’

MEANWHILE, Sotto advised those now riding on the supposed remarks of the Pope to revisit the original Spanish replies he gave a controversial documentarist, whose use of such quotes is now being questioned.

The Catholic News Agency did an analysis of the documentarist interview’s transcript and showed that other papal comments on homosexuality featured in

“Francesco” were compiled by heavy editing of the video footage of the Pope’s 2019 interview with a Mexican broadcaster which the Vatican had made available to the filmmaker.

“Francesco” presents Pope Francis saying the following, when asked on his approach to pastoral care: “Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family.

Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it.”

While the pope did say those words on camera, he did not say them in that order, or use those phrases in immediate proximity, the CNA analysis pointed out. Butch Fernandez

ing skills, and infusing rural areas with new farming techniques and digitalization,” Leitner said.

Last week, the Department of Labor and Employment said 505,837 OFWs were already “affected” by the pandemic.

Of these figures, he said 9,402 became infected with the disease.

The remaining 496,435 workers were displaced, when they permanently lost their jobs or were momentarily not able to return to work.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said 104,000 of these OFWs still refused to come home despite having no employment in their host countries.

O promote the importance of food sustainability to the younger generation, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) recently signed an agreement with OMA Farming School Corp. to train members of Sangguniang Kabataan and other identified households in Manila in urban farming.

Tesda Director General Isidro Lapeña assured the agency’s allout support for the government’s campaign on food sustainability in the country.

“Food sufficiency is a concern not only of the countr y’s agricultural areas, and rice-producing regions.

This is a cause of concern of all areas, including urbanized cities especially now that we are facing this pandemic,” he said during the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA).

It was witnessed by highranking government officials, including Commissioner Greco Belgica of the Presidential Anti- Corruption Commission

and OM A Farming School Cor p. President Carmelita Belgica.

The Tesda chief shared that as the agency has initiated urban agriculture in Metro Manila, all urban settlers are encouraged to embrace the concept of urban agriculture.

The MOA indicated that 100 scholars will initially be trained in urban farming for free.

Under Tesda’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), urban farming scholars will also enjoy free assessment, training support fund, one-year accident insurance coverage, Internet allowance, and personal protective equipment allowance.

Among the highlights of the event was the launch of the OM A Farming School Cor p. as the first private technical training institution to offer technical, vocational education and training in urban farming in the City of Manila.

The joint project is expected to jumpstart its operations immediately as the parties have already prepared the lineup of program beneficiaries.

Ivory Coast exporters halt cocoa purchases over pricing dispute

COCOA beans dry on a table. PHOTOGRAPHER: JANE HAHN/BLOOMBERG

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OREIGN exporters have halted the purchase of cocoa contracts in Ivory Coast for at least a month now over a pricing dispute, according to two people familiar to the matter.

The Gepex group, a consortium of international shippers who buy most of the cocoa in the world’s top producer, is insisting on getting a discount on cocoa due to slowing demand for the key chocolate ingredient amid the coronavirus pandemic, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.

The group’s members offered to pay 20 to 50 pounds per ton for the country differential, a premium

paid for quality on top of future prices, instead of the current 70 to 100 pounds per ton, the people said. The situation has reached a deadlock, one of them said.

Gepex members are refusing to pay the full amount on the portion of beans that haven’t yet been sold for the main harvest that started this month.

The industry regulator, Le Conseil du Café-Cacao, has sold 1.45 million tons of the forecast 1.7 million tons for the six-month of the season.

A spokesman for the regulator declined to comment and calls to Gepex went unanswered.

This country differential is one of three key components that make

up the price Gepex members pay for cocoa beans. The other two are the cost of futures and the living-income differential of $400 a metric ton.

The shippers, which include the local units of Cargill Inc. and Olam International Ltd., are losing 13 CFA francs ($0.02) per kilo and receiving fewer orders, one of the people said.

Cocoa futures have held up well this year despite the pandemic as uncertainty about elections in West Africa has supported prices. Still, the price of cocoa butter, which accounts for 20 percent of the weight of a chocolate bar, has plunged more than 17 percent this year amid global lockdowns. Bloomberg News

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Editor: Angel R. Calso

U.N.: Nuclear weapons ban treaty to enter into force

U

NITED NATIONS—The United Nations announced on Saturday that 50 countries have ratified a UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons triggering its entry into force in 90 days, a move hailed by anti-nuclear activists but strongly opposed by the United States and the other major nuclear powers.

As of Friday, the treaty had 49 signatories, and the United Nations said the 50th ratification from Honduras had been received.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended the 50 states and saluted “the instrumental work” of civil society in facilitating negotiations and pushing for ratification, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The UN chief said the treaty's entry into force on January 22 culminates a worldwide movement “to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons” and “is a tribute to the survivors of nuclear explosions and tests, many of whom advocated for this treaty,” he said.

Guterres said the treaty “represents a meaningful commitment towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, which remains the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations,” Dujarric said.

Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize-winning coalition whose work helped spearhead the nuclear ban treaty, said: “This moment has been 75 years coming since the horrific attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the founding of the UN which made nuclear disarmament a cornerstone.”

"The 50 countries that ratify this Treaty are showing true leadership in setting a new international norm that nuclear weapons are not just immoral but illegal,” she said.

The 50th ratification came on the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the UN Charter, which officially established the United Nations and is celebrated as UN Day. “The United Nations was formed to promote peace with a goal of the abolition of nuclear weapons,” Fihn said. ”This treaty is the UN at its best—working closely with civil society to bring democracy to disarmament."

The treaty requires that all ratifying countries “never under any circumstances ... develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.“ It also bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices— and the threat to use such weapons—and requires parties to promote the treaty to other countries.

Once it enters into force all countries that have ratified it will be bound by those requirements.

The United States had written to treaty signatories saying the Trump administration believes they made “a strategic error” and urging them to rescind their ratification.

The US letter, obtained by The Associated Press, said the five original nuclear powers—the US, Russia, China, Britain and France—and America’s NATO allies “stand unified in our opposition to the potential repercussions” of the treaty.

It says the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, known as the TPNW, “turns back the clock on verification and disarmament and is dangerous” to the halfcentury-old Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, considered the cornerstone of global nonproliferation efforts.

“The TPNW is and will remain divisive in the international community and risk further entrenching divisions in existing nonproliferation and disarmament fora that offer the only realistic prospect for consensus-based progress,” the letter said. “It would be unfortunate if the TPNW were allowed to derail our ability to work together to address

pressing proliferation.”

Fihn has stressed that "the nonproliferation Treaty is about preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and eliminating nuclear weapons, and this treaty implements that.

There’s no way you can undermine the Nonproliferation Treaty by banning nuclear weapons. It’s the end goal of the Nonproliferation Treaty.”

The NPT sought to prevent the spread of nuclear arms beyond the five original weapons powers. It requires non-nuclear signatory nations to not pursue atomic weapons in exchange for a commitment by the five powers to move toward nuclear disarmament and to guarantee non-nuclear states' access to peaceful nuclear technology for producing energy.

Rebecca Johnson, a co-founder and first president of the International Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons, said: “The ban treaty is as much about just making it much more possible for people all around the world to see nobody needs nuclear weapons, and they’re actually an impediment, an obstacle—they're in the way of dealing with the real security threats we have on the ground from Covid to climate.”

She said in an AP interview that nuclear weapons can’t prevent or deal with conflicts like the most recent war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. “They're just in the way, and they're highly expensive, and the governments that have them are distracted from the real security issues by trying to constantly pay for these arms races that they're still obsessed with.”

Francesco Rocca, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said: “The simple reality is that the international community could never hope to deal with the consequences of a nuclear confrontation. No nation is prepared to deal with a nuclear confrontation. What we cannot prepare for, we must prevent.”

There are over 14,000 nuclear bombs in the world, thousands of which are ready to be launched in an instant, Rocca said. The power of many of those warheads is tens of times greater than the weapons dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Secretary-General Guterres said in an Associated Press interview on Wednesday: “It is clear for me that we will only be entirely safe in relation to nuclear weapons the day where nuclear weapons no longer exist. We know that it’s not easy. We know that there are many obstacles.”

He expressed hope that a number of important initiatives, including US-Russia talks on renewing the New Start Treaty limiting deployed nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers and next year’s review conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, “will all converge in the same direction, and the final objective must be to have a world with no nuclear weapons.”

The treaty was approved by the 193-member UN General Assembly on July 7, 2017 by a vote of 122 in favor, the Netherlands opposed, and Singapore abstaining. Among countries voting in favor was Iran. The five nuclear powers and four other countries known or believed to possess nuclear weapons—India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel—boycotted negotiations and the vote on the treaty, along with many of their allies.

Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, who has been an ardent campaigner for the treaty, said: “When I learned that we reached our 50th ratification, I was not able to stand.”

“I remained in my chair and put my head in my hands and I cried tears of joy,” she said in a statement. “I have committed my life to the abolition of nuclear weapons. I have nothing but gratitude for all who have worked for the success of our treaty.” AP

Monday, October 26, 2020

A5

US, Europe watch case totals grow, debate new restrictions

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HICAGO—Confirmed coronavirus infections continued to soar on Saturday in many parts of the US and Europe.

In some cases, so did anger over the restrictions governments put in place to try to stem the tide.

Oklahoma, Illinois, New Mexico and Michigan were among states announcing new record highs in daily confirmed cases Saturday, a day after a nationwide daily record of more than 83,000 reported infections, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said it’s “now more important than ever that people take this seriously.” The 3,338 new Covid-19 cases in her state topped the old record by more than 1,300.

German authorities reported a record one-day total of new coronavirus cases this weekend while leaders in Spain and Italy debated how to control the resurgent virus amid public pushback to curfews despite a global death toll topping 1.1 million people.

In Italy, officials huddled with regional authorities on Saturday to determine what new restrictions could be imposed as confirmed cases surpassed half a million.

Premier Giuseppe Conte has said he doesn’t want to put Italy under severe lockdown again, as

he did at the pandemic’s start. In past days, several governors ordered overnight curfews in their regions to stop people from congregating at night outside bars and other venues.

One such curfew fueled anger in Naples, triggering a violent clash by protesters with police.

Italian media said protesters hurled rocks, pieces of broken ceramic tiles and smoke bombs at police while they battled back with tear gas. Elsewhere in Europe, police in Warsaw, Poland, used tear gas and pepper spray to d isperse protesters ang r y over new virus restrictions, and anti-lockdow n demonstrators gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square.

I nter ior M i n i ster Luc i a n a Lamorgese on Saturday branded the Naples protests “unacceptable” and said prosecutors were investigating.

According to Health Ministry figures, Italy’s one-day new caseload of confirmed infections crept closer to 20,000 on Saturday, a slightly bigger daily increase than Friday. The nation’s con-

firmed death toll, second-highest in Europe after Britain’s, rose to 37,210 after 151 more deaths.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez plans to meet with his Cabinet Sunday morning in Madrid to prepare a new state of emergency, a strategy used twice since the start of the pandemic.

The first in March ordered strict home confinement across the nation, closed stores, and recruited private industry for the national public health fight.

The second went into effect two weeks ago, focused on transit limits in the Madrid area.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens again to reduce their number of social contacts as the nation recorded a new daily high for infections.

The 14,714 cases reported on Saturday include cases from both Friday and Thursday because of a three-hour data outage at the country’s disease control agency on Thursday. Forty-nine more people died, bringing the overall death toll past 10,000.

The chancellor said in her weekly podcast “if we all obey [to social distancing] we will all together survive this enormous challenge posed by the virus.”

Ot her Eu ropea n cou nt r ies have tightened restrictions hoping to cope with their own rising case counts.

Slovenia closed down hotels, shopping malls and other nonessential shops as authorities reported a record high of both new daily infections and deaths in the small country of 2 million people. Greece unveiled a mask

requirement and a mandatory nightly curfew for Athens and other areas deemed high risk.

In South America, Colombia became the eighth country to reach 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to the Colombian Ministry of Health. Two of the others are also in Latin America: Argentina, which hit that mark on Monday, and Brazil, which has more than 5 million confirmed cases.

I n t he US , t he v i r u s h a s claimed about 240,000 lives, according to the Covid-19 Dashboard published by Johns Hopkins. The total US caseload reported Friday was 83,757, topping the 77,362 cases reported on July 16.

Many rural communities are bearing the brunt. In Columbia, Tennessee, Maury Regional Medical Center said Friday it was suspending elective surgical procedures that require an overnight stay for two weeks, beginning on Monday. The Daily Herald reported that it was treating 50 Covid-19 inpatients, 20 of whom were in the medical center's 26bed intensive care unit.

Martin Chaney, Maur y Regional's chief medical officer, said small home gatherings have become t he emerg ing t hreat through which the disease is being spread in the six-county region the medical center covers.

“In our homes, we all let our guard down,” Chaney said. “You think it is safe to not socially distance, and you take your masks off. That is spreading the disease very rapidly.” AP

Here’s what may happen next in Thailand’s historic protests

W

ith Thailand’s parliament set to convene on Monday to find a way out of a political crisis fueled by street protests, one thing is becoming clear: There is no easy solution for the military-backed government.

Protesters calling for democratic reforms and changes to the monarchy were undeterred by an emergency decree prohibiting large gatherings, prompting Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha to lift it and call for calm. That was met with fresh calls for his resignation and even more protests.

Now the military and royalist elite who have long held power in Thailand must decide whether to meet some or all protest demands, or take more aggressive steps to shut down the demonstrations.

Here are possible scenarios for where things go from here:

1. Slow-walking reform

One key demand is a new constitution to replace the one drafted after a 2014 coup led by Prayuth. Its provision for a military-appointed Senate has been instrumental in helping him retain power following last year’s election.

Prayuth’s government has already said it’s open to certain unspecified changes, and prior to Monday’s special parliamentary session it already initiated a process to begin amending the constitution. Still, that process could end up taking years, and it wouldn’t be the first time: Following the bloody ‘Black May’ uprising against military rule in 1992, it took five years before a new constitution was put in place. And that was nullified in a coup less than a decade later.

“The regime could be looking at the same kind of tactics this time around,” said Kevin Hewison, an emeritus professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who has researched Thai politics for decades. They could “drag it out for so long, but eventually don’t make many changes at all.”

2. Prayuth’s ouster

Calls for Prayuth’s resignation have persisted since last year’s election. While he has so far refused to step down, his rule is contingent on the support of the monarchy and other elites in Bangkok. If protests were to garner wider support from the general population, his ouster

may be the easiest way to try and soothe tensions.

Prayuth’s future is now firmly tied to the challenges to the monarchy, said Lee Morgenbesser, a lecturer at Australia’s Griffith University whose research focuses on authoritarian regimes and Southeast Asian politics. “If the protests persist too long or become violent, which would see the prestige of the king further questioned, the Thai government is an obvious sacrificial lamb.”

Having already survived a noconfidence vote in February, the government isn’t likely to face much pressure in parliament. Still, even if Prayuth were to step aside, he could just be replaced by someone else backed by the military.

3. Violent crackdown

Past protest movements in Thailand have often ended in bloody crackdowns, most recently in 2010.

With groups of royalists organizing to confront the pro-democracy demonstrators, there are concerns they could happen again at some point—even if the threat isn’t imminent.

“There can always be a violent crackdown,” said Paul Chambers,

a Thai politics expert at Naresuan University’s College of Asean Community Studies, adding that such a move could backfire on authorities. The government would “do so only because it is desperate for the survival of military and royal privileges unreformed.”

4. Monarchy changes

After breaking long-held taboos about publicly criticizing the royal family, protesters are demanding the monarch no longer endorse coups, provide transparency in managing billions of dollars worth of crown assets, and get rid of defamation laws that stifle discussion of the royal family.

Any of those changes would require approval from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, which analysts say is a long shot.

“Royal abdication, scaled back authority for the crown are highly unlikely anytime soon,” said Chambers. “After all, Thailand’s military, political and economic elites ascribe their legitimacy to close linkages to the palace. A weakening of palace power weakens the power of all of Thailand’s vested power players.” Bloomberg News

A6

Monday, October 26, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

The US elects a president

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hinese historians recorded visits by explorers and merchants that are thought by some to have been emissaries from the Roman Empire during the Second and Third Centuries A.D.

However, the first well-documented visit from a “modern” noteworthy European was Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, an Italian Franciscan friar and historian sent by Pope Innocent IV in 1245.

When he returned, Giovanni wrote a detailed account of his travels: “They regard each other almost as members of one family.

No one holds his fellow in contempt, but each helps and supports the other to the limit of his abilities. However, they are extremely arrogant toward other people and look down on all others with disdain. In fact, they regard them, both noble and humble people alike, as little better than nothing. They are the greatest liars in the world in dealing with other people.”

Apparently, that opinion has not changed for much of the world in the ensuing centuries. In 2019 a global survey asked respondents how much trust they have in the following countries to act responsibly in the world. Even with President Donald J. Trump being the least trusted world leader, trust in the United States was at 52 percent; trust in China was 32 percent and that was before the Covid pandemic.

When it comes to geopolitics, it seems that many conversations begin and end with “China.”

“Angela Merkel warns China to do more to open up or risk more restrictions on EU market access.” “Six months ago, Britain was the most China-friendly state in Western Europe. That’s ancient history now.” “Trudeau Riles China 50 Years After His Father Forged Ties.” It is not a matter of the negative opinions about China as obviously many are basically positive. It is a matter that China’s place in the world and its actions often influence other nations’ domestic policies and politics, as we have seen in the Philippines.

Next Tuesday the US will elect its president for the next four years. Certainly, as the world’s most powerful leader, that man’s decisions will have an impact on our country economically and geopolitically. On the international scene, none will be more important than the track the US takes with China.

Democrat candidate Joe Biden is seen as having always had a conciliatory view of China. In 2017 he said, “I want China to succeed. They don’t have enough energy, they don’t have enough water.” Earlier this year he said, “China is going to eat our lunch?

Come on, man—They can’t figure out how they’re going to deal with the corruption that exists within the system. They’re not bad folks, folks… They’re not competition for us.”

Biden has since walked back on those comments, saying, “I don’t suggest China is not a problem. I’m the guy who’s been the toughest on—I’ve spent more time with Xi Jinping than anybody else, just because of the nature of my job.”

But “tough on China” is not without problems and some peril.

“Trump administration notifies Congress of $1.8 billion in proposed weapons sales to Taiwan.” Beijing responded that “China firmly opposes this, and we urge the US to stop arms sales to Taiwan so as not to cause further damage to China-US relations and peace and stability across the Strait.”

Whatever the outcome of next Tuesday’s election, our Asean region is still going to be volatile.

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

The WFH phenomenon as a double-edged sword

T

The WFH setup and attendant rise in productivity may be good for some industries but there is a need to look at the situation from the perspective of the individual worker. Are employees really becoming more effective, thus productive, or are they just working more because there is hardly any demarcation line between home and work anymore?

The way I see it, people are working more efficiently from their homes as they have more time saved from not commuting and because meetings are more focused and shorter, requiring zero commute as well. Systems and processes are starting to flow more smoothly as organizations are able to deal with the initial kinks.

In the survey, the IT departments in telecommunications, financials, and the insurance sectors reported a boom in productivity.

Based on another study, US office workers have been saving an average

They also expect that budgets for the IT sector will increase, allowing them to reduce hiring freezes and to start working on projects again.

According to a new report by the researchers at Harvard Business School and New York University, the average workday during lockdown is 48 minutes longer than pre-Covid times. The researchers studied 3.1 million workers from more than 21,000 firms in more than a dozen cities in North America, Europe and the Middle East. This report also states that workers are sending more e-mails and attending more (although shorter) meetings.

In various places all over the

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

here was a survey done last month (September) by USbased Enterprise Technology Research (ETR) among 1,200 chief information officers belonging to different industries around the world. The results were interesting in that the CIOs were optimistic about business prospects next year, mainly because productivity actually increased during the coronavirus pandemic.

Enjoying the sound of silence in the city

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We still have a chance to push for a quieter environment as we have seen during this pandemic.

Indeed, we briefly enjoyed the peace and quiet of Mother Nature early on in our lockdown. We hope that after the pandemic we will continue to enjoy the tranquility and peace brought about by Mother Nature’s sound of silence.

We thought then that this was a good thing, together with the clearer skies, which will hopefully be carried into the new normal after the pandemic. But we were wrong, unfortunately. Just as soon as the restrictions on public transport were lifted, we realized that the noise that we never missed was back again—coming from jeepneys with their ear-splitting music, the loud motorcycles, and the endless honking of horns. When will we ever learn? We thought that the pandemic lull would give us that chance to correct our mistakes on the road, including noise and pollution. Were we wrong? Or can we still do something about them; now that we have tasted a bit of how pleasant a quieter city life can be to one’s soul?

Management Bureau of the DENR. At the local level, we have the Local Government Code that empowers local government units to promote the general welfare of the citizenry.

Thus, many cities and municipalities have adopted ordinances of varying degrees of intervention against noise pollution. With regards to transportation, roadworthiness regulations enforced by the Land Transportation Office immediately disqualifies un-tuned up vehicles or those intentionally set up to be sound irritants, like those motorcyclists who seem to think that noise relates to speed.

Despite these laws, noise pollution persists and is now unfortunately back with a vengeance. We are not just blaming the lack of enforcement—though this is a major factor.

One cannot deny the presence of a misplaced behavior in some of our co-city dwellers that see such violation of individual space as being too

Thomas M. Orbos

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of 4.3 hours per week because they don’t need to commute. This figure could be a lot higher for a country like ours where urban roads are congested almost all of the time. Many people are using this extra time to work, according to this survey of more than 10,000 Americans by researchers at VoxEu.org, a Center for Economic Policy Research web site.

And because the WFH setup seems to be working well for most people, the CIOs surveyed expect that the percentage of permanent WFH workers is set to double in 2021.

n the early days of the pandemic lockdown, when authorities had everyone confined in their homes, a unique thing pleasantly happened in Metro Manila. In that period of time, we rediscovered the sound of nature in our city with the birds singing in the early mornings and the crickets chirping in the evening, as if reminding us of our Angelus obligations to our Almighty. Previously drowned out because of the traffic noise, these sounds are Mother Nature’s way of talking to us. We heard the silence, and we listened.

A quieter environment makes for a healthier community and the well-being of individuals. Noise in many countries is seen as a health hazard. The implementation of noise regulations by governments is seen as an indicator of the economic development of a country. The more developed the country, the greater enforcement of such laws. We do have the necessary national and local regulations to ensure a quieter environment. On a national level, we have, among others, the Anti-Noise Law that recognizes the dignity, privacy, peace of mind and space of individuals. We even have noise standards that set the acceptable decibel levels and regulatory measures under the supervision of the Environmental

world, the WFH setup has started to plant itself more deeply due to new policies. In San Francisco, for example, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission has just approved a mandate that would force office-based companies to have 60 percent of their employees become remote by 2050. This policy is being adopted to address climate change and build on the momentum of the WFH trend. In Japan, Honda is giving its employees extra allowance to cover for their electricity and equipment expenses. And in England, companies are trying to reverse plans to return employees to their offices after the government abruptly changed its initial push encouraging the same businesses to put people back in their offices. The sudden shift is due, of course, to rising Covid-19 cases.

The WFH setup and attendant rise in productivity may be good for some industries but there is a need to look at the situation from the perspective of the individual worker. Are employees really becoming more effective, thus productive, or are they just working more because there is hardly any demarcation line between home and work anymore?

trivial, even too elitist; and that to complain about noise made by others is an affront to the community.

Absurd and misplaced. We see this in our neighborhood videoke artist who thinks you owe it to him when he belts out a masterpiece. In our streets, it is even worse, especially now that the authorities are all focused on the pandemic.

It is true that in the hierarchy of priorities, noise nuisance goes farther down than poverty, traffic and other urban problems, especially in a third world setting like the Philippines. Such bothers are secondary when it comes to empty stomachs and empty pockets. But, at the same time, more pressing priorities are never an excuse for failure to implement the law, including the right of citizens to have a quiet and peaceful environment. We still have a chance to push for a quieter environment as we have seen during this pandemic.

Indeed, we briefly enjoyed the peace and quiet of Mother Nature early on in our lockdown. We hope that after the pandemic we will continue to enjoy the tranquility and peace brought about by Mother Nature’s sound of silence.

Thomas “Tim” Orbos was formerly with the DOTr and the MMDA. He has completed his graduate studies at the McCourt School of Public Policy of Georgetown University and is an alumnus of the MIT Sloan School of Management. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Transformation through diversity

Of fire and ice Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT Conclusion

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he University of the Philippines Virata School of Business (VSB) and the alumni jubilarian batches are going full blast to hold their traditional annual alumni homecoming. But this time, it will be a virtual get together with the tagline “#come-back#giveback.” For the reunion, the VSB alumni of the 13 jubilarian classes, headed by the golden class of 1970, are now busy preparing for the December 5 virtual event.

The traditional activities for the homecoming will be held, including the awarding of the Distinguished Alumni Award; the giving of the commemorative medallions to the members of the Jubilarian batches; release of the souvenir program cum yearbook, and the virtual fellowship of long lost and missed classmates; (the “comeback”) and the grant of donations to the College (the “giveback”) by the various batches. There are other activities being prepared by the Organizing Committee intended to make this very first virtual homecoming a memorable event even during these turbulent times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As dean of the UP VSB, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of our school’s alumni and other donors of the school to support the “Looking in, Reaching out” sponsorship campaign I initiated to generate assistance for the college and its students. The most recent recipients of their generosity are our marginalized students who have encountered some hurdles in the remote learning system that has been adopted during this Covid lockdown. Donors have pitched in to provide these students access gadgets, like laptops and enotebooks, and broad band load access to the Internet. Others have pledged support to improve the facilities and resources of the school, including donations for the business practice and communications laboratory and other digital tools; a closed circuit TV camera system; and the upgrade of infrastructure and facilities. Others will support the updating of the Alumni directory and corporate network resource and the thought leadership initiatives of the College. As dean and former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, I will be assisting the donors to qualify for tax benefits for their donation.

Communication with the stakeholders of the school is more than ever essential during this Covid crisis. The school has ensured that all avenues of communication are utilized, from the traditional telephone lines to all electronic based and social network resources. We have requested funding for the upgrade of our private automatic branch exchange or PABX network to provide a better communication to our publics via our telephone system. We are upgrading our web site to provide a better customer experience to its many users. The school uses various social-media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The college regularly sends e-mail blasts to announce important events and reminders. The VSB Vantage Point newsletter continues to provide information to our Philippine and global partners and constituents.

We have come out with several flyers and brochures about our school. We are focused on the needs of our students and alumni stakeholders with our Listening Post (LP) online feedback survey and response system.

We have conducted at least seven online surveys that gave us useful responses and feedbacks on the requirements and expectations of our students on such matters as remote learning, course offerings, financial assistance, demand for library facili-

We have come out with several flyers and brochures about our school. We are focused on the needs of our students and alumni stakeholders with our Listening Post online feedback survey and response system. We have conducted at least seven online surveys that gave us useful responses and feedbacks on the requirements and expectations of our students on such matters as remote learning, course offerings, financial assistance, demand for library facilities and the need for more learning and development engagements. ties and the need for more learning and development engagements.

The administration, library and research assistant staff members have been re-invigorated with their duties and responsibilities more clearly defined and the assessment of performance based on agreed upon parameters. They have been accorded modest assistance, including loaned computers to allow them to work from home; procurement of bicycles to provide mobility; acquisition of online work essentials, such as computer cameras and ear and head phones; and providing dispensers of disinfectant alcohol as a anti-Covid prevention measure. The school will soon be able to bring in at least five new hires to supplement the administrative staff.

The College did its share in uplifting thought leadership and the school’s image to the public.

Personally, as Dean, I have been engaging with the external community and talking in various fora and pursuing other advocacy activities. I continue to write and edit weekly articles in my BusinessMirror’s Debit Credit space.

A recent survey conducted in the LP initiative disclosed that 99 percent of the graduate students surveyed responded that the school should be more visible to the public with its thought leadership. Truly, the business school of the people should be at the forefront of public thought and advocacy engagements.

The executive administration of the school has also focused on the essentials of faculty, course and research development. Following University guidelines and its own initiatives, our school has been able to hurdle the requirements and challenges of remote learning brought about by the Covid pandemic.

The past months have tested the resiliency and will for resurgence of the school. On both counts, I believe that we have succeeded.

Joel L. Tan-Torres is the Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business.

Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979.

This column accepts contributions from the business community. Articles not exceeding 600 words can be e-mailed to boa.secretariat.@ gmail.com.

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good friend of mine describes her provincial address as a number with “a volcano in the backyard” as she practically lives right beneath the eyes of Mayon Volcano. Imagine hot lava flowing either in summer time or during the Christmas season like a photo-perfect centerpiece in a plethora of occasions. Owing to its location, ice or glaciers never visit Mayon Volcano.

In contrast, my brother Michael has spent a great deal of his adventurous life in Mount Rainier near Seattle, Washington, USA. My brother took me skiing there a few winters ago as he hikes that same mountain with his dog Pike almost every summer. For decades, Mount Rainier would spew fire while ice rests on its slopes. It has been known that this volcano and its large mass of ice coexist as a dynamic system, despite their contrasting fire and ice composition. When people say fire and ice don’t mix together, they don’t know that they do in Mount Rainier.

Similarly, the polarity between fire and ice resonates even in our inter-personal relations. The early Chinese settlers in the Spanish colonial Manila were wary about the Spaniards, describing their skin color as “white calcium,” and beards like “black gauze,” following the account of a columnist from a reputable national newspaper. Inter-group antagonisms have been ever present and taken different forms—racism being the most common. Because of race and ethnicity, a great divide has been shown to exist between “whites” and “blacks.” In the United States alone, large differences among racial and ethnic groups continue to suffuse the fields of education, employment, income, housing, criminal justice, and poll or election. Because of the differences, physical or otherwise, like that of fire and ice, various forms of dis-

criminatory treatment persist and serve to emasculate the realization of equal opportunity.

Perhaps it all boils down (or freezes up) to the manner of treatment, say, the behavior of one towards the other. Filipinos are culturally hospitable and generous to a fault.

Chinese are loyal, hardworking, and place much premium on family and dignity. Americans are known for their assertiveness, practicality, individualism, and innovation. These cultural differences can be managed by empathy and, more importantly, compassion. If you are invited to a party and you learn that all your friends, except for one, are invited, how do you think will the uninvited person feel? In reference to a relevant literature on “Understanding Other People,” as reviewed by Mary L. Gavin, MD, being able to predict or understand how other people might feel or react can “guide our interactions with them.” Hence, in our relations with our foreign neighbors, they being different in culture and political standpoint, we might as well start understanding how one would feel given the scenario of disparity we are all locked into.

In the Bible, Zechariah 7:9-10 tells us to show mercy and compassion to one another and not oppress the foreigner, among others.

Like the lava and glacier of Mount Ranier co-existing in harmony, conceivably, nations can sit on a ground of accord where discernment, respect and sound

Monday, October 26, 2020

People and countries will always have differences, inevitably. But, regardless of these differences, harmony can still be achieved, as best-selling author Stephenie Meyer said: “Fire and ice, somehow existing together without destroying each other.” judgment come into play. In intercountry relations, except for the seemingly irreconcilable differences between China and Taiwan, as well as the never-ending conflict in the Middle East between Israel and its Arab neighbors, harmony can be achieved through time. For instance, as Filipino American History month is celebrated in October in the United States, especially in Hawaii and California, relationship between the two countries started out with some deeds of distrust and betrayal. After all, then President Emilio Aguinaldo, who wanted to create a new republic soon after the end of the Philippine-Spanish War, ended up fighting his former ally in the Americans. Today, our country is the oldest ally of the US in Southeast Asia under a Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 and, more recently under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

In spite of these agreements, the relationship remains volatile, as President Duterte has been quite vocal in severing ties with the US. In contrast, the relationship between China and Philippines seems to take the snakes and ladders route—referring to the illustrious board game, and not hinting at one nation turning traitor against the other like a snake. In recent history, a pleasant friendship bond has long been forged by China with ours, as with other foreign nations, which has led to Chinese tourists and investors coming over. After all, significant portions of our population have Chinese blood—my family included whose ancestors come from Xiamen. But it is likewise factual that

‘I call on the United Nations to rally its member states to work in solidarity’

Remarks of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. at the virtual UN Philippines celebration of the 75th anniversary of the UN.

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ood afternoon! Happy United Nations Day! Twenty-twenty is the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. It was to be a landmark year of celebrating the UN’s achievements: it had after all prevented World War III, its reason for being; like stopping World War II was that of the League of Nations.

No one was holding their breath after the Korean War broke out.

And let it out in resignation during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Instead we are commemorating UN Day under very different circumstances. The UN meant to bring us closer together. Covid-19 has forced us to be apart. This virtual get-together is proof of how a virus has changed the way things were.

We are again at war; the death toll has surpassed 1.1 million worldwide.

But let’s not exaggerate. It’s bad; but not as bad as war by a long shot.

This time no armies and artillery; no tanks and bombers. But the enemy is not on the other side of the wire but in our midst, indeed on our clothes and in our hair. Like a neutron bomb from nature’s hell, it just takes out people, and leaves neighborhoods empty, everything else standing. It has forced families and friends to put up barriers between each other; and communities to barricade themselves.

Covid-19 restrictions have been so pervasive and prolonged that our behavior has changed in ways likely to last long after this virus has been defeated. It has made many ways of making a living impossible to do again.

A quarter of a century ago, our forebears struggled to come to terms with a trauma that gave them no choice but to rethink the way they lived. The Second World War had

left nations and societies in ruin, and world leaders facing a long arduous road to reconstruction. But rather than give way to despair, 51countries decided that having survived the scourge of war, they would spare succeeding generations from suffering it themselves. Thus, on June 25, 1945 they came together to sign a document that would be the architectural plan of a peaceful, progressive and inclusive world order —the UN Charter.

General Carlos P. Romulo, head of the Philippine Delegation, declared, “LET US MAKE THIS FLOOR THE LAST BATTLEFIELD.” That was their generation’s foundational moment.

Today, we stand at the cusp of our own 1945 moment.

We face a global health crisis that is killing people, spreading human suffering, and turning people’s lives upside down. Covid-19 threatens to bring a recession probably without parallel in the recent past. We risk greater instability, worsening unrest, and wider and crueler conflicts. This is much more than a health crisis.

This is the world’s most challenging crisis since World War II. But again, nothing could be as bad as that.

But still, now as then we must stand our ground—this time against the lesser angels of our nature against

our weaker selves, our lack of sustained resolution, our tendency to carelessness, and think only of ourselves when this is a threat we all face together aimed at all of us without distinction. Together and never at odds with each other we must face it head-on and save all our people because we cannot save just our own.

If we are to be worthy inheritors of the peace and global order gifted to us by the generation of 1945, we need a much stronger global response to the pandemic.

“We the peoples” of the Philippines are committed to work with “We the rest of the peoples of the United Nations and the UN’s Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework to beat the pandemic.

The Philippines and the UN have a long, proud history of working together. We were there to lay the foundations of the UN; and even more there to make it work.

In turn, the UN helped us build our country and keep it whole; the most recent being its support for the Bangsamoro Organic Law ending a nearly half a century of secessionist war that would tear it apart.

The new UN Resident Coordinator has guided us in setting up the first ever UN Joint Program on Human Rights.

We have been contributing troops to UN peacekeeping missions since the 1950s and we have kept our pledge to support global peacekeeping to this day.

We helped shape the UN’s blueprints for the future: the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework and the New Urban Agenda. In all these, we insisted that people without countries not be left behind. We stood up to fight for the

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certain vicissitudes have attempted to rip that relationship apart: cases in point are the issues on the West Philippine Sea (with China) and the proliferation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in our territory but controlled by a foreign power.

Following the route of the ladder in that board game, China and Philippine relations ascend to further the fruitful connection, notwithstanding our differences. But in like manner as the downward direction of the snake in the same plank of contest, our countries would suddenly develop sour relations and slip down to where we were once positioned: a place of distrust, difficulty and division owing to our distinct variation as different nations. As a result, there has been unnecessary friction between Filipinos and Chinese—fire and ice?

Thankfully, though, history is not bereft of any record accounting for a successful “blending” of disparate cultures (like marriages), and of seemingly unequal and hostile nations (as in peace treaties). People of different ethnic backgrounds have found ways to live in harmony in the same way hostile nations do, every time they enter into peace treaties.

In the Bible, Hebrews 12:14 tells all believers to “make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” People and countries will always have differences, inevitably.

But, regardless of these differences, harmony can still be achieved, as best-selling author Stephenie Meyer said: “Fire and ice, somehow existing together without destroying each other.”

A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission.

For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. “We the peoples of the United Nations,” includes “We, the peoples who have lost theirs or never had any nation.”

Covid-19 threatens all that. The UN has to try harder. In particular, at this time of great uncertainty, I call on the United Nations to rally its Member States to set aside selfinterest and work in solidarity. Nations break ranks in the race for the first Covid-19 vaccine; the UN must stand in the breach made by disunity to ensure that the less powerful, the less rich, those who cannot be heard are reached and saved. If we fail them mankind will never be safe again.

There will always be those who will remember that they were left to suffer or die alone and they will number tens of millions if not more.

At one point in his life, General Romulo spoke despairingly about the future. He said: “I do not think the world has much time. I do not think it has much time to escape the momentum toward self-destruction upon which it seems set.”

Weeping openly, he asked what it would take to “galvanize us into the necessary steps and actions to preserve the world against catastrophe.” Only a common threat that none can escape without taking everyone else along —that alone would do the trick. General Romulo, ever prescient, might have been speaking about our current troubles.

This is our 1945 moment. In forcing us apart, Covid-19 has ironically given us the chance to make a conscious decision to really come closer together and reshape our world to better effect. Let us build a future that would make the General smile.

Thank you.

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Did some parties sabotage PRC, PhilHealth testing deal? Possibly, says Gordon

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HE Philippine Red Cross will “definitely” resume Covid-19 testing on Monday (October 26) once PhilHealth pays what it owes the humanitarian organization, now tallied at P1.1 billion, Senator Richard J. Gordon, the PRC chairman, said on Sunday.

At the same time, Gordon raised the possibility that certain individuals or groups had deliberately stalled PhilHealth payments to Red Cross in order to keep diverting people for testing to private centers that charge much higher—P6,000 to P10,000—at longer turnaround times.

Asked in a radio interview if it was possible certain parties had also been deliberately sending arriving passengers or other people to non-PRC test sites and then to government-designated hotels for quarantines —where accommodation fees rise with each day of delay in testing results, Gordon replied, “it would appear so.”

He noted that, “it’s not in the government” interest when “onethird of the [country’s] testing capacity” is forced to a halt, referring to Red Cross’ crucial role in the Covid response after it ramped up testing capacities nationwide in response to urgent requests by the national and local governments during the lockdowns.

Citing cash flow problems as

it must keep procuring chemicals and other supplies, Red Cross was forced to stop last week its testing of PhilHealth-sponsored people, like returning OFWs, because PhilHealth had not paid it a total of P930 million, which has since ballooned to P1.1 billion.

Coincidentally, calls to revisit the PRC-PhilHealth agreement— where the state insurer pays Red Cross testing fees for repatriates and other individuals whose tests it covers—arose just as PRC started demanding that PhilHealth pay up.

Gordon didn’t hide his disappointment that questions were suddenly hurled at the “emergency deal” forged between Red Cross and then-PhilHealth President and COO Ricardo Morales after PRC sought to collect the huge debt.

At the same time, Gordon said of that emergency agreement that, “I can guarantee” that “everything is aboveboard.”

He recalled how, at the height of the pandemic amid strict lockdowns, the national and local governments were scrambling to raise the dismal testing capacity, and turned to Red Cross, which was setting up the most modern molecular laboratories for the RT-PCR tests, deemed the “gold standard” for Covid testing worldwide.

Continued on A4

Crack whip on substandard goods’ importers, DTI urged

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By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

NDUSTRY leaders have asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to cancel the license of traders importing substandard goods to intensify the enforcement of laws on consumer welfare and product quality.

The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said it will submit to the DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) its proposed changes to how the rules on product standards should be applied. It argued that consumers risk buying substandard items in the time of Covid-19, as some producers may exploit the situation to benefit from it.

FPI President Jesus L. Arranza, in a statement, pushed the BPS to test all products, whether covered by mandatory certification or not,

to make sure they pass government standards.

“Consumers are currently at the mercy of producers and traders of products not categorized under mandatory standards. I learned that those products not under mandatory are not being checked by the BPS,” Arranza disclosed.

A r ranza demanded that BPS terminate the license of importers found shipping substandard products, pressing the agency to evaluate the shipments of traders with the same strin-

gency it applies on output of local manufacturers.

Arranza also pleaded with the BPS to suspend the operations of first-time violators. Should they repeat it, he said their business should be shut down for good.

He thinks a similar policy should be adopted for retailers: for the first offense, the substandard items must be confiscated; and on repeat violation, their stores should be padlocked.

According to the FPI chief, resellers should be required to get a certification proving the goods they are peddling passed government testing. In case of a raid, they can show this document to authorities as proof they have no intention of selling substandard products.

Arranza said his group is trying to arrange a meeting with BPS officials to relay their proposals on how the government can tighten its campaign against substandard goods.

He lamented that local manufacturers who abide by laws on product standards are disadvantaged by the entry of substandard imports. Some of them might be compelled to reengineer their mixture and use cheap alterna-

tives in production to compete in the market, he warned.

Arranza reminded the BPS that consumer lives are at risk when manufacturers and importers fail to abide by rules on product standards.

“Remember those product standards are there to protect the lives and limbs of consumers, as well as to ensure they are getting their money’s worth when they buy goods.

So we have to be very strict in the implementation, inspection and monitoring of product standards,” he said.

Industries infested with substandard products include steel, glass, ceramic tiles, cement, food, medicine and wood, according to the FPI. Last week, the DTI announced it is returning plywood to the list of products required to undergo mandatory certification. Under a draft order, manufacturers and importers will be mandated to secure a Philippine Standard license before they can distribute plywood in the market.

In 2015 the DTI removed plywood imports from the list of mandatory certification to narrow the category just to products considered life-threatening.

Floods, slides SOTTO SEES NO NEED before FOR ‘SAME-SEX UNION’ even Quinta makes LAW; HOUSE’S ZALDY landfall CO PITCHES FOR ONE

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ROPERTY rights of all Filipino citizens, regardless of gender, are well protected in existing statutes, and there is no need to legislate a “same-sex civil union”for the purpose, Senate President Vicente Sotto III assured at the weekend.

Interviewed by DWIZ, Senate President Sotto said the move by some lawmakers is even at risk of legal challenge later on for being “class legislation,” so they should simply review the Civil Code, where the property-rights protection sought for homosexual partners— and all others, for that matter—may be found.

Sotto noted this, as proponents of same-sex civil union in the House of Representatives, citing Pope Francis’s recent controversial remarks that supposedly encouraged this, have moved to restart their campaign.

The first salvo was fired by Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez last week, as he revived his call for, among others, allowing same-sex civil unions and legislation allowing for de facto divorce in the country.

Ako Bicol weighs in At the weekend, Ako Bicol partylist expressed “full support to the stand of Pope Francis recognizing same-sex civil unions.”

Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co said in a statement, “The Holy Father, the anointed leader of the Catholic Church, has spoken. While some were understandably upset or shocked, we must take the Pope’s words in their proper context.

Same-sex civil unions are totally different from the holy sacrament of matrimony in Church.”

Co said while the Pope’s words carry a lot of weight, the Philippines has yet to pass a law allowing samesex civil unions.

“I think the Pope explained it beautifully: ‘Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,’” Co said.

He cited the need for a civil union law so that same-sex couples could have some legal protection.

Advocates of same-sex civil unions had cited examples of homosexuals who had been in a long partnership, but who could not be entitled to the rights granted by law to heterosexual couples, especially when one partner dies.

It’s all in our laws–Sotto However, Sotto told DWIZ, partly in Filipino, “that is covered, they are all covered [by existing statutes].

The good lawyers will tell you that when two people living together or in partnership” but not disqualified by law because both are unmarried, “decide to buy a property, they share in it. No law is needed for that.

They both paid for it, so they share ownership. The law looks at people equally. It is blind to your gender.”

Thus, Sotto continued, “if you’re not doing anything illegal, if you’re both unmarried, you lived together, what’s illegal there?”There is “nothing that needs to be legalized there, right?”

On the other hand, a move to legislate in order to protect the rights of homosexuals might be construed as class legislation, Sotto said. “Everyone has civil rights,” he added, including those in so-called same-sex unions.

At the same time, Sotto noted that Pope Francis, in a now widely quoted remark from a documentary—but the origins of which were allegedly pieced together from different contexts—did not use the term “same-sex union, he said, homosexual.”

Continued on A4

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ROPICAL Storm Quinta brought heavy to moderate rains even before it could make a landfall, triggering flooding and landslides in two provinces in the Visayas and forcing the preemptive evacuation of families in the Bicol region and Southern Tagalog.

National Disaster R isk Reduction and Management Counc i l s pokesm a n M a rk Ti mba l quoted Region 8 officials as reporting that f looding and landslides hit roads and bridges in Naval, Biliran, and in Calbayog and Catbalogan Cities, both in Samar.

The two airports in Calbayog and in Catarman, Northern Samar, were also not operating while at least 668 passengers, 276 rolling cargo and nine vessels were stranded at various ports in the Visayas, including at the seaport in Allen, Northern Samar.

Timbal said maintenance personnel from local and national government agencies are also working to repair and clear the affected roads and bridges.

Despite the weather condition in Region 8, the NDRRMC has yet to report any evacuation.

In Southern Tagalog, all sea voyage in the region, including those coming from the busy Batangas Port, have been canceled by the Philippine Coast Guard due to Quinta, stranding passengers, ships and cargo.

Citing preliminar y reports from the Bicol region where Quinta was being expected to make landfall on Sunday evening, Timbal said that at least 532 families or 1,789 individuals have been preemptively evacuated from the towns of Guinobatan in Albay and Canaman in Camarines Sur. Rene Acosta

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, October 26, 2020

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‘SC to expedite ruling on water firms’ compliance with CWA’

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By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HIEF Justice Diosdado Peralta has assured that the Supreme Court (SC) would expedite its final resolution of its decision compelling water concessionaires to comply with its obligation under the Philippine Clean Water Act to provide wastewater treatment facilities.

It has been more than a year since it issued a decision on August 4, 2019, directed both Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services as well as water regulator Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage System (MWSS) to pay a fine amounting to almost P2 billion for violation of the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act (CWA).

Peralta acknowledged that the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and sewerage systems are vital to the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the waters of Manila Bay. “I will confer with the memberin-charge to fast track the resolution of the motion for reconsideration [MR],” Peralta said when asked by the BusinessMirror on the status of the case.

“You are correct; Maynilad and Manila Water should actually construct the sewerage system. That would really clean the water that comes from the households because unfortunately within the five-year

period that they were supposed to construct the sewerage system…. they did not do anything. That is why the Court imposed fine, that is P200,000 a day until they comply,” Peralta said.

The SC has yet to act on the motions for reconsideration filed by Manila Water and Maynilad of the Court’s 2019 ruling affirming the Court of Appeals decision which found the water concessionaires liable for violation of Section 8 of the Philippine Clean Water Act. The said provision requires MWSS and the 2 concessionaires to provide wastewater treatment facilities and to connect sewage lines in all establishments, including households, to an available sewerage system within five years upon the effectivity of RA 9275 on March 6, 2004.

The Court’s ruling specifically states that “Maynilad shall be jointly and severally liable with the MWSS for a total amount of P921,464.184 and “Manila Water Co. Inc. shall

be jointly and severally liable with MWSS for the same amount.”

The Court said the amount covers the period from May 2009 to date of promulgation.

The petitioners are given 15 days upon receipt of the decision to pay the fine.

A fine of P322,102 a day subject to further 10 percent increase every two years as provided under Section 28 of RA 9275 would be imposed against the petitioners until they have fully complied with the decision.

The Court also imposes a legal interest of 6 percent per year until the decision is fully satisfied.

Manila Bay decision

In their MRs, both Manila Water and Manyilad argued that based on the Court’s ruling on December 18, 2018, or the Manila Bay decision, they have until 2037 to comply with their obligations under Section 8 of the CWA. Maynilad added that it would be “legally and physically impossible” to comply with the SC’s directive within a five-year period.

It pointed out that the Court should not pin the responsibility to provide a centralized sewerage system to water concessionaires only as the law operates under a framework of “collective responsibility.”

The petitioner said other government agencies, such as the Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways and local government units also have obligations under Section 8 of the CWA. It pointed out that aside from

government agencies, private third parties’ actions and inactions have also contributed to the legal impossibility of strict compliance with Section 8 of the CWA as mandated by the SC ruling.

These include the refusal of establishments and households to have their existing sewerage lines connected to available sewerage systems, and the refusal of commercial and industrial establishments to install pre-treatment facilities needed before interconnection.

Based on its financial projections, Maynilad said it would have to spend more than P149 billion using 2019 prices to put up sufficient wastewater facilities to meet 100 percent sewerage coverage by 2022.

Meanwhile, Manila Water also warned that the accelerated establishment of a complete centralized sewerage system is expected to increase water prices by P26.70 per cubic meter or 780.18 percent.

The 2 water firms have asked the conduct of an oral argument on the issue, but the SC has yet to act on it.

Peralta said he was informed by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu that Manila Water and Maynilad are already constructing wastewater treatments both in the south and north side of the metropolis.

“I have not seen the places, but one of these days when we will conduct inspection in accordance with the continuing mandamus that we issued, I think we will try to visit those two places if indeed they already constructed or how much they have done in the construction of the waste waters in Manila Bay, definitely,” Peralta said.

URC income expands in Jan-Sept

By VG Cabuag @villygc

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niversal Robina Corp.

(URC), the food group of the Gokongwei family, said its income in the January-to-September period rose 12 percent to P8.13 billion, from last year's P7.27 billion, mainly on lower foreign exchange losses, as its revenues remained flat.

URC sales for period, reached P99.77 billion, flat from last year's figures as the pandemic deteriorated trading conditions, and resulted in market contractions, in several snack food and beverage categories the company competes in.

“The current environment continues to pose severe challenges

to the business. Weaker consumer sentiment and slowing retail sales in third quarter, plus sluggish macroeconomic fundamentals, are weighing on a slower path to market recovery,” Irwin Lee, the company's president and CEO, said.

“Despite these challenges, we remain focused on operational excellence, business transformation, and investing in building stronger brands and innovation to fuel growth. This focus is helping us perform ahead of market trends. More importantly, this enables us to continue supporting and partnering with our customer and suppliers to serve the needs of our consumers and communities in this time of crisis."

Its income for the July-to-Sep-

tember period alone rose 10 percent to P2.16 billion from last year's P1.96 billion. Revenues, meanwhile, were slightly down to P32.36 billion from last year's P32.74 billion.

For the three quarters, sales of domestic and international branded consumer foods reached P77.4 billion. Domestic revenues were up by a mere 1 percent to P46.5 billion as the growth in powdered beverages, snacks, biscuits and chocolate was offset by the double-digit declines in candies, ready-to-drink beverages and the food service channel.

International revenues reached P30 billion, which was lower by 7 percent in peso terms, as the negative impact of the pandemic in several Asean markets offset the

growth in Oceania.

Sales of agro-industrial and commodities businesses reached P22.3 billion, a 9-percent increase from last year's level as the commodities foods group remained buoyant with a revenue growth of 25 percent.

Sugar and renewables grew 31 percent, while flour rose by 11 percent year-on-year.

These were offset by the agroindustrial group’s sales decline of 7 percent, due to lower volumes in hogs resulting from its downsized operations.

Last month, URC was able to complete the acquisition of Central Azucarera de La Carlota and Roxol Bioenergy Corp. from Roxas Holdings Inc.

FamilyMart to open AREIT acquires Ayala Land mall in Pasig 3 stores in Cebu

F

amilyMart is opening in Cebu with three new unique outlets offering newest of its Japanese food selection in a safer and more accessible way.

Starting October 28, new FamilyMart stores at Phoenix V. Rama, Phoenix Banilad stations, and a stand-alone outlet in Banawa, will be offering FamilyMart Philippines’ best-selling products, including onigiri, ramen, Japanese sandwiches, and the Coffee Creations line.

“There has been a clamor from our loyal customers in Cebu. After we have successfully built up the brand in Metro Manila with the opening of generation 2 stores, and our shift to food service, we are now ready to bring the best of FamilyMart to the Queen City of the South. Made possible through our franchisees, we will innovatively showcase our blockbuster products to Cebuanos in the most convenient and safest format possible,” FamilyMart Philippines General Manager Bernard Suiza said.

“This is our way of providing our business partners another channel for added revenue, while offering more value to customers as we bring our stores closer to more communities.”

T

he board of AREIT Inc., the Ayala Land-led real estate investment trust (REIT), has approved the acquisition of a commercial development called The 30th in Pasig.

The said mall was transferred to AREIT from Ayala Land for the purchase price of P5.1 billion, inclusive of value added tax.

The 30th is a 76,000 square meter prime commercial development along Meralco Avenue in Pasig. The development was completed in 2017 and the office is fully occupied predominantly by business process outsourcing firms. The 30th also has a retail podium operated by Ayala Land, which it will lease from AREIT. The acquisition of The 30th is targeted to be completed within the first quarter of 2021, the company said.

“We are very excited with the growth prospects for AREIT, starting with the recently acquired Cebu building and now with another acquisition of a prime commercial development in Pasig City.

This demonstrates AREIT’s ability to expand its portfolio, add value to its shareholders, while its sponsor Ayala Land reinvests capital for new developments in our country,” Carol T. Mills, AREIT president and CEO, said.

Photo from www.ayalaland.com.ph

The acquisition of The 30th will increase AREIT's portfolio of assets to 246,000 square meters of gross leasable area from 170,000 square meters.

“As AREIT intends to fully fund this acquisition through debt, this will have an accretive effect and increase AREIT’s projected dividends,” it said.

AREIT's board has also approved initiatives to raise up to P6.4 billion to finance future asset acquisitions.

The company has no debt but under the Philippine REIT Law, REITs are allowed to leverage up to 35 percent of total deposited property.

The company’s portfolio consists of Ayala North Exchange, Solaris One and McKinley Exchange all in Makati. These properties cover a total gross leasable area of about 153,000 square meters and have a total occupancy rate of 99.9 percent. VG Cabuag

Coco sector upbeat on VCO potential to fight Covid-19

BusinessMirror file photo

C

oconut industry stakeholders are upbeat on recent trials that show coconut oil has strong potential in fighting Covid-19, as this may provide a much-needed boost to the industry where the country has an advantage.

Marco Reyes, vice chairman of industry advocacy group United Coconut Associations of the Philippines, said there are studies that virgin coconut oil or VCO has antiviral and antibacterial properties once consumed.

VCO falls under the bracket of the consumerrich food, health and wellness segment, worth some $1.8 trillion.

Large companies such as D and L Industries Inc. (DNL) has its own brand called Laurin MCT, which it has been able to produce in large amounts and sell alongside with other smaller producers.

Reyes said VCO is not a vaccine against coronavirus, but fighting the virus starts by consuming monolaurin, a chemical derived from lauric acid and glycerin, both a byproduct of coconut fat.

“It is like having a fierce guard dog, the moment Covid-19 or any virus gets in, you can be sure it is taken care of at the onset,” he said.

The Department of Science and Technology, thru the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, earlier said coconut and VCO compounds such as MCT or medium-chain triglycerides oils not only reduced the coronavirus count by up to 90 percent, but it also improved cell survival of patients with Covid-19. These findings came after six months of initial trials.

Monolaurin is found in coconut oils, VCO and MCT products like those produced by DNL are

said to be effective not only against coronavirus, but also against majority of viruses and bacteria which are lipid-coated, or the membrane that envelops the virus for it to attach to other cells.

Coconuts remain the Philippines top export, generating north of $2 billion yearly to the local economy, while employing an estimated 3.5 million farmers in the country.

“If further research and trials prove positive for VCO as a Covid-19 alternative treatment, this will undoubtedly have an impact not only for patients, but also provide a needed boost for coconut farmers and the industry as a whole,” the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said.

The agency said even before onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, the PCA has long been advocating the health benefits of virgin coconut oil.

Ateneo Professor Emeritus of Science Dr. Fabian Dayrit, one of the experts who pushed for the research and testing of VCO against Covid-19, said a daily dose of coconut oil “is a good precaution to take” against Covid-19.

In the late 90’s and early 2000, Dayrit was also part of the research team which administered a controlled dosage of coconut and monolaurin oils to persons living with HIV. Dayrit noted the patients’ viral count significantly went down, while antibody count increased after being administered with a controlled daily dosage of coconut oil and monolaurin.

“Coconut oil-derived products are functional food; it is the same as taking vitamin supplements daily,” he said.

Other test results are expected to be released by November. VG Cabuag

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, October 26, 2020

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

October 23, 2020

Net Foreign Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Stocks Buy (Sell) FINANCIALs

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG MANULIFE NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

44.8 96.7 74.3 21.65 9.6 42.2 9.5 27.8 52.05 96.05 17.18 98.7 54.6 26.8 0.52 3.72 1.12 0.295 749 0.56 158 1900 1.02

44.95 97 74.4 21.75 9.61 42.25 9.88 27.9 52.45 101.9 17.88 98.85 54.65 27.5 0.58 3.96 1.13 0.31 765 0.59 160 1945 1.05

45 95.85 73.2 21.65 9.63 41.75 9.31 27.5 52.3 96 17.4 98.25 54.6 26.5 0.53 3.87 1.16 0.31 748 0.58 158 1900 1

45 98.3 74.5 21.75 9.65 42.5 9.88 28.1 52.45 96 17.8 99 55 27.5 0.58 3.97 1.16 0.31 760 0.59 159 1900 1.06

44.5 95.85 73.2 21.65 9.53 41.7 9.21 27.5 51.95 96 17 97.8 54.6 26.5 0.53 3.66 1.12 0.295 748 0.55 157.8 1900 1

44.95 97 74.4 21.65 9.6 42.2 9.88 27.8 52.45 96 17.8 98.7 54.65 27.5 0.58 3.72 1.13 0.31 760 0.59 159 1900 1.05

15000 4650230 2134600 112600 626000 1937900 84500 661300 9350 200 191300 1164340 7530 7600 2000 58000 64000 390000 140 295000 4650 15 2103000

671860 451095139 158176131.5 2440965 5996792 81594890 820681 18401720 488936.5 19200 3297792 114913538.5 411838.5 208480 1110 222240 73160 118500 104870 163050 736684 28500 2108490

560125 193024083 97534246 -754550 29714 13365485 -667390 13636 -63519217.5 -316424.5 7800 6000 11000 7945 19000 1990000

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 3.88 3.89 3.78 3.9 3.74 3.89 25025000 95493850 ALSONS CONS 1.28 1.29 1.28 1.29 1.28 1.28 449000 577900 27.95 28 26.7 28 26.6 28 2073100 57252405 ABOITIZ POWER 0.205 0.21 0.194 0.215 0.194 0.21 9570000 1990150 BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN 26.4 26.5 27 27 26.4 26.5 714200 18948690 FIRST PHIL HLDG 60.85 61.1 60.8 61.3 60.7 60.85 87600 5337634.5 294.4 295 295 295 289.2 295 320440 93966664 MERALCO 14.58 14.6 14.5 14.64 14.5 14.6 638400 9322706 MANILA WATER PETRON 3.2 3.21 3.15 3.24 3.15 3.2 2921000 9366540 PETROENERGY 3.37 3.44 3.41 3.44 3.36 3.44 63000 213710 13.44 13.48 13.66 13.88 13.3 13.48 1241900 16907924 PHX PETROLEUM 16.46 16.48 16.22 16.52 16.22 16.46 4639400 76106046 PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER 10.92 10.94 10.92 10.94 10.88 10.92 199100 2169970 VIVANT 13 14.38 13 13.02 13 13 13000 169080 7.94 7.95 7.75 7.99 7.7 7.94 620900 4877014 AGRINURTURE AXELUM 2.8 2.82 2.82 2.82 2.79 2.82 1967000 5517260 CNTRL AZUCARERA 11.4 11.5 11.44 11.5 11.4 11.42 17200 197184 17.86 17.9 17.94 18 17.8 17.9 1091300 19541574 CENTURY FOOD 5 5.12 5.45 5.45 4.98 5 205000 1059650 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 5.95 6.03 6.05 6.2 5.95 5.95 5284100 32195739 EMPERADOR 9.98 10 9.99 10.02 9.96 10 5409300 54079886 65 65.75 64.05 66 64.05 65.75 266370 17421080.5 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.62 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.62 0.63 515000 320370 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.24 1.26 1.23 1.26 1.22 1.26 13409000 16712430 GINEBRA 47 47.2 47.85 47.85 47 47.2 7100 334205 178.5 179 172 179 171.9 179 2351810 415157899 JOLLIBEE 7.63 7.95 7.51 7.97 7.51 7.97 300 2345 MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP 5.83 5.84 5.58 5.85 5.58 5.83 918000 5270688 6.48 6.49 6.35 6.5 6.35 6.49 1318600 8518794 SHAKEYS PIZZA 1.21 1.23 1.2 1.22 1.19 1.22 3043000 3692250 ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP 4.65 4.95 4.93 4.93 4.93 4.93 1000 4930 ROXAS HLDG 1.83 1.85 1.8 1.83 1.8 1.83 109000 198850 0.107 0.108 0.105 0.109 0.105 0.109 430000 46030 SWIFT FOODS 141.3 141.7 140.1 141.7 139.5 141.7 2335290 328921336 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.79 0.8 0.79 0.8 0.78 0.79 2143000 1694710 VICTORIAS 2.23 2.34 2.23 2.34 2.23 2.34 8000 17950 50.6 51.5 51 51 50.6 51 390 19886 CONCRETE A CONCRETE B 53 53.9 53.9 53.9 53.9 53.9 60 3234 CEMEX HLDG 1.6 1.61 1.63 1.65 1.6 1.6 11614000 18834980 DAVINCI CAPITAL 4.45 4.51 4.44 4.51 4.44 4.45 9000 40330 14.5 14.68 14.64 14.68 14.4 14.68 152100 2219762 EAGLE CEMENT 7.51 7.64 7.7 7.7 7.5 7.51 249000 1884656 EEI CORP HOLCIM 5.75 5.76 5.83 5.94 5.73 5.76 2457300 14312089 7.54 7.55 7.45 7.68 7.44 7.55 3315300 25102243 MEGAWIDE 8.14 8.28 8.3 8.3 8.14 8.14 84600 690748 PHINMA TKC METALS 0.71 0.72 0.71 0.71 0.7 0.71 95000 67280 VULCAN INDL 0.8 0.81 0.83 0.83 0.79 0.8 693000 553350 2.01 2.03 2.07 2.07 2.05 2.05 3000 6170 CROWN ASIA EUROMED 1.91 1.92 1.88 1.93 1.88 1.91 1001000 1910670 MABUHAY VINYL 4.3 4.37 4.35 4.37 4.35 4.37 3000 13090 PRYCE CORP 4.12 4.15 4.15 4.15 4.12 4.15 260000 1076940 20.4 20.65 20.95 20.95 20.35 20.9 388000 8016475 CONCEPCION 2.47 2.48 2.51 2.51 2.47 2.47 5783000 14362530 GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR 5.96 5.97 6.17 6.17 5.9 5.96 368600 2221421 IONICS 0.97 0.98 0.96 0.99 0.96 0.99 182000 179770 4.86 5.17 4.8 5.19 4.8 5.18 2400 11637 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.42 1.43 1.4 1.44 1.39 1.42 2524000 3587110 CIRTEK HLDG 5.59 5.6 5.54 5.67 5.54 5.6 2129900 11968296

9546200 3840 21115425 -24100 9976230 -4982095.5 -29751474 -224270 -844640 26810 539181.9998 8752 248365 84000 2698662 -291270 -8876818 1975530 4156692.5 -6750 -131750 13062277 201095 232099 -61850 -18450 47769193 3160 4460 103300 -23392 -152015 288528 -9001436 104520 -75220 -226130 -194260 39456 153949.9997 44463.9998

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.485 0.49 0.49 0.495 0.485 0.485 5950000 2913550 ASIABEST GROUP 7.42 7.5 7.32 7.5 7.32 7.5 3500 25910 773.5 775 751 776 751 775 474180 366370880 AYALA CORP 46.85 47 45.5 47.15 45.5 47 1415800 65963310 ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL 8.6 8.62 7.92 8.64 7.91 8.6 21475000 178182903 AYALA LAND LOG 2.88 2.91 2.88 2.91 2.8 2.9 2420000 6941180 6.3 6.56 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 900 5670 ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.62 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.62 0.64 643000 399980 ATN HLDG A 0.81 0.82 0.8 0.82 0.8 0.82 1373000 1108630 ATN HLDG B 0.8 0.82 0.84 0.84 0.82 0.82 81000 66620 5.18 5.19 5.15 5.25 5.15 5.18 7207000 37332287 COSCO CAPITAL 4.55 4.56 4.53 4.64 4.53 4.56 16830000 76881880 DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV 9.36 9.5 9.48 9.5 9.4 9.5 18000 170154 FORUM PACIFIC 0.204 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.209 0.209 790000 165620 449.2 449.8 438 450 437.6 449.8 599900 268211564 GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV 3.36 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3000 10500 JG SUMMIT 65.8 66 64.95 66.35 64.9 66 1777280 117216625 5.11 5.5 4.71 7.21 4.71 5.11 5547000 33005580 KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR 0.68 0.71 0.64 0.72 0.63 0.68 6117000 4136540 LOPEZ HLDG 2.6 2.64 2.6 2.65 2.57 2.6 697000 1813270 LT GROUP 13.02 13.06 11.96 13.28 11.74 13.06 11601200 147338090 0.48 0.49 0.49 0.495 0.48 0.48 140000 68000 MABUHAY HLDG MJC INVESTMENTS 2 2.1 1.99 2 1.99 2 19000 37980 METRO PAC INV 4.04 4.06 4.01 4.14 4.01 4.04 37371000 152083110 PRIME MEDIA 0.79 0.8 0.79 0.81 0.79 0.8 34000 27490 1 1.02 0.98 1.01 0.98 1 146000 145840 SOLID GROUP 163 170 163 163 163 163 280 45640 SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS 970 971 950 989 950 970 604860 590546290 105.9 106 106 107.8 105.8 106 352090 37364648 SAN MIGUEL CORP 0.66 0.68 0.67 0.67 0.65 0.67 532000 349860 SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER 126.5 126.6 126 126.6 125.2 126.6 690 87045 ZEUS HLDG 0.14 0.144 0.139 0.139 0.139 0.139 40000 5560

-200950 133919825 7542630 15421163 -293540 41000 -237162 -10970420 92010 -5838042 65722250.5 -5120 -644530 -34052166 12053320.0004 12120 -11410 170196450 504523 -25200 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.58 0.59 0.58 0.6 0.56 0.59 560000 329730 ANCHOR LAND 7.58 7.99 7.51 8 7.51 7.99 4600 36131 33.9 33.95 33.5 34.1 33.15 33.95 20080900 676870765 AYALA LAND 1.04 1.05 1.02 1.05 1.02 1.04 135000 139770 ARANETA PROP AREIT RT 25.6 25.65 25.75 25.75 25.5 25.65 2425400 62062275 BELLE CORP 1.46 1.48 1.47 1.47 1.42 1.46 305000 437090 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.81 0.79 0.81 5411000 4350070 A BROWN 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 13000 10220 CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES 0.136 0.137 0.132 0.137 0.131 0.136 2760000 368930 CEBU HLDG 5.83 5.85 5.82 5.83 5.82 5.83 30000 174750 4.66 4.68 4.62 4.68 4.62 4.68 1463000 6808970 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.365 0.37 0.365 0.37 0.365 0.365 1980000 725650 CENTURY PROP CYBER BAY 0.38 0.395 0.395 0.395 0.375 0.395 3960000 1533600 DOUBLEDRAGON 14.48 14.5 14.8 14.86 14.46 14.5 660000 9611614 5.5 5.53 5.45 5.53 5.4 5.53 120700 660550 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.29 0.295 0.3 0.3 0.285 0.295 4260000 1239000 FILINVEST LAND 0.96 0.97 0.96 0.98 0.96 0.96 10047000 9727920 0.77 0.78 0.77 0.78 0.76 0.77 565000 435090 GLOBAL ESTATE 7.67 7.8 7.9 7.9 7.6 7.8 98400 762717 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 1.39 1.4 1.38 1.4 1.37 1.4 1974000 2746180 CITY AND LAND 0.7 0.71 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.69 68000 46920 3.14 3.15 3.11 3.15 3.09 3.14 28196000 88234470 MEGAWORLD 0.36 0.365 0.37 0.38 0.36 0.36 77550000 28380550 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.31 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.33 0.33 50000 16600 PRIMEX CORP 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.19 1.15 1.18 603000 702390 16.06 16.1 16.06 16.12 15.72 16.1 7008700 112399626 ROBINSONS LAND 0.229 0.234 0.228 0.234 0.228 0.234 1650000 382860 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.53 1.55 1.52 1.54 1.52 1.54 78000 119650 2.66 2.68 2.66 2.68 2.66 2.66 46000 122940 SHANG PROP 1.9 1.95 1.85 1.98 1.85 1.98 26000 49400 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 34.25 34.5 33.5 34.5 33.5 34.5 19261900 658849590 VISTAMALLS 3.98 3.99 4.08 4.08 3.96 3.99 150000 600520 1.21 1.22 1.27 1.27 1.21 1.22 3015000 3711760 SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND 3.4 3.41 3.4 3.44 3.35 3.41 5569000 18962830

117180 162771570 4120 -2467185 -14630 -674630 68000 -5376930 -131300 -4474294 1096 -834600 -1432580 -38000 246089.9997 12409940 296800 14649538 -72360 188297850 -7869640

SERVICES ABS CBN 11.64 11.68 12 12.18 11.3 11.64 635100 7513938 GMA NETWORK 5.1 5.11 5.05 5.11 5.05 5.1 530400 2698246 0.395 0.4 0.405 0.41 0.4 0.4 780000 312550 MANILA BULLETIN MLA BRDCASTING 11.16 11.38 11 11.88 11 11.06 12600 144176 GLOBE TELECOM 2018 2020 2060 2096 2018 2020 77775 159064950 25584410 PLDT 1337 1338 1335 1342 1322 1337 110145 147129155 -25705175 0.053 0.054 0.054 0.055 0.053 0.054 21990000 1179610 APOLLO GLOBAL DFNN INC 3.05 3.09 3.06 3.09 3.05 3.09 23000 70290 -45850 DITO CME HLDG 6.61 6.62 6.4 6.64 6.36 6.61 46141300 299934382 4683118 IMPERIAL 1.36 1.42 1.45 1.45 1.35 1.36 15000 21200 0.085 0.088 0.085 0.089 0.085 0.089 1150000 98600 ISLAND INFO JACKSTONES 1.61 1.64 1.59 1.65 1.58 1.61 36000 58230 NOW CORP 4.88 4.89 5 5.01 4.87 4.89 9675000 47588360 -253970 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.236 0.237 0.237 0.237 0.231 0.237 3510000 819870 2.58 2.6 2.55 2.63 2.53 2.58 1112000 2858310 -276120 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 8.95 9 9.03 9.03 8.9 8.95 67500 603937 ASIAN TERMINALS 15.6 15.68 16.34 16.34 15 15.68 112300 1722646 592208 5.89 5.9 5.85 5.9 5.77 5.89 4643400 27195923 498300 CHELSEA 41.15 41.65 41.05 42.1 40.7 41.15 852200 35312250 -11003180 CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER 115.7 115.8 115.6 117.3 115.2 115.7 1650010 191081027 4289243 LBC EXPRESS 14.1 14.6 14.3 14.3 14.1 14.1 2500 35290 0.97 1 1.02 1.02 0.97 1.01 273000 267000 1020 LORENZO SHIPPNG 5.4 5.41 5.28 5.49 5.26 5.4 9994200 53711602 -355331 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 1.89 1.91 1.94 1.94 1.89 1.91 375000 715740 METROALLIANCE B 1.92 1.99 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 3000 5700 7 7.1 7.02 7.08 6.97 7 152700 1068199 31500 PAL HLDG 1.28 1.29 1.28 1.31 1.27 1.28 4816000 6198970 88700 HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL 1.14 1.21 1.11 1.15 1.11 1.14 35000 39630 0.027 0.028 0.027 0.028 0.026 0.028 38900000 1050100 BOULEVARD HLDG DISCOVERY WORLD 1.74 1.84 1.94 1.94 1.7 1.78 169000 302790 GRAND PLAZA 10.26 11.94 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 300 3150 WATERFRONT 0.405 0.41 0.42 0.42 0.41 0.41 1110000 461650 6.49 6.99 6.49 6.49 6.49 6.49 100 649 649 CENTRO ESCOLAR 505 560 500 564 500 564 520 261280 FAR EASTERN U IPEOPLE 7.46 7.68 7.4 7.46 7.4 7.45 27300 202185 STI HLDG 0.32 0.325 0.32 0.325 0.315 0.325 5620000 1804250 6500 3.39 3.4 3.31 3.45 3.26 3.41 977000 3283100 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 7.42 7.51 7.51 7.62 7.4 7.42 6267500 46898075 -22503978 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.86 1.9 1.89 1.89 1.86 1.89 35000 65650 5670 LEISURE AND RES 1.54 1.56 1.56 1.57 1.51 1.55 867000 1330700 -324350 0.335 0.34 0.345 0.35 0.335 0.34 14500000 4949600 -466900.0002 PREMIUM LEISURE 7.05 7.3 7.79 7.79 7.06 7.06 13900 98344 PHIL RACING ALLHOME 6.82 6.89 6.57 6.95 6.5 6.88 2716400 18412157 10080200 1.44 1.45 1.43 1.45 1.41 1.44 1188000 1701120 -20300 METRO RETAIL 42.5 42.8 42.85 43.15 42.3 42.5 4516800 193133685 -91951555 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 66.1 66.15 66.5 66.7 65.9 66.15 1059150 70,069,914.5( 30,105,339.5004) PHIL SEVEN CORP 110.2 114 113 114 110.4 110.8 496570 55150536 -10162040 1.15 1.17 1.15 1.17 1.15 1.15 4835000 5,601,060( 1,669,909.9997) SSI GROUP 15.02 15.12 15.3 15.32 15.04 15.04 8285100 124991312 -71379922 WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP 0.3 0.305 0.305 0.305 0.3 0.305 540000 162600 9000 EASYCALL 7.07 7.13 7.07 7.15 7 7.13 69600 493092 340 370 350 370 350 370 440 157150 GOLDEN BRIA IPM HLDG 3.51 3.75 3.79 3.79 3.5 3.5 39000 142340 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.33 0.335 0.295 0.33 0.295 0.33 63860000 20318550 869900 SBS PHIL CORP 4.17 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.16 4.2 73000 306400 -281400

MINING & OIL ATOK 9.67 9.85 9.7 10.16 9.65 9.85 129400 1280435 29980 1.86 1.87 1.9 1.92 1.86 1.86 14399000 27081640 616470 APEX MINING 0.001 0.0011 0.0011 0.0011 0.001 0.001 462000000 472700 ABRA MINING ATLAS MINING 4.2 4.22 4.2 4.22 4.18 4.2 242000 1016370 BENGUET A 2.78 2.87 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 2000 5780 0.26 0.265 0.26 0.27 0.26 0.27 1370000 363200 COAL ASIA HLDG CENTURY PEAK 2.47 2.53 2.48 2.53 2.48 2.53 31000 78380 DIZON MINES 7.33 7.4 7.34 7.43 7.33 7.35 1600 11753 FERRONICKEL 1.34 1.35 1.32 1.4 1.32 1.34 27269000 36775780 511560 0.24 0.245 0.248 0.248 0.24 0.24 90000 21710 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.152 0.153 0.151 0.153 0.149 0.152 9090000 1378540 LEPANTO B 0.15 0.153 0.152 0.153 0.15 0.15 810000 122210 6080 MANILA MINING A 0.0098 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 2000000 22000 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 400000 4000 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES 0.98 1 1.02 1.02 0.97 0.99 5736000 5685100 -238690 NIHAO 2.6 2.61 2.62 2.69 2.59 2.6 451000 1177230 -156800 3.82 3.85 3.98 3.98 3.82 3.82 13644000 52822540 -1950270 NICKEL ASIA 0.335 0.345 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 10000 3400 OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA 0.67 0.68 0.69 0.7 0.67 0.68 1136000 773380 PX MINING 5.59 5.6 5.45 5.68 5.42 5.6 2011400 11205011 2987592 11.68 11.7 11.54 11.9 11.52 11.7 2209900 25,847,932( 9,873,765.9996) SEMIRARA MINING 0.0052 0.0053 0.0052 0.0052 0.0051 0.0052 7000000 36200 UNITED PARAGON ACE ENEXOR 6.28 6.35 6.18 6.54 6.16 6.28 103300 656436 25960 ORNTL PETROL A 0.0097 0.0099 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 2000000 19400 0.0097 0.0099 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 11000000 106700 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL 0.0086 0.0089 0.0087 0.0088 0.0085 0.0085 48000000 412300 PXP ENERGY 11.16 11.2 10.84 11.52 10.54 11.16 8180200 92251830 -846802

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 101 102.4 102 102 101 101 2150 217200 AC PREF B1 515 519.5 515 515 515 515 20 10300 103 103.2 103.2 103.2 103.2 103.2 1200 123840 ALCO PREF B AC PREF B2R 530 550 527.5 530 527.5 530 320 169550 DD PREF 100.8 100.9 101 101.6 100.9 100.9 53040 5357405 GTCAP PREF A 1005 1050 1005 1005 1005 1005 3570 3587850 101.5 101.6 101.5 101.6 101.5 101.6 18300 1858770 MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A 98.15 100.3 98.1 100.2 98 100.2 20390 1999333 PNX PREF 3B 100.3 101 101 101 101 101 4500 454500 PNX PREF 4 990 997 993 997.5 993 996.5 60 59695 1030 1050 1050 1050 1050 1050 10 10500 PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A 1062 1063 1059 1062 1059 1062 7115 7546785 PCOR PREF 3B 1080 1090 1090 1090 1090 1090 320 348800 SMC PREF 2C 78.15 78.2 78.2 78.2 78 78.15 10810 844691 101620 76.7 77 77 77 77 77 10 770 SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F 78 78.2 78 78 78 78 1750 136500 -78000 SMC PREF 2H 76.2 77.5 76.4 76.4 76.2 76.2 53400 4074490 76.4 78.95 76.4 79 76.35 78.95 147300 11598155 SMC PREF 2I

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 11.16 11.4 11.6 11.6 11.14 11.14 7900 91364 GMA HLDG PDR 5 5.19 4.95 5 4.95 5 291000 1454290 -1070000

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.84 0.86 0.84 0.87 0.84 0.86 75000 63560

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 11.98 12 11.24 12 11.02 12 1615900 18812564 -825676 ITALPINAS 2.66 2.67 2.58 2.67 2.55 2.66 4164000 10870120 159750 5.28 5.35 5.4 5.4 5.3 5.36 23200 123368 KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE 2.2 2.51 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 6000 13200 MERRYMART 3.31 3.32 3.25 3.36 3.25 3.31 21998000 72734800 7101130

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 97.5 97.75 95.75 97.75 95.5 97.75 38180 3711743 559973

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Angkas: Motorcycle taxis will fill public transport gap

A

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

ngkas hopes that the guidelines for the return of app-based motorcycle taxi apps will be issued soon so that players can help in ferrying Filipinos from one point to another to help the government implement its economic recovery plan.

George Royeca, the company’s chief transport advocate, said his group is ready to operate, noting the company’s efforts to train drivers on how Angkas would operate in the new normal.

“Angkas has been through a very interesting journey. Safety has always been our primordial concern it’s in our DNA. Over the months we’ve really focused on how to make motorcycle taxis safe during this

pandemic, and i think we’ve accomplished that,” he said via SMS. He said motorcycle taxis would be crucial in addressing the gap in public transportation during the pandemic, explaining that only 40 percent of public transportation is available for 60 percent of the workforce that are required to physically go back to work.

“The third phase of the national economic plan is really about eco-

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK Last week

Share prices soared last week, with the main index reaching 6,400 points as investors took their position ahead of the third quarter reporting season.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained 585.59 points to close at 6,484.06 points.

The main index was up all week long, gaining at least 1 percent per trade and went as high as 2.7 percent.

Analysts said investors are preparing for the third quarter financial reporting of large firms that will start this week.

Foreign investors were net buyers at P20.58 million as average daily trading also soared to P7.88 billion.

Broker 2TradeAsia said the average turn-over was up 54 percent for the week, but this is still relatively tepid compared with the rallies in the previous year.

“We note that this pace is more sustainable, especially amid uncertainties of the macro backdrop today,” it said.

All other subindices ended in the green led by the All Shares index that closed 278.04 points higher to end at 3,859.95 points, the Financials index gained 97.02 to 1,274.74, the Industrial index added 611.88 points to 8,628.44, the Holding Firms index rose 686.63 to 6,722.05, the Property index soared 362.49 to 3,137.75, the Services index increased 18.66 to 1,460.71 and the Mining and Oil index was up 307.52 to 7,705.73.

For the week, gainers led losers 168 to 65 and 19 shares remained unchanged.

Top gainers were PXP Energy Corp., Discovery World Corp., LT Group Inc., Keppel Philippines Properties Inc., Jollibee Foods Corp., PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. Top losers were Atok-Big Wedge Co. Inc., Apex Mining Co. Inc., Philippine Racing Club Inc., Abra Mining and Industrial Corp., Manila Mining Corp. B. ACE Enexor Inc. and Now Corp.

This week

Share prices may go down this week as investors may decide to sell to cash in on the gains they made in the previous week.

“With the quick surge, however, the local bourse is now at the overbought territory making it susceptible to profit taking. Thus, we may see a pull back in next week’s trading. Still, the PSEi may hold its ground at the 6,000 to 6,100 support range buoyed by optimism towards the further easing of restrictions on economic activities,” Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc., said.

“Investors could also look towards the upcoming data for further cues including the Philippines’s September money supply and bank lending data, and third quarter corporate reports. The local market’s resistance is seen at 6,600."

2Tradeasia, meanwhile, said the main index's next hurdle is to go past the price gap of 6,600 points and 6,750 points, which it made during the stock market collapse last March.

“We continue to harp that in investing, the key is time and not timing. No one can perfectly jump in on market valleys and cash out on peaks, but decent enough win rates can be met by simply riding out market cycles while holding on to reliable value plays,” it said, adding that the goal should be the expected market bounce in 2021 and 2022.

It sees immediate support for the main index at 6,000 points and resistance between 6,750 and 6,500.

Stock picks

Broker Regina Capital Development Corp. advised investors to take profits on the stock of Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) after its successive days of winning streaks that saw it breaking the past resistance levels and all of its moving averages.

“At this point, all indicators are pointing to JFC already being heavily overbought which could prompt profit taking soon. However, it looks like buying momentum is starting to wane; volatility is extremely high relative to the past few weeks. Should profit-taking occur, the selldown would be quick. Now would be as good a time as any to slowly take profits,” it said.

Jollibee shares closed Friday at P179 apiece.

Meanwhile, the broker gave the same recommendation on the stock of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) as it broke out past the resistance P67.60, closing at a high of P69.

“This brings the next resistance to P69.80, its 200-day moving average. Indicators are all on strong buy signs. It is a few points away from being considered overbought, [while the stock] is displaying strong buying pressure, but with slowly waning momentum. Volatility has only just started to pick up. Since the stock has yet to be deemed overbought by most indicators, the upturn may carry over [in the succeeding trading sessions]. Watch out for possible pullbacks should BPI tread closer to P69.80,” it said.

BPI shares closed last week at P74.40 apiece. VG Cabuag

nomic recovery. We really need to co-exist with the virus and we really want to open the economy and save jobs, slowly and safely as well," Royeca said.

“We don’t talk about reopening the economy if there’s no public transportation so we really need to constantly increase the supply in the different modes of transportation as safely as possible so that we can accommodate this restart or rebuilding of our nation.”

He ensured that Angkas will follow the protocols and guidelines that will be set by the regulators, noting that his group has already rolled out several health safety initiatives.

“Angkas is going to be a good benefit to the riding public. First of all it’s open air ventilation, it’s point to point. We’ve spent so many months working with the government and medical experts to come up with the necessary safety protocols to ensure each ride is safe," he said.

mutual funds

“In fact, over a month ago we focused on the barriers and did a pilot study during the MECQ [modified enhanced community quarantine] when we gave free rides to medical frotnliners, and after 10,000 rides, there wasn’t a single issue on road safety or transmission of the virus.”

Last week, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases gave the go signal for the return of motorcycle taxis on the road, after the House of Representatives approved the said initiative.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board along with the Interagency Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group will help craft the guidelines for the resumption of operations of motorcycle taxis.

“We hope to be ferrying tens and thousands of commuters very very soon,” Royeca said.

Angkas’ fleet has over 30,000 riders.

October 23, 2020

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 206.33 -19.36% -10.69% -4.01% -18.07% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.1165 -25.45% -11.71% -2.68% -19.21% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.8043 -27.99% -14.72% -6.03% -23.76% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7147 -25.14% -10.93% n.a. -20.41% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6942 -19.98% n.a. n.a. -18.26% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.4281 -18.55% -8.97% -4.24% -16.89% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6956 -20.27% -10.46% n.a.

-18.51% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 87.46 -23.27% n.a. n.a. -15.27% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 41.7484 -20.16% -9.14% -2.74% -18.59% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 444.18 -18.23% -8.71% -3.14% -16.63% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5 0.9593 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-6.87% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.0528 -19.92% -8.91% -2.71% -18.19% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 30.9725 -19.98% -8.5% -2.28% -18.27% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8209 -21.02% n.a. n.a. -19.37% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.2649 -19.77% -8.62% -2.03% -18.35% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 713.27 -19.63% -8.54% -2.14% -18.2% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6445 -28.05% -12.45% -6.16% -24.3% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2586 -24.17% -10.31% -3.71% -22.58% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8172 -19.84% -8.82% -2.22% -18.35% United Fund, Inc. -a 2.9793 -20.05% -7.86% -1.83% -18.45% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 95.7702 -19.53% -8.25% -1.38% -18.11% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.086 11.68% 0.2% 3.47% 5.6% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.5555 19.95% 8.47% n.a. 12.82% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.5728 -1.56% -5.27% -2.55% 0.64% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.1014 -7.11% -4.83% -0.99% -3.65% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.4589 -7.52% -3.56% -2.45% -6.56% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1865 -21.17% n.a. n.a.

-18.38% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.8762 -4.65% -1.62% 0.58% -4.35% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.5641 -6.35% -3.07% -0.54% -5.94% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 15.9434 -6.45% -3.17% -0.6% -6% -8.57% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 1.9698 -4.17% -0.65% -7.18% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.3513 -14.04% -5.4% -1.85% -13.26% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9617 -6.06% n.a. n.a.

-5.32% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8669 -14.42% n.a. n.a.

-13% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8461 -16.22% n.a. n.a. -14.81% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8225 -16.81% -6.49% -2.71% -15.62% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03927 2.67% 2.87% 2.12% 2.8% 1.23% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.0713 7.95% 3.21% 5.86% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.2422 12.7% 6.11% 6.31% 8.48% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.1778 6.34% 3.16% n.a.

4.35% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 368.92 3.84% 3.09% 2.64% 3.07% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9531 1.69% 0.95% 0.29% 2.69% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2048 3.68% 4.72% 4.93% 2.79% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2923 3.6% 2.62% 2.18% 3.1% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4471 4.69% 3.33% 1.96% 3.73% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 7.35% 4.18% 2.62% 5.86% 4.6292 Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.312 5.51% 4.36% 2.47% 4.4% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9542 5.44% 4.24% 2.33% 4.38% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.037 8.91% 3.62% 1.97% 7.54% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1803 4.72% 4.58% 2.84% 3.4% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7429 3.77% 3.92% 2.26% 2.46% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $480.29 3.08% 2.6% 2.78% 2.55% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є217.75 -0.96% 0.76% 1.2% -0.93% 3.35% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2476 3.78% 3.25% 2.59% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0264 2.33% 1.83% 1.59% 2.33% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0894 -0.57% 0.22% 0.16% -0.38% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5094 4.56% 3.85% 3.29% 4.41% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0618264 2.64% 2.48% 2.18% 2.53% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1891 0.73% 1.92% 2.28% 0.44% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 129.35 3.46% 3.33% 2.54% 2.8% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.046 2% n.a. n.a.

1.92% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2921 2.74% 3.02% 2.61% 2.14% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0505 1.59% n.a. n.a.

1.17% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.0351 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.95 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-4.04%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019.

4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund). 7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.com.ph to see the

latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

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Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Perspectives

Aligning business goals with security imperatives

M

any organizations have spent massively on cyber security, both on tooling and personnel. As businesses feel the economic impact of the pandemic, the drive to cut back on those costs is mounting.

In that sense, the cost of security has became a major focus—perhaps as much as security itself. In an effort to manage costs and ensure that business and security priorities are aligned, companies are automating significant portions of their cyber functionality by putting digitized cyber risk management processes in place to ensure they ladder up to the organization’s top-line operational and business strategies.

The landscape as we see it

In reviewing many risk models, we find the concept of business-driven risk scenarios to be lacking. Certainly, the pandemic has revealed a significant disconnect between the businesses perception of value of technology and the cyber risks that come with adoption. The viewpoint of the business needs to go handin-hand with the viewpoint of the cyber security team and that is not the case at many organizations. The identification of these risk scenarios should be led by the business.

The process would be much more effective if it were informed by a model that enables business leads to better understand the impact security controls may have on those risk scenarios. Many companies don’t get that insight consistently, making it challenging to formulate a fluid ongoing relationship between the controls and the business.

In the cyber community, we try to plan for worst-case scenarios, but many incidents happen in relative obscurity and are not earth-shattering, let alone business-shattering. From that perspective, we see many companies working to embed security, not only within the second line of defense, but within the more operationally focused first line as well as the audit-driven third line.

Larger organizations have spent, over the last 10 years to 15 years, big money on IT security. The pandemic has demonstrated the increasing role of cyber security in the new reality, but there’s a need to deliver that role without raising the cost.

That requires them to develop a new risk-based model focused on lowering costs through an automated ap-

proach to security and putting the right people in the right roles.

What we believe you should do about it

Think holistically about where you need to invest. Consider what risk scenarios need to be in place, and what controls are most relevant.

Whatever plans companies had for digital transformation before the pandemic, they’re now understanding a need to accelerate these in the new reality, while also worrying about the cost pressures. This suggests they should also explore automating their cyber and risk management processes.

Many incidents would be quite easy to detect if security policies and controls were embedded in the business. Bottom line, companies are encouraged to integrate cyber security across all three lines of defense, rather than operating in silos. Leverage threat intelligence from across multiple functions such as fraud and financial crime, and integrate playbooks and tooling to respond at speed to the changing cyber threat landscape and patterns of attack.

Make security an end-to-end priority. The foundational action is to establish an ongoing dialogue between the security organization and the rest of the enterprise to ensure security is in sync with the business in terms of strategic and operational planning.

To that end, implement engineering approaches—such as secure by design and privacy by design— that are intended to introduce security into the daily mindset of the DevOps team as they craft new applications and services.

Ultimately, we’re hoping to see cyber security professionals move away from being perceived as an IT-driven function. As such, the cyber team needs to be businessled and business-aware. Otherwise, that symbiotic handshake between business and cyber is never going to solidify.

The excerpt was taken from “KPMG Thought Leadership, Consumers and the New Reality.” © 2020 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member-firm of the KPMG network of independent member-firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines.

For more information on KPMG in the Philippines, you may visit www.kpmg.com.ph.

LandBank to list bonds for environmental projects

T

he Land Bank of the Philippines is set to list its P3-billion bond offering with the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. next month.

In a recent statement, the staterun bank announced the launch of its sustainability bonds aimed at raising funds for environment and social projects.

The peso-denominated fixedrate bonds due in 2024 have tenor of two years. The offering will be issued in minimum denominations of P50,000 and in multiples of P10,000 thereafter.

The offer period runs from October 26 to November 6.

LandBank tapped Standard Chartered Bank to be the sole lead arranger and bookrunner of the transaction. Both banks are the selling agents.

“With the pandemic posing both as a pressing challenge and opportunity, it strengthens LandBank’s commitment all the more, with a sharpened focus in supporting sectors and activities for sustainable recovery,” LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said.

The proceeds from the transaction will finance loan programs

supporting green and social projects identified in the bank’s Sustainable Finance Framework.

Among the green projects are climate change mitigation and adaptation, natural resource and biodiversity conservation and pollution prevention and control.

Meanwhile, LandBank cited programs for basic infrastructure, food security, essential services, affordable housing, employment generation, and food security as some of the social projects.

Recently, the state-owned bank stated that it will be providing a 60day grace period on loan and creditcard payments following the passage of Republic Act 11494, a law aiming “to accelerate the recovery and bolster the resiliency of the Philippine economy.”

The one-time moratorium covers all existing, current and outstanding loans falling due from September 15 to December 31.

“LandBank understands how providing loan relief can significantly support our clients during these difficult times,” Borromeo said. “We look to ease their financial concerns as we continue navigating the challenges of this pandemic.”

Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Monday, October 26, 2020 B3

Study: PHL banks score low in climate change policies

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

I

@Tyronepiad

N Asia, Philippine banks scored lower than the average in terms of climate change policies despite the country being the most climatevulnerable in the world, a study cited.

According to the Fair Finance Asia (FFA) Philippines 2020 Policy Assessment, local banks received a score of 2 percent out of 100 percent in climate policies. It is lower than the average of 4 percent based on evaluation of 45 banks from six Asian countries.

FFA surveyed BDO Unibank Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) in the Philippines.

While BDO and LandBank are “positioning themselves as champions for green energy,” both were

scored very low in terms of climate and nature, FFA noted.

“The only policy commitments outlined in bank policies were focused on ensuring the companies the banks invested in disclose (LandBank) or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions [BPI, RCBC], or switch from using fossil fuels to using renewable energy sources [BDO],” the report explained.

Juliette Laplane, senior researcher at Fair Finance Guide International and Amsterdam-based research group Profundo, said the surveyed banks in the Philippines have no policies excluding the use of coal and

other fuel fossils.

“Even if some of the banks disclosed some measures to finance renewable energy, there is really no strong incentive to support clients and encourage their clients to switch from fossil fuel to renewable energy,” Laplane said.

With this, the report said that the major banks should step up their climate policies because they will be dealing with the economic impact of climate change in the future.

FFA is advising the banks to incorporate environmental, social and governance criteria in their policies and operations. This, in addition to making sure the companies they are investing in are complying with international sustainability standards.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Supervisory Policy Subsector Managing Director Lyn I. Javier agreed that the Philippine banks need to improve their sustainability initiatives. In April, the BSP inked its Sustainable Finance Framework amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“As banks rethink, review and

revisit their strategies and business models, this is the best time to consider sustainability principles in the vision and strategic setting of the banking industry,” Javier said.

The BSP official also emphasized that banks should also keep in mind the financial risk of not factoring in climate change in their strategies.

Citing a study, Javier said that increased rainfall in the country is seen prompting a surge in nonperforming loans and assets.

Javier said that the banks should be able to identify their exposure relating to the matter at hand and how this can affect the bottom-line figures.

“We want banks to address, understand and recognize that climate change brings forth financial risk,” she said. “It leads to potential losses in their balance sheets and income statements.”

While the Philippine scored lower in climate policies, it ranked highest in terms of financial inclusion at 44 percent. Local banks scored 12.8 percent and 6.2 percent in transparency and gender, respectively.

Govt keen on privatizing, operating mining assets

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

T

he government is keen on privatizing and operating its mining assets to boost revenues, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

The DOF also said efforts are now underway to “untangle” the legal issues surrounding these assets.

The DOF said the Privatization and Management Office (PMO) noted lawsuits filed by the private sector proponents in the operations of these mining assets have hampered efforts by the government to privatize them.

“We are forming an interagency team to study ways on how we can clear the path for these assets to be privatized and revive their operations,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said.

The interagency team will be composed of representatives from the DOF, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the DOF-attached Privatization and Management Office (PMO), and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

The DOF said a PMO memorandum identified five state-owned mining assets that are under litigation could be privatized and operated.

These assets include the following: the copper-gold project of the Maricalum Mining Corp.

(Maricalum Mining) in Negros Occidental; the nickel mines of the Nonoc Mining and Industrial Corp. (Nonoc Mining) in Surigao del Norte; and the gold- and copper-

rich North Davao Mining Property (North Davao Mining) in Davao del Norte.

The PMO also said the copper mines of the Basay Mining Corp.

(Basay Mining) in Negros Oriental and the nickel mine once operated by the Marinduque Mining and Industrial Corp. (MMIC Bagacay Mine) in Western Samar have also been unoperational because of legal concerns on how these assets should be disposed.

Dominguez recently told business leaders during the 46th Philippine Business Conference and Expo that the government is keen on reviving the mining industry to create alternative employment in the countryside.

“Definitely, we are pushing for the revival of the mining industry,” Dominguez said during the virtual conference.

According to the PMO, DENR Administrative Order (AO) 2012-07, states that the MGB shall formulate the guidelines for the privatization of mines through public bidding.

However, DOF said this needs to be harmonized with the PMO’s mandate to dispose of state assets for a successful tender.

The DOF explained that Maricalum Mining, led by its president, Teodoro G. Bernardino, has been tied up in litigation since 1995. However, the winning bidder, G Holding Inc. (GHI), refused to pay the balance of the price of its purchased shares under its Purchase and Sale Agreement with the government.

The agency said in the last General Information Sheet (GIS) filed by GHI with the Securities and Exchange

Commission in 2005, it indicated Michael G. Bernardino as chairman of its board with Eleanore B. Gutierrez as its major stockholder.

Meanwhile, Nonoc Mining was acquired by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Philippine National Bank (PNB) in 1984 and turned over in 1987 to the thenAsset Privatization Trust (APT).

In 1996, APT sold 22.5 million shares of stock of Nonoc Mining to Philnico Mining and Industrial Corp.

(PMIC), now Philnico Industrial Corp. (PIC). The sale represented 90-percent ownership of Nonoc Mining.

Based on its 2018 GIS, the PIC board chairman is Ramon S. Ang, and its president is Horacio C. Ramos.

“Under the Arda [Amended and Restated Definitive Agreement] between the two parties, PMIC agreed to pay APT the peso equivalent of $263.762 million as purchase price, payable in two sets of installments and in accordance with the schedule set in the ARDA,” DOF said.

It explained that the government moved for the reversion of the shares sold to PMIC when the latter defaulted. This led to numerous cases filed by both the private sector and the government against each other that eventually reached the Supreme Court.

The DOF said the issue is now awaiting resolution by the high court.

To date, there has been no collection on the P14.9 billion purchase price.

Meanwhile, the North Davao Mining case involved the bidding for a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) to develop its mining assets in partnership with the Philippine Mining

Development Corp. (PMDC).

The PMDC is a wholly-owned and controlled-government corporation designated as the new implementing arm of the DENR in undertaking the mining and mineral processing operations in Compostela Valley Province, among others.

“The Asia-Alliance Mining Resources Corp. [AAMRC], led by its President Simon L. Paz, was qualified and considered as the highest calculated and responsive bid, failed to comply with the conditions of the Notice of Award in 2009, including failure to pay the commitment fee, secure a performance bond, and execute the JOA. A series of litigation ensued, and is still pending with the Court of Appeals [CA],” DOF said.

The agency said that in terms of Basay Mining, formerly the CDCP Mining Corp. which was established in 1970, its operations were suspended in 1983 because of lack of working and operating funds.

The Basay Mining had entered into a Deed of Assignment of Mining Claims and Leasehold Rights with the Philippine National Bank (PNB) to secure credit and loan accommodations from PNB. DOF said technical studies by the PMO indicated that the Basay mine is estimated to contain at least 105 million tons of copper ore and could generate at least P1 billion.

Similarly, MMIC Bagacay mine which has been mired in environmental complaints and was foreclosed by the DBP and PNB in 1984 with an outstanding claim of P19.5 billion. Its assets were transferred to APT for privatization.

UnionBank to onboard all biz clients to The Portal by 2021

U

nion Bank of the Philippines is eyeing to onboard all its corporate clients to the online banking platform by next year amid the increasing demand for the digital due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We look to complete our digitization efforts before the end of 2021.

The conversion effort is a bank-wide initiative from sales to marketing and to the branches,” the Aboitizled bank told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail.

UnionBank Vice President Antonio Miguel D. Dans, in a press event last week, said that the bank has been helping its clients to transition to a digital banking platform called The Portal.

Currently, Dans said that 65 percent of UnionBank’s corporate cli-

ents have already migrated to the online platform, an increase from just 25 percent in September last year.

Dans identified the onboarding process as one of the hurdles to encourage corporate clients in shifting to digital banking. With this concern, he said that UnionBank has been improving the procedure while ensuring the quality of the products.

“We also look to further improve both the product and the onboarding process, such that there is much more value in going digital and so that when they do decide to convert, it is seamless and effortless,” UnionBank said.

The pain point of creating a digital platform for corporate clients is the customization, the UnionBank official said, which delays the turn-

around time. “It is unlike in a retail sector for personal accounts,” Dans explained. “There’s an out-of-thebox products on the App Store or Google Play and you just download it and start using it.”

To address this, UnionBank is offering packaged solutions for the clients. Dans, however, stressed that they can still customize according to their needs. Providing templates, still, has helped minimize the queries and accelerated the turnaround time to onboard, he added.

In addition, the UnionBank official said that its digital platform is offering a first for online banking among business clients—mobile check deposit.

“Clients can now scan their checks. I think we’re the first bank

to allow this for businesses,” he said.

“There is a huge demand for this in the business sector which still mostly transact through checks.”

Apart from this, the listed bank said that it will be launching new features to improve customer experience.

“We have several features in the pipeline that will further address concerns such as government physical documents, and for security and transparency,” UnionBank said.

UnionBank saw its net earnings slip by 6 percent to P4.5 billion in the first semester from P4.79 billion in the comparable period last year. This translated to a return on equity of 9.2 percent for the period, which was lower than last year’s 11.1 percent. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

B4

Monday, October 26, 2020 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

FROM left: John Gabriel, Christi Fider and Robster Evangelista

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Seth MacFarlane, 47; Cary Elwes, 58; James Pickens Jr., 66; Pat Sajak, 74.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Consider what makes you happy, and adjust your living space to fit your needs. Change doesn’t have to be drastic; it has to ease your mind.

Comfort and convenience will be essential if you want to be productive and reach your objective. Good fortune is within reach; all you have to do is make the necessary moves to encourage personal growth. Your numbers are 7, 18, 21, 28, 34, 36, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep tight-lipped when dealing with anyone prying into your affairs. Don’t let compliments go to your head or encourage you to trust someone you don’t know well.

Less time talking and more time getting things done is favored. ★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Set the stage for success. Pay attention to details and present what you have to offer with clarity and confidence, and you’ll get a good response from someone who counts. Don’t feel pressured to act fast; time is on your side. ★★★★

New voices on the music block

M

ORE and more new singers are being launched in the music entertainment circuit, perhaps to add some color, comfort and cheer to this lackluster year of lockdown, homestay and quarantine.

Young and handsome John Gabriel is the voice behind the song “O, Pilipina,� which immediately broke into the local charts a week after it was officially released. Composed by Bryant Aunor, the song is a Filipino-English hip-hop that caters primarily to the young.

Gabriel is being managed by Wowie Roxas, known in showbiz circles as Daddie Wowie, the discover and manager of former teen star-turned-Mayor of Manila Isko Moreno. We spoke to Roxas recently and learned that six years ago, Gabriel sent him some photos,

hoping that the manager will take notice and consider helping the then-14-year-old teenager break into show business. “Perhaps it wasn’t the right time then,� Roxas explained, adding, “I do not even remember what photos he sent, maybe those weren’t impressive enough to catch my attention. But then again, life has a way of bringing people together again and by some stroke of chance, John Gabriel and I got reconnected.�

Roxas shared that he initially did not entertain the idea of becoming active again as an entertainment manager, considering the overflowing schedules of the current Manila city mayor. “One night, it suddenly occurred to me: What if this is the only chance that the boy has to change his destiny? Who am I not to open the big door for him? Who knows where this opened door will lead him to in the future, just like the bigger doors that opened for Isko after his showbiz stint, right?�

Gabriel feels grateful that Roxas took him under his wing. “I will do my best and work hard to be successful. I know how it is to have very little. I will be a good boy and prove that dreams can come true for someone like me.�

Another promising young singer who broke into pandemic popularity on social media is Christi Fider, whose mother Edith used to be the production manager of the New Minstrels, a popular pop vocal group in the 1970s.

Fider, a History graduate of the University of Santo Tomas who plays the guitar, ukelele, and kalimba (thumb piano), has already gained quite a following as a lifestyle vlogger, charming her followers with the latest trends in fashion, accessories and gadgets. But music remains her deep, deep love.

When the opportunity to collaborate with composer Joven Tan came up, and she was presented the upbeat song “Teka, Teka,� a timely composition that sparks joy and speaks of hope during these challenging times, Fider knew it was her time to take her first big step forward.

And because of the TikTok craze, the song was immediately picked up by the masses, and was even used by celebrities like Zeus Collins for their TikTok dance videos. Star Music saw Fider’s potential and released the very danceable song. “I believe in perfect timing and destiny—what is meant to happen, will happen. One has to just trust the universe,� Fider volunteered.

Robster Evangelista, a composer who is also the station manager of the iFM radio channel, did not plan to be a singer. “I have been composing songs for other singers for many years. And when I least expected it, an offer for me to record my own composition came along, and I simply embraced the opportunity,� he said, recalling the sequence of events

CONTINUED ON B5

Local ‘Descendants of the Sun’ returns to prime time THE wait is almost over for TV audiences as GMA’s internationally acclaimed series, Descendants of the Sun: The Philippine Adaptation, finally returns to prime time beginning October 26.

Its lead stars Dingdong Dantes and Jennylyn Mercado are equally excited for the series’ highly anticipated comeback on

JENNYLYN MERCADO

DINGDONG DANTES

Meanwhile, Jasmine highlighted the relevance of the series especially for frontliners during these challenging times, “Nakaka-proud na maging part of DOTS, not just because of the recognitions that it has gotten, but also because it’s a timely and relevant series. It’s nice that we are able to somehow humanize our frontliners and give them representation before, even more so now. In a way, the series gives them love and comfort while watching it because they know that they are seen and appreciated.�

The series left off with Capt. Lucas (Dingdong) and Dr. Maxine (Jennylyn) deciding that the two of them were better off apart because they lead very different lives. And with the medical team’s mission in Urdan coming to an end, they bid their farewells to their friends and the military members. In the midst of their flight back to Manila, an intense earthquake strikes Urdan and records multiple casualties.

DOTS premiered on February 10 but production was temporarily halted due to the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Last month, lock-in tapings which followed strict safety protocols were held, enabling the production team to wrap up the series.

Descendants of the Sun: The Philippine Adaptation resumes airing with recap episodes on October 26 and fresh episodes beginning November 5, after Encantadia on GMA.

GMA’s evening block. “Sa TV audience, meron kaming promise na binigay sa kanila when we started airing, and that was na kukumpletuhin namin ’yung kuwento. So this is us fulfilling that promise,�

Dingdong shared. “Kaya gusto namin i-share ’yung excitement sa aming pagbabalik. DOTS makes us proud to be Kapuso and proud Filipinos so much more.�

Jennylyn echoed Dingdong’s sentiments: “Sobrang excited na ako that people will be able to watch ’yung pinaghirapan namin ng cast and crew. We’re very proud of how the series has turned out, and we hope na patuloy subaybayan ng Kapuso viewers of Descendants of the Sun. Finally ay magpapatuloy na ang kuwento nina Capt.

Lucas at Doc Maxine.�

Also eager for the continuation of the story are Rocco Nacino and Jasmine Curtis-Smith who play Wolf and Captain Moira, respectively.

Rocco shared that he is proud to be part of a series that has already made a significant mark in the entertainment industry: “We are coming back at excited na excited na kami.

We’re all very proud to be part of a project that has made a difference and has become a game-changer in this field. It’s nice to know that you’re part of something na tumatak sa mga tao, hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi pati sa ibang bansa.�

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Knowing what you want and getting it will take ingenuity and transparency. Keep an open mind, but be sure to question anything that contradicts your beliefs. You don’t have to agree with someone to get along. Be willing to meet halfway. ★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t disrupt matters by getting into a spat with someone who has his or her own agenda. You’ll get the freedom to do your own thing if you let others do as they please. Personal growth is encouraged. ★★★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Emotions can ruin possibilities. Be a good listener, channel your energy into something constructive and refrain from getting upset by what others do. Be accountable for your actions, and protect what you have worked so hard to acquire. ★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your emotions won’t lead you astray. Nurture meaningful relationships, and make adjustments that will make life better for you and those you love. How you treat others will determine how much help you receive when you need support. ★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You know which way is up. Don’t get thrust into something that doesn’t suit you in order to accommodate someone or avoid unpleasantries. It’s essential to stand up for what you want and to be responsible for what happens. ★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A discussion will highlight what will give you peace of mind. A unique idea, coupled with moderation and expertise, will lead to an operative mindset that encourages you to reach your destination in good time. ★★★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Step outside your comfort zone if someone puts you on the spot. Be honest and willing to walk away from a situation that makes you feel bad. Choose to make your life better. Concentrate on fitness, health and happiness. ★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t get angry; get moving. Let whatever situation you face energize you to get up and do what makes you feel good. Avoid circumstances that are risky or dangerous. ★★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Let go of the past before it becomes a burden. Pour your energy into living life your way. Lower your overhead if it will put your mind at ease. Good fortune will be yours when you do what’s best for you. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ll have plenty of ideas, but trying to do everything will be futile. Don’t be a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Concentrate on what you enjoy doing most and give it your all. ★★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are unique, reliable and passionate.

You are intelligent and persuasive.

‘but is it art?’ BY SALLY HOELSCHER The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Speak to a crowd 6 Pack (down) 10 Actress Catherine ___-Jones 14 Send payment 15 Only state with a swallowtail flag 16 One-named model who cowrote The Beauty of Color 17 Acts as storyteller 19 Watch, as a campfire 20 Sandwich served with tzatziki sauce 21 Five times six 23 Part of www 26 Roma’s country 29 Test for an aspiring PhD, maybe 30 Debtor’s letters 31 Droplet from exercising 33 Hardens (oneself) 35 Aladdin antagonist 36 Micronesian island country 37 Wet dirt 38 Prolonged attack 42 Plant secretion 44 Emma who played Meg March in Little Women 45 Former name of Muhammad Ali

49 50 51 52 53 55 57 58 64 65 66 67 68 69

Tack on Metaphor for monotony $100 bills, in dated slang Ado Gets out of bed Prefix for “body� or “biotic�

Golf course warning Pinto Factual Shrek, for example Make into law Puppy sounds Irked, with “off� ___: The Gathering (collectible card game) DOWN 1 Surgeons’ workplaces, briefly 2 Exercise unit 3 Parisian friend 4 Trace of color 5 Website selling custom Halloween costumes 6 Prius maker 7 “I thought so!�

8 Former space station 9 Noted Vatican City resident

10 11 12 13 18 22 23 24 25 27 28 31 32 34 37 39 40 41 43 44 45 46 47

Often-baked pasta Come out in the open Hindu scripture “Even so...�

Ram constellation Gets to voice an opinion Tiny amount of smoke Tiny amount Hamilton/Burr confrontation Type of professor Burden Colorful glacial feature Legal order Lending them doesn’t require giving anything away Fermented soybean paste He traded his birthright for lentil stew Greek mythological figures Odds’ partner Dark solar patch “He ___ Man Enough� (Toni Braxton song) Sly, or an alternate title for this puzzle? “Borealis� opener Rile

48 52 54 56 59 60 61 62 63

Tilted Apple on Apple Music Doesn’t miss?

Gender-neutral pronoun “Bronze� or “Iron� follower Fury Cleaning cloth ___-fi Catchall abbr.

Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Style

BusinessMirror

Lisa, Son Ye-jin and matte lipstick in the news

O

F the three biggest beauty news of the past week, two were Korean-related. First came the news that Lisa of the phenomenal Korean girl group BLACKPINK had been named the global brand ambassador for Estee Lauderowned beauty brand MAC. “MAC is truly at the forefront of trendsetting, which reminds me every time I see a MAC campaign or the incredible looks from a brand with such an incredible heritage and unrivaled expertise in makeup artistry. I am thrilled and looking forward to this journey,” said Lisa in a statement.

For her looks, Lisa said she usually enjoys natural makeup. “I like to start with a simple base and finish with a slightly bolder lip color to add some vibrance.”

For the promotional images released by MAC, the makeup artist who did Lisa’s look used some of her favorite products, including: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, MAC Eye Shadow in Espresso + Stars and Rockets, MAC Brushstroke Liner in Brushblack, Diamond Crumbles + Not Afraid to Sparkle Dazzle Shadow Liquid, MAC Prep+Prime Lip, MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick in Mull It Over, and MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash.

Meanwhile, Jennyhouse Cosmetics, a brand whose haircare line is endorsed by Korean actress Son Ye-jin, is finally in Manila. It was brought in by Terry Dy and Rachelle Tan. Like many women who watched the hit series Crash Landing on You, Terry became a fan of the drama’s leading lady Son Ye-jin.

“I love her style and acting, and, most of all, her beauty and simplicity despite being the most soughtafter actress in Korea. I chanced upon Jennyhouse Cosmetics which Ye-jin trusts and ordered them right away for me to try.”

“K-beauty has successfully conquered the international beauty market since the early 2000s and has been highly popular in the Philippines in recent years,” said Rachelle.

“The biggest reason why we proceeded with Terry and Rachelle as our Philippine vendor is because they like our products, and they were very persistent and active [in pursuing this venture],” said Song Byoung Yoon, director and global marketing of

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Monday, October 26, 2020

B5

NEW VOICES ON THE MUSIC BLOCK CONTINUED FROM B4 that led to him to his decision.

One time, music executive Reck Cardinales asked Evangelista to submit compositions to producer Rosabella Jao-Arribas, who was looking for materials for a new male singer she had signed up. “I searched from my library of songs and chose five, hoping that the producer would like at least one of them. To my surprise, I got a call from the producer asking if I would consider singing one of the songs I had submitted.” Evangelista took on the offer, recorded the heartbreak song “Sino Ba Sa Atin?” and the fortysomething family man is now officially a singersongwriter.

Since he has been in the radio business for a long time now, it will definitely be advantageous for the song to get airtime more often. “I’d like to think of it that way, too, I mean, we have a lot of friends from the radio industry and I’m sure they are all willing to give my song the push it needs!” he said, seemingly halfjokingly, before bursting into a hearty laughter.

John Gabriel, Christi Fider and Robster Evangelista all believe that their gift of voice and special musical skills can be channeled to motivate, affect and inspire others, especially during these extraordinary times. ■

COLOURETTE Cosmetics released a collection of matte lipsticks, called Easy Matte

Jenny House Cosmetics.

Since Jennyhouse started as a salon back in 2002 and became the name behind the hairstyles of over 1,000 celebrities, some of their best products have been for the hair.

Jennyhouse Re:BAK style repair shampoo and treatment is the solution to keeping your hair shiny and moisturized, despite all the aggressors that it has been exposed to, including hair color. With eight natural ingredients such as aloe vera leaf water, avocado oil, extracts from Jeju tangerine peel, green tea, joritdea, lotus leaf and asparagus, plus broccoli extracts, it also promises to deliver a healthy scalp.

The shampoo also aids in managing hair loss, providing nutrition to your scalp and hair.

Aside from the hair care line, Jennyhouse Cosmetics also has a wide range of makeup and skin-care products. Terry’s favorite is the Truffle Collection, which includes a cleanser, serum and cream. Rachelle likes the blush because it gives her skin a glossy and dewy look. For more information about Jennyhouse Cosmetics, follow Areum.Mnl on Facebook and Instagram.

From Filipino makeup brand Colourette Cosmetics comes the announcement that they’ve released

Easy Matte, an all-day velvet lipstick, paired with a hydrating lip primer, the Blur Balm. Eight Easy Matte shades and the clear Blur Balm lip primer were launched on October 19 on Shopee and on October 21 on Lazada.

Anything Colourette does these days is news because CEO Nina Dizon Cabrera is a very outspoken person with a great passion for her work. Also, Colourette’s products are of good quality and always deliver as far as performance is concerned.

Easy Matte is available in eight universally flattering shades with extreme color payoff, ultra comfortable wear and fuss-free application. If matte lipsticks dry out your lips, apply Blur Balm, a lip primer infused with moisturizing almond oil, sunflower oil and aloe vera extract.

The Easy Mattes and Blur Balm retail for P349 per 4 gram each. The Easy Matte Everyday Set is a bundle of all 8 Easy Matte shades and 1 Blur Balm in a free Colourette sling bag for P2,999.

The shades are: Snack—everyday MLBB; On The Way—toasted almond; 9 To 5—deep nectarine; Bop— grapefruit pink; Cool Down—rosy beige; Felt Cute— warm rose; Quickie—cherry brown; Caffeine— gingerbread brown; and Blur Balm—clear balm. ■

Chanel celebrates cinema industry to cap Paris Fashion Week

BY THOMAS ADAMSON The Associated Press PARIS—Monumental light-bulb encrusted letters spelling CHANEL sparkled over the runway at the Grand Palais on the last day of Paris Fashion Week prefacing a collection celebrating the cinema industry. It brought a pang of nostalgia for better times during this reduced virus-hit season that has been notable for its lack of star power.

Like Milan before it, Paris has undertaken an unusual fashion season for Spring-Summer 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The nine-day calendar was a mix of ready-to-wear runway collections with masked guests in seated rows, in-person presentations and completely digital shows streamed online with promotional videos.

The American actors who usually attend Chanel, the highlight of Paris Fashion Week, stayed away. But designer Virginie Viard dreamed of more glamorous times.

She produced an optimistic collection channeling the Hollywood or Cannes movie star machine and its media circus, appropriately placing French Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard on the front row.

“I was thinking about actresses at the THE looks from the photocall, coming off Chanel 2021 Spring the red carpet: their Summer collection.

faces a little distracted, their attitude a little out of sync with the outfits they’re wearing... this very lively side to cinema that happens beyond cinema,” Viard said. It produced a diverse display of high-class glamour that mingled with the casual—in a collection notable for its shoulder shapes that were exaggeratedly round and wide, or diagonal and flat.

For the high-class, there were ecru and black tweed skirt suits—the house signature. The best was a stiff knit black number with giant round shoulders, ubercinched waist, giant tubular arms and large white visible shirt cuffs and collar. It cut a beautiful silhouette against the pure-white illuminated runway.

Some of the casual looks, however, let the collection down. Large prints in vibrant color, such as a turtle-neck and cross-over dress, featured blown-up letters spelling the house name to evoke neon lights. But the colors clashed and it sometimes seemed as if the designer was trying too hard to be hip.

That said, there were plenty of standout moments. A shoulderless black mini dress was the definition of chic, with a sheer silk black overskirt that fluttered gently to the ankles to sensually reveal the legs. A loose black silk top had dramatic swooshes of white feathers across it like a sash. On a note of nostalgia, this could be one of the last Chanel shows in the Grand Palais for years. The venue has said it is closing from December 2020 to March 2023 for renovations, to reopen before the Paris Olympics of 2024.

GENTLE SKIN CARE MAKES FOR CLEAR SKIN

FOR many skinthusiasts, skin care is also another form of self-care. It taps into one’s inner zen and relieves the body of stress, aside from blemishes.

When a simple regimen becomes a practice of self-improvement, it is important to have products that go well with the skin. But with skin care information constantly changing online, it is often hard to pin down which products and ingredients work best in the long run.

Cetaphil (www.cetaphil.com.ph) has always been known for being gentle, and is prescribed by dermatologists even for sensitive skin. That dermatologist-developed regimen is now in Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance, a new line of products that puts the care in skin care. It features GentleBright Technology—a combination of Sea Daffodil and Niacinamide that visibly corrects dark spots without irritation, boosts brightness, and evens skin tone in four weeks.

The line is a complete regimen that will cleanse, tone, moisturize, and protect skin to bring out its inner radiance. It includes the non-drying Brightness Reveal Creamy Cleanser, Brightness Refresh Toner, Daily Brightening Protection Cream SPF15, Brightening Night Comfort Cream, Brightening Lotion, Brightness Reveal Body Wash, and Brightness Reveal Bar. The new Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance line is now available at the official Cetaphil Philippines stores in Lazada and Shopee.

SOCIAL-MEDIA PERSONALITY TAPPED

BY POPULAR MAKEUP BRAND

THE 23-year-old social-media content creator Viy Cortez is a believer of manifestation and working hard to make things happen. It is because of this mindset that she was able to rack up a subscriber base of 3.9 million on YouTube, 1.5 million on Instagram, and 1.7 million on Tiktok. The content she shares on her social-media platforms makes her relatable to many, as she gets candid about her success and struggles in life, love and business ventures, as well as her passion for fashion, beauty and makeup.

It is no surprise then that she was chosen to be the newest ambassador of popular makeup brand Ever Bilena (www. instagram.com/everbilenaofficial). Thankful to be chosen as one of the ambassadors of the makeup brand, Viy’s dream is to one day have her own makeup line in retail stores. While working toward making that dream happen, she’s sticking to her fail-proof makeup must-haves which consist of foundation, tint, brows and highlighter.

“I love the Ever Bilena All Day Foundation because it’s affordable and full coverage,” she enthuses. Meanwhile, her go-to highlighter is the Glow Out Highlighter because it is so easy to build up and intensify. She adds in jest, “Mapapatigil sila sa kinang mo. Para kang signal light!”

VIY CORTEZ

B6 Monday, October 26, 2020

Coca-Cola Christmas design shares shining beacon of hope, joy for Filipino families

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HRISTMAS is undoubtedly the most awaited time of the year for all Filipinos. Grand noche buena feasts, children singing out in the streets, and gifts piled up under the tree. Now, this pandemic has made it all but impossible to celebrate the season as we Filipinos always have.

But that does not mean it has to be bereft of meaning, of warmth, of love and hope. As a staple in the lives of Filipinos for the past 108 years, Coca-Cola is no

stranger to the meaningful moments shared by Filipino families whenever they are together. Ever the herald of joyous Christmas celebrations, CocaCola reminds us of the true essence of Christmas and that we can still derive meaning from the holidays. This season, we need not actually look too far to find the answer – that togetherness and being there for our loved ones is the real ‘reason for the season.’

By its history and place in pop culture, light of the parol has come to mean many things, but for many Filipinos, it is the light of Christmas that draws them and binds them together in the spirit of hope. Through their parol, and their special edition holiday packs, Coca-Cola wishes to embrace every Filipino family struggling in this pandemic, reminding them that they themselves are all the gifts they need, and that in itself, is reason enough to celebrate Christmas.

Times may be different, but that only means simple moments like sharing a meal together can have an extra special meaning. A socially distanced Filipino family get-together can still be special when trading stories and messages of love over icecold Coca-Cola. Available beginning October 17, 2020, the Coca-Cola Christmas design can be found on limited edition Coca-Cola cans as well as 1.5L and 2L PET bottles – the perfect companion during holiday meal times with family and loved ones.

Just as the parol led the path of the Three Kings to the newly-born Savior, Coca-Cola also aims to serve as a shining beacon of hope, inspiration, and joy for Filipino families.

Manila Water Foundation mobilizes water, food relief to Quezon Province amid Typhoon Pepito

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S

M Foundation (SMFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM Group, highlights the importance of collective efforts in spreading social good, especially during challenging times.

On top of its own COVID-19 initiatives, SM Foundation partnered with various organizations, business partners, and institutions to mobilize resources and to reach out to more of its stakeholders in grassroot communities nationwide.

Through collaborative efforts with Goldilocks, Bata Philippines and Uniqlo, SMFI supported frontliners and communities affected by the lockdown communities through: distribution of packed meals from Goldilocks, protective shoes from Bata Philippines, and DRY T-shirt, masks, and Kalinga packs from Uniqlo Philippines.

More recently, SMFI with Uniqlo distributed an estimated 284,000 Uniqlo AIRism face masks to 90 institutions, including schools, local government units, military groups, grassroot communities, and medical establishments, nationwide such as the: Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Health Service Command, National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), Mary Johnston Hospital, Chinese General Hospital, Philippine Blood Center, and the local government of Manila to name a few.

The AIRism mask employs a filter that delivers a bacterial filtration efficiency of 99%. It is effective in blocking droplets and

evacuated from the District 4 areas, which were affected by knee- and waistdeep flooding incidents, and minor landslides.

Quick to respond to the needs of the affected families, MWF sent 1,400 food packs, and more than 1,000 bottles of 500ml drinking water. The affected families from different parts of Quezon are currently in evacuation centers.

Quezon Provincial Adminstrator Roberto Gajo expressed that the donations would immediately help those affected by the typhoon. “We are very grateful to Manila Water Company because through Manila Water Foundation, they were able to send food and water to our province which in turn

we will be distributing to those who who were affected by the flood caused by the two typhoons which passed through our province,” he said.

The relief effort is part of MWF's Agapay program, a disaster response initiative that immediately addresses the needs of communities affected by calamities such as typhoons, floods and earthquakes. The deployment was also in coordination with Tanging Yaman Foundation who arranged the packing of the goods.

The Ayala Group of Companies, through Ayala Foundation, will be deploying more relief packs and hygiene kits on October 23 for the affected families.

SM Foundation and Uniqlo Philippines donated thousands of Uniqlo AIRism facemasks to frontliners and grassroot communities nationwide.

protecting the skin from bacteria, viruscontaminated particles, and pollen. The triplelayer structure also has a UPF 50+ rating, which reportedly blocks 90% of ultraviolet rays.

While the AIRism masks are not medicalgrade and do not prevent the spread of COVID-19 on their own, frontliner recipients use the AIRism masks under their medicalgrade masks to increase comfort and maintain skin health. Since AIRism masks are designed to be breathable and moisturewicking they help prevent skin irritation and discomfort caused by wearing medical-grade masks on its own.

To date, SM has donated over Php 300 million in essential medical supplies, equipment, rt-PCR testing, and assistance to other national efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

The Rush Hour Concert: Avida’s 30th anniversary celebration for a cause happening on October 30

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CHAMBER OF THRIFT BANKS ‘VIRTUAL’ ANNUAL CONVENTION. The Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) recently held its 3-day virtual convention, attended by over 300 participants. With the theme "Thrift Banking in the New Decade,” the conference tackled the challenges of the new normal and growth opportunities for member-banks in the new decade. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno was keynote speaker.

Diokno. He is joined by (bottom from left) CTB second vice president Francisco Dizon (Sun Savings Bank), CTB trustee Alberto Emilio Ramos (Malaya Bank), CTB trustee and convention chair Luis Chua (Bank of Makati), CTB president Cecilio San Pedro (Sterling Bank of Asia), and CTB trustee Jose Vicente Alde (PSBank). Other convention speakers included Philguarantee president Alberto Pascual and BSP Managing Director Vicente de Villa III; as well as technology providers Bankware Global, Backbase, Intellect Design and Nextbank.

ITH towns in Quezon Province heavily ravaged

by Tropical Storm "Pepito," Manila Water Foundation (MWF), Manila Water’s social development arm, rushed to Lucena City on October 21 to bring two truckloads of potable water and food packs for 7,000 affected individuals.

As of the 5:00 am advisory on October 21, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) unit of Quezon Province stated that the typhoon is still in District 4 area, namely in Atimonan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, Calauag and the island towns of Alabat, Perez and Quezon. Reports listed more than 23,000 individuals

SM Foundation recognizes importance of collaboration in spreading social good

VIDA Land continues to pay it forward, anchoring on gratitude for its almost 50,000 households and advocacy for homegrown artistry for the culminating activity of its 30th anniversary. Following the company’s purpose-driven collaborations with local livelihood brands Rags2Riches and Messy Bessy is its partnership with fellow Ayala Corporation subsidiary Ayala Museum. In upholding the Ayala group of companies’ crusade to uplift the lives of Filipinos, the sister companies teamed up for a virtual fundraising concert for the benefit of Ayala Foundation’s underprivileged students.

For its 30th anniversary, Avida once again joined forces with Ayala Museum to bring The Rush Hour Concerts online for the very first time. The virtual concert, set to go live on October 30, 2020, is a way for the museum and the Manila Symphony Orchestra to make classical music more accessible to the public.

By adapting The Rush Hour Concert experience to the digital space, audiences can get access to Manila Symphony Orchestra’s full repertoire from the comfort of their homes and at the same time give online access to Ayala Foundation’s students in this time of distance learning.

“Avida has been a long-time partner of the Ayala Museum and we are grateful that in celebration of their 30th anniversary, they have decided to support this fundraising campaign and join us in bringing The Rush Hour Concert experience to the virtual public,” says Ma. Elizabeth L. Gustilo, Senior Director for the) Arts & Culture Division of Ayala Foundation, Inc. The beneficiaries of Ayala Foundation’s Student Online

Access Program include their scholars aged 5 to 21 who come from the most disadvantaged families in Tondo, Batangas, and MIMAROPA. Through the virtual concert, Avida and Ayala Museum will be able to provide a child with internet access for one year with every ticket sold, with their target set at 500 children by the end of the fundraising initiative.

“Marking our 30th anniversary in these unprecedented times is a challenge, but we saw this as an opportunity to celebrate life by enriching more lives,” says Tess Tatco, Avida Land Marketing Head. “As we look back with gratitude and look forward with hope for a better tomorrow, we made it our mission to continue advocating for Filipino talent while giving hope to our nation’s future—the children.”

Join The Rush Hour Concert online on October 30 at 6 PM, and celebrate 30 years of home through three decades of The Best of OPM. Enjoy symphonic renditions of your favorite homegrown music from the 1970s to 1990s performed by the renowned Manila Symphony Orchestra with special guest, the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra.

From the hits of Ryan Cayabyab up to the Eraserheads, not only will you be in for a night of sublime music; you will also be able to help underprivileged students gain access to online learning.

The Rush Hour Concert tickets can be purchased through Ayala Museum’s official website and Facebook page, or TicketWorld. The regular access rate is priced at P1,000 while senior citizens, PWDs, students, and teachers can avail of the discounted access rate of P700. Visit: www. avidaland.com.

Private institutions, DepEd Region XI partner for 2020 Balik Eskwela in the New Normal

Udenna Foundation, Global Synergy Trade and Distribution unload supplies for use by public schools at DepEd Region XI

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Vice Governor Samuel Nantes (farthest right) with (L-R) Quezon Provincial Board Member Yna Liwanag, Provincial Administrator Roberto Gajo, and MWF Resource Mobilization Manager Nix Hipolito

S the school year 2020 – 2021 begins in the face of the new normal, Udenna Foundation, in partnership with Global Synergy Trade and Distribution partnered with the Department of Education-Region XI to provide essential items for use by public schools and learning communities.

School supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were recently donated to the DepEd Region XI office in anticipation of the coming new school year.

“We want to ensure that the needs of school children, teachers, and administrators are taken care of, most especially the need for items that directly answer their collective safety and wellbeing as we

enter another school year,” said Tessa Artadi, Udenna Foundation regional representative.

Artadi further added, “This is testament to how private institutions with the government can effectively mitigate the effects of the pandemic as we move forward and point us in the proper way by which we all can work together to benefit our communities.”

The Global Synergy Trade and Distribution representative Charlie Ubiña Jr. also said, “We are honored to be able to contribute to the community in our own small way and having Udenna Foundation and the Department of Education alongside us truly makes for a humbling experience. We only have high hopes as public schools begin the new school year.”

Marketing BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Monday, October 26, 2020 B7

Prompting behavior change

to prevent the spread of diseases T

PR Matters

By Abigail Ho-Torres

HE key to preventing the spread of Covid-19, and many other diseases, is in our hands—literally. It has taken a pandemic to make people realize that the simple act of washing one’s hands with soap can very well spell the difference between life and death.

Never have we been reminded so much to wash our hands than now. It’s quite fitting that this year’s Global Handwashing Day (GHD) celebration carries the theme “hand hygiene for all,” serving as a reminder to “work toward universal access and practice of handwashing with soap for now and for a healthy future,” according to the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP), the main proponent of GHD. The GHP, originally called the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing (PPPHW), stemmed from two large-scale handwashing campaigns in Burkina Faso, West Africa and Central American countries Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador, which showed the positive impact of washing hands with soap on disease prevention.

The country’s premier ventriloquist Ony Carcamo and his friend Kulas make learning fun in a past Daloy Dunong execution.

The power of research

THE Burkina Faso project, dubbed Programma Saniya, did careful consumer research prior to rollout, leading to more targeted handwashing program activities that yielded amazing results in terms of knowledge retention, behavior change, and disease prevention.

The simple behavior modification activity that the project pushed: washing hands with soap after changing diapers, targeted specifically at mothers and caregivers of infants and toddlers.

According to a paper titled, “Evidence of Behaviour Change Following a Hygiene Promotion Programme in Burkina Faso,” published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization in 2001, the program was triggered by the high incidence of childhood diarrhea in the town of Bobo-Dioulasso.

Quantitative and qualitative studies were done from 1989-1994, the results of which were used to guide the Ministry of Health and Community Groups in formulating clear objectives, specific target audiences, appropriate messaging, and overall strategy to promote safer hygiene practices.

The target audiences were segmented into primary, secondary, and tertiary groups, with very clear demographic and psychographic characteristics. For the primary target audiences—composed of mothers, older sisters, and maids taking care of children aged zero35 months—the program latched onto one key motivation to spur behavior change: the social and aesthetic desirability of hygiene.

Based on insights from the prerollout qualitative research, this audience group appeared to value hygiene for its social and aesthetic impacts, and not really as a means to avoid diarrhea.

“Messages were thus built around the idea of the respect they might gain from being hygienic, and the improvements gained in quality of life when fecal material was removed and could therefore not be seen or smelt,” the WHOpublished paper stated. “Although the germ theory of disease did not figure in messages aimed at adults, it did form a part of the hygiene curriculum for schools.”

There were only two main messages for this campaign: (1) Hands should be washed after contact with stools, and (2) Stools in potties should be disposed of safely in latrines. These were communicated and amplified via various channels, including neighborhood

Students and school officials show off their clean hands during a Global Handwashing Day activity from a few years back.

A Maynilad Lingkod Eskwela drink-and-wash facility ready to be turned over to a beneficiary.

hygiene commissions with houseto-house visits, discussion groups in health centers and in the community, street theater, local radio spots and programs, and a hygiene curriculum in primary school.

These channels were identified following a series of focus group discussions and a small, population-based survey.

From the start of the campaign in August 1995 until its end three years later, the incidence of handwashing with soap significantly increased, vis-à-vis relevant program objectives.

“After the program, 31 percent of mothers were observed using soap after handling children’s stools compared with 13 percent before cleaning children, and from 33 percent to 67 percent after using the latrine,” the paper stated.

The program aimed to increase the incidence of handwashing with soap after cleaning a child’s bottom from 13 percent to 30 percent, and after using the latrine from 1 percent to 15 percent.

The GHP further said that this campaign “averted 9,000 diarrheal episodes, 800 outpatient visits, and 100 deaths. These results were achieved at a cost of US$0.30 per participant.”

PPP in advocacy

THE other project, called the Central American Handwashing for Diarrheal Disease Prevention Program, was a collaborative undertaking among ministries of health and education in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador, local and multinational soap manufacturers, and nongovernment organizations (NGOs). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) conceptualized and facilitated the campaign through two of its projects: Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Sur-

vival (BASICS) and the Environmental Health Project (EHP).

A paper titled “The Story of a Successful Public-Private Partnership in Central America: Handwashing for Diarrheal Disease Prevention” provided details of the campaign, from conceptualization to implementation to assessment of results. As with Programma Saniya, this campaign was likewise anchored on consumer-centric research, but beefed up with public sector and NGO alliances.

“The effort was based on the belief that private commercial firms and public entities [principally ministries of health] would find it mutually beneficial to work in partnership to achieve complementary goals in promoting handwashing for public health,” the paper stated.

“Soap companies would use new messages and methods of advertising soap designed to reach groups with low socioeconomic status in rural areas where diarrheal disease rates were high. These efforts would help each company increase sales and enhance its corporate image. The public sector would endorse the promotional campaign, assist in dissemination, and collaborate in special interventions—such as distribution of handwashing kits. The partnership would provide the public sector with new resources,” it added.

It was a win-win for all parties involved at the end of the campaign’s three-year run in 1999, as, based on a follow-up assessment, 10 percent of the women surveyed claimed an improvement in their handwashing behavior. The paper estimated that because of this behavior change, the campaign was able to reduce the incidence of diarrhea in children under five years old by 4.5 percent.

The success of these two cam-

paigns not only gave rise to the establishment of the GHP, but also placed on the international development program map the importance of the simple act of handwashing with soap as an affordable and accessible means to stop the spread of diseases. For the first time, hygiene made it into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals under Goal 6, or to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Local efforts

THE Philippines has been an active participant in GHD celebrations since its inception in 2008.

Many private companies, mostly soap manufacturers, have their own way of advocating proper handwashing. Maynilad, the company I work for, chose grade school students as the primary target audience for our advocacy, as we believe that instilling the value of proper handwashing early in life can yield far-reaching results— both well into the future and in the here and now.

For our Daloy Dunong campaign, we use a puppet show to deliver W.A.S.H. (water, sanitation, and hygiene) messages, to make learning fun and engaging.

The mode of delivery is particularly important, as we’re dealing with children who have short attention spans.

We couple this education campaign w ith an infrastructure program called Lingkod Eskwela, which involves building drinka nd-wa sh st at ions i n publ ic schools within our service area.

Because how can the students practice what they’ve learned when they don’t have access to the required facilities? Both of these programs are aligned with the Department of Education’s W.A.S.H.

in Schools (WinS) program.

For this year’s GHD celebration, since we can’t physically go to the schools to engage with students, we brought our advocacy online.

With the help of PhilPop Musicfest Foundation, we came out with a 20-second handwashing jingle that people can sing while washing their hands, so they can be sure to eliminate any germs or viruses that they may have picked up. We added some simple choreography, and posted a video on various social-media platforms.

“Handwashing with soap can help reduce the transmission of a range of diseases: Handwashing is also key in the fight against Covid-19. Handwashing with soap destroys the outer membrane of the virus and thereby inactivates it. One study found that regular handwashing with soap can reduce the likelihood of Covid-19 infection by 36 percent,” the GHP said.

You can never wash your hands too much, especially at a time like this. Knowing that this simple act can help save your and your family’s lives should be reason enough to stick to the habit, even after we find a vaccine for Covid-19.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier organization for PR professionals around the world. Abigail L. Ho-Torres is AVP and Head of Advocacy and Marketing of Maynilad Water Services Inc. She spent more than a decade as a business journalist before making the leap to the corporate world.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations.

Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com.

Sports BusinessMirror

B8 Monday, October 26, 2020

PAGDANGANAN IN HOT PURSUIT

PSC webinar up on traditional sports, games

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HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is organizing the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Forum “Webinar on Preservation of Culture and Heritage through Indigenous Sports and Games” on October 31.

The webinar will start at 1 p.m. via Zoom and will be broadcast live simultaneously through the PSC’s social-media pages.

Charles Raymond Maxey, the PSC’s commissioner on oversight for the Indigenous Peoples Games, said that the webinar serves as an extension of the agency’s IP Games program.

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all implementation of sports programs of the Commission was stopped. Now, we came up with an idea of staging this webinar to coincide with the observance of the Indigenous Peoples Month this October,” Maxey said.

Maxey said the webinar will focus on the preservation of traditional sports and games of the IP. Prof. Henry Daut of the Philippine Sports Institute, Ms. Maria Lourie Victor of Department of Education’s Indigenous Peoples Education Office and Prof.

Madonna Castro-Gonzales of the National Council for Physical Educators of the Philippines will be the resource speakers.

Daut is dean of Sports Education of the Philippine Sports Institute, while Victor serves as a Senior Technical Assistant of the IPsEO. Castro-Gonzales is the Coordinator of the Sports and Culture Office and Physical Education Office, Philippine Normal University–North Luzon.

“We are expecting more than 60 participants for this webinar, comprised of educators, sports officials, and other stakeholders,” Maxey added.

Interested participants may register through http://bit.ly/IPGamesWebinarForm.

Only the first 1,000 registrants will be accepted while the rest can join through Facebook live. The webinar is being organized in partnership with Pocari Sweat Philippines.

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph / Editor: Jun Lomibao

BIANCA PAGDANGANAN is one shot off the pace entering the final round of the Drive On Championship-Lake Reynolds Oconee. AP

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REENSBORO, Georgia—Ally McDonald held onto the lead Saturday in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Drive On Championship-Lake Reynolds Oconee, shooting a three-under 69 to take a one-stroke advantage into the final round.

Winless on the LPGA

Tour, the 27-year-old from Mississippi had a 13-under 203 total on the Great Waters Course. Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines was second after a 69.

“I’m excited with the position I’m in,” McDonald said. “Mentally, I think I handled myself really well. Ready to take on tomorrow.”

Four strokes ahead of Pagdanganan with two holes to play, McDonald bogeyed the par-three 17th, while playing partner Pagdanganan closed with two birdies.

McDonald bogeyed the first hole and made a big mid-round run with five birdies in an eighthole stretch.

“I played some really solid golf after I kind of settled in,” McDonald said. “Made a few bad swings towards the end of the round, but I’m not going to discredit how I really did settle in and played solid golf for most of my holes.”

Pagdanganan, a member of Arizona’s 2018 NCAA championship team after starting her college career at Gonzaga, is making her sixth LPGA Tour start of the year and seventh overall.

“There was like a huge sigh of relief after I made my last putt,” Pagdanganan said. “It was a little frustrating. I was hitting so many good shots but couldn’t get any putts to drop. Overall, I’m still pretty happy with how I played.”

Danielle Kang was third at 11 under after a

70 in the event added to the schedule because of the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down women’s golf for five months.

“It seems pretty surreal being in this position in my career but at the same time exciting,” Pagdanganan said.

Not since Jennifer Rosales annexed her second LPGA crown via a two-stroke victory over Cristie Kerr in the SBS Open at Turtle Bay in Hawaii in 2005 had a Filipina came so close to an LPGA victory.

A victory by Pagdanganan on Sunday could net her $195,000 (P9.4 million) right in her maiden season.

With a well laid-out game plan and mindset, the International Container Terminal Services Inc.-backed Pagdanganan is ready to take on her opponents.

“I don’t think I have to do anything different tomorrow (Sunday). I will just honestly trust my swing. I played good the past three rounds so I will just keep reminding myself to stick to my game plan,” she said.

Expect her to also keep his coach Carito (Villaroman) and dad Sam’s reminders all the way to the finish.

“They just said to play my game and

imagine the ball going in the hole,” said the circuit’s driving leader, who also continued to amaze the field off the mound by the day.

She averaged 300 yards in her first round 68, tapered off with a 295-yard average in her second round 67 before uncorking a monstrous 310-yard norm Saturday, including a stirring 313-yard blast on the par-five 18th.

“I’m very frustrated today, but there was a lot of up-and-downs,” Kang said. “ But I think I handled the curve balls pretty well. Good to finish on a birdie.”

The tour returned with another Drive On tournament in Toledo, Ohio, in late July, with Kang winning that event and again the following week in Sylvania, Ohio. She leads the Race to CME Globe and, at No. 5 in the world, is the topranked player in the field, “People out here are really supportive and they’ve been kind of boating or jet skiing from hole to hole,” Kang said. “That’s pretty cool and fun.

They’re all here having fun, so that’s the whole point of it, for people to watch and have fun and be entertained. I’m glad they’re having a blast.”

Carlota Ciganda of Spain had a 68 to get to 10 under. Australia’s Katherine Kirk was 9 under after a 70.

“Course is in amazing shape,” Kirk said. “I think maybe it was a little trickier to score today, like harder to make get it close and have a lot of birdie opportunities. Our group certainly kind of had some moments of struggles and moments of brilliance, but the golf course is fabulous.”

Go praises Kiwanis Manila for donating 655 balls for softball

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HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Senate Youth and Sports Committee Head Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go found an ally in the Kiwanis Club of Manila in the effort to enhance the government’s youth sports program.

The PSC received 655 softballs from the Kiwanis Club of Manila and its international sister chapter Kiwanis Club of Ogaki (Japan) through the office of Executive Director Guillermo Iroy on Saturday at the PSC Administration Building in Malate, Manila.

“We express our gratitude to the Kiwanis Club of Manila for choosing the PSC to be the recipient of the softballs from Kiwanis Ogaki Japan. This is a testament that with the help and support of our friends and stakeholders, the development of a healthy and alert citizenry is possible,” said Ethel Goh, head of the PSC’s Procurement Division. Kiwanis Club of Manila President Francis Villegas, First Vice President Dr. Isabel Maria Villegas, Governor of Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District Mauro Cocjin, along with other KCM members and Go’s staff headed by Legislative Officer Rico Hernandez graced the turnover ceremony.

Go, through a text message read by Hernandez, expressed his appreciation to Kiwanis Club of Manila.

“I hope that we will not only bring the sport of softball into the mainstream of Filipino consciousness but also make this an avenue to forge even stronger ties between our people,” he said.

SARANGANI SWEEP

Sarangani, led by Pamboy Raymundo and JC Escalambre, sweeps Pool A in the group stage of Leg 3 of the Chooks-toGo Pilipinas 3x3 President’s Cup powered by TM on Sunday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

WELCOME BACK, CALVIN! C

By Josef Ramos

ALVIN ABUEVA returns to action beginning on Monday and although he admitted to having learned his lesson after getting indefinitely suspended that lasted 17 months, he said he would remain as “The Beast” of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

“I don’t like to be over excited and I don’t want to expect that much, but it’s going to be the same physical Abueva,” Abueva told the BusinessMirror minutes after Commissioner Willie Marcial announced the lifting of his suspension.

“But I will always be aware of my actions inside and outside the court,” Abueva added.

The PBA allowed Abueva to play for Phoenix Super LPG in the ongoing Philippine Cup at the PBA bubble, ending months of uncertainty for

the former San Sebastian College star who was suspended indefinitely and fined P70,000 for a clothesline foul on TNT import Terrence Jones and engaging Bobby “Ray” Parks Jr.’s girlfriend Myka Rivera in a verbal spat last year.

Abueva was tasked by the PBA to do community service as a requisite for his return and completed an online seminar on professional athletes’ conduct that prompted the Games and Amusements Board to reinstate is playing license.

Upon learning the good news, the Angeles City native said he would do his best to lead the Fuel Masters.

“I will give my best,” said Abueva as he joined the Fuel Masters against the NLEX Road Warriors on Monday at the Angeles University Foundation gym in Pampanga.

“I’ll dedicate this game to all the people who prayed for my reinstatement and for

CALVIN ABUEVA says his physical game stays but vows to watch his ways in and out of the court.

Magramo against all odds in Japan fight

G

KIWANIS International Philippines Luzon District Gov. Mauro Cocjin (left) poses with (from left) Kiwanis Club of Manila President Francis Villegas, PSC Procurement Head Ethel Goh and Office of Sen. Bong Go Legislative Staff Officer Rico Hernandez

my teammates, the coaches, and management for being there at my side,” he said.

Phoenix coach Topex Robinson couldn’t describe how happy he was when Marcial announced the decision during their practice on Sunday morning.

But Robinson said the focus now is on the NLEX game.

“It’s a challenge. We know how NLEX play and coach Yeng [Guiao]. They are on a mission especially that they cannot afford to lose anymore because all their games are important now,” said Robinson, referring to the Road Warriors’ 1-4 won-lost record in the bubble.

Also set on Monday is the TNT Tropang GigaNorthport game at 6:45 p.m.

IEMEL MAGRAMO needs all the help possible from the gods of boxing against Japanese Junto Nakatani who has all the advantages leaning on his side in a showdown for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight belt at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on November 6.

For starters, the fight was postponed five times this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic—April 14, June 6, July 4, August 1 and August 21—adding anxiety to the 26-year-old Parañaque City resident.

Magramo (24-1 win-loss with 20 knockouts) knows his undefeated rival has it all in the fight—from the 500 hometown crowd allowed allowed in them, to a training advantages at his hometown and, to top it all, three Japanese sitting as judges.

But Magramo’s unperturbed.

“I’m must not give him any chance or any opportunity. We really need to land first a solid one because he has all the advantages, or should I say

he has it all,” Magramo told BusinessMirror through overseas call from the Grand Palace Hotel in Tokyo on Sunday morning.

Magramo and his team are on the fourth day of a 14-day quarantine.

“I am studying his moves and style,” said Magramo, who admitted a knockout victory is necessary.

Magramo’s promoter, Johnny Elorde, said he is confident of his ward’s victory, adding he trusts his Japanese counterpart, Akihiro Honda of Teikken Promotions, for a fair judgement.

Completing Magramo’s team are his father trainer Melvin Magramo, Toto Laurente and Elorde’s son, Juan Miguel, also a former world title challenger.

The 22-year-old Nakatani (20-0 with 15 knockouts) is coming off a technical knockout win over former world champion Milan Melindo in October 5, 2019. Josef Ramos

MAGRAMO

RICK OLIVARES bleachersbrew@gmail.com

BLEACHERS’ BREW

Leeds could steal show WITH Manchester City fading, Manchester United dropping close to the relegation zone, and Liverpool looking vulnerable, the stage is set for a most unlikely Premier League season.

It could be as unlikely as when the Blackburn Rovers won the Premiership in 1995 (and their last title success was in 1914), and Leicester City as well in 2016 (their first domestic crown in their 132-year history).

Right now, the table looks like this: 1. Everton 2. Liverpool 3. Aston Villa 4. Leeds Everton and Aston Villa have a game at hand. But the picture is.... It is only Liverpool that has been a regular fixture in the top four in the last four seasons.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have looked vulnerable, inconsistent, and porous. And they have since the re-start at the tail-end of last season where they bagged their first Premier League title and first domestic championship since 19990. The Reds are still dangerous, talented, and motivated. But they are clearly not their old world-beating selves. Yet. There’s the matter of injuries to Virgil Van Dijk who could possibly be out for the season.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been injured since September. Thiago Alcantara was also knocked out during that contentious match with Everton. New signing Kostas Tsimikas and Joel Matip have been in and out. Luckily, for Klopp, Allisson just returned and in time for the win versus Sheffield.

They are looking at bringing in a reinforcement on defense during the coming January transfer window. How their health and defense holds up will determine how far they go.

For sure, the VAR decisions that went against them versus Everton and Sheffield should see them rightfully at the top. But such is the state of the game, where for the second straight year, the Premier League has not gotten it right.

Man City tripped once more as they had to rely on a late goal to equalize with West Ham. Oh, the latter side is at 10th in the current table with the former right behind at 11th.

Man United’s scoreless draw with Chelsea saw them stay at 15th spot; two slots above the relegation zone with seven points in five matches.

And that brings us to Leeds. They crushed erstwhile second place squad Aston Villa, 3-0 at Villa Park.

The Marcelo Bielsa-coached side that was promoted from the Championship last season has looked absolutely wonderful even during their losses to Liverpool and Wolverhampton and their draw with City.

Leeds though, in my opinion, were lucky that Aston Villa did not score early on (and they should have). It was a bounce back for them after they lost at their home field of Elland Road to Wolves, 1-nil.

They have had good spirit and tactics as they crowd the middle of the park with their midfielders and attackers. Their defenders have been very good as well.

And Leeds has been lucky to avoid the injury bug as well; something clubs like Liverpool and Man City have had to deal with.

Pep Guardiola has lamented the short preparation period for the season (but then again every club has had to deal with that) and injuries to Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus, Fernandinho, and now, Sergio Aguero (Kevin de Buyne and Oleksandr Zinchenko were on the bench).

If Leeds hold up until season’s end, they could be playing in Europe next season and if they play their cards really tight and the other squads falter, they could even win the Premiership.

That is, of course, getting ahead of everything. There are still 32 matches to be played. By the end of the first round, we’ll have a clear picture of who have a chance to win and finish in the top four.

What is undisputable as of the moment is this Premiership is looking like a wide open and unpredictable race.

That is why is bears much watching and scrutiny.

How if only the league can sort out VAR. The technology is good; the people reading the info have been bad.