BusinessMirror September 26, 2020

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WHAT COVID TOOK AWAY www.businessmirror.com.ph

A broader look at today’s business

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Saturday, September 26, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 352

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

DATA CHAMPION

P25.00 nationwide | 12 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

THE Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex) 2020 opened on Panglao Island on September 23, with Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap (third from left) leading the welcome ceremony. From left: DOT Assistant Secretary Verna Buensuceso, TPB COO Ma. Anthonette Velasco-Allones, and DOT Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon Jr. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror

ILIPINOS took a mind-boggling 109.7 million domestic trips in 2019, up 11.26 percent from 2018, or an average 25-percent increase from 2010, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

This was revealed by lawyer Guiller R. Asido, administrator of the Intramuros Administration, and chairman of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Task Force on Product and Market Development, during his presentation on reopening the Philippines, before buyers and sellers at the ongoing Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex) in Panglao, Bohol. These domestic trips, he added, resulted in some “P3.1 trillion in tourism receipts,” up 10.4 percent from 2018—a major reason the DOT is focusing on domestic tourism to help jumpstart the economy.

“We are not saying we should not focus anymore on international tourism. But the current situation demands that we go back to the basic, we go back to the strength of the tourism industry

in the country,” he stressed.

In drawing up a domestic tourism strategy, the DOT is using a “bottom-up” and “participatory approach” in identifying tourism products, action plans, and protocols with local government units and private stakeholders.

Because of the extended lockdowns due to Covid-19, domestic tourists are more keen on “visiting public spaces,” once they start traveling. As such, Asido said, of the 10 tourism products identified under the National Tourism Development Plan 2016-2022, the agency will be focusing on “developing product standards for nature-based tourism; health and wellness, and retirement; diving and marine sports tourism; farm tourism; education, sun and beach

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 48.5450

BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS meetings were held virtually between international buyers and local sellers at Phitex. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

tourism; and culture tourism.”

Based on recommendations by its regional directors, the DOT is looking at developing regional tourism circuits, with identified product hubs or strengths of each province that can be promoted to domestic tourists. For instance, in the Visayas tourism circuit, which groups Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, among the suggested

tourism products are Boracay in Aklan (sun and beach); Santa Monica Church in Capiz (culture); Miag-Ao Church in Iloilo (faith and culture); Negros Island (culture); Cebu and Bohol (festivals, sun and beach, diving); and Samar (culinary adventure).

The other regional tourism circuits include Metro Manila; North Luzon (Ilocos, Cagayan Valley,

Central Luzon and CAR); Central Luzon; Southern Luzon (Calabarzon, Bicol, Mimaropa); and Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga).

Asido stressed, though, that these tourism circuits and products are not yet final, and will still be “vetted” with the private Continued on A2

Filipinos took 110 million domestic trips in 2019, the central statistics agency reported, as the tourism sector brought together buyers and sellers at the ongoing Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex).

Reopening the pandemic-ravaged sector, one of the country’s brightest spots pre-Covid, banks on the domestic market.

n JAPAN 0.4606 n UK 61.9337 n HK 6.2640 n CHINA 7.1102 n SINGAPORE 35.2849 n AUSTRALIA 34.1902 n EU 56.6569 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.9439

Source: BSP (September 25, 2020)

NewsSaturday A2 Saturday, September 26, 2020

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Lockdown Lite is the new strategy for fighting Covid-19

By Naomi Kresge, Jason Gale & Rachel Chang

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Bloomberg News

RESH off a summer of relative freedom after harsh lockdowns at the beginning of the pandemic, Europe is trying a new strategy to halt the coronavirus’s next surge: Lockdown Lite.

Unlike the blanket stay-athome orders that characterized responses to Covid-19’s first wave, a partial lockdown isn’t designed to stop transmission completely.

Instead, the idea is to home in on hot spots—certain neighborhoods, nightclubs or private parties, for example—while leaving large parts of the economy open for business.

With death rates running at only a small fraction of the levels last spring despite surging infections in France, Spain, the UK and other countries, governments want to avoid draconian measures that caused their worst recessions in memory. Partial and shifting lockdowns are likely to become the norm into next year at least, as countries wait for an immunization that’s effective and broadly accessible.

Middle innings

“WE have a lot left to go,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “I don’t think people really fully understand that. We’re still in the middle innings of a

baseball game at the best.”

One lesson from the AsiaPacific region, further along in the pandemic timeline, is that Lockdown Lite works only when paired with a broader strategy of testing and tracing. Europe’s inability to meet surging demand for testing and some countries’ lack of tracing capacity suggest the region could struggle with the new approach.

New measures

THAT hasn’t stopped governments from trying. Across western Europe this week, authorities have cracked down on nightlife, restricted gatherings and tightened rules on mask-wearing in public spaces.

In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked residents to work from home for six months if they can, and ordered pubs and restaurants to close at 10 p.m.

In France, bars in the Paris region and other cities will be forced to close at 10 p.m. at latest, starting Monday, while in the Marseille area, currently one of the most affected, all restaurants and bars will be shuttered, Health Minister Olivier Veran

said Wednesday evening.

While the government isn’t currently considering lockdowns, even local ones, Veran said, it will reduce crowd-size limits for public events and has added new restrictions on private gatherings beginning Saturday.

In Spain, Health Minister Salvador Illa urged Madrid residents not to leave home unless they must, even as restaurants outside the worst-affected areas are allowed to stay open until 1:30 a.m.

The goal should be to create a sustainable situation where schools and economies aren’t hobbled by the virus, rather than simply hoping that a vaccine will soon solve the problem, said Robert Schooley, infectious disease specialist at the University of California San Diego.

“We really have to get on with it, about how to operate in the Covid era where the virus is kind of going to be looking over our shoulder for a while to come,” Schooley said.

Testing, tracing

IF the progression of the pandemic in the Asia-Pacific region is any precedent, targeted measures can work if they’re combined with rigorous testing and tracing, and if local populations follow them. Facing flare-ups from late June through August that were sometimes higher than the initial spread of contagion, countries initially refrained from blanket orders.

After an outbreak in Beijing in June, China abandoned its previous strategy of confining millions

A CUSTOMER walks through a sanitizing booth while entering a restaurant at Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, September 11, 2020. BLOOMBERG

“We really have to get on with it, about how to operate in the Covid era where the virus is kind of going to be looking over our shoulder for a while to come.”

—ROBERT SCHOOLEY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO of people to their homes. Instead, the government shut schools, ordered more than 11 million tests and told residents in high-risk housing compounds to stay home, while leaving a majority of the city’s more than 20 million people free to move around.

The targeted approach reaches its limits in places where infections of unknown origins grow to account for a high percentage of new cases. That’s when contacttracing breaks down, leaving officials unsure where asymptomatic virus cases could be lurking. In Australia and Hong Kong, that led authorities to turn again to acrossthe-board lockdowns to slow the virus’s advance.

Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, first tried to lock down only the public housing blocks that were hot spots of infection. But as unlinked cases kept emerging, the government closed down the city of 5 million people from July until September.

Hong Kong, which saw its worst outbreak erupt in July,

couldn’t fully lock down because tiny apartments leave some families without their own kitchens or bathrooms. Instead, the Asian financial hub limited restaurant dining hours, banned public gatherings of more than two people and mandated masks even when exercising outdoors. It adapted measures every seven days to calibrate the blow to the wounded economy.

Alternating weeks

EUROPEAN authorities could try something similar, alternating two weeks of strict lockdown with four weeks of “less rigid” steps, according to David Salisbury, an associate fellow at the global health program at Chatham House, the Londonbased think tank.

“It’s a possible interim approach that never lets transmission really take off,” Salisbury said.

“You don’t have to have a total shutdown.”

In its patchwork response to the new flare-up, Europe now looks more like the US, where targeted

lockdowns have been imposed on college campuses and other infection clusters even as reopening proceeds elsewhere.

Lockdown Lite has shown some success in Europe. In Italy, authorities closed nightclubs at the first signs of another wave of infections in August—and have managed to avoid the same degree of resurgence as in France or Spain.

Yet the new measures have also created confusion over government flip-flops—such as the UK’s abandonment of a drive to get workers to return to offices— as well as some grumbling about mixed messages.

In Munich on Wednesday, with Oktoberfest canceled and a five-person limit on gatherings set to go into place the following day, a trio of tour guides in front of the neo-Gothic city hall wondered how long they’d be able to scrape together even a handful of sightseers. “The rules are really inconsistent,” said Brett Gooden, one of the guides. “It’s hard for the public to adjust.”

What Covid took away Continued from A1

stakeholders and tourism suppliers.

The DOT is targeting to activate the inter-province and inter-regional circuits, as well as recalibration of existing tourism products for the new normal from the fourth quarter of 2020 until the second quarter of 2021, said Asido. It will complete the development of new sustainable tourism products by the fourth quarter this year, along with the activation

of a safety campaign, and the domestic tourism campaign. Finally, the agency is targeting to implement a regional branding program between the first and second quarters of 2021.

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) formally opened Phitex on September 23 on Panglao Island, in a hybrid virtual-physical mode. In her opening remarks, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “This year’s Phitex hybrid edition, with a virtual

PROPOSED Metro Manila/NCR tourism circuit with product hubs INFOGRAPHIC BY DOT

component, also demonstrates our capacity for adaptability and creativity in support of tourism recovery initiatives.” TPB is the DOT’s marketing arm.

Only 50 participants were on site at the Bellevue Resort, said TPB Chief Operating Officer Ma. Anthonette Velasco-Allones, with the rest of the international buyers from 34 countries meeting with Philippine sellers online. The event closed on September 25, with post-tours around the island for participants.

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

Illegal, illogical: Floater of 2022 poll deferment on Covid fear draws flak

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HE idea of postponing the May 2022 national elections, on the hypothetical scenario that voters may be too scared to go to the polls with the Covid-19 pandemic, has drawn flak from poll watchdogs, election experts, senators and a Cabinet secretary.

First of all, the notion of postponing is “not a good sign that the government is doing its job to fight the Covid-19 pandemic,” veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said on Friday.

The reported call to postpone “runs counter to President Duterte’s claim that the government is doing its best to address the pandemic and his call not to believe the critics of the administration.

Duterte and his allies should be the first to assure our people that the election in 2022 will push through,” he added.

Postponing the elections, floated on Thursday by Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, is illegal, lawmakers and election watchdogs said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., even described any unjustified deferment as an act of “treason” in a tweet on Thursday.

Locsin, once a three -term member of the House representing Makati Cit y, had cochaired the oversight committee for automated elec tions as a lawmaker.

For his part, Macalintal said on Friday: “Our law is very clear that elections could only be postponed in case of violence, terrorism or destruction of poll records which would make it impossible to conduct a clean and credible election. Thus, it is still very premature to think of postponement of polls with about one and a half years before the election.”

He suggested that the government observe closely the November 3 US presidential election taking place despite the pandemic. He noted that “the US is one of those greatly affected by the virus, with close to 7 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 as of September 22. The Philippine government and its agencies may learn a lot of lessons from the results of the said US polls if ever the voters and the voting are affected by Covid-19.”

Comelec spokesman Atty. James Jimenez had also frowned on the idea of postponement, and former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal wryly noted that people flocking to see the Manila Bay “white sands” do not seem to be the type to be fazed by the virus, especially since elections are a distant 17 months away.

Namfrel weighs in

Meanwhile, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections on Friday emphasized the importance of holding the 2022 elections as scheduled, as mandated by the Philippine Constitution, despite the pandemic.

Postponing the elections violates the Constitution, contravenes the principle of regularity in the conduct of an election, extends the terms of elected officials

without being elected anew, and deprives the electorate of seeking accountability from elected officials through the ballot, Namfrel said.

“While Congressman Arroyo’s concerns are reasonable, preparations are currently being done by the Comelec and other stakeholders to ensure a free, fair, and safe 2022 elections,” Namfrel noted.

Drilon rejects ‘no-el’

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon vowed to oppose any plan to postpone the 2022 elections.

“That is part of a continued effort at a ‘no-el’ scenario. The postponement could be a prelude to the main objective of extending the terms of the members of Congress and the elected officials,” Drilon said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday.

Drilon said Comelec cannot postpone a national election without the law being amended.

“The Comelec can only postpone an election in a political subdivision, meaning the provinces, cities or municipalities, as provided for in the Omnibus Elec tion Code,” the former justice secretary explained.

But even that, he emphasized, there must be a showing that there is a serious cause of postponing the election in a political subdivision such “as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such a nature” that the holding of a free, orderly and honest election should become impossible.

On a theoretical basis, Congress can pass a law to postpone the election, he noted.

“But even if you pass that kind of a law, that will not extend the terms of office of the elected officials. You cannot postpone the election in the hope that your term can be extended. To extend the term you need an amendment to the Constitution,” Drilon said.

“Hence, if we are going to postpone the elections, it cannot be later than June 30, 2022, because we should have a new set of officials by then.”

“Given all these legal limitations, it will be absurd to postpone the elections. Comelec should be able to come up with adaptive and mitigating measures.

We will provide Comelec with sufficient funds to set up mitigating measures in case the pandemic lasts until that time,” he said.

Kiko: 2-day voting

TO protect voters from Covid-19, the Comelec may adopt other means to proceed with the elections in 2022 such as a two-day voting period and bigger voting areas that allow for physical distancing, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said Friday.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws, said canceling the elections is unconstitutional.

Butch Fernandez, Recto Mercene

D.O.H. TO BROADEN SCOPE OF C.O.D.E. PROTOCOL, CONTROL VIRUS SPREAD

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By Rene Acosta

eams from the Department of Health (DOH) are poised to expand their visits to other areas around the country under its project dubbed as Coordinated Operations to Defeat Pandemic (CODE) following similar visits in 17 key areas in Metro Manila and neighboring cities and towns in Southern Tagalog where Covid-19 cases are tracked and monitored right on the spot.

CODE is a protocol adopted by the DOH in the government’s continuing battle to contain the spread of the pandemic, and one of its principal purpose is to eliminate “clusters of Covid-19” cases in pre-determined and identified areas.

“We are rolling out [the project] in other areas, in cities and provinces,” said DOH Undersecretary and spokesman Maria Rosario Vergeire during the virtual seminar “Media Reporting in Disaster Situations” spearheaded by the US Embassy in Manila on Friday.

The program tasks CODE teams to undertake aggressive house-to-house case findings, symptom checking and interview of families in their effort to find out who among family members have been exposed to Covid-19 positive individuals.

It also administers swab testing for individuals who showed symptoms of the disease and for those who are vulnerable like the elderly, those with co-morbidities and pregnant women.

During the visits by the CODE teams in 27 areas in Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog, some 1,500 confirmed cases were found while 10,000

close contacts were traced and placed under quarantine or isolation in designated facilities and temporary treatment facilities.

In extending the protocol, the DOH is expecting both to address and trace other cases on the spot, and thus minimize or stop the further spread of Covid-19.

As of Friday, Vergeire reported that the DOH has listed 59,700 Covid-19 active cases and 296,755 confirmed cases. At least, 5,127 deaths have also been recorded and 231,928 recoveries.

She added that the government has already administered a total of at least 3,508,642 tests as of Thursday while 21,716 beds have been allotted for Covid-19 patients in various hospitals and medical facilities around the country. Of the number, 7,225 are found in private hospitals.

Ve rg e i re a l s o s a i d a n y m o v e b y l o c a l g ove rn m e nt o f f i c i a l s to re s t a r t t h e i r l o ca l economies like opening their ecotourism to outsiders should be subjected to careful study as a balance must be strike between economy and public health.

“We need to study carefully,” she said, adding that if the partial opening of the local economy has to be done, it should be “slow” and gradually implemented.

Baguio City has decided days ago to open up to tourists from Region 1 to rev up its economy but Mayor Benjamin Magalong has decided to delay it for at least a week following a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in the city.

Vergeire said the opening in full of any local economy should not affect public health.

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Palm oil labor abuses linked to world’s top brands, banks

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ENINSULAR MALAYSIA—An invisible work force of millions of laborers from some of the poorest corners of Asia toil in the palm oil industry, many of them enduring various forms of exploitation, with the most serious abuses including child labor, outright slavery and allegations of rape, an Associated Press investigation has found.

In Malaysia and Indonesia, these workers tend the heavy reddish-orange palm oil fruit that makes its way into the supply chains of many iconic food and cosmetics companies like Unilever, L’Oreal, Nestle and Procter & Gamble.

Together, the two countries produce about 85 percent of the world ’s estimated $65-billion palm oil supply.

Palm oil is virtually impossible to avoid. Often disguised on labels as an ingredient listed by more than 200 names, it can be found in roughly half the products on supermarket shelves and in most cosmetic brands. It’s contained in paints, plywood, pesticides and pills. It’s also present in animal feed, biofuels and even hand sanitizer.

The AP interviewed nearly 130 current and former workers from two dozen palm oil companies who came from eight countries and labored on plantations across wide swaths of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Almost all had complaints against their treatment, with some saying they were cheated, threatened, held against their will, or forced to work off unsurmountable debts.

Others said they were regularly harassed by authorities, swept up in raids and detained in crowded government facilities.

T hey included members of Myanmar’s long-persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority, who fled ethnic cleansing in their homeland only to be sold into the palm oil industry. Fishermen who escaped years of slavery on boats also described coming ashore in search of help, only to be trafficked onto plantations—sometimes with police involvement. They said they worked for little, or no pay and were trapped for years.

The AP used the most recently published data from producers, traders and buyers of the world’s most-consumed vegetable oil, as well as US Customs records, to link the laborers’ palm oil and its derivatives from the mills that process it to the supply chains of top Western companies like the makers of Oreo cookies, Lysol cleaners and some of Hershey’s

chocolate treats.

AP reporters witnessed some abuses firsthand and reviewed police reports, complaints made to labor unions, videos and photos smuggled out of plantations and local media stories to corroborate accounts wherever possible.

In some cases, reporters tracked down people who helped enslaved workers escape. More than a hundred rights advocates, academics, clergy members, activists and government officials also were interviewed.

Though labor issues have largely been ignored, the punishing effects of palm oil on the environment have been decried for years.

Still, giant Western financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank and the Vanguard Group have continued to help fuel a crop that has exploded globally, soaring from just 5 million tons in 1999 to 72 million tons today, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Sometimes they invest directly but, increasingly, third parties are used like Malaysiabased Malayan Banking Berhad, or Maybank, one of the world’s biggest palm oil financiers. It not only provides capital to growers but, in some cases, processes the plantations’ payrolls, with arbitrary and inconsistent wage deductions that are considered indicators of forced labor.

“This has been the industry’s hidden secret for decades,” said Gemma Tillack of the US-based Rainforest Action Network, which has exposed labor abuses on palm oil plantations. “The buck stops with the banks. It is their funding that makes this system of exploitation possible.”

The AP found widespread labor abuses on plantations big and small, including some that meet certification standards set by the global Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, an association that promotes ethical production—including labor practices—and whose members include growers, buyers, traders and environmental watchdogs.

Some of the same companies that display the RSPO’s green

Women fill sacks with fertilizer to be spread in a palm oil plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia, on November 14, 2017. Many large suppliers have pledged to root out labor abuses after pressure from buyers who have denounced it. But some workers said they are told to hide or are coached on what to say during auditors’ scheduled visits to plantations, where only the best conditions are often showcased to gain sustainability certification. AP

palm logo signif ying its seal of approval have been accused of continuing to grab land from indigenous people and destroying virgin rainforests that are home to orangutans and other critically endangered species.

As global demand for palm oil surges, plantations are struggling to find enough laborers, frequently relying on brokers who prey on the most at-risk people. Many foreign workers end up fleeced by a syndicate of recruiters and corrupt officials and often are unable to speak the local language, rendering them especially susceptible to trafficking and other abuses.

They sometimes pay up to $5,000 just to get their jobs—an amount that could take years to earn in their home countries— often showing up for work already crushed by debt. Many have their passports seized by company officials to keep them from running away, which the United Nations recognizes as a potential flag of forced labor.

Countless others remain off the books, including migrants working without documentation and children who AP reporters witnessed squatting in the fields like crabs, picking up loose fruit alongside their parents. Many women also work for free or on a day-to-day basis, earning the equivalent of as little as $2 a day, sometimes for decades.

The AP talked to some female workers who said they were sexually harassed and even raped in the fields, including some minors.

The workers AP interviewed came from Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, the Philippines and Cambodia, along with Myanmar, which represents the newest army of exploited laborers. The AP is not fully identifying them or their plantations to protect their safety.

“We work until we are dying,” said one worker sitting in a room with two other colleagues at a Malaysian plantation run by Felda, a government-owned company.

Their eyes filled with tears af-

ter learning Felda was one of the world’s largest palm oil producers.

“They use this palm oil to make all these products,” he said. “It makes us very sad.”

The Malaysian government was contacted by the AP repeatedly over the course of a week but issued no comment. Felda also did not respond, but its commercial arm, FGV Holdings Berhad, said it had been working to address workers’ complaints, including making improvements in recruitment practices and ensuring that foreign laborers have access to their passports.

Nageeb Wahab, head of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association, a government-supported umbrella group, called the allegations against the industry unwarranted: “All of them are not true,” he said.

The Indonesian Palm Oil Association said it has been striving to improve labor conditions for the last five years. Soes Hindharno, spokesman for the country’s Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, said any company violating government rules and regulations on serious issues like child labor and not paying women workers could face sanctions, including having their operations shut down.

Unilever, L’Oreal, Nestle and Procter & Gamble all said they do not tolerate human-rights abuses and investigate allegations raised about companies that feed into their supply chains, taking appropriate action when warranted, which can include working with suppliers to improve conditions or suspending relationships when grievances are not properly addressed.

Deutsche Bank reiterated its support of human rights, Vanguard said it monitors companies in its portfolio for abuses, and JPMorgan Chase declined comment.

Maybank expressed surprise at the criticism of its standards, saying that “we reject any insinuation that Maybank may be involved in any unethical behavior.” AP

Admin positions top govt job fair search A

dministrative positions were the most viewed jobs, or occupations, in the recently concluded 2020 Government Online Career Fair (GOCF) jointly conducted by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Jobstreet.com from September 14 to 18, 2020.

All are first level, or administrative/clerical positions, except for Engineer II and Revenue Officer I (Non-Assessment) which are second level, or technical/professional positions.

The GOCF hosted a total of 7,831 jobs from 705 participating government agencies.

A total of 225,838 individuals registered for the online event. However, 161,442 were able to completely generate a Personal Data Sheet (PDS),

a requirement for job application in government.

It raked in 5,801,842 total visits, 270,926 of which were visits from unique individuals.

The CSC said that even if the 2020 GOCF has ended, a large number of government vacancies continue to be posted on the CSC web site at www. csc.gov.ph/career.

The 2020 GOCF was part of the activities lined up for the 120th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA) in September, an annual celebration to commemorate the establishment of the civil service in the country. It sought to promote easy access to employment opportunities in the public sector by bringing jobseekers and hiring government agencies together in a “virtual job fair.”

According to data sent by Jobstreet.com, the Top 10 Most Viewed Jobs consisted of:

The Top 10 Most Visited Agencies consisted of:

1.

Administrative Assistant

1. Home Development Mutual Fund

2.

Data Encoder

2. Department of Education

3.

Administrative Assistant III (Secretary II) (Internal Audit Service)

3. Land Bank of the Philippines

4.

Staff Officer II

4. Philippine National Oil Company

5.

Administrative Assistant II

5. Development Bank of the Philippines

6.

Staff Officer I

6. Bureau of Internal Revenue

7.

Administrative Assistant I (Secretary)

7. Professional Regulation Commission

8. Engineer II

8. Land Registration Authority

9.

9. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Region X

Administrative Assistant II

10. Revenue Officer I (Non-Assessment)

10. Department of Transportation

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Corruption hits poor hardest–U.N. panel A

UN panel says tax abuse, corruption and money laundering are draining hundreds of billions of dollars from governments that could help the world’s poor.

A re p o r t f ro m t h e h i g h - l e v e l p a n e l on International Financial Accountabilit y, Transparency and Integrity published Thursday said governments can’t agree on the problem, or the solution. But they’re also losing an estimated $500 billion due to corporate tax avoidance from profit-sharing enterprises.

In addition, the panel estimated that $7 trillion in private wealth is hidden in tax haven countries, with 10 percent of world GDP held offshore, and that money laundering amounts to around $1.6 trillion per year, or 2.7 percent of global GDP. “Corruption and tax avoidance are rampant,” said former Lithuanian President Dalia Gr ybauskaitė, a panel co- chair. “Too many banks are in cahoots and too many governments

are stuck in the past. We’re all being robbed, especially the world’s poor.”

She said trust in the finance system is essential to tackle global challenges including poverty, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Instead we get dithering and delay bordering on complicity,” Grybauskaitė said.

The report said criminals exploited the Covid-19 pandemic as governments relaxed controls to speed up health care and social protection.

“Our weakness in tackling corruption and financial crime has been further exposed by...

Covid-19,” said former Niger Prime Minister Ibrahim Mayaki, a panel co-chair. “Resources to stop the spread, keep people alive and put food on tables are instead lost to corruption and abuse.

The panel’s goal is to help achieve UN goals for 2030 that include ending extreme poverty, preserving the environment and achieving gender equality. AP

Cloak and dagger affair in mid-air: Report bares alleged U.S. espionage flights vs. China

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By Recto Mercene

he United States Air Force (USAF) had allegedly “disguised” its RC-135S plane either as a Malaysian or a Philippine registered aircraft, while reportedly engaged in espionage activities against China, the South China Morning Post reported, quoting the Chinese foreign ministry.

“A US Air Force RC-135S reconnaissance aircraft used a hex code allocated to a Philippine aircraft as it flew over the Yellow Sea. The RC-135 aircraft switched its identification code during a reconnaissance mission,” the South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI) said.

Beijing said US surveillance planes had spied on China at least 100 times this year, describing it as a “serious security threat.”

The Asian superpower said the US Air Force plane “impersonate the transponder code of civilian aircraft from other countries,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said earlier this week.

When it was over the Yellow Sea, the RC-135S reconnaissance aircraft used a hex code allocated to a Philippine aircraft but reverted back to its original number after completing its mission, the SCSPI said.

Last week, the SCSPI said American RC-135S electronically disguised themselves as Malaysian civilian aircraft while flying close to Chinese airspace. The switch was also reported by Popular Mechanics magazine and several independent observers.

“We urge the US to immediately stop such dangerous provocations to avoid accidents from happening in the sea and air,” Wang said.

O n e o f t h e b e s t k n o w n i n c i d e nt s o f misidentification occurred in 1983 when Korean Airlines B747, flight KE 007, was shot down by the Soviet Union air force, killing all 269 on-board, including scores of Filipinos.

The Philippines sent then Department of Tourism Secretary Jose Aspiras to South Korea to condole and assist the family of the victims.

From Seoul, Aspiras’s entourage took a plane to Hokkaido Island, Japan, and accompanied

the grieving Filipino families aboard a boat that traveled one hour from the tip of Hokkaido to reach the crash site.

The Filipinos threw chrysanthemum flowers in the ocean near the Russian controlled Sakhalin Island as a gesture of farewell.

According to the historical accounts, the Soviet Union initially denied knowledge of the incident but later admitted shooting down the aircraft, claiming that it was on a spy mission.

The Communist Party of the Soviet Union said the US deliberately provoked the Soviet Union’s military preparedness, or perhaps even to provoke a war.

The Soviet armed forces released evidence gathered from a retrieved flight recorder 10 years later after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The incident was one of the most dramatic episodes of the Cold War era and resulted in an escalation of anti-Soviet sentiment, particularly in the United States.

Military experts said although the US spy planes were an annoyance for China, they always stay outside its territorial airspace of 12 nautical miles and technically within international airspace and could not be shot down by the Chinese.

On the other hand, the People’s Liberation Army seems able to keeping count of the flights, “which means they can see through the disguise.”

The SCSPI reported that from June 24, it has recorded four US surveillance aircraft operating near the strategic Bashi Channel.

According to the SCSPI, which monitors ac tivit y in the South China Sea, bet ween September 8 and 10, US spy planes disguised as Malaysian aircraft flew over the disputed Paracel Islands, as well as the volatile Taiwan Strait and the Yellow Sea near the Chinese coast, basing its conclusions on open source aviation responder records.

“This undoubtedly added up to great risk and uncertainty to international flight safety, which could lead to misjudgment [by ground air defense systems] and probably bring danger to civilian aircraft especially those being impersonated,” the think tank said in its report.

Taguig City launches ‘all-in-one’ Covid testing, quarantine facility

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

T

o hit the city’s target of testing 10 percent of its total population by the end of 2021, the city government of Taguig inaugurated on Friday an “all-in-one” Covid-19 complex equipped with its own swabbing center, quarantine and isolation facility and a molecular laboratory at the Lakeshore Hotel.

The launching of the new complex is expected to supplement an all-out government approach to test, trace and treat Covid-19 cases, which has kept the city’s infection rate among the lowest in the National Capital Region this September. As of September 22, the city has the lowest number of active cases per 100,000 people across NCR. The Depar tment of Health granted the molecular laborator y a license to operate on September 13 after hurdling a five-step assessment, which included on-site assessment and proficiency tests for the staff.

The lab will have both a manual and automated testing machines managed by teams on shifts composed of medical technicians, medical aids and others. At full capacity, the lab will help reach Taguig’s target of 100,000 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests by the end of the year, which is equivalent to 10 percent of Taguig’s total population.

Even without its own testing laboratory, Taguig managed to conduct almost 50,000 RT-PCR tests as of September 23, representing over 5 percent of the total population. This was made possible through its strong partnerships with the national government and private testing facilities.

“This testing facility will be a long-term benefit to the city to help us better manage the Covid-19 situation. Aside from that, the lab can also test pathogens affecting both humans and animals, allowing us to avert serious health issues in the future,” said Mayor Lino Cayetano.

Within the same complex, the local government will be opening the much-awaited 500-bed Covid-19 Lakeshore Mega Quarantine Facility.

For Section 1 of the facility, 70 units were

opened on Friday and the other sections will be opened over the next few weeks.

The entire complex is expected to be completed in three months, right before the Christmas season when the city anticipates a possible spike in Covid-19 cases.

Once completed, the Mega Quarantine Facility will add to the five quarantine facilities in the city that include newly built structures and repurposed government buildings.

The structures ensure comfort for patients conducive to healing, complete with beds, partitions, air-conditioning, toilet and bath and a living room. All units will also have tables to help in entertaining patients and consulting with doctors. Robonurses, created by the young students of Taguig Robotics Team, will also care for the patients.

Among the city’s touted homegrown approaches are the Systematic Mass Approach to Responsible Testing, aggressive contact tracing mechanisms tapping into barangays, and localized lockdowns.

Cayetano said that the local government of Taguig is working with the National Task Force (NTF) for the city to effectively transition to the new normal.

Health Secretar y and Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases Chairman Francisco T. Duque III lauded Taguig City for recording one of the lowest numbers of active cases and lowest fatality rate in NCR. Meanwhile, NTF Co-Chairman and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año also commended the city saying, “ Ito ang tunay pangangalaga na kailangan ng mamamayan [This is the kind of care that our countrymen needs] complete package!”

For his part, National Action Plan Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said that the establishment of the facility is a local victory “but this is also a national victory,” emphasizing that “every success in our national Covid-19 response is a success of everyone.”

The facility has initially opened 70 isolation units with the rest to be operational in the coming weeks.

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

The World

Stuck at sea: Nations urged to help 300,000 virus-stranded seafarers

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ARIS—Another Covid-19 problem that the UN is trying to solve: how to help more than 300,000 merchant mariners who are trapped at sea because of coronavirus restrictions.

Describing the mounting desperation of seafarers who have been afloat for a year or more, Captain Hedi Marzougui pleaded their case Thursday at a meeting with shipping executives and government officials on the sidelines of this week’s UN General Assembly.

As the pandemic washed over the world and made shipping crews unwelcome in many ports, he said, “We received very limited information, and it became increasingly difficult to get vital supplies and technical support. Nations changed regulations on a daily, if not hourly, basis.”

Several months later, many borders remain closed and flights are rare, complicating efforts to bring in replacement crews for those stuck at sea and forcing their employers to keep extending their contracts.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined shipping companies, trade unions and maritime organizations in urging governments to recognize merchant crews as essential workers and allow them to travel more freely. With more than 80 percent of global trade by volume transported by sea, the world’s 2 million merchant seafarers play a vital role.

Merchant ship crews are used to long stretches away from home, but as virus infections and restrictions spread early this year, anxiety mounted along with the uncertainty, Marzougui said.

“Not knowing when or if we would be returning home put severe mental strain on my crew and myself,” he said. “We felt like second-class citizens with no input or control over our lives.”

The Tunisian-born captain spent an extra three months at sea and finally made it home to his

family in Florida in late May. But more than 300,000 mariners are still stranded, waiting for replacement crews; about as many are waiting on shore, trying to get back to work.

Maritime officials from Panama, the Philippines, Canada, France and Kenya defended steps they have taken individually to allow safe crew changes or otherwise ease the crisis.

But officials lamented a lack of international coordination among nations and shipping companies, calling for new rules to protect countries from the virus while respecting the rights of stranded crews.

No figures were released for how many merchant mariners have contracted the virus, but Guy Platten of the International Chamber of Shipping said the virus risk is “relatively low” because shipping companies have strict protection measures and “have no wish whatsoever to bring infections on our ships.”

He blamed “red tape and bureaucracy” for crew change delays and said border guards and local port officials in some countries are being overzealous in blocking them from coming ashore. One way goods are still able to get ashore despite restrictions is by dock workers fetching them from the ships.

France proposed compiling a global UN list of ports that can be secured to accommodate crew changes. Kenya called for sharing costs globally for a rapid testing plan for major ports.

Crews often work 12-hour shifts with no weekends, and Marzougui warned that extending stints without a break risks physical and mental strain—potentially putting ships and oceans in danger.

The captain compared it to telling a marathon runner at the end of the race that they had to “do it again, right away, with no rest.” AP

China, Russia and U.S. clash over pandemic responses

U

NITED NATIONS—The United States butted heads with China and Russia at the United Nations on Thursday over responsibility for the pandemic that has interrupted the world, trading allegations about who mishandled and politicized the virus in one of the few real-time exchanges among top officials at this year’s Covid-distanced UN General Assembly meeting.

The remarks at the UN Security Council’s ministerial meeting on the assembly’s sidelines came just after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried the lack of international cooperation in tackling the still “out-of-control” coronavirus.

The sharp exchanges, at the end of a virtual meeting on “Post Covid-19 Global Governance,” reflected the deep divisions among the three vetowielding council members that have escalated since the virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in January. They also crackled with an energy and action that the prerecorded set pieces of leader speeches at the virtual meeting have thus far lacked.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking first, stressed the importance of UN-centered multilateralism and alluded to countries— including the US—opting out of making a Covid-19 vaccine a global public good available to people everywhere.

“In such a challenging moment, major countries are even more duty-bound to put the future of humankind first, discard Cold War mentality and ideological bias and come together in the spirit of partnership to tide over the difficulties,” Wang said.

And in a jab at US and European Union sanctions including on Russia, Syria and others, he said: “Unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction needs to be opposed in order to safeguard the authority and sanctity of international law.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the pandemic and its “common misfortune did not iron out interstate differences, but to the contrary deepened them.”

“In a whole number of countries there is a temptation to look abroad for those who are responsible for their own internal problems,” he said. “And we see attempts on the part of individual countries to use the current situation in order to move forward their narrow interests of the moment in order to settle the score with the undesirable governments, or geopolitical competitors.”

All that was too much for the United States’s UN ambassador, Kelly Craft, who opened her remarks late in the meeting with a blunt rejoinder.

“Shame on each of you. I am astonished and disgusted by the content of today’s discussion,” Craft said. She said some representatives were “squandering this oppor tunity for political purposes.”

“President Trump has made it very clear: We will do whatever is right, even if it’s unpopular, because, let me tell you what, this is not a popularity contest,” Craft said.

She quoted Trump’s speech Tuesday to the virtual opening of the General Assembly’s leaders meeting

in which he said that to chart a better future, “we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China.”

“The Chinese Communist Party’s decision to hide the origins of this virus, minimize its danger, and suppress scientific cooperation [that] transformed a local epidemic into a global pandemic,” Craft said, adding that these actions “prove that not all member states are equally committed to public health, transparency , and their international obligations.”

But she ended her remarks saying one lesson from the pandemic is the need for “unity, not division,” and calling for council members “to work together in transparency and in good faith.”

Chinese UN Ambassador Zhang Jun asked for the floor at the end of the meeting and delivered a lengthy retort, saying “China resolutely opposes and rejects the baseless accusations by the United States.”

“Abusing the platform of the UN and its Security Council, the US has been spreading political virus and disinformation, and creating confrontation and division,” Zhang said.

Zhang said: “The US should understand that its failure in handling Covid-19 is totally its fault.”

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia expressed regret that Craft used Thursday’s meeting “to make unfounded accusations” against one council member, and quoting Lavrov as saying the crisis has shown the need for “the interdependence, interconnectedness of all states without exception in all walks of life.”

Responding to Craft’s call for unity, he said, “It’s hard to disagree with that. But unfortunately, the crux of her statement, its form and its tone, do not correspond to that appeal at all.”

The United Nations chief said in opening the Security Council meeting that the world failed to cooperate in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Guterres said that if the world responds to even more catastrophic challenges with the same disunity and disarray, “I fear the worst.”

He said the international community’s failure “was the result of a lack of global preparedness, cooperation, unity and solidarity.”

Guterres pointed to the nearly 1 million people around the world that the coronavirus has killed, the more than 30 million who have been infected.

He said the global response is more and more fragmented, and “as countries go in different directions, the virus goes in every direction.”

What is needed more, Guterres said, is a cooperation that not only involves nations but includes global and regional organizations, international financial institutions, trade alliances and others including the business community, civil society, cities and regions, academia and young people.

Lavrov also praised the World Health Organization for acting professionally and providing “effective preventive steps” to minimize the pandemic’s effect.

US President Donald Trump pulled out of the WHO, accusing the UN agency of being under Chinese influence. AP

BusinessMirror

Saturday, September 26, 2020

A5

Chinese company says Covid vaccine ready by early 2021

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EIJING—A Chinese pharmaceutical company said Thursday the coronavirus vaccine it is developing should be ready by early 2021 for distribution worldwide, including the United States.

Yin Weidong, the CEO of SinoVac, vowed to apply to the US Food and Drug Administration to sell CoronaVac in the United States if it passes its third and final round of testing in humans. Yin said he personally has been given the experimental vaccine.

“At the very beginning, our strategy was designed for China and for Wuhan. Soon after that in June and July we adjusted our strategy, that is to face the world,” Yin said, referring to the Chinese city were the virus first emerged.

“Our goal is to provide the vaccine to the world including the US, EU and others,” Yin said.

Stringent regulations in the US, European Union, Japan and Australia have historically blocked the sale of Chinese vaccines. But Yin said that could change.

SinoVac is developing one of China’s top 4 vaccine candidates along with state-owned SinoPharm, which has two in development, and military-affiliated private firm CanSino.

More than 24,000 people are participating in clinical trials of

CoronaVac in Brazil, Turkey, and Indonesia, with additional trials scheduled for Bangladesh and possibly Chile, Yin said. SinoVac chose those countries because they all had serious outbreaks, large populations and limited research and development capacity, he said.

He spoke to reporters during a tour of a SinoVac plant south of Beijing. Built in a few months from scratch, the plant is designed to enable SinoVac to produce half a million vaccine doses a year. The biosecure facility was already busy on Thursday filling tiny bottles with the vaccine and boxing them. The company projects it will be able to produce a few hundred million doses of the vaccine by February or March of next year.

SinoVac is also starting to test small doses of CoronaVac on children and the elderly in China after noticing rising numbers of cases globally among those two groups.

Yin said the company would prioritize distribution of the vaccine to countries hosting human trials of CoronaVac. While the vaccine has not yet

Yin Weidong, CEO of the Chinese pharmaceutical company SinoVac, speaks to journalists during a tour of a vaccine factory in Beijing on September 24. SinoVac, one of China’s pharmaceutical companies behind a leading Covid-19 vaccine candidate says its vaccine will be ready by early 2021 for distribution worldwide, including the US. AP

passed the phase 3 clinical trials, a globally accepted standard, SinoVac has already injected thousands of people in China under an emergency use provision.

Yin said he was one of the first to receive the experimental vaccine months ago along with researchers after phase one and two of human trials showed no serious adverse effects. He said that self-injecting showed his support for CoronaVac. “This is kind of a tradition of our company,” Yin said, adding that he had done the same with a hepatitis vaccine under development.

Earlier this year, China permitted “emergency use” of vaccine candidates for at-risk populations like border personnel and medical

workers if companies could show “good safety and good antibodies” from tests of about 1,000 people, Yin said.

SinoVac received that approval in June along with SinoPharm and CanSino and was able to provide tens of thousands of doses of CoronaVac to Beijing’s municipal government, Yin said.

SinoVac employees qualified for emergency use of the vaccine because an outbreak inside the company would cripple its ability to develop a vaccine, he said. About 90 percent of the company’s staff have received it.

“We are confident that our research of the Covid-19 vaccines can meet the standards of the US and EU countries,” Yin said. AP

Thai parliament stalls charter decision, angering protesters

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hai lawmakers delayed a vote on various proposals to set a pathway to amend the constitution, further angering anti-government demonstrators calling for more democracy and reform of the monarchy.

The parliament instead overwhelmingly backed a new proposal to set up a panel that would vet the six plans submitted earlier for changing the charter written by a military-appointed panel after a 2014 coup. The vote, mostly supported by royalist allies of the army, means the process to start rewriting the constitution will be pushed back by at least one month.

Opposition parties said they won’t join the new committee.

Hundreds of agitated demonstrators, who had gathered outside the parliament, tried to stop vehicles of some senators and lawmakers leaving the house after the decision. The protesters have been hitting the streets since July to demand changes that include scrapping the military-appointed Senate—which played a key role in the return of coup leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha as prime minister after the election last year—and reining in the power of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

“It’s part of their tactics to delay the process because they want to hold on to their power,” Punchada Sirivunnabood, an associate professor of politics at Mahidol University near Bangkok. “The protest movement will likely escalate from this point, with more people including the opposition parties joining the movement.”

Opposition disappointed

Opposition parties said they were disappointed by parliament’s decision. Sompong Amornvivat, a leader of the Pheu Thai party, said

Anti-government protesters wearing respirator masks and goggles protest next to Sanam Luang fields in front of The Grand Palace on September 20 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thousands of anti-government protestors and student activists from the United Front of Thammasat group confront police in front of Thailand’s Grand Palace. This rally marks the largest in a string of anti-government protests that began in late July where students and anti-government protesters call for the dissolution of the military backed government, government reform, and the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images

the government “doesn’t sincerely want the changes that people want.” Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of Move Forward, the second-largest opposition party, said “there’s still hope for charter amendment.”

The process of rewriting a constitution, expected to take about a year and involve a referendum, will ultimately require the king’s endorsement. The current militar y-backed constitution, Thailand’s 20th since absolute monarchy ended in 1932, made it easy for Prayuth and his allies to keep power after an election last year that ended five years of rule by a junta.

T he k ing hasn’t publ ic ly add ressed t he protests, a nd Pray uth has ca l led for patience on char ter amendment, say ing he was happy that the countr y was

peacef u l, a l low ing the gover nment to “cont inue ou r work , espec i a l ly on t he economy.”

The growing protest movement is an additional challenge for Prayuth’s year-old administration, which is trying to revive Thailand’s trade-and-tourism-reliant economy with foreign investors fleeing from its stocks and bonds. Overseas investors have net sold more than $10 billion of Thai stocks and bonds so far this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Monarchy reform

T he protesters h ave bu sted long-held taboos in Thailand about publicly criticizing the monarchy. One of the protest group called the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration has called on Prayuth to resign

and issued a 10-point demand to reform the monarchy, including revoking strict laws criminalizing insults against top members of the royal family.

The Thammasat group has also called for a general strike on October 14. They urged supporters to show solidarity by not standing during the royal anthem and have called for a boycott of Siam Commercial Bank Pcl, in which the king is the biggest shareholder.

Arnon Nampa, a lawyer and one of the prominent leaders of the protest movement, on Thursday questioned the need to set up a committee to study proposals for charter amendment after a two-day debate. He said it’s “disrespectful” to the people and vowed to strengthen the protests.

Bloomberg News

A6 Saturday, September 26, 2020

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

DTI chief confident Philippines will retain EU GSP Plus status

By Kris Crismundo

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Philippine News Agency

EPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez is confident the country will retain the Generalised Scheme Preference Plus (GSP+) grant from the European Union despite the recommendation of EU lawmakers to revoke the GSP+ status for the Philippines.

In an interview with ANC Wednesday, Lopez said this is not the first time that the EU Parliament made such a recommendation to the EU Commission.

“This is not the first time that this has happened, so we are addressing them, all their concerns. We are just giving them the right information and [we are] factual,” he said.

The DTI chief said the EU Commission has a system in place in monitoring the country’s compliance to the international conventions on human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.

Lopez said there is no reason for the EU to withdraw the GSP+.

“So far, we’ve been faring well in all issues that were raised every year. And

Libya restarts oil exports at 3rd port as war abates

I think this is the third, or fourth time, that the EU Parliament has passed the same resolution. And every year, we are able to give our side, give our explanation, give our information and numbers.

So, we shall be addressing this again in this process of monitoring,” he added.

According to the EU Delegation to the Philippines Head of Trade and Economic Affairs Maurizio Cellini, the regular monitoring was set to take place this month prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. A new schedule for monitoring has not yet been set due to the global health crisis, Cellini said.

Lopez said current Philippine exports to the EU reached EUR7.6 billion, EUR2 billion of which are eligible for GSP+.

Exporters and MSMEs on ‘survival L mode’ seek government intervention S TAKEHOLDERS across the Philippines, including direct and indirect exporters and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), appealed to the government for urgent help, saying their focus has now been reduced to ensuring day-to-day survival.

Enterprises and businesses from the top 10 exporting regions are asking for swift government measures and initiatives to address the mounting trade and economic difficulties they encounter amid the ongoing Covid-19 scourge.

They enumerated a growing wish list of interventions needed to enable exporters and MSMEs to recover from the unprecedented setbacks due to the pandemic, travel restrictions, and lockdowns. The list was presented during a series of regional online consultations conducted by the Export Development Council (EDC) over the implementation of the updated Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022.

The series was held in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport). Participants came from the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 3 and 4A in Luzon, Regions 6, 7 and 8 in Visayas, and Regions 10, 11, 12 and Caraga in Mindanao.

They called for specific and detailed measures centered on enhancing trade facilitation, productivity and competitiveness, market access and promotion, financial as-

sistance, innovative capacity, and information dissemination.

NCR attendees pushed for, among others, intensified training on halal and major international certifications, export requirements and procedures; modern facilities to support production; incentives for identified priority sectors; and export financing assistance.

They also sought help on the more-than-usual requirements from financial institutions because of the pandemic. Region 3 attendees commented on the higher prices of their products compared to other Asean suppliers due to higher cost of operations.

They also noted the unstable supply chain for wood-based products due to government policies that are causing prices of raw materials to unreasonably increase.

Other pressing issues for the region’s exporters include the delays and high costs, owing to various requirements on product certification, standards, fumigation, rules of origin, testing and labeling.

They also observed how local government units or LGUs implement their own policies that are not aligned to that of the national government rules.

In addition, MSMEs are at a disadvantage because they have weak links with free ports and economic zones in terms of transit arrangements, information, and technology sharing.

Participants asked for aid to medium-sized enterprises, which are also hard hit by the pandemic,

through an SB Cares facility similar to the one available to micro and small enterprises. Moreover, Region 4A underlined the lack of information on and access to virtual/online marketing and promotion of local products. There should be a government agency that will help MSME exporters digitalize, the participants said.

In the Visayas, a major issue for Region 6 is poor logistics, which hampers and delays the transport of raw materials and finished products. Regional stakeholders also highlighted the lack of international flights flying in and out of Western Visayas, as well as the lack of export capability of the regional ports that could help to reduce export costs.

Among their list of recommendations are the following: establish a multisectoral warehouse, conduct supply chain management workshop to address logistics concerns, and facilitate the approval/ issuance of the certificate of origin in the region.

They also called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow the e-submission of documents and assign more personnel. Another suggestion is to have post-Covid updates on export markets and trends, particularly in the Asean, US, Europe and Latin America. A dialogue with concerned government agencies on reopening of international flights to allow entry of imported raw materials into the country was also proposed.

Region 7 exporters said they will

benefit from the removal of unnecessary regulatory impediments, access to interest-free trade credit and stimulus package, and help in taking advantage of preferential status programs such as the GSP and GSP+.

Region 8, stressing the short shelf life of agricultural products, asked for the streamlining of export processing, utilizing of updated technology in product development, farm mechanization and clustering of farmer groups, and enhancement of the one-stop laboratory and shared service facility for longer shelf life and increased production.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in Mindanao pointed to the continuing struggles of both big and small exporters as a consequence of Covid-19 and discussed how their attention is now focused on day-to-day survival.

They cited the permanent shutdown of South Bukidnon Fresh Trading Inc., an exporter of fresh pineapples, as one of the casualties of the pandemic in the region.

Their wish list includes the strict implementation of Republic Act 11032 (Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act) among government regulatory agencies such as the FDA, Bureau of Customs and local government units.

They also want to see improvement in export business preparedness and resiliency measures amid the adverse effects of climate change and the extension of technical support on business continuity planning.

IBYA’S state oil company reopened another port, the third to resume operation in less than a week, as a political truce takes hold in the Opec member’s devastating civil war.

The National Oil Corp. (NOC) is ending force majeure—a legal status protecting a party that can’t fulfill a contract for reasons beyond its control—at Zueitina in eastern Libya after a “significant improvement” in security there, it said Tuesday.

The NOC allowed exports to resume days earlier from the Hariga and Brega terminals. The three ports had been shut down since January as part of a wider blockade.

The NOC said it’s evaluating security at Libya’s other export terminals as the country with Africa’s largest crude reserves edges closer to reviving its battered oil industry. Production nationwide will more than double by next week to 260,000 barrels a day, the company said late Monday.

The three eastern ports were closed eight months ago after Khalifa Haftar, a Russian-backed commander who controls eastern Libya, blockaded energy facilities in his struggle to unseat the United Nations-supported government in the western capital, Tripoli. Libya’s daily crude output slumped as a result to less than 100,000 barrels from 1.2 million last year. The NOC said Wednesday that it shipped $38.2 million of oil, natural gas and condensate in July, the lowest monthly figure this year.

Hariga, Brega, and Zueitina are now classified as “safe ports,” the NOC said in a news statement. “The remaining oil fields and ports are being evaluated according to the safety and security standards in force in the national oil sector.”

Oil facilities have been the main prize of a civil war now almost a

decade old, with different groups closing or sabotaging them to press political and economic demands. The industry’s gradual reopening began after Haftar said on September 18 that he would lift his blockade. The NOC has cited the dangers of resuming oil production where armed forces are close by.

Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, the country’s largest and third-largest oil ports, remain closed, as does the Zawiya terminal, which ordinarily exports crude from the country’s biggest field, Sharara.

The amount of extra oil Libya can export will also depend on how quickly it can fix wellheads, pipelines and storage tanks that have been neglected, or damaged during the conflict. Production will increase as workers return to fields that feed Brega and Hariga, and oil tankers will start arriving at both ports to load crude, the NOC said.

The Suezmax tanker Delta Hellas will reach Hariga on Wednesday to load 1 million barrels of crude from storage, thereby enabling production at the Sarir and Messla oil fields to resume immediately, Arabian Gulf Oil Co., which operates both deposits, said on its Facebook page.

Crude storage tanks at Libyan export terminals hold around 24 million barrels, OilX analysts including Juan Carlos Rodriguez and Florian Thaler wrote in a report Wednesday.

Only Hariga and Zueitina are much more than 50 percent full and able to “sustain an immediate increase in exports” before output resumes at oil fields, they said.

Although previous agreements to reopen Libya’s oil industry have failed, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. reckons exports could reach 550,000 barrels a day by year-end.

Bloomberg Intelligence thinks a figure of close to 1 million is possible.

Bloomberg News

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www.businessmirror.com.ph

Myrna Yao: An untiring advocate of women’s economic empowerment

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By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

INCE she was 10 years old, Myrna Yao wanted to be an entrepreneur. Her early influence was her parents, who were engaged in copra trading in Bicol.

Richwell Trading

IN 1980, Yao and her husband Alberto established Richwell Trading Corp. to distribute Goodwill tires.

Being the lady boss of the company, she noticed the skeptical attitude of some of her counterparts in the industry, which was male-dominated at that time. But she wanted to prove the cynics wrong, and she steered Richwell to become the top dealer in the country.

However, the success being enjoyed by the company slowed down when Goodwill started to control the delivery of tires. “We’re already at the peak of our business and this sudden development forced us to open a new business,” Yao recalled.

Here comes Barbie

AS their tire dealership slowed down, Yao started looking for new business opportunities.

This time, Yao wanted to put up a business that focused on children.

The result was the introduction of Barbie dolls in the Philippines.

“When I started the Barbie business in the country, I wanted to share the happiness and fun with little girls in the Philippines who don’t have to travel abroad to have their own Barbie doll,” Yao said.

Yao’s business wizardry emerged again as the Barbie business grew 25 percent annually because she decided to offer more products, such as different brands of toys, children’s shoes, baby products, children’s apparel and other seasonal toys. “Our company became one of the top 3 distributors of every product category in the market,” she said.

Just like any other entrepreneur, Yao also experienced the so-called birthing pains in her business.

She said these came in the form of challenges in distribution, hiring of the right employees, choosing the right products, and generally growing the business.

Yao also acknowledged that competition and marketing were big challenges they have to hurdle.

Nevertheless, perseverance made Richwell perform better and become more successful. “Challenges are sometimes beneficial if you know how to address them,” she said.

Despite being a successful entrepreneur, Yao does not want to rest

I

YAO

on her laurels and just relax and do a lot of traveling.

“A lot of my friends kept on asking me why I am still working. I told them I have to think of the people around me, especially my employees who depend on me.”

“I am still thinking how I can give them a better quality of life,” she added.

Yao said Richwell is like a family. She gets a high degree of fulfillment seeing her staff enjoying their work. This is in sync with her management style, which was inspired by the Japanese concept of inclusivity, ownership of brand, teamwork and delegation.

Although she is hands-on when it comes to the business details, Yao sets a standard of reaching their collective goals, with corresponding rewards for good performance.

“I run the business like a family ownership,” she said.

Yao’s childhood dream of empowering women was realized when she was appointed chairperson of the Philippine Commission of Women during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This gave her the chance to launch the Great Women Project, a program partnership between the Philippine Commission of Women and the Canadian government.

“The idea, concept and birth of this program and project started from my idea to empower women to become micro entrepreneurs with the help of different government agencies,” she said. The program, which was funded by the Canadian government, lasted for more than 10 years and helped in the economic empowerment of women.

Celebrating the best of life with our grandparents through ‘APO that cares’

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UR lolos and lolas have a special place in our hearts. Family gatheri ngs a nd wee kend ac t iv it ies whether in malls, restaurants or in our ancestral homes almost always involve them. Unfortunately, the pandemic has been particularly challenging for the elderly, many of whom are not allowed to leave their homes under current restrictions. Many cannot go out to see their family and friends until the quarantine restrictions are lifted.

To ensure that the elderly do not feel left out in these difficult times,

Ortigas Malls in partnership with ARTISTSHOPcares has launched a heartwarming initiative called “APO that cares” for Grandparent’s Day on September 13. The ArtistShop is the same organization behind the famous S.I.L.Y.A. chairs made especially for the elderly that are found around Ortigas Malls, as well as airports, commercial centers, and other public places around the country.

“APO that cares” aims to bring the mall experience to lolos and lolas through their grandchildren. Apo comes from the word apothecary, which traditionally

is a person who prepares and sells medicine. For this campaign, apothecary doubles as apo—the Filipino word for grandchild—and how they deliver care and love to their grandparents. Through the initiative, gift bags containing liquid hand soap and soothing balm may be purchased by grandchildren at Ortigas Malls and delivered to their elders—a gesture to remind them that although they may not be around to join the rest of the family in mall visits, they are still remembered.

Ortigas Malls values the elderly. “We recognize that the elderly

should continue to live full lives and enjoy the best that life has to offer, despite the constraints posed by the quarantine,” says Architect Renee Bacani, vice president of Ortigas Malls. “While it may take time before our lolos and lolas can go back and once again rejoin their families and loved ones in visiting malls, Ortigas Malls wants to assure them that they are cherished,” Bacani adds.

Through “APO that cares,” Ortigas Malls and ARTISTSHOPcares aim for this year’s Grandparents Day to remain memorable and joyful.

France’s weak spot: Confirmed virus infections, deaths rise at nursing homes

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The future of learning: It’s not textbooks

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Yao learned the ropes of business at a young age. During her grade school years, she helped her parents man their sari-sari store during her free time. While manning the store, the young Yao noticed lots of women going to their trading center to sell their produce.

“I realized that these wonderful group of women are doing a lot to help their families. At that time, I aspired to help women like them someday so they can have better lives,” she said.

A R IS — Conf ir med coro navirus cases and deaths are rising again in France’s nursing homes for the first time in months.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited a nursing home in the town of Bracieux in central France on Tuesday, tweeted shortly after his arrival that “our elders, more fragile, are more exposed to the virus. We must collectively redouble our attention.”

Families fear that French authorities have not absorbed the lessons from earlier in the pandemic, when nursing homes across the country shuttered elderly residents inside and were short of protective equipment for employees.

Of the 31,338 people confirmed to have died with the virus in France so far, more than 14,000 lived in nursing homes.

Some French media suggested that Macron’s visit sent mixed signals, given that visits to nursing homes were restricted in several large cities. The French government is trying to manage resurgent Covid-19 infections while insisting that the country should be back at school and work and learning to live with the virus.

That strategy is under increasing strain.

France is now reporting several thousand new confirmed virus cases a day and a weekly infection rate of more than 80 new cases per 100,000 people, among the highest rates in Europe as the continent sees the virus again picking up speed.

The number of Covid-19 receiving treatment in French hospitals and in intensive care units also is steadily rising again. Although hospitals are far from their peak

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, September 26, 2020 A7

admissions during the first wave of the country’s outbreak and are better prepared this time around, some Covid-19 wards in hot spots like Marseille are filling up.

While France’s initial surge of post-lockdown virus cases centered mainly on younger people, public health agency Sante Publique says cases are now rising fastest among those over age 75, considered the most vulnerable to severe Covid-19 complications.

Nursing homes reported dozens of new virus clusters and 89 virus-related deaths the week of September 7, the first significant rise in months, according to the agency’s latest figures. Six of the deaths were in a single nursing home in the Occitanie region of southern France. More and more French nursing homes are once again keeping visitors out.

The health agency warned that mounting virus clusters and deaths in nursing homes and increasing cases among people over 75 are “major warning signs” to the public to better protect themselves and their elders.

Like Britain and some other countries, France is also struggling with testing logjams. A massive testing effort has helped identify more confirmed cases but labs are struggling to keep up with demand.

It takes as much as a week or more for virus test results in Paris and some other French cities to come back. The health agency said those delays mean the true number of new cases is even higher and are damaging efforts to trace the contacts of infected individuals to slow the spread of the virus. AP

HAVE been quietly observing my grandkids as they trailblaze their way through the new era of blended learning during the pandemic.

The elder child, Bea, is the docile student type, closely toeing the traditional line. She’s conscientious in doing her homework, going through the required reading of books, and trudging through fillin-the-blanks type of tasks. However, from time to time, she just skips going through her textbooks and turns to search apps to get the information she needs faster.

Alexa, the younger one, is more restless and seems averse to doing traditional academic tasks. She can’t sit still and walks around with her portable tablet during class hours.

Although her Dad has bought the required printed books for her to read, she barely touched them.

In fact, I notice that Alexa is much more interested in watching snappy educational videos on YouTube, like Bright Side and Ted ED, and more absorbed when she is playing video games that pose mental challenges.

She’s showing uncanny hand-mind coordination skills. We bought her a Rubik’s Cube and she solved it one day. Now she can do it in minutes.

Did she develop this by playing video games? I wonder.

Does Alexa embody the traits of the new generation? According to sociologists, those born between 2011 and 2025 are a whole new tribe called Generation Alpha.

According to records, 2.5 million of them are born throughout the world each week. Think about this: while born and shaped fully in the 21st century, they are a generation that in record numbers will still be living in the 22nd century!

Bea, Alexa and many Alphans of school age like them are growing up in a world of iPhones and YouTube­—there are now 100 hours of YouTube videos uploaded every minute—and in this environment they are more influenced by images and moving visuals carried on digital platforms, where content is shared and made available instantly and globally.

They spend hours and hours of screen time. For them, the glass screen has become their source of knowledge and entertainment.

Unlike the medium of paper, which is static and textual, this communication tool is a kinesthetic, visual, interactive, connective and portable format.

No wonder they think that traditional teaching and learning methods “suck.” That’s because our present methods still focus too much on textbooks and tests and memorization. While there is a place for textbook learning, this new generation doesn’t want to read textbooks.

So, are we all doing it wrong?

Are we still force-feeding them textbooks when their minds are naturally configured to the digital and the visual? Like forcing square pegs into round holes?

Now is the time to rethink, reimagine and redesign our educational approach for Generation Alpha.

We should explore the feasibility of employing technology-driven media that they are most familiar with.

I propose the employment of anime and video gaming.

Both anime and video gaming are the bread and butter of children’s entertainment. Why shouldn’t such a large industry be used for bettering the world? After all, these forms of past time are not only pure entertainment, but ac-

cording to media content analysts, encourage teamwork, social skills, and a wealth of knowledge too. It’s time to harness their usefulness and make them serve our education system.

Animes are the Japanese equivalent of old style Western “cartoons.”

Japanese animes have a certain look and technique that made them highly appealing, such as extraordinary plots, storylines, action/ fight scenes, romance sequences and iconic characters.

Anime’s way of storytelling can also help shape character, and teachers would do well to employ them in inculcating good manners and right conduct, as well as imparting historical and cultural lessons. In such subjects as history, literature, and social studies, anime is an ideal educational medium because of its intrinsic power for storytelling.

Similarly, our educational media technology experts should pay more serious attention to the educational possibilities of the video gaming, another favorite in entertainment. The technology of video gaming has become more sophisticated. Graphics have become more lifelike; stories have become richer, and more involved.

Because a good video game provides a choice of scenarios that the game player must go through with consequences, playing it can help young students learn how to think rather than merely seek a right answer.

Happily, some schools abroad are now exploring video gaming as a learning tool. They are finding out that multiplayer, cooperative games can help students learn subjects such as English through context, play and social interactions.

I also read an article about a local enterprising video game developer that is making a subject like history come alive through a “Filipino fighting game” called Bayani: Fighting Game, alternatively known as Bayani: Kanino Ka Kakampi?

Weaving together our rich heritage with awesome fictional narrative, Bayani brings history to life in an entertaining way while educating the young gamer on the history of the Philippines.

I’m not saying we should eradicate textbooks altogether because they will still be essential for laying the basic foundation of literacy and comprehension. Besides, let’s face it, we are still very, very early in the technology that will make full digital education possible. We have not built up the set of tools, educational structures, and the proper use of technology to fully unlock its true potential.

Still, we cannot turn back the clock. Even now, the pandemic is forcing us to shift to digital platforms not only in the area of leisure and entertainment but also at work and in school. Whether we like it or not, we will be here to stay within the digital realm even after the pandemic.

More and more educational content will have to be transposed to digital formats to facilitate elearning among schoolchildren.

The role of animes and video gaming as educational media have become more timely now and compellingly relevant.

In the near future, I hope to see educational animes or video games in a virtual classroom whip up much excitement in the classroom in the same way a new anime episode or a new video game can get today’s young people so excited it is becomes viral in a snap.

A8

www.businessmirror.com.ph

K-pop moments and hashtags that made Twitter history

YOUR DIGITAL SURVIVAL KIT FOR THESE TRYING TIMES THE pandemic has forced many to work or attend classes from home and rely heavily on technology to get tasks done efficiently and on time. To further maximize your time, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, suggests these tech tips and tricks for better output and productivity to make your life easier: ■ DO DIGITAL DECLUTTERING. A lagging laptop or desktop is very inconvenient especially when you’re trying to accomplish tasks or meet deadlines at work. When this happens often, it’s probably time to do a thorough digital decluttering on your operating system or installed browser extensions. An easy way to declutter is to first backup all your files via Google Drive or Dropbox, then clean up your device for unnecessary files, and empty your download folder and computer trash. Do this regularly to help improve your productivity as it removes a few bugs and generally speeds up whatever gadget you’re using.

■ DOWNLOAD USEFUL APPS ONLY. For work, for example, you can use a reputable video call app for virtual meetings, plus a to-do list app to keep track of your tasks.

Also, now more than ever, keep an eye out for apps that can help you be prepared in case of emergencies especially amid the pandemic. For instance, the Emma by AXA app gives access to 24/7 emergency services such as ambulance, fire, police and roadside assistance for free. The app, which is available on the App Store or Google Play Store, also allows AXA customers to monitor their policy online and conveniently access their funds, investments, transaction history, and AXA’s e-servicing features. Even non-customers can get the app.

■ GET CREATIVE ABOUT WHERE TO SHOP ONLINE. With community quarantine still in place, everyone is encouraged to stay at home. Quarantine passes are also limited and long lines at the grocery can be inconvenient. With this current situation, it may be better and safer to purchase all the essentials online. The key is to be careful and creative about where to shop online. Choose only legitimate merchants or trusted referrals and contact distributors of your favorite brands directly. Even insurance policies for your protection can be bought directly online, like from the AXA Philippines web site (www.axa.com.ph).

■ KEEP FILES ORGANIZED. Cloud storage, such as Google Drive, Dropbox and iCloud, has become an increasingly practical way of keeping your data synchronized on all your devices. This way, you can easily work anywhere and not worry about possible corruption of USB or hard drives. Best of all, you can easily update them in one go.

■ USE KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS. These help you maximize your keyboard with little use of the mouse. This may also help you save money as there is no need to buy a mouse or have it repaired if it breaks or gets lost.

Make your work and life easier with these handy, timesaving tech tips.

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BusinessMirror

Saturday, September 26, 2020 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

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OME people like to say, “Twitter is dead.” If you’re a K-pop fan, you know this isn’t true.

I, for one, run three K-pop-related accounts, one of which is an hourly account for one of my favorite artists.

I’ve been on Twitter since 2009 and I’ve been through so many of its important K-pop moments, from PSY’s (@psy_oppa) #GangnamStyle in 2012 to the release of supergroup SuperM’s (@superm) first mini-album in 2019.

PSY’s “Gangnam Style” and the #GangnamStyle Worldwide Syndrome became viral in 2012. The song ranked No. 2 for seven consecutive weeks on Billboard Hot 100. On December 31, 2013, PSY performed at Times Square in New York.

Many other artists had historic moments on Twitter. Big Bang was the first K-pop artist to win Best Worldwide Act at MTV EMAs in 2011, and in 2012 Alive became the first K-pop album to chart on Billboard 200. Big Bang’s (@YG_GlobalVIP) #BIGBANGMADE, the 2015-2016 MADE World Tour, attracted 1.5 million concertgoers.

In 2011, the SM Entertainment boy group Super Junior (@SJofficial) made it to the “Top 10 Trending Topics on Twitter”. In 2012, Super Junior ranked No. 1 on Taiwan’s KKBOX for 121 consecutive weeks. In 2015, the group was named Best International Artist in the Teen Choice Awards.

In a press release, Twitter said #WonderGirls “paved the way for the new decade of K-pop as a pioneer.” Wonder Girls (@WonderGirls) was the first K-pop artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100, and their song “Nobody” topped the Year-End Chart of the Billboard Hot Single Sales in 2009. Reboot was named No. 1 in 10 Best K-pop Albums of 2015 by Billboard.

Another girl group, Girls’ Generation (@ GirlsGeneration), was the first foreign girl group to top Japan’s Oricon Chart in 2010 and was named Best K-pop Girl Group in the Past 10 Years by Billboard in 2017.

In 2012, 2NE1 became the first girl group to stage a world tour with “#2NE1NewEvolution” and its song “Crush” set new records, including bestselling K-pop album and “Highest-Charting K-pop album” on the Billboard 200 in 2014.

In 2013, boy group EXO (@weareoneEXO) sold 1 million albums with XOXO (Hugs & Kisses). In 2017,

SINGER, rapper, songwriter and record producer PSY is internationally known for his hit single ‘Gangnam Style,’ a song that became viral and launched the #GangnamStyle Worldwide Syndrome. @42PSY42 ON INSTAGRAM

the launch of the group’s official Twitter account with The War album led 11 million tweets in 48 hours and its song “Ko Ko Bop” was ranked No. 1 as “the most mentioned song.” In 2019, “Obsession” was named Best K-pop Song of the Year by Billboard.

In 2017, boy group BTS (@BTS_twt) became the first K-pop artist to reach 10 million followers on Twitter. In 2019, it won the BBMAs’ Top Social Artist Award for the third consecutive time. In 2020, BTS Army, the group’s massive fandom, drove #MatchAMillion to support the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Recently, BTS’s Dynamite ranked No. 1 on “Billboard Hot 100.”

In 2015, GOT7 (@GOT7Official) ranked No. 2 on the 2015 Twitter Global Top Keywords (Music), and No. 1 among K-pop related trends. In 2018, the group’s fans were named #TwitterBestFandom at Soompi Awards.

For seven consecutive years since their January 2014

Physical stores can still thrive in the post-pandemic era GEORGE PEPES

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES BRICK-AND-MORTAR retail stores can still thrive in the post-Covid-19 era, according to an official of a major industry solutions provider.

“Malls and retail stores can remain relevant and thrive in a post-pandemic period, and provide shoppers with a great shopping experience, such as faster transaction, systematic inventory of products, and a cleaner and healthier environment, Zebra Technologies APAC Vertical Solutions Lead for Healthcare and Retail George Pepes said in a recent online interview with BUSINESSMIRROR. “People still want to go to a physical stores. Retailers, however, must provide them convenience and safety,” he added.

Right now, Pepes said the transition of retail stores in their IT infrastructure will be from hardware to software. In this shift, Pepes said retail companies will tap

software companies to develop the software needed to make their operations more efficient.

With the continuing onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said retail firms are right now making adjustments to a market that now prefers online transactions mainly for health and safety reasons.

Furthermore, Pepes said the current scenario has shown that people now shy away from buying luxury items, opting to purchase basic items, such as food and medicine.

Pepes also highlighted the importance of retraining the staff so they can respond to customers in an efficient manner.”

The staff needs to be retrained to be able to deliver quality service to clients,” Pepes pointed out.

He stressed it is important to upgrade the skills of the staff to complement the technology upgrade of the IT infrastructure.

Pepes noted that the transition of retail

stores should be viewed on a case-to-case basis stressing that individual retail stores have their own capabilities and limitations.

“The big ones will be able to adapt to the new changes faster while the smaller players will do it on a gradual basis,” Pepes said.

Pepes said executives of organizations should the lead the way in initiating change that will connect the front-end to the backend operations.

Citing a research. Pepes said 64 percent of the retail staff in the Asean region have no training on the new technologies.

“The training of the retail staff on mobile shopping is quite important because 60 percent of the shoppers in the region use a mobile phone,” Pepes said.

To ensure the safety of customers, frequent sanitization of retail facilities has become a necessity. However, the disinfection of devices used by their frontline staff is equally important in curbing the spread of the virus.

Pepes said it is also vital for retailers to regulary clean and disinfect point-of-sale equipment, tablets or mobile computers, and receipt and label printers used by store associates.

“It would be counterproductive to expect frontline staff and store associates to wash their hands multiple times a day, only to touch dirty devices immediately afterwards,” he said.

Zebra also stressed the importance of cleaning mobile devices, as these become easily contaminated with bacteria from the constant handling of staff.

According to a whitepaper on devices used in healthcare, a typical mobile device has 18 times more bacteria than a public toilet door handle.

Furthermore, Zebra said supermarkets, pharmacies and convenience stores must thoroughly disinfect the plastic parts, as well such as the housing and nooks and crannies to prevent the transmission of contagions.

debut, GOT7 has been a Top 3 Most Mentioned K-pop Artist. In 2016, TWICE’s (@JYPETWICE) song “Cheer Up” swept major K-pop awards and in 2017, the group became the first foreign female artist to achieve “Triple Crown on Oricon chart.” In 2019, they made news with the “#TWICEdreamday Dome Tour”.

In 2019, BLACKPINK (@ygofficialblink) was the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella and the first girl group to be named to Forbes Asia’s “30 Under 30” list. In 2020, the launch of their Twitter account with the song “How You Like That” led 5 million tweets in 12 hours.

In 2019, SuperM had the most sensational debut in K-pop history in the new supergroup format, with its members composed of artists from #SHINee, #EXO, #NCT127 and #WayV. The launch of their first minialbum was the first time Billboard 200 was topped by a K-pop artist debut album. ■

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

MESSAGING APP TEAMS UP WITH D.O.H. FOR COVID-FIGHTING STICKER PACK

IN a global pandemic, fake news and unverified information are not only confusing but also dangerous. That’s why the Department of Health (DOH) is releasing a brand-new Viber sticker pack featuring Alden Richards, which aims to spread credible and helpful information to further aid Filipinos in the battle against Covid-19. Now, the popular messaging app empowers individuals to spread health and safety tips—and maybe save lives—just by sending friends some “Pambansang Bae”-approved stickers.

The sticker pack is linked to DOH’s bot nicknamed KIRA, short for “Katuwang na Impormasyon para sa Responsableng Aksyon,” that has over 120,000 subscribers on Viber, which is available on the App Store and Google Play Store. The stickers have been launched in support of DOH’s BIDA Solusyon sa Covid-19 campaign to encourage Filipinos to take a more active role in the fight against the virus by following the fourletter reminder: B for Bawal walang mask; I for I-sanitize ang mga kamay, iwas-hawak sa mga bagay; D for Dumistansya ng isang metro; and A for Alamin ang totoong impormasyon.

Ever since the pandemic hit the Philippines, Viber has become a reliable platform for credible outlets to spread information and debunk myths. The DOH launched their own Viber Community in March to post updates on Covid-19 to around 1.7 million Filipinos. Last April, they created their own Viber bot to answer users’ questions about their symptoms and health. This new chapter in the Viber-DOH partnership further solidifies the app’s status as one of the most reliable providers of credible Covid-19 information in the Philippines.

Several news outlets and health organizations have also created Communities on Viber to reach Filipinos, taking advantage of the app’s safe and private interface.

“We’re very glad to partner with Viber for our campaign against Covid-19,” says Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, director of the Health Promotion and Communication Service of DOH. “As the messaging app of choice for millions of Filipinos, we’re confident that we can reach as many of our kababayans, and provide them with life-saving information that would help keep them safe and protected as we continue to fight this pandemic.”

STYLISH, LIGHTWEIGHT VIVO GAMING PHONE LAUNCHED OVER the past few months, smartphone brand vivo has released a slew of phones with innovate technology that caters to the demands of current lifestyles.

With the increasing prominence of mobile gaming in today’s environment, vivo is set to release the vivo Y20i, an entry-level smartphone expected to pack powerful gaming technology inside a very stylish, modern and industry-leading lightweight body. The latest addition to the Y series is packing 64GB ROM, 4GB RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 Processor that will enable ultra-smooth user experience, high-graphics processing and dynamic performance. Also on-board is a long-lasting 5000mAh battery plus the latest rapid cooling technology.

The Android 10-powered smartphone has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner which will allow for a more comfortable hold and maximization of its impressive 6.51-inch HD Halo FullView screen, plus an unhampered view of its rear design.

Besides a fingerprint scanner, the vivo Y20i also boasts of FaceView Unlock technology for convenient phone unlocking.

As a leading global technology company that prides itself with its smartphones’ mobile photography capabilities across all models, the vivo Y20i has AI portrait camera features that will enhance images captured by its AI Dual Camera consisting of 13MP main shooter and 2MP Bokeh lens.

More information is available at www.vivoglobal.ph.

• Saturday, September 26, 2020

A9

Sony’s new $500 PlayStation 5 will launch November 12

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BY MAE ANDERSON The Associated Press

ONY’S upcoming PlayStation 5 video game console will cost $500 and launch on November 12, the company said Wednesday, setting up a holiday battle with Microsoft’s Xbox Series X over whose new console will turn up under more trees this year.

Video game fans have been chomping at the bit for the new consoles, and not just because they’ve been stuck inside since March. The roughly 7-year life cycle of a video game console has been nearing an end. Both predecessor consoles, the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, launched in 2013.

The new consoles promise faster load times, souped up graphics and new games. Sony’s console is also more expensive this time around; the PS4 launched for $400 in 2013.

Sony’s PS5 will come in two different models — a standard version with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive for $500, and a digital-oriented version with no disk drive that costs $400. While you can still buy games on optical disks, it’s increasingly common for gamers to download them in digital form instead.

The US, Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea will see the console on November 12; everywhere else will get it a week later.

In a presentation, Sony previewed games including “Spider-Man: Miles Morales,” which will be available at launch, and a Harry Potter game, “Hogwarts Legacy,” which will be out in 2021.

It gave a sneak peak of “Final Fantasy XVI,” which will be exclusive to PlayStation, but did not specify when that game will launch.

Last week, Microsoft said its Xbox Series X will cost $500 and debut on November 10, just ahead of the holidays. A stripped down version, Xbox Series S, will cost $300 and be available at the same time. Preorders began on September 22. New video games at launch, include “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,” “Gears Tactics,” “Dirt 5” and “Watch Dogs Legion”.

Nintendo, which makes another popular console,

PEOPLE stand online next to the PlayStation booth at the 24th Electronic Entertainment Expo E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in July 2018. Sony said on September 16, 2020 that its upcoming PlayStation 5 video game console will cost $500 and launch on November 12, setting up a holiday battle with Microsoft’s Xbox Series X over whose new console will turn up more under the tree this year. AP

the Nintendo Switch, won’t have a new model out until next year. But Facebook could offer Microsoft and Sony some holiday competition. It said on Wednesday

a new version of its wire-free virtual reality headset, the Oculus Quest 2, will start shipping on October 13, just in time for the holidays. ■

Alibaba Cloud launches new digital ecosystem strategy THE digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, Alibaba Cloud launches a new digital ecosystem strategy in the Philippines after its establishment of the Philippines Ecosystem Alliance two months ago. The strategy is aimed at empowering local partners with worldclass technology and innovation from Alibaba Cloud’s global partners. This is expected to help Filipino businesses adapt and assimilate into the post-Covid-19, cloud-native era. The strategy was announced at the Apsara Conference 2020.

For the Philippines, this new strategy translates to a hyper-localized “grassroots” approach to better support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through working with partners such as Kaisa, Crayon and Microgenesis.

By working with global partners, such as Temenos and Vertica to innovate best-in-class solutions, and pass on the learning experiences with local partners, Alibaba Cloud can better help Filipino businesses of all sizes from blue chip companies to SMEs to go digital.

“Businesses now see digitalization an essential need rather than a plus point, and they want to transform as quickly as they can after the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Lancelot Guo, president of Ecosystem and Sales Operations for Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

“A successful adoption of the cloud is only possible when the ecosystem is brought together to support customers’ needs. Therefore, we want to work with world-class partners such as Temenos and Vertica in the transformation process, leveraging their expertise to help our customers grow.”

Temenos, the banking software company, has announced that Temenos Transact, its next generation core banking product, is now certified on Alibaba Cloud.

Meanwhile, Vertica also announced the Vertica Analytics Platform on the Alibaba Cloud Platform. Intelligence-driven organizations can now run Vertica’s fast and massively scalable analytics and machine learning against the largest

data volumes for insights. Philippine enterprises can enjoy the offerings from both companies on Alibaba Cloud.

“Philippine customers will benefit more from small and medium partners who have a better affinity and intuition of what they need, especially post the pandemic where digitalization needs to take place rapidly. We are not only working with these partners but also empowering them with our know-how drawn from our global experience,” said Allen Guo, general manager for the Philippines, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

Alibaba Cloud currently has local partners from various industries such as retail, fintech, media, information communications technology, business-process outsourcing, healthcare and education. It has announced support to 5,000 businesses in the Philippines on their digital migration by end-2023. Alibaba Cloud also hopes to train 50,000 and certify at least 10,000 IT professionals within the next three years.

PT&T TIES UP WITH GO PHILIPPINES TO PROVIDE QUALITY CONNECTIVITY AS PHL UNDERGOES E-LEARNING

BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor

THE vivo Y20i in Dawn White

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

TIMELY to the opening of classes this school year, the Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) has signed a Memorandum Of Agreement with Go Philippines to provide Internet connectivity for the organization’s digital learning platform.

This collaborative effort was reached to meet the strong demand for connectivity and distance learning tools among their partner schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Relevant support for causes like this, especially in these challenging times, is essential for our nation to bounce back,” said Ricky Pena, general manager for broadband services of PT&T. “PT&T continues to seek out opportunities where we, in our capacity and industry, can serve where we are most needed—in this case, providing much needed infrastructure in the education sector,”

he added. With the ongoing global health crisis, an efficient and reliable Internet connectivity is crucial to online learning for academic institutions and students. “Schools moved quickly to adopt distance learning tools to overcome challenges of the pandemic,” said Michael Goldsmith, cofounder and chief visionary officer of Go Philippines.

“Unfortunately even the best learning management system will fail absent of quality connectivity. Our partnership with PT&T exemplifies the bayanihan spirit, permitting us to deliver critical broadband Internet solutions for academia, improving user experience for a quality education,” he added.

Go Philippines had its soft launch in February 2020, and since then has emerged as a key enabler in extending much needed financial services to the education industry, supporting 3,000 scholarships annually, and pending delivery of the country’s largest skills training initiative to help 5.1 million

Filipinos with online courses and accreditation for employability.

This community-driven social enterprise has tied up with Fortune Global 100 and Filipino companies, national government, and nongovernment organizations associated with academia.

Headquartered in Bonifacio Global City with an office in Batangas City, the company fosters accessible and affordable learning, ensuring education for all Filipinos. Publicly-listed firm PT&T, to date, has a network reach of 13,500 fiber kilometers in highgrowth areas and covering almost 40 percent of the nation’s total population.

It ventured into information technology services space last year, offering accessible, enterprise-grade solutions to compliment their connectivity portfolio.

PT&T holds a 25-year franchise which allows it to establish, maintain and operate both wired and wireless telecommunications systems for local and international communication in the country.

A10 Saturday, September 26, 2020 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

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Keeping kids safe even with increased online exposure during pandemic

Tips for living online— lessons from six months of the Covid-19 pandemic

BY PAMELA SCOTT BRACEY Mississippi State University

V

ALENTINE’S Day was sweet, spring break was fun, then...boom! Covid-19. Stayat-home orders, workplace shutdowns, school closures and social distancing requirements changed lives almost overnight. Fortytwo percent of the US work force now works from home full-time.

In the six months since the “new normal” began, Americans have gained a fair amount of experience with working, studying and socializing online.

With schools resuming and cooler weather curtailing outdoor activities, videoconferencing will be as front and center as it was in the spring.

As someone who researches and teaches instructional technology, I can offer recommendations for how to make the best of the situation and make the most of virtual interactions with colleagues, teachers, students, family and friends.

CREATE A DESIGNATED VIDEOCONFERENCING SPACE

IF working from home, select a location with a simple background that does not show angles of your personal space that you would like to keep private.

Some videoconference platforms even include free virtual background options to choose from, or allow you to upload your own mock office image files.

If you aren’t able to add home classrooms, desks or workstations, be sure to create a designated learning space at a table for children and their school materials to create structure and a routine. Post schedules near the workspace, and limit distractions.

If lighting in your designated workspace is dark, invest in a ring light or other lamp to guarantee that you can be clearly seen.

Environment affects mood. Since many people now spend the majority of their time within the confines of their homes, it’s worthwhile to declutter, reorganize and clean on a regular basis to make home a space of peace and comfort in the midst of chaotic circumstances.

GET TO KNOW YOUR VIDEOCONFERENCING SOFTWARE

TO lessen the probability of having your meetings compromised by hackers, use passwords and log onto

videoconferences only via secure, password-protected internet networks.

Use headphones with noise-canceling microphones for optimal sound. This can help provide clear communication.

Create accounts within videoconference platforms before going into meetings to access more available features and set your personal preferences.

If you’re tired of the Hollywood Squares effect of Zoom and the other major videoconferencing platforms, take a look at some of the newer alternatives, like Spatial, and keep an eye on projects in the works that aim to make videoconferencing feel more like real life.

KEEP A SCHEDULE AND TAKE BREAKS

SET alarms five or 10 minutes before scheduled start times to remember when to log into videoconferences.

Also keep your schedule written in a planner in case your phone dies or gets misplaced.

People with children participating in virtual learning may feel like they’ve become personal assistants trying to juggle multiple schedules.

Showing students how to maintain their own schedules will not only lessen your load but will also teach them valuable planning and accountability skills that will carry them far beyond grade school.

Consider actually resting during scheduled breaks in videoconferences. Go for walks outside for fresh air, eat healthy snacks and drink water. Refrain from forcing children to work on homework during short breaks, and allow their eyes to rest, too. Excessive screen time can be bad for your eyes.

Sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time can cause pain in other parts of the body, so be sure to get up and move around during breaks. Being sedentary is generally bad for your health.

Keeping computers at eye level or using moveable webcams can help alleviate neck pain, and also avoid showing what’s in your nose. Maintaining an upright posture can help prevent back and wrist injuries; and using an external mouse for laptop navigation can help reduce strain on fingers and joints.

IDENTIFY AVAILABLE RESOURCES

EXPLORE resources and benefits offered through your place of employment. Perhaps there is a designated budget for home office equipment like printers, desks, chairs, webcams and headsets. Many companies also offer free mental health therapy

sessions, childcare provisions and extended family medical leave through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. If you have suffered personal losses due to Covid-19, taking time to grieve is essential; coping alone can weigh heavily on your mental health.

Having the support of friends and colleagues can help you navigate these uncharted waters more successfully, but only if they are made aware of your circumstances.

LIFE ONLINE ISN’T EASY—BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS

THE effects of living virtually online continue to affect everyone in various ways. Some are struggling with guilt from having to send children back to school while Covid-19 is still spreading rapidly—but work schedules or financial situations leave no other choice.

Other families are struggling with the demands of keeping children home to learn virtually because their school districts aren’t offering an in-person option due to safety concerns.

People in supervisory roles should try to remember that life is different for everyone right now. It’s unreasonable to expect the same level of productivity without considering employees’ homelife situations.

While virtual learning is extremely inconvenient for parents who have multiple children, demanding careers or financial restraints, it’s important to recognize that most educators are doing the best they can—especially those who are also parents.

Most are working to learn how to use new software applications, navigate learning management systems and adopt unfamiliar online strategies and classroom management techniques, often with no technical assistance.

Whatever your reality is right now, just trust your gut and do the best that you can. Take time to appreciate small pleasantries of life, incorporate daily physical activity, take walks to enjoy nature, reconnect with family through game or movie nights and try new cooking recipes. Be especially mindful of your attitude around children, since adults set the tone and highly influence the outlooks of impressionable young minds.

Living online is not the end of the world, but attitude is everything. Continue to do your best, and know that this too shall pass, hopefully sooner than later. THE CONVERSATION

EVERY day, parents confront various concerns with regard to their children. But with the pandemic where children become more exposed online for learning, entertainment and socialization, one important issue that has to be addressed immediately is how to keep the young ones safe from the dangers that lurk in the Internet while allowing technology to work for them.

To deal with the apprehensions being faced by parents during these extraordinary times, the Gabay Bahay: An Online Parenting Series discussed different ways that can guide the parents, including how to navigate the Internet safely. The online series is established by the Department of Education Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DepEd DRRMS) with Globe Telecom as a major partner.

Atty. Irish Salandanan-Almeida, Data Protection Officer of Globe and one of the webinar speakers, underscored the importance of keeping children safe online. Almeida, who has two kids, emphasized that parents should ensure the protection of their children’s personal information while using the Internet.

“While the Internet offers countless benefits for our children, it can also expose them to risks and dangers. If we don’t monitor their online activity or educate them on responsible online behavior, they may be vulnerable to harassment, discrimination, blackmail, cyberbullying and even identity theft or fraud,” she said.

Almeida also shared a few reminders for parents to guide their children on the responsible use of the Internet: ■ Ask the children not to post or share personal information publicly, or with strangers, as those with ill intentions could easily take advantage of this.

■ Make it a point to read the privacy policies and terms and conditions of the websites and applications that your children use.

■ Set your children’s privacy settings with them. This way, you have some control over who can see their children’s posts, and who can contact them.

■ Remind them not to chat with people they don’t know, and to report them to you or their teachers immediately.

■ Educate them about the harmful effects of clicking on links or downloading files from unknown sources.

These could be viruses in disguise and may be used to steal personal information, which hackers can use to take advantage of.

■ Ask them not to give out their username or password to anyone except their parents.

As much as possible, she said, parents should monitor their children’s use of the Internet, and provide proper guidance. In the event of a violation of their children’s data privacy rights, parents may file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission at complaints@privacy.gov.ph.

■ In another episode of the series, Francis Pugeda, Head of Emerging Technologies at Globe, related how technology can help children discover their creative side and explore things they want like music, movies/TV series.

As parents, Pugeda said they should exercise some control over their children’s use of the Internet to establish discipline but not too much that it would curtail their desire to learn new things.

“Being responsible is key when using technology. With our daughter, we allow her some leeway, but we also make sure to guide her properly, especially on her choice of content, what is beneficial and what can be harmful. Good thing is that because she is guided, she already knows her limits,” he said.

“We shouldn’t force them but let them discover things on their own but with proper guidance to make their technology and internet use a pleasant experience.”

Globe is a strong advocate of digital citizenship and responsible use of technology. Through its Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP), the telco introduced various modules to teachers and students aimed at increasing students’ knowledge of digital citizenship and cybersafety by taking a critical look at their online behavior and helping them develop insights into the influences of the online world and the choices they are making. With the push towards online education, Globe modified the in-class DTP workshop into e-modules to reach more people in their homes.

More information about Globe’s sustainability efforts is available at bit.ly/3kJXhIG.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, September 26, 2020 A11

The Cat(6) is out of the bag A

Huawei has sufficient inventory of communications equipment

FEW weeks ago, actress Liza Soberano made the headlines when she complained about her Internet service. And faster than she could scream “Lag na!,” PLDT came to her rescue, installing a 300 Mbps connection and inspiring her to tweet; “The best Internet I have ever experienced in my whole 5 years of living in this house.”

There is no question, the Internet isn’t a luxury anymore but a utility, much like electricity and water. I know some people who could survive a couple of days without water but would lose their minds if they don’t have an Internet connection for more than a few hours.

The Internet has become even more of a necessity with more people choosing to work from home along with their kids who are also studying from home. But not all of us can do a Liza Soberano, and PLDT has limited manpower to service all those applications, repairs and equipment upgrades.

For those who need Internet connection in their homes, the best alternative would be to get a PLDT Home WiFi Prepaid connection. All you have to do is order the prepaid Internet kit and once it arrives you can enjoy a fast Internet connection in less than 5 minutes.

PLDT HOME WIFI CAT6

LAST month, I made the switch to test out the latest PLDT Home WiFi Prepaid Cat6 Modem.

The Cat6 modem uses carrier aggregation and combines frequency channels to power LTE to deliver faster speeds. The new modem can deliver 2x faster speeds in 4G areas with carrier aggregation and via 5GHz-capable devices.

It also includes a high-gain external antenna that allows stronger and more reliable data transmission.

PLDT Home WiFi Prepaid is powered by Smart LTE, the fastest mobile network in the Philippines as certified by Ookla.

The kit contains the huge modem, which is almost twice the size of the previous Cat4 unit, a pair of external antennas, power adapter, Ethernet/LAN cable, and quick user guide. The SIM card is already pre-installed and I suggest you not removing it.

The modem unit is a Green Packet DH-725 manufactured by a company called Green Packet Berhad. Quick research reveals that Green Packet is an internationally recognized telecommunications, media and technology company that was founded in California’s Silicon Valley in 2000 and subsequently listed on the Malaysian Stock Exchange in 2005.

They have developed many firsts in the industry for telecommunications operators globally including the world’s first Multi-Mode LTE Modem and WiMAX Modem that allow users to experience the best 4G-connection on a single device at anytime, anywhere.

Exploring the modem, you’ll see eight LED indicators for power, WiFi 2.4GHz, WiFi 5.0GHz, connection status, SIM card status, and signal strength. At the back you’ll see the antenna connectors, power connector, and the reset button.

Just like the Cat4 modem, this unit also has 2 LAN ports, which allows wired connection of two devices.

The SIM card slot is at the top of the unit and sealed with a sticker to let you know that the SIM card has not been tampered or replaced.

You will also notice the presence of vents to keep the modem cool as well as an elevated stand for extra ventilation at the bottom.

Like previous PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid modems, this one is also a plug-and-surf device, which means the modem needs no installation and is easy to use, especially for children at home (with adult supervision). The only assembly it requires is screwing on the two antennas at the back of the unit. To get the best results place the modem it near a window facing an open space.

After that, all you need to do is plug in the adaptor to a power outlet. The LEDs will light up, and in about a minute, when the LED lights become stable, it’s ready for connection. The modem comes with free 10GB of data (valid for seven days) upon activation so you can already connect to the Internet.

Newer devices that support the WiFi 5.0GHz band will show two SSIDs when you search for WiFi. You can connect to either one, and the default password/s are indicated on the Green Packet label/sticker at the back of the modem.

But before you do, I strongly suggest you change the WiFi name and password by accessing the modem’s dashboard. Setting it up can be a little bit tricky, especially if it’s your first time, so here’s a quick guide to help you out.

1. Once your PLDT Home WiFi device is setup and plugged in, connect your device using the default network name and password. If you are using a PC/ laptop, you can opt to use the LAN cable to directly connect to the modem without the need of password.

2. Open your web browser and type in https://192.168.1.1 or https://pldthomewifisettings.net to access the device’s dashboard, log in using the default PLDT Home WiFi admin account (username: pldthome, password: pldthome).

3. It will prompt you to change the following: admin/device password, WiFi name (SSID), and WiFi password.

4. Input your desired password. Remember that passwords should be at least 12 characters long and must contain uppercase, lowercase, digits (0-9), and special characters. Make sure to write it down in case you forget it.

5. Now, if you forget your WiFi password or want to reset it to default, check the back part of your modem and look for the RESET button. Using a paperclip/ SIM tool, press it for 10 seconds, release and wait for it to restart. You can then use the original password indicated on the modem again.

To ensure maximum performance of the Internet connection, PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid modems can connect up to five devices.

Using the Speedtest app/web site and testing it in Novaliches, Quezon City, I was able to record fantastic download speeds of 70.52 Mbps and upload speeds of around 23Mbps, and I’m only getting two signal bars (I’ve placed it in the corner of my room far from the window). Take note that the quality of connection depends on location, so your results may be different.

I usually load it for an entire week’s usage and for my regular browsing and blogging work, and I still have

some data left by the end of the seventh day.

You can load up your PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid at any PLDT, Smart and Sun Stores nationwide, sari-sari stores, convenience stores and digital channels like PayMaya and Grab Pay. Make sure to download the MyPLDT app so you can manage and monitor your remaining data.

PLDT Home Wifi also recently introduced two new data packages, FamLoad Study 599 and FamLoad Study 999, which are tailor-fitted to students’ e-learning needs.

With the new FamLoad Study, parents can have peace of mind that the Internet will not detach their children’s attention from their studies because each package is packed with dedicated access to learning sites and apps. FamLoad Study 599 offers 3GB data every day for 15 days that can be used to access top learning sites and apps including Microsoft 365 tools, the Gabay Guro app, Canvas, and NEO. These modern learning platforms are being used by local and international schools, and give students and teachers an advanced online learning experience. The FamLoad Study 599 also provides 12GB open access data for other online activities such as chatting with classmates, consulting with teachers, and researching and brainstorming for projects.

Meanwhile, the FamLoad Study 999 is perfect for those who need bigger data for heavy-data online activities such as video classes and conference calls, and the convenience of having enough data that can be used for up to one month. It offers 90GB data or 3GB everyday good for 30 days that students can use to access their online learning platforms. FamLoad Study 999 also has 24GB open access that can be used for other study needs, such as e-mail, social media, online research, messaging apps, and more.

The new PLDT Home WiFi Prepaid is a great option for families who either live in areas without fiberto-the-home facilities, or prefer a prepaid Internet connection so as not to worry about their monthly bills. This is also for heavy Internet users at home who need 2x faster connectivity that they can use for multiple uploads and downloads of their work/school requirements.

The new PLDT Home WiFi Prepaid Cat6 is available at PLDT Home’s official online stores in Lazada and GrabMart, and at www.pldthome.com/ homewifi.

TECH THOUGHTS: “We often forget that there is a person behind that avatar who isn’t always smiling. Be kind with your comments.”

HUAWEI Technologies Co., the telecom giant at the center of US-China tensions, said it has “sufficient” inventory for its communications equipment business while it seeks out supplies of smartphone chips that have been cut off by a Trump administration ban.

The company has enough supplies to keep its enterprise and carrier units afloat and it’s developing new consumer devices to offset the hit to its smartphone business, Guo Ping, Huawei’s rotating chairman, told reporters in Shanghai on Wednesday.

It’s still evaluating the impact of the US blacklist, which has greatly limited American suppliers’ businesses, Guo added, saying Huawei is still willing to buy from those firms.

A White House ban on companies providing American technology to Huawei came into effect last week, cutting off the foreign-made semiconductors, software and other materials that are key to powering its mobile phones and 5G base stations. While suppliers including Qualcomm Inc. have applied for licenses to continue shipping to the Chinese company, it’s unclear whether the US Commerce Department will issue the permits necessary.

The company has been a key target in the US campaign against China’s tech ascendancy, which President Donald Trump has been ratcheting up as the November elections approach.

“The US ban brings tremendous trouble in operation and production,” Guo said. Huawei will provide full support to its supply chain, including in areas like talent, technology and standards, to help navigate the current restrictions, he added.

Huawei is also under siege elsewhere. Japan and Australia have joined in the US-led boycott, while the UK will prohibit its telecom operators from buying the company’s equipment starting next year.

Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou remains under house arrest in Canada and is fighting a US extradition request on alleged trade-sanctions violations.

Huawei’s first-half revenue grew 13 percent to 454 billion yuan ($67 billion) despite the global backlash, the company said in July. Profit for the six months to June jumped nearly 20 percent to about 41.8 billion yuan, Bloomberg calculations show. Its enterprise business—including cloud, routers and other IT services—accounted for less than 10 percent of revenue during the period, while its carriers unit made up slightly over a third.

Over half of Huawei’s sales came from its consumer business, which is now being threatened by the US ban. Consumer group chief Richard Yu admitted at an event earlier this month that curbs on chip supplies have impacted smartphone shipments, which were 105 million units in the first half of 2020 after reaching 240 million in 2019.

Guo’s comments on Wednesday suggested the company may be holding out hope that the situation could improve after the US elections.

“As Alexandre Dumas said, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words: wait and hope,” he said, quoting from The Count of Monte Cristo, the 19th century novel about the eponymous count who eventually gets revenge against those who conspired against him. “Survival is the key.” BLOOMBERG NEWS

Sports BusinessMirror

A12 Saturday, September 26, 2020

Araneta sounds alarm bell for Tokyo-bound athletes T

Casimero stakes belt against Ghanaian Micah

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ORLD Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero stakes his belt on Sunday against an Olympian from Ghana who kept under wraps his preparation for the showdown set at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut in the US. Casimero, the 31-year-old pride of Ormoc City, faces London 2012 veteran Duke Micah in the fight organized by Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions.

“There could be something about him [Micah], his defeaning silence could mean he’s either a good fighter or I’ll send him to sleep come fight night,” Casimero told the BusinessMirror on Friday.

Duke was peculiarly silent during the fight’s news conference on Wednesday, providing a tinge of mystery over how the Ghanaian would perform on Saturday.

But Casimero oozes with confidence over his opponent who he describe as “amateurish.”

Casimero (29-4 won-lost with 20 knockouts) warned the unbeaten Micah (24-0 with 19 knockouts) to brace himself for a world-class confrontation and be ready to be at the receiving end of his frustration of missing a chance at going after Japanese Naoya Inoue’s hide.

The Filipino champion was originally penned for a fight with Inoue (19-0 record with 16 knockouts), the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association bantamweight, but their April 25 bout at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas was ran over by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead of going ahead of the unification bout, Inoue’s promotions outfit Top Rank opted for Australia’s Jason Moloney in November.

“Be prepared Micah, catch my frustrations through my fists,” Casimero said.

“I am much better now after staying here in the US training since February. I really feel good than ever.”

Casimero is under the tutelage of former world champion Clarence “Bones” Adams and Stephen Lunas and has been under the watch of international matchmaker Sean Gibbons and his older brother, Jayson Casimero.

“As long as Casimero gets warmed up, I think Micah won’t last and the fight won’t go the distance,” said Gibbons, also Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions president.

The three-division champion Casimero has been facing, and beating African opponents of late. Last November, he dethroned South African Zolani Tete via third round technical knockout in Birmingham, England.

“Casimero is a good boxer, but I’m a different fighter than I’ve been in the past. I’ve never been more ready for a fight than I am for this one,” Micah, known as the “Baby Faced Terminator,” told Casimero in the fight news conference.

Araneta

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AKE BUENA VISTA, Florida—The Los Angeles Lakers are a victory away from returning to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals—and only another comeback from 3-1 down by the Denver Nuggets can stop them.

Anthony Davis scored 34 points, LeBron James had 26 and the Lakers beat the Nuggets, 114-108, on Thursday night in Game Four of the Western Conference finals.

“We played great down the stretch, we played great overall,” Davis said. “Still some things that we can fix if we want to put this thing away.”

Davis got the Lakers off to a fast start with his scoring and James helped them finish it with his defense, forcing Jamal Murray

Anna van der Breggen is in tears after finishing in Imola. AP

Araneta said that except for world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena who are continuously training abroad, the other qualified Filipinos for the July 23 to August 8 Tokyo Games—boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno—are locked down in their homes.

“They [Marcial and Magno] just couldn’t train for Tokyo shadow boxing,” Araneta said.

Yulo has made Japan as his training base.

Obiena, on the other hand, is sharpening his skills at the World Pole Vault Centre in Formia, Italy.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases

provisionally approved the Philippine Basketball Association to restart its season in a bubble environment in Clark.

The IATF also relaxed health protocols for professional football and even horse racing.

Araneta said the Tokyo-bound Filipinos are already lagging behind their counterparts overseas in terms of training.

“They’re already cramming,” said Araneta, adding that in Europe, some parts of Asia and even in the Americas, competitions are already allowed although still under safety and health regulations.

Marcial has been training at home in Cavite,

into some late misses after the guard had kept the Nuggets in it with an array of high-difficulty baskets.

“I knew it was winning time and Jamal had it going,” James said.

James added nine rebounds and eight assists, and the Lakers had 12 offensive rebounds for a whopping 25-6 advantage in second-chance points.

“This is the Western Conference finals, Game Four. If you can’t help us on the defensive end, maybe you shouldn’t be on the floor,” Denver Coach Michael Malone said. “We have to be able to lock in, finish with a rebound. We had too many empty possessions

tonight.”

Game Five is Saturday night, when the Lakers can reach the NBA Finals for the first time in a decade. Davis said he expects to be fine for it after rolling his ankle in the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets will be facing elimination for the seventh time in the bubble. They were down 3-1 against Utah in the first round and climbed out of the same hole against the Los Angeles Clippers in the West semifinals.

But they couldn’t come back in this game, getting within one point in the opening minute of the fourth quarter but constantly turned back from there by a key stop or rebound by the Lakers.

“We just had so many breakdowns throughout the game,” Murray said. “We’ve just got to be better.”

The Lakers have 16 championships, one

while Magno tries to stay in shape in Iloilo. Both boxers are also settling for online supervision by their Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines coaches.

Araneta said there are still 82 Filipino athletes hoping to qualify for Tokyo, including Rio 2016 Olympics weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and world women’s boxing champion Nesthy Petecio.

Diaz is stranded—but continues to train— in Malaysia and Petecio, like her fellow boxers, could do nothing more than train by herself in Davao. Annie Abad

behind Boston for the most in NBA history, but they haven’t played for one since winning their most recent title in 2010.

The Lakers started Dwight Howard at center and he had 12 points and 11 rebounds, helping put Nikola Jokic into foul trouble.

Murray had 32 points and eight assists, but Jokic finished with just 16 points and seven rebounds.

Davis scored 27 points in Game Three but the 6-foot-10 forward acknowledged that his two-rebound performance was “unacceptable.”

He came out much more aggressively Thursday after the Lakers played from behind much of the last game.

With an array of short jumpers, Davis made his first six shots before anyone else on the Lakers made a basket. Then Howard scored on

Dutch rider wins worlds time trial

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MOLA, Italy—Anna van der Breggen won the women’s time trial at the road cycling world championships on Thursday after defending champion Chloé Dygert crashed.

Van der Breggen was runner-up in the time trial at four of the previous five championships, and the Dutchwoman was in tears after finishing in Imola.

Marlen Reusser of Switzerland was second, 15.58 seconds behind, and Ellen van Dijk third over the 32-kilometer route which started and ended on the city’s auto racing circuit.

“Getting second for many years, I would say that I really can’t believe it yet,” van der

Breggen said. “I had no idea, I just said to Danny Stam, my director in the car, ‘don’t give me any time splits. It doesn’t matter, I just want to go as fast as possible to the finish line.’

“I only heard on the finish line that I won.”

Dygert was one of the favorites and had a lead of nearly half a minute at the intermediate checkpoint but the American appeared to lose control on a small descent and crashed into a roadside barrier, hurtling over it.

The 23-year-old was treated by medical staff at the side of the road before being transferred into an ambulance. USA Cycling tweeted Dygert was conscious and talking, but did not give details on the extent of her injuries.

It added that it would give a further update once “we

NADAL EYES FEDERER’S 20 SLAMS WITH LUCKY NO. 13 IN PARIS

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Monico: Postpone POC polls

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HE country’s chief of mission to the Tokyo Olympics hopes government would also allow athletes who have qualified or are still trying to qualify for the rescheduled Games to return to collective training in the same manner as professional sports leagues are already allowed to resume their shuttered seasons.

“The government already allowed professional leagues to return, why not our athletes who are training for the Tokyo Olympics?” Mariano V. Araneta Jr. also the football association head, told the BusinessMirror on Friday.

LAKERS ZERO IN ON FINALS

WORLD bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero faces a veteran of the London 2012 Olympics.

ORMER Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Chairman Monico Puentevella wants the POC’s November 27 elections postponed as he expects government to continue implementing quarantine protocols and travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Puentevella, who heads the weightlifting association, will present a motion for the elections’ postponement during the POC General Assembly on Wednesday.

“Several voting members crucial in these elections are still based and residing in the provinces due to inavailability of flights and [they] will not be able to vote personally,” the former mayor and congressman from Bacolod said in a statement.

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph / Editor: Jun Lomibao

“There’s no assurance that flights will be normal even until Christmas,” he said. “And almost half of the voters are also in their 60s who are more vulnerable to this virus.”

He will propose for the elections to be moved to January or February.

“Even the Asian and International Weightlifting Federation and others postponed their electoral congresses to January and February next year,” he said.

“Why are we in a hurry to expose our voting members to this unhealthy situation? Let us not endanger the lives of our members, some of who are even in their 80s,” he said. “I pray that the POC board will find this proposal meritorious and I thank them.

OR all of the many qualities contributing to Rafael Nadal’s unprecedented superiority at the French Open—the bullwhip of a high-bouncing lefty forehand, the reflex returns, the cover-every-corner athleticism, the endless energy and grit—there’s one element that stands above all the rest.

According to the opponent Nadal beat in the last two finals in Paris, anyway.

“You go into the match knowing that even your best tennis, even if you play it over three, four hours, might not be enough. I mean, if you do it, you maybe have a little chance, but you have to go to your limit on every single rally, every single point,” Dominic Thiem, who won the US Open less than two weeks ago, told The Associated Press.

“That makes it not easy to go into the match,” Thiem said. “And that’s the mental part, I guess.”

When main-draw competition begins Sunday at Roland Garros, Thiem and every other player in the men’s bracket will be pursuing Nadal as the 34-year-old from Spain pursues history.

If Nadal manages to claim a 13th French Open

THE 34-year-old Rafael Nadal pursues history at Roland Garros. AP

championship—extending his own record for the most singles trophies won by anyone at any major tennis tournament—he would, more significantly, also collect his 20th Grand Slam title overall, tying Roger Federer’s record for a man.

Nadal’s tally elsewhere: four US Opens, two Wimbledons, one Australian Open.

Asked recently about the possibility of catching the 39-year-old Federer, out for the rest of the season after a pair of operations on his right knee, Nadal expressed a sentiment he’s uttered before.

Climbing the Grand Slam list, Nadal said, is “not an obsession at all.”

“I know that you put a lot of attention on all of this,” he replied when the topic was raised last week at the Italian Open, Nadal’s first tournament since February because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Of course I would love to finish my career with 25, but [that’s] something that probably will not happen.

I’m going to keep fighting to produce chances, and then when I finish my career, let’s see, no?” he said. “I just want to keep enjoying tennis. And that’s it. If I am playing well, I know I normally have my chances. If not, going to be impossible. That’s it.”

There is, of course, another great of the game

consecutive follow shots before James followed with his first two field goals.

Murray kept the Lakers from getting too far away with a 7-for-8 start. He followed his acrobatic layup around James with two-and-ahalf minutes remaining in the half with a pair of free throws that cut it to four, before the Lakers took a 60-55 edge to the locker room.

The Nuggets shot 59 percent in the first half but the Lakers had an 18-2 advantage in secondchance points.

The Lakers seemed to be taking control when Rajon Rondo and Kentavious CaldwellPope combined for a flurry that pushed the lead to 11 with under four minutes remaining in the third, but Michael Porter Jr. hit two 3-pointers late in the period that cut it to 87-84 going to the fourth. AP

have absolute clear confirmation as to her condition.”

Van der Breggen also claimed gold in the time trial at the European road cycling championships last month.

She won gold in the road race and silver in the time trial at the Olympic Games in 2016, as well as world road race gold in 2018.

The 30-year-old van der Breggen has already announced that she plans to retire at the end of next season.

The worlds were moved to Imola after Swiss host Aigle-Martigny backed out because of a government ruling limiting mass gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The revised event features only elite men’s and women’s categories, eliminating junior and under-23 races.

The men’s time trial takes place on Friday, the women’s road race on Saturday and the men’s road race on Sunday—exactly a week after the Tour de France ended. AP playing during this era and, like Nadal, gaining on Federer.

That would be No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic, who had won five of seven major titles to raise his total to 17 before being disqualified at the US Open for accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball while walking to a changeover.

In this oddest of years, the Grand Slam season will drawing to a close in France; the clay-court major was postponed from May until now because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Roland Garros is the last Slam, the last opportunity of this season. So we all know who the main favorite is there: Obviously, it’s Nadal. And everything that he has achieved there, losing maybe a couple matches in his entire career on that court...is probably the most impressive record that anybody has on any court,” Djokovic said. “So, yeah, of course you would put him right there in front as a favorite to win it.”

For the record: Nadal has won 93 of 95 matches in the French Open and his last 21 in a row.

So what makes him so dominant there?

“He’s an unbelievably great tennis player. Probably on clay, a little bit better than on the other surfaces,” Thiem said. “He’s left-handed, which makes it very uncomfortable. And then his forehand, the topspin on the clay, it’s cruel to play.”

Thiem takes notes and hopes to emulate aspects of Nadal’s game.

So do others.

In Rome, for example, two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep and one of her coaches, Artemon Apostu-Efremov, caught one of Nadal’s training sessions.

“We were watching the way he hits the ball, the acceleration, the energy he has on the court and the way he practices 100 percent. It’s always an inspiration,” Apostu-Efremov said.

“This dedication on the court and focus on court,” he said, “it’s something that, for sure, could be transferred to Simona.”

Nadal wound up losing his third match in Italy, which is neither ideal form nor the sort of prep work he is accustomed to ahead of Paris.

Maybe he sensed that coming, because he talked before his loss about returning to “competition without big expectations.”

Still, Nadal at the French Open is unlike anyone else, anywhere else.

“Regardless of how he feels, I’m sure he’ll find a way,” said Stefanos Tsitsipas, a 2019 Australian Open semifinalist seeded No. 5 in Paris. “He always finds a way, every single year. Clay is his surface. I’m sure he’s going to do well.” AP