BusinessMirror September 03, 2021

Think tank: Hope in new PHL Covid tack I

NTERNATIONAL think tank Moody’s Analytics said the Philippines’s new strategy against Covid-19—which is still in the works—could potentially bring back the economy to its recovery path.

In an analysis published on Thursday, the research arm of the Moody’s Group recognized the Philippines’s plan to take a more “integrated” approach to managing the economic impact of Covid-19, although it has yet to be officially rolled out by the government.

Earlier this week, the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) said they are looking to adopt new measures for the country’s Covid-19 management, including “granular lockdowns” instead of

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the current wider community restrictions.

“A proposal has been tabled to shift from the strict quarantines now in place to a policy of ‘granular lockdowns,’ which would alternate periods of lockdown across areas, somewhat analogous to rotating groups into and out of office work spaces,” Moody’s Analytics Chief Asia Pacific Economist Steven Cochrane said.

“There are few details on how this will be designed and implemented, but the proposal offers the potential of allowing greater access to shopping and other economic activities and boosting the pace of economic recovery,” the economist added.

“If executed well, this could finally help an economy that has

been very sluggish under the weight of severe and lengthy lockdowns,” he further said.

Cochrane also said the proposal to introduce preferred access on public transit, in shopping malls, and in restaurants for those with proof of vaccination can also be a good measure for a country grappling with lockdowns.

“This will generate greater mobility for those vaccinated, which will help bolster economic growth as the vaccination rate rises. It does, however, run the risk of marginalizing those not vaccinated,” the economist said.

“First and most important, additional vaccine doses are being acquired and vaccinations will be universally available to all segments of the population begin-

ning in October. This should slow the pace of Covid-19 and, it is hoped, reduce the severity of infections, at least among those vaccinated,” Cochrane further said.

The economist said, however, that whatever gain there is to be made with the new integrated approach will not be felt until next year.

“This new integrated approach creates some upside potential to the pace of recovery but mostly for 2022, since most of this policy shift will not begin until this year’s final quarter.

We have not adjusted our forecast based on these actions, but we will be watching carefully for further details on their scope and execution,” the economist said.

Bianca Cuaresma

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SETTINGS FINE, FOR NOW WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO 15-YEAR CASINO BAN ON BORACAY?

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

T

HERE is a 15-year local ban on casinos on Boracay, which will end in 2032. But will it be enough to stop the expected onslaught of gaming activities after President Duterte gave his thumbs up to new casino projects?

Asked about Duterte’s latest pronouncement on Boracay casinos, Malay Councilor Nenette Aguirre-Graf told the BusinessMirror, “We have a 15-year moratorium [on casinos].” She added, the moratorium was issued “even before Galaxy was to build its casino because we also have a moratorium on new building

A health worker gives instructions to residents of Marikina City as they wait for their turn to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City.

Health-care workers on Wednesday held a protest in front of the Department of Health offices in Manila to demand that the agency release benefits due them, especially those mandated by pandemic laws. They also pressed for the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. NONOY LACZA

By Bianca Cuaresma

T

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Philippines’s accommodative monetary policy settings continue to be appropriate amid the recent economic developments in the country, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) chief said on Thursday, amid calls by some private economists for further easing.

See “BSP,” A2

PESO exchange rates n US 49.9280

constructions.”

The planned $500-million casino of Galaxy Entertainment of Macau, in partnership with Leisure and Resorts World Corp., was rejected by Duterte in 2018, supposedly to preserve the gains from the rehabilitation of Boracay.

Sangguniang Bayan of Malay’s Resolution 0068, approved on July 4, 2017, was issued “to regulate the proliferation of casinos, gaming junkets, legal gambling activities, as well as other Pagcor/ GAB [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp./Gaming and Amusement Board]-sanctioned gaming/gambling operations in the municipality of Malay.”

See “What,” A2

Vaxx IPR easing, key to ‘reset’ economy

By Cai U. Ordinario

T

@caiordinario

HE suspension of intellectual property rights for vaccines and proactive solutions to address climate change should be the direction forward to “reset and rebuild” the Philippine economy after the pandemic, according to experts.

In the 19th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) Kick-off Forum on Thursday, Phil-

ippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Research Fellow Adoracion Navarro said the country needed to participate in efforts to make vaccines more accessible.

Rosa T. Perez, Senior Research Fellow at the Manila Observatory, also said that more actions must be done to adapt and mitigate the ill effects of climate change in order for the economy to be green and inclusive. “[Our theme this year aims] to

spread the message that we will be able to rebuild from the setbacks of the Covid-19 pandemic and create a better Philippines.

We need to reset our paradigms and balance the interest of people, profit, and planet, placing equal importance on economic, social, and environmental wellbeing and sustainability,” PIDS President Aniceto C. Orbeta Jr. said in his opening remarks on Thursday.

Navarro said the country

should play catch-up in areas such as vaccine development, intellectual property rights, vaccine manufacturing, and scientific developments on treatment, prevention and how to make these more affordable for Filipinos.

She recommended that researchers focus on these areas to allow more Filipinos to benefit from these and make it possible to live with the virus in a postpandemic world.

n japan 0.4538 n UK 68.7608 n HK 6.4198 n CHINA 7.7282 n singapore 37.1377 n australia 36.7770 n EU 59.1197 n SAUDI arabia 13.3127

See “Vaxx,” A2 Source: BSP (September 2, 2021)

News BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, September 3 , 2021

BSP…

Continued from A1

In a press briefing, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the country continues to have “ample monetary policy space” and monetary policy remains supportive of the local economy’s path to recovery.

“The BSP’s monetary policy remains oriented towards supporting ongoing economic recovery amid supply-side pressures and the presence of economic slack as well as the downside risks to domestic demand from the impact of the protracted Covid-19 pandemic,” Diokno said.

Despite the country’s operating under an all-time low interest rate, some economists have raised the argument for further monetary policy accommodation as the economy continues to be ravaged by renewed lockdowns forced by a spike in Covid-19 cases fueled by the delta variant.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) economist Michael Ricafort, for example, said continued contraction in loan demand could still support or justify more accommodative monetary policy measures, provided inflation stabilizes from among 2-year highs recently.

Ricafort said the BSP could do this by way of further cuts in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR), or sustaining the key policy rate at the record low of 2 percent.

Diokno said the accommodative policy settings should be allowed to continue to work their way through the economy to bolster private consumption and investment.

He, however, acknowledged that heightened risk aversion amid risks to corporate and household balance sheets continues to dampen lending activity.

Earlier this week, the BSP said bank lending contracted by 0.7 percent in July this year, slowing down from the 2-percent fall in the previous month.

“Although business and consumer sentiment have gradually improved, domestic demand continues to be tempered by the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, especially amid the emergence of the Delta variant and the progress of the vaccination rollout in the country,” Diokno said.

“While the BSP continues to prioritize the use of monetary policy space to provide support to economic activity amid the pandemic, the BSP also remains vigilant and stands ready to respond against emerging risks to its price and financial stability objectives,” he added.

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DOH sees end-Sept Covid log of 30K, but pins hope on LGUs

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By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

HE Department of Health (DOH) has projected an average of 30,000 cases per day for September 30, 2021 in the National Capital Region (NCR).

However, the DOH clarified that the projection is “not cast in stone” and can change, especially with the local government units (LGUs) implementing targeted, granular lockdowns, enhancing active case finding, and fast-tracking vaccination.

On Thursday, the agency

logged 16,621 additional Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2,020,484.

There were also 10,965 recoveries and 148 deaths.

Of the total number of infections, 7.3 percent (146,510) are active, 91.1 percent (1,840,294) have recovered,

1.67 percent (33,680) have died.

There were 92 duplicates removed from the total case count.

Of these, 78 are recoveries and 1 is a death.

Moreover, 66 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

All laboratories were operational on August 31, 2021 but 5 laboratories failed to submit data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System.

30K daily projection

Based on a set of assumptions, the DOH explained that daily cases in NCR for September 30 may range from 16,000 to 43,000.

“The assumptions used included mobility, public health and health-care capacities and sys-

tem, and the public’s adherence to the minimum public health standards [MPHS],” the DOH said.

It also clarified that these figures are used to guide the government to be better prepared in its Covid-19 response, especially with the presence of the more transmissible Delta variant.

With these high daily case projections, the DOH called on the national government and LGUs to lower the interval between case detection to isolation, strictly monitor the public’s adherence to the MPHS, and further ramp up vaccination coverage to lower our daily cases in NCR. The DOH also reminded the public to use face masks correctly and consistently, practice physical distancing, and get vaccinated when they become eligible.

PSALM EYES OMSC FOR CASECNAN MULTIPURPOSE

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HE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) will procure an Operation and Maintenance Service Contract (OMSC) for the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Project (CMPP).

“PSALM intends to be-

gin the procurement of the OMSC by the second week of September 2021 through a competitive public bidding process. The contract will be effective for one year until PSALM commences and completes the plant’s privatization by the end of 2022,” said

PSALM President and CEO Irene Besido-Garcia.

The CMPP is covered by a BuildOperate-Transfer (BOT) contract between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Independent Power Producer, CE Casecnan Water and Energy Company Inc. (CE Casecnan).

All proceeds from the privatization of the Casecnan Hydroelectric Power Plant will be divided

by NIA and PSALM in accordance with their ownership interest in CMPP, added the PSALM official.

PSALM said NIA had just agreed to allow it to be the one to procure the OMSC. With the concurrence of the Department of Finance and the Department of Energy, PSALM will undertake the procurement of the OMSC pursuant to Republic Act No. 9184 or the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Thereafter, PSALM will work on the terms of the privatization of the CMPP through public bidding.

Vaxx…

Continued from A1

Navarro added that the government must also be proactive when it comes to the democratization of access to scientific breakthroughs that will facilitate greater access to these in light of Covid-19.

“There comes a time when intellectual property rights on treatment, prevention, technologies and vaccine manufacturing are suspended, there’s a push for time suspension of monopoly rights on these innovations. If we are able to successfully participate, we will benefit from it,” Navarro said.

“This is part of the pathway that we should look at.”

Meanwhile, Perez said that while the lockdowns helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 27 percent, this is not something to fully celebrate.

She said the drop in carbon dioxide emissions had no detectable impact on atmospheric carbon dioxide in the world.

Navarro added that these efforts must maximize the benefits of a green recovery. A study in 2017, she said, found that investments toward renewables and other green undertakings will lead to greater job creation.

The study found that on av-

This is to ensure the continuing operations of the CMPP’s irrigation component and the 150-megawatt (MW) Hydroelectric Power Plant component after the ownership of the CMPP is turned over to the government in December 2021.

CMPP started commercial operations in 2002 and will expire on December 11, 2021. There is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between NIA and PSALM, whereby NIA will transfer 60 percent of the ownership of the CMPP to PSALM by the end of the PPA. The CMPP provides 19 million kilowatt-hour of hydroelectric power per month to supplement the energy supply in the Luzon grid. It also ensures continuous irrigation services to about 139,200 hectares of farmland in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan and Tarlac, amounting to 58.333 million cubic meters per month in accordance with the water protocol prescribed by the NIA. Lenie Lectura

erage, 2.65 full-time equivalent jobs were created from $1-million spending on fossil fuels, but if the same amount is spent on renewables or other green investments, 7.72 full-time equivalent jobs will be created.

“When we had Covid lockdowns, we were very happy because the air pollution has gone down but this is no climate action. I would tell you that the way we reduce pollution should not be [done] by passing the buck to another hazard [such as Covid]. We must make a concerted effort to do real climate action,” Perez added.

Based on the DPRM theme for the year, efforts to make the economy more inclusive are needed through promoting ethical businesses; green and inclusive recovery; and a robust and healthy work force.

PIDS said toward this end, the government, business sector, academe, civil society, and the general public should work together in pursuing a shared vision of an equitable, sustainable, and resilient post-pandemic Philippines.

The DPRM is celebrated every September to promote nationwide awareness of the importance of policy research in crafting evidence-based policies, plans, and programs, pursuant to Malacañang Proclamation 247 signed in 2002.

The same proclamation designates the PIDS as lead coordinator of the yearly DPRM celebration.

What…

Continued from A1

Asked whether the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) would take into consideration the Malay SB resolution when government starts processing permits for casinos for the island, Environment Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns Benny D. Antiporda said, “The BIATF including the Malay LGU [local government unit] will conduct a meeting about this matter because it is a different situation now with this pandemic, and in 2017.”

Published reports have quoted Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo confirming that Duterte had approved the casino projects of Megaworld Corp. and Galaxy. Most residents and business owners on the island have rejected Duterte’s decision to allow casinos there. (See, “Talk of casino spurs alarm: Will Boracay be gaming paradise?” in the BusinessMirror, August 30, 2021.)

When the SB resolution was issued, there were already existing casinos on the island located in Movenpick Resort & Spa (Alpha Allied Holdings Ltd.), Crown Regency Resort and Convention Center, and Paradise Garden Resort Hotel and Convention Center.

As such, the resolution reads: “Whereas, giving utmost consideration of the general welfare finds that the number of operating casinos, gaming junkets, legal gambling activities, and other Pagcor/GAB-sanctioned gaming operations on the island of Boracay is enough to maintain this kind of economic activity in the municipality of Malay.”

The resolution added, “a moratorium on endorsements for 15 years [is] timely and proper, which includes the transfer of existing endorsements, permits, licenses or authorizations to parties other than those it has been issued to exclusively.”

Asked whether the BIATF or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) would respect the Malay’s casino ban, Interior Undersecretary for Operations Epimaco V. Densing III said, “Wala nang BIATF. [The BIATF no longer exists.] The DILG does not comment on LGU legislations unless they are considered in violation or inconsistent [with] national laws.”

He added, “Getting a business permit must go through the process and documentary requirements of the local government.”

For his part, Antiporda said he had no information if Duterte had already signed the executive order extending the term of the BIATF. Yet it issued a news statement on Monday, saying, “In line with the President’s latest pronouncement that casinos will now be allowed to operate in Boracay Island to augment government funds, [we] will carry out the necessary steps towards this direction.” (See, “BIATF officials seem blindsided by Duterte announcement allowing casinos in Boracay,” in the BusinessMirror, August 30, 2021.) The BIATF was chaired by Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, and co-chaired by Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

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4,700 companies logged virus cases in workplace from Jan to Sept–DOLE

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

A

T least 4,700 companies nationwide have registered Covid-19 cases in the workplace, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Wednesday.

In a television interview, Labor Assistant Secretary Teresita S. Cucueco disclosed most of the cases were from the following sectors: service; manufacturing; wholesale and retail; finance and insurance; and construction.

The number of companies with infected personnel, however, may be higher since DOLE noted many employers have yet to submit their work accident and illness report (WAIR), where Covid-19 cases are logged.

Out of the 72,814 companies, which were inspected by labor inspectors from January to September 2, 2021, only 48,000 submitted their WAIR. Cucueco said the non-submission of WAIR is currently the top deficiency among their inspected establishments even after the department had allowed online submission.

Other top violations of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

Law by companies are the lack of safety officers, as well as the lack of the safety and health committee.

Cucueco said they are trying to boost OSH standards compliance by intensifying their information campaign and also providing technical aid to deficient companies. Fines are, however, imposed to companies, which persistently fail to comply with the requirement.

“Sometimes there are companies, especially the small ones, which have low awareness. So we give them awareness on the rules they would have to comply with, then we inspect them again, they are already compliant,” Cucueco said.

In a related development, Cucueco said they were also able to issue Safety Seals—which guarantee a company is compliant with Covid-19 preventive measures—to 292 establishments nationwide.

She pointed out DOLE is only one of the numerous government agencies, which issue Safety Seals, depending on a particular sector.

DOLE, Cucueco said, is tasked to issue Safety Seals for companies in the manufacturing, construction, utilities, warehouse, and information and communication companies sector.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, September 3, 2021 A3

PNP loses Zambales land dispute case against OSG T

HE Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has won a land dispute case against the Philippine National Police (PNP) before the Supreme Court.

In a 13-page decision penned

by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, the Court’s Third Division granted the petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General seeking the reversal of the Court of Appeals (CA) decision issued on August 16, 2011.

The appellate court’s ruling affirmed the order issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Iba, Zambales, which granted the PNP’s application for land registration of lots Nos. 713-A to 713-F of Iba Cadastre.

The PNP through its Provincial Director Jaime Calungsod claimed that it has been in possession of the said lots for more than 30 years.

The subject lots were formerly used as a military reservation of the then Philippine Constabulary and were transferred to the PNP in 1991 when the former office was dissolved.

In support of its application, it submitted the tracing cloth plan

of Lot No. 713 as subdivided, technical descriptions of the subject lots, the approved sketch plan and the respective tax declarations of said lots.

The RTC granted the PNP’s application for land registration after it was able to prove that it possessed all the qualifications and none of the disqualification to have the subject lots registered in its name.

The government, however, appealed the RTC ruling before the CA through the OSG, arguing that the PNP failed to prove that the subject lots are alienable and disposable lands of the public domain since as per the December 19, 2002 Report issued by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the subject lots had been reserved for constabulary purposes per Executive Order 87, dated November 6, 1915.

Thus, the OSG pointed out that the subject lots are unregistrable in the absence of a positive act from the government withdrawing the land from being reserved

for military purposes.

However, the CA dismissed the OSG’s petition prompting the latter to elevate the issue before the SC. In reversing the CA decision, the SC said it agreed with the OSG’s arguments that the subject lots are incapable of registration pursuant to the CENRO Report and that PNP’s possession of the subject lots for more than 30 years is irrelevant because said lots are inalienable having been reserved for military purposes.

“In the instant case, the PNP did not submit a DENR Certification to the effect that the subject lots are alienable and disposable lands of the public domain, which was the prevailing requirement when its application for land registration was pending with the RTC. The PNP merely submitted a subdivision plan of Lot 713, Cad 191, Iba Cadastre, which indicated that the subject lots are alienable and disposable,” the SC pointed out.

“Therefore, respondent’s reliance on the subject lots’ subdivision plan, without the corresponding DENR certification stating that they are

entirely within the alienable and disposable zone, which was the prevailing rule during the pendency of its application with the RTC, proved fatal to its case. In short, respondent failed to substantially prove that the subject lots are alienable and disposable lands of the public domain,” it added.

Even during the pendency of the case before the CA, the SC noted that the PNP did not submit the required certifications—a CENRO and a copy of the original classification approved by the DENR Secretary—in order to prove that the subject lots have been classified as alienable and disposable lands of the public domain.

“In fine, we find that the respondent’s evidence does not suffice to entitle it to register the subject lots. The PNP failed to present any evidence showing that the DENR Secretary had indeed released the subject lots as alienable and disposable lands of the public domain,” the SC said.

Concurring with the ruling were Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Henri Jean Paul Inting and Edgardo delos Santos. Joel R. San Juan

BBM: Expedite Covid-19 vaccine procurement and inoculation of booster shots to health-care workers

F

ORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has called for the streamlining of the procurement process for Covid-19 vaccines to speed up the import of supplies amid the local government’s intensified vaccination rollout.

“To ensure enough and continuous stocks of vaccines, the government procurement agency must simply cut through the red tape,” Marcos said in reaction to the local government units’ (LGU) blistering clamor for sufficient vaccine provisions.

The former senator was also alarmed by the World Health Organization warning that the “freakish” Delta variant of Covid-19 now sweeps through the country as the dominant virus strain.

“The WHO has confirmed the community transmission of Delta variant which to me signifies an urgent call to action for our procurement officials to bypass the usual procedure to hasten the importation of vaccines,” he stressed.

Marcos was referring to the tri-

partite accord among the national and local governments and the private sector in the acquisition of vaccine supplies which appeared to have been set aside.

Under Republic Act 11525, or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, LGUs and private entities may procure their own vaccine supplies through a multiparty agreements (MPA) with the national government.

“For one reason or another, such agreement appears to have been virtually mothballed despite persistent appeals by the local officials and leaders of the private sector to have the MPA signed by their counterpart in the national government,” lamented the former senator.

“In fact,” he added, “a resolution has been filed with the Senate urging the Committee of the Whole to look into the MPAs which have reportedly been submitted to the national government but remained unsigned by its representatives.”

“Malinaw ang kahandaan ng LGUs sa kagyat na pangangailangang mabakunahan ang kani-kanilang mamama-

yan…pero mas malinaw na ang problema talaga ay ang supply ng bakuna,” Marcos said, noting an unsustained or “on and off” vaccine rollout in the National Capital Region.

He added: “Lalo naman sa mga probinsiya kung saan ang hinaing ng ating LGUs ay ang kakapusan ng supply ng bakuna…kaya ang panawagan natin sa national government ay kailangan talagang ayusin ang pag-angkat ng Covid-19 vaccines. Naniniwala ako na higit na makatutulong sa paglutas ng nasabing problema kung pairalin na ang MPA upang makagalaw ang initiative ng private sector at ng LGUs.”

Booster shots for HCWs

IN a separate news statement, Marcos prodded the government to administer booster shots to health workers to bolster their protection from new variants of Covid-19.

Marcos made the appeal after a local infectious disease expert raised the alarm over “breakthrough” infections among vaccinated frontline health-care workers.

“We need to seriously consider administering booster shots to our

Drilon scores Palace ploy to shift blame on PPE fund mess continued from a11

That’s one. Number two, this company has only P625,000. How did it, in heaven’s name, generate and was able to enter into contract supply agreements worth P8.67 billion?”

The Senate Minority Leader added: “They could respond they were just indenting; they are traders. Alright.

Did the government have to enter into that kind of set-up? Kailangan ba ng middle man dito? Why do you have to go to a middle man? Why not do a government-to-government transaction? Please answer that. I assume, the net income of Pharmally of over P284 million in 2020 all came from commissions. If there was a government-to-government transaction, without a middle, the government would have saved P284 million as commission, as fees of Pharmally. This is a question that must be answered.”

At the same time, Drilon dodged the question on whether he thought the firm was favored because its backer, businessman Michael Yang,

was a friend of the President and was one time a presidential adviser.

“All I will say is Pharmally, on the face of the document, is favored. It does not require much intelligence to realize that if you have P625,000, common sense, but more important due diligence, would have told you that you should not award supply agreements worth P8.7 billion in a span of two months to this company.”

Asked about potential liability of administration allies in the controversial transaction, Drilon replied: “From what I understand, first, it was Secretary Duque who authorized the transfer of P42 billion.

Therefore, it was because of that transfer, without MOA (Memorandum of Agreement), that allowed [PS-DBM head, Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher] Lao to do the shenanigans that it appears to have been done. I suspect that it is a part of the planned scheme from the very start to commit this grand corruption.”

health-care manpower to prevent them from getting infected with coronavirus. Health policies should address the realities on the ground.

From what we can gather, it is becoming more critical for our health workers. We should do everything that we can to prevent our medical staff from being overwhelmed,” Marcos stressed.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease expert from the San Lazaro Hospital, said that current data consistently show vaccine efficacy tapering off six months after a person is inoculated. “... I think we need to revisit again [government’s policy on boosters]... because if you are a health-care worker and you have mild symptoms, you will undergo isolation and can affect the performance and the way we deliver health care in our hospitals,” Dr. Solante said.

The Department of Health (DOH) is still not recommending booster shots for any of the priority groups, saying that the country’s vaccine supply is still “unstable.”

Marcos also stressed the impor-

tance of ensuring there is enough medical staff to look after Covid-19 patients, especially that daily cases being reported remain high due to the Delta variant.

“We need to have enough health workers to man the Covid-19 wards and ICU beds. Giving them these booster shots will help ensure that their protection is more than adequate for the critical work that they do. We need to prevent the total collapse of our health-care system,” Marcos added.

Meanwhile, a panel composed of experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) released a joint statement outlining a plan to provide booster shots to all US citizens.

“The available data make very clear that protection against SARSCoV-2 infection begins to decrease over time following the initial doses of vaccination, and in association with the dominance of the Delta variant, we are starting to see evidence

of reduced protection against mild and moderate disease. For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccineinduced protection and prolong its durability,” the joint statement read.

Asean countries such as Indonesia and Thailand are already giving booster shots of either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines to fully vaccinated individuals.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that it is closely monitoring another variant known as “Mu” which was first seen in Colombia in January of this year.

“The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” WHO said.

New Delta variant cases in the country remain elevated and at times are hitting all-time highs. On Wednesday, the DOH reported another 14,216 new cases of Covid-19.

The DOH also said on Wednesday, that ICU beds for Covid-19 in the country are already at a 71-percent occupancy rate, which is already considered high risk.

A4 Friday, September 3, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

‘Bakuna bubbles’ in NCR pushed

A

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

REAS in Metro Manila with high vaccination rates can be turned into “bakuna bubbles” where residents can move freely and enter establishments, according to the Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship.

In a news statement issued on Thursday, Presidential Adviser and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said this may be able to help the National Capital Region (NCR) and, eventually, the country to coexist with Covid-19.

However, inside these bakuna bubbles, unvaccinated residents will be required to present a negative antigen or RT-PCR test before entering high-risk establishments such as restaurants,

salons, coffee shops, gyms, etc.

“This is a reasonable consideration for us to constrict the mobility of the unvaccinated, as the only thing we want is to protect them and save their lives at all costs,” said Concepcion.

He added that the presence of the Delta variant is a game changer and requires more Filipinos to get vaccinated.

Concepcion said many of the country’s health workers who got

infected after vaccination did not require hospitalization. This in itself is a clear benefit of vaccination.

“The presence of the Delta variant has changed the game, but the key objectives of vaccines—preventing hospitalization, deaths, and transmission—remain the same. Those fully vaccinated have a slimmer chance of contracting severe infections and that is for certain,” he stressed.

Concepcion pointed out data from the Makati Medical Center showed that the majority of its Covid-19 patients are unvaccinated.

The Presidential Adviser added that at the Philippine General Hospital, around 199 of the total 280 Covid-19 patients as of August 26 are also unvaccinated.

He also said transport groups have expressed their support to the bakuna bubbles proposal by offering to field special buses for the purpose, thereby preserving the integrity of the bubble’s safety.

Concepcion stressed that bakuna bubbles can also contribute to the

vaccination rate in the country and allow the economy to reopen safely.

“Aside from achieving a hundred percent of our family members or employees in business, each bubble should have its own strict health and safety protocols to enforce, which should include Covid-19 testing after each household member or employee leaves their own ‘bubble’ to go out to see other people,” Concepcion said.

Earlier, Concepcion pitched the deployment of buses for fully vaccinated passengers in Metro Manila to establish a “bubble” for the public transportation system.

The proposal could aid the working population’s safe mobility amid the pandemic.

Concepcion said that building a “bubble” in the workplace has been a trend amid the vaccination program rollout.

The proposal is in line with Concepcion’s call for micro-herd immunity, which refers to a close system that achieved 80 percent vaccination rollout already.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Senator slams removal of funding for cancer treatment in ’22 budget

S

EN. Nancy Binay blasted the removal of the funding item allotted for cancer treatment in the 2022 national budget with no clear support for cancer patients.

Questioning the Duterte administration and the Department of Health’s action seen to affect thousands of cancer patients, Binay bemoaned the move seen to hit thousands of cancer patients relying on state-run hospitals for regular treatment of the killer disease.

The senator slammed the removal of the line item for the country’s cancer fund for 2022 by the Department of Health, saying it was a “step back” after Congress “had gone through a lot of hoops to fully empower the national cancer control program.”

In a news statement, the lawmaker lamented that “the DOH should have taken our cue when we allocated P620 million last year for cancer. Batas ‘yan, at long-term prior-

ity. Instead of moving forward this is a step back that we should correct.

When survival matters, you don’t make lifelines invisible.”

Binay recalled that the P620million cancer fund for 2021 was only included during the bicameral conference for the national budget. It consists of the P500-million Cancer Control Program fund and the P120million Cancer Assistance fund.

Vowing to rectify the misstep by filing an amendment during the Senate’s deliberations on the DOH’s proposed budget for 2022, the senator recalled that the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines earlier sounded the alarm over the removal of the cancer fund line item in next year’s budget.

She cited suggestions that instead of a line item, the DOH had subsumed the National Integrated Cancer Control Program, including cancer medicines for children, and the Cancer Assistance Fund under the funding item for non-communicable diseases (NCD). Butch Fernandez

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

TheWorld BusinessMirror

Painless and silent organ damage seen in Covid ‘long hauler’ study

K

idney damage is painless and silent, and it’s the latest ailment to be identified afflicting a large swath of Covid-19 survivors.

Injury to the blood-filtering organ can occur among people who recover from the coronavirus at home, and escalates with the severity of Covid, a study found. Even non-hospitalized patients with no renal problems have almost a twofold higher risk of developing end-stage kidney disease, compared with someone who never had Covid.

The findings, reported Wednesday in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, highlight yet another pernicious burden of the pandemic that’s sickened more than 200 million people globally.

The data show 7.8 extra people needing dialysis or a kidney transplant per 10,000 of these mild-tomoderate Covid patients.

“This is not a small number, if you multiply by the huge number of Americans and also globally who might be ending up with end-stage kidney disease,” said Ziyad Al-Aly, director of the clinical epidemiology center at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System in Missouri. “This is really huge, and it will literally shape our lives for probably the next decade or more.”

Al-Aly, who led the study, and his colleagues in April mined data collected during the routine delivery of care from the Veterans

Health Administration to document the cascade of debilitating effects that plague Covid survivors months after diagnosis, from blood clots, stroke, diabetes and breathing difficulties to heart, liver and kidney damage, depression, anxiety and memory loss.

Al-Aly’s latest research compared the risks of kidney-related conditions in 89,216 VA users who survived Covid against more than 1.7 million counterparts without the pandemic disease. “ W hat’s really problematic about kidney disease is that it’s really silent, that it doesn’t really manifest in pain or any other symptoms,” said Al-Aly, who also works as a nephrologist.

Al-Aly and colleagues found non-hospitalized Covid patients have a 23% increased risk of suffering acute kidney injury within six months—a condition that impedes the removal of waste and toxins from the blood.

Doctors caring for Covid survivors must also be alert for a broad spectrum of kidney disease among these patients, according to Al-Aly. “If this is really happening at a wider scale—and we think it is—it’s just a matter of time before we see all of these people hitting the clinics, needing dialysis, needing transplantation that places a lot of burden on the patient himself or herself, and really is very costly to the health care system,” he said.

Taiwan gets Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines after long delay

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AIPEI, Taiwan—Taiwan received its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines Thursday after a prolonged purchasing process that gave rise to a political blame game with China.

Taiwan had been unable to buy the vaccine itself directly from BioNTech, the German company that had partnered with US-based Pfizer to develop the mRNA vaccine.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ingwen earlier accused China of blocking Taiwan from getting the Pfizer vaccine through BioNTech, saying that they had all but signed the contracts when the deal was delayed indefinitely. China has denied any interference.

Eventually, two private companies, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. and Hon Hai Precision Electronics, as well as a Buddhist organization Tzu Chi, stepped in to buy the vaccines and donate them to Taiwan.

T he t hree organizations bought a tota l of 15 million doses. The f light carrying the first 930,000 doses arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on Thursday morning.

Even their arrival has been dogged by politics. Local media at first reported Taiwan was getting doses ahead of schedule because they weren’t needed in mainland China, where the Pfizer-BioNTech

vaccine has not yet been cleared for use.

Health Minister Chen Shihchung said last week that he had been told by TSMC that the vaccines would have simplified Chinese labels from China. Taiwan uses traditional, rather than simplified, Chinese characters.

However, he emphasized that what mattered was the safety and the quality of the vaccine, not the labeling.

TSMC said Thursday that they would remove the simplified Chinese labels after the vaccines arrived.

Chinese company Fosun Pharma has distribution rights for the vaccine in Greater China, a phrase Beijing says includes Taiwan. Fosun said on its social media Wednesday that it had supplied the batch of vaccines that was due to arrive, complete with an image of the shipment that displayed their logo prominently.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be given to 12-17-year-olds, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control had said.

Taiwan has been using AstraZeneca, Moderna and the domestically made Medigen vaccine in its campaign so far and has vaccinated 43 percent of its population with at least one dose. The island’s policy is to give out first doses widely. AP

T

Vice Chairman Huang Zhen said in an interview.

Once 52 eligible Covid cases are detected from the trial, which aims to enroll as many as 30,000 people, researchers will conduct interim analysis on the shot’s efficacy against the both the original version of the virus and its variants, including the highly infectious Delta strain.

“I’m confident the results will be consistent with those seen in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine,” Huang told Bloomberg News. That shot—in use in vast swathes of the west, including

A5

WHO inaugurates hub in Berlin to help prevent future pandemics

B

ERLIN—The World Health Organization on Wednesday inaugurated a new “hub” in Berlin that aims to help prepare the globe better to prevent future pandemics.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and German Chancellor Angela Merkel cut the ribbon to launch the new WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. WHO says Germany is making an initial investment of $100 million in the facility.

The hub is meant to promote more effective data collection, information sharing and analysis, leading to better and more coherent decision-making after the patchy global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be headed by Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, currently the Director-General of the

Nigeria Center for Disease Control.

The Covid-19 pandemic “has taught the world many painful lessons,” Tedros said. “One of the most clear is the need for new, powerful systems and tools for global surveillance to collect, analyze and disseminate data on outbreaks with the potential to become epidemics and pandemics.”

“Viruses move fast but data can move even faster,” Tedros said. He added that the new center is one response to recommendations on what can be done to keep the world safer in the future, “filling a gap in the world’s defenses.”

France first big EU nation to start widespread booster jabs to elderly

P

ARIS—France on Wednesday started administering booster shots of Covid-19 vaccine to people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions as the Delta variant spreads in the country.

France is the f irst big EU country to introduce widespread booster shots, and several other European countries are expected to follow suit.

Many countries are still struggling to administer first doses of Covid-19 vaccines and the World Health Organization had called for a moratorium on boosters and also urged governments to donate vaccines to needy countries.

People in France can get the shot on condition a minimum sixmonth period has passed since they got fully vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson jab can get a booster shot of Pfizer or Moderna at least four weeks after they first got vaccinated.

In nursing homes, a nationwide booster campaign starts on Sept.

12. About 18 million people are estimated to be eligible for the booster shot, according to the Health Ministry.

Lucien Slama, a 90-year-old retired researcher, told The Associated Press he was “absolutely not” afraid to get the shot on Wednesday at a pharmacy in Paris.

“It’s my third injection and I remember the other two that caused me no issues at all,” he said. “When you see hospitalizations and the damages it [Covid-19] does, in the

China’s mRNA Covid shot-maker expects efficacy data by year end he compa ny be h i nd China’s first homegrown mR NA Cov id-19 vaccine aims to have efficacy data from late-stage testing of the shot before the end of the year, a key step in the nation’s drive to match western use of the cutting-edge technology.

The mRNA candidate, developed by Chinese vaccine maker Walvax Biotechnology Co., Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co. and researchers from the Chinese military, has received approval from regulators in Indonesia and Mexico to start Phase III testing, Walvax

Friday, September 3, 2021

the US—was highly effective against symptomatic Covid-19 in Phase III trials and has seen its potency hold up well against the Delta variant.

The Chinese shot builds on an existing partnership between Shenzhen-listed Walvax and Abogen to develop an mRNA vaccine against shingles. The test results will provide a glimpse of China’s progress on utilizing the highly advanced technology, which also has the potential to be used in combating other diseases, from the flu to cancer.

Bloomberg News

short and in the long run, what’s a jab every year or every six months?

What does it matter?”

The French government followed the recommendations of the country’s health authority, the HAS, which said last month that “recent studies suggest a fall in the vaccine’s effectiveness, especially with the Delta variant.”

Older people and those with underlying health conditions are the most affected by the drop over time, the HAS said.

Bernard Weill, 68, head of the French fashion house Weill, also received the booster shot on Wednesday.

“When you’re in good health and people around you are in good health, that’s what matters and those [the injections] are only very small details. So nothing to worry about and nothing to care about,” he said.

T he b o oste r shot w a s a l ready ava i l able in Fra nce for some pa r t ic u l a rly v u l nerable people, l i ke t ra nspl a nt rec ipients and others w ith weakened immu ne systems.

The French government so far has made no decision regarding the potential extension of the campaign to the whole population.

France has been facing high numbers of confirmed infections since July, with a slight decrease in recent weeks—from over 23,000 per day around mid-August to 17,000 now. But many fear a reverse of the trend as children will go back to school after summer holidays on Thursday. AP

Merkel emphasized that the information gathered by the new hub “should be shared with all countries.” She added that “the Covid pandemic has shown how much we can achieve when we really combine our strengths.”

St i l l, her hea lt h minister, Jens Spahn, pointed to tensions that have emerged in the pandemic, calling at the launch for “China to finally become fully cooperative and to make the examination of the origin of the...virus transparent to the international community.”

Pressure has been mounting in the West—and from WHO’s own team that traveled to China earlier this year—for Beijing to do more to grant access to data about early

Covid-19 cases, which could help clear up the ongoing mystery about how the pandemic first erupted.

China has responded to continuing speculation about a leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology by suggesting the virus could have escaped from Fort Detrick, a US military lab in Maryland.

Spahn and Tedros suggested that a new “pandemic treaty” that the European Union has been championing could have teeth, such as penalties for signatory countries that don’t comply with it.

The German minister acknowledged “that is not an easy debate, but I think it is a necessary debate.” Tedros said that “maybe exploring the sanctions may be important.” AP

A6

Friday, September 3, 2021

TheWorld BusinessMirror

Ida not done with US yet; Hurricane rips northeast

N

EW YORK—Relentless rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida sent the New York City area into a state of emergency early Thursday, as the storm carried into New England with threats of more tornadoes.

New York’s FDR Drive, a major artery on the east side of Manhattan, and the Bronx River Parkway were under water by late Wednesday evening. Subway stations and tracks became so flooded that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority suspended all service. Videos posted online showed subway riders standing on seats in cars filled with water.

Other videos showed vehicles submerged up to their windows on major roadways in and around the city and garbage bobbing down the streets.

The National Weather Ser v ice of f ice in New York dec lared its first-ever set of f lash f lood emergencies in the region Wednesday night, an alert level that is reserved for “e xceed ingly rare sit uat ions when a severe threat to human

life and catastrophic damage from a f lash f lood is happening or w ill happen soon.”

New York City put in place a travel ban until 5 a.m. ET Thursday for all non-emergency vehicles.

The National Weather Service recorded 3.15 inches of rain in New York’s Central Park in one hour Wednesday night, far surpassing the 1.94 inches that fell in one hour during Tropical Storm Henri on the night of August 21, which was believed at the time to be the most ever recorded in the park.

Earlier Wednesday, the storm blew through the mid-Atlantic states with at least two tornadoes, heavy winds and drenching rains that collapsed the roof of a US Postal Service building in New Jersey and threatened to overrun a dam in Pennsylvania.

Social media posts showed homes reduced to rubble in a southern New Jersey county just outside Philadelphia, not far from where the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado Wednesday evening. Authorities did not have any immediate information on injuries.

The roof collapsed at the Postal Service building in Kearny, New Jersey, with people inside, police Sgt. Chris Levchak said. Rescue crews were on scene into the night, with no immediate word on the number of people or severity of injuries.

Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties, urging people to stay off the flooded roads. Meteorologists warned that rivers likely won’t crest for a few more days, raising the possibility of more widespread flooding.

At least one death was reported in the state. Passaic Mayor Hector Lora told news outlets that someone died in the city after being submerged in their car.

Soaking rains prompted the evacuations of thousands of people after water reached dangerous levels at a dam near Johnstown, a Pennsylvania town nicknamed Flood City.

An official said later Wednesday that the water levels near the dam were receding.

Utilities reported hundreds of thousands of customers without power in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In Rockville, Maryland, water had almost reached the ceilings of basement units Wednesday when crews arrived at an apartment complex. A 19-year-old was found dead, another person was missing and about 200 people from 60 apartments near Rock Creek were displaced, Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said Wednesday.

A tornado was believed to have touched down along the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

“In many years I have not seen circumstances like this,” Goldstein said.

The National Weather Ser vice had predicted flooding from what remained of Hurricane Ida, saying steep terrain and even city streets were particularly vulnerable to a band of severe weather that extended to Massachusetts, where tornado warnings were issued early Thursday.

Tropical Storm Henri hit the region a little more than a week ago, causing flooding and leaving the region saturated and more vulnerable to this week’s torrents.

Tr o p i c a l S t o r m L a r r y w a s strengthening and moving quickly westward after forming off the coast of Africa earlier Wednesday.

Forecasters predicted it would rapidly intensify in a manner similar to Ida, becoming a major hurricane with top wind speeds of 120 mph (193 kph) by Saturday. AP

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UK foreign minister heads to Asia for Afghanistan talks

L

ONDON—UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was heading to the region around Afghanistan on Wednesday in a push to rescue stranded British citizens and Afghan allies, amid strong criticism of the government’s rushed and chaotic evacuation effort.

Raab did not provide any details, citing security reasons, but he is expected to visit Pakistan for talks on establishing routes out of Afghanistan through third countries.

A senior British official, Simon Gass, already travelled to Qatar to meet with Taliban representatives for talks about allowing people to leave Afghanistan.

Britain says it evacuated more than 15,000 UK citizens and vulnerable Afghans from Kabul during a two-week August airlift that Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has called “Dunkirk by WhatsApp.” But Wallace also said that as many as 1,100 Afghans who were entitled to come to the UK were left behind. Raab said those who weren’t evacuated included guards from the now-abandoned British Embassy in Kabul.

“We wanted to get some of those embassy guards through, but the buses arranged to collect them, to take them to the airport, were not given permission to enter,” he told lawmakers on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

Raab put the number of UK nationals still in Afghanistan in the

“low- to mid-hundreds.”

The United States and other nations were caught of f-g uard by the Taliban’s sw ift conquest of A fghanistan, hav ing failed to predict how quick ly the Westernbacked Afghan government would collapse once NATO troops began to depart.

Opposition politicians excoriated Raab for failing to cut short a vacation in Greece as the Taliban advanced on Kabul. He returned to London only after the Afghan capital fell on August 15.

R aab said the intelligence had suggested the most likely scenario after Western troops w ithdrew was a “steady deterioration” and “ it was unlikely K abul would fall this year.”

“That’s something that was widely shared, that view, among NATO allies,” Raab said.

He rejected a claim by Conservative lawmaker Tom Tugendhat that the Afghan collapse was “the single biggest foreign policy disaster the UK has faced since Suez.” A failed 1956 attempt by Israel, Britain and France to seize the newly nationalized Suez Canal from Egypt is often seen as a symbol of post-imperial Britain’s declining power.

“I am afraid I strugw gle with the Suez analogy,” Raab said. “But I understand what you are really searching for is to learn the lessons and even more generally find a path forward for Afghanistan.” AP

BusinessMirror

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

21TH CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION #28 Lot 12 Blk 94 R. Papa Ave. Cor. P. Garcia St. Phase 6, Afpovai Western Bicutan Taguig City LIU, CAN Chinese Assistant Technical 1.

Brief Job Description: Junior-level administrative employees who report directly to the company or team leader provide both administrative and technical support

QI, LONG Chinese Office Administrative 2.

Brief Job Description: Organizing project meetings; Typing documents, responding to business inquiries; drawing up contracts and providing customer service.

CHENG, KAIHE Chinese Technical Assistant 3.

Brief Job Description: Junior-level administrative employees who report directly to the company manager or team leader; Provide administrative and technical support.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency with basic computer programs including Ms. Office and database systems, and peripherals Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Two to three years management experience in an office setting; Specific industry experience preferred; Proficient with Microsoft Office software and phone systems.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency with basic computer programs including MS Office and database systems; Working knowledge of email systems and peripherals.

4.

Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns.

16.

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

17.

5.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

SONEJA, SANJEEV Service Delivery Ops Senior Manager

MI, FENGLI Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 6.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

NYIAU PENG LIM Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 7.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

19.

SUN, BAISEN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 8.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

SUN, SHIWEN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 9.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

VONG THE QUAN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 10.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

WANG, CHAO Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 11.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

XU, YONGJIE Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 12.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

20.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

21.

22.

13.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

ZHANG, MENGYAN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 14.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Lead the site establishment and demonization process to ensure functional and cost efficiency is maximised

No.

28.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects ,recommend to Senior Management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects ,recommend to Senior Management

LIU, ZHIHUI Chinese Customer Service 29.

Basic Qualification: Civil Engineer, High level of English and Spanish minimum 15 year of previous experience in the position experience in estimating and high management of cost programs expectance in railways projects experience in technical office and bidding progres

IQBAL, ANSAR Assistant Manager Technical 23.

Brief Job Description: Inspect and ensure the automotive tint films specification; Ensure the AAA UV specs and identify the films; Maintain and analyze the market demands & float campaigns: Bring new foreign investments from Pakistan and Korea.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

SHENG, MAOMAO Chinese Speaking It Project Associates Brief Job Description: Strategize for contingency planning and risk mitigation and schedule project deliverables. Support development of division protocol and policies

CHENG, WEI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 31.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

DUAN, LIRONG Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 32.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

HE, YING Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 33.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

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

Basic Qualification: Experience in a High density , Urban Environment , Excellent in communications skills.

WU, DAJING Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 34.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in communications skills, construction experience in a high density urban environment

MIAO, CHUANFANG Mandarin Customer Service 35.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 YUAN, YUPING Mandarin Customer Service 36.

Basic Qualification: Advance course in Auto Tint Technology; Minimum of 3 years experience; Must speak English, Urdu and some Tagalog.

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

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

BANG THI THOA Vietnamese Customer Service 37.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

ALFANET GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC. Flr. No. 4th & 5th W Mall Bldg. Diosdado Macapagal Ave. St. Zone 10. Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

WONG CHEE HOE Mandarin Speaking Project Manager 24.

Basic Qualification: Preferably with 3 years relevant experience, and should be mandarin and English speaking

Brief Job Description: Provide project updates on a consistent basis to various stakeholders about strategy and progress Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HOANG TRONG HOAN Vietnamese Customer Service 38.

25.

Brief Job Description: Assist in the performance management and employee evaluation.

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

Brief Job Description: Manage performance and behaviour of associates and provide coaching and mentoring

39.

27.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in mandarin speaking

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

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

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problem-solving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problem-solving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

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

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in VIETNAMESE language.

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

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CF VIP SERVICE GROUP INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg. 191 Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City

Basic Qualification: Fluency in both English and Thai Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

DAI, CHUNHUA Mandarin Marketing Specialist 40.

AMUSETECH BUSINESS OUTSOURCING 2/f Rivergreen Residences 2217 Pedro Gil St. 096, Bgy 880 Santa Ana Manila

LEI, JUANJUAN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

HU, YUMING Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

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

HEMATHULIN, WALUKSUDA Manager I, Seller Support

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg. Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

ALLIANTPRIME SERVICES INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. 4f One Ecom Center Building, Ocean Drive St., Moa Complex Subd. District 1, Barangay 076 Pasay City LAY KHIEN PHUNG Mandarin HR Officer

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

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. Eastfield Center Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Degree qualified in according another finance MBA and /or CPA highly desirable minimum of 10 years of financial experience management experience Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recomment potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

AXISCOVE INC. Unit 1 & 3 14/f Sshg Law Center Sycip Law Center 105 Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

30.

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

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate with 1oyrs of industry experience

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHU, XIAOHUA Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

AL MOIZ INTERNATIONAL INC. 362 Aguirre Ave. Ph. 3 Bf Homes Parañaque City

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

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

Brief Job Description: play a principal role in establishing a top levels safety culture by enhancing communicating implementing and enforcing safety systems and process across the project GARCIA GARCIA, NICOLAS JOSE Superintendent

26.

ZHANG, GUODONG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Brief Job Description: Make progress reports to the construction manager, manage of activities on site and assure that it is per the schedule and the required specifications, Coordinate all the technical issues with the design and technical issues with the design and technical team assure that all activities on site are going as per the requires H&S specifications

CARRETERO MARTIN, CESAR Superintendent

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

Brief Job Description: Supervise a system of invoices and approval that will allow the project to create a daily short term cash flow implement financial forecasting and planning tods as needed to improve planning results

DA SILVA COSTA, MAURO FILIPE Station Manager

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

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for meeting current operational requirements

ROMERO DE LECEA DE HEREDIA, PELAYO MARIA Financial Coordinator

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects ,recommend to Senior Management

ACCIONA CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES INC. 21/f Tower 2, The Enterprise Center 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1 Pitx Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City\ HE, ZHIPING Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result

ZHOU, JUNJUN Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking

18.

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

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result

ZHANG, ZHAOXIN Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking

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

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

CHU, GAOYANG Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts)

15.

A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WEI, CHAOJUN Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking

Friday, September 3, 2021

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and customer needs.

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

41.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in interpretation of the marketing materials and communicating in dual language English and Mandarin Chinese (spoken and written) with customers. Study company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs.

Basic Qualification: Can speak, write, type in Mandarin language. With technical skills in software.

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak, write, type in Mandarin language. With technical skills in software.

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

Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

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

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

BusinessMirror

A8 Friday, September 3, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Bidding Administrator, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment Brief Job Description: use by company, Demonstrable The Mandarin Bidding Administrator will be strategist and a leader experience in developing strategic able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also business plan. implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

CAI, JINGZHI Mandarin Bidding Administrator

42.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 WU, JIANHUA Mandarin Construction Management Specialist 43.

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Contract Administrator, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment Brief Job Description: use by company, Demonstrable The Mandarin Contract Administrator will be strategist and a leader experience in developing strategic able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also business plan. implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

No.

YUE, HUOYONG Chinese Cargo Office Agent 57.

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

45.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin CHEN, YUHUA Contract Administrator, Familiarity, Mandarin Contract Administrator knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment Brief Job Description: use by company, Demonstrable The Mandarin Contract Administrator will be strategist and a leader experience in developing strategic able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also business plan. implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

MARCOS ANTONIO, RAMOS BERNAL Head Of Ocean Freight 58.

46.

Brief Job Description: To manage, control, and develop the Ocean Freight (OFR) business activities in the area in accordance with the group business strategy and local business environment to deliver maximum profit and optimize business assets.

YU, NANSONG Mandarin Speaking Computer Support Specialist 59.

Brief Job Description: Investigate user problems and prepare reports for developers.

47.

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

XIAO, JUN Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 60.

Brief Job Description: Planning, maintaining and coordinate the development of primary and secondary market research

SUN, HONGWEI Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 61.

62.

Brief Job Description: Developing implementing sales strategies, client service, plan and analysing sales data

48.

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

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

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

YANG, SHIYAN Mandarin Mechanical Project Specialist 49.

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

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

63.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Project Management Coordinator, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Brief Job Description: Heavy Equipment use by company, The Mandarin Project Management Coordinator will be strategist and Demonstrable experience in a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction developing strategic business plan. while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

50.

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

GU, SHUGUANG Mandarin Project Planning And Design Coordinator 51.

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

64.

65.

52.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services

66.

ZHANG, XIAOQING Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 53.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services PHAN THI DIEU MY Chinese Speaking Program Designer

54.

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

67.

55.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for overall management of the company

68.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

DONG, JIYANG Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking 69.

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result

LIN, ZHENHUI Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking 70.

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result

LIN, YANBIN Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking 71.

Basic Qualification: Knowledge and experience in the operation and managements of a pharmaceutical company Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

PENG, WEIZHENG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

CURATIO INC. Unit 2114 Cityland 10 Tower 2 154 H.v. Dela Costa St. Bel-air Makati City CHADAGA, SADANANDA RAMESH Country Manager

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result

LIU, JINHUI Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking 72.

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result

DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP. 534 Tomas Mapua St. 029 Bgy. 298 Santa Cruz Manila TANG, XIAOZHEN Chinese Cargo Office Agent 56.

Brief Job Description: Prepare airline and custom documentation.

Basic Qualification: Have skills in documentation.

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

74.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent speaking, writing and reading in Chinese

Brief Job Description: Optimize CRM campaigns & newsletter based on performance and engagement data

CAO, XIAOLONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 75.

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

CHU, HAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 76.

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

NINH VAN THANG Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking 73.

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result

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

DING, HUILIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/excellent Mandarin communication skills

77.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/excellent Mandarin communication skills

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor Eight West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

LIU, WENQING Mandarin Customer Support Representative 78.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/excellent Mandarin communication skills

RAO, SILEI Mandarin Customer Support Representative 79.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/excellent Mandarin communication skills

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

SONG, HU Mandarin Customer Support Representative 80.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/excellent Mandarin communication skills

TAO, YILIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 81.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/excellent Mandarin communication skills

82.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/excellent Mandarin communication skills

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

WANG, FUYONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

ZENG, JIAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 83.

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

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

ZHAN, QIULONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

84.

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

DONG, HANG E-commerce Consultant 86.

Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects ,recommend to Senior Management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects ,recommend to Senior Management

87.

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

Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

ZHAO, YI E-commerce Consultant 88.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak Chinese and English fluently. Knowledgeable in computer applications. Good at strategizing.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak Chinese and English fluently. Knowledgeable in computer applications. Good at strategizing.

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

Basic Qualification: Minimum of ten years’ experience in System Development and Bridge SE role.

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

KINDOSAR PROCESS SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 5d, Rose Industries Bldg. Pioneer St. Kapitolyo Pasig City KIM, MANHYE Customer Service Representative 89.

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

Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects ,recommend to Senior Management

Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

PIAO, MENGQI E-commerce Consultant

Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects ,recommend to Senior Management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

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

JIHUA GROUP LTD. CORPORATION Unit No. U-11a&11e Flr. No. 6/f Eighty One Newport Blvd. Bldg. Newport Blvd. Vab St., Barangay 183 Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects ,recommend to Senior Management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

LI KAN HTIN Myanmari Customer Support Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 85.

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

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential

LIU, MING Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

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

CHHETRI, SANJIT Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer

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

Basic Qualification: At least 15 years relevant experience; With proven leadership and trusted advisor status within the industry; With demonstrated ability in ocean freight strategy, product processes and procurement is an advantage.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg. 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor Silver City 4, Ortigas East Ugong Pasig City

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential

JIANG, ZHONGHENG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg. Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St. Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City LIU, ZHUANG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

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

CAI, JUNKAI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

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

WANG, JINGTIAN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

TONG, XIAOSHEN Mandarin Project Management Coordinator

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

KUO, HSIN-LI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

FUJITA CORPORATION-PHILIPPINE BRANCH OFFICE U-14a Chatham House 118 Valero St. Bel-air Makati City

LIU, CHANGSHU Mandarin Hydro Structural Specialist

Basic Qualification: Have skills in Chinese Documentation.

No.

GLADIOLOUS INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg. Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City

CAO, YANG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin ZENG, LEI Field Service Coordinator, Mandarin Field Service Coordinator Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Brief Job Description: Heavy Equipment use by company, The Mandarin Field Service Coordinator will be strategist and a leader Demonstrable experience in able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also developing strategic business plan. implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

DIGIVIRTUAL TECH CORPORATION 7/f Ba Lepanto Bldg. 8747 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin ZHONG, LONG Cost Control Coordinator, Mandarin Cost Control Coordinator Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Cost Control Coordinator will be strategist and a leader Demonstrable experience in able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also developing strategic business plan. implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

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

Brief Job Description: Prepare Airline and Custom documentation.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

DHL GLOBAL FORWARDING (PHILIPPINES), INC. 6/f W. Mall Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Pearl Drive Brgy. 078 Pasay City

CHEN, YINGTING Mandarin Contract Administrator 44.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Manage Korean customer queries and complaints

YANG, SEONGHOON Customer Service Representative 90.

Brief Job Description: Manage customer queries and complaints

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION KONG, LINGYU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Provider

91.

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

92.

Brief Job Description: Responsible CHI, HANDE Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider

93.

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

94.

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

95.

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

96.

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

97.

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

98.

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

99.

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

100.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

LIU, FENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider 101.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

LYU, QIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider 102.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

SHEN, QIANGGUO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider 103.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

TANG, WEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider 104.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

WU, JIANDONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider 105.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

WU, WEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider 106.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

YANG, XU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider 107.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

YIN, JIALEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider 108.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, Reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, Reading and writing in Mandarin

No.

CAO, CHUN Chinese Customer Service 112.

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

113.

114.

115.

116.

117.

118.

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

119.

120.

121.

122.

123.

109.

Brief Job Description: handles day to day processing of AP transactions in accordance with the service level agreement

CHOI, WOOREE Procurement Specialist 110.

Brief Job Description: will support the shared services centering the day to day process P2P process for indirect spend within a specific category or regional area

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

Basic Qualification: 1 - 2 years procurement buyer experience and knowledge and fluent in Korean and English language (oral and written)

124.

125.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PAN, MENGEN Chinese Customer Service

126.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SU, ZHENHUI Chinese Customer Service 127.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRAN XUAN HOAN Chinese Customer Service 128.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

XIE, WENBIN Chinese Customer Service 129.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

XIE, YUPING Chinese Customer Service 130.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YUAN, TING Chinese Customer Specialist

131.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

No.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

134.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

ZHENG, YOUWEI Mandarin Technical Support 135.

133.

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

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

CHEN, QI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 136.

Brief Job Description: Assist/ help customers, give customers information about products or services

YAMANAKA, TAKASHI Technical Director 137.

138.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

139.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

140.

141.

142.

143.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Develop business proposals, analyze current and past expenses, develop creative strategies

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

CAO, XU Chinese Customer Service Representative 144.

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

CHEN, ZHEN Chinese Customer Service Representative 145.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency

CAI, WEILUN Chinese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

RED DOT MARKETING AND BRANDING INC. Unit 1514 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Basic Qualification: Manila CHEN, JIANYANG Proficient in speaking, reading and Mandarin Operation Specialist writing in Mandarin

WONG, WING SANG Business Lending Development Officer

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin

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

RIGHT CHOICE FINANCE CORP. 5e-1 Electra House Bldg. 115-117 Esteban Street San Lorenzo Makati City

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls XU, WEIZHI Mandarin Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: candidates must possess a bachelor in civil engineering, preferably with contract management in civil works and naval mechanical engineering; cumulative 20 years experience GREUTER, MARCEL HENDRICUS as a civil engineer specialized Head Of Construction - Marine in operational and commercial issues; production and installation experience in Brief Job Description: the basic objective of the head of construction– marine is to have dredging, earthworks, deep knowledge of the day to day issues that affect the progress of works, excavation; offshore works, coastal he shall make experienced advice regarding design methodologies of reinforcement, land reclamation; ports and marine construction and dredging jobs that will maximize marine construction (quay, walls, jetty); underwater constructions the company’s success in terms of profitability, efficiency, contract period and human relations. (concrete, grp, steel); piling (on and offshore); strong leadership, interpersonal, self-motivated, multi-tasking, good coordination and communication skills and able to work under tight schedules.

WEI, YUJIE Mandarin Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Provide guidance, advice, and technical expertise in the PVC manufacturing process. Evaluate and direct improvements in production optimization.

Basic Qualification: Engineering background with technical background in chemical processes

RED DOT MARKETING AND BRANDING INC. Unit 1514 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / excellent Mandarin communication skills

PRIME METRO BMD CORPORATION 16/f Three E-com Moa Complex, Bayshore Cor. Ocean Drive Brgy. 076 Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

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

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

PHILIPPINE RESINS INDUSTRIES, INC. Mezz/f Citibank Center Bldg. 8741 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in mandarin

PERFECTZEST INC. 16th Floor Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Avenue Bel-air Makati City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

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

NEWBAY INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INC. 2/f Mezzanine Tower 1 The Enterprise Center 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas Makati City

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin WANG, XIAO Human Resource Officer, Mandarin Human Resource Officer Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Brief Job Description: Heavy Equipment use by company, The Mandarin Human Resource Officer will be strategist and a leader Demonstrable experience in able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also developing strategic business plan. implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

XU, QIAN Mandarin Quality Inspection Specialist

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION DONG, YANPENG Mandarin Safety Supervisor

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin

A9

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

CHEN, ZHENXIAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 146.

NEPC POWER CONSTRUCTION CORP. 15/f Cyber One Bldg. Eastwood Cyberpark City Bagumbayan 3 Quezon City

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

111.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MA, SHUIWANG Chinese Customer Service

132.

WU, KUAN-YU Mandarin Technical Support

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, YUNFENG Chinese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: degree holder in accounting, business administration or other business-related field with 2 to 3 years of experience in full-cycle AP or accounting knowledge

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIANG, XUEXIN Chinese Customer Service

MERCK BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ASIA INC. 36th To 39th Floor, The Finance Centre Condominium 26th Street Corner 9th Avenue Bonifacio Global City Taguig City MILLIVIANI DEVI I2P Associate

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, XIANG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LI, CHENLONG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

JIA, ZHANPENG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

JI, BOWEN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HU, YONGFEI Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HE, JIAJIN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GUO, ZHENYANG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries FANG, BEIPING Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHEN, HUAJIAN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CAO, SHENG Chinese Customer Service

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday, September 3, 2021

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries resolving fulfilling requests and maintaining data base HE, ZONGYI Chinese Customer Service Representative

147.

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

SUN, LONGJIAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 148.

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

WANG, JUAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 149.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in english, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate fluent in Mandarin and English preferably 6 mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate fluent in Mandarin and English preferably 6 mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A10 Friday, September 3, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WEI, YUNDENG Chinese Customer Service Representative

150.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries resolving fulfilling requests and maintaining data base YU, ZHILANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

151.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base YUAN, MENGQIN Chinese Customer Service Representative

152.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries resolving fulfilling requests and maintaining data base ZENG, YUTING Chinese Customer Service Representative

153.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base ZHANG, JIAYI Chinese Customer Service Representative

154.

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

ZHOU, XIAOLONG Chinese Customer Service Representative 155.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate fluent in Mandarin and English preferably 6 mos to 1year customer service

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience

156.

Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

157.

Brief Job Description: Customer relations service provider

LYU, JUNYE Customer Service Representative 158.

Brief Job Description: Customer relations service provider

170.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience

171.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience

172.

159.

Brief Job Description: Developing, implementing sales strategies, client service, plan and analyzing sales data.

TIEN, CHIA-CHI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 160.

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

WEN, YING-CHAO Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 161.

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

173.

Brief Job Description: Beauty parlour activities

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

ZHOU, YUEGUANG Assistant Commercial Manager 174.

Brief Job Description: Help & assist Commercial Manager

WANG, BIN Technical Support Manager 175.

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

Brief Job Description: Dealing directly w/ the technical queries of the customers

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

CHEN, XIAOXIAO Mandarin Customer Support Representative 176.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

FANG, DASONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 177.

178.

179.

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

KE, XIAOCE Mandarin Customer Support Representative 180.

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

LIN, YUBIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Expert in hairstyling; Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

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

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

JIANG, PEICAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

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

HUANG, ZHENYAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

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

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

LIU, NAICHENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 182.

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

TCK LINK INC. Unit A 9/f Bpi Philam Life Bldg. 6811 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City CEN, DA Chinese Speaking Site Technician 163.

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on it products and services

CHEN, ANTENG Chinese Speaking Site Technician 164.

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on IT products and services CHEN, JING Chinese Speaking Site Technician

165.

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on IT products and services CHEN, FANGYUAN Chinese Speaking Site Technician

166.

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on it products and services

HE, MEI Chinese Speaking Site Technician 167.

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on it products and services

LI, QIANYING Chinese Speaking Site Technician 168.

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on it products and services

No.

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

188.

YU, CHANGYUAN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 189.

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

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

TAN, QIAOBAO Mandarin Customer Support Representative 183.

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

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

184.

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

YIN, HAIBIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 185.

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

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

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

WANG, YUHAO Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

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

ZHANG, CHUANZHENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 186.

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

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/ help customers, give customers information about products or services

JESSICA TABITA Human Resource Officer - Multilingual Speaking 190.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, Fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service.

Brief Job Description: recruit, support and develop talent through developing policies and managing procedures

ONG HOCK BOON, STEVEN Investment Director

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

191.

Basic Qualification: Good understanding of the commercial management awareness

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

192.

Basic Qualification: Good promptly to the customers inquiries of technical expertise Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZHANG, FENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 187.

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

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

193.

194.

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

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

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

195.

196.

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

Brief Job Description: provide leadership, source and execute investment opportunities

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

197.

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

198.

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

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledge of various file functions such as compensation and benefits, recruitment, on boarding, training and development etc.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: knows to develop efficient investment processes and procedures Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

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

ZHAO, QIAN Chinese Language-customer Service Staff

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Chinese speaking

Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

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

SINTIADY TANIAR CHANDRA Indonesian Language-marketing Staff

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Indonesian language

Brief Job Description: Providing details to clients relative to service being offered

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

BANH SO NHU Vietnamese Language-customer Service Staff

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Vietnamese speaking

Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

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

LENH TU MY Vietnamese Language-customer Service Staff

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Vietnamese speaking

Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin speaking

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin speaking

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk

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

ZONAC AND SHIBATA SERVICES INC. 4/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City CHANG, TUNG-YANG Chinese Speaking It Officer 199.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the smooth running of computer systems, routers, switches, internet and ensure users get maximum benefits from them.

CHEN, ZHIJIE Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

200.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company.

DAI, ZIHAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

201.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company.

SUN, CHUNYAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 202.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company.

TONG, XINLING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

203.

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Chinese speaking

HU, ZHENGTAO Mandarin Speaking Technical Support

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / excellent Mandarin communication skills

LIU, MENGYAN Chinese Language-customer Service Staff

GAO, WEIQUAN Mandarin Speaking Technical Support

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

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

XUSHENG TECHNOLOGY CORP. Flr. No. 1-5 Bldg. No. 0050 F.b. Harrison St. Cor. Williams And Roberts St. Zone 4, Barangay 013, District 1 Pasay City

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

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

WHITERAIN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC. 20/f Zuellig Bldg. Makati Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas Urdaneta Makati City

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WHEELSTRIP CORP. 40/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHANG, YADONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

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

162.

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on it products and services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

TRIPLE J GO'S CONSTRUCTION AND MACHINERY INC. N 1803 A Vasquez St. Corner Julio Nakpil St. 076, Bgy. 697 Malate Manila

181.

SHEN, LUJIA Chinese Beauty Consultant

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on IT products and services

ZENG, DEWEN Chinese Customer Service Representative

SOCIALATEMYIND INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. No. 4/f, One E-com Center Bldg. Lot No. 4/f Mall Of Asia Complex Ocean Drive St. District 1, Barangay 076, District 4 Pasay City CHOU, TSE-HAO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on it products and services

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

THE PENBROTHERS INTERNATIONAL INC. 6/f Opl Bldg. 100 C. Palanca St. San Lorenzo Makati City

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

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

WU, LIMING Chinese Speaking Site Technician

ZHANG, ZHONGWEI Chinese Speaking Site Technician

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos-1year customer service experience

Brief Job Description: Provide accurate information on it products and services

YAO, NANA Chinese Speaking Site Technician

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

SKY DRAGON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 2f-5f Unit 710 Shaw Blvd. Global Link Center, Brgy. Wack Wack Mandaluyong City LU, JIAOYAN Customer Service Representative

169.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate fluent in mandarin and English preferably 6 mos to 1year customer service

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LI, GUANGHUI Chinese Speaking Site Technician

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

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

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin, and other multi-lingual language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in English, Mandarin, and other multi-lingual language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in English, Mandarin, and other multi-lingual language.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in English, Mandarin, and other multi-lingual language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in English, Mandarin, and other multi-lingual language.

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

ZTT PHILIPPINES CORP. 24 Flr. Bgc Corporate Center 11 Ave. Cor. 30 St. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City WANG, JINTAO Technical Marketing Manager 204.

Basic Qualification: Natural Leadership skills and the ability to work with all teams in the company.

Brief Job Description: To evangelize our products to both technical and non-technical clients by expressing the technical capabilities of the product as values to Salary Range: our target client.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

*Date Generated: Sep 2, 2021 Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE-NCR Regional Office located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE-NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

JUST THE FACTS, FROM SARA DUTERTE: POLS TIED TO ‘CANDIDACY’

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio posted a second disclaimer to many reported moves of highprofile politicians seeking to join her in tandem for the top two elective positions in the country, including the alleged offer of Presidential aide, and now Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, to be her running mate.

Her statement in her Facebook account, posted late evening of Wednesday, also belied the claim of her father, President Duterte, that Sen. Imee Marcos visited her here because she was interested to team up with Sara next year.

“This is not true. She [Imee] visited in Davao last May 29 to personally relay her birthday wishes. So far, this is the only visit she has made to me in Davao,” Duterte-Carpio said.

Senators Go and Sherwin Gatchalian were the two politicians that “I can confirm who have personally expressed their offer to run as my Vice President,” However, Go’s and Gatchalian’s offers were coursed through common friends, the mayor said.

Go had been saying he was not interested to run as President alongside President Duterte (who earlier said he could run as vice president if Go throws his hat into the ring) and would rather leave the post to the Presidential daughter, if she decided to.

Billboards on a Win-Sara tandem have been put up here, meanwhile.

To the other names linked to her as interested to be her tandem, Mayor Sara said she knew of their insinuations only from reports in the social media and certain groups advocating their wish for their tandem. This included: Former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro who she said she only knew “of certain groups wanting to form a tandem but I cannot confirm if these were true.” Teodoro, with his wife, came to Davao City on June 3 this year, and Camarines Sur former Rep. Rolando Andaya

Jr. described it as a “coming out party to show the existence of a strong combination.” Andaya has been floating the idea of a Sara-Gibo tandem; Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, House Majority Floor Leader, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Sen. Sonny Angara, whose supposed intention she read only from news reports.

No cracks

DUTERTE-CARPIO belied insinuations that her previous disclaimer shows a crack between her and her father, as well as Senator Go. “I do not hold a grudge against Sen. Go concerning his relationship with PRRD, I am not the keeper of the President, he is allowed to have friends as I am,” she said.

“And why should I be furious about the need for an appointment to see the President? What matters is I get to see the President,” she added.

She said she was already used to and familiar with “the matter of making an appointment” to see PRRD, which may be odd to many, “but it is a normal thing in our family since the late 1990’s.”

“The source of this article clearly does not know me or the dynamics inside our family,” she said, referring to the article, “All gloves off! Sara v Bong Go/ Honeylet is proxy fight between Duterte’s first and second families” posted in the web site.

Duterte-Carpio also assailed another story about the rift between the trio, saying the sources of the article “do not know me as well.”

The mayor said: “I am not angry at President Duterte or Sen. Bong Go nor am I envious of the power that they hold. The responsibility that comes with power is exhausting; there is nothing to be jealous about it.”

She also rejected allegations that Davao City got “regular political fund allocation” owing to her privilege as the presidential daughter. “Those who know me can certainly say that money do not fascinate me; the things that I desire in life have no monetary value.”

Friday, September 3, 2021 A11

‘ADB’s draft energy policy not enough for Paris limits’

T

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE draft energy policy crafted by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) will not allow its developing member-countries (DMCs), including the Philippines, to meet their commitments set under the Paris declaration, according to civil society organizations (CSOs).

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, CSOs lamented that given the contents of ADB’s draft energy policy, DMCs will not be able to work toward the 1.5 degree global warming limit set under the Paris declaration.

This, despite the release of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report which declared a “code red for humanity” and issued stern warnings against the continued use of coal, oil and gas.

“A 1.5°C-aligned transition is an imperative for climate-vulnerable Asia, and the IPCC made clear what this looks like: a swift end to our dependence on all fossil fuels, not just coal. We also hope the ADB clarifies its coal buy-out scheme in the Philippines and neighboring countries, and how this fits— or contradicts—its no coal policy,” Avril De Torres from Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED) Philippines, said.

“As nations that stand to lose

the most if we fail to bring global temperature rise back down to no more than 1.5°C by the end of this century, we cannot allow the ADB Board to approve a Working Paper that is nowhere near the ambition needed to address the climate crisis in this most critical decade,” she added.

Rayyan Hassan, executive director of the NGO Forum on ADB, also said the draft energy policy currently contained in the Working Paper of the ADB’s Energy Policy Review contained loopholes, including the ADB’s plans for its exit from financing coal projects.

The working paper, Hassan said, did not incorporate the urgency of the IPCC AR6 report, and did not also provide a time-bound criteria on ending support for further expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, most especially for new gasdependent operations.

Hasan Mehedi of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network lamented that ADB

did not also set any deadlines for ending its fossil fuel investments.

He said ADB must set a deadline for fossil fuel investments and lead the region to shift to 100 percent use of renewables.

The CSOs, Hassan said, expected that ADB will immediately halt its financing for fossil fuels and help DMCs shift toward renewable energy especially through solar and wind technologies.

With these loopholes, Hassan said: “There is nothing stopping the ADB from supporting investments in coal via financial intermediary lending, or in transport and connectivity infrastructure that will enable further coal trade and extraction.”

Apart from this, other CSOs such as Yobel Putra of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives-Asia Pacific said there are better alternatives to waste-to-energy projects, which is done through incineration and leads to air pollution.

Putra said supporting wasteto-energy projects will only lead to global warming and toxic pollutants which would later affect the world’s food chain far longer than people would want to believe.

“With its heavy reliance on burning fossil-based plastic, investing in incineration is clearly not Parisaligned. It is more carbon intensive than coal-fired power plants. It also hinders measures on waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting,” Putra said.

The CSOs also lamented that the Working Paper was “rushed” to the Board of Directors for approval with only a two week window for public

review and input which happened between August 16 and 31.

This meant that non-English speaking communities with little or no access to the Internet, who are significantly affected by ADB’s projects, are excluded from opportunities to give any meaningful comments on the draft.

Last year, ADB announced that it will revise its energy policy to help its DMCs reduce their dependence on coal.

ADB’s former Energy Sector Group Chief Yongping Zhai said part of the reasons for the revision of ADB’s energy policy are the recent findings of the Independent Evaluation Department (IED) of the bank’s energy investments.

The IED said ADB must clarify its formal institutional position on the financing and use of coal energy resources, even if it has refrained from investing in coal-fired power plants since 2013.

International policy group Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) Executive Director Red Constantino agreed that, “phasing out coal will be a complex and enduring process.” But, he said, this may have been avoided, if ADB had only listened to the counsel of civil society organizations to veer away from coal when the 2009 energy policy of ADB was being crafted.

Constantino added that another problem is cropping up with fossil fuels. In November 2020, Reuters reported that ADB is one of the multilateral institutions that did not make the pledge to phase out fossil fuel investments.

Drilon scores Palace ploy to shift blame on PPE fund mess

By Butch Fernandez

S

@butchfBM

ENATE Minor it y Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Thursday tore into what he called the administration’s ploy to shift the blame on multibillion fund transfers involving pandemic-related purchases by questioning transactions in the time of President Noynoy Aquino, a partymate of Drilon.

Sought for reaction on Secretary Harry Roque’s move to turn the tables on Drilon by dragging in the Aquino administration, the senator said the Senate probers will pursue the issues involving P42-billion transfer of funds from the Department of Health to a controversial procurement unit of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), whose negotiated contracts were flagged by state auditors.

“We will not be distracted,” stressed Drilon in a TV interview, adding: “Secretary Roque, you act like a troll.... You should be man enough to know that when a P625,000 company would be awarded supply contracts of over P8.6 billion in two months’ time, there is a whiff of corruption that you should be man enough to admit merits an investigation.”

Drilon added: “You [Sec. Roque] cite the purchases by the DOH

during the Aquino administration.

That’s five years ago, Sir. Number two, there was no Commission on Audit (COA) report of questionable transactions. So, please, please. We will not be distracted and we will get to the bottom of this.”

The Senate Minority Leader also revealed that in the continuing Senate investigation, they unearthed that the controversial “fund transfer” involved was more than P42 billion of taxpayer money as earlier reported.

“On the basis of the report of the PS-DBM, P47.7-billion was moved over to PS-DBM from DOH,” Drilon said, adding: “According to the COA, there was no documentation. Now that we have started to investigate, it is precisely because of this transfer and the lack of documentation that the planned plunder took place.”

Noting that “this Pharmally is capitalized at P625,000,” the senator recalled Presidential Spokesman Roque saying, “Hindi baleng mababa basta naka-deliver.”

Drilon, in turn, told the Palace spokesman: “Secretary Roque, I would invite you to read your law because among the standards required are the legal and financial capacity of the company entering a contract with the government.

Continued on A3

SAN JUAN Mayor Francis Zamora leads the start of the 17th wave of ‘Ayuda’ food packs distribution to residents of San Juan city. Local officials are also looking to complete the P101-million ECQ cash aid distribution. NONOY LACZA

Herd immunity by Q1 of ’22, but Covid risk till 2023

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said the Philippines can achieve the herd immunity by first quarter of 2022, but the threat of the Covid-19 will last for a year or two.

In a budget briefing on the DOH’s P242.22-billion budget for 2022, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said with 500,000 to 600,000 vaccine doses administered daily, the country can attain herd immunity by February of 2021.

“Supply permitting and assuming that there will be about 500,000 to 600,000 doses jabbed per day, the conservative estimate is, we might

be able to achieve herd immunity by second month of the first quarter of 2022,” Duque said.

Citing latest data, Duque said the Philippines is expected to receive 195 million Covid-19 vaccines by end of 2021.

“The latest data we have...the Department of Finance has reported to the President that 195 million doses are expected to arrive by end of this year,” he said.

He said the excess of these vaccines can be given to other sectors of the population who are not identified in the vaccination program.

“Having said that, it will exceed our herd immunity target of 77 million Filipinos, about 70 percent of the population, so we are confident that excess doses will be sufficient

to cover those not belonging to the herd immunity population as identified,” he said.

Citing the World Health Organization and other health experts, Duque said this threat of Covid-19 could last for a year or two.

Booster shot

MEANWHILE, Duque said the DOH is still awaiting for a report on the Covid-19 booster shot.

Duque explained that it was the DBM’s decision to place the Covid-19 booster program under the unprogrammed funds pending the approval of the government’s technical panel on the use of Covid-19 booster shots.

“We are awaiting, hopefully, by next week we will get the full tech-

nical report from our expert groups and vaccine expert panel on the use of booster doses. It will not take too much time for the DOH and IATF to get hold of this technical report. if they approve the booster, we will present again [the budget] to the DBM [Department of Budget and Management],” said the secretary.

Earlier, lawmakers questioned the DOH’s budget proposal for next year, particularly the categorization of the P45-billion Covid-19 booster program under unprogrammed funds.

Duque said that they have proposed a P104-billion Covid-19 booster budget, but DBM slashed the proposal to P45 billion and placed it under unprogrammed funds.

A12 Friday, September 3, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Let’s help preserve our maritime wealth

T

he government kicked off on September 1 the 2021 Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (Manamo 2021) to continue raising public awareness of our maritime resources.

Composed of 7,641 islands, the Philippines is one of the biggest archipelagic states in the world with a long coastline of 36,289 kilometers. The country is endowed with diverse coastal resources such as coral reefs, mangroves, estuarine areas and beaches. We have about 2,824 marine fish species, including 336 deepwater species. These resources have served as the lifeblood of our coastal communities for the longest time.

President Duterte issued Proclamation 316 on September 14, 2017, declaring the month of September of every year as the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (Manamo). Further, Proclamation 316 transferred the observance of Fish Conservation Week to the third week of September of every year, starting 2018. This year’s Manamo theme is “Our Seas, Our Livelihood, Our Heritage: Connecting Lives and Nations.” The program will include several maritime-related activities such as the International Coastal Clean-up Day and National Maritime Day. The National Coast Watch Council has been tasked to coordinate the activities for the annual celebration of Manamo.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the month-long celebration highlights the country’s maritime heritage that defines the Filipino culture. “The celebration of Manamo every September reminds us of our precious maritime heritage and we need the reminder—though we are surrounded by waters, we often forget that it is these waters that have chartered the course of our history, defined our culture and stamped our identity as Filipinos,” he said. Locsin said several activities are lined up throughout the month of September, with the DFA hosting a talk with Filipino maritime champions next Wednesday.

As we celebrate Manamo 2021 and try to raise the level of national consciousness on the country’s marine wealth, let’s not forget there are also maritime and archipelagic issues and concerns we have to face. For example, the impacts of climate change will likely worsen the problems that coastal areas are facing. Many coastal barangays are confronting huge challenges such as shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, and water pollution. Higher sea surface temperatures also increase the risks of coral bleaching, which can lead to coral death and the loss of critical habitat for many species.

The Global Climate Risk Index 2015 listed the Philippines as the most affected country by climate change because of its geographical location. The country is located in the western Pacific Ocean, surrounded by naturally warm waters that will likely get even warmer as average sea-surface temperatures continue to rise. To some extent, this is a normal pattern: The ocean surface warms as it absorbs sunlight. The ocean then releases some of its heat into the atmosphere, creating wind and rain clouds. However, as the ocean’s surface temperature increases over time from the effects of global warming, more heat is released into the atmosphere. This additional heat in the ocean and air can lead to stronger and more frequent storms—which is exactly what we are currently experiencing.

The World Bank said climate change is expected to lead to more intense typhoons, higher sea levels, and storm surges. Storm surges are projected to affect about 14 percent of the total population and 42 percent of coastal populations.

As we celebrate Manamo 2021, it’s best to remind every Filipino that in their own small way, they can help mitigate the effects of climate change. For example, they can help build natural barriers one mangrove forest at a time.

Our mangroves help mitigate the impact of storm surge and stabilize soil but, sadly, almost half have disappeared since 1918 due to deforestation. You can help secure these vital watery forests by planting a mangrove seedling in the mud. Let’s all help save the Philippine mangrove ecosystems, which act as a breeding ground for fish, prawns, crabs, and birds.

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The political endgame Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

S

eptember morn has come and has become a brand new day for all the wannabes who want to occupy Malacañang. It’s the critical time to make the final decision whether or not to declare a presidential bid for the 2022 election. Everyone with moist eyes on the presidency who has been testing the waters, so to speak, will now have to choose between wading back safely to shore or plunging deeper into the political water. So far, only the tandem of Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto has gotten their feet wet and seems determined to chase their dream, come hell or high water.

Of late, the political noise has reached a crescendo—an unmistakable sign of heightened activity. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee headed by its Chairman, Sen. Richard Gordon, who has expressed interest to seek the highest position of the land, has opened its investigation on the alleged scandalous purchase of face masks and shields, PPEs and health kits. Secretary Francisco Duque and even Sen. Bong Go have emotional outbursts in giving their statements to the Committee. The President himself has warned of a constitutional crisis if the Senate treats his cabinet members rudely. He advised his cabinet not to attend the hearings and defy the Blue Ribbon Committee if it holds the witnesses in contempt. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, an avowed supporter of Vice President Leni Robredo, his party chairperson, has claimed that the alleged overpriced purchase of pandemic items from Pharmaly Pharmaceutical Corp. by the DBMProcurement Service appears to be a “premeditated plunder.” The media glare and the public attention

given to the case provide the investigating senators an advantage over non-members of the Senate who are also eying the presidency. No wonder that some sectors have accused the senators of grandstanding and playing to the gallery. Presidential aspirants who are left out in the Senate investigation like VP Leni have to rehash pandemic issues and the President’s SALN so as not to be overlooked in the ongoing public conversation. Yorme Isko has to issue a late statement about the President’s unsavory remarks about his alleged “callboy” training. Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s camp has to release a statement that he is prepared to run as an independent presidential candidate if the Comelec rules against his faction in the current PDP-Laban intramurals. Mayor Sara has been making statements, which project her as a woman of substance with a mind of her own independent from her President father. Even former Sen. Antonio Trillanes has revived his previous charge that the Blue Ribbon Committee under Senator Gordon is a “Komite de Absuelto” for

the alleged soft handling by Senator Gordon of its earlier investigation of presidential son, now Congressman Paulo Duterte. We can expect more fireworks as we approach the election. It’s the season to be jolly… fa la la la la fa la la la...

At this critical junction that can make or break one’s presidential bid, an aspirant should make certain that he or she stays in circulation.

One sure way to capture the public attention is to declare one’s candidacy for president now. After all, all of them have previously announced that they will make up their mind this month of September in time for the filing of the COC from October 1-8, 2021. That’s barely four weeks away. And the candidate has to organize his slate. Significant will be the choice of the running mate who can provide balance and strength to the ticket. Some presidentiables may be willing to slide down to the No. 2 slot and there are others who have actually set their eyes on the vice presidency. Sen. Sonny Angara, Senator Win Gatchalian, former National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez, among others, fall in this category. They offer a fresh alternative to the traditional politicians and their youth and education will appeal to the voters.

Both Sonny and Gibo completed their Master of Law degrees in Harvard while Martin graduated from Cornell University for his bachelor’s degree and attended special studies in administration and management in Harvard. The three are lawyers, with Gibo topping the bar examinations in 1989. Win earned his finance and operations management degree at Boston University. Sonny has served the government the longest having been a member of the House of Representatives for nine years and the Senate

since 2013. Although I doubt if any of them will throw their hat in the VP race if President Duterte keeps his intention to run for the position unlike Sen. Tito Sotto who remains undaunted by Duterte’s presence in the field.

An aspiring presidentiable should now make his or her move. One cannot leave the people guessing and decide at the last minute. If his or her supporters doubt his or her resolve, they may shift their support to their next choice. The early bird catches the worm. Senator Lacson enjoys this advantage. He has announced his senatorial slate early and he was able to cherry pick his lineup. The field of senatoriables is limited, particularly those with name-recall and considered winnables. If the presidency will be a four-sided contest, it is likely that the popular candidates will be commonly fielded by two or more parties. Senatoriables like comebacking senator Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero, Representatives Vilma Santos and Lucy Torres may run under more than one political banner. The ideal two-party system that promotes effective fiscalization becomes an illusion.

Thus, it is imperative to act furious and fast if one is gunning for the presidency of our Republic. Declare one’s candidacy for president now, select the running mate, form the Senate slate and come October 1, be first on the line to file their COC. Time waits for no man, or woman. If you want to serve our people, don’t play Hamlet. People go for a resolute and determined leader. Once a player gets into the game, he comes inside the radar screen of the public. His every move is watched by the crowd and he remains in public consciousness. And he cannot score unless he joins the game. So better hurry, don’t tarry. We are now in the last two minutes.

Hezbollah hammered with criticism amid Lebanon’s crises

By Bassem Mroue | Associated Press

B

EIRUT—Driving back to base after firing rockets toward Israeli positions from a border area last month, a group of Hezbollah fighters was accosted by angry villagers who smashed their vehicles’ windshields and held them up briefly.

It was a rare incident of defiance that suggested many in Lebanon would not tolerate provocations by the powerful group that risk triggering a new war with Israel.

As Lebanon sinks deeper into poverty, many Lebanese are more openly criticizing Iran-backed Hezbollah. They blame the group—along with the ruling class—for the devastating, multiple crises plaguing the country, including a dramatic currency crash and severe shortages in medicine and fuel.

“Hezbollah is facing its most consequential challenge in maintaining

control over the Lebanese system and what is called the ‘protective environment of the resistance’ against Israel,” said Joe Macaron, a Washington-based Middle East analyst.

The incident along the border and other confrontations—including a deadly shooting at the funeral of a Hezbollah fighter and rare indirect criticism by the country’s top Christian religious leader—have left the group on the defensive.

The anger has spread in recent months, even in Hezbollah strongholds where many have protested electricity cuts and fuel shortages as

well as the currency crash that has plunged more than half the country’s 6 million people into penury.

In its strongholds, predominantly inhabited by Shiite Muslims, it is not uncommon now for people to speak out against the group. They note that Hezbollah is paying salaries in US dollars at a time when most Lebanese get paid in Lebanese currency, which has lost more than 90 percent of its value in nearly two years.

Protests and scuffles have broken out at gas stations around Lebanon and in some Hezbollah strongholds.

In rare shows of defiance, groups of protesters have also closed key roads in those areas south of Beirut and in southern Lebanon.

In recent speeches, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has appeared angry, blaming the shortages on what he describes as an undeclared Western siege. The chaos in

Lebanon, he said, is being instigated from a “black room” inside the US Embassy.

Critics say that rather than push for reform, Hezbollah has stood by its political allies who resist change.

They say the group is increasingly pulling Lebanon into Iran’s orbit by doing its bidding, and that US sanctions against Iran and Hezbollah have made things harder.

W here Hezbollah was once considered an almost sacred, untouchable force fighting for a noble cause—the fight against the Israeli enemy—it is now seen by many simply as part of the corrupt political clique responsible for the country’s epic meltdown. Still, when it comes to fighting Israel, the group enjoys unwavering backing within its base of support.

Often criticized for operating as See “Hezbollah,” A13

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Opinion

All that glitters is not...

Silences online

BusinessMirror

Harald Eustachius A. Tomintz

Tito Genova Valiente

EAGLE WATCH

G

old! That is what Hidilyn Diaz brought to the Philippines when she won the country’s historic first gold medal at the Olympics. A hefty sum of gold, or rather money, also gets paid to her for it as well. The National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act grants her P10 million, and this is before all the other pledges from the government and the private sector come in to show us a glimpse of how much value we can place in her superhuman efforts.

Her feat is a praiseworthy display of an individual’s capacity to prove oneself before humanity. That said, there are still naysayers and pessimistic trolls online that attempt to downplay her. A few arguments stand out for being economically unsound: Why pay athletes so much? Other important laborers, like teachers or farmers, deserve more than them!

These represent an old conundrum in economics, and one we must talk about before making further assumptions.

Statements like those can be explained through the “water-diamond paradox.” Since we opened with talk of gold, we use food and gold, instead, as examples, although the principle is the same. Let us say you were offered a choice between a kilogram of healthy food or a kilogram of solid gold. Which would you select? Barring a dire situation where you might die of hunger, chances are, you would pick gold, as with most people. Why? In this scenario, gold is simply worth more in most instances.

In doing so, are we saying that gold is more valuable than food?

We need food to live! True, and yet we are never put in the theoretical situation where we must choose between all the world’s food versus all the world’s gold. Given such an extreme hypothetical situation, we might say only a fool would select all the world’s gold. In reality, though, people always make decisions based on finite resources and time, and what is most important to them in the context of the moment.

This old paradox explains many things. It explains why teachers and farmers are deemed to earn less than athletes. Demigods in the making like Hidilyn Diaz offer a unique service, often at extreme personal cost, that millions of Filipinos are willing to value and pay for. Yes, teachers and farmers are vital to Philippine society, but as workers, they are far more abundant and less scarce. They are like food and water, whereas superstar athletes are like gold and diamonds.

Remember, however, that before Hidilyn Diaz became our first Olympic gold medalist, she had to ask for financial help to even stand a chance of participating. For many athletes, the story is the same: whether talented or just average, these people also need to make ends meet and get by. It is not a given that just because people are professional athletes, they would automatically be millionaires.

The existence of a few well-rewarded outliers does not mean others earn as much.

At any rate, let Hidilyn Diaz have her win. She deserves it! While all that glitters is not gold, that does not mean we should devalue the talents of others because of a narrow view regarding the nature of their professions or calling in life. Rather, we should consider how we can, in our own ways, bring gold medals and value to our society, and learn to recognize and uplift others when they provide something special that enriches our lived experiences in return.

It also means the reverse is true for other professions. Exceptionally productive and skilled teachers who are professors, consultants, researchers, and so on, provide valuable talents people deem useful and pay more for. These gold medalists of education thus earn a proportionate living in return for their efforts. In the case of farmers, we might wish to look at how much value we place on what they provide society. This, perhaps, is the most difficult issue that needs to be addressed.

At any rate, let Hidilyn Diaz have her win. She deserves it! While all that glitters is not gold, that does not mean we should devalue the talents of others because of a narrow view regarding the nature of their professions or calling in life.

Rather, we should consider how we can, in our own ways, bring gold medals and value to our society, and learn to recognize and uplift others when they provide something special that enriches our lived experiences in return.

So, are food and water worth less than gold and diamonds? Are teachers or farmers worth less than athletes?

These loaded questions, full of underlying moral value statements, are poorly nuanced. Things are seldom so severe. A better question might be: How much do we support, value, and pay for, the time and talents of our athletes, teachers, and farmers, each important in its own way?

It may be high time to reflect on what we, as a society, would like to develop and support. We can rethink what it means to truly value anything, whether we choose to see it as a rare and precious metal, a delicious dish, or, as most things are, something in-between.

Mr. Harald Eustachius A. Tomintz teaches at the Department of Economics of the Ateneo de Manila University.

Friday, September 3, 2021 A13

annotations

I

T started out as an irritant online—the lighted solitary candle announcing no names, but signifying something desolate. But the same unidentified candle was easily spotted by those who knew death when they saw one. That votive symbol soon was followed by a thread of prayers and sympathies that was running so long you needed to check for its beginning. One hoped something more specific would be mentioned—a name, a date, a cause.

But there was a way to find out, in a more circuitous way. On another spot online, clearer news appeared, with the name, the place and the cause of death. The tradition of announcing the demise of a person became a key to all the codes that subsequently appeared.

Where the candle does not exist, a hand touching another hand signals also a final departure. This is unsettling as when we focus on those human appendages and wonder which one belongs to the dead (or dying) and which to the living.

With the government failing to account deaths, the online candles are a way of knowing how each day, or each hour, one of us is gone. We go to sleep with the news that a friend is intubated, and we wake up to that friend with the tubes no more because he is also there no more.

We rise to early messages about somebody very sick and we pray that he lives. But our hope against hope remains adversarial: hope is not on our side this time and many more times as we will find out each waking hour.

Then one day, this line comes out: No words can.... This time the ellipses

Hezbolla. . .

continued from A12

a state within a state, Hezbollah has tried to ease the effects of the crisis on its supporters in similar fashion.

While the government has been working for months to issue ration cards to poor families, Hezbollah has been well ahead. It has issued two such cards to poor families living in Hezbollah bastions, one called Sajjad after the name of a Shiite imam, and a second called Nour, or light, for its fighters and employees of its institutions who number about 80,000.

“We will serve you with our eyelashes,” is Hezbollah’s slogan to serve the extremely poor in its communities—a Lebanese term meaning they are ready to sacrifice anything to help others.

The tens of thousands carrying Sajjad cards not only can buy highly subsidized products from dozens of shops spread around Lebanon— mostly staples made in Lebanon, Iran and Syria—but can also get medical treatment and advice at 48 Hezbollah-run clinics and medical centers around Lebanon.

Nasrallah is also organizing a sea corridor carrying oil from Iran to Lebanon to help alleviate the fuel shortages, with the first tanker believed to be on its way. The move

are not contrived. They do not pretend to be poetic. They are thoughts trailing to a whisper.

How does one write a whisper?

How do I underscore a sigh?

Belated perhaps but now I realize why no one mentions a name. This new technology has given us a worthy space to be human, an aspect of which is the capacity to live and the ability to die. In those human acts, which are inherited skills, are our gift for happiness and the courage to bear sorrows.

In the pre-pandemic world when we still could hug each other, the first gesture that was performed when we met the bereaved was to hug. Or, when we were not close kin, a grip of the hand as tight as it was warm more than sufficed. No one went into speeches about the person who passed on; no one became verbose in front of a coffin or an urn. We talked about the life of that person surrounded by flowers and lights and then we talked about ourselves. That was how we dealt with death.

Silence is our companion now in this period when the virus seems unimpeded in its potency. We are close to cursing it but we do not.

We are about to call it a curse upon us but something is stopping us as we inspect this world of leaders and policy-makers around us. Then we gather enough saliva to allow our spit to bore a hole through the illfated ground.

Some health workers who have worked also in silence for a long time have found their voice. They have held on to their silence because they were thinking of us, or those who were and are afflicted.

They would not stop working or the pandemic would be beyond control.

But now they are silent no more. For a long time, their silence has been used to oppress them, or blackmail them to work for the survival of others. But the time has come.

We understand their complaint.

We understand that it is not them who should be blamed if the virus spreads further or if it mutates to a more virulent strain.

Death cannot be used to quell ineptitude and gross lack of ethics.

While death caused by the virus is presently accepted, no one yet can come up with excuses why a government could stare at death and not care at all.

Think of these: Have you ever looked at the used and old masks of the man who delivers regularly your water? Or, do you ever wonder why the garbage collectors never bother to wear masks at all each time they handle our trash and haul them up to a truck?

The saddest scene always for me when I chance upon them on the streets is the sight of these old vendors selling their wares while wearing masks that are tattered and soiled from daily use.

How many of them will be saved and how many will die of the virus?

And how many of them will die instead of hunger?

Who will light a candle for them online and offer phrases with bittersweet ellipses?

There is no light on the horizon, I always tell my friends. These friends are people who will not accuse me of intellectualizing deaths and the pandemic. These are people who ask the same questions. Like me, they will be silent about death but not about the evil of those whose task it is to lead us out of this dead end.

has been praised by Hezbollah’s supporters and heavily criticized by its opponents, who say it risks bringing more sanctions on Lebanon.

In the border incident, villagers from the minority Druze sect intercepted Hezbollah fighters on their way back after firing rockets toward a disputed area held by Israel. The villagers briefly detained them and the mobile rocket launcher they used after accusing them of putting them at risk if Israel strikes back.

The fighters and the launcher were then handed over to Lebanese troops, who released them on the same day.

Later, Hezbollah angered many Christians after supporters launched a social media campaign against the head of Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic church, the country’s largest, accusing him of treason after he criticized the group for firing the rockets on Israeli positions.

The widely feared group has been hammered by accusations from its local opponents. They include silencing its opponents, facilitating smuggling of fuel and other subsidized items to neighboring Syria, and alienating oil-rich Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, leading them to halt financial assistance because of Hezbollah’s dominance of Lebanon.

The most serious charge has been a claim by opponents at home that

the group brought in the hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate that exploded at Beirut’s port last year, killing at least 214 people, wounding thousands and destroying parts of the capital.

No direct connection to Hezbollah has emerged, but unsubstantiated theories that tie the group to the stockpile abound. One claim is that Hezbollah imported the chemicals on behalf of the Syrian government, which used them in barrel bombs against rebel-held areas during the neighboring country’s 10-year conflict.

“Hezbollah’s agencies are active at the port and this is known to security agencies and all Lebanese. Why is Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah above questioning?” asked Samy Gemayel, head of the right-wing Christian Kataeb Party recently.

Hezbollah has repeatedly denied any link to the ammonium nitrate.

But Nasrallah further angered families of the victims and other Lebanese recently by criticizing the judge leading the investigation into the blast, suggesting he should be replaced.

Nasrallah described Judge Tarek Bitar as “politicized” after he filed charges against some legislators and former Cabinet ministers allied with Hezbollah.

“There is an attempt to satanize Hezbollah and tarnish its image,”

said Lebanese University political science professor Sadek Naboulsi.

The professor, who has ties to the group, accused foreign powers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and the US of seeking to incite internal strife between Lebanon’s Shiite and Sunni Muslim communities with the aim of weakening Hezbollah. He added that Hezbollah had overcome such pressures in the past and emerged more powerful.

A serious test for Hezbollah came in early August when a funeral of a militant came under fire by suspected Sunni gunmen on the southern entrance of Beirut. Three Hezbollah supporters were killed and 16 were wounded in the shooting in the town of Khaldeh. Hezbollah did not retaliate and instead called on Lebanese authorities to investigate the case.

“An increasing number of Lebanese are realizing that the concept of a Lebanese state cannot coexist with a powerful armed militia serving an outside power,” wrote Michael Young, editor of Diwan, the blog of the Carnegie Middle East Center.

Macaron said Hezbollah will not be the same after the crisis and will have to adapt to ensure political survival in the long term.

“What they can do at this point is to limit losses as much as possible,” he said.

Questioning a catchphrase: ‘Pandemic of the unvaccinated’

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press

W

ASHINGTON—This summer’s coronavirus resurgence has been labeled a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” by government officials from President Joe Biden on down.

The sound bite captures the glaring reality that unvaccinated people overwhelmingly account for new cases and serious infections, with a recent study of government data showing that hospitalization rates among unvaccinated adults were 17 times higher than among those fully vaccinated.

But the term doesn’t appear to be

changing the hearts and minds of unvaccinated people. And it doesn’t tell the whole story, with some breakthrough infections occurring among the fully vaccinated. That recent twist led health officials to recommend a return to masks and a round of booster shots.

“It is true that the unvaccinated are the biggest driver, but we mustn’t forget that the vaccinated are part of it as well, in part because of the Delta variant,” said Dr. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. “The pandemic clearly involves all people, not just the unvaccinated.”

Topol points to Louisiana, where data from the state suggest that

nearly 10 percent of hospitalized patients are vaccinated.

Branding it “a pandemic of the unvaccinated” could have the unintended consequence of stigmatizing the unvaccinated. “We should not partition them as the exclusive problem,” Topol said.

Instead officials should call out vaccine disinformation, said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

A sketchy stream of dubious arguments continues to undermine public confidence.

“We can say that the virus has reemerged in the southern United States, primarily among unvacci-

nated people, but it doesn’t mean we have to blame the unvaccinated,” Hotez said. “The people we have to target are the purveyors of disinformation, and we have to recognize that the unvaccinated themselves are victims of disinformation.”

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has tried to call attention to the damage done by misinformation and disinformation. But for many, vaccine opposition has become ingrained.

A poll from The Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research in July found that 45 percent of adults who had not yet received a vaccine said they definitely would not get it. Nearly 2 in 3 (64 percent) unvaccinated adults said they had

little to no confidence the shots are effective against mutations like the Delta variant, although data show vaccination dramatically reduces the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death. Just 3 percent of unvaccinated adults said they would definitely get vaccinated.

Calling it a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” is “just provocative,” said Robert Blendon, who follows public opinion on health care at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “The unvaccinated have an opposition toward Washington, and the more you stir the opposition, the more it convinces them ‘I’m not going to give in to those people,’” Blendon said.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Yet top officials don’t seem to be ready to retire or amend a favored catchphrase. “As I’ve said before, the pandemic of the unvaccinated is a tragedy that is preventable,” Biden declared in a recent remarks on his administration’s Covid-19 response.

Asked Wednesday whether the sound bite still accurately reflects the evolving pandemic, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said unvaccinated people continue to account for the “vast, vast majority” of those hospitalized. “So it hasn’t changed our messaging,” she added.

Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Hannah Fingerhut and Emily Swanson contributed to this report.

A14 Friday, September 3, 2021

2nd Front Page A BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph

LOVING LOCAL EVEN MORE WITH MR.D.I.Y.’S BIG DISCOUNT Waiting for the 9.9 big sale?

With MR.D.I.Y.’s Proudly Made in the Philippines promo you don’t have to wait! It’s a month-long discount scheme with up to 20% price off on selected home improvement and essential goods that every member of the family will surely love. So, plan your visit to any of the 174 stores nationwide to grab the items you need.

Proudly Made in the Philippines promo highlights local brands and its products in various categories namely essential goods, household, furnishing, car accessories, pet accessories, and many more.

Understanding the need to manage our budget properly during these difficult times, MR.D.I.Y. offers budgetfriendly deals making low-priced products even lower have been just awesome! Consider this as the early Christmas treat from one of the leading home and life improvement retailers in Southeast Asia – MR.D.I.Y. Can’t wait to see all the great deals? Head to MR.D.I.Y.’s official website at www.mrdiy.com/ph or its official Facebook page @mrdiyPH and check out the featured items to ensure that your upcoming visit will be fast, safe, and efficient. See you at your favorite MR.D.I.Y. store nationwide. Happy shopping!

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies BusinessMirror

CEB resumes flights to Siargao, Bohol

M

C

ebu Pacific (CEB), the country’s leading airline, is restarting passenger flights from Manila to Siargao and Bohol, after the local governments of the two provinces lifted travel restrictions.

CEB flew its first Manila-Siargao flight on September 1, and intends to increase flights from thrice weekly to five times weekly beginning September 8 (every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). Its Manila to Bohol flight took off on September 2, and will operate on a daily basis for this month.

“The situation is still very fluid, yet we know there is a need for flights to cater to essential travel. We continue to prioritize everyjuan’s health and safety as we gradually rebuild our network and we look forward to adding more flights as demand increases,” said Xander Lao, Chief Commercial Officer at Cebu Pacific.

Passengers bound for Bohol must present a negative RT-PCR test result conducted within 72 hours before departure, along with an approved travel coordination permit from S-Pass.

All arriving passengers are required to undergo quarantine for 5 days in a public or private facility that is accredited by the local government. On the fifth day, passengers will again take the RT-PCR test.

Guests flying to Siargao are required to present a negative RT-PCR

test result, valid within 48 hours from the date of release, along with other documents depending on your purpose for travel. A detailed list may be found on the CEB web site: https:// bit.ly/CEBFlightReminders.

Guests must also email all their requirements to the Siargao Provincial Tourism Office at sdntourism@gmail. com and present the e-mail confirmation upon check-in and arrival.

CEB operates the widest domestic network in the Philippines covering 31 destinations, on top of its 8 international destinations. Its 74-strong fleet, one of the youngest in the world, includes 2 dedicated ATR freighters and one A330 freighter.

The airline has been rated 7/7 stars by airlineratings.com for its Covid-19 compliance as it continues to implement a multi-layered approach to safety, in accordance with global aviation standards. These include daily extensive cleaning and disinfection protocols for all aircraft and facilities, antigen testing before duty for all frontliners and crew members, and contactless flight procedures. Its jet fleet are equipped with hospital grade HEPA air filters, keeping viruses at bay.

To date, CEB has vaccinated 95 percent of its flying crew and expects to complete employee inoculation by October this year.

GSIS pensioners urged to tap digital channels

S

tate pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is urging pensioners to do their transactions online, such as compliance with the online Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation (APIR) and loan applications to protect them from Covid-19 infection.

“Since last year, we have put in place online methods of transacting with us so that our pensioners need not leave their homes and do it any time, any day,” GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet announced.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) also issued Resolution No. 100 directing “pensionissuing agencies to adopt alternative modes of validation for senior citizen pensioners in lieu of personal appearances or submission of documents” starting March 1 especially with the various Covid-19 variants’ entry into the country.

GSIS pensioners must renew their active status by complying with APIR on their birth month to ensure the continuous receipt of their pension and if applicable, the grant of milestone benefits and their availment of the Enhanced Pension Loan. Through APIR, only qualified pensioners are paid the monthly pension, safeguarding the viability of the fund in the process.

“Send a text or e-mail request to your GSIS handling branch for the online APIR schedule if you’re in the Philippines. Those who are abroad may send their request to pensionglobal@ gsis.gov.ph or to the GSIS Skype Appointment System found on the GSIS web site,” said Macasaet in lieu of personally going to any GSIS office or using the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System kiosk.

Those who were previously being

home-visited yearly due to advanced age (80 years old and above), sickness, disability, or other health issues affecting their mobility must now request their online APIR schedule through e-mail or text to eliminate the risk for both GSIS pensioners and employees.

Pensioners or their representatives must indicate in the text or e-mail request the pensioner’s name, birthday, preferred online channel for the APIR interview (if Facebook messenger, Viber, Skype or Zoom).

The following requirements must also be e-mailed: 1.Photo of their UMID, temporary eCard Plus or in its absence at least two valid government issued IDs (original to be presented during the interview); 2. If a survivorship pensioner, duly accomplished Self-Declaration of Surviving Spouse Form (on Non-Marriage/Non-Cohabitation; download form from GSIS web site, www.gsis.gov.ph); 3. If a disability pensioner, a copy of the annual Medical Progress Report.

GSIS pensioners may also apply for the Enhanced Pension Loan and Pensioners’ Emergency Loan online via the eGSISMO (online facility found in GSIS’s web site) or e-mail to their handling branch.

To view the full list of designated email addresses and mobile numbers of all GSIS branches and extension offices nationwide, visit https://www.gsis.gov. ph/downloads/20210120-APIR_Mobile_Numbers.pdf.

For inquiries, visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph or GSIS Facebook page, @gsis.ph; e-mail gsiscares@gsis. gov.ph; or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747 (if in Metro Manila) or 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers) and 1-800-10-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ‘N’ Text subscribers.

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Medilines seeks regulators’ approval for planned IPO

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

edilines Distributors Inc. on Thursday filed its registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its initial public offering (IPO) later this year from which it hopes to raise some P2.02 billion.

Photo from www.cebupacificair.com

Friday, September 3, 2021

In its prospectus the company will list up to 825 million common shares at an offer price of up to P2.45 per share. Of the shares that will be sold, some 550 million are composed of primary shares while the 275 million secondary shares are owned by Virgilio B. Villar.

PNB Capital and Investment Corp. has been appointed as issue manager, lead underwriter and bookrunner.

Its shares will be listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “MD.” Net proceeds from the offer will be

used to fund the company’s initial working capital for its product portfolio expansion and for debt repayment.

“We are excited to work with Medilines in drawing out another opportunity to bring to the capital market an essential and pandemic-resilient business. We envision this to be the first pure-play healthcare IPO in the Philippines,” Gerry Valenciano, president of PNB Capital, said.

A pure-play is a company that focuses on only one line of business, unlike a diversified company which has a wide-

ranging product line and sources of revenue. Catering to a niche market, pure-plays have easy-to-understand cash flows and revenues, the company said.

About P541.5 million of the P1.35 billion proceeds from the primary shares sale will go to working capital to expand its product portfolio to include medical consumables such as low-cost yet high-margin products that are regularly used for the medical equipment that Medilines sell.

The remaining P743.1 million will be used to retire the debts used to fund the company’s working capital requirements.

Medilines has an outstanding debt of P573.7 million from Bank of the Philippines Islands, and another P169.4 million from the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

“These loans carry interest rates of 4.5 percent to 5.25 percent.

These loans were obtained to fund the company’s working capital requirements. We believe that pursuing this strategy will increase the overall shareholder value of

the company as this will decrease our financing cost. We believe that we will still be able to access debt funding from our various relationship banks as the need arises,” the company said.

Medilines is an essential distributor of critical equipment from medical device companies, such as Siemens, B. Braun and Varian.

Its portfolio primarily caters to the categories of specialized medicine in the Philippines, such as diagnostic imaging, dialysis and cancer therapy. Combined sales from these items amounted to P17 billion in 2020.

These categories, in turn, address some of the top causes of mortality among Filipinos—cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, pneumonia and tuberculosis.

The medical devices market, composed of medical equipment and consumables and accessories, is expected to hit P127.8 billion by 2025 from last year’s P77 billion, a compounded growth of more than 10 percent.

‘PHL needs more transmission facilities’

By Lenie Lectura

R

@llectura

enewable energy (RE) players said transmission line constraint is one of the possible hindrances to achieving the country’s target RE capacity in the next 20 years.

The country is targeting a 35-percent RE share in the country’s energy mix by 2035 and at least a 40-percent RE share by 2040. The current mix is still dominated by fossil fuels at 54.6 percent; natural gas, 21.2 percent; RE, 20.8 percent; and oil-based fuel, 3.5 percent.

The National Renewable Energy Board (NREB), the advisory body tasked to effectively implement RE projects in the country, is confident that the RE share in the energy mix can even hit 50 percent by 2040.

“I’m grateful for in the openness of everyone in this industry to work out our differences and then agreeing to a common goal—a north star. That North Star for the Philippine energy mix is to have a 35-percent RE share by 2030 and, at least, 40 percent RE share by 2040.

In fact, in the NREP [National Renewable Energy Program] projection, we will get to that 35 percent RE share by 2030 and, in fact, exceed 40 percent and get all the way up to 50 percent by 2040 if there are certain policies that will be adopted to make sure that we get there,” said NREB Chairman Monalisa Dimalanta during a forum titled “The Future Energy Show Philippines” in which she talked about RE adoption in the country.

One way to achieve this, she said, is to increase RE installations under the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) policy. “In the public consultation that the DOE had two days ago, it already announced that some of these policies that we had recommended, they are adopting these policies. The first one, which is key, is really the increase in

RPS percentage from 1 percent to 2.52 percent by 2023.”

RPS is a market-based policy that requires power distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and retail electricity supplies to source an agreed portion of their energy supply from eligible RE facilities.

Solar and wind will form part of the majority of new capacity additions in the market share of RE. When RE players were asked how they are preparing to meet the projected RE numbers, Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste cited concerns over the lack of transmission facilities.

“The balance of this 35 percent by 2030 is necessarily going to come mostly from solar and perhaps to the extent there are very good competitive wind resources as well. But I think it’s going to be a challenge of getting that supply to be delivered rather than for the demand of 35 percent being met,” said Leviste during the virtual forum. “It’s going to be a constraint of transmission for the most part rather than cost.”

Leviste said solar cost has gone down to about P3 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

“It’s public knowledge that solar is now being supplied to Meralco [Manila Electric Co.] as low as P2.99/kwh and to the extent that is replicable. Therefore, anyone can draw the conclusion that solar should represent a very big share of the country’s energy mix and perhaps all of the incremental capacity that is competitively bid out.”

Leviste said there will not be enough transmission facilities for the 20,000 to 30,000 megawatts of additional solar and wind capacities.

“If there are developers that can see that there is this firm demand of five, six, seven to eight years from now then it becomes all the more viable to develop very long transmission lines that can enable these larger developments to unlock these potential developments for solar

and wind,” he said.

SN Aboitiz Power Group Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer Jason Soberano also recognized the importance of transmission lines in delivering power to consumers and that the cost of RE, as well as battery energy storage

system, will further go down.

“We do anticipate that the RE and battery energy storage cost will drop further in the coming years and from a commercial standpoint the lower cost per kilowatt hour over the long term justifies the transition to RE.”

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Friday, September 3, 2021

Companies BusinessMirror

ERC completes scrutiny of 8 power generation firms

By Lenie Lectura

T

@llectura

he Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has concluded its probe on eight power generation companies (gencos) that were found to have breached their plant outage allowance, causing the unscheduled brownouts from May 31 to June 3.

“We are done with about eight. We have finalized evaluation of the facts. We are now in the last phase of computing penalties,” ERC Chairperson Agnes Devanadera told congressmen during a hearing on the presentation of the agency’s budget for 2022.

She did not identify the eight gencos. The ERC will release its final resolution “within the next two weeks.”

“We went through the process of requiring

them to explain and to submit their explanations. In general, most of these explanations dealt on the pandemic related issues like inability of technical people to come in and delay in the delivery of the spare parts because of the lockdown. But we are resolving the cases one by one, not in lump sum,” the ERC chief said.

The ERC said there were 17 gencos cited in its probe, following the show-cause orders issued last June 22.

The ERC is also looking into the possible collusion among the gencos whose facilities were on extended shutdown—including those that performed unplanned maintenance that led to rota-

tional brownouts in Luzon.

The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier said gencos that reported prolonged plant outages could face charges of anticompetitive behavior and economic sabotage for violating government-enforced laws and policies.

Gencos, except for those operating hydroelectric power plants, are not allowed by the DOE to conduct power plant maintenance during the peak quarter.

Also, the ERC has put in place a cap on annual unplanned outages per generating plant technology to promote accountability.

All 17 gencos earlier found to have plant outage allowance

breaches submitted their explanation to the ERC last July.

The 17 gencos are Sem C a l aca Power Cor p., GN Power Mariveles Center Ltd. Co., Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd., Southwest Luzon Power Generation Cor p., Team Sual Corp., SPC Power Corp., Panay Power Corp., SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc., CBK Power Co. Ltd., SPC Island Power Corp., First Natgas Power Corp., FGP Corp., First Gas Power Corp., Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., Energy Development Corp., Hedcor Bukidnon Inc.; and PSALMSoosan ENS Co. Ltd.

Megaworld books 415K sq m of office leases

By VG Cabuag

M

@villygc

egaworld Corp., the property development arm of businessman Andrew Tan, on Thursday said it booked around 415,000 square meters of office leases since the

start of the pandemic last year.

The company said around 60 percent of these lease contracts booked since last year were renewals while the remaining 40 percent were new leases, mostly from the information technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors.

However, the company’s rental revenues for the first half were still lower compared with last year’s figure as its occupied office space remained the same at around 1.26 million square meters.

Revenues from rent, which includes those of shopping malls,

reached P4.27 billion for January to June, down 44 percent from last year’s P7.71 billion.

The company said during the first semester, new leases and renewals were booked in Eastwood City, McKinley Hill, Uptown Bonifacio, Mactan Newtown in Cebu, Southwoods City in Biñan, Laguna and Davao Park District in Davao City.

“Around 80 percent of these leases in the first half of the year were renewals. This means, BPO companies opted to stay and held on to their spaces. This also clearly indicates the strength and resil-

ience of the office market within our pioneering townships,” Kevin Andrew L. Tan, the company’s executive vice president, said.

Earlier this year, Megaworld has fully leased its Southwoods Office Towers inside the 561-hectare Southwoods City after an American renewable energy company and a BPO company specializing in customer care solutions took the remaining spaces.

In Davao City, four levels of the Davao Finance Center inside the 11-hectare Davao Park District have also been leased to one of the largest BPO companies in the country during the first half of this year.

“The township model is our advantage. These consistent take-ups of office spaces even in the middle of community lockdowns are not just in Metro Manila but also in key growth centers in the provinces. We are very happy and optimistic about how the office sector has so far been performing better than expected,” Tan said.

The occupancy rate of its premier offices remains at 90 percent, with some of its townships reaching 100 percent, such as Iloilo Business Park, the company said.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Plantible Foods raises $21.5M for new factory

A

San Diego-based startup that’s developing a protein for use in imitation meat and egg products has received $21.5 million in funding to build its first commercial facility.

Plantible Foods Inc. is growing and harvesting a crop commonly known as duckweed, and plans to first develop an egg white substitute before expanding to other animal products. Investors in the Series A funding round include Kellogg Co.’s venture-capital fund, Astanor Ventures and Piva Capital Inc. “We all know that animal agriculture is one of the largest single contributors to climate change,” Plantible’s Chief Executive Officer Tony Martens said in an interview.

“We therefore need to change the way we eat in order to produce and potentially at one point even mitigate the influence of climate change on our lives.”

The alternative protein market has been booming as consumers look for options that might be more

mutual funds

sustainable or healthier than traditional animal products. Demand is increasing as companies like Beyond Meat Inc., Impossible Foods Inc. and Oatly Inc. bring products like imitation burgers and oat milk lattes to stores and restaurants.

Plantible says duckweed has advantages over the crops currently most popular in imitation meat production. It can be harvested year round, unlike peas and soybeans, which are only harvested once a year. Duckweed also requires less water.

Martens said the cost of production of the company’s egg substitute is comparable to the real ones.

The company plans to begin construction of its first commercial facility in 2022, which will be built somewhere in the United States.

The company is eyeing space in the Midwest, Martens said.

Plantible has raised a total of $27 million. Kellogg’s venture capital arm is called eighteen94 capital.

Bloomberg News

September 2, 2021

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D

per share Return* Return Stock Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 218.72 13.99% -6.28% -4.04% -3.74% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.5045 43.3% -0.04% 1.21% 14.58% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.9984 17.01% -10.55% -7.09% -4.3% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7369 11.45% -7.41% n.a.

-8.33% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7481 8.56% -5.07% n.a.

0.88% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.8751 17.98% -3.97% -2.19% -1.34% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.7306 13.73% -5.96% -5.96% -3.84% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 96.85 20.87% -5.89% n.a.

-4.99% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 44.6898 16.74% -4.85% -2.97% -4.61% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 470.37 13.62% -4.34% -3.33% -3.81% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.0777 23.12% n.a. n.a.

-1.79% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.1932 21% -3.18% -1.65% 2.14% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 34.0249 18.04% -4.06% -1.79% -2.14% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.875 15.65% n.a. n.a.

-4.16% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.5937 17.55% -4.2% -2.21% -4.12% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 767.56 17.49% -4.16% -2.35% -4.25% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6946 17.65% -8.01% -5.48% -3.38% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.5333 16.17% -6.21% -3.43% -2.5% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8765 17.09% -4.49% -2.5% -4.49% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.224 18.22% -4.43% -1.39% -2.86% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 103.0675 17.5% -3.98% -1.83% -4.17% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.1991 10.75% 4.64% 6% -0.32% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8524 19.14% 12.14% 12.16% 10.74% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.6685 5.95% -0.81% -1.75% -0.01% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.1924 8.03% -1.81% -1.64% -4.07% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5909 9.31% -0.51% -0.47% -1.37% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.1911 5.58% n.a. n.a.

-3.78% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9449 7.23% 0.99% 0.21% -0.97% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.6597 6.71% -0.04% -1.04% -3.39% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 16.3869 7.09% 0.06% -1.01% -3.25% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.043 8.32% -1.25% -0.73% -2.44% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5231 9.54% -2.43% -1.76% -1.4% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9793 6.07% n.a. n.a.

-4.23% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8945 9.61% n.a. n.a.

-5.76% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8809 11.56% n.a. n.a.

-5.59% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.887 12.04% -2.91% -2.06% -0.08% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03848 -0.7% 2.9% 1.24% -1.64% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.1097 4.85% 3.41% 3.55% -3.52% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.8357 14.52% 9.35% 8.55% 7.15% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.2313 6.68% 5.45% 4.54% 2.43% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 372.92 1.28% 3.05% 2.4% 0.5% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9244 -1.26% 1.07% 0.16% 1.27% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2384 1.24% 3.49% 4.23% 0.74% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2614 -1.74% 2.13% 1.18% -1.51% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4409 -0.56% 3.23% 1.65% -0.5% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.4842 -4.09% 4.29% 1.14% -3.25% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.3197 0.65% 3.98% 2.71% -0.11% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9769 0.55% 4.61% 1.92% -0.6% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0373 0.02% 4.76% 1.55% -0.45% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2211 1.35% 4.99% 2.33% 0.47% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7519 0.52% 4.3% 1.64% -0.18% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $488.05 2.17% 3.15% 2.12% 0.86% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є220.73 1.72% 1.15% 0.83% 0.71% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2077 -2.19% 2.54% 1.4% -5.68% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0262 - 0.38% 1.85% 0.86% -1.5% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0561 -2.62% 0.58% -1.06% -3.35% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5318 1.85% 5.11% 1.97% -0.15% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0631107 3.55% 3.56% 2.1% 1.27% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2052 -0.18% 3.28% 0.76% -0.57% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 130.63 1.32% 2.98% 2.54% 0.63% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0546 1.02% n.a. n.a.

0.62% Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3088 1.55% 2.78% 2.55% 0.94% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0584 1% 1.6% n.a.

0.57% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3454 29.06% n.a. n.a.

19.1% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a,d $1 5.26% n.a. n.a.

2.04%

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 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance

Banks’ FCDU decline no cause for worry–Diokno

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

B

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Benjamin E. Diokno announced on Thursday that the assets of banks’ Foreign Currency Deposit Units (FCDU) declined in the first half of the year, but continued to be “supportive of the local economy.”

FCDU assets amounted to $54.7 billion in June this year, lower by 2.8 percent from the previous year.

FCDU assets represented 13.6 percent of the Philippine banking system’s total resources during the period.

About half of the asset pool, or $27.4 billion, were investments in debt securities issued by non-residents and the Philippine government. This was followed by loans of $21.2 billion and placements with other banks of $5.5 billion.

“FCDUs have facilitated financial intermediation and directed lending to important sectors of the economy,” Diokno told reporters. “The FCDU network also remains extensive and supportive of the country’s recovery.”

Loans of FCDUs were mostly granted to residents, which represented 70.2 percent of the FCDUs’ total loans.

Meanwhile, the electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply sector had the largest share of loans to residents at 34.1 percent. This was followed by loans to the manufacturing sector at 20.7 percent, and financial and insurance activities at 14.8 percent.

“The BSP will further streamline FCDU regulations considering evolving banking regulations,” Diokno said. “The amendments will be aligned with the thrust to veer away from a compliance mindset and embed risk-based principles in all aspects of the BSP’s approach to supervision.”

FCDUs refer to a unit of a local bank or a branch of a foreign bank authorized by the BSP to accept foreign currency deposits. This is pursuant to Republic Act 6426 or the Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines, as amended.

As of end-May 2021, a total of 76 BSP supervised entities are allowed to engage in FCDU activities. These include 46 universal and commercial banks, 21 thrift banks and 9 rural and cooperative banks.

The BSP has said in 2019 that 97 percent of FCDU deposits are held by residents constituting an additional buffer to the country’s gross international reserves.

Data mining and the ‘Trampoline Effect ’

A

S a kid growing up in the countryside, I remember being excited every time the circus came to town. But unlike the grand circus we have today, those in the villages had a limited show offering; its highlight was when clownclad acrobats did their stunts on one big trampoline.

I’m reminded of this anecdote when I heard the term “trampoline effect” from our webinar speaker, Deanna Varga, managing director and founder of Australia-based Mayvin Global, a consultancy specializing in the delivery of commercial and revenue generation solutions for associations, tourism, business events and the arts. The webinar topic was “Revenue Generation and Diversifying Revenue Streams.”

In addition to membership dues, Deanna cited a range of revenue streams such as education and accreditation, conference and exhibitions, awards programs, networking events, sponsorships, donations and grants, and consulting services. All of these were impacted by the pandemic in one way or the other. For example, while face-to-face events may have decreased, virtual events have increased.

However, many associations offer virtual events for free. So how can you leverage free registrations from these events? Deanna offered the following ways: 1. Data analytics. Mine the data and put this into use. There’s no point having a number of attendees if you don’t do anything with them afterwards.

Data analytics also doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Your technology provider can assist and provide insights into the registrations. If you are doing it yourself (via Zoom or other platforms), make sure you include questions on the

Association World Octavio Peralta registration form that can provide you leads so you can monetize from free registrations.

2. Q&A and chat rooms. Webinar interaction gets attendees highly engaged, but this does not get sustained after the event. To keep this alive: (a) follow conversations and assign people (volunteers, ambassadors, or board members) to track certain conversations and report back; (b) follow up on unanswered questions; and, (c) follow up with the speaker.

3. Upselling. A key to monetizing free registrations is to have valuable buy-up options.

For example, you may provide free access to the main event but you can charge for the pre-events. You may also offer certain components and experiences like a speaker deep-dive session or sell a book, technical report, case study materials, etc.

The key to all these is data, data, data. Like in a trampoline, all the data converge in one place and if you don’t capture or do something with them, they bounce off randomly to various directions. By knowing and understanding data and how it can work for your association, you reduce the bounce-off effect of the trampoline, steadying your balance, and making data serve your association well.

Octavio Peralta is founder and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives and concurrently, President of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations. The views Peralta expressed in his column do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror. E-mail: obp@adfiap.org.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, September 3, 2021

B3

DOF unit flags deals planned, made by debt-saddled PNCC

T

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Privatization and Management Office (PMO) raised concerns over the plan of debtsaddled state-run Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) to lease a government real estate property way below the lot’s fair market value.

The PMO, an attached agency of the Department of Finance (DOF), said the PNCC’s proposed rental fee of P300 per square meter (sqm) for the 9.9-hectare real estate property in the Financial Center Area (FCA) along Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City “does not reflect fair market values and may be disadvantageous to the government.”

It also did not sit well with PMO that the PNCC made the plan without

apparently considering the repayment of its existing obligations to the national government and various other government entities already amounting to billions of pesos.

During a recent DOF executive committee meeting, Chan reported that the PMO is “unable to give its concurrence (to the PNCC proposal) because, number one, that asset is a government asset and they (the PNCC) haven’t taken any steps re-

garding the settlement of their obligations to the national government; and, number two, their proposed rent is below market value.”

Chan added that even the current rental rate of P500 per square meter that PNCC is charging Pacific Concrete Products Inc. (PCPI), an existing occupant of a 3-hectare portion of the FCA lot, “does not appear to be updated for current market values.”

Thus, the PMO is also seeking a review of the legal standing of the PNCC to manage and develop the government’s property.

Last month, PNCC President and Chief Executive Officer Miguel E. Umali wrote a letter seeking PMO’s comment on its proposal to lease out the FCA property for just P300 per sqm., inclusive of value-added tax.

The PNCC’s proposal was for a term of 25 years, which may be renewed for another 25 years, with an escalation rate of only 3 percent every two years.

The same proposal was also referred by the Office of the President, whose approval is necessary for such

plans to move forward, to the DOF and PMO for comment. in a letter dated July 26, 2021, PMO Chief Privatization Officer Gerard Chan pointed out that that the Commission on Audit (COA) noted in its 2018 Audit Report that the PNCC has existing and unpaid obligations to the national government and government financial institutions. Chan said the COA report noted the PNCC owes the Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Guarantee Corp., and National Development Corp. at least P66 billion. The PNCC also owes the Toll Regulatory Board about P8.345 billion.

In its 2020 PNCC Annual Report, the COA also observed that the PNCC left the FCA property idle for three years, which deprived the government of an estimated P1.5 billion in possible income.

Chan said “the settlement of PNCC’s outstanding obligations to various national government agencies is not reflected in this proposed lease of the FCA property.”

Fintech firm to expand ‘buy now, pay later’ scheme

F

INTECH company First Digital Finance Corp. (FDFC) announced that it is expanding its zero-interest “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) scheme in the country to include short-term offerings.

FDFC, which operates the “BillEase” brand platform, said in a statement their new offering allows online retailers to give their customers the option to split payment for purchases between P1,000 and P 25,000 or more. The first payment, which is 25 percent of the amount, will be due at the time of transac-

tion while the rest will be in three bi-weekly installments, the financial technology (fintech) firm said.

For smaller purchases, customers can also select to pay later on their next payday or 10 to 20 days for any purchase below P1,000 at zero interest.

The FDFC statement said this addition of short-term payment plans aims at allowing a merchant to increase customer loyalty as well as boost customer purchasing power, resulting in increased transaction sizes and higher order values.

PNB to sell retirement product after BSP nod

T

HE Philippine National Bank (PNB) said it is now offering the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (Pera) starting this month through its Trust Banking Group, after recently securing the regulatory approval from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

In a statement, PNB said the new scheme will make it easier for their customers to save and build their retirement fund.

“Pera supplements our national government’s pension programs like the GSIS or SSS as well as the retirement programs of private companies. We support the BSP in offering this savings plan to help Filipinos live comfortably in their sunset years,” PNB President and CEO Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso said.

Established via Republic Act 9505 (Pera Act of 2008), the Pera is a voluntary retirement program that allows investors to accumulate additional funds for retirement. Any person with the capacity to contract and possesses a Tax Identification Number (TIN) can invest in Pera.

The Pera law aims to promote capital market development and savings mobilization by establishing a legal and regulatory framework of retirement plans for individuals 18 years old and above.

They will also be entitled to tax incentives, such as a 5 percent tax credit on annual contributions and exemption from investment income taxes.

“Even if you are employed and are entitled to receive retirement benefits from your employer, you may invest in PERA to gradually build funds that you can use when you retire,” PNB Chief Trust Officer Joy Jasmin R. Santos said. “If you are an employer, you can use Pera as an option to augment your employee benefits.”

“As an investor or contributor, you can redeem your Pera contributions once you’ve reached 55 years old and have contributed for at least five years,” Santos added.

“In addition, qualified distributions made upon the death of the contributor are not subject to estate tax, making it an ideal estate planning tool.” Bianca Cuaresma

“We are thrilled to announce the extension of our Buy Now, Pay Later product with shorter, more flexible payment options providing merchants a card-free installment solution to their customers,” FDFC CEO and Co-Founder Georg Steiger said.

“For merchants, finding new ways to grow revenue without taking on any risk is really important.

We’re offering the exact solution that they’re looking for to acquire new customers and to encourage loyalty as customers are more likely

to purchase and repeat purchases at merchants that offer interestfree installments at checkout,” Steiger added.

BillEase is also offering longer payment plans which allow consumers to pay monthly for large purchases and stretch their funds to increase buying power. Customers can select longer terms at merchant checkout and pay only 1/3 upfront and the rest over 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. Interest, however, will depend on merchant terms.

Bianca Cuaresma

Bill revising PVB charter endorsed for Senate OK

S

ENATOR Grace Poe on Wednesday officially endorsed for Senate approval the “Philippine Veterans Bank Act” or Senate Bill (SB) 2368 that institutes a revised charter for the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) to include post-World War II veterans and soldiers.

“We need to secure the future viability of the bank, as well as ensure its continuing contribution to the welfare of our veterans,” said Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies.

Signed by 15 senators, Committee Report 288 repeals the old charter and recognizes the PVB’s nature as a private commercial bank.

The bill realigns the bank’s internal structure and powers according to the Revised Corporation Code, General Banking Act, and other pertinent laws and regulations.

“It is only timely that its charter be revised to reflect the changes which happened during the half century of its existence,” Poe said in her sponsorship speech.

The PVB was created in 1963 under Republic Act (RA) 3518 and rehabilitated in 1992 under Repub-

lic Act 7169.

The bill also provides for an increase in the bank’s capitalization from P100 million to P10 billion to align its capitalization with the minimum level prescribed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for private commercial banks.

In order to assist the bank in raising capital while also ensuring that veterans will remain in control, the previous 20-share limitation for each veteran or dependent has been lifted and shares are now open to non-veterans, provided that the majority of both common and preferred shares still belong to veterans.

The bill also includes a “more methodical and stricter guideline” for the distribution of the net profits of the bank, updated penalties for specific violations, and a more stringent accounting system where the bank will now have its own auditing department and will be audited annually by a reputable external auditing firm.

“The thrust of the bank is to promote the welfare of the veterans, which is why we need to make sure that the money meant for them is well-accounted for,” Poe said.

Visa enlists UnionBank as BIN sponsor in Philippines

T

HE Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) announced recently of being the first partner in the Philippines to join the financial technology (fintech) fast track program of Visa Inc. as a Banking Identification Number (BIN) sponsor.

“This means that UnionBank can work with fintechs to help them gain access to the same global payment technology, expertise and revenue

opportunities as they would if they were a direct card issuer with Visa,” the bank said in a statement. “Partnering with UnionBank also provides fintech firms the solutions and expertise they need to launch their programs with speed and efficiency.”

“We are focused on engaging and building strategic partnerships with fintechs through our existing programs,” said Dan Wolbert, Visa Country Manager for the Philip-

pines, was quoted in a statement as saying.

Wolbert said Visa would collaborate with UnionBank to identify fintech firms that can create relevant payment programs to reach out to the underserved segments and leverage on the untapped opportunities for digital payments in the country.

“This will enable us to create relevant payment solutions to enable the movement of funds seam-

lessly and securely and engage the vibrant fintech community in the Philippines.”

According to Unionbank Fintech Business Group Head Ana A. Delgado, that fintechs in the Philippines can leverage on UnionBank’s product to provide Visa cards to their base and make use of an application (app) programming interface to Ana A. Delgado, UnionBank Chief Customer integrate this with their platforms Experience Officer, Chief Digital Channels and apps.

Officer and Fintech Business Group Head

Dan Wolbert, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines

B4

Relationships

Friday, September 3, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

Heroes and scoundrels in our midst PHOTO BY PATTY BRITO ON UNSPLASH

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

z

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Rita Volk, 31; Shaun White, 35; Omi, 35; Garrett Hedlund, 37.

Happy Birthday: Volunteer work will lift your spirits and connect you to someone who has something to offer. Direct the changes you make into something that adds knowledge and skills to your qualifications. The more you do to diversify, the easier it will be to fulfill your dreams. Kindness and consideration will help a partnership going through changes due to emotional or health problems. Your numbers are 7, 15, 21, 28, 34, 42, 46.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep your thoughts to yourself. Make changes at home that will add to your comfort. A creative pursuit will keep you occupied and encourage you to pursue something you enjoy that has the potential to bring in extra cash, as well. HHHHH

T

OWARD the end of my Mama’s life many years ago, she was in and out of hospitals because of a persistent medical condition.

But through it all, no matter which hospital she was checked in, we were always so fortunate that her nurses took care of her so well. Also her doctors, of course.

Often, these nurses did everything to make Mama feel more comfortable despite her extended confinement, and if they had some extra time on their hands, they stayed a few minutes to chat with her after checking her vitals. Those who remember my Mama know she was such a firecracker and liked chatting up a lot of people, and getting to know their personal lives.

In one government hospital, Cherie (not her real name), one of the nurses who was usually on duty in the daytime, became so devoted to Mama that she even went to bat for her, talking with physicians’ executive assistants and demanding they lower their charges sent to us. Mama was already checking out that day, but Cherie told me one physician charged a fee on a certain day, when neither he nor his intern had actually peeked in to check on Mama’s condition.

That was how excellent Cherie was. Even if it may have probably been considered unprofessional on her part to challenge a patient’s medical bill, she still did it. She even wheeled out Mama in a wheelchair, despite that being an orderly’s job really, and assisted us in making sure Mama got into the car safely.

This was sometime 2012 or 2013. By now, I am sure Cherie is already working in some hospital abroad, as that was her goal. Before Mama left the hospital, I told Cherie then I wished that she did not have to leave for work abroad because, “sayang. Wala nang mag-aalaga sa mga may sakit dito kung lahat kayo umalis.” But she had shared that she had to, for her family’s sake, because her salary here in the country was so painstakingly low.

With this pandemic, we are now seeing how much our health-care system needs a defibrillator. Not only is the number of nurses inadequate, but also physicians. The need is extreme, especially in the provinces where we are now seeing an unmitigated explosion in Covid-19 Delta cases.

As far back as 2006, I already wrote about the

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Maintain secrecy regarding your intentions. Keep everyone guessing in order to avoid interference. Putter around the house and make your place convenient for what you want to pursue. Physical activity will ease stress and anxiety and give you greater insight into what’s possible. HH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be careful when handling friends, relatives and your lover.

Emotional matters will escalate if someone evades the truth or overreacts. Refuse to let a change that takes place prompt you to act irrationally. Bide your time. HHHH

d doom that was going to visit the country’s health-care system. The demand for nurses abroad, especially in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western countries had grown immensely. Not only were nurses leaving, but doctors who trained to be nurses were also departing, along with radiologists, medical technicians, even pharmacists.

Then president of the Philippine Medical Association Dr. Modesto Llamas told me, “[The future is] bleak if the trend continues. In the last five years, 3,000 to 4,000 doctors left as nurses.” Most of them were doctors who were poorly paid in provincial hospitals, he noted. (See “Fears rising over RP health crisis,” BusinessMirror, August 22, 2006.)

According to the Department of Labor and Employment web site, “[an] entry-level registered nurse receives a salary of P8,000 to P13,500 per month. Registered nurses hired at hospitals commonly receive an average of P9,757 per month.

In the government, the average salary per month is around P13,500, while in the private sector the rate average is around P10,000 per month.”

In comparison, the DOLE continues, “overseas, the pay scale is way above local rates with the US market offering an average salary of $3,800 per month, the UK with £1,662, and Canada with $4,097 for an entry level.” That is why it distresses me whenever I read how our nurses and other medical frontliners are being deprived of their hazard pay, overtime pay, food and transportation allowances, and other special allowances promised them as they go do battle for us

in this pandemic.

The poor pay among health-care workers, especially nurses, is repeatedly raised to the authorities, to no avail, it seems. In their most recent protest action, ironically on National Heroes Day just this past Monday, HCWs in many hospitals here and in the provinces again demanded for their pandemic benefits, especially in the wake of Commission on Audit’s report that Department of Health mismanaged some P67 billion in funds. Not only that, instead of paying out the special risk allowance our HCWs deserve, DOH returned some P59 billion to the National Treasury at the end of 2020.

Government has made so much fuss and declarations about our medical frontliners being our new heroes because of this pandemic. And yet this is how it treats them. We should not be surprised, of course. Just look at the way the state treats our original bagong bayani, the overseas contract workers.

They are confronted with queue upon queue at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration before they depart for jobs abroad, with the longest number of requirements that beat out those required by the local private sector, even more lines when they return home and faced with disrespect by airport personnel and other petty government functionaries asking for lagay here and there, “to smoothen the process,” so to speak.

Here in the Philippines, when they dub you as “hero,” better hide fast. You know you will be treated like sh*t. n

Filipino Sign Language program to offer online classes Online courses on Filipino Sign Language (FSL), slated from September to December 2021, is now offered for interested enrollees. Spearheaded by the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) of the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde, the Filipino Sign Language Learning Program (FSLLP) aims to provide family members of the deaf, professionals and educators from diverse fields and disciplines with competencies in sign language.

It likewise offers greater understanding and awareness of the Filipino Deaf community’s unique language, identity and culture. Participants may sign up for a basic or advanced

class, depending on their proficiency.

FSL 1, ideal for beginners with zero to minimal background in signing, familiarizes learners with the nuances of visual gestural communication. It covers fundamental phrases, as well as basic expressive and receptive skills that are useful for daily functional conversations on general topics.

FSL 2, which expands foundational knowledge, enables the students to comfortably and fluently express themselves in FSL through a series of interactive activities that will further hone their vocabulary, classifiers, syntax and grammar.

The lectures will be facilitated by experienced deaf

teachers and advocates, to include Bernadette Infanta, Maria Elena Lozada and Arlen Lastrella, who are natural users of the language.

Courses will take three hours per week, conducted over a span of 14 weeks. There will be real-time synchronous meetings via Zoom and one-week asynchronous sessions via Google Classroom for offline exercises. Students will have an opportunity to meet deaf buddies who can assist them practice their signs.

More information and class schedules can be found at bit. ly/OnlineFSLLP.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You can live by the rules and still give a unique twist to whatever you do. Use your ingenuity, savvy and experience to conquer whatever or whoever you encounter along the way. A financial gain is within reach. Send out your resume. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Look for creative ways to make your money grow. Adjust your spending habits, and rethink any joint expenses you share. Use your charm to get out of something you feel is holding you back. Embrace new opportunities with optimism. HHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take the initiative and do something physical and exhilarating.

The more active you are, the less time you will have to complain or get into an emotional disagreement.

Give others the same freedom that you want in return.

Keep the peace. HHHH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Refuse to let your emotions take over. An intelligent decision will stabilize your personal or professional position and lead to a chance to have some fun with someone who appreciates what you have to offer. Choose harmony over discord. HH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll overcome an unsavory situation if you remain disciplined. Don’t let temptation set in when dealing with someone asking for too much.

You can’t buy loyalty, but you can structure a plan that benefits you and those you want to impress. HH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Pick up the pace, and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the results. A lot depends on how you deal with others and handle your responsibilities. The right move will improve your chance to advance. Personal gain is heading your way. HHHHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Get approval before you make a change that will affect others or disrupt your home or workplace. Keeping others in the know will ensure that you aren’t blindsided by something you overlooked. Being receptive will help bring you closer to someone helpful. HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’re in the driver’s seat and can make a difference that will encourage personal financial gain, better opportunities and a chance to spend more time with someone you love. Shoot for the stars. You can make your dreams come true. HHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Limit what you spend, donate or promote. Set standards and stick to them even if someone tries to talk you into something enticing. Be true to yourself, the ones you love and to the beliefs you hold dear. HHH Birthday Baby: You are energetic, creative and social.

You are affectionate and possessive.

‘see what I mean?’ by john-clark levin The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 South American caffeinated brew 5 Wired up onstage 10 Covert “Over here!”

14 Dell competitor 15 What Marx and Engels told workers of the world to do 16 Mosquito bite aftermath 17 Affordable fish?

19 Reid of Sharknado 20 Dojo instructor 21 Gradually weakens 23 After expenses 24 PC’s bailout key 25 Thwarted, as an evil plan 27 Lead-in to “climate” 30 Fish topped with cheese?

33 Granite State sch.

34 Amble 35 Sandy hill 36 Sit there brooding 38 Herb used to flavor pizzelle 39 Victoria’s Secret merchandise 40 Bay or beech

1 Ralph who finished third in 2000 4 42 Onetime RCA competitor 43 Some fishing cords?

45 Shoelace tip 47 Ipecac, e.g.

48 Bay Area airport code 49 Much-used pencil 50 ___ platter (Polynesian appetizer) 53 Consume, like sashimi 57 Country once ruled by the Pahlavi dynasty 59 Tough, chewy fish?

61 The Golden State, to LL Cool J 62 Villain, to a hero 63 Where a fall came early?

64 Fitzgerald dubbed the First Lady of Song 65 Homs’ home country 66 “Did u solve 66-A?,” e.g.

DOWN 1 They don’t have Windows 2 Tylenol target 3 Typical TikTok user 4 It may be full of chalk

5 Pop or rock 6 Printer supply 7 Optima and Sorento 8 James who sang “At Last” 9 Appliance at a fair 10 Hollow out, as an olive 11 Oliver Hardy’s costar 12 Anonymous, say, for a troll 13 “OK, you’re in trouble now!”

18 Baja bar tender?

22 “Hamilton” Tony nominee Phillipa 26 Where to look up the cast of CSI 27 “Aren’t you lucky!”

28 Like dorm dodgeball leagues 29 Corny to the max 30 Catch and Kill author Farrow 31 Parenthetical comment 32 “Ja” and “oui” 34 Jobs that involve much filing?

37 Cornel who wrote Race Matters 44 Back talk 45 Many miles off 46 Prepared oneself 48 “So long!”

1 Small and insignificant 5 52 App that disrupted the taxi business 54 Traveled by horseback 55 Late host Trebek 56 Took off 58 Actress Vardalos 60 Stat based on weight and height

Solution to today’s puzzle:

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Show BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, September 3, 2021

B5

Teaching cinema and valuing Filipino narratives

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N interesting project under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts has recently been completed under its Sine Halaga Project. The products are short films made by selected filmmakers who received grants to do films that will contain one or a complex of values upheld and recognized by human groups or communities in the country.

The values did not come as some mystical concepts but were products of research systematically identifying—and updating—values that run dominant across social classes. The task of course was never easy. Studies of values are complex because one has to assume that a monolithic set of values is not anymore a realistic way to appraise what people consider important. And yet, a revisit of values yields often new ways of seeing the world around us, and how people see themselves in relation to that world or worlds.

The idea therefore for filmmakers to do films that are expected to showcase no less a human valuation was akin to asking artists to tread the dangerous and sensitive path between propaganda and the arts, between being a preacher and being a free spirit. It was (and I rarely use this word) a challenge for these filmmakers therefore to create narratives that will satisfy cinematic requirements and, at the same time, be excitingly and freshly instructive.

Being one of the jurors who had to go through the respective story treatment and screenplay, I was frankly excited not only how the artists/filmmakers could shake off the notion of conjuring messages and at the same time navigating the difficulties of creating cinemas in the pandemic. The latter was our worry.

Life is short and art is fleeting, alright, but we were not ready to lose life over the arts.

Well, the results are here and they are available

through Vimeo for everyone to see. The landscapes are varied, the approaches disparate. If I were to divide the films that made it to the list, I sense a very strong dichotomy between filmmakers who observe from outside and those who allow the audience to be swept by the stories within. The latter can be disarming.

Are there clear tendencies from these new voices?

I would not call them tendencies but rather welldeveloped positions against linear storytelling.

Quirkiness seems organic to all but the keen eye for the mythic or folkloric are exuberantly present. The marked differences between the filmmakers who employ the myths of the land in which they site their cinema and those who openly utilize the “native” beliefs as trope and technique to advance their stories are where the filmic excellence can be located, examined, even questioned.

We can begin with Zig Dulay, the lowland poet of the Aeta indigene. Dulay makes films that are as softspoken as his persona (if you know him) as they can be deceptively simple. In a cinematography that spends significant time away from the actors as if observing them as well as respecting them, the filmmaker reminds us how films are really images first, sound second, and the dialogues mediating spaces (contour, expansiveness, mystery) and time. When Dulay gives us close-up shots of Itan, the boy who wants to go to school, it is a camera that never judges. It is up to us to comment, to pause and to listen when the children shout over the mountains, past the valleys the loudest prayers and wishes because their god may not be able to hear at all their words. Zig Dulay is singular in this aspect.

Where silence and calmness are the virtue in Dulay’s Black Rainbow, Ralston Jover gives fear a grating and menacing sound, and suffuses a black color to a life that is bereft of stability. In Hadlok (Scared), a man who is left behind because his wife has to work abroad assumes the role of the mother to his two daughters. A neighbor threatens them every day to the point of blocking their entrance and exit to their own home. The youngest daughter believes in aswang (translated as “ghoul” in the film), turning a terrifying figure into a trope for freedom and spaces. The aswang is the ultimate threat, not the neighbor and not the society. Where problem of human habitations is not addressed by the local government and where the policemen resort to incarceration, Jover tells us the

supernatural means is the scary strategy and the aswang can be a solution.

Tender—and most human—is the aswang in the universe of Arden Rod Condez, where Dandansoy, a song of farewell and return, turns into a metaphor and a moment. Here is an old mother, frail and alone. She has no way to contact her daughter who works abroad and avoids not only coming home but recognizing her birthright. The mother then asks a young man to do an “ermail” (e-mail) for her. It is for her daughter to know that she is going home to Payaw to die. But the old woman needs a companion and the young man in the Internet café is that person.

If the filmmaker is only doing a send-up of this creature called aswang, then the film fails. But, no, the filmmaker has deconstructed and reconstructed this

No charges for Britney Spears in dispute with housekeeper THOUSAND OAKS, California—Britney Spears will face no charges after an allegation from her housekeeper that Spears slapped a phone out of her hand, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

A possible misdemeanor battery charge was declined based on insufficient evidence that a crime had occurred and lack of injury to the housekeeper or of significant damage to the phone, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in a statement.

The woman had called authorities after the August 16 dispute with Spears over veterinary care of Spears’ dog, Nasarenko said. Spears has a home in Thousand Oaks, California northwest of Los Angeles.

When it was revealed sheriff’s deputies were

investigating, Spears attorney Mathew Rosen called the incident “overblown” and “manufactured,” saying, “Anyone can make an accusation but this should have been closed immediately.”

The district attorney’s announcement came a day after Rosen and Spears filed new documents alleging that her father was keeping his role in the conservatorship that has controlled her life and money for 13 years because he was trying to earn some $2 million more in fees.

James Spears’ representatives did not respond to a request for comment, but have repeatedly said that his dealings in the conservatorship have always been upright and in the best interests of his daughter. AP

R. Kelly accuser says he kept gun nearby while berating her

By Tom Hays The Associated Press NEW YORK—One of R. Kelly’s accusers testified on Wednesday that he kept a gun by his side while he berated her as a prelude to forcing her to give him oral sex in a Los Angeles music studio.

“He had a weapon, so I wasn’t going to step out of line,” the witness said while recounting the 2018 episode at the R&B singer’s New York City sextrafficking trial.

Later in the day, the jury also heard brief testimony from a pastor who secretly wed Kelly and budding musical artist Aaliyah when she was 15 years old. He described publicly for the first time how they wore matching “jogging suits”—each with one pant leg pulled up—for a 10-minute ceremony at a Chicagoarea hotel. The previous witness said that at the time she spotted Kelly with a gun, he demanded to know, “How many men have you seen naked?” He also instructed her to act “excited like a puppy” whenever she saw him, adding, “I still have a lot to teach you.”

She testified the last time she saw Kelly at a New York City hotel suite, she resisted having sex with

him. She said he responded by warning her not to defy him, saying, “I’m a f—ing legend.”

Kelly’s alleged intimidation tactics were all part of an abusive sexual relationship that started when the woman was 19 and resulted in her getting herpes from him, she said.

After she filed police reports and sued him for failing to disclose an STD, he and his supporters threatened that they would release nude photos and other compromising material about her if she persisted with her allegations, she said.

The woman testified while only using her first name to protect her privacy.

The pastor, Nathan Edmond, testified he was recruited to marry Kelly and Aaliyah in 1994 as a favor for a friend after he was shown a marriage license claiming she was 18. He said he didn’t recognize the groom or the bride, who was wearing her hair down over her face.

“I didn’t know it was anyone special,” Edmond said.

Prosecutors say Kelly wanted to use the marriage, which was later annulled, to shield himself from criminal charges related to having sex with a minor and to prevent her from testifying against him.

Aaliyah, whose full name was Aaliyah Dana Haughton, worked with Kelly, who wrote and produced her 1994 debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number. She died in a plane crash in 2001 at age 22.

Kelly, 54, has repeatedly denied accusations that he preyed on victims during a 30-year career. His lawyers have portrayed his accusers as groupies who are lying about their relationships with him.

The trial has so far featured a steady stream of accusers claiming Kelly began sexually degrading them when they were still in their teens. They said he used his stardom to lure them into an insular world where he watched their every move and doled out perverse punishments, spanking them and isolating them in hotel rooms if they broke a vow to never speak about him to anyone else.

Kelly’s personal physician has also testified, saying he treated him for herpes for several years.

The trial is unfolding under coronavirus precautions restricting the press and the public to overflow courtrooms with video feeds. That’s made it difficult to discern the reactions of Kelly, who has been jailed since his federal indictment was announced in 2019.

hideous being into a mother whose wings become frail if one finds no meaning anymore in flying. What is the lesson here? We have never allowed the aswang on-screen to soar as a symbol and a sweet subversion.

We have latched on to the Western concepts of horror and terror, forgetting that our own notions of the terrifying borders on the insidiously caring. Diaspora, after all, and forgetting loved ones are really forms of witchcraft.

Sine Halaga is organized and facilitated through the Negros Foundation. Elvert C. Bañares, himself a recognized experimental filmmaker, is the national project director; Tanya B. Lopez is the project manager. Both serve as supervising producers for the project. The review of the other films in Sine Halaga will continue next week. n

Xian Lim signs with GMA

GMA ushers in a new pairing that will definitely charm viewers in the upcoming prime-time series Love. Die. Repeat. topbilled by Jennylyn Mercado and versatile actor Xian Lim. In a brand-new and out-of-the-box concept, Jennylyn is bound to showcase her acting chops as she takes on the role of Angela Zafra, a woman who is stuck reliving the day of her husband’s death over and over again.

Known for the many hats he wears—actor, model, host, and director—Xian will portray Bernard Yuzon, Angela’s husband, a civil engineer who works in a company that renovates old houses. He plans on starting his own business/ construction company for his family’s future.

The talented actor voices his gratitude to the network for entrusting him the series, “It feels wonderful to be a part of this series and I feel grateful sa GMA na nabigyan nila ako ng pagkakataon to be part of this project.”

Xian also expressed his enthusiasm to take on the role of Bernard, and to work with new faces from the network: “First page pa lang ng script, gustong-gusto ko na. I’m a huge fan of the genre ng time loop. Unang basa ko pa lang ng script, tuwang-tuwa at excited na ako sa tatahakin ng characters naming lahat. I’ve worked with a couple of people already in this series but the rest of the cast, ngayon ko pa lang makakatrabaho. In terms of accepting the project, the material is really fun and exciting for everyone to watch. At the same time, noong nakita ko ’yung mga makakasama kong artists, they look really fun to be with and magdya-jive kaming lahat to make this project great.”

Not surprisingly, the network touts this as an exciting project for both the GMA and the lead stars as they headline this ground-breaking project with their fresh pairing for the very first time on the small screen.

With this announcement, GMA once again offers a show like no other for teh TV public to enjoy.

More information can be found at www.gmanetwork.com.

ZIG DULAY’S Black Rainbow, one of the shorts under the NCCA’s Sine Halaga Project.

B6 Friday, September 3, 2021

Empowering local women micro-entrepreneurs

Value your family’s health and wellness with functional appliances from Xtreme 45L Electric Oven (XH-SMARTOVEN40L5)

IN this time where most of our time is being spent at home, try that famous baking recipe you have found on Tiktok and YouTube. Filipinos can now enjoy an upgraded baking experience with the 45L electric oven (P4,695 SRP). This features versatile heating options and four control knobs that will make anyone feel like a professional baker in no time.

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HE kitchen is the center of every Filipino family’s day-to-day living as it is the place for most of our appliances, may it be for cooking, food storage, and dining. Investing in your kitchen to keep it well-equipped, functional, and aesthetically pleasing means you value your family’s health and wellness and the overall warmth of the household.

The country’s leading one-stop appliance brand, Xtreme Appliances, has released kitchen appliances that fit right into this stay-at-home era. These products are designed to adapt to this new normal world and considerably upgrade our kitchen to be more functional and modern looking.

Double Burner Glass Gas Stove (XGS-2BGLASS)

MANY have transitioned into newer ways of technology in cooking, but if you’re someone who’s still into the oldfashioned set up at the kitchen, look no further because the new Xtreme Home Double Burner Glass Gas Stove (P2,499 SRP) is here to save the day. It has 6mm tempered glass that truly elevates its aesthetic from traditional gas stoves in

the market. Adding to its modern-looking exterior are the cast iron pan support and the stainless steel burner cover.

This gas stove can save you up to 30% of gas consumption and it has automatic ignition for hassle-free cooking.

Deep Fryer (XH-DFDL35)

INSTANT food leads to instant satisfaction, and that usually translates into a good mood for the rest of the day.

Xtreme Appliances knows that most Filipinos have always been fried food lovers thus this latest addition This 3.5L deep fryer (P1,895 SRP) has a large oil capacity and an anti-slip base which makes it safer and hassle-free to use.

Not to mention, it has a stainless steel housing and enamel coating oil tank which is easy to clean and maintain.

Meanwhile, the 6.5L Xtreme Home Air Fryer (P3,895 SRP) surely packs a punch with its roast, bake, broil and dehydrate features. If you’ve been looking for the best way to eat your favorite food in a healthier and hasslefree way, then this one takes the cake.

With its bigger cooking capacity, you don’t have to worry when cooking for the whole family.

ONE of our biggest dilemmas is the safe storage of food since we want to limit our grocery trips. Luckily, the brand new 7.0 cu. ft. Xtreme Cool Double Door Inverter Refrigerator (P17,995) can keep your food cool and fresh in style. The best thing is it consumes less energy with its inverter compressor, saving you 60% of your electric consumption.

50cm Home Gas Range (XGR-503G1E)

LEAVE all those kitchen-solving problems in the dust while saving gas in the process with the help of our new 50cm Xtreme Home Gas Range (12,995 SRP). It has 3 burners and one hot plate for you to choose from depending on your needs.

The matte enamel pan supports and the stainless steel exterior make the unit easier to clean. Moreover, aside from the top & bottom oven feature, you can also roast chicken with its rotisserie.

Follow Xtreme Appliances on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok accounts and join their official online community on Facebook, Xtreme Fam or visit Xtreme on Website, Lazada, and Shopee e-commerce.

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Psychology meets theater and business

TRAINSTATION prides itself on having a prestigious network of professional ENTER-TRAIN-ERS who engage and fascinate their audience with the use of NLP, applied Neuroscience and positive psychology.

It is founded by Awit awardee singer, improv actor and comedienne Carelle Mangaliag Herrera and FAMAS best child actor RR Herrera who met in theater and have since then transitioned into leading their own businesses, becoming seasoned trainers for motivation, leadership, team building, sales and customer service since 2001.

Taking after their mentor, John Grinder—the founder of NLP himself and the same teacher of world-renowned motivational guru Tony Robbins—they modeled excellence into their training designs, incorporating games, simulations, thematics, staging and even improv in their programs to make sure that there are impactful interactions, laughter, and movement among the audience as they teach, train, and transform.

With its consistent track record

TRAINSTATION’S leaders from left to right, Kevin Concepcion, Jacqueline Tan-Sainz, RR Herrera, Carlo Sainz, Carelle Mangaliag Herrera. of excellence and unique brand of enterTRAINment, TrainStation has won the favor of many big brands in the Philippines like Shell, Unilever, Jollibee, Nestlé, Toyota, and BPI.

An intention to help the nation

ACCREDITED as a Learning Institution by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and DepEd’s Natural Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), TrainStation is committed to move, inspire, and equip Filipinos so they, in turn, can do amazing things for our country.

Last year, to help teachers teach students better, they partnered with AHA Learning Center!, a project of Commodore Jose Francisco Foundation that serves public schools and communities with its free afterschool programs.

With this program, they were able to cover 70,000 public school teachers, training about a thousand per half day. “Hirap sila. Wala kang technology, wala kang Internet tapos mag- o-online learning ka. Pero gusto naming malaman nila na kung klaro ang intension mo magturo, kahit putulan ka ng paa, gagapang ka.” Carelle says.

Before the pandemic, TrainStation also implemented community-change projects like Usap Tayo, a program for the National Youth Commission Philippines that addresses issues surrounding the Filipino youth such as teenage pregnancy, mental health and drug abuse, and Bida ng Buhay, a program for the rehabilitation of drug users.

Banzon, Chief Operating Officer, CNPF. The Aling Tindera Waste-to-Cash program was created in response to the growing challenge of plastic waste ending up in nature. Its goal is to serve as an aggregation hub where any community member may sell post-consumer plastic by kilogram.

The 'Aling Tinderas' are women sarisari store owners invited by the city governments to join the initiative. Through the program, each woman is provided with a purposefully designed 10-foot or 20-foot container, one manual baler to help manage the collected waste, one weighing scale, and starting capital.

There are currently eight Aling Tindera locations in the City of Manila. PCX aims to increase this number to 100 while also expanding to other areas across the country.

7.0 cu.ft. Cool Double Door Inverter Refrigerator (XCOOL-DD256F07I)

TrainStation turns 10, continues to transform lives with innovative, personalized life-changing programs ROM teachers to top executives to trauma victims, the neurosciencebacked coaching company continues to move thousands of people to be #AmazingByChoice through its unique brand of EnterTRAINment and personalized life-changing programs Established in 2011, TrainStation is only training agency in the Philippines accredited by the International Trainers Academy of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (ITANLP), TrainStation Philippines uses NLP and Neuroscience to help individuals, organizations, and companies alike to build better beliefs and behaviors by engaging the brain to be equipped, enabled and empowered to perform its best.

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AIRY brand Birch Tree, manufactured

by Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CNPF), one of the Philippines' leading food and beverage companies, has been helping uplift and empower local women microentrepreneurs to earn extra income during the pandemic through the Aling Tindera Waste-to-Cash program. The initiative is done in partnership with Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX).

"When we initially partnered with PCX in 2019, our only goal then was to offset our entire plastic footprint for the year.

We committed to offsetting 300,000kg of plastic waste. But as we continued to hear positive stories from those who have participated in the program, we can't help but be glad of this program's immediate positive financial impact," said Greg

Leading the revolution of mental health in the workplace ASIDE from hosting free Workplace Wellness Webinar Series and launching a BrainStrong Podcast on Spotify, TrainStation also developed a new product called Train On Demand Online, an online learning management system where people can enroll in various courses such as “Embrace Change”, “Work From Home Hacks” and “Virtual Effectiveness: Engaging Online Interactions” to help them respond better to the challenges brought about by the pandemic and to be more efficient when working from home in this new normal.

Global expansion

WHILE they’ve already set up shop in Hong Kong and Singapore (and soon, North America!), their biggest dream is still to launch Filipino talent all over the world.

With more than a hundred programs ranging from Self Improvement, Communication, Professional Development, and Management & Leadership, TrainStation is dedicated to providing the learning tracks for every Filipino’s destination of choice.

Aside from working with partner companies through training programs and team buildings, they also provide life coaching for people who are suffering from stress, phobia, trauma, physical or substance abuse/ addiction, depression, and suicide.

Visit www.trainstation.com.ph to book a program or learn more.

PNP CHIEF VISITS SARANGANI. Philippine National Police Chief general recently visited PNP stations in Sarangani as part of his Intensified Cleanliness Policy (ICP) to immediately address minor problems in the police service. ICP is a three-pronged program that includes tidiness in all police offices, integrity within the ranks, and the cleanliness in the community as part of the anti-criminality campaign. Eleazar conducted command visits to provincial headquarters and stations in Region 12, including the Sarangani provincial and the Alabel municipal offices to inspect and ensure cleanliness in all police facilities across the country. During his visit, the police chief expressed satisfaction for the key role played by law enforcers in the province’s fight against Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the support of the various local government units to the PNP. In photo is Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon giving Gen. Eleazar an oil painting on an indigenous Tnalak fabric painted by Tboli artist Ronald Tamfalan as a token of appreciation.

Native family restaurant opens amid pandemic

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OR a local food icon, it is time to open the first Filipino Family Restaurant in Northwestern Cebu. In celebration of her 75th birthday, Erlinda “Nang Linda” Villanueva-Sangre chose to take a bolder move by opening a full-restaurant under her name, with the help of her children.

Last July 28, NANG LINDA’S opened to the public to cater the growing demand for wellloved comfort food homemade dishes such as: Hamonada, Humba, Balamban Liempo, Manok Bisaya Inasal, Sisig and a lot more.

Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay, together with Balamban Vice Mayor Alfie Binghay and property owner Concepcion Yu were the guests of honor of the “Liempo and Inasal Chopping” opening ceremony.

“I am personally attending this because Kumare [Nang] Linda is close to my heart.

I can still recall the first carinderia in front of the old Municipal Hall because it was my first term as a Mayor of this town,” recalls Mayor Binghay.

Formerly known as “Balamban Chikaan” when it opened in 1988, now re-branded NANG LINDA’S is now a full-blown restaurant brand that offers al-fresco dining experience to its diners. The restaurant also offers Take Out and Online Delivery via www.NangLindas. com and www.fb.com/NangLindas Nang Linda is a Balamban, Cebu native.

At 12, she became the family breadwinner and worked as house help to a relative where she first learned how to cook dishes for the whole family.

At 18, she married Jacinto Sangre. With a fast growing family of 7 children, Jacinto’s poultry work can no longer suffice the growing needs of the family. Looking for alternatives, Nang Linda started a carenderia beside the old Municipal Hall of Balamban.

From every food she tasted and loved, Nang Linda slowly built her own repertoire of

NANG LINDA'S Balamban opening team

local Filipino dishes, mastered and perfected in Nang Linda’s.

Since then, Nang Linda has been the go-to lady for quality home cooked meals. Her “suki” will always order her Hamonada Espesyal, Balamban Liempo, Manok Bisaya Inasal, Sisig, Pinakupsan and a lot more.

Her carinderia became a must-dine food stall every Balambanon’s came to know about.

From carinderia to restaurant

TODAY, standing proudly along the busy thoroughfare of the National Highway, Pondol, Balamban, Cebu, is a native bungalow alfresco restaurant of Nang Linda’s.

“We decided to open a native al-fresco restaurant in tribute to my mother's passion for good food. It is her legacy to us and the people of Balamban. Nang Linda’s has already touched so many and different types of people from Balamban. The legacy and passion needs to continue,” says Nang Linda’s Chief Executive Officer Iren Sangre-Licera.

With Nang Linda’s youngest son Chef Jojo Sangre manning the kitchen, Nang Linda’s completes its full-circle of providing local diners sumptuous dining experience that is affordable on the family’s pocket.

Nang Linda’s Expansion

CEO Iren Sagre-Licera confirms more openings and expansion plans are in order.

“We believe in the brand NANG LINDA’s stand for. More than food, it emphasizes close knit family values,” she says.

CEO Licera adds, “Entrepreneurs and investors are contacting us for possible franchising and co-ownership opportunities.

And we are already opening our doors to that.”

Interested in any Franchising or CoOwnership Program, you may contact www.

NangLindas.com/own-one.

Editor: Jun Lomibao | mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Sports BusinessMirror

CASIMERO PREFERS INOUE OVER DONAIRE R

SENATOR Manny Pacquiao tells his warring corner to stop blaming each other. AP

PACQUIAO: I ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY A

By Josef Ramos

GENTLEMAN and a true warrior on and off the ring, Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday accepted full responsibility for his defeat to World Boxing Association welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás in Las Vegas two weeks ago.

And to stress his point, Pacquiao told strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune and fight consultant Freddie Roach to stop blaming each other for his loss.

“Stop the senseless arguing, stop blaming each other, sometimes

things like this happen,” Pacquiao said in a message he sent to both Fortune and Roach. “We have to learn how to accept defeat.”

“It’s everyone’s mistake on what has transpired,” added the eight-division world champion Pacquiao who spent his fourth day of quarantine with his family at the Conrad Hotel as he dug deep into his task as a senator.

BusinessMirror reported on Thursday that Roach blamed Fortune for Pacquiao developing cramps on both legs thus limiting his lateral movement and slowing down his reflexes and punches.

Fortune also cited Pacquiao did so much running before the

weigh-in instead of focusing on strategies for the fight.

Pacquiao admitted he shouldn’t have sprinted twice around the University of Nevada, Las Vegas twice before fight night.

“I was really wrong with that, I miscalculated myself,” he said.

Roach didn’t return calls or messages, while Pacquiao’s head coach and trainer Buboy Fernandez refused to make any comment.

Pacquiao, however, assured no one in his camp “will be left behind” in the event that he retires from boxing, go for a rematch with Ugás or a farewell fight or run for the presidency in the May elections.

He said he will announce his

decision in October.

“I will give them pieces of advice and unite my team. It’s not good that we just get disbanded,” Pacquiao said. “But if I decide to run [for president], that’s another decision in my life.”

Pacquiao reiterated that he is physically and mentally fit to give the fans a competitive fight despite his age, 42, and his more than 20 years in professional boxing.

“I can still fight based on my body and my health, but I have been boxing for a very, very long time. I will consider my family’s decision,” he said. “I’ll evaluate everything if I’ll go for a fitting farewell fight early next year.”

Kevin pulls aces from sleeves in NLEX’s win against Alaska

K Bejino dissatisfied with performance in 400m freestyle

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ARY BEJINO was unhappy with his form after bowing out of the men’s 400-meter freestyle-S6 heats of swimming despite getting used to the spotlight of the Tokyo Paralympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre on Thursday.

Coming off a two-day break, Bejino checked in at five minutes and 52.28 seconds in finishing 13th and last overall in the two heats, which left him dissatisfied, according to swimming coach Tony Ong. Bejino finished 46 seconds behind Rio Paralympic bronze medalist Talisson Glock, who led the top eight qualifiers in a time of 5:06.28 in the finals later in the afternoon.

“Gary did not make it to the finals, although he improved on his personal best of 6:10 in Berlin,” said Ong, referring to the athlete’s clocking in the Internationale Deutsche Meisterschaften Berlin 2021 World Para Swimming Series in Germany last June.

“He [Bejino] was not happy with his performance and will go hard and try to improve in the 100-meter backstroke tomorrow,” Ong said of the swimmer’s fourth and final event where he bagged bronze medals in the 2017 Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur and 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta.

Bejino will plunge into action in the second heat in lane No. 2 at 9:23 a.m. (8:23 a.m. in Manila) on Friday, with the top eight swimmers entering the finals in the afternoon.

Also competing the same day is wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, who competes in the men’s 100-meter-T52 race finals at 11:07 am. (10:07 a.m.), rounding out the Philippine Paralympic campaign in Tokyo fully supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

EVIN ALAS took charge in the absence of Kiefer Ravena and led NLEX to an 84-74 victory over Alaska in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Thursday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Alas poured in 11 of his 17 points in the second half and with seven rebounds and three assists, he ably filled in for Ravena who’s in Japan attending to his upcoming stint with the Shiga Lakestars in the J.League.

“It’s very difficult to play, just trying to get your timing back, just trying to feel a new environment,” NLEX Coach Yeng Guiao said. “There are a lot of adjustments and the biggest adjustment for us is playing without Kiefer [Ravena].”

Jay-R Quiñahan led the Road Warriors with 18 points and Kenneth Ighalo had 10 of his 15 points in the last quarter for the Road Warriors, who clinched their third victory against two losses.

Trailing 40-50 in the middle of third quarter, the flamboyant Alas sparked an 11-0 run to push the Road Warriors to a 53-52 lead with 2:49 to go.

Former Adamson University star Jericho Cruz, Ighalo and Alas stepped on the gas further to give NLEX an 80-71 cushion with 3:28 remaining. The Aces never threatened the rest of the way.

Cruz scored 15 points while rookie Oftana had eight points.

Maverick Ahanmisi finished with 17 points and Mike DiGregorio had 16 points for the Aces, who fell to 2-4 won-lost.

The Road Warriors played without Tony Semerad (personal reason) and Raul Soyud (injured ankle). Josef Ramos

Friday, September 3, 2021 B7

SLOANE STEPHENS (right) hugs Coco Gauff after their match. AP

EIGNING World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight king Johnriel Casimero returns to the ring on December 11 in the US to face either World Boxing Council bantamweight titlist Nonito Donaire Jr. or unified champion Naoya Inoue of Japan.

MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons confirmed to BusinessMirror on Thursday that the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) will soon announce the details of a potetial CasimeroDonaire fight because both fighters are under the same promotion owned by Al Haymon.

“I can’t talk about it for now, but it’s up to the PBC to announce it. So far what you read is true,” Gibbons said, referring to a report that both Filipino world champions will clash.

Stephens overpowers Gauff at US Open

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EW YORK—Three years ago, a reporter asked Sloane Stephens to point out a younger tennis player most fans might not have heard of yet, someone she thought could become a household name some day.

Stephens paused to ponder, but not for long, before responding: Coco Gauff, then 14.

Stephens had first met Gauff several years earlier—they last hit together on a court in Florida when Gauff was 12—and clearly knew what she was talking about. The world would quickly discover Gauff, too.

The pair of friends met in an official match for the first time Wednesday night at the US Open, and it was Stephens, the 2017 champion now ranked 66th, who pulled away for a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Gauff, now 17 and seeded 21st.

Afterward, the pair met at the net for a warm hug, before

Effort underway to rescue girls soccer team from Afghanistan

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HEY move from place to place at a moment’s notice in a desperate bid to evade the Taliban—girls whose lives are in danger simply because they chose to play a sport they loved.

An international effort to evacuate members of the Afghanistan national girls soccer team, along with dozens of family members and soccer federation staff, suffered a crushing setback last week after a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport killed 169 Afghans and 13 US service members during a harrowing airlift.

Now, frightened and desperate, the girls worry whether a far-flung coalition of former US military and intelligence officials, congressmen, US allies, humanitarian groups and the captain of the Afghanistan women’s national team can get them and their loved ones to safety.

“They’re just unbelievable young ladies who should be playing in the backyard, playing on the swing set, playing with their friends, and here they’re in a very bad situation for doing nothing more than playing soccer,” said Robert McCreary, a former congressional chief of staff and White House official under President George W. Bush who has worked with special forces in Afghanistan. “We need to do everything that we can to protect them, to get them to a safe situation.”

The airport suicide bombing was carried out by Islamic State militants who are sworn rivals of the Taliban. The US military has acknowledged that during the airlift, it was coordinating to some extent with the Taliban who set up checkpoints around the airport for crowd control and in the final days facilitated the evacuation of American citizens.

The Taliban have tried to present a new image, promising amnesty to former opponents and saying they would form an inclusive government. Many Afghans don’t trust those promises, fearing the Taliban will quickly resort to the brutal tactics of their 1996-2001 rule, including barring girls and women from schools and jobs.

The Taliban have been vague on their policy toward women so far, but have not yet issued sweeping repressive edicts.

Most members of the Afghan women’s team, formed in 2007, were evacuated to Australia last week.

But the girls, ages 14-16, and their families also could be targeted by the Taliban—not just because women and girls are forbidden to play sports, but because they were advocates for girls and active members of their communities, said Farkhunda Muhtaj, who is captain of the Afghanistan women’s national team and lives in Canada.

“They are devastated. They’re hopeless, considering the situation they’re in,” said Muhtaj, who keeps in contact with the girls and urges them to stay calm.

There have been at least five failed attempts to rescue the girls in recent days, as they were moved around for their safety, McCreary and Muhtaj said. They were “footsteps from freedom” when the suicide bombing occurred, Muhtaj said.

Complicating the rescue effort is the size of the group—133 people, including the 26 youth team members as well as adults and other children, including infants.

Many don’t have passports or other

“I am just waiting now, but I told Casimero to return to the US by September to resume his training.”

Casimero (31-4 win-loss record with 21 knockouts) is coming off a split decision victory last August 14 against Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux in Carson, California.

But the 32-year-old Casimero, who is currently in quarantine in Cebu City, told BusinessMirror that he prefers undefeated World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation Inoue (21-0 record with 18 knockouts) over Donaire (41-6 record with 27 knockouts).

“I am not interested in fighting [Nonito] Donaire. I am more interested against Inoue,” Casimero said.

Inoue fights under Bob Arum’s Top Rank promotions. Josef Ramos

necessary documentation to board flights from Kabul.

McCreary said the mission— called Operation Soccer Balls—is working with other countries, with the hope the girls will eventually settle in the US He said Australia, France and Qatar have expressed interest in helping. He also urged the Taliban to ease the exit for the group, saying it would create goodwill.

“If we can put a protective bubble around these women and young girls...I really believe the world will stand up and and take notice and have a lot of offers to take them in and host them,” McCreary said. AP

MEMBERS of the Afghanistan national girls youth soccer team and their families are seen in Kabul over the weekend. AP

Stephens praised the player—and person—Gauff has become.

“I love Coco. I think everyone knows I love Coco. At the end of the match, I said, ‘I love you.’ She’s such a great player and I feel so lucky to have seen her grow up and play since she was 8,” Stephens told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

“I know,” Stephens added, “there’s going to be great things ahead for her.”

With the Ashe roof shut during a heavy downpour brought by remnants of Hurrican Ida—a tornado warning was in effect in the region and there was flooding around the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center—the thumpthump-thump of the rain created a bass beat that drowned out the usual sounds of a tennis match. It was so loud Stephens could barely hear the questions during her on-court interview.

Only one other court at Flushing Meadows can be covered during bad weather, but even that was an issue Wednesday evening, because wind helped push rain through the space between the concourse and the retractable cover at Louis Armstrong Stadium—a gap there on purpose to provide natural ventilation. So the match between two-time major finalist Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartzman was delayed for nearly a half-hour at 5-all in the first set while workers used air blowers to dry the playing surface, then stopped again early in the second set when the court got so wet that efforts to clear the puddles were abandoned.

Eventually, the tournament gave up on getting that match done in Armstrong and decided to move it to Ashe, where Schwartzman wrapped up a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-4 win just past 1 a.m., following the conclusion of French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas’s 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-0 victory over Adrian Mannarino.

Those moving on in the men’s draw in the afternoon included No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, No. 5 Andrey Rublev and 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who takes on Tsitsipas next.

The match to determine the next foe for Stephens—three-time Slam champ Angelique Kerber vs.

Anhelina Kalinina—was supposed to be played in Armstrong following Anderson-Schwartzman but was postponed until Thursday.

The conditions didn’t matter at all to defending champion Naomi Osaka, who advanced in the morning when her second-round opponent, Olga Danilovic, pulled out of the tournament because of what she said was a viral illness— but not Covid-19.

Other past major title winners Simona Halep, Garbiñe Muguruza and Victoria Azarenka moved on more conventionally with straightset wins. Muguruza next faces Azarenka, who in addition to a pair of Australian Open trophies is a three-time runner-up at the US Open, including when she lost to Osaka in the final a year ago.

Osaka hasn’t been beaten in a Grand Slam match since losing to Gauff at the 2020 Australian Open. AP

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

B8 Friday, September 3, 2021

Shell mobility stations

level up customer experience in one-stop community hubs

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ITH a target of opening 60 to 80 sites a year to serve more Filipinos, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.

(Shell) aims to create better customer experiences for everyone on the move with an expanded range of products, community spaces, and environmentally sustainable innovations alongside full vehicle servicing in mobility stations.

Shell’s shift from fuels retail to mobility stations nationwide will create the “customer experience of the future” which Shell VP and General Manager for Mobility Randy Del Valle describes as part of Shell’s commitment to cater to the Filipino’s changing needs on the road—from those on foot to those with wheels.

“Mobility is for everyone. Shell is here to keep you safe on the road and make any journey meaningful. The way to keep the Philippines moving forward is to translate trends and customer needs into services that are fit for your specific needs, accessible, and readily available all in one destination while being the country’s sustainability partner,” Del Valle said.

Customer experience beyond fuel The Shell Acienda Silang site represents

the best of what Shell mobility stations have to offer. Dubbed as the first “Site of the Future” in the Philippines, it integrates an inviting and open modern design to upgrade customer experience by making customers feel welcome, hand-in-hand with features like an inviting shop front and an alfresco dining area where customers can enjoy the fresh air of Silang. The parking area is even built around the station to send a clear message to customers that Shell does not just want you to stop, because Shell also invites you to stay.

Fit for customer’s needs To complement customer experience, Shell mobility now offers more non-fuel retail (NFR) products with a wider range of essentials and refreshments from Shell Select and Deli2Go. Shell has partnered with popular

Specially-designed outdoor dining areas will cater to cyclists and customers who stop-and-go at the Acienda Silang mobility station

Shell Mobility stations are more sustainable and aim to become more energy-efficient with cleaner sources of energy like solar. local brands to satisfy customers’ food cravings at mobility stations. Staples like Chatime, Turk’s, Potato Corner, and other unique finds are available in different locales. This is powered by programs like the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) One Town, One Product (OTOP) and Go Lokal!, which all help mobilize the products of community entrepreneurs.

Customers can also do more at our stores with digital services like TouchPay that allows you to pay bills, top up your RFID, GCash, and PayMaya wallets with a tap of a finger.

The newly launched Shell Go+ app makes going to Shell more rewarding.

Customers can earn points with any purchases at Shell, get discounts and perks from partner brands and stores, and active members can avail of free roadside assistance.

Sustainable sites of the future Mobility stations are also designed to give customers the experience of sustainable living through a range of sustainable innovations and sustain-

able choices. This is done through technology to reduce waste and carbon emissions in operations.

Solar panels are integrated in the roofing of canopies and stores, which can power up to 30 percent of the station’s operations. Aside from solar panels, all new stations are standardized to be equipped with rain catchers to recycle rainwater for non-potable use.

Shell Mango in Cebu has optimized this feature for its self-irrigating plant wall.

Another station in Bulacan, Shell Marilao, pioneered the use of Shell Bitumen FreshAir during the layout of its pavements. During the time of the site’s building, Shell Bitumen FreshAir reduced the emissions of nitrogen oxide (NO2) and other chemicals normally released in road construction. Shell Bitumen FreshAir’s environmental impact during that process is equal to planting 16 trees and removing NO2 emissions of 40 cars per kilometer laid compared to conventional asphalt mixtures.

Safety in our stations

Toyota in Afghanistan

Safety remains a priority while considering comfort and convenience.

Roadworthiness, to avoid road incidents, is assured with basic vehicle checks done by forecourt service champions and high-performance fuels and lubricants available at all Shell stations.

Shell also takes pride in its thorough Signature Shell Helix Oilchange+ Vehicle Checks which goes beyond oil changes and includes maintenance checks, tune-ups, transmission works, and mechanical repairs. These are done by highly-trained staff including specialized mechanics from the Don Bosco Technological Institute, whom the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) regards as experts in this field. Shell uses modern tools for its Signature 14-point check to avoid human error while making accurate yet efficient vehicle health assessments in less than 10 minutes with On-Board Diagnostic 2 (OBD 2) tools.

Shell Helix Oilchange+ services are accessible in over 400 locations nationwide with the newly-opened Shell C5

the world—Syria, Iraq, Chad, Mali—the Toyota was indispensable to the Taliban’s ambition to control a population scattered over difficult terrain.

Toyota and the Taliban

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HE Toyota Hilux has been the favorite ride for nearly a quarter of a century by the Taliban, a divergent-laden Islam group that recently recaptured Afghan control after a 20-year siege.

The following article from “Quartz Daily Brief,” zeroing in on the ToyotaTaliban affair, was e-mailed to me last weekend by my buddy Danny “Sir John” Isla from his base in Auckland, New Zealand. It is an interesting reading, if only because Toyota, arguably the world’s No. 1 carmaker, became part of a winning cause that toppled America’s world-famed might out of Afghanistan. Here: “When the Taliban rode into Kabul and captured the presidential palace on Aug. 15, it marked the return to power of one of Toyota’s most loyal—and most regrettable—customers.

“For more than a quarter-century, Toyota’s sturdiest pickups and SUVs have been the Taliban’s vehicles of choice.

They’re rugged enough for Afghanistan’s terrain, and they have air-conditioning to beat the summer heat. Asim Elhag, an independent Sudanese researcher who studies conflict in Africa, has seen Toyota Land Cruisers retrofitted with anti-aircraft guns. As in troubled regions all over

“The Tailban’s association with the Toyota became iconic.

“The first time the Taliban’s fighters stormed the presidential palace, back in 1996, journalists from India Today described how ‘tanks and ammunitionladen Toyota Hilux trucks raced into Afghanistan’s capital.’ The vehicles were ‘ideal platforms for intimidation and enforcement,’ the New York Times wrote in 2001. ”From their Land Cruisers and Hiluxes, the Taliban were ready to leap down and beat women for showing a glimpse of ankle or to lock a man in a shipping container for three weeks until his beard grew to the approved length. Or, most dismal, to drag an accused adulterer or blasphemer to the soccer stadium for execution.”

“It wasn’t exactly the kind of association that made Toyota proud. It makes the company seem prescient today for an odd rule it instituted in late July, in an attempt to prevent its vehicles from being used by sanctioned groups like the Taliban.

Toyota banned the resale of new Land Cruisers “The 2022 model of the Toyota Land Cruiser, the company’s longest-running model, went on sale in Japan on Aug. 2, priced at around $46,500. Anyone buying it, though, has to sign a contract promising not to resell the vehicle within a year, Japanese media outlets reported a few weeks ago. Even dealers might have to pay damages if their customers resell Land Cruisers, the Japanese publication Creative311 found.

Southlink as the landmark 400th site, making vehicle servicing easily available to Filipinos in the metro.

Shell as more than a fuel station but a destination “At Shell, everyone is treated like a guest. It will be the ‘third place’ to be when you leave home, school, or work to create a community,” Del Valle said.

The rise of mobility features and mobility stations as one-stop community destinations are just the beginning of Shell’s forward-looking transformation towards improving customer experiences and optimizing operations for sustainability and use of cleaner energy.

In the coming months, the public can expect more innovations and discussions on how to Keep the Philippines Moving Forward, participating in Shell’s Future Festival, a series of public virtual conferences led by industry leaders and the nation’s stakeholders who will tackle best practices in mobility; energy; STEM, Arts, and Youth; and communities and livelihood.

“In a statement, Toyota confirmed the purpose of this clause. The Land Cruiser, Toyota said, ‘is particularly popular overseas, and we are concerned about the flow of vehicles from Japan to overseas immediately after their release, as well as the possibility of them being exported to certain regions where security regulations are in place.’”

“It isn’t just pure altruism driving Toyota’s contractual demands. Selling Toyotas to proscribed groups like rogue governments or terrorist outfits can invite legal penalties. ‘There is a risk of violating foreign exchange law, and depending on the export destination, it may lead to major problems that threaten global security,’” Toyota said in its statement.

“Tracking the ways by which these groups acquire Toyotas in the first place isn’t easy. In 2015, for instance, the US state department had to seek Toyota’s help to determine how ISIS was buying new trucks and pickups. Toyota said, at the time, that although its policies prohibited sales to ‘potential purchasers who may use or modify them for paramilitary or terrorist activities,’ vehicles that were stolen or resold were difficult to trace.

“The new Land Cruiser contractual clause might have only the most limited effect on these misappropriations of Toyota’s cars. It is a neatly timed precaution, though.

“By assuming government, the Taliban will have Afghanistan’s treasury at its disposal once again—a handy fund with which to buy itself some new wheels.”

Any guess which brand?

PEE STOP From writer-author Sol F. Juvida, birthday greetings (August 21) to Jay Valencia-Glorioso, the beauteous actresswife of Terra-driving Senen Glorioso. The power couple is in the US baby-sitting their New York-born grandkids. Cheers!