BusinessWeek Mindanao (November 2, 2020)

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Liquor ban

DAVAO City – The city government here has reimposed the 24-hour liquor ban from November 2 to December 31 this year as part of a broader containment policy against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In an executive order released on Thursday, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte underscored the need to institute additional restrictions such as the sale and consumption of liquor in public following a surge of Covid-19 cases.

Duterte lifted the 24-hour liquor ban on September 21, six months after it was implemented.

Mislabeled cement THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will issue a new memorandum circular (MC) to clarify rules and regulations on labeling cement products.

The supplemental guidelines for the implementation of Department Administrative Order (DAO) 17-06, Series of 2017, or “The New Rules and Regulations Concerning the Mandatory Certification of Portland Cement and Blended Hydraulic Cement with Pozzolan” aims to address the concerns on mislabeled cement products, the DTI said in a statement Wednesday.

The DTI said local manufacturers raised their concerns over mislabeled imported cement products bagged in the country but labeled as “Product of the Philippines”.

We strive for Excellence!

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IN-DEPTH

Monday|November 2, 2020

P15.00

Moratorium imposed on new coal power dev'ts T Thank you for trusting us!

By MYRNA M. VELASCO, Contributor

O force the country into ‘clean energy’ transition, the Department of Energy (DOE) has enforced moratorium on new coal-fired power plant projects.

But it’s not time for the clean energy advocates to pop the champagne bottle yet, because the DoE qualified the moratorium will not cover projects that are already endorsed; or those that have already secured permits including environmental compliance cer tif icates (ECCs) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The cessation of coal plant developments, according to Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, will

stay until the country will not be in need of additional baseload capacity.

“We need to prepare for the influx of RE (renewable energy) under the recent policies issued by the DOE. Hence the need for more flexibility,” Fuentebella said.

Essentially, in the next wave of power developments, the energy department is setting preferential treatments for RE technologies, but with a caveat that the moratorium is rather half-baked because IMPOSED/PAGE 11

DISTRESSED COMPANIES. Construction workers in Kidapawan City, one of the cities in Region 12. At least 54 distressed companies and business establishments in the region have been granted wage hike exemptions in the last five months, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-Region 12, said. mindanews file photo by geonarri solmerano

BTA passes Bangsa Administrative Code

By FERDINANDH B. CABRERA, MindaNews

COTABATO City – The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) approved last week the Bangsamoro Administrative Code.

C ons i d e re d t he blu e pr i nt for the governance of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao PASSES/PAGE 11

NorMin task force, DPWH build over 540 patient care centers RICE RATION. Residents of Poblacion 1 in General Luna, Siargao Island take home rice given as subsidy by the local government unit last week. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severely affected the island’s economy as it remains closed to tourists. mindanews photo by roel n . catoto

NORTHERN Mindanao’s task force addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis said Friday it has partnered with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

to complete over 500 isolation facilities in the region since March.

DPWH-10 (Northern Mindanao) information officer Vinah Maghinay said CENTERS/PAGE 11

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2

Local

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MONDAY|NOVEMBER 2, 2020

Maramag rice farmers’ coop to benefit from DA’s farm consolidation, clustering program

M

ARAMAG, Bukidnon— To promote inclusive agribusiness development in the country, the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office (DA-RFO 10) gears up for the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program (F2C2), as it selects the Maramag Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MACO MPC) as one of its pilot areas for the program.

“To contribute to our rice sufficiency efforts in the region, the cooperative is chosen for its potential for rice production,” DARFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga shared.

Established in 1990, the cooperative is based in North Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon and has grown to 8,369 members since then.

The cooperative is known for working with the agency on its programs and project implementations geared towards reducing production costs of rice farmers, thus, increasing their income.

Aside from being a Rice Processing Center recipient, the cooperative has also received agri-machinery units and facilities such as combine harvesters, farm tractors and mechanical dryers to support their approximately one hundred members engaged

MACO eyed for inclusion in the F2C2 program. DA-RFO 10 gears up for the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program (F2C2) as it selects the Maramag Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MACO MPC) as one of its pilot areas for the program. (DA-10)

in rice production.

Such produce is also being sold at the cooperative’s agency store.

Moreover, with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the cooperative sold its produce to some local government units as part of the relief goods distribution initiatives.

In line with the DA Administrative Order 27 signed by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, the F2C2 program seeks to streamline the access to credit, financing, mechanization, logistics and transport, and postharvest support to farm and fishery clusters.

Under the program, clustered areas must have FARMERS/PAGE 10

opens Covid-19 Gov't urges swine operators to Iligan 'command center' observe biosecurity measures DAVAO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 (Davao) reminded the region’s piggery operators and hog raisers to observe strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the African swine fever (ASF).

In a virtual presser on Friday, DA-11 information officer Noel Provido said Tagum City, Sto. Tomas, and Carmen towns have recorded ASF cases this

month.

“We ask the operators to please observe biosecurity measures. This is just like how we deal with (the) coronavirus disease. If you are directly involved in a piggery business, you have to leave your gear/garment used in the area and make sure that you will not bring it in your homes to avoid contamination,” Provido said.

He said the cases in the three areas were confirmed on October 6, 13, and 28.

“It was already contained and we have depopulated around 240 pigs and the protocol was already in place.

DA-11 also provided an indemnification fund of PHP5,000 per head, excluding the suckling pig, for the affected hog raisers,” Provido said.

Sto. Tomas information

officer Mart Sambalud told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday that the local government has already implemented preventive measures and has intensified monitoring.

DA-11 Director Ricardo Oñate Jr. also assured that the agency has reached out to various barangays in Davao del Norte to strengthen their ASF checkpoints.

“We have strengthened our measures to counter ASF because we want to make sure that nobody can bring in pork meat and MEASURES/PAGE 10

ILIGAN City's local government launched Thursday its "One Hospital Command Center (OHCC)" that will act as an information and response hub for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.

Dr. Belinda Lim, health cluster manager of the Iligan Emergency Operation Center, said during Thursday's virtual presser, the OHCC was established to better manage data and information related to Covid-19 cases from both the government and private hospitals in the city.

Lim said the OHCC can be reached at hotline numbers 0966 760 1888 and 0995 479 1880.

Meanwhile, Iligan City Councilor Macky Macapagal, chairperson of the City Council's Committee of Health and Sanitation, said the city is pushing with the establishment of a Covid-19 testing laboratory.

Macapagal said contractor Endec Inc. has been tasked with the delivery, installation, commissioning and training of laboratory staff.

The company will also supply the machine, generators, biosafety cabinets, and computers for the P19-million testing laboratory.

"Parallel to that, we are also processing the license and accreditation [of the laboratory]”, he said, adding that 23 more beds have been added to the cityrun Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital to cater more Covid-19 patients.

Macapagal said the Covid-19 testing laboratory is expected to be operational by December. (PNA)

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MONDAY|NOVEMBER 2, 2020

3

CorporateWorld

Retail biz to drive Del Monte Philippines Inc.'s '20 earnings

D

EL Monte Philippines Inc.’s (DMPI) retail segment is seen to drive business growth for the fiscal year 2020 amidst the pandemic.

DMPI Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Treasurer Parag Sachdeva said their retail branded business “has remained resilient and growing” unlike the food service business, which weakened due to the shutdown of food service outlets. “(The) contribution of

food service business is not significant for DMPI and growth in retail more than offset the decline in food service,” he said in reply to e-mailed questions from the Philippine News Agency.

The distribution expansion plan in the retail segment continues and new products are being introduced, he said.

Sachdeva said the export of fresh pineapple was affected during the post-Chinese New Year last February and March

because of the pandemic “but is fast recovering”.

He said “processed pineapple exports continue to being sold out in our current fiscal year”.

“Barring any unforeseen events beyond Covid, we should be able to deliver better business results this year than last year,” he said.

In a statement, DMPI said it registered P7.4 billion in sales in the first quarter ending July 2020, around 60 percent of which came from domestic

operations while the balance is accounted for operations in the international market.

Domestic sales rose by 18 percent to P4.5 billion against the P3.8 billion worth of sales in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the company listed on the Philippine Dealing Exchange (PDEx) on Friday its PHP6.5 billion worth of Series A Fixed Rate bonds due in 2023 and Series B fixed-rate bond due in 2025.

Sachdeva said they want

to maximize the benefit of the current low-interest rate environment in the country through bond issuance.

“DMPI’s business has proven to be resilient over its 94 years of existence and continues to grow during the pandemic.

With continued momentum during the pandemic, DMPI was nicely positioned to take advantage of prevailing low-interest rates and long maturities of the bond,” he added. (PNA)

Gov’t urged to enforce DTI to issue circular vs. mislabeled cement products rules on imported goods THE Department of Trade Pozzolan” aims to address The DTI said the manufacturers to properly A CONSUMER group on Friday urged the government to strictly implement rules and regulations on imported products, especially food and farm produce, so as not to put the consumers’ health at risk.

Laban Konsyumer, Inc. (LKI) president Victorio Mario Dimagiba, who is a former trade undersecretary, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the government is quite

“relaxed” in enforcing import rules.

Dimagiba shared the sentiments of trade and food safety expert Jhunafe Ruanto, who expressed concern over imported food products being sold in the market even though they lack English or Filipino translations in their labels.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) requires proper labeling of imported products, RULES/PAGE 10

and Industry (DTI) will issue a new memorandum circular (MC) to clarify rules and regulations on labeling cement products.

The supplemental guidelines for the implementation of Department Administrative Order (DAO) 17-06, Series of 2017, or “The New Rules and Regulations Concerning the Mandatory Certification of Portland Cement and Blended Hydraulic Cement with

the concerns on mislabeled cement products, the DTI said in a statement Wednesday.

The DTI said local manufacturers raised their concerns over mislabeled imported cement products bagged in the country but labeled as “Product of the Philippines”.

The current DAO does not include the marking requirements for bagging facilities to indicate the country of manufacture of cement products.

new MC will require all locally manufactured and imported cement products shipped in bulk and bagged in a Philippine Standards (PS)-licensed bagging facility to be permanently marked with the name and address of the manufacturer, the country of manufacture, and the words “Bagged by:”, followed by the name and address of the bagging facility.

“It is incumbent upon the importers and/or

label their products and reflect the country where these products were produced. It will properly guide our consumers, especially at this time of pandemic where we encourage our countrymen to patronize locally produced products to support the economy,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

The DTI also directed manufacturers and operators of bagging CEMENT/PAGE 10

4

Opinion

The BusinessWeek Mindanao is published by BusinessWeek Mindanao Corporation every Monday to Friday with office address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Company Registration No. CS201531633 with BIR Certificate of Registration No. 2RC0000831068, TIN No. 463-826-272-000 – VAT. Reg., and with Business Permit No. 2020-04015. Tel. Nos.: (088)856-3344, (088) 810-100, 0923-432-0687, 0917-7121424 Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com

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Saved in the storm Think a minute… In England during the 1700’s, it was fairly common for boys to spend several months in boarding school before heading out to sea. And so it was for John.

He was 11-years-old when his father, a master of a trade ship in the Mediterranean, took John on the journey with him.

This prepared John for his service in the British Navy.

Yet sadly, while John learned his skills of sailing from his father, he did not learn selfcontrol and discipline. John was soon arrested, publicly whipped and demoted to just a common sailor for deserting his duty on ship.

Later, while still a teenager, John sailed on a ship bound for Africa. By now young John was wilder than ever.

He did not choose his friends wisely and continued to sink deeper into immoral living.

In Africa John ended up in the service of a slave dealer.

The slave trade attracted John as a profitable business and way to get rich; but before he knew it John was put to work on the dealer’s plantation laboring with the other slaves.

Finally at age 21 John

THINK A MINUTE

hurts me.

During my stay in several Western countries before this pandemic, I experienced icy and conceited comments such as religiousness isn't popular any more. Religiousness makes people unwilling and morose because of exaggeration and sometimes even hypocrisy.

How come? We want to see the religiousness of our fellow creatures. We want to understand their ideology.

But we are also poking our nose into other people's business too much. Let's look behind the scenes and let's find out what religious behavior promotes: humility

in actual life. Maybe. It's hard for us to do without affecting others.

We even forget the real meaning of religiousness. St. John Crysostom subscribed to the topic "Pagans and Christians" very well: "There would be no pagans if we were good Christians. But the pagans see us manifesting the same desires, pursuing the same objects - power and honor - as themselves, how can they admire Christianity?"

They see our lives open to reproach and our souls worldly. We admire wealth equally with them and even more. How, then, can they believe? From miracles? But

HAVE MY SAY

KLAUS DORING these are no longer wrought.

From our conversion? It has become corrupt. From charity? Not a trace of it is anywhere seen. (Quotation "Winnowing Fan", Vol. XX, PANDEMIC/PAGE 11

Praying for your speedy recovery, Xavier P. Loinaz

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI

Layout Artist

How do you survive this time of new lockdowns and their restrictions, and daily news that only have one topic: Corona, Corona, Corona?

One of the most important parts in my life is the belief in supernatural power which governs the universe. Maybe, because I was born and raised in a parish house in Germany.

It doesn't matter which religion we belong to or believe in: the recognition of God as an object of worship, the form of worship should be our primary need. Sad to say, more and more people get another opinion nowadays.

Criticizing people, who are praying more especially now,

2f, ICS Building Tel.No.: 881-0176 Tiano cor. Montalvan sts.

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MONDAY|NOVEMBER 2, 2020

Pandemic and religiousness

JUN AYENSA

Motoring Editor

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IGNACIO BUNYE We were saddened during our last board meeting at Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) when Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA) announced the sudden resignation of Xavier P. Loinaz both from the BPI and Ayala boards.

Citing health reasons, Loinaz earlier expressed his gratitude for his 40 years as part of management and the board, very kindly calling his time in BPI as “the best years of his life”.

Loinaz took over the presidency of BPI in 1982, which many will recall was a tumultuous period not only for the bank and the industry

, but for the country as well.

Average interest rates were at 30 percent, “Jobo bills” were going 60 to 70 per cent, foreign capital started to leave in massive numbers and a year later, the peso experienced a 100 percent drop in value in a single day.

JAZA and Fernando Zobel de Ayala, BPI Vice Chairman, jointly stated they can not thank Loinaz enough as they expressed their appreciation for what Loinaz has done for BPI with his distinctive leadership and caring for the welfare of the bank.

T h e Ay a l a brot h e r s described Loinaz in these words: “In Bank of the Philippine Islands’ long and illustrious histor y, Xavier Loinaz’s presidency from 1982 to 2004 was marked by groundbreaking innovation, rapid growth, and stability, in the midst of hard-hitting financial crises and turbulent periods in the country. His visionary leadership spurred technology-driven changes and transformative mergers and acquisitions that had

tremendous impact not only to BPI, but also to the banking industr y and Philippine economy. “ 1 9 8 0 to 1 9 9 0 were formidable years. The country seemed to move endlessly from one crisis to another.

The countr y’s economic momentum took a plunge not only because of the natural calamities that swept the nation but perhaps even more to the intangible damage to investor confidence brought by p ol it i c a l i nst abi l it y resulting from coups and the unsupportive investment policies prevailing in the system.

“The banking industry was not spared from the adverse forces that came to play. The period was marked by a restrictive monetary policy that saw high interest rates and very expensive intermediation costs. There was severe shortage of foreign exchange as the country’s balance of payments and trade deficits rose to record levels as a result of a slack in foreign investments and soft markets abroad.

“With all these adversities, Bank of the Philippine Islands under the leadership of Loinaz led the industry as a shining example for responsible banking. The bank painstakingly set the standard for banking and established a track record of unchallenged leadership in the industr y with its reput at ion, cont inuous introduction of innovative pro duc ts and s er v ices, pioneering initiatives in technology and development of new areas of growth and investments.

“In addition, from 1989 to 1991, Loinaz led the Bankers Association of the Philippines which comprised universal and commercial banks in the Philippines. During this time, the BAP Credit Bureau was established as well as the BAP Credit Guaranty Corporation “to address the credit needs of small and medium-scale Filipino enterprises.”

Aurelio R. Montinola III, who succeeded Loinaz as BPI President in 2005, said of Loinaz’s work and leadership RECOVERY/PAGE 11

The battle of 'isms' and Red-tagging

JHAN TIAFAU HURST escaped on a ship called the Greyhound, where he continued his uncontrolled living. He again chose the wrong friends who made fun of the God-worshipping sailors on board, including the captain.

One night John’s ship, the Greyhound, was caught in a violent storm. The boat’s side caved in and it began to sink as the water came flooding in. One of the sailors yelled, “We’re all going to die!” At that moment, for the first time in John’s life, he prayed and cried out to God: “Lord have mercy on us!”

Amazingly, the ship did not sink! John never forgot it. In fact, God’s mercy that SAVED/PAGE 11

WHAT’S the big fuss over communism and being a communist? Communism had been decriminalized a long time ago. The problem here is that Jose Ma. Sison refused to dismantle the New People’s Army and that is the root cause why Red tagging becomes a controversy. If the government has Bureau of Internal Revenue that collect taxes, the NPA is both the tax collection arm of Joma and his armed militia rolled into one.

The agenda why Communism was decriminalized was basically to invite those who find communism and its ideology better than Socialism, Capitalism, and other isms. The arena was to be the parliament not on the battlefield.

Let’s have a quick look at the two isms.

In theory, the objective of socialism and communism is to create a society where

everybody is equal. There is no social classification like a,b,c, d, and e which we are familiar with especially in survey statistics. When Khmer Rouge overthrow the government to establish a communist regime, it did not only slaughter over 2-million people but leveled the city to remove all vestiges of a capitalist society. . There are shades of differences however. Cuba is a good exhibit of a socialist country.

I love it when Fidel Castro roars, “no quieren ni libertad sin pan, ni pan sin libertad (I do not believe in liberty without food, or food without liberty)". Indeed, liberty is vibrant in Cuba where people don’t go hungry while in other communist or authoritarian regimes basic liberties are denied.

By description and tagging there is really no difference between being a “communist” or being “Red”. Red is merely symbolism. So what’s the big

issue there? It is not actionable in court. It is another story if one is tagged as an NPA for that means you bear arms to overthrow the government.

In short a terrorist.

Abhorrence to the term “communist” led to the semantics “legal front”. The leftists' political parties whose members adhere to the tenets of communism are in this category. Comes regular elections, we are made to choose a party list and not a few of these legal fronts participate. Which is good.

On a personal note, I always vote for “Gabriela” because of their women’s advocacy. I always believed that the best market place to peddle one’s ideology is via parliamentary deliberation or to submit oneself to the election.

Communists are all over the globe. They are in the Americas, Europe, Asia.

Outside of Russia and China communist parliamentarians are most active in Europe

LETTERS FROM DAVAO

JUN LEDESMA and this could be the reason why Joma is at home in his Utrecht, Netherlands. You might wonder why he loves it there rather than China.

My take is that first, this NPA chieftain is a Leninist, second, there is no love between Chinese and Russian commies. This is also his fetish for screaming red colors which we see among their street parliamentarians.

In t h i s d i g it a l a g e , capitalism, communism, and socialism continue to BATTLE/PAGE 11

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MONDAY|NOVEMBER 2, 2020

Banking&Finance

Gov’t borrowings soar anew

G

OVERNMENT borrowings skyrocketed last month as the coronavirus pandemic continued to strangle revenue sources, data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed.

Gross borrowings of the Duterte administration ballooned to P90.59 billion in September this year, nearly 9,000 percent higher compared with P1.01 billion in the same month last year, the Treasury reported.

Foreign financing stood at P40.57 billion in September, more than double than the P15.46 billion a year ago. Of the total, bulk were in program loans with P38.35 billion, and project loans with P2.22 billion.

The government’s domestic borrowings, meanwhile, reached P50.02 billion last month, a turnaround from a P14.45 billion net

redemption in September last year.

Based on the Treasury data, local financing were mainly composed of long-term IOUs with P45 billion and short-dated noted with P5.02 billion.

The September borrowings brought the government’s first nine-month tally to a record P2.56 trillion, more than double of P917.28 billion in the same period last year.

At end-September, domestic borrowings soared to P2.010 trillion from P626.28 billion, while external financing jumped from P291 billion to P550.27 billion.

Earlier, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said that borrowings for the year will be more than usual due to higher spending requirement for the coronavirus response and lower revenue

collections due to slow economic activity.

As of August, the outstanding debt of the national government stood at P9.615-trillion, higher by 4.9 percent, or P451 billion, compared with the previous month’s level of P9.164-trillion.

Of the total debt stock, 69.8 percent are held by Filipino lenders, while 30.2 percent were sourced from foreign creditors.

The total debt as of August translates to roughly P87,409 debt share for every Filipino.

Since the beginning of the year, the government’s debt has risen by 24.4 percent, or P1.884 trillion.

In 2020, the Duterte administration expects the outstanding debt will hit more than P10 trillion.

Economist eyes PH gov't debt to remain sustainable THE Philippine government’s debt is expected to remain sustainable in the next years as it is still below the international threshold of 60 percent of domestic output.

On Thursday, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported that the total outstanding liabilities of the government amounted to P9.368 trillion as of end-September 2020, lower than month-ago’s

P9.615 trillion after the government paid its P300 billion shortterm borrowing from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said the country’s debt-toGDP (gross domestic product) ratio remains low compared to countries with similar credit ratings.

He said this is among the factors why debt raters

affirmed the Philippines' credit ratings amid the pandemic.

Economic managers forecast debt to account for half of the country’s total output by 2022 due to higher requirements to address the pandemic and finance the recovery program.

Ricafort said this level is still acceptable, citing that the external debt-toGDP ratio as of end-June this year is lower at 23.7 percent.

“The increase in the government’s debt would remain sustainable in the coming years for as long as the debt-to-GDP ratio does not breach above 60 percent, which is considered an important international threshold,” he said.

Ricafort said the government continues to have buffers for managing its foreign liabilities, citing the record-high gross international reserves DEBT/PAGE 10

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5

Banks lent P14.9-B to MSMEs in Sept.

TO comply with the reserve requirement, banks have released P14.9 billion more loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) for the month of September alone, based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data.

This brings the average daily balance of bank loans to MSMEs to P120.9 billion as of the first week of October compared to end-August’s P106 billion. Versus the P8.7 billion average MSME loans used as alternative compliance with the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) in end-April, the latest average is up by 1,289 percent.

BSP director for financial inclusion group, Ellen Joyce Suficiencia, of the central bank’s Center for Learning and Inclusion Advocacy said new MSME loans generated during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amounted to P40.6 billion from 50 banks surveyed by the BSP. About P25.6 billion of MSME loans were released from March to April – the strictest phase of the ECQ — as renewed borrowings while P1.8 billion were loans that were

DANICA SUDARIA

restructured following relief measures granted to MSME borrowers.

Suficiencia, in her presentation to the APEC Business Advisory Council forum on Wednesday, said that in the name of financial inclusion, the BSP is focused on ensuring the financing requirements of MSMEs are being met due to their “outsized role in providing employment and sources of income to a significant number of Filipinos.”

“However, even prior to the pandemic, MSMEs have consistently cited access to finance as one of the top barriers to their development and competitiveness,” she said.

Before the BSP applied the MSME loans as RRR compliance, bank loans to this sector only amounted to P1.7 billion.

Suficiencia said data from the BSP show a declining trend in bank lending to MSMEs as a percentage of the total loan portfolio and this was worsened because of the public health crisis. “As a result of the pandemic, the MSME sector has been among the hardest hit based on BANKS/PAGE 10

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MOTORING IN-DEPTH

Monday|November 2, 2020

6

MPV for the Whole Family -

the XL7 conveys confidence and BOLD face and driving pleasure. Roof tough body, rails and seven-seater the Suzuki versatility also support XL7 is ready for your favorite activities. spirited action.

Driving pleasure is Every detail from heightened by a sporty rugged front bumper and well-crafted to LED headlamps interior. Feel your and chrome grille pulse quicken from accent shines with the red, silver painted distinction. From accents as well as athletic stance to deep carbon-fiber-patterned shoulder line and material. Every detail protective moldings, inspires confidence Photos by KIT PILLA

A

and deep satisfaction.

In this roomy seven-seater, even third-row passengers enjoy plenty of legroom, elbowroom and headroom. When surf ’s up or friends call, simply raise or fold seats to find the right combination.

Carry up to 199 liters of groceries and gear in the rear luggage area even when there are passengers in the third row. The large tailgate opening makes loading and unloading easy and a 50:50 split luggage board expands

Suzuki XL7

storage versatility.

The XL7 is powered by a 1,462 cc gasoline engine matted to a four-speed automatic transmission. It produces a maximum output of 103 horsepower and maximum torque of 138 newton meters.

In an emergency braking situation, the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) keeps tires from locking up and supports the driver to maintain steering ability. In addition, Electric Brake force

Distribution (EBD) shortens the braking distance by optimally distributing force to the front and rear wheels if there is a large load, such as when the car is full of passengers. The structures of the XL7’s bonnet, front windscreen wiper area, front bumper and other parts absorb impact with the aim of mitigating head and leg injuries in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The XL7’s body design is centered around

on Suzuki’s TECT concept, resulting in a structure that efficiently absorbs and disperses energy in an event of a collision.

The load paths beneath the engine compartment further mitigates collision damage.

The All New XL7 is priced at an SRP of Php1,068,000.00 and comes in desirable colorways with new additions, Brave Khaki and Snow White both in pearl finish, while Magma Gray and Sunrise Orange.

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Billboard

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Cebu Pacific extends flexible booking options for passengers L

Two-year travel Fund and unlimited rebooking now covers travels until Dec. 31, 2020

EADING Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) extends the coverage of its flexible booking options for passengers traveling until December 31, 2020, allowing everyjuan to travel with peace of mind.

“We continue to listen to our passengers so we may also continuously review and improve our processes to better address everyjuan’s concerns. As such, we are pleased to share that we have extended our options to cover flights until end of this year, to give our passengers more flexibility when it comes to scheduling their travels,” said Candice Iyog, CEB VP for Marketing & Customer Experience.

Travel Fund valid for two (2) years The Travel Fund, valid for two (2) years, can be used to book flights up to 12 months ahead, given that transactions are done

before the fund expires.

This means customers can use their Travel Funds to book trips potentially until 2023.

This virtual wallet will consist of the full cost of the ticket, and can be used not only for flights, but even for purchasing ancillaries, such as baggage allowance and seat blocking.

This option is a great alternative for passengers who do not have fixed travel dates yet. Customers with existing Travel Funds should not fret as the two-year validity will be applied retroactively, or from the date the fund was created.

Unlimited rebooking of flights Customers will still be able to avail of unlimited rebooking of their flights, without paying any rebooking or change fees. Those who wish to postpone travel plans may opt to rebook their flights

as many times as possible, allowing passengers to better manage their plans, considering the fluidity of the situation. A minimal fare difference may apply.

Options for passengers with cancelled flights Those with cancelled flights will continue to have the following options: placing the full cost of the ticket in a Travel Fund valid for two years; rebooking flights with no limit - both rebooking fee and fare difference are waived if new travel date is within 90 days; or availing of a full refund.

Passengers are encouraged to choose their options and conveniently manage their bookings online through the “Manage Booking” portal in the Cebu Pacific website. Simply log-in to your Getgo account, if applicable; or enter the Booking Reference to access the booking online BOOKING/PAGE 9

DICT and Plan International Philippines work together towards safer online spaces for girls and young women MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In celebration of the International Day of the Girl, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is working with

the development and humanitarian organization Plan International Philippines on the #FreeToBeOnline campaign to ensure safer online spaces for girls and young women.

140 municipalities, cities experience better connectivity with Globe’s 4G LTE upgrades Globe’s aggressive network upgrades are beginning to yield results in better customer experience in at least 140 municipalities and cities recently.

The company’s site upgrades in 25 barangays from purely 2G/3G into 4G LTE have significantly improved its call, text and data services for its customers in Lucban, Quezon; Lobo, Batangas; Jolo, Sulu; Guinobatan, Albay; Limay, Bataan; Antipolo and Cainta in Rizal; Lapu-Lapu, Cebu; Legazpi City, Albay; Angeles City, Pampanga; Malolos City, Bulacan; Pontevedra, Capiz, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna; Quezon City, Valenzuela City, Paranaque City, Las Pinas City, Manila in Metro Manila; Ormoc City, Leyte; and San

Francisco, Agusan Del Sur. Globe customers in the said areas are starting to feel an improved experience especially for data services used for distance learning, downloading movies, gaming and work from home requirements.

“Our LTE expansion has primarily upgraded our capacity and technology in areas where the signal is slow or non-existent.

These efforts have now gained traction based on the improved mobile experience of our customers. Aside from wider coverage, they will also see a significant increase in the speed when they use their data services,” said Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President GLOBE/PAGE 10

To kick off the partnership, DICT and Plan International Philippines held the annual #GirlsTakeover – an activity aimed at giving power to girls and young women all over the world to raise their voices, embrace leadership roles, and take over maledominated positions and spaces.

The global #GirlsTakeover is a call to action for radical social and political change to tear down barriers of discrimination and prejudice that continue to hold girls back. From October 6 to 16, Plan International advocates took over the social media to share their experiences online and call on government, tech companies, and civil society organizations to provide equal access and equal protection of girls and boys online.

In this year’s takeover held last October 29, Mau, a 17-year-old girl advocate from Southern Leyte, urged DICT to work with girls and young women as she presented recommendations toward a safer, more inclusive, and gender-responsive internet.

“Ninanais din namin na mas mapalakas pa

ang mga reporting mechanisms sa iba’t ibang social media sites para mas mapapanagot pa natin ang mga perpetrators ng mga karahasang ito online [We demand stronger reporting mechanisms on social media so we can hold perpetrators of online violence to account.],” shared Mau during the signing ceremony.

“Sana ay mabigyan niyo rin kami ng pagkakataon na makilahok sa mga espasyo ng pagpapasya at paggawa ng desisyon at solusyon para malabanan ang karasahan online sa mga batang babae, lalonglalo na sa pagbuo ng isang pambansang kampanya na naglalayong paigtingin ang Safe Spaces Act online [We also look forward to more opportunities wherein girls and young women can meaningfully participate in decisionmaking processes toward ending online violence, especially in developing a national campaign for implementing the Safe Spaces Act online.].”

Mau specifically recommended that the DICT work closely with telecom companies and mobile network service providers to improve connectivity and access to Internet, ensure that policies on Internet

access are inclusive and gender-responsive, hold social media companies and other third-party platforms to account, and enable the effective implementation of laws and policies addressing online violence against all women and girls.

“To build safer and inclusive environments— whether online or offline— for girls and young women, we must listen more to what they have to say. It is part of our work to ensure that girls and young women get heard by decision-makers and duty-bearers, and that they get to claim their seats at the table,” says Ana Maria Locsin, Country Director of Plan International Philippines. “We are grateful that DICT listens and is willing to work with Plan International Philippines in building a safer internet where girls and young women can raise their voices, embrace their power, and become leaders without fear of being discriminated, harassed, or abused.”

In response, the DICT and Plan International Philippines signed a commitment letter to mark a strengthened partnership towards protecting girls and women’s digital rights and freedom through

the implementation of the #FreeToBeOnline campaign and the Safe Spaces Act. The DICT and Plan International Philippines also committed to giving girls and young women more avenues to participate in the formulation of DICT laws, policies, and issuances, as well as the development of a national campaign for safer online spaces.

“In today’s ceremony, we heard the voices of Filipino girls and young women through Mau and Jessabel. Rest assured that the DICT will continue to do its best in ensuring the security and protection of girls and young women online, especially in our present situation where girls and young women, and all Filipinos in general, have become even more vulnerable with the increased dependence and exposure to ICT. Likewise, the DICT will continue implementing and further developing programs, projects, initiatives and policies towards our vision of a connected, more inclusive, digital Philippines,” Manuel Anthony S. Tan, DICT’s OIC Undersecretary and Chairperson of the GAD Focal Point System, stated.

Plan International SAFER/PAGE 9

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MisOcc siblings win first online regional consumer quiz A brother-sister tandem from Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental bagged the first and third place respectively in the first regional online consumer quiz hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-10.

A 15-year old Sophia Kaye Aninao beat out more than 50 participants across the region to win the online consumer quiz.

The competition was conducted via Menti. com, a popular interactive presentation tool that allows users to engage their audiences in real-time, and was broadcasted live in the official Facebook page of DTI Region 10.

Aninao will receive P5,000 for the top prize.

Meanwhile, her 17-year old brother, Humphrey, placed third in the same competition. The second place went to Raymond Cubeta from Cagayan de Oro City.

The next ten participants who ranked fourth to thirteenth places will also receive consolation prizes.

They are Jaysan Ray Chee (Cagayan de Oro City), Joel Bernasor (Valencia City, Bukidnon), Glizelda Uy (Valencia City, Bukidnon), Jessica Gabriellei Quiblat (Mambajao, Camiguin), Kenneth Assuncion (Cagayan de Oro City), Melissa

Safer...

Booking...

launched its #FreeToBeOnline campaign to advocate for a safer Internet through partnerships and collaborations with relevant government agencies, social media and tech companies, civil society organizations, and girls and young women. The campaign is in response to the State of the World’s Girls (SOTWG) Report 2020 – a research conducted by Plan International across 31 countries with over 14,000 girls and young women.

According to the report, online abuse is silencing girls’ voices. More than 50% of girls surveyed from around the world have been harassed and abused online. Further, one in four of the girls abused online feels physically unsafe.

In the Philippines, the report’s findings show that seven in ten girls and young women have experienced harassment on social media; eight out of ten have received threats of sexual violence online; and more than half are harassed online by people they know. The report also states that girls and young women with intersecting identities are more vulnerable to online harassment.

and easily make desired changes. Bookings can be modified up to two (2) hours before the flight.

“Rest assured we remain optimistic for the industry, and look forward to the day #EveryJuanWillFlyAgain,” added Iyog.

Everyjuan now has the ability to easily update their contact information and addresses through the same portal. Those who booked their CEB flights via travel agencies must coordinate re quests t hroug h t heir respective agents.

CEB continues to implement enhanced biosecurity preventive measures in accordance global aviation standards to keep passengers and staff safe. These include contactless procedures, t horoug h cle aning and disinfection protocols for all aircraft and facilities, mandatory wearing of masks and face shields for both passengers and crew, as well as rapid antibody testing for CEB frontliners.

For more information, visit bit.ly/CEBFAQ

from page 8

from page 8

Integrating online learning

By GERALDINE Y. BACONGUIS Tagoloan Central School

Integrating online learning with traditional education allows you to target your student's strengths and weaknesses.

Across all levels of education, students are enrolling in more online courses. Times have changed since the one-sizefits-all way for the schools of yesteryear. Educators now better understand that learning styles differ from student to student. So how can you best maximize a mix of resources that will best fit your student?

Millions of parents are finding a mix of online and traditional learning allows for students to be comfortable in their learning style while having traditional school resources.

Integrating online and in-classroom is beneficial because it combines face-

to-face teaching with the agility of virtual learning.

No student is alone, yet has a sense of independence in his or her educational journey.

Students have indicated the ability to switch between in-classroom and online instruction. This provides flexibility in learning and also provides a healthy mix of face-to-face interaction with problem self-solving.

I nt e g r at i n g o n l i n e learning with traditional e du c at i on a l l ow s you to target your student’s strengths and weaknesses. If your student is proficient in one area and can accelerate his or her learning speed, taking that subject online may be an advantage. If you’re more comfortable in another subject with in-classroom instruction, then you can enjoy that benefit as well.

Banaag (Cagayan de Oro City), Venus Mae Caulin (Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental), Li Jones Servito (Cagayan de Oro City), Benedict Laurence Maestrado (Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental), and Jelvy Capalac (Cagayan de Oro City).

The online consumer quiz is one of the major activities in celebration of Consumer Welfare Month this October 2020.

The coverage includes general consumer welfare topics; consumer rights and responsibilities; subjects relating to consumer as a responsible member of society and adjusting to the new normal due to COVID-19 pandemic; consumer complaints and jurisdiction; fair trade laws; rules and regulations

including Consumer Act of the Philippines, Price Act, and Philippine Lemon Law; and topics pertaining to this year’s Consumer Welfare Month theme, “Sustainable Consumer in the New Normal.”

Unlike the regional consumer quizzes held in previous years where students are the exclusive participants, this year’s online consumer quiz was open to all interested participants in Northern Mindanao except for children below fifteen years old; those residing outside the region; current employees of DTI, Negosyo Centers, and attached bureaus; and previous champions of the regional consumer quiz.

(DTI-10/PIA Misamis Occidental)

Upskilled Teachers: Turning Uncertainties into Opportunities EDWIN V. AMPARO Claveria 1 District Division of Misamis Oriental

This has been such a stressful, frustrating and overwhelming time for everyone. No matter what our occupation or status in life, we have all been touched in some way, shape or form.

As educators, we typically love our day to day routine, so dealing with a pandemic before the school year ends and right before the new one starts was not a part of our original lesson plans. All of us have struggled to find a new normal and a new way of continuing to educate our students, because that is what we do. We teach!

However, as we started to move in to the threshold of the new educational year during these situations many people start to doubt our involvement, the teachers’ involvement, in the learning process.

The Department of Education ensures that the teachers must be able to constantly keep up with the fastchanging standards of education quality under the realms of its initiative Sulong EduKalidad, a vehicle of the department under the leadership of Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones in shifting the focus from access to quality wherein one of its pillars underscored the need for teachers to undergo “upskilling and reskilling” to achieve quality education.

This year, DepEd Misamis Oriental has launched its Banner Program called “BE MORE: Bringing Excellence

by Maximizing and Optimizing Resources in Education”. Its officials believe that the first step to take in order to thrive in the new normal is change of mindset. Rather than thinking to be less, think to BE MORE! Optimization is the design and operation of a system or process to make it as good as possible in some defined sense while maximization is the act of raising something to its greatest value or extent.

The Division took advantage of these principles that will ensure that the utilization of resources and implementation of initiatives will be done in a way that it will get the best results.

One of the best resources that we could find are the teachers themselves. There are 8,247 Teachers and personnel in the Misamis Oriental and still counting. These people are a great deal of human resources. Enormous resources.

Each teacher is a repository of teaching techniques and strategies that are time-tested and are quality-assured based on the products that they have produced over the years.

Through BE MORE initiative, teachers are situated in the new modality of teaching and learning in this time of the pandemic and their intricate role are examined in carrying out their mandate to deliver quality basic education for all learners at all times. The

initiative believes that putting emphasis on teachers’ capacities is as crucial as reviewing the curriculum and addressing gaps in education resources for the battle for quality basic education will be fought and won inside the classroom, by our teachers.

Since the Division has already established the utilization of the available technology through Project MODEM which stands for Misamis Oriental Digital Education Mainstreaming which facilitated the delivery of training and other initiatives, teachers now are capacitated to be more relevant and functional in adapting techniques in the new normal setting of education.

Teachers in the entire division are now being engaged to a more digital and remote form of teaching through Video Lessons, Radio-Based Instructions and Modular Instructions. In practice, this new relationship between teachers and students takes the form of a different concept of instruction. Tuning in to how students really learn prompts many teachers to reject teaching that is primarily lecture based in favor of instruction that challenges students to take an active role in learning.

With the advantage of online platforms and media, series webinars and virtual trainings were being rolled-out to all schools bringing new forms of alternative delivery of learning.

Constant capacity-building workshops and evaluation were mapped-out among the personnel bringing the best of outputs that are of great use. The fundamental job of teaching is no longer to distribute facts but to help children learn how to use them by developing their abilities to think critically, solve problems, make informed judgments, and create knowledge that benefits both the students and society.

Teachers are now made aware

that methodologies used to facilitate teaching and learning should be varied, learners’ centered and multi-modal through Project ELEVATE or Enhancing Learning in Virtual And Actual Teaching and Thinking Environments.

Aside from rethinking their primary responsibility as directors of student learning, teachers are also taking on other roles in schools and in their profession. They are working with colleagues, family members, politicians, academics, community members, employers, and others to set clear and obtainable standards for the knowledge, skills, and values we should expect Filipino students to acquire. They are participating in day-to-day decision making in schools, working side-by-side to set priorities, and dealing with organizational problems that affect their students' learning.

DepEd Misamis Oriental also continues to scale-up Organizational Accountability and Responsibility to acquire fresh new perspective on School Leadership through Project SOAR 2.0 (Scaling-up Organizational Accountability and Responsibility).

With so much about the coming year unknown, teachers need to equip themselves with as many tools as possible. So DepEd Misamis Oriental continues to turn uncertainties into opportunities by being resilient and creative to foster a sense of normalcy in the time of new normal.

Reference: Mendoza, L E. (2020).

Mendoza: Teachers as change warriors in the classrooms.

The Scribe's Corner.

SunStar.

Department of Education, Division of Misamis Oriental (2020). DepED MisOr:

Turning Uncertainties Into Opportunities. Facebook Page

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Measures... from page 2

its by-products inside the province,” Oñate told PNA in a recent interview.

Last February, this city and ne i g hb or i ng are as implemented a temporary ban on the entry of live hogs and pork products following confirmed cases here, as well as in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental provinces. (PNA)

Farmers... from page 2

a minimum production area of 100 hectares for rice, 75 for corn and other grains, 50 for high value vegetables, 100 for fruit trees and perennials and 100 hectares for fiber crops.

It will also focus on giving priority to community production and processing projects to promote coordinated and organized value chain systems to achieve i n c re a s e d pro du c t iv it y compared to stand-alone practices.

“We are hopeful for the success of this project and look forward that it will help increase our farmers’ productivity and income, especially during these trying times,” MACO MPC chair Calixto Daquiado said.

(AMBManto, DA-10/PIA Bukidnon)

Cement... from page 3

facilities to immediately cease all printing operations of previously approved cement bags indicating “Product of the Philippines”.

"While consumer safety is always one of the department’s priorities, it is also the mandate of DTI to protect and support local manufacturing industries.

This is why the DTI strongly promotes the Buy Local, Go Lokal campaign, encouraging a l l lo ca l consumers to patronize Filipino products and services,” Lopez added.

(PNA)

Rules... from page 3

which must bear English or Filipino translations of their contents.

In a forum early this w e e k , Ru a n t o w a r n e d consumers against buying products with no English or Filipino translation in their labels, saying they could be smuggled goods that do not meet the safety standards of the Philippine government.

Dimagiba said these goods should not be in the market as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would not issue them product registration unless they are properly labeled.

Ruanto, who is also a member of the advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan, pointed out that it is easier for impor ted food and agricultural produce to enter the Philippine market than for Philippine exports to enter other countries.

Always check the label S h e a l s o c au t i o n e d consumers about products coming from China and South Korea, particularly noodles,

with no English or Filipino translation in their labels.

Emerson Españo, 28, is fond of buying imported Chinese and Korean food and condiments, such as hoisin sauce, chili sauce, ramyun (noodles), kimchi, and bean paste.

Españo told PNA that the translation reassures him that imported products are safe to consume.

Carlos Laron likewise reads labels of imported goods before buying them.

“I always check the label.

It’s important to know what you’re buying. If there’s no English translation available on the label, I search the brand on Google and see how the products work or the contents of the food item.

I will not buy anything that has no translation unless someone I know recommends it to me or tells me what it’s for,” Laron said.

Ma. Francesca Viray, Danice Viray, and Gladys Gale Limlingan, all from Bulacan, also purchase Korean food and beauty products, as well as Chinese condiments.

For them, labels with no translation are not a big deal when buying imported products.

They said when they are in doubt, they check with their friends or the Internet.

For a parent like Emmy Felix, it is important to always check the label of the products she is buying.

“I always check the label or search online if I’m not familiar with the brand,” Felix said. “As a mom, it’s important to have accurate translation in all products, especially if these are consumables.”

(PNA)

Debt... from page 5

(GIR) amounting to around USD100.5 billion as of last September.

He said the country’s foreign reserves to date is equivalent to 10 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income, way higher than the international standards of a three to four months cover.

“Thus, the Philippines still has leeway to manage higher government spending and wider budget deficits largely for Covid-19 programs and also amid reduced government tax revenues due to Covid-19, while maintaining a delicate balance of having favorable credit ratings,” he added. (PNA)

Banks... from page 5

a survey conducted a few weeks into the ECQ,” she added, and that more than 60 percent of MSMEs – based on this survey — have stopped operations because of zero sales and lack of capital.

For some, a “silver lining” was the opportunity to have an online presence. E-commerce revenue is expected to grow by 42 percent this year because with physical restrictions or social distancing, consumers are encouraged to conduct business online. There are

an estimated 39 million e-commerce users which is a sizeable market, according to Suficiencia.

Suficiencia said the BSP’s time-bound regulatory reliefs and incentives to channel credit to MSMEs have been in place since March to ensure that “banks do not completely turn their backs away from MSMEs and to further stimulate financing especially at a time when it was most needed.”

The BSP approved the use of new loans to MSMEs as part of banks’ compliance with the RRR last April 24, and the use of new loans to large enterprises on April 29.

Aside from the RRR compliance, to channel more loans to the MSME sector, the BSP extended relief measures on the reporting of past due and bad loans, reduced the credit risk weights for these loans from 75 percent to 50 percent and assigned zero weight with government guarantees from the Philippine Guarantee Corporation, Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool, and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.

“These COVID 19-related policy measures have freed up additional bank liquidity, that were channeled to MSME financing, and we saw positive results and response from the banking sector,” said Suficiencia.

Post-pandemic, the BSP official said they want banks to continue to support MSME and to help BSP to “shape a sustainable ecosystem that facilitates meaningful participation.” “(And) by meaningful participation, we mean that banks (will) go into MSME financing not because of mandatory credit requirements, but because they really see the MSME sector as a strategic and viable market segment,” said Suficiencia.

To prepare for a postpandemic environment, Suficiencia said the BSP has undertaken a series of initiatives to “develop market infrastructure to improve past credit risk assessment and management tools as well as bridge information asymmetries that prevent banks f rom lending to smaller firms, or make banks heavily reliant on the use of collateral.”

This initiatives include the credit risk database project with JICA assistance to “build a statistical scoring model to support past assessment of the probability of default of an SME borrower” and conducting international MSME demand site survey to generate “better and more granular data on the profile and needs” of MSMEs for targeted interventions.

In addition, the BSP is also preparing an MSME demand site sur vey and supply chain financing.

“Another investment in the pipeline is the conduct of a study in partnership with a global expert for the development of the supply chain financing market in

the country,” said Suficiencia.

This supply chain finance is an innovative approach to “support accessible bank financing of smaller firms who may lack credit history, or are deemed high risk.”

“These are just some of the initiatives that are specifically being pursued

by BSP to support MSME financing. But, we recognize the underlying enabler for innovative MSME financing is their digital infrastructure,” said Suficiencia. This is where the BSP’s 2020-2023 digital payments transformation roadmap comes in and its target to have 50 percent of total retail transaction in digital by 2023 and that 70 percent of Filipino adults will have formal accounts by that time.

Based on 2018 statistics, MSMEs accounted for 99.5 percent of total business establishments with 5.7 million jobs or 63.2 percent of the total workforce.

Globe... from page 8

for Program Delivery, Network Technical Group.

Site upgrades were likewise implemented in other locations such as El Nido in Palawan; Botolan in Zambales; Bantay, Ilocos Sur; Buguey, Cagayan; Cadiz City, Negros Occidental; Cabucgayan, Biliran; Isabel, Leyte; Isulan City, Sultan Kudarat; Pandan, Antique; San Felipe, Zambales; Orion, Bataan; and Maddela, Quirino to mention a few.

With the roll out builds and site upgrades, customers in these locations can now do web browsing, improved voice calls, video/call conferencing, gaming, audio and video streaming and transfer files either for learning or work related purposes.

Despite the restrictions of health and quarantine protocols, Globe is actively pursuing its three-pronged strategy to improve further its services to its customers through aggressive cell site builds; upgrading all its sites to have 4G LTE using many different frequencies; and fast tracking the fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide for better connectivity and data experience.

Moreover, this promotes the country's agenda of rolling out site builds and improvement measures to address the demand of Filipinos going digital, since classes in public schools have reopened. In a recent Malacanang briefing, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año declared, “We will expedite the rollout of the telco towers,” also mentioning provisions in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act that expedites permits to fastrack telco builds.

Glob e is supp or tive of t he United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UNSDG No. 9 which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the 10 United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.

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Imposed... from page 1

this will only stay until the next baseload capacity additions are needed.

And based on forecasts, the need for baseload capacity in the biggest power grid of Luzon in particular will be until year 2024 – a timeframe that is not covered anymore by this current administration.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi declared that based on the department’s assessment, there is already a paramount need “for the country to shift to a more flexible power supply mix.”

He said “this would help build a more sustainable power system that will be resilient in the face of structural changes in demand and will be flexible enough to accommodate the entry of new, cleaner, and indigenous technological innovations.”

Nevertheless, the department cannot categorically lay down at this point which coal projects are in the scope of the moratorium – it just noted that the coverage would be the developments yet to be proposed.

In the D OE’s list of indicative and committed power projects, there are still array of shovel-ready coal plant projects that already secured the endorsements of the DoE – and some are even classified as “energy projects of national significance.”

The energy chief said “while we have initially embraced a technolog y neutral policy, our periodic assessment of our country’s energ y requirements is paving the way for innovative adaptations in our policy direction.”

Cusi stressed the moratorium on the endorsements for greenfield coal power plants “are but a m o n g t h e i n n ov at i v e policies that the DOE will be implementing.”

He emphasized that as the energy department reevaluates “the appropriateness of our current energy mix vis-a-vis our energy goals, I am optimistic that this would lead to more opportunities for RE to figure prominently in our country’s energy future.”

Passes... from page 1

(BARMM), the Code was passed in a two-day special session where BTA members voted on the floor or online.

All the 26 BTA members who were physically present and the 32 others who attended via zoom voted in favor of Cabinet Bill No. 60.

The Code defines the structural, functional, and procedural principles and rules of governance of the BARRM. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim lauded the efforts of the BTA led by Speaker Atty.

Ali Pangalian Balindong.

“I would like to express my gratitude and congratulations to my colleagues in the BTA Parliament, under the guidance of our for the historic approval of the

Bangsamoro Administrative Code. Today we are writing history by providing the form and structure of the Bangsamoro Government and fulfilling one of our mandates during the transition period,” Ebrahim said.

He admitted it was not an easy task as the coronavirus pandemic came before its passage.

He highlighted the pursuit of moral governance with the passage of the Code.

“It shall maintain honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability in governance and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.

“This salient point speaks of our earnest desire to leave a system that adheres to the concept of amanah, where leadership and responsibilities are not just titles or positions, but more importantly a trust given by the Almighty,” he added.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the predecessor of BARMM, was roundly criticized for alleged rampant graft and corruption.

Ebr a h i m note d t hat t he C o de includes t he i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z at i o n o f Shariah in the context of the Bangsamoro, acknowledges t h e r i s i ng i n du st r y of cooperatives and small and medium enterprises, and recognizes the important role of women, youth and other sectors.

“Now, we are moving towards the crucial time of establishing a regional bureaucracy that is responsive to their needs and provide them with the future anchored in our shared values, identity and self-determination,” he said.

“We cannot and we must not stop until we create a BARMM that speaks of the sacrifices by our dear Mujahideen, that speaks of the dreams of young Fatimas and Abdullahs; a BARMM that speaks our narrative,” he added.

Parliament member Nabil Tan said the Code went through several processes and reviews before the body came up with an “enhanced version.”

O t he r pr i or it y bi l l s such as those for the Local G over nment C o de and the Civil S er vice C ode were already approved on second reading in the plenary and were referred to the committee on rules.

The bill for the Education Code was filed Thursday and referred to the committee on education. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews

Center... from page 1

in October alone, some 300 patient care centers were built in Lanao del Norte, and 240 in Iligan City.

Apart from these, DPWH10 said another 60 patient care facilities were built in Lanao del Sur, in collaboration with other national agencies and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Task Force Bangon Marawi.

Maghinay said the construction of at least 56 patient care centers is also ongoing in Barangay Macasandig and Upper Puerto here and in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental.

Pat ient care centers are also being proposed in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, she said.

To ensure that patient care centers are built fast and according to specifications, Maghinay said the DPWH would only release funds after exhaustive inspections of a completed project.

Meanwhile, Department of Health 10 Director Adriano Suba-an on Friday lauded the Iligan City government for converting unused spaces into isolation or temporary treatment and monitoring facilities for Covid-19 cases.

Suba-an also cited Cagayan de Oro's initiative in establishing an additional 75-bed capacity isolation unit in Barangay San Simon.

"That will not just end as an emerging and reemerging infectious disease facility as it may evolve as the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine of the south," he said of Cagayan de Oro's patient care centers.

(PNA)

Saved... from page 4

night in the storm not only saved John, but so completely changed him for the rest of his life that he wrote a song about it which is sung by millions around the world today: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found—was blind, but now I see!”

John Newton’s song and story can become yours too, because God is offering His full and free grace to you today. Won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you for your wrong heart and sinful living? If you give Him complete charge of your heart and life, He can start changing you into the man or woman He created you to be. Just think a minute…

Recovery... from page 4

style: “Xavier saw risks where others didn’t. Yet, he always believed that banking was a risk management business, and, therefore, there was nothing wrong with being conservative. Time would prove him right every time there was a crisis, and we have one every decade.”

Cezar “Bong” P. Consing, current BPI President, paid this tribute. “As CEO of BPI, Xavier Loinaz introduced countless product initiatives in the Philippine banking market, with the introduction of ATMs in the early 1980s being a good example. He also presided over most of the bank’s largest strategic initiatives, which include the acquisitions of Far East Bank, Citytrust, Comtrust and Family Savings Bank. In his 22 years as CEO, his steady and disciplined approach allowed the bank to weather one national or international crisis after another. And

while he stepped down as CEO sixteen years ago, his continued role in our board of directors has allowed us to benefit from his experience and counsel. He would have to be one of the most influential figures in the history of modern Philippine banking.”

Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, former BPI Director, described Loinaz up close: “Whenever he spoke during board meetings, everyone listened for surely, no one could afford to miss the wise counsel of a master, a leader and an elder. He spoke firmly but humbly, and always with authority - not only because of his expertise and experience but also because, prior to the meeting, he had studied the specific matter at hand.”

BPI Director Romy P. Bernardo reminisces: “(Here is) another example of this high level of diligence and risk management mind-set that has saved the bank from losses, where others have been blindsided. It is a matter of record at the BSP that in the global financial crisis a decade ago, BPI was the only big local bank that had zero holdings of international subprime securities. A quote from that period from a key board director on a proposal to purchase Lehman securities – “ I don't care if it is triple A rated, if we don't understand it, we are not buying it.”

As president and CEO of BPI, Loinaz was also a member of the Ayala Group Management Committee, and saw through the conglomerate’s consolidation of its insurance companies, its early investments in electronics manufacturing and information technology, the development of its telecommunications business, and its foray into water.

Loinaz has also been an Independent Director on Ayala’s Board since 2009, and as Lead Independent Director since 2017, during which time Ayala pursued new investments in energy, infrastructure, business process outsourcing, e duc at ion, and he a lt h.

As chai r of t he Au d it Committee, Loinaz provided an independent review of Ayala’s financial reporting process, internal controls and risk management system.

To Xavier P. Loinaz, we are praying for your speedy recovery.

Note: You may wish to share the foregoing via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

US of A and the European countries had long tagged the Sison’s Communist Party of the Philippines and its New Peoples Army as a terrorist organization. However, it is a sublime irony, that the Netherlands cuddles Jose Ma. Sison, the CPP/NPA founder, and supremo.

The legal fronts, including the party lists, become suspects only because of their stealthy activities. Like, why and what are they doing with minor children of indigenous people in Davao del Norte h e rd i n g t h e m w it h out parental consent then teach them how to dismantle and assemble guns, sing different anthem instilling hatred against the government, and training them to shoot.

Gen. Antonio Parlade is unnecessarily verbose that when he said he warned L i z a S o b e r an o a g ai ns t participating in the activities of Gabriela, he was promptly accused of Red-tagging her. The fronts had ganged up on him others evoking McCarthyism, a fear rumormongering warning of Russia’s eventual successful inroads in establishing communism in the US. They omitted the fact that in the years to come America woke up to realize that it is nightmarish for Russia to do that as a communist America might actually rule Russia.

So what will this sudden furor over Red-tagging mean to us? At its face value is pure and simple propaganda versus propaganda with some political undertones as the 2022 regular elections is drawing near. As to its ideological values, I do not know where and how the CPP/NPA will succeed. Joma and his ilk had been peddling the idea for decades and oftentimes through “hard sell “ means aided by its armed militia, the NPA. With the evolution of communism and the emergence of new regimes in Russia and in China, Joma’s dogma had become irrelevant. From among the peasants in China and the workers in Russia are the new rich. In Russia, the Romanovs and their palaces and the Bolsheviks have been relegated to history and spices of tourism fare.

In China, following its freemarket economy, the world marvels over the number of billionaires that many of them have become; a phenomenon that stuns the west and made them angry with envy to the point that they have to put

barriers to their trade with China. In the meantime, with the exception of Joma, his foot soldiers are still in the wilderness.

But give it to General Antonio Parlade, Jr. and Usec Lorraine Badoy. Not a few members of the NPA combatants have returned to the folds of the law and lived a life of normalcy.

Pandemic... from page 4

June 2003, S of G Foundation, Makati).

Well, during this really not easy time, I am proud of having people in my surroundings who taught me how to be on the right track - unconcerned and unnoticed. Natural and uninhibited, they showed me how to put real religiousness into action besides praying and going regularly to church. I call such people religious. I mean it as praise because they don't like to blow their trumpets while acting as Christians in our daily life.

Having such people around us makes it easier to stay strong and to overcome loneliness and missing all the good things, we are no more allowed to do.

Social gatherings, travelling, personal business meetings, visiting cultural events and to get the whole sacrament personally from the hand of a priest or pastor. +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail. com or follow me on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www. klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com.

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late CATALINA A. CABACTULAN who died on March 25, 2014 at J.R Borja General Hospital, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, died intestate, without Will or Testament, and without any outstanding debts in favor of any person or entity; time of his death he left a certain parcels of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-157407 situated at Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, Lot 1467-A-6,Psd-10-04-043122, Portion of Lot: 1467-A,Psd-10-004249 and Transfer Certificate of Tile No. T-157408 situated at Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, Lot 1467-A-7,Psd-10-04-043122, Portion of Lot 1467-A, Psd-10-004294 and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTE SALE, filed by the heirs of CATALINA A. CABACTULAN, in favor CLAUDIO C. CABAHUG, Per DOC #405;PAGE#81;BOOK #LXXXIII; Series of 2019 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. EDDIE C. CUARESMA. BWM: Oct. 26, Nov. 2 & 9, 2020

Battle... from page 4

evolve. Sadly Joma and his commandos and comrades are stuck in a banal plot to take over the helms of power by way of armed struggle to overthrow the government.

The NPAs even paint their faces red so there you are.

The current brouhaha over re d-t ag g ing is ac tua l ly superfluous. A commie is red because it is. It is neither a threat nor meant to scare.

A communist or Red is not a terrorist but an NPA is. The

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MONDAY|NOVEMBER 2, 2020

RHR Unveils Balikbayan Promo for GOH and Summit Hotels

S

INCE the start of quarantine, OFWs have slowly returned to the country to reunite with their families during these tumultuous times. To make the balikbayan process easier and more comfortable, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts unveiled its Balikbayan promo for both Go Hotels and Summit Hotels in major branches across the country.

From June 15, 2020 to December 31, 2020, balikbayans can have a comfortable, safe, and affordable stay in Summit Hotels or GO Hotels while they wait for their medical test results and be one step closer to reuniting with their families.

GO Hotels Balikbayan promos from Php 1,300 (room only) to Php 1,900 (full board, inclusive of 3-meals) are in store exclusively for returning

OFWs who wish to stay in GO Hotels branches Mandaluyong, Ortigas, and Otis-Manila.

Besides the option for room only or full board accommodation, all balikbayan guests will enjoy GO Hotels signature 100% cotton sheets complete with chiropractic and hypoallergenic pillows; this along with the brand’s strengthened health and safety protocols to ensure a safe and secure stay. For

more information, visit the GO Hotels website at www.gohotels.ph.

Summit Hotels For OFW guests opting to stay at a Summit Hotel, balikbayan promos of Php 2,800 for Summit Magnolia and Greenhills and Php 2,500 for Summit Galleria-Cebu are also up for grabs. All offers include a fullday meal but guests may also opt for room only accommodations.

Also employing stringent health and safety protocols, guests at a Summit Hotel will enjoy a safe and secure premium hotel experience without the added expense.

For more details, head to the Summit Hotels website at www. summithotels.ph.

Guests who avail these offers need to present their travel documents (passport or copy of boarding pass or an equivalent thereof and BOQ affidavit of undertaking) upon check-in. Book direct at www.gohotels.ph and www.summithotels. ph or call +63 919 071 3699, +63 917 326 2700, +63 977 103 1854 for phone reservations.

Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) Circle of Clean protocols: All Go Hotels

implement the Circle of Clean protocols to ensure guests have a safe, secure, and worry-free staycation.

The Circle of Clean protocols refers to RHR’s elevated standards of health and safety in their properties as prescribed by the World Health Organization and Department of Health’s new normal protocols.

This ensures that all guest touchpoints are safe and clean; from pre-arrival all the way to post-departure.

The protocols include requiring hotel staff to don PPEs while in the properties, strict observation of deep cleaning in the facility, and strict compliance of social distancing guidelines in all restaurants and function venues.