BusinessWeek Mindanao (April 20, 2020)

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Volume X, No. 128

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Monday | April 20, 2020

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Ramadan preparations up, X X no congregational prayer Briefly Thank you for trusting us!

Market Indicators AS OF 6:00 PM MAR. 13, 2020 (FRIDAY)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P 51.030

5,793.94

18

cents

57.67 points

No operations

HOLCIM Philippines Inc. reported that it has suspended operations in its Davao City plant in compliance with the City government’s order imposing an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

In a disclosure to the P h i l i p p i n e S t o ck E x c h a n g e, Holcim said the suspension in operations will be from April 4, 2020 until April 19, 2020, or until the ECQ is lifted or withdrawn.

“Our Lugait Plant in Misamis Oriential will continue to operate and serve the requirements of our business partners and customers in Northern Mindanao and the Visayas,” the firm said.

Tax payment extended FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has issued the revenue regulations extending t h e d e a d l i n e s fo r f i l i n g o f tax retur ns, submission of documents, and the payment of taxes, pursuant to Republic Act 11469, otherwise known as “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.” According to Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 7-2020 dated March 30, 2020, the extension aims to relieve Filipino taxpayers who will not be able to prepare, let alone file, the necessar y documents under the Tax Code because of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and other restrictions on the personal movement being implemented by the national and local governments to prevent community transmission of the coronavirus disease.

Section 4(z) of the Bayanihan Act, which placed the Philippines in a state of national emergency, grants the President the authority to “move statutor y deadlines and timelines for the filing and submission of any document, the payment of taxes, fees, and other charges required by law.”

By ALBASHIR SAIDEN PNA

COTABATO City – The Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta announced on Thursday that moonsighting will be conducted simultaneously on We d n e s d ay i n t h e Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to signal the Muslim ‘ummah’ (community) of the start of the month of Ramadan.

Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Abuhuraira Udasan said if the crescent moon is sighted on April 22, Ramadan would start on April 23. If not, the holy month automatically starts on April 24.

“We will make an official announcement on April 22 at 8 p.m. through our official Facebook page and media partners,” Udasan said.

PRAYER/PAGE 9

HEALTH WORKER ON BIKE. An employee of the Southern Philippines Medical Center, the designated Covid-19 hospital for Davao City, rides a bicycle. Public transportation has been stopped except for taxis and tricycles under the enhanced community quarantine for Covid-19 of Davao City. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

Unicef, DOH hold virtual training to health workers to fight Covid

THE United Nation children’s agency UNICEF and the Department of Health (DOH) began a virtual training of health workers on COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).

The training, aimed at COVID-19 interventions in home and community

settings, was developed in collaboration w it h D OH , t he Worl d He a lt h Organization (WHO) and USAID. The training will build the capacity of up to 2,500 health workers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao initially. To overcome travel restrictions during the enhanced community quarantine, COVID/PAGE 9

SEC warns of Zambo Sur-based firm soliciting investments from public

By MINDANEW

MAT WEAVER. Elizabeth Eliot weaves a mat inside her home in Daku, General Luna in Siargao Island . She said life has been hard after the tourists left due to the coronavirus pandemic but her craft has sustained her family's needs nonetheless. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO

MAL AYBAL AY Cit y -- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued an advisory against an entity that is reportedly enticing the

public to invest in it with the promise of high monetary rewards or profits.

SEC’s advisory issued Tuesday identified the entity as JOCALS688 PUBLIC/PAGE 11

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MONDAY | APRIL 20, 2020

Gov. Romualdo sa Camiguin, mapasalamaton kang Gov. Emano

MAPASALAMATON uyamot si Gobernador Jurdin Jesus ‘JJ’ Romualdo sa Camiguin sa tanang lakang nga gihimo ni Gobernador Bambi Emano alang sa pagpakgang sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) dinhi sa Misamis Oriental. Matud ni Gov. Romualdo, tungod sa kahugot sa seguridad nga gipatuman sa Misamis Oriental, lakip ang Camiguin nahimong luwas, ug hangtud karon isa lang ka kaso sa nagpositibo sa iyang probinsiya.

Gipaabot ni Gov. Romualdo ang iyang pagpasalamat kang Gov. Emano atol sa ilang

interview sa Laging Handa Network Briefing kauban si Presidential Communications Operations Officer Sec. Martin Andanar niadtong Abril 12, 2020.

“Salamat na narinig ko rin kay Governor Bambi na strikto rin ang Misamis Oriental,” segun pa ni Gov. Romualdo.

Kahinumduman nga sa dihang mitala sa usa kaso sa COVID-19 ang lalawigan sa Camiguin, gipahugtan pa ni Gov. Emano ang seguridad sa Balingoan Port sa Balingoan, Misamis Oriental, kung diin mogawas-sulod ang pasahero ug salakyan padulong sa Camiguin.

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

Davao City cancels big events for 2020

DAVAO City – Mayor Sara Z. Duterte has canceled all the big festivities here as it declared a period of mourning and vigilance starting April 17 until December 31, 2020.

She made the declaration amid the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, which affected a total of 83 persons in the city alone. Of that number, 16 had died but 46 others recovered.

The Executive Order released Friday also said that all city and national government celebrations like Kadayawan slated in August, parties, anniversaries, and festivities shall be canceled.

Duterte also ordered the cancelation of all government-sponsored events and crowddrawing activities, including those linked to the celebration of this

year's Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival.

She added that the commemoration of important dates and legal holidays should be kept short.

“All barangays shall refrain from an extravagant celebration of their fiesta. All founding anniversaries/Araw ng Barangay celebrations shall be canceled,” she added.

All private parties should be low-key with no more than 25 guests as big celebrations are advised to be postponed until 2021.

“Low-key means if you celebrate, your guest must not exceed 25 persons.

Let us be mindful of what our neighbors are going through. Keep your parties and celebrations low-key and modest,” Sara said in a radio interview on Friday night.

As to the private

sector who planned to conduct parties to their employees, Duterte suggested that they might opt to conduct a food distribution, feeding program, or financial assistance to their employees.

“We suggest the private sectors modify their celebrations. The city government shall file actions in cases of thoughtless extravagance in expenses for pleasure or display,” she added.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Alveo 70.3 Ironman, which was supposed to be held in May, was scheduled in 2021.

“The event is canceled and it will resume in 2021,” Duterte said .She said all public gatherings and parties should also be held in abeyance until after the period of mourning and vigilance against Covid-19. (PNA)

DA-10, San Miguel Foods give 10,000 balut eggs to frontliners

By RECTHIE T. PACULBA Contributor

TEN thousand 'balut' eggs were distributed by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 in partnership with San Miguel Foods, Inc. to frontliners from the Philippine National Police (PNP)-10, Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), Department of Health (DOH)-10, and Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-10, April 17 at DA-10 compound.

"Nahitabo ni tungod sa atong linkage and coordination with the

company pinaagi sa atong Regional Executive Director Carlene Collado.

Ang San Miguel naghatag sa ato ug 10,000 nga balut penoy nga itlo para ipanghatag sa atong mga frontline personnel sa Department of Agriculture pero nakita namo nga dapat amo pud ning i-share sa uban nga members sa Inter-Agency Task Force sa Northern Mindanao mao na nga out of the 10,000 nga itlog nga among nadawat, ang 5,000 among gi-share sa other agencies," DA-10 Regional Technical Director

Carlota S. Madriaga said.

The P34,316.70 worth of 'balut' eggs were boiled at the DA-10 compound so the frontliners can immediately eat such upon receipt.

DA-10 gave out 1,700 eggs to PNP-10, 200 to OpCen IATF, 600 to NMMC, and 30 to PIA10. About 5,000 eggs were distributed to the agency's frontliners and partner agencies in Bukidnon.

"Ang balut daw kay high in protein matud pa sa atong veterinarian so kinahanglan ni nato FRONTLINERS/PAGE 9

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MONDAY | APRIL 20, 2020

Downstream oil industry spends P180-M as Covid-19 response

PLAYERS in the downstream oil industry have spent at least PHP180 million under their own corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs as the country faces the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the Department of Energy (DOE) said.

Oil firms extended their assistance by donating protective medical equipment and gear, giving free fuel to frontliners, fuel discounts and subsidies, and partnering with transport service providers.

“We commend our downstream oil industry for tirelessly providing much-needed assistance to their employees, clientele, and the general public, most especially to our front-liners, our present-day heroes. Now more than ever, we must stand as a united people.

For us to heal as one, we must fight the pandemic as one," Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi

3

CorporateWorld

said in a statement.

Cusi also encouraged other players to extend their support for fellow Filipinos amid the Covid-19 crisis.

“We will always support our stakeholders and assist them in finding proactive and effective solutions to all the challenges our industry would be facing amidst this pandemic,” the DOE chief added.

Among the companies that implement their Covid-19 CSR response include Petron Corporation, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Chevron Philippines, Inc., Phoenix Petroleum, Inc., Seaoil Philippines, Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Total CorporationPhilippines, Clean Fuel Philippines, Jetti Petroleum, Inc., Pryce Gases, Inc., and Isla Gas Philippines.

Meanwhile, Cusi said the department RESPONSE/PAGE 6

SMC to buy farmers produce to sustain farm incomes

FOOD conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is looking to tap more farmers nationwide to supply raw material for its food products, help sustain farm incomes in the countryside and secure food supply amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.

“We are looking for ways to be able to tap more farmers for rice production, corn, cassava, coconut oil, pork, chicken, among others,” SMC president and COO Ramon Ang said.

“Through this, we hope to be able to support the livelihood of our farmers and secure our future

supply of food,” he added.

The move will also generate economic activity across the food value chain involving not only farmers, but a web of players from suppliers of agricultural inputs, processing facilities, shipping to retailers, among others, Ang said.

In recent weeks, the company has intensified buying of cassava from over 17,000 farmers nationwide through 130 assemblers.

SMC, whose food unit San Miguel Foods Inc. is among the country’s leading producers of fresh meats, poultry, processed meats, flour,

dairy products, spreads, and coffee, said it will buy products at guaranteed prices, to ensure farmers will benefit.

“We want to make sure that farmers will directly benefit. It’s not only people in Metro Manila who are in need of help but also, our kababayans in the provinces, including our farmers,” Ang said.

“Our local farmers have long been a major part of San Miguel’s supply chain.

We source many of the raw materials for a lot of our products from them. They are even more important and critical now, especially given the tight competition for products in the global

market,” he added.

With the initiative, Ang said the company wanted to encourage more farmers to plant, and assure them that they have a ready market for their products.

“Right now, we have more than enough inventory for our present needs, up to over six months. But we will still buy their produce, so we can further ensure supply.

This will also allow us to start preparing for the succeeding months,” he said.

Ang, however, said that all players would need to strictly enforce safety INCOMES/PAGE 9

Universal Robina nets P10.1-B UNIVERSAL Robina Corporation (URC) booked a 7-percent increase in net income to P10.1 billion last year, driven by the growth in operating income offset by finance cost, other expenses, and adverse foreign exchange impacts.

In a statement, URC said its operating Income, including hogs market valuation, grew by 12

percent to P15 billion.

Its net sales amounted to P134.2 billion, up by 5 percent against the same period last year.

Sales of domestic and international branded consumer foods contributed to P105.9 billion.

Domestic revenues increased by 8 percent, while international revenues rose by 2 percent

but declined by 2 percent in peso terms to P42.2 billion due to the negative impact of foreign exchange translation.

URC said sales of Agro-Industrial & Commodities (AIC) businesses amounted to P28.3 billion, a 12-percent increase versus last year while operating income also grew by 12 percent.

The Agro-Industrial

Group increased sales by 12 percent, driven mainly by strong growth in animal feeds and pet food.

The Commodities Foods Group revenue also grew by 12 percent with flour posting a healthy 26-percent sales growth, while Sugar & Renewables (SURE) grew by 6 percent versus last year.

NETS/PAGE 9

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Opinion

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Rise to the challenge (Part 2) Think a minute...”Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” We are facing the most challenging time in human history. Our world population has exploded to 7.8 billion people! With far more people on the planet, we are running out of clean air and clean water. We have new extreme weather patterns and problems humankind has never faced before. We are trying to survive more killer tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, droughts, and other natural disasters than any generation in history.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) has already killed more than 32 million people—and there is still no cure in sight. In Africa, entire towns have only children left living in them because all the fathers and mothers are dead from AIDS. The United Nations reports that we are now facing the worst world hunger and

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST famine in history. Every three seconds a child dies from hunger or lack of clean water. Deadly diseases and viruses can spread around the world ver y quickly.

Add to all this our many conflicts, violence, and global terror, and our future is truly scary! We supposedly live in history’s most “advanced” and “enlightened” generation, with our knowledge of science and technology exploding faster than ever. It’s said that human knowledge doubles every 12 hours! Yet, mankind still cannot solve our own CHALLENGE/PAGE 11

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MONDAY | APRIL 20, 2020

The scourge of impurity I REMEMBER that in the 60s, during my high school days in the province, I never heard, much less, seen pornography. And the sin of self-abuse was practically unheard of. If ever, there only were very occasional and very hushed mention of them among the “naughty” boys who were, of course, my friends.

I started hearing about these things more often and more openly when I began my college studies in Manila in the late 60s and early 70s.

It was a period of drastic changes in my life, reflecting very vividly the many changes I experienced in my own body and those I’ve seen in the environment.

Truth to tell, I experienced what St. Paul described in his Letter to the Romans: “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…

“For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my member another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.

Wretched man that I am!

Who will deliver me from this body death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!…” (7, 14ff.)

I was most thankful that in those years, I also discovered my vocation that somehow shielded me to a large extent from the enormous pressure of the temptations outside and inside. Those were tumultuous times that occasioned in me the strengthening of my faith, my piety, my hope, my charity and the whole gamut of the virtues.

The lesson and insight I learned from those years was that God allows us to get dirty in difficult if not impossible situations in order to purify us, to prod us to really grow in the virtues

in their genuine state and not just their appearance or caricature. He never leaves us and is always there to help, but we have to learn to turn to him.

Our problem usually is that we tend to ignore him. And that’s when what is already bad becomes worse. But if we go to him in our weakness and even in sinfulness, he will always be there to help. I believe that’s what St. Paul meant when he said: “But he (Christ) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12, 9-11) Thus, we should not worry too much, much less plunge

HINTS AND TRACES

ROY CIMAGALA into despair when we are caught in a seemingly helpless and irredeemable situation because such situation can actually occasion a marvellous change and improvement in our life through God’s grace and mercy.

Somehow, with Christ we can echo these reassuring experiences of St. Paul who said: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always IMPURITY/PAGE 11

FAMILY BUSINESS COACH

Flawed family constitutions everywhere The important thing in drafting solid agreements is the journey. No matter how united the family clan is, the generational transition from founder to offspring and the complexity of the offspring to a multi-generational family where cousins with diverse interests become shareholders can invariably take its toll on the family business. That is why families embarking on this governance journey must reflect on their collective vision and mission before pursuing a well-crafted family constitution. S o what constitutes a flawed Constitution? I am adding

more issues with the hope that faulty documents can still be rectified and harmony restored: · The lack of emotional commitment by the next generation leaders either b e caus e t he y were not exposed to the business early or were not given the opportunity to participate. · The presence of a stubborn, defiant and egocentric or an ailing, weak and broken senior business leader. Both without any succession plan · Entitled, complacent or rebellious next generation family members · The contents were

influenced solely by senior generation leaders’ recommendations and the information were open ended and produced more questions than real answers · The members were left on their own to implement the rules. After the signing, they resumed their usual routine and disregarded what was agreed upon. · Family members were c on f u s e d . T h e y d i d n ' t understand the substantial difference between family, business and ownership governance. They thought having a family constitution can produce immediate

YOURS SINCERELY When letters were the only form of written correspondence, signing off was obvious. Actually I am still adopting that old tradition. No matter, if it comes to letters or emails.

It's just a matter of respect and education.

If addressing a sir or madam, it was unambiguous.

Yo u c o n c l u d e d " y o u r s faithfully". When writing to a specific person – for example, a Mr or (hey, ladies first!) – it was simple, your letter would always be signed off "yours sincerely". Only missives to family or close friends would ever finish with a "love from" or "with much love, yours".

For many people, there's a weird status thing when it comes to the more blunt you are in emails. I'm asking myself, why? An email is just a letter - an online one ... .

Sad to say, the arrival of email has disrupted this etiquette, making the rules far less obvious. Indeed, for many of us there are no

rules. A whole subculture of personalized email sign-offs has emerged everything from "TTFN" to "peace out". And of course, it’s not just what we say but why we say it.

Neither in English nor in any other language. I get the same stuff in German written emails and even letters or text messages.

"Emails have become the medium of business, leisure, family, love and everything,” says children’s author Michael Rosen. When we sign off emails, we try to give off the "right vibe", he adds. He says it’s all about how we want to come across to the recipient.

"Thoughtful, grateful or just very, very busy?" Oh sure, we are all so very, very busy... .

Some of the most successful business people are notoriously blunt in email communication – if they even bother with a sign-off at all.

"There's a weird status thing when it comes to the more blunt you are in emails, the more you can be (blunt) because you're senior in the

company," says author Emma Gannon, recalling the editor of a famous newspaper whose response to pitches was often just a curt "yep" or "nope".

Although being succinct c a n c o nv e y a c e r t a i n authority and status, it also communicates a dose of selfimportance or arrogance. And we’ve all dealt with bosses who fire off email edicts of "is this done?" or "update me on that".

Even if they are not so direct, many emailers (email senders?) like to convey a sense of being busy by using or adapting abbreviations. So "kind regards" becomes "KR", or "yours" may do away with pesky vowels to leave "yrs".

Heaven forbid!

"When someone signed off 'BR' for 'best regards', I just thought they were cold, brrr," says Gannon.

And, in my opinion, sorry to say, I even don't reply anymore after receiving such correspondence. Oh sure, we are all busy, but there should be just a minimum

PROF. ENRIQUE SORIANO results · Soliciting inaccurate, insufficient and worse, wrong advises from other consultants, lawyers and accountants A good insight coming from a family member sums up the entire constitution EVERYWHERE/PAGE 11

HAVE MY SAY

KLAUS DORING of respect, if I communicate with someone. In business or personal. By letter, email or text message.

Many times, there are those who pare it down to the absolute minimum, signing off with simply their name or even just the initial letter of their forename. Others might omit a sign off altogether.

While this may come across as peremptory or rude, at least it avoids misinterpretation.

Nearly formal but not totally formal, but they're not as informal as 'CU in a MNT on bus OMW'.

Some people swing the other way and end their emails with an altogether friendlier tone. While most SINCERELY/PAGE 11

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MONDAY | APRIL 20, 2020

Bank loans to small firms to count in computing reserves

THE central bank announced a relief package for small businesses in the form of incentives for banks to to the sector, which is expected to have been hard hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

“The Monetary Board (MB) approved a package of measures to further reduce the financial burden on loans to micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).

Loans granted to MSMEs shall be counted as part of banks’ compliance with reserve requirements,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said in a statement issued late Thursday.

The decision was approved by the MB alongside another 50 basis-point (bp) rate cut which took effect Friday.

Mr. Diokno said that the guidelines related to the small-business lending measure will be issued by the BSP.

ING Bank-NV Manila Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said the latest package from the BSP mirrors actions taken to keep small businesses afloat elsewhere.

“Although a different model used by other countries such as the US and Indonesia that have specific funds set up primarily for SMEs, it follows the current trend of BSP flexing while investors look to the fiscal side of the fence to match,” Mr. Mapa said in an email.

He added that the initiative may prove to be a ”de facto” reduction in the reserve requirement ratio (RRR), which will free up funds for banks to inject into the economy.

The latest RRR reduction took effect April 3. The reserve requirement for big banks was reduced by 200 basis points (bps) to 12%. The central bank also reduced the minimum liquidity ratio for stand-alone thrift

and rural banks by 400 basis points to 16% until year’s end to support to smaller lenders as the pandemic threatens to disrupt the financial sector.

However, Mr. Mapa said that previous trends show that timing determines the effectivity of such liquidity boosts. “(A)s what we’ve seen from past RR reductions, credit conditions and the general state of the economy matter in the timing of such moves and throwing money at the problem is not as effective unless channeled effectively,” Mr. Mapa said.

Mr. Diokno has said that monetary policy works with a lag, a consideration that was weighed in recent actions.

UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said that BSP’s move is a form of aid for embattled firms during the pandemic.

“Linking this to reserve requirement

compliance may further encourage banks to extend the ‘bayanihan’ help to the major employers of the economy. This is a direct boost to the most vulnerable businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in an email.

Mr. Asuncion said that guidelines to be imposed by the BSP need to be “clear and targeted” to ensure maximum impact for the intended beneficiaries.

The latest rate cut reduced overnight reverse repurchase, lending and deposit rates to 2.75%, 3.25%, and 2.25% effective Friday.

“These measures should thus mitigate the adverse impact of the outbreak on the economy by reinforcing the health and fiscal measures already being rolled out by the National Government.

The monetary initiatives will also quicken economic recovery as the pandemic fades,” the BSP said in a statement.

Filipinos shift to e-payments, online banking amid lockdown BANKS and payment firms have seen a surge in online transactions amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon.

During the lockdown, lenders said they observed a rise in account openings as well as fund transfers as limited businesses maintained physical working hours, including banks.

Just two weeks after the lockdown started, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) observed a more than 25% increase in retail digital transactions which included interbank transfers, transactions with e-commerce partners, as well as bills payments, the lender said in a statement.

Interbank transactions made through InstaPay increased 50% to 300,000 from pre-quarantine levels, according to BPI Chief Digital Officer Noel A. Santiago.

“In the last two weeks of March, BPI, through its retail digital platforms, facilitated more than 1.5M transactions with a total value of close to P8 billion,” Mr. Santiago said in a statement.

The internet has become a crucial tool for clients during the ECQ period, according to Philippine National Bank (PNB) President and Chief Executive Officer Jose

5

Banking&Finance

Arnulfo A. Veloso.

“The lockdown has made clients realize the importance of mobile banking applications for their transactions. The use of Internet has become more crucial than ever,” Mr. Veloso said.

According to Mr. Veloso, clients who have enrolled their accounts for mobile banking increased 14% from March 16 to April 7 versus average levels before the lockdown.

He also noted that there was a 13% increase in financial transactions, including fund transfers.

Mr. Veloso said that the current situation has pushed PNB to convert more passbook customers to automated teller machines (ATM) and to enrol them in online banking.

“We are also getting more online merchants [to] get PNB accredited to allow our customers to transact with more companies,” he said.

The rise in online transactions came as Filipinos need cash amid the lockdown, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) said.

“With the restricted mobility allowed to the public and the limited operation of bank branches, there is little option but to turn to digital products,” Angelito

Lito M. Villanueva, RCBC executive vice-president and chief innovation and inclusion officer, said in a text message.

He said RCBC’s send cash feature, which allows clients to transmit cash to unbanked recipients, also saw a 156% surge in transactions as of endMarch compared to preECQ levels.

“The marked increase indicates the need for more liquidity during this difficult time,” Mr. Villanueva said.

UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. also observed growth in digital transactions during the ECQ. “For the month of March, UnionBank logged a nearly 160% [growth] in daily sign-ups to its online and mobile banking portals, and enabled more than 500,000 credit card transactions and well over 1 million Instapay and PesoNet fund transfer transactions,” the bank said in a statement.

CASH-HEAVY SEGMENTS TURN TO E-PAYMENTS Previously cash-heavy segments related to basic necessities recorded a rise in digital transactions in the past weeks, said Shailesh Baidwan, president of digital payments firm PayMaya Philippines, Inc.

Moreover, Mr. Baidwan said they have observed more small businesses and freelancers using the PayMaya app for transactions with clients during the lockdown.

“Digital payment transactions with pharmaceuticals posted the biggest month-onmonth growth in March from February. We also observe consistent growth in certain retail segments such as groceries,” Mr. Baidwan said.

Meanwhile, transaction volumes related to travel, hospitality and tourism edged lower due to restrictions meant to contain the virus outbreak.

The platform, he said, has also been tapped by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that sought to continue delivering their services amid the temporary shutdown of their regular operations.

“Brick and mortar restaurants, smaller online food specialty stores, fresh and frozen produce suppliers and the like are now offering online ordering and deliveries,” he said.

Likewise, Mr. Baidwan said freelancers and professionals have been creating PayMaya accounts to accept payments LOCKDOWN/PAGE 9

OROBANKERS DIRECTORIES CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

A PUBLIC SERVICE BY:

AMANAH/ISLAMIC BANK V. Neri Street Carmen, Cdoc 858988/8587965 / 722274

METRO BANK- COGON Osmeña Hayes St. Cdoc | 726438/8572057

ASIA UNITED BANK Cor.Camp Alagar Road Lapasan, Cdoc 729678 / 8568893

METRO BANK- CARMEN Max Suniel St. Carmen, Cdoc 8581722/ 8585162

BDO – VELEZ Velez-Rn Abejuela Street, Cdoc 2314246/8572075

METRO BANK- LAPASAN CM Recto Lapasan HW, Cdoc 724461/8561721

BDO – SM G/F SM City, Master Son’s Avenue Upper Carmen Cdoc | 8592623/8592637

METRO BANK- OSMEÑA Brgy Osmeña St. Cdoc | 722014 /8800924

BDO – XU XU Lib. Annex Corrales St. Cdoc 8574108 / 8573796

METRO BANK- CORRALES Corrales Avenue, Cdoc | 8572635/728731

BDO – CDO HAYES Trendline Bldg.,Hayes Street, 8568151/727405

METRO BANK- GAISANO 8561720

BDO – COGON Sky hi Bldg JR Borja St. Cogon, Cdoc 8577963/ 725209/ 725203 BDO – OSMEÑA Osmeña corner Ramon Chavez St. Cdoc 724567/8563727 BDO – LAPASAN Lapasan Highway Cdoc 8563233 /8563234 / 725178 BDO – RN- PELAEZ George Town CyberMall Rn Pelaez Blvd Kauswagan Cdoc | 8562617/729052 BDO – CARMEN Maxsuniel cor.V Neri St. Carmen, .Cdoc 8584854 /8581133 BANK OF COMMERCE- VELEZ Akut- Velez St.Cdoc | 8564371 / 726880 BANK OF COMMERCE- LAPASAN

CM Recto Ave. Lapasan, Cdoc, 8563991/727731

BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK RER kauswagan,HW Cdoc 8573733 /722519 BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK Gaston Park Cdoc | 8801518 BPI – LAPASAN Cm Recto HW Lapasan Cdoc 724076/ 8524602 BPI- VELEZ Velez-JR Borja St.Cdoc 8564213/722406 BPI – CAPISTRANO Capistrano St. Cdoc 8574264/8574263 BPI- COGON Osmeña St. Cdoc 8571297/8571298 CHINA BANK –GAISANO 745887/745880 CHINA BANK- JR BORJA JR Borja St. Cdoc 8572212/8573274 CHINA BANK- LAPASAN CM Recto Lapasan HW Cdoc 8561325 /722240 CHINA BANK – CARMEN Max Suniel, Cor. Yakal St. Cdoc 8583903/723091 CHINA BANK – DIVISORIA RN Abejuela St. Divosoria Cdoc 8575759/722641 CITY SAVINGS BANK TS Fashion Ave.Justo Ramonal Corner St.Cdoc 2316060/ 2316059 CHINATRUST Suite U&5 G/LGateway Tower Lapasan Lkk Cdoc 8521846/8521844 D’ASIAN HILLS BANK HW. Lapasan Cdoc | 8564201/ 8564201 D’ASIAN HILLS BANK Vamenta Carmen Sts. Cdoc | 8585366 DBP – CORRALES Corrales Ave., St. Cdoc | 8572087/722649 DBP – CAPISTRANO JR Borja Capistrano St. Cdoc 8567776/722819

PBCOM Tiano-HayesSt. Cdoc | 726519/8571558 PLANTERS DEVELOPMENT BANK

Tiano Bros St. Cdoc | 727083 /727082 PHILTRUST BANK Ramonal OsmeñaSt. CDO 8807234/2316694/2316695 PNB- CORRALES Corrales Avenue Cdoc | 729500 / 729723

PNB- LKK MALL NORTH CONCOURSE

LKK Mall N.Concourse Cdoc 8574149/8575682

PNB- CARMEN Elipe Bldg.Carmen, Cdoc | 8583158/ 8584203 PNB- LKK LKK Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564347/722872 PNB CDO– DIVISORIA Tiano Bros.Cruz Taal St., Cdoc 722861 /722816 PNB CDO– LAPASAN LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564732 / 723992 PNB CDO– COGON LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc 8571991/ 723992 PHILIPPINE POSTAL SAVINGS BANK, INC. bels_domingo@yahoo.com.ph Rizal Chavez Cdoc 8572194/725438 PS BANK Velez Corner A. Mabini St., Cdoc 8574183/725184 PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK Tiano-Abejuela St. Cdoc 722644/8573386 QUEEN CITY DEVELOPMENT BANK, INC. Sacred Heart Mont. Cm RectoAve., Cdoc 8562390 RCBC- VELEZ Velez-Borja St. Cdoc | 8564982/8568888 RCBC- COGON Simplex Bldg. Osmeña St. Cdoc 8562888/725863/8521329 RCBC- LAPASAN Cm. Recto Lapasan HW. Cdoc 8561888/722449 RCBC- LKK Gateway, Tower 1 LkkCenter, Cdoc 8563707/722449 RCBC SAVINGS- CARMEN Walingwaling St.,Carmen St. Cdoc 8585793/ 8586248 RCBC SAVINGS- VELEZ Velez St. Cdoc | 729083/8562460 RCBC SAVINGS- AGORA 8807891/8807892 RURAL BANK OF CABADBARAN, Inc.

#58 Tiano FernandezSt.CDO 727215/ 8563552 *805

SECURITY BANK- OSMEÑA Osmeña St. Cdoc | 8563965/ 723411/728774 SECURITY BANK- LKK Limketkai | 8801258/8801625

EAST WEST BANK #5 Juan Sia Bldg. Apolinar Velez St.Cdoc 8578801/720081

SECURITY BANK- VELEZ Velez Montalvan St., Cdoc | 728334/856632

EAST WEST BANK Cogon De Oro Constraction Bldg. LKK Drive 8500339/8500331

STERLING BANK OF ASIA Tiano Velez St. CDO | 8528171/8528168

ENTERPRISE BANK INC. Centro Mariano Bldg Osmeña St. Cdoc 723869/ 3093395 FIRST CONSOLIDATED BANK CM Recto Ave., Cor.Agudo Road Cdoc 8565360/2316678 LBP – CAPISTRANO Capsitrano St. Cdoc | 8565515/727678 LBP – VELEZ LunaVelez St. | 723549/8563198 LBP – PUERTO Puerto Cdoc | 8558858 MAYBANK JR Borja Tiano Cor. Bldg. Cdoc 8574439/726060 METRO BANK- DIVISORIA Pabayo Abejuela St. Divisoria Park, Cdoc 724783/8576999 METRO BANK- VELEZ A. Velez St. Cdoc | 8561724/726054 METRO BANK- JR BORJA JR Borja St. Cdoc | 8572999/724415

UCPB BANK- LAPASAN Osmeña Corner Lkk Drive, Cdoc 85771842/ 725135 UCPB BANK- VELEZ Velez Corner C. Pacana St. CDO 8564474/8564527 UCPB BANK SAVINGS-CAPISTRANO

Capistrano Corner CruzTaal St. CDO 8524099/722695

UCPB BANK SAVINGS- OPOL Gf forever Books Bldg.Bulua National CDO 754519/8588063 UNION BANK Lapasan Cm.Recto Cdoc | 8566847/8563805 WEALTHBANK Velez Gomez St. Cdoc | 8568942/722174 1ST VALLEY BANK Vamenta Blvd. CornerLirio St. Carmen, Cdoc 8501871/ 8584146 OROBANKERS CLUB Inc. Pnb Carmen | 09151850242

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Suzuki to Construct a New Automobile Plant in Myanmar Editor: GILBERT Y. CHAO

Suzuki Motor Corporation’s subsidiary for production and sales of automobiles in Myanmar, Suzuki Thilawa Motor Co., Ltd., will construct a new plant, which will conduct welding, painting, and assembly of automobiles.

In line with the expansion of market in Myanmar, the new plant, which is scheduled to start operating from September 2021, will be constructed in an industrial park located in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, southeast of Yangon.

It will have an annual production ability of

40,000 units.

Suzuki has a long history in Myanmar, which started back in 1998 with the establishment of a joint venture, starting local production of motorcycles and automobiles from 1999.

There are currently two plants in Myanmar that produce a total of four models: Carry, Ciaz, Ertiga, and Swift. In 2019, Suzuki produced 13,300 units (125% year-on-year) and sold 13,206 units (128% yearon-year) with a market share of 60.3%*.

With the construction of the new plant, Suzuki will meet the automobile market

With the extension of the enhanced community quarantine until April 30, 2020 to further contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, private vehicles will now have to be parked in the garage for a longer period of time, limiting movement only to purchase essential products such as food and medicines.

In order to keep your vehicle in good condition while parked in your garage, here are car care tips from Ford that you can follow: 1. Choose a parking spot Picking a spot where to park your vehicle is very important to its overall well-being. Do not park it on grass or soil, because moisture can make its way up and rust certain parts of your vehicle. Make sure to choose a covered area, or an area out of direct sunlight, and has a solid floor.

2. Give your vehicle a wash Spend time to wash your vehicle in your garage or parking area once in a while to ensure you are able to remove dirt particles or even bird droppings. These will be harder to remove after a couple of days if left uncleaned.

3. Clean and place a dehumidifier inside the cabin Give your interior thorough vacuum and throw away food particles or remnants.

Having a clean car will avoid insects and animals from entering your vehicle and potentially causing damage to it.

Placing an off the shelf dehumidifier inside your vehicle can help combat unwanted moisture, especially in more humid climates.

4. Fill up the fuel tank Make sure to fill the fuel all the way to the brim. This avoids a gap

Monday | April 20, 2020

6

Shifting into Park: Ford shares tips on keeping your car in shape while in the garage in your fuel tank where oxygen can oxidize. Oxidization is a chemical reaction between the fuel and oxygen which results in gum forming in your fuel tank, which can cause damage to your vehicle if not properly cleaned before using.

5. Overinflate the tires The tire pressure can slowly drop over a period of time, even when the car is not in use. Ensure that you overinflate your tires and the spare tire before parking your vehicle. This can also avoid flat spots forming on your tires.

6. Leave the parking brake

down If you leave your parking brake engaged, it could possibly become stuck or seized after being parked over time. Unless you are parked on a slope, simply shift your vehicle into Park for automatic transmissions, or engage the first gear for manual transmissions.

Keep in mind about shifting back the transmission to Park or engage the gear back to neutral for manual transmission when starting the car.

7. Lift your wiper blades This very simple advice can save you money and time after the

strict travel restrictions. Lift the wipers and place a ball of cloth underneath it so the blades are not touching the windshield. Heat can damage the wiper blades over time and take away its wiping credibility.

8. Start your car once a week Take at least 10 minutes every week to start your vehicle. Let the engine idle so the oil and other fluids can circulate through the engine. This will also enable to recharge your battery if you do not have a trickle charger. This will keep your battery healthy and ensure an efficient start every time.

7

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MONDAY | APRIL 20, 2020

CDO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947

DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631

CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491

LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739

CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City

CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd.,Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

8

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MONDAY | APRIL 20, 2020

JE Hydro & Bio Energy Corp .

Unit 201 Smart Condominium District 8, Upper Canitoan Cagayan de Oro City 9000 www.je-hydro.com

April 17, 2020

Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go Senate Office: Rm. 507 & 14 (New Wing 5/F) GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Diokno Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines

Dear Senator Go:

In relation to my previous letter where I shared relevant information on how we can overcome the novel coronavirus pandemic, allow me to share these suggestions to our government on how we can go about those preventive measures at the barangay level, using the most basic health practices and effective homegrown methodology called preventive treatment followed by anticipated treatment.

I.

Preventive treatment involves the most elementary health practices that have been forgotten or neglected:

1) All citizens must be required to gargle with saline (salt + lukewarm water) twice a day at the minimum; once in the morning and another in the evening before sleeping.

2) Sunbathing for at least 15 minutes daily.

3) Daily intake of Vitamin C which shall be distributed free from the barangay with support from the national government.

4) Drinking of 8 up to 10 glasses of water every day.

II. Anticipated treatment means early treatment without the need to go to the hospital or need of respirators. Anticipated treatment shall be performed by concerned citizens within the confines of their homes. If anyone notices any slight feeling of colds or flu, whether due to COVID-19 or not, he/she must proceed immediately to execute the anticipated treatment procedures before serious symptoms such as shortness of breath will set in. There is no need of COVID-19 testing procedure. Instead, let us anticipate.

The following are harmless method of performing anticipated treatment: 1) Place and wrap fine slices of onion in a handkerchief and then place it on your chest. The strong smell of onion will go to your nostrils while its juice will soak and penetrate your chest area. Onions are packed with immune-boosting nutrients like selenium, sulfur compounds, zinc, and vitamin C. In addition, they are one of the best sources of quercetin, a potent flavonoid, and antioxidant that has antiviral properties as well as histamine regulating effects.

2) Intensify gargling of saline up to four times a day.

3) Continue sunbathing and water therapy.

As the number of cases continue to rise in our country, we can no longer rely on the World Health Organization to tell us what to do. Lockdown, social distancing and washing of hands are good measures but they are not enough. Finding the right vaccine is another mystery and investing our resources to COVID-19 tests is a futile exercise. Whilst our national government is doing its best to address this issue, relevant preventive measures are left to every citizen and individuals to exercise and follow. Thus, there is a need to empower our barangay units to take proactive steps in fighting the novel coronavirus through close monitoring and rigorous information drive to ensure that the abovementioned preventive measures are practiced at every household.

The Department of Health must actively work in partnership with the barangay officials and adopt a situational management approach to the problem at hand by treating every barangay as a unique work area with unique attitude of constituents, resilience and fighting spirit.

Finally, our national government should distribute not only rice and canned goods but above all free vitamin C and salt and make onions available nationwide.

With your active support Senator Go, my utmost hope is for our government to finally overcome one of the biggest challenges and public health issues of our time.

Sincerely yours,

Engr. Joffrey E. Hapitan Chairman and CEO JE Hydro & Bio-Energy Corporation Unit 201, Smart Condo, District 8, Upper Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines 9000 Email: chairman@je-hydro.com Mobile: +63 917 770 8222

9

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Lockdown... from page 5

digitally.

Meanwhile, CIMB Bank Philippines initially saw a decline in new account enrolments at the onset of the lockdown, but this has since rebounded.

“Our acquisition for new customers continues to be healthy after a momentary dip immediately after the implementation of the Luzon-wide ECQ. Now we are back to our preECQ numbers,” CIMB Bank Philippines Chief Executive Officer Vijay Manoharan said.

Mr. Manoharan said the ECQ has made Filipinos more inclined to try online banking.

“This will hopefully pave the way for more Filipinos to transition into all-digital banking solutions,” he said.

Nets... from page 3

Irwin Lee, URC President, and Chief Executive Officer, said “We are happy that we have accelerated the growth of the Philippine business and have brought our core branded foods business back on track. Our transformation journey continues in full throttle as we take on the new challenges of 2020 and beyond.” (PR)

Incomes...

from page 3 practices to protect the supply chain workforce, as the country continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since the start of the enhanced community quarantine for Luzon last month, San Miguel has been ramping up food production to ensure sufficient supply in store shelves.

It has also been donating food products for vulnerable and hardest-hit communities.

Of the nearly P1 billion the company has donated for various Covid-19 efforts, it has distributed some P227 million worth of its own food products to vulnerable communities in Metro Manila and several provinces in Visayas and Mindanao.

“At this point, lives are more important than profits. Once all of this is done, we can always go back to business and start anew. Once a life is lost, you can never bring it back. It’s gone forever. We choose life over anything else,” Ang said about the company’s numerous efforts to help government and Filipinos. (PR)

Response... from page 3

has assured that energy services will remain unhampered during this critical time. (PNA)

Frontliners... from page 2

karong panahona kay hago man ta so may nalang makakaon sila (According to our veterinarian, the 'balut' is high in protein and this is what we (frontliners) really need this time because we work so hard. It's good to have this so the frontliners will be nourished)," As one of the recipients of the balut eggs, the PNP10 sent out their gratitude to DA-10 emphasizing that such can boost the morale of their people who are on duty 24/7 to help contain the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19.

(RTP/PIA10)

Prayer... from page 1

Meanwhile, the DarulIftah released a religious guideline on Friday suspending the “Taraweeh” (special evening prayers) and all five times daily congregational prayers during Ramadan in all mosques in BARMM due to the threat posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“This is in compliance with the Islamic preventive measures, such as social distancing. In congregational prayers, the devotees stand up shoulder-to-shoulder. Social distancing is necessary to avoid contamination of the contagious virus,” Udasan said.

The “fatwa” (religious

guideline) cited a “hadith” (Islamic teaching) that says, “Don’t cause harm or return harm.”

However, despite the temporary suspension of all congregational prayers, Udasan said families could perform the “Taraweeh” prayer in their respective homes.

During Ramadan, Islam believers fast every day from dawn to sunset, which is described as a whole month of strengthening their faith to Allah. (PNA)

Covid... from page 1

an d t o f a c i l it at e r api d dissemination, the training is being delivered through a mix of online webinar and of f line community platforms for those with l i m ite d or n o i nte r n e t access.

The training is c on s o l i d at e d f rom t h e Philippine Government, W HO an d C e nt re s for Diseases Control (CDC) guidelines. Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to understand the latest information on COVID-19; understand and describe why IPC is important in the context of preparedness, readiness, and response; understand the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); describe and demonstrate IPC measures at home and in the community ; and understand case definitions and management pathways.

“This excellent collaboration among partners combines scientific approaches and practical solutions to stop the spread of COVID-19 at home and in the community. Guiding us in the development of the training are epidemiologists, nutritionists, public health experts and other sp e c i a l ist s w ho ai m to not only stop COVID-19 but also to strengthen the Philippines’ health system in the long term,” UNICEF Philippines Chief of Health and Nutrition Programme Dr. Wigdan Madani says.

The training webinar has so far been an important resource and reliable s o u r c e o f i n f o r m at i o n for communities. “Thank you for the informative p re s e nt at i o n y o u h av e prepared and presented for us health workers,” comments Zina Gervacio, Sanitar y Inspector from the Rural Health Unit of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

Ap a r t f r o m h e a l t h workers, the training can also benefit Barangay Health Wo r k e r s a n d S a n i t a r y In s p e c t or s , qu ar ant i n e o f f i c e r s i n t h e p o i nt s of ent r y, b order p at rol personnel, military, police and barangay members of the COVID-19 task force, Barangay Health Emergency Response Team members, local chief executives such as Governors, Mayors, and Barangay Captains, as well as parents, caregivers and the general public. In particular,

specific training modules on cleaning and disinfection proto c ols for d i f fe re nt settings (healthcare facility, community/public spaces, and the home) aim to reach an additional 2,000 local government and health care facility staff. The training will be made available for the public to access through the social media channels of DOH and UNICEF Philippines.

UNICEF supports the Philippine Government i n f i g ht i ng C OV I D - 1 9 through complementing the government’s response through technical assistance, provision of e s s e nt i a l s u p p l i e s a n d support for logistics and transportation, effective communicat ion of s afe practices to families, as well as ensuring that the rights of children and their families are protected.

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

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Monday | April 20, 2020

10

BAYANIHAN the SM APPLIANCE CENTER WAY The Bayanihan Spirit was alive and well when SM Appliance Center and its brand partners recently brought positivity, hope and inspiration to the frontliners and patients of the hospitals in the Philippines with donations of electric fans, mosquito zappers, and washing machines.

With summer days ahead electric fans from Imarflex, Asahi and 3D will bring cool comfort to frontliners and patients. These were donated to the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital’s (Tala Hospital), Philippine General Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Mary Chiles Hospital.

SM Appliance Center also provided environmentally friendly mosquito zappers from Daimaru to keep hospitals safe and free from harmful insects and flies.

Insect killers from Imarflex and 3D brands were also given for further protection

and assistance.

In order to help hospitals with their heavy wash load, SM Appliance Center partnered with Whirlpool to donate inverter front load washing machines. The MegaTransport Logistics Corporation delivered these to the Rizal Medical Center, Las Piñas General Hospital, Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, San Juan De Dios Hospital, Ospital ng Maynila, San Lazaro Hospital, Mary Chiles Hospital and Jose Reyes Medical Center.

Tysons Global Exchange Inc. also joined in SM Appliance Center's initiatives with donations of Speed Queen heavy duty washers for the Lung Center of the Philippines and Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center.

For more updates on SM Appliance Center and its CSR initiatives, you may want to visit our SM Appliance Center website at HYPERLINK "http://www. smappliance.com" www.

smappliance.com or like us at facebook.com/smappliance Please see below the photo captions: 1. Cool comfort. SM Appliance Center donated Asahi stand fans to the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital’s (Tala Hospital).

2. SM Appliance Center’s donation of Imarflex insect killers to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center will help keep their rooms free from harmful insects.

3. These 3D Insect Killers received by the National Kidney and Transplant Institute from SM Appliance Center will help to alleviate their situation within their COVID-19 complex tents. It uses ultra-violet light tubes to effectively kill flying insects anytime and anywhere..

4. The bayanihan spirit was alive and well when SM Appliance Center and Whirlpool donated washing machines to the Rizal Medical Center. These were delivered by MegaTransport Logistics Corporation.

SMC offers to buy more farmers’ produce to sustain farm incomes and ensure stable food system amid Covid-19 pandemic

San Miguel Corporation is looking to tap more farmers nationwide to supply raw material for its food products, help sustain farm incomes in the countryside and secure food supply amidst the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

“We are looking for ways to be able to tap more farmers for rice production, corn, cassava, coconut oil, pork, chicken, among others,” said SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang. “Through this, we hope to be able to support the livelihood of our farmers and secure our future supply of food,” he added.

This, he said, will also generate economic activity across the food value chain involving not only farmers, but a web of players from suppliers of agricultural inputs, processing facilities, shipping to retailers, among others.

In recent weeks, the company has intensified buying of cassava from over 17,000 farmers nationwide through 130 assemblers.

SMC, whose food unit San Miguel Foods Inc. is among the country’s leading producers of fresh meats, poultry, processed meats, flour, dairy products, spreads, and coffee, said it will buy products at guaranteed prices, to ensure farmers will benefit.

“We want to make sure that farmers will directly benefit. It’s not only people in Metro Manila who are in need of help but also, our kababayans in the provinces, including our farmers,” Ang said.

“Our local farmers have long been a major part of San Miguel’s supply chain. We source many of the raw materials for a lot of our products from them. They are even more important and critical

now, especially given the tight competition for products in the global market,” Ang added.

With the initiative, Ang said the company wanted to encourage more farmers to plant, and assure them that they have a ready market for their products.

“Right now, we have more than enough inventory for our present needs, up to over six months. But we will still buy their produce, so we can further ensure supply. This will also allow us to start preparing for the succeeding months,” Ang said.

He added, however, that all players would need to strictly enforce safety practices to protect the supply chain workforce, as the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the start of the enhanced community quarantine for Luzon

last month, San Miguel has been ramping up food production to ensure sufficient supply in store shelves. It has also been donating food products for vulnerable and hardest-hit communities.

Of the nearly P1B the company has donated for various COVID-19 efforts, it has distributed P227 million worth of its own food products to vulnerable communities in Metro Manila and several provinces in Visayas and Mindanao.

“At this point, lives are more important than profits. Once all of this is done, we can always go back to business and start anew. Once a life is lost, you can never bring it back. It’s gone forever. We choose life over anything else,” Ang said about the company’s numerous efforts to help government and Filipinos.

11

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MONDAY | APRIL 20, 2020

Public... from page 1

Beauty and Wellness Products Trading Inc. ( J O C A L S 6 8 8 ) w it h principal address located at 2nd Floor Frylles Building, corner Mabini and Bianca Sts., Molave, Zamboanga del Sur. The commission said JOCALS688 is offering an investment of up to P100,000 with a minimum investment of P10,000.

“An investor is assured that even without any effort on his/her part, a 30% monthly return is guaranteed. On the other hand, one could be a member for an amount of PP3,980.00 that would entitle him/ her to a monthly return of 30%. The membership fee is inclusive of one bottle of juice, one box of coffee and one bottle of food supplement,” it said.

JOCALS688 promises a member a P500 incentive for every person he/she can recruit, SEC said.

It offers five ways to earn money: direct selling, direct referral bonus, pairing bonus, unilevel bonus and buyand-earn scheme, the commission added.

The agency said the products being distributed

by JOCALS688 are not registered with the Food and Drug Administration and the company itself has no license to operate from FDA-Center for Food Regulation and Research.

“R e c o r d s o f t h e Commission show that JOCALS688 BEAUTY AND WELLNESS PRODUCTS TRADING, INC. is registered with the SEC on 09 October 2019 under Company Registration No. CS201965099. However, such registration grants juridical personality to the corporation but does not authorize it to issue, sell or offer for sale securities to the public nor to undertake business activities requiring a secondary license from the Commission,” it said.

It added the company is not authorized to solicit investments from the public.

SEC also warned that aside from the strict penalties imposed for violations of the Securities Regulation Code, the Revised Corporation Code, and such other rules and regulations, “the Bayanihan to Heal

as One Act (Republic Act No. 11469) also punishes those participating in cyber incidents that make use or take advantage of the current crisis situation to prey on the public through scams, phishing, fraudulent emails, or other similar acts.”

Last year, several entities across Mindanao offering high returns were ordered shut down by SEC for not being authorized to solicit investments from the public. Most of those who had invested had been unable to recover their money.

(MindaNews)

Sincerely... from page 4

would consider that kisses have no place in a business environment, they often creep into emails – and sometimes from people the recipient has never even met. For some, an "x" at the end of an email is a friendly end note; for others it is totally inappropriate.

What’s clear is that some British terms used to end emails just do not translate well. A casual "cheers" is frequently used as a sign off on UK emails, but can be utterly perplexing for other nationalities. Not surprising when a hearty "cheers" also can be used for clinking glasses at the pub, or to thank a checkout person at the supermarket.

Here we have to deal with British and American English.

For author Michael Rosen, emails now occupy a halfway house between texts and letters.

"The key thing is that emails aren't the same as letters. I position them in my mind as a sort of halfway place between texts and hard copy letters: nearly formal but not totally formal, but they're not as informal as 'CU in a MNT on bus OMW'," says Rosen. I strongly agree with him.

And, he adds given their place in this a m bi g u o u s n o - m a n’s land of communication, it follows that there will continue to be a whole raft of ways to say "goodbye". +++ In times with Covid-19, I can only say: people stay safe. And sad to say but it will never be the same again. +++ Email: doringklaus@ gmail.com or follow me in Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn or visit my www. germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .

Challenge... from page 4

most basic problems.

“The human race has improved everything except the human race.”

All this bad news and our human condition can understandably make us fearful about the future.

We wonder if there is any place in this world that is absolutely safe and secure? Yes, just one: in the hands of the only One Who controls the future. As the song says: “I know who holds the future, and I know He holds my hand.” If you put your entire life in Jesus’ hands, you will be in the safest place in the world. Why risk another day? Once and for all, won’t you ask Him to forgive you for all of your wrong living? Then ask Him to take charge of your heart every day?

With Him in charge of every area of your life, you will never again need to fear anything. He is the only One Who can help you rise to every challenge you face, no matter how big. Just think a minute .

During the last quarter of 2018, a significant part of our governance intervention in Asia focused on ownership issues. And the same petty issues were amplified right after a key senior leader became incapacitated or passed away. So why was there conflict despite having the family constitutions?

Our collective evaluation pointed to mostly “cut and paste” stipulations on sensitive areas related to ownership and the issues pointed to the following neglected or missing components. · Some Constitutions were silent on provisions t hat favore d ac t ive

owners over passive shareholders. For most agreements, ownership and benefits were equalized among siblings and cousins · This points to the importance of having a mechanism for allowing share ownership to be consolidated and the need for such a mechanism (“Exit Plan” or a “family shareholders’ agreement”) should have been highlighted · The possible alternative of prolonging inheritance by way of a trust agreement should have been considered · Several conflicts started over the issue of how to value the

shares in the business including a bad exit of one family shareholder that triggered a liquidity c r i s i s i m m e d i at e l y after she sold her portion to other sibling shareholders that stayed.

Impurity... from page 4

carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Cor 4, 8-10) God can always derive good from evil.

He allows, not causes, evil to befall on us so that a greater good can be made. We should always bear this

Everywhere... from page 4

building experience, “we signed, took selfies on our last day and then there was no one else to turn to when it was time to implement. It was obviously a waste of time.”

O w n e r s h i p Governance Risk In a book written

by G e r s i c k , D av i s , Hampton, L ansberg entitled Generation to Generation: Life Cycles of the Family Business, the authors highlighted one of the thorniest issues under ownership dimension that every family agreement must incorporate and I quote “One of the most pervasive lessons we have learned is that when the legitimate interests of ownership do not have a forum for expression, issues of control and return on investment will find a way to emerge in either the family or the operating business.

When those issues do come to surface in the “wrong” circle, they are almost always disruptive – and sometimes destructive.”

I couldn't agree more.

How to help during this COVID-19 crisis

By Dr. EMERITA G. LABIS, EdD Assistant to the School Principal Iponan Elementary School LOOK after yourself to after us all. You are the one who can contribute in your small way to flatten the curve. If all of us will do the same thing, then we are one big community who can flatten the curve. Use simple social distancing tactics like replacing hugs and handshakes with alternatives – the wave, the hand on heart, namaste, “how are you?”, hi brows and the nod. It’s also very important to keep ourselves and our family healthy in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check in on elderly neighbors. Although necessary, social isolation can be lonely.

Text, call, or email especially if they live alone. Reach out to people in self-isolation.

Send them funny memes or GIFs to cheer them up. Chat them on video. Don’t forget about them. Make sure they feel less alone and have social support. Offer them help.

Volunteer your time. Know someone in self-isolation or who needs to limit their public interactions. Offer to pick up and deliver their shopping, treats or other things they may need while taking precautions to keep yourself safe.

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IN-DEPTH

Monday | April 20, 2020

12

CCIFII Rolling Stores enhance ECQ in Iligan

T

he Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan, Inc. has launched its rolling stores

As defined by the Iligan Chamber of Commerce, a Rolling Store is a “One-Stop-Shop” where consumers can buy their groceries, vegetables, fish and meat items within their barangays without going to public and supermarkets to lessen their risks of infection from the COVID-19 coronavirus.

When Iligan Mayor Celso G. Regencia declared an Enhanced Community Quarantine throughout Iligan City from March 20 to April 30, 2020, it raised the issue of how social distancing could be enhanced with only two public markets serving Iligan City: Tambo and Wet Market in the City proper.

It also made life more difficult for people who did not have private transportation and had lacking access to buy their daily needs such as the dry goods, vegetables and fruits, meats and other household needs.

Rolling Stores to the rescue On April 7, the Iligan Chamber of Commerce launched its Rolling Stores Project in coordination with

in a bid to enhance the effectiveness of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Iligan City.

the Local Government Units (LGUs), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), City Agriculture Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other stakeholders to address the issues of social distancing, encouraging to stay home indoors and assisting certain sectors to mitigate the big impact of the ECQ in Iligan City.

“We have 10 rolling stores every day, they have different schedules and diff barangays to cater to,” said Ms. Reggie D. Punongbayan, CCIFII President. “So far, the rolling stores have already covered about 90 percent or 40 of the city’s 44 barangays.”

“We have been consistently been urging buyers to strictly comply with the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

Buyers should provide their own ecobags, prepare their shopping lists in advance to avoid delays, always wear face masks and maintain social distancing in accordance with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2020, R.A.

11469,” she stressed.

To get the stores rolling, the Iligan Chamber of Commerce requested the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President to identify which barangays would be interested to participate in the project.

“The barangays were divided into clusters composed of various puroks,” Punongbayan explained. “The identified barangay will be divided into sectors with designated spaces where our Rolling Store will standby on agreed days and times, assuring that all barangay residents can access the rolling store at least two or three times a week.”

Once the designated spaces for the rolling store had been identified, barangay officials assisted in securing the area by marshalling buyers to assure the proper social distancing and health protocols are observed during the 4-5 hours the rolling store would be selling in a barangay.

Opportunities in adversity The City Agriculture Office (CAO) has been supplying at

Residents observe social distancing as they await their turn to buy from the Iligan Chamber of Commerce Rolling Stores (photo by Rene B. Pernia) get the best prices which comply items to RS operators while least ten (10) basic agricultural donors shoulder like DPWH the suggested retail prices set products from local farmers and the CAO donated gasoline

by Department of Agriculture which are delivered to the City allowance of 10 liters twice a and the Department of Trade Slaughterhouse where the CAO week for each RS operator. and Industry under the present is located, and where partici Public-Private Partnership price freeze of basic and prime pating entrepreneurs get their Through the Rolling Stores commodities,” she added. orders repacked based on their Project, the Iligan Chamber To further keep prices needs. of Commerce aims to assist down, the chamber coordi “We collaborated with the local and national governnated with the Department of chamber members who were ment enhance health measures Agriculture which coordinated interested to operate the rolling such as social distancing, help with local farmers to have their stores in the 3-4 barangays ascurb the spread of COVID-19 produce delivered to a “bagsasigned to them,” Punongbayan by limiting the number and kan” where RS operators buy said. “A Halal operator has also distance residents need to travel directly from them, and where been tapped to serve our Musto purchase their daily needs, meat products like pork and lim communities.” keep down the prices of basic chicken can also be likewise

“The fish, meat, groceries, and prime commodities, and bought direct from piggery and rice, and dried fishes which are further expand opportunities poultry operators. considered basic priority needs for synergy and cooperation In addition, grocery store of our people are taken from between the public and private our selected participating outlet owners give wholesale price for members arranged by CCIFII to canned goods and other grocery sectors. (RMB)

Iligan's barangay residents enjoy basic & prime commodities at low prices at the CCIFII Rolling Stores without having to commute or travel far from their residences. (photo Rene B. Pernia)