Manila Standard - 2021 February 11 - Thursday

MS MARKS 34TH ANNIVERSARY; 32-PAGE SUPPLEMENT INSIDE

EDITORIAL

FOOD SUBSIDY. A city

government worker stacks boxes of food security packs on Wednesday after Manila City Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso launches the COVID-19 Food Security Program for residents of the capital. The city government hopes the food subsidy will help around 700,000 poor families in Manila, who have been struggling with spiraling prices of pork and other commodities. Norman Cruz

VOL. XXXV • NO. 01 • 6 SECTIONS 48 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pork crisis triggers call for food security meet Palace says summit to tackle issues troubling agri sector COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM FEBRUARY 10)

541,560 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,345 30,188 NEW

ACTIVE

11,401

114

499,971

276

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

Gov’t won’t ease quarantine state with vax rollout

By Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

M

ALACANANG called for a Food Security Summit Wednesday with local government units and private companies to address the challenges faced by the country’s agriculture sector.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry pork prices as hog raisers battle the spread of ASF, which Roque said the Food Security Summit aims to discuss has already led to the culling of close to 500,000 pigs. mitigation measures on the “upsurge in the prices of Prices of chicken and vegetables have also been on the rise. pork, [the] drop in farm gate prices of palay, [and] the “As part of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s wholeonslaught of the African swine fever (ASF).” of-government approach, the summit aims to develop a The summit was triggered by the sudden increase of Next page

Roque: 1/4th of Bayanihan 2 funds unused

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE national government will not be easing quarantine classifications immediately after it kicks off its COVID-19 vaccination drive, a Palace official said Wednesday.

In an interview over the government-run PTV-4, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said even if a few people had started getting vaccinated, quarantine classifications would only

THE national government still has to spend a quarter of the country’s second, about P165-billion stimulus package for the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Wednesday, adding another cash injection remained “premature.”

Economic managers are “not sure” if a third stimulus package is necessary because “25 percent of Bayanihan 2 still has to be spent and number 2, of course, we have trillions of pesos in stimulus package embedded already in the 2021 Budget,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Bayanihan 2 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act allows the President to realign funds to address the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Next page

Next page

By Willie Casas

LOVE AND LUCK. Love and luck combine in The Block’s ‘XOXO’ centerpiece at SM North Edsa in Quezon City on Wednesday. A play on the Year of the Ox and the modern term of endearment, XOXO means hugs and kisses.

This is what we do.

This is who we are.

T

HE Manila Standard marks its 34th anniversary in an environment of uncertainty and hardship.

All around us, the pandemic continues to sicken or kill, and threatens further to infect even more. The economy has suffered a beating with the lockdowns, and millions have been left unemployed. Those who have managed to cling to their jobs or livelihood face uncertainty over them every day. Meanwhile, prices of food – and practically everything else – are soaring.

Specifically, the media industry is taking its own beating, with community papers closing and advertisements dwindling because of the dampened economic activity. The existential threat to print media looms above our heads every day.

Nobody is in a celebratory mood. There is just too much misery around us and too much uncertainty about the days ahead.

Still, we mark this day as a milestone for the plain fact that we even got here in the first place.

The Manila Standard and its employees are no strangers to adversity and challenge. Over the past 34 years, we have seen changes both within the organization and outside it. We have dealt with numerous personalities and difficult situations that have made us question why we are still doing this to begin with.

But we have delivered the same answer to all our hardship-inspired questions. We are still here because this is what we do. This is who we are.

What is constant in us amid volatile conditions is our commitment to the profession of bringing news to the people. This is especially crucial in this age when “information” is facile and easily twisted by some to further their own agenda. We try to cope with the demands of the times – hence MS Digital and our webcast offerings – but at our core we are old-school: To the truth lies our first obligation. To the public lie our first loyalties.

We encourage different, sometimes clashing, points of view because this is precisely what makes a democracy. We give our readers these in the hopes that they will have adequate input with which to form their own views – and, in the words of Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, “to be free and self-governing.”

This is not to say we have never slipped in our judgment, or been always morally superior, or thrive in the present adversities. We look forward to the day when the world finally beats this virus, when people know how to spot fake news and reject them outright, and when the interest of the public takes precedence all the time to the interests of a few – no matter how high and mighty.

For today, we cite those among us who rise every day prepared to do the grueling work of newspapering whatever the difficulties, no matter the odds. It’s a comforting reminder that amid the frenzy and the chaos, some things are worth staying put for.

DFA pushes democratic regime US reaffirms defense treaty, military alliance with PH in Myanmar after military coup

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday called for the “complete restoration of the status quo in Myanmar before the military took over the government and arrested the country’s key leaders, triggering massive protests

in the capital and other areas.

“The Philippines has been supportive of Myanmar’s progress towards a fuller democracy, cognizant of the Army’s role in preserving its territorial integrity and national security, as well as the unifying role of Daw Aung San Next page

THE United States government through Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin has reaffirmed its alliance and commitment with the Philippines under the 70-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement during his “introductory phone call,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

In a statement released by Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, Austin discussed with Lorenzana “a number of priority bilateral defense issues for both countries.”

“Secretary Austin affirmed the US commitment to the US-Philippines alliance and out bilateral Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement, highlighting the value the VFA brings to both countries,” Pentagon’s statement said.

Austin and Lorenzana also discussed the importance of enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capabilities and “increasing interoperability between the two militaries through a variety of bilateral security cooperation activities.”

During the phone conversation, the two defense secretaries also talked about issues of regional security, including the hotly contested South Next page

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News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House move lets LGUs buy vax

By Maricel V. Cruz, Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja

S

PEAKER Lord Allan Velasco has filed a bill to expedite the purchase and administration of COVID-19 vaccines by giving local government units (LGUs) the authority to directly purchase the life-saving shots from manufacturers without having to go through a public bidding.

Under HB 8648, the requirement of Phase IV trials for COVID-19 medication and vaccine stipulated in the Universal Health Care Law is waived to expedite their procurement, provided these are recommended and approved by the World Health Organization and other internationally recognized health agencies.

As an additional exemption to the guidelines of RA 9184, concerned LGUs are authorized to engage in an advance payment mechanism for purposes of procuring COVID19 vaccines from foreign manufacturers.

The bill allows provinces, cities and municipalities to make advance payments not exceeding 50 percent of the contract amount for the procurement of COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, unless otherwise directed by the President.

Romualdez on Wednesday appealed

to his colleagues to support the bill.

“The Speaker’s bill seeking to speed up the procurement process and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines deserves the support of the entire House membership,” Romualdez said.

The Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday it aims to complete its COVID-19 vaccination program by 2023 amid global competition for vaccines.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government had until 2023 to inoculate its targeted population in case vaccine deliveries are delayed.

“That’s why we indicated in our plan for this vaccine deployment program that it’s going to be until 2023 so that we have that wide margin if in case the delivery will not be on time,” she said in an interview on ANC.

a House resolution to remedy the issue on Republic Act 11229,” Sarmiento said during the hearing.

“We will come up with a bill to defer first the implementation of the law.

Congress is the law making body; Congress will find a way to defer implementation of a certain law which it sees will not work well [for the] public’s welfare,” he added.

During the hearing, Land Transportation Office chief Edgar Galvante admitted that implementing the law is a challenge to the agency. “’That (implementation) is the big challenge to us because we do not have the power to defer the law’s implementation.

But the LTO is performing in accordance to its mandate,” he told legislators Galvante also said his agency continues to educate the public about the law.

RA 11229 is set for implementation this month. Signed by the President in February last year, the law disallows children 12 years old and below who are shorter that 4’11 from sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle or being left unattended inside a private vehicle.

The Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act requires children to use Child Restraint Systems (CRS) or child car seats that are appropriate for their age, height, and weight while inside a private vehicle.

kets in making sure that pork products are accessible and affordable to the public,” Abalos said.

“With the help of the private sector and the local government units, we can expect enough and consistent supply of pork products in the coming days,” he added.

Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar said supermarkets committed to buy live hogs straight from the port area, slaughter them, and distribute it to their outlets.

The move will reduce the number of transactions with middlemen who are manipulating the prices.

“Through this, cost-cutting is easier and retailers can get direct access of the products. [The] price ceiling will be followed if we unmask these traders,” Lopez said.

Anthony Yu of the SM Hypermarkets said that their 300 outlets across the country are ready to help the government to give the sell pork at a price a few pesos cheaper than the implemented ceiling.

The Agriculture Department earlier asked the MMDA for assistance to enjoin the local chief executives to strengthen their respective local price coordinating councils for strict price monitoring amid the imposition of price ceiling in pork and chicken products in Metro Manila.

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said it is setting the wholesale prices of its pork and chicken products for wet markets at “least cost” to allow distributors and resellers to still make reasonable profits while keeping to government’s 60-day price ceiling in Metro Manila.

The company will also maintain current wholesale price of pork to its Monterey franchisees to keep its meats affordable.

The move aims to protect consumers from manipulators jacking up prices of meats amid the ongoing pandemic and the African swine fever emergency, the company said.

“As a leading food manufacturer, we have a responsibility to the consumers.

We want to make sure that the objective of the order is met, and that is to make pork and poultry products still within reach of many Filipinos. Our commitment to government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), and our countrymen, is that we will deliver goods to our wet market distributors at the least cost. This way, they can pass these on to resellers at still favorable prices, and they can still profit while keeping to the price caps,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang. “We will closely monitor prices to make sure those in our chain will follow the price caps. This way, we can help ensure that prices in wet markets will go down to the level of government’s mandated prices, so that more consumers will benefit,” he added.

Ang said that he has also ordered the company’s food unit, San Miguel Foods, to expand distribution and widen its wet market presence, so it can help further keep prices down and supply stable for more Filipinos.

Also on Wednesday, Senator Leila de Lima said the “pork holiday” observed by meat retailers in response to the government’s price ceiling was the result of long-term neglect by the administration.

She criticized the administration for focusing on red-tagging activists and universities while rice, vegetables and meat were being smuggled into the country.

from three government hospitals protested the delay of their allowances.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco and Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo filed last week a bill seeking a third, P420-billion stimulus package dubbed as Bayanihan 3.

Sen. Grace Poe said Wednesday she would like to know where funds would be sourced for Bayanihan 3, and how these would be spent.

The country’s debt is currently at P10 trillion, with P2 trillion more set in 2022, she said.

“That’s a factor to be considered and that is a factor being considered by Secretary Dominguez. And that is why

while we appreciative of Bayanihan 3, we’re saying, perhaps, it’s a bit premature as of yet,” said Roque.

Economic managers would like to refrain from following the example of Malaysia which borrowed heavily “because we want the flexibility to have the money when we actually need it,” he said.

The Philippine government has so far amassed a total of $13.34 billion or approximately P640.96 billion in loans for its COVID-19 response, DOF data as of Dec. 15, 2020 show.

The amount of loans nearly doubled since July 1, 2020, when total government loans for COVID-19 response stood at $7.73 billion (approximately

P371.67 billion).

In a related development, an opposition lawmaker appealed Wednesday to President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent the P420-billion Bayanihan 3 bill that aims boost the country’s COVID-19 economic recovery.

Quimbo made the pitch, stressing once enacted, House Bill 8628 or the proposed “Bayanihan to Arise As One Act” would be the third installment of the government’s response to COVID-19 and its devastating impact on the economy. “‘As they say, third time is a charm; but if the President is able to certify this bill as urgent, the better,” Quimbo said at a news forum.

needed supplies during the pandemic.

Velasco said this would ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are “procured and administered in an expeditious, effective, efficient and equitable manner.”

Velasco said the LGUs play an important role in ensuring “people are protected, lives are saved, economic losses are stemmed and mitigated, and public trust and confidence in our institutions is restored.”

Gov’t...

From A1

Solons seek to shelve vehicle Child Safety Act

Prioritize military, police

President Rodrigo Duterte has asked to prioritize members of the police and military in the inoculation using COVID-19 vaccines to be donated by China’s Sinovac, as they are also considered “frontliners,” his former close aide, Senator Christopher Go, said Wednesday.

In a statement, Go gave updates on the status of the country’s procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. He said the documentary requirements for the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility are already being finalized, while the Pfizer vaccine is the first one to arrive in the country.

“Susunod rin po yung donasyon ng bansang Tsina — ito pong Sinovac.

At pinagbilin po ni Pangulong Duterte na ilan po dito sa mga donated doses mula sa Tsina ay bibigyan po ng prayoridad ang ating mga sundalo at mga kapulisan dahil kabilang rin po sila sa ating mga itinuturing na frontliners,” Go said.

US...

From A1 China Sea, counter-terrorism and maritime security “and reaffirmed the importance of upholding international rules, to include the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling.”

Austin’s reassurance of Washington’s commitment with its alliance with Manila came a few weeks after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed to Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. that the US under the Biden administration remained committed to defend the Philippines against any armed attack in the South China Sea amid Beijing’s

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

A COMMITTEE in the House of Representatives on Wednesday vowed to pass a bill postponing the implementation of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act. Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, chairman of the panel, made the statement as his committee conducted a hearing Wednesday in response to various resolutions filed at the chamber calling for a review of the implementing rules of Republic Act 11229.

“The chairman will stand that the House will move on a different path and that is we pass a House bill rather than

Pork...

From A1 National Food Security Plan to achieve our vision of a food-secure and resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk, and where consumers have continuous flow of food and producers have continuous productivity, unhampered movement of agricultural commodities, accessibility and price stability,” he said.

President Duterte has issued Executive Order 124, which imposed a 60-day freeze in the prices of pork and chicken in Metro Manila.

Roque did not say when the summit will be held.

On Tuesday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said his office is now coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to carry out the plan to lower the suggested retail price (SRP) for imported pork in groceries and supermarkets.

Lopez said the SRP of imported pork in groceries and supermarkets will be lower than the price ceiling set for locally-sourced pork in wet markets.

Supermarket owners and operators on Wednesday pledged their support to the government in its campaign to ensure sufficient supply of pork products in Metro Manila.

Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said supermarkets in the National Capital Region will be lending a helping hand in the distribution and sale of pork products at their outlets nationwide and in wet markets.

“We laud the initiative of supermar-

1/4th...

From A1 The President has extended the legislation’s validity until June 30, 2021.

Asked why one-fourth of Bayanihan 2 funds remained unused, Roque said, “I don’t think there’s any justification for not spending it at the time when people need it, but let’s just say that we need a little more time to spend it.”

Around P53 billion or almost half of the Bayanihan 2 funds were allocated for the support of medical workers tending to COVID-19 patients.

But last week, a group of workers new law authorizing its Coast Guard to shoot foreign vessels in the disputed waters it claims in the South China Sea. “Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea,” Blinken said, in a statement released by the US State Department.

On Monday, Locsin disclosed that the Philippines and the United States would meet before the end of February to discuss the fate of the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement with the US, which was suspended by President Rodrigo

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Ralph Recto on Wednesday shot down allegations that the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers are a magic pill that will stop all road mishaps, saying it is “wrong and misleading” to attribute all road accidents to poorly maintained vehicles.

And Senator Grace Poe questioned why the agreements to operate PMVICs do not bar transportation officials or their relatives from operating those centers.

Poe, whose committee on public services recommended the suspension of the operations of PMVICs, said the provision stating that any Department of Transportation officer or their families were not allowed to participate in these contracts was “suspiciously” omitted in the agreements for the PMVICs. Said Recto: “Accidents are caused by clunkers on the road, but to spin that they are solely to blame is again an overreach/ “A well-tuned car driven by someone with a high IQ who aced the driver’s test can still meet an accident if he sleeps on the wheel or intentionally disregards a traffic light or sign.”

Recto says peddling the PMVICs as the “magic pill” that will make all road accidents go away is in the “realm of fake news.”

“I agree that a robust, fair, affordable and accessible MVIS with a public option can prevent road mishaps, which the current set-up comes short in guaranteeing.”

Senator Imee Marcos asked Department of Transportation officials what is the “great, compelling reason” for implementing MVIS in the middle of a pandemic.

She described as surprising the move to implement MVIS in December 2020 when there were lesser car crashes and fewer cars plying the roads.

“Didn’t anyone of you think about the possible growing pains, how this would hurt the middle class? They already lost jobs, suffered because of the pandemic and typhoons; many things have happened. Suddenly you decided to raise prices and impose these requirements,” Marcos said.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said there should be a balance between what is safe for the people on the ground in terms of safety of motor vehicles and the price that is affordable to the people, especially the low and middle income families who are already hard up because of the pandemic.

Zubiri said Land Transportation Offices all over the country could be upgraded so that the inspection of motor vehicles could be done there.

“It’s the balance, it’s a delicate balance, and I support the committee on trying to find a way to do it through legislation, through a resolution, solution to funding support to the LTO and the DOTr on how we can improve their services. I am a believer in consensusbuilding... I tried to look for solutions, rather than focus on the problem always. We are trying to work with government on trying to find a solution for this,” Zubiri said.

Velasco’s House Bill 8648, or the proposed Emergency Vaccine Procurement Act of 2021, received bipartisan support as Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano signed co-authors of the measure.

The bill provides exemptions LGUs from complying with the Government Procurement Reform Act in the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and other much-

be relaxed after a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases.

Currently, Metro Manila, Batangas, Tacloban City, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan City are under general community (GCQ) quarantine status for the entire month of February.

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is also under GCQ until the end of the month as most of the UK variant cases in the country are recorded in the northern region.

The rest of the country is under modified GCQ, the least stringent quarantine classification.

“Why are we still in GCQ and MGCQ status? Because of the number of cases, because of the growth rate and the attack rate of virus, because of our occupancy and healthcare capacity. So, those are the factors. How does the status downgrade from GCQ to MGCQ? That’s when the situation improves and those rates decrease,” he said.

However, Nograles hoped that COVID-19 cases would slowly start to decrease once the vaccination drive starts.

“When massive rollout of vaccination starts, cases of infection will go down…The whole world is expecting the effect of vaccination, we can slowly see cases decreasing which will eventually result to herd immunity within communities,” he said.

He also warned the public against the purchase of fake COVID-19 vaccines.

The first 117,000 doses of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine will arrive in the Philippines in mid-February, courtesy of the COVAX Facility led by the World Health Organization.

The country is also expected to receive at least 5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX. Under the government’s prioritization list, frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and non-professionals like students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers will be the first sector to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Senators nix PMVICs as road cure-all

Duterte last year.

“I am narrowing down the issues and soon we will meet in the last week of February and iron out whatever differences we have and come to an agreement,” Locsin said, in a television interview.

In February last year, Duterte ordered the abrogation of the VFA, which allows American soldiers to regularly train with their Filipino counterparts in the country, after the US cancelled the visa of his close aide and former police chief now senator, Ronald Dela Rosa.

The US did not specify the reason for revoking Dela Rosa’s visa, but many believed that it was due to his involvement in Duterte’s deadly war on drugs, which killed at least 6,000.

DFA...

From A1 Suu Kyi in the history of the country and Army her father founded,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a statement.

“The realization of this democratic process can only be achieved through the complete restoration of the status quo ante.”

Locsin made the call after thousands gathered in Naypyidaw, Yangon and Mandalay to protest the military coup and called for the release of democraticallyelected leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other lawmakers.

Riot police used water cannons to

disperse the protesters, and the government has imposed a curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Foreign Affairs said 252 Filipinos had signified interest to be repatriated amid the political instability in the Southeast Asian state.

Embassy officials are finalizing the list of confirmed repatriates and will arrange their flights back to Manila, the agency added.

Myanmar’s military tightened its post-coup grip on power, stepping up a campaign of intimidation against the ousted civilian leadership while pushing harsher tactics as a fifth consecutive day of nationwide demonstrations began on Wednesday.

Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

The third millennium’s first two decades

The camouflage uniforms IN RECENT appears to be very months, the Philipmuch lighter. It also pine National Police looks exactly the has been using the same as the United camouflage uniform States Army camin the performance ouflage uniform. of their ordinary So, what exactly is law enforcement duties in many ur- the design and kind of cloth that is ban centers like Metro Manila. This authorized by the PNP for the uniis instead of the usual blue uniform form? Does this mean that the PNP that the public has grown accustomed simply copied the US camouflage to. No explanation on the part of the uniform in toto without even bothPNP authorities has been released ering to conduct its own research on why this is so. what is the best cloth and design for The camouflage uniform ordinarily our Police in the tropics? If this is is a combat uniform worn in jungles the case, it is basically the same as or in terrains with a lot of greeneries. in the 1980s when the United States This is designed to make it difficult dumped a large number of surplus for the enemy to spot our police or fatigues and camouflage uniforms military elements elements during to the Armed Forces. During those combat opertimes, it was ations.

Most customary for Police operAFP elements Most Police ations nowato be wearing operations nowadays days, however, US uniforms are in urban areas are in urban and looking areas consistlike part of the consisting of simple ing of simple US military at patrolling and patrolling and times.

Today other basic crimeother basic however, it is prevention activities. crime-prevenimportant that tion activithe PNP and the ties. Why the Military for that PNP has been matter conduct wearing the camouflage uniform for their own research and experimenthe past months is therefore a bit of tations to come up with our own a mystery. This is because when the design that is different from that of Police operate in urban areas, the the US Army camouflage uniform. idea is to make their presence easi- If for no other reason, this will be ly known to the public and not hide good for our national pride. their presence. The camouflage uniUniforms, as we know, do evolve. form is also more associated to mili- The PNP only started wearing the tary-type combat operations and may blue uniform not too long ago. The wrong impression to the public. old Constabulary uniform for those It might therefore be better for who still remember was the Khaki the Police to simply use the blue and Red combination. When the oruniform. Another problem in us- ganization became the PNP, the old ing the camouflage uniform is that guards did not like to change the the uniform being worn are not the color of the uniform and so, part same for all personnel. Up north of the khaki was maintained. Some where I live, the camouflage uni- officers however, wanted to modform is different from that of the ernize the Police uniform and came National Capitol Region and else- up with the blue colored uniform in where. In the NCR, the black color keeping with the American police is not so prominent while the green uniform that favored the blue as color predominates throughout and the appropriate color for the Police.

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HAVING endured a thousand-year period that was visited by the Black Death and other pestilences, experienced the excesses of nation-state nationalism and ended with two world wars and the threat of a nuclear Armageddon, mankind hoped that the incoming third millennium would be a time of stability, peace and prosperity.

The world’s people prayed that the incoming century would see an end to the wars, tensions, famines and pandemics of the preceding ten centuries.

Mankind’s hopes and prayers were soon to be dashed and its prayers went unanswered.

Y2K - the numerical representation of year 2000 - would see three years later, by the outbreak of SARS, the first of the series of coronaviruses that invade the world’s countries.

SARS would be followed, of short intervals, by the Ebola, MERS, and ASF (Asian Swine Flu) viruses.

These viruses wreaked havoc on the economies of the countries where they were most prevalent the developing countries, unfortunately - and strained the resources of WHO (World Health Organization) and the affected countries’ health systems.

The failure of the major players in the world economic drama - the U.S., China, Japan and the

European countries - to decisively counter the all-too-obvious effects of climate change made natural disasters a major feature of the new millennium’s first two decades.

Numerous bad things have already happened.

Melting glaciers, sea-level rise, drought, hurricanes, vast forest fires and other manifestations of increasingly worsening weather have wrought enormous damage to numerous countries - tropical and temperate countries alike, in the process diminishing growth, impoverishing people and diverting to rehabilitation and reconstruction resources that could have been used to improve the foundations for future economic development.

As though the lessons of the Great Depression and other world economic downturns had not been learned, the world economy was led, in 2008, into a Great Recession triggered by the excess of the U.S. financial

market. The recession was to last until 2016.

The new millennium saw a continuation of the contentious trade wars of the past, the protagonists this time were the U.S., China, the U.K. and the European Union (EU).

The world’s two largest economies unleashed tariffs against one another, and the U.K., seeking control over its economic destiny, decided, in 2016, to leave the E.U. But by far the most important event of the third millennium’s first two decades has been the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Breaking out of China in December 2019, COVID-19 has been the Great Equalizer, sparing no country and ravaging countries regardless of location and economic status.

To date more than 2 million people have lost their lives around and 25 million people have been infected. The pandemic continues to spread, putting extreme pressure on health systems everywhere.

On the positive side, a number of vaccines have been invented and are in the process of being rolled out.

The new millennium is only into its second decade, but numerous bad things have already happened.

Would that rest of its first century - especially the current decade - were to be attended by less pain and more happiness for the world’s peoples.

Call for genuine representation THE party list system is established to provide equitable opportunity and representation in government for marginalized and underrepresented sectors. Ideally, this system works to “benefit those who have less in life” by giving them “genuine hope and genuine power,” as Justice Panganiban has put it, to participate in democratic processes. However, over the years, the system has gradually failed to uphold its objective of true and proportional representation.

Republic Act No. 7941, otherwise known as the Party List System Act, provided for the qualifications of parties or organizations who may register with the Commission on Elections. The law allows political, national, sectoral, or even a coalition of parties to participate. In 2013, the Supreme Court, however, “broadened” the scope of qualified parties/organizations when it ruled that national and regional parties or organizations do not need to represent any marginalized and underrepresented sector. This became a dangerous precedent to the system.

Out of the 304 seats in Congress, one may think that a single seat

That color is what we have today but the red color is still in the so-called Pershing Cap that officers wear and the stripes of non-commissioned officers. People still want to keep the old Constabulary color of red even if aesthetically, it does not blend well with the color blue. As they say there are just things that are hard to change. The Police formal dress attire is also almost the same as the AFP. But there is a slight difference in the wearing of the ribbons and dec-

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Hence, the taking of undue advantage in the party-list system cannot be taken lightly.

While it is undeniable that party list legislators have contributed significantly in shaping and improving national and local policies, there are also others who have

abused the privilege given to serve as representatives of their chosen “sectors.” More than ever, we need a united House whose goal is to keep the nation afloat as we tread the uncertain waters of this pandemic.

The current party list system needs to be evaluated. It is high time we assessed the implementation of the law and looked into its possible amendment to ensure that these parties are genuinely serving to represent the very people they intend to represent.

The Party List System Act is clear on the conditions which will merit the removal or cancellation of the registration. However, there remains a gray area which should be addressed

by Congress to prevent imprudent registration of parties. Hence, I urge Comelec to revisit its procedures in the registration and strengthen its investigation and verification of its list of groups or organizations.

Our democratic processes should remain protected against unethical and unscrupulous activities. Most of all, we should ensure that our elected officials are true to their mandates— to represent Filipinos and to contribute to nation-building.

orations. The AFP wear theirs on the left breast while the Police is on the right breast. This is because the Police badge or shield is worn above the left breast pocket in keeping with the old American tradition of the Sheriffs of the old west putting their badges in the same place. There was a bit of a debate on this and I was one of those who questioned why we were following a tradition that was not ours. I tried to point out that during the Spanish colonial period, the Guardia Civil

which was basically our Police force, were detached from the Spanish Colonial Army stationed in the Philippines to serve as our initial Police Force. It was then decided that in keeping with the new constitution that mandated a police force that is national in scope but civilian in character, the police badge of the left breast won the day.

This could still change but today, Police personnel wear their police badges on the left breast of their blue uniforms.

would not matter much. However, that single seat may spell the difference in passing laws of utmost national importance, to the extent of amending the very Constitution.

Our democratic processes should remain protected against unethical and unscrupulous activities.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Quezon, SEARCA to develop province’s coconut industry

By Brenda Jocson

L

UCENA, Quezon — To develop the coconut industry in this province, the Provincial Government of Quezon is tying up with the Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, an expansion of an alliance that started in 1985.

Commending SEARCA’s aim to contribute to the country’s food and nutrition security and poverty reduction, Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez said their partnership with Searca will surely establish an inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development system in the province.

Suarez said their partnership aims to develop a project on the coconut industry growth areas in Quezon province and to help improve the socio-economic condition of the farmers, fisherfolks, and rural communities.

He said Quezon’s agricultural programs include farm mechanization, enterprise development, and marketing.

“We intend to further solidify the status of Quezon province as a top producer of agriculture and fishery commodities and become known as the food basket in the region,” Suarez said, adding that this is where the center can be of best assistance with its knowledge and expertise on extensive research.

Searca Director Glenn Gregorio said an agreement which was formally signed last month between the center and the provincial government of Quezon traces back to what was started in 1985 with a parallel objective of linking the farmers to modern networks and innovative markets.

“SEARCA is keen to help Quezon province realize its vision of a marketdriven coconut industry with empowered and resilient farmers, engaging in profitable coconut-based enterprises, contributing to inclusive and sustainable agricultural development,’” Gregorio said adding that SEARCA’s priority is to extend its expertise to its neighboring communities in Region IV-A. The center and the provincial government agreed to develop enterprises and the capabilities of Quezon farmers through agricultural innovation, particularly collaborating on product development, strengthening of market linkages and capacity building of farmer organizations, he added.

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON CITY Mayor Joy Belmonte, along with Agriculture Secretary William Dar, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benhur Abalos conducted a price monitoring survey for pork meat at the Mega QMart and Commonwealth Market.

The Quezon City government also announced that it will waive the rental fees in public markets of meat retailers who are unable to sell pork meat due to the price cap imposed

by Malacanang on meat and chicken products.

Belmonte made the pronouncement after inspecting the prices of pork in Commonwealth Market and Mega Q Mart together with representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Metro Manila Development Authority.

“We have decided to waive their rental fees to help them cope with the current crisis, and we enjoin our private markets to do the same,” Belmonte said.

She also instructed the Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD) to coordinate with market vendors on other forms of assistance they could be given while waiting for the subsidized supply of pork from the DA. Belmonte earlier ordered the MDAD, headed by Procopio Lipana, to step up its inspection of private and public markets in the city to ensure the strict enforcement of President Duterte’s Executive Order No. 124.

Duterte’s directive placed the price ceiling of kasim/pigue at ₱270 per kilo, liempo at ₱300 per kilo and dressed chicken at ₱160 per kilo for 60 days.

“We are making sure that meat retailers do not take advantage of our consumers and we will intensify our monitoring and enforcement to protect our consumers’ rights,” Belmonte said.

NGCP donates test booths, kits to Pasay

‘BETTER WORLD’ DOORS. Pictured are the doors to Better World Diliman, the third community center under San Miguel Corp.’s flagship “Better World” communities program. It serves as a ready market for excess produce bought from farmers at betterthan-farmgate prices and sold to consumers and resellers for low prices. SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang also lauded the company’s partner -- social enterprise Rural Rising Philippines, which runs the day-to-day operations of Better World Diliman -- for its dedication to helping farmers. Rural Rising works with cooperatives all over Luzon, from Benguet province to Quezon, to bring their excess produce to the center.

Angeles dads back move for mother tongue ANGELES CITY—The city council here headed by Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting backs the use of Kapampangan language, sending out resolutions written in the Amanung Sisuan or mother tongue.

Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. had addressed Vega-Cabigting asking the Sangguniang Panglunsod to help his initiative to enforce Ordinance No. 424 series of 2017.

The measure establishes Kapampangan as an official language of Angeles City and institutionalizes its use in all sectors, alongside existing national and official languages, to preserve and nurture native culture and heritage.

The city council released 4 resolutions written in Kapampangan on February 1.

“We need to lead by example. If we want our kababayans to further use the

Kapampangan language, we need to have our officials and employees in city hall use it first in their daily exchange of communication,” the mayor said.

Lazatin also asked help from media entities such as TV, radio, and print outlets, to raise awareness on Amanung Sisuan to make sure that the next Kapampangan generation carries the culture and language. Butch Gunio

SP approves Mariveles ordinance on sewage treatment systems

PADDLE WHEEL BOATS.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority has donated six 4-wheel solar powered Paddle Wheel to the local government of Muntinlupa to promote green and renewable energy. LLDA Private Investors Member Gilda Peralta turned over the paddle wheels to Muntinlupa Lake Management Officer Hermie dela Cruz, Environmental Sanitation Center chief Lorna Misa, and Deputy Administrator RJ Smith (inset) last February 9. In 2020, Muntinlupa City was one of the country’s finalists in the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC).

Calabarzon cops mark PNP 30th anniversary CAMP VICENTE LIM, Calamba City – Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, the Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Administration, graced the 30th PNP Founding Anniversary Celebration of Police Regional Office CALABARZON at this camp on Tuesday.

Highlighting the celebration, with the theme “PNP@30: Kakampi mo Laban sa Pandemya, Ilegal na Droga, Kurapsyon at Terorismo,” was the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, and the awarding of deserving personnel and civilians in recognition of their hard work and unwavering support to the plans and programs of PRO CALABARZON.

Joy: QC to waive market rental fees of meat vendors

Civilian awardees were recognized for their support and cooperation with PRO CALABARZON to end local communist armed conflict in the Southern Tagalog region.

In his message, Eleazar thanked the members of PRO CALABARZON for their courage, determination, and dedication shown despite the prejudice, calamities, hazards, and threats faced in the past year, such as the Taal Volcano eruption and the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“Not only on various police operations, but also during Taal and the COVID-19 pandemic, nakita how you have braved the situation despite of the challenges and the safety of your own lives,” Eleazar said. Roy Tomandao

BALANGA CITY, Bataan -- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan presided over by Vice Governor Cris Garcia has unanimously approved the establishment of a proper sewage treatment and septage management system in the municipality of Mariveles.

The ordinance states the sewage disposal “is given attention to help keep the town’s environment safe and prevent the spread of water-borne diseases by safely transporting wastewater for treatment.”

“The local government of Mariveles, as part of its shared responsibility, promulgates local laws to implement measures to prevent and to control water pollution and to promote health and ensure a balanced ecology,” stated the provincial ordinance.

It echoed the town’s own measure au-

thored by Councilor Tito Catipon at the Sangguniang Bayan.

Government structures, industrial and commercial establishments, and residences will be required to install a proper sewage treatment and septage system.

Republic Act 9725 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 mandates local government units to manage and improve water quality in their respective territories.

The ordinance mentioned that the Supreme Court issued a mandamus on Manila Bay in 2016, directing 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters fit for swimming and other forms of contact recreation.

Mariveles forms part of the Manila Bay area. Butch Gunio

TO HELP the Filipino people combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) donated test booths and COVID-19 test kits to the local government of Pasay City.

NGCP turned over 50 test booths and 10,000 COVID-19 antibody test kits to Pasay City through Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.

“Even with the development and impending availability of vaccines for COVID-19, testing remains a cornerstone strategy to stem the spread of the disease,” the NGCP said in a statement.

The company reiterated its commitment to find ways to help the country, from strengthening power transmission to doing its part as good corporate citizens amid a global health crisis.

NGCP has also donated test booths and test kits to Mandaluyong City and Quezon City, and test kits to Navotas City.

Last March, NGCP pledged P1 billion to the Filipino people to aid the country in its fight against the pandemic.

This donation included the distribution of grocery packs to 1,028 LGUs around the country, medical supplies to more than 300 hospitals and city/municipal/rural health units nationwide, nine ambulances to the government, mechanical ventilators, RT-PCR machines, SteraMist Systems, and other medical equipment to key hospitals around the country.

NGCP also donated P10 million to Project Ark, another P10 Million to the Kaya Natin movement, and P5 million to Project Ugnayan.

Donning and doffing chambers and isolation rooms will also be donated by NGCP to identified government hospitals.

NGCP President and CEO Anthony L. Almeda recently appealed to lawmakers to allow private companies to import tax-free doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for the use of its employees.

He said a vaccination program for the private sector will help get the economy up and running with more businesses and industries going back to their normal activities. Butch Gunio

LEARNING MATERIALS. The #LearnSmart School-In-A-Bag package, a portable digital classroom designed to facilitate learning basic knowledge about the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) in remote areas without electricity and using mobile technology, were donated to the Biodiversity Management Bureau’s Caves, Wetlands and other Ecosystems Division (CAWED) Chief Marlynn Mendoza (4th from left) by PLDT-Smart headed by Chaye Cabal-Revilla, former PLDT-Smart Chief Sustainability Officer (5th from left). The learning packages were donated during the World Wetlands Day 2021 celebration at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City on January 29, in line with the memorandum of agreement of BMB with PLDT-Smart for the Caimpugan peatland conservation project in AMWS.

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A7

Concession talks with Manila Water begin

By Rey E. Requejo

Senator wants assurance SSS won’t hike rates

A

NEGOTIATING team led by the Department of Justice has started negotiations with Manila Water for the revision of its existing water concession agreement with the government.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday sought an assurance that the postponement of Social Security System’s contribution rate increase will not compromise the benefits the workers in the formal economy are enjoying.

“I understand why we need this measure, but I also want us to be sure that the benefits for the workers in the formal economy will not be jeopardized if the new contribution rates are deferred,” she said.

The state-run social insurance program is set to implement its 1 percentage point hike this year, increasing the previous 12 percent deduction from the members’ salaries to 13 percent this year.

The proposed amendment, however, seeks to grant power to the president to defer increases in contributions during a national emergency or state of calamity.

While she supports the measure, Hontiveros says there must be enough funding to support the benefits and loans that may be given to SSS members, such as the maternity package as well as the additional P1,000 for social pension for retired members.

As the author of Expanded Maternity Leave Law, Hontiveros says, she wants to make sure the cash benefit of pregnant women will not be affected.

“Do we also have an assurance there will be a continuity of SSS maternity benefits?” she said.

“Do we also have an assurance that the additional P1,000 pension would still be received by pensioners despite the deferment of the new rates?”

Hontiveros also highlighted the importance of granting the unemployment cash benefit that will serve as income security for displaced and retrenched employees.

“Around 420,000 workers were laid off in 2020. If, say, half of them are entitled to unemployment benefits and another 100,000 eligible members will lose their jobs this 2021, will the SSS be able to pay what is due them?

HOUSE WELCOME. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (left) warmly welcomes Health Secretary Farncisco Duque during a short meeting at the House of Representatives. Duque briefed Romualdez and lawmakers on the plan for the national rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. Ver Noveno

Employers reminded of holiday pay on Feb. 12, 25

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Labor and Employment has reminded private employers of the holiday pay this February 12 and 25, 2021.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III says employees who will report for work on those holidays will be paid an additional 30 percent of their basic wage in the first eight hours.

Their basic wage will be multiplied by 130 percent plus COLA. This after the labor department issued Labor Advisory No. 2, series of

2021 that prescribes the proper payment of wages for the declared Special (Non-Working) Days on February 12 in line with the celebration of the Chinese New Year and on the 25th which is the commemoration of the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 986 on July 30, 2020, which sets February 12 and 25, 2021, as special non-working holidays.

However, if employees did not work, the “no work, no pay” principle will apply unless there is a fa-

Manila unveils vaccine action center

By Willie Casas THE City of Manila has recently created the Manila COVID-19 Vaccine Action Center in preparation for the coming free vaccination of about a million Manila residents, workers and visitors starting this month.

The MCVAC aims to help in the registration of people planning to have the vaccination against COVID-19, handle inquiries about the vaccine and do reporting and referral of AEFI (adverse events following immunization), according to a presentation entitled “Manila COVID-19 Vaccination Plan” shown by Acting City Health Officer Arnold M. Pangan, MD, RSW, to the Manila Health Department employees at city hall.

Pangan says the public is encouraged to contact the MCVAC via cellphone numbers 0927-351-0849; 0915-703-0621; 0968-5721975; or 0961-020-2655 for inquiries about the COVID-19 vaccination program.

On the other hand, the Manila Health Department, the lead department handling the COVID-19 vaccination program of the city, is preparing an information campaign to encour-

age vaccination. The MHD is also handling the creation of the master list of priority groups through the registration of individuals.

On December 31, 2020, the city government, led by Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, launched the Manila Vaccination and Immunization app. The app can be accessed via the website https://manilacovid19vaccine.com/ where individuals can register for their free vaccination in the city.

There are currently 13,552 pre-registered “frontline health workers” in Manila consisting of employees from the MHD central office in the Manila City Hall; employees from the six LGU hospitals in Manila; private hospitals in the city; and private clinics in the city.

There are also 157,679 senior citizens from 896 barangays in Manila.

Currently, there are also 500,351 indigents: 9,878 persons with disability and 490,473 indigents listed by the Manila Social Welfare and Development.

Manila also has 4,879 “uniformed personnel” consisting of the Manila Police District, 4,100; Bureau of Fire Protection, 440 and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, 339.

LIPI: No place for terrorism in society

TERRORISM has no place in any sumed vagueness of the law, sends a culture and in any society, the group chilling effect on a person “because Liga Independencia Pilipinas Inc. he doesn’t know if the next word he (LIPI) said Wednesday, as it continwill say will be criminal or mark him ued to support the Anti-Terrorism as a terrorist,” he added.

Act (ATA) of 2020, which is being “The chilling effect argument petitioned against by 37 groups bepresupposes the law will stifle disfore the Supreme Court. sent. It seems that they (petitioners’ “There is no place for politics lawyers) failed to see for the nth time in the fight against terrorism. Any that this is protected under our Bill moral government must clearly state Antonio ‘Ka Pepe’ Goitia of Rights and the ATA,” Goitia said. this. The fight against terrorism is a The petitioners, he said, contincontinuing struggle that will endure for years to ued to focus their appeal on the definition of tercome,” Jose Antonio “Ka Pep” Goitia, LIPI Sec- rorism under Section 4 of the ATA as “vague” retary General, said in a statement. by discounting the purpose being taken into acHe said the methods to inflict violence “are count and what context the act enumerated in becoming more sophisticated and lethal and as (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Section 4 were comthese threats evolve, our government should mitted by the person. Justice Alexander G. Gesbe able to counter with the necessary tools to mundo stressed this point, the LIPI chief noted. suppress or prevent this from happening. This “What they fail to again see is our definition starts with the ATA.” of terrorism, though not verbatim, is the same as The second day of oral arguments at the the definitions of the United Nations and other high court, Goitia said, “was very much like countries leading the fight against international the previous week.” terror. What they also failed to see is that we are The petitioners’ arguments revolved on “un- a member of the United Nations and as a memfounded fears” that the law will curtail freedom ber State, we are obligated to abide by the rules of speech, abuse of human rights and the as- and laws of the international body,” he said.

vorable company policy, practice or a collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day.

If the workers had rendered their duty in excess of eight hours, they will be paid an additional 30 percent on their hourly rate.

While for work done during a special day that also falls on the workers’ rest day, they will be paid an additional 50 percent of their basic wage on the first eight hours of work, and if done in excess of eight hours (overtime work), they will be paid an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra made the disclosure on Wednesday, but declined to provide details of the ongoing discussion.

Guevarra also said the government panel would sit down next with the other big water utility firm, Maynilad, also on the proposed amendments to their existing concession agreement.

“The review panel is currently discussing the draft revised water concession agreement with Manila Water. We will sit down with Maynilad soon thereafter,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters.

The DOJ chief would not say when the discussion actually started and when it is expected to be finished, but expressed optimism that the revised contracts would be amenable to all parties.

“Sorry, no further details at this time.

Suffice it to say that the revised water concession agreement is a great improvement over the original agreement, as it does away with the onerous provisions of the latter, without making the concession less economically viable ,” Guevarra stressed.

Last November, President Duterte gave the DOJ the go-signal to sit down with the two water concessionaires for the proposed revision of their existing contracts.

Guevarra earlier said among the provisions in the existing concession agreements that would have to go are the non-interference in the rate-setting mechanism of the two water firms and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and its twin provisions on indemnification arising from such government interference.

Duterte ordered the DOJ to review the concession agreements after discovering onerous provisions in the existing contracts, and after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Singapore issued a decision stating the Philippine government should pay P7.4 billion to Manila Water and P3.4 billion to Maynilad for the losses they suffered from unenforced water rate hike.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES HOUSE OF OF REPRESENTATIVES REPUBLIC THE PHILIPPINES HOUSEQUEZON OF REPRESENTATIVES CITY QUEZON CITY

Message

A MESSAGE FROM THE SPEAKER

A warm and heartfelt congratulations to the officials and employees of the Manila Standard

on the occasion of the newspaper’s 34th anniversary. Over the years, your publication has remained steadfast and resolute in providing information, without fear of favor, to generations of Filipinos.

Our warmest congratulations to the Manila Stand celebrates its 34th anniversary of reliable servic Let me commend, in particular, the men and women behind the news desk of Manila Standard for staying true to your profession as journalists. Your fierceness in ferreting out the truth is what Filipino nation. makes the paper special. May your independent and responsible voice continue to be heard for many years to come.

Since 1987, the Manila Standard has been a respons dependable media institution. It has immensely con towards strengthening the pillars of democracy Again, congratulations on more than three decades of service to the Filipino people! Best wishes by delivering timely information, fair repor for more decades ofsociety success! sharp commentary. Through the years, the paper ha that the news of the day need not be staid, overly ve The Manila Standard’s anniversary is a special milestone worth celebrating every year not only because it is one of my favorite newspapers. Every day that your paper sees print is a testament to the dedication and commitment that each personnel devotes to their work just to keep Filipinos updated with the latest news.

mmend the staff, journalists, and media persons who have contributed cess of this paper. May your independent and responsible voice contin or many years to come.

Lord Allan Jay Q. V HON. FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ Majority Leader Representative, Leyte 1st District

Business

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|| THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 extrastory2000@gmail.com

IN BRIEF CitiGlobal: Tagaytay project in full swing

CITIGLOBAL, a premium land and real estate developer, clarified reports implicating or insinuating it was engaged in fraudulent activities.

CitiGlobal assured the public that the development and the construction phase of its Tagaytay project, dubbed “Tagaytay Clifton Resort Suites” in Alfonso, Cavite, Metro Tagaytay, is fully underway.

Turnover of units in TCRS has actually already started. The company advised buyers and investors to schedule a site visit to check on the development of the projects.

CitiGlobal is reaching out to the concerned investors to address the issue. It is open and will address the concerns of clients CitiGlobal Realty and Development Inc. is a duly organized and registered corporation before the SEC. It has complied with all pertinent laws and secured all the necessary licenses and permits from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and the local government or from any regulatory bodies to engage in the business of real estate development.

“We would like to thank our valued investors for their continued support.

Rest assured that we will deliver our promise to give our investors a rewarding investment and work toward providing them the delightful client experience they deserve,” said CitiGlobal in a statement.

Inter-bank ATM charges set to increase under new rules

By Julito G. Rada

I

NTER-BANK automated teller machine charges are set to increase by April as banks switch to “acquirer-based” ATM fee model prescribed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from the issuerbased method.

Acquirer-based ATM fee charging is a model where fees charged to a cardholder for a withdrawal transaction or balance inquiry are based on the fees of the other banks or ATM owners. This means ATM cardholders will pay higher or incur additional costs if they use ATM terminals from other local banks.

The Bankers Association of the Philippines said in a statement it supports the acquirer-based ATM fee principle of the BSP. “We are appreciative of the BSP’s move to adopt this pricing philosophy

that is market driven and customercentered. This policy promotes competition and efficiency in the banks’ effort to deliver better services to the banking public,” said BAP manading director Benjamin Castillo.

Castillo assured the banking public that cardholders who would continue to transact through the ATMs of their respective bank would keep enjoying free ATM services.

“Cardholders who choose to transact using an ATM of another bank will still have an option to proceed or not to proceed with his transaction mindful of the ATM fee that will be charged,” Castillo said.

“Same as before, no fee will be charged if the cardholder will use the ATM terminal of his bank,” he said.

Data showed that as of this months, the ATM balance inquiry fees are for BDO Unibank Inc., P2; BPI, P1.50; China Bank, P1; EastWest Bank, P1; LandBank, P1; Maybank, P1; Metrobank, P2; PNB, P2; PS Bank, P1; RCBC, P1; Security Bank, P1; UCPB, P2; and Union Bank, P2.

The withdrawal fees are for BDO,

P11; BPI, P15; China Bank, P15; EastWest, P11; LandBank, P10; Maybank, P11; Metrobank, P11; PNB, P11; PSBank, P10; and RCBC, P14.

Under the acquired-based model, BPI’s non-clients who would use BPI ATMs would be charged P18 for every withdrawal starting April 7, 2021, up from the P15. Metrobank and PSBank also announced they would increase their withdrawal and balance inquiry fees for non-Metrobank/PSBank clients to P18 and P2, respectively.

BAP is composed of 45 member banks, 21 of which are local banks and 24 are foreign bank branches Banks earlier advised clients to check announcements on their fees/charges first before using their terminals. The additional ATM charges are uniform among banks under the current issuer-based method.

The BSP in April 2018 gave supervised financial institutions an opportunity to be competitive with their ATM activities. In July 2019, it issued Memorandum 2019-020 that required banks to submit their proposed new ATM fees for BSP approval.

PMMAAAI ties up with ORIENT Class

THE Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association Inc. and Orient Register of Shipping Inc. (ORIENT Class) joined forces in enhancing the development of classification rules and raising the level of classification service in the domestic shipping industry.

“This partnership with PMMAAAI will bolster the capability building program of ORIENT Class through the participation of seasoned merchant marine officers who are veterans in their profession in international shipping,” said ORIENT Class president Manuel Tiuseco.

“The partnership between PMMA Alumni Association with ORIENT... will bolster the Classification Societies’ technical capabilities as the PMMAAAI is composed of experienced merchant mariners, ship captains, chief marine engineers, technical and marine superintendents as well as cargo surveyors and harbor masters,” added chief engineer Chito Majabague, president of PMMAAAI.

Thursday, February 10, 2021 16.60 PTS. 7,082.15

Total Volume Total Trades Total Value

27,499,039,703 184,287 11,668,080,966.20

Advances Declines

130 91

Unchanged

44

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0450

Japan

Yen

0.009563

0.4595

UK

Pound

1.381800

66.3886

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129006

6.1981

Switzerland

Franc

1.120951

53.8561

Canada

Dollar

0.787836

37.8516

Singapore

Dollar

0.754262

36.2385

Australia

Dollar

0.773800

37.1772

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655478

127.5824

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266624

12.8100

Brunei

Dollar

0.751428

36.1024

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.033411

1.6052

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0813

Euro

Euro

1.212100

58.2353

Korea

Won

0.000900

0.0432

China

Yuan

0.155419

7.4671

India

Rupee

0.013726

0.6595

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247158

11.8747

New Zealand

Dollar

0.724000

34.7846

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035736

1.7169 Source: BSP

Iloilo sugar mill bares IPO plan to raise P588m

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Basic Energy eyeing Batangas wind project

A UNIT of Basic Energy Corp. plans to develop a 50-megawatt wind project tin Mabini, Batangas covering an area of 4,860 hectares of land.

Basic Energy disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange the board of Mabini Energy Corp. that its whollyowned subsidiary approved the principal terms of the pro-forma wind energy service contract with the Department of Energy.

The pro-forma contract provides for a non-extendible, five-year pre-development stage and a 25-years development phase, starting from contract signing. The contract is extendible for another 25 years, subject to the approval of the DOE. Basic said it would make subsequent disclosures upon final approval of the WESC by the DOE and awarding of the contract to Mabini Energy.

Basic Energy plans to develop more projects with the expected P2.8-billion infusion from MAP 2000 Development Corp. (M2DC) for the acquisition of at least 67 percent of the outstanding capital stock of the company.

Alena Mae S. Flores

PSE INDEX CLOSING

PRICE WATCH. Agriculture Secretary William Dar (right), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (second from left) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. (second from right) lead a special price and supply monitoring of agricultural basic goods, particularly pork and chicken products, at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City. The team saw price compliance among sellers. The DA agreed to provide more support to producers to improve supply and price compliance, while quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte announced the temporary waiver of market fees to help sellers comply with the price ceiling.

Globe Telecom registered net profit of P18.62b in 2020

By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. on Wednesday said net income fell 16 percent in 2020, mostly because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company, a unit of Ayala Corp., said net profit amounted to P18.62 billion in 2020, down from P22.28 billion in 2019.

Core net income fell 13 percent to P19.52 billion last year from P22.45 billion in 2019.

“2020 was a challenging year for Globe but we pulled through despite the COVID-19 pandemic and adverse economic environment. Our prudent financial management in these turbulent times allowed us to maintain strong cash flows, giving us the flexibility to continue to invest back into our network,” Ernest Cu, president and chief executive of Globe, said.

“We are proud of what we achieved this year particularly the significant gains in the network front. We have been heavily investing in our network infrastructure, spending over P60 billion in 2020 alone or more than P265 billion investment for the last five years, to support the government’s call for improvement in telco services in the country,” he added.

Globe’s consolidated service revenues amounted to P146.4 billion, a 2-percent drop from P149 billion in 2019.

Mobile business revenues amounted to P103.1 billion, down 7 percent from P111 billion in 2019 mainly due to the negative effects of the lockdown measures.

Globe had a total mobile subscriber base of 76.6 million as of end December 2020.

Home broadband revenues rose 12 percent to P42 billion, while earnings

from corporate data amounted to P12.5 billion, down 3 percent.

Cu added the company would spend P70 billion this year to provide customers with superior network performance and quality of service.

“As an enabler of the digital economy, we are fully committed to provide digital solutions to help more Filipinos adapt to an unfamiliar lifestyle, brought about by the pandemic, that all of us have had no choice but to adjust to,” Cu said.

“We remain optimistic that our strategy to focus on fulfilling the needs of our customers, backed by our resilient and improved network, will drive our performance moving forward,” he added.

The record-breaking capital expenditure supports Globe’s modernization of network to make 5G as well as fiber technology available to customers in more areas in the country.

CENTAL Azucarera de San Antonio Inc., a sugar milling company owned by the Chan family, plans to raise as much as P588.33 million through an initial public offering.

CASA, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will offer up to 277,500 shares to be sold the public at a price of up to P2,012.52 each.

The shares represent 15 percent of the company’s issued and outstanding common shares. CASA will use the net proceeds from the primary offering to finance the upgrade of a cogeneration facility, land acquisition and improvement of sugar factory and motor pool.

The company has engaged the services of SB Capital Investment Corp. as issue manager and underwriter of the offering.

Formed in 2003, CASA is mainly engaged in sugar milling operations with facilities in Passi City, Iloilo province.

CASA emerged from the success of Central Azucarera de Bais Inc. (CAB), which is also majority owned by the Chan family. CAB is one of the oldest sugar mills in the Philippines, having been established in 1918 by Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas, known more popularly as Tabacalera.

The group’s co-generation plant with installed capacity of 15 megawatt started commercial operations in 2017.

The company has initiated the expansion of its co-generation facilities with the the installation of an additional generating capacity of 8 MW. But due to restrictions in the entry of foreign thermal and electrical contractors, the company is expecting some delays in the completion of the co-generation plant expansion and the export of generated electricity.

CASA in 2019 ventured into the agriculture business with the merger with A.C. Agri-Transport.

CASA registered a net income of P63.16 million in the first nine months of 2020, up 24.4 percent from P50.78 million year-on-year.

BSP lowers minimum amount in opening investment account THE Monetary Board, the policy-setting body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, said Wednesday it approved the reduction in the minimum amount when opening an investment management account from P1 million to P100,000.

BSP Governor and MB chairman Benjamin Diokno said the move aimed to encourage savers to become investors.

“The Monetary Board approved the reduction of the minimum account opening amount for investment management activities from P1 million to any lower amount, subject to a floor of P100,000,” Diokno said.

He said the policy amendment would expand the investment opportunities of the public by reaching markets that may not have been able to open investment management accounts, or IMAs, because of the high entry requirement.

“Through our forthcoming issuance, we hope that more savers will transition into investors,” Diokno said.

“This is in line with the goal to make financial services more accessible to the public,” he said.

Another feature of the new policy is the reduction of the required investment of each IMA in a commingled fund from P1

million to P100,000. This is expected to widen the participation of retail investors in the securities markets through IMAs. A commingled fund is a portfolio consisting of assets from several accounts that are blended together Commingled funds can now invest in a wider range of financial assets, which include exchange-traded equities and fixedincome securities and commercial papers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities issued by banks incorporated in the Philippines.

Corporate accounts can now participate in commingled funds. Julito G. Rada

Asian countries asked to rebuff Bloomberg’s policy interference

LIVESTOCK PORT. Subic Bay International Terminal Corp, given its worldclass quality of service and strategic location, is endorsed by the Department of Agriculture as a discharge port for containers of imported livestock and raw materials.

The endorsement, signed by Agriculture Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs Ernesto Gonzales, highlights the terminal’s role in ensuring unimpeded trade for the livestock and feed milling industries.

LOW and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region should discern and rebuff the grant-for-policy schemes employed by vested interest groups to deprive smokers of safer alternatives, according to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates.

CAPHRA said in a statement a number of self-righteous groups funded by American billionaires were trying to offer money in LMICs in exchange for policies that ban smoke-free products, which scientific studies have found to be much bet-

ter options for smokers than combustible cigarettes.

It called the attention of LMICs to the groups funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, which offer grants or technical assistance to influence the formulation of policy and decisions of regulatory agencies on tobacco control. CAPHRA said this is the case in the Philippines, where a regulatory agency is now being made to answer for accepting assistance from Bloomberg-funded organizations that dictate their own policies on tobacco control.

Nancy Loucas, executive coordinator of CAPHRA, said some countries which direly need funds to implement effective public health programs are especially vulnerable and often fall prey to the grantfor-policy scheme of these moneyed organizations.

“Government should keep away from such foreign special interest, grant-forpolicy schemes which might compromise the rights of local consumers to choose better products for their health,” she said.

World HK radio host denied bail under new security law A HONG Kong internet radio host was denied bail on Wednesday under Beijing’s new national security law— even though he has not been charged with an offense under the sweeping legislation.

The court’s decision illustrates how the presumption of bail for nonviolent crimes—once a hallmark of Hong Kong’s common law legal system—is being swept away by the new national security law and expanded to include other offenses.

Wan Yiu-sing, 52, was charged earlier this week with sedition, a colonial-era law, for the content of four online talk shows he hosted last year.

On Wednesday he was remanded into custody ahead of his eventual trial after a judge decided his alleged sedition offenses were a national security risk.

It comes a day after Hong Kong’s top court delivered a landmark judgment concerning bail for national security crimes.

On Tuesday the Court of Final Appeal said the security law “creates such a specific exception to the general rule in favour of the grant of bail and imports a stringent threshold requirement for bail applications.”

The ruling also said offenses outside the security law could also be considered national security risks where bail might be denied, offering treason, sedition and “incitement to disaffection” as examples.

The sedition charges against Wan are only the second time the colonialera law has been used since Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China.

Last year another internet radio Manila Manila host was also charged with sedition Standard Standard andTODAY remanded into custody.

TODAY Police and prosecutors are using an expanded suite of legal powers to pursue dissidents following huge and often violent democracy protests in 2019.

Beijing imposed its security law on Hong Kong last June, bypassing the legislature and keeping its contents secret until the moment it was enacted, arguing it was needed to restore stability.

Manila Standard It outlawed four new crimes: seTODAY cession, subversion, terrorism and foreign collusion.

LEGAL LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE But the Notice Notice isis hereby hereby given given to to the the broad wording public that an Extrajudicial public that an Extrajudicial Settlement and application Settlement has has been been executed executed by by the the heirs heirs of of Muneyoshi Muneyoshi of the law has W a k a b a y a s h i , n a m e l y : Wakabayashi,namely: Catherine criminalized Catherine C. C. Wakabayashi, Wakabayashi, Akira Akira C. C. Wakabayashi,Youmi Wakabayashi,Youmi much dissent C. C. Wakabayashi,and Wakabayashi,and Yutaka Yutaka C. Wakabayashi, all of legal in the busiC. Wakabayashi, all of legal age, age, over over CCT CCT 10514, 10514, per per ness hub and deed deed on on 11 11 January January 2021, 2021, created a host before Notary Public John before Notary Public John Edward Edward Trinidad Trinidad Ang, Ang, Per Per of new speech Doc. Doc. No. No. 153, 153, Page Page No.31, No.31, crimes. AFP Book No. 111, Series of 2021 Book No. 111, Series of 2021 (FEB. 4/11/18, 2021) (FEB. 4/11/18, 2021)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Russia seeks arrest of Lithuania-based Navalny aide RUSSIA on Wednesday said it was seeking the arrest of an EU-based aide to jailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny, a day after accusing him of treason.

Leonid Volkov, who leads Navalny’s regional network of offices, lives in Lithuania and has been a prominent voice of the opposition since other key figures in Russia were detained during protests.

A Moscow court spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that investigators had asked for his arrest and that he had been placed on a wanted list that extended to several former Soviet countries, but not Lithuania.

The Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes in Russia, said previously that Volkov had been charged with using social media to encourage young-

sters to join unauthorized rallies.

In Russia, calling on people under 18 to join demonstrations can carry a sentence of up to three years in jail.

Volkov vowed to continue working despite the warrant, which was issued a day after Russia labeled him and another Navalny associate “traitors” for urging the European Union to sanction individuals close to President Vladi-

mir Putin.

In a video call with representatives of the EU and other Western countries, Volkov called on the bloc to impose “personal sanctions” on Russians to force a change in Kremlin behavior.

Navalny was handed almost three years in jail last week for violating probation terms while he was in Germany recovering from a poisoning attack. AFP

Crashed airplane shows ‘anomaly’ A

CRASHED Indonesian passenger jet’s throttles showed an “anomaly” and had been repaired several times before the deadly accident, but the exact cause of last month’s fatal dive was still unclear, investigators said Wednesday.

A potential malfunction in the Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500’s engine control system was highlighted in a preliminary report on the January 9 crash which killed all 62 passengers and crew, including nearly a dozen children.

The 26-year-old plane -- previously flown by US-based Continental Airlines and United Airlines -- plunged around 3,000 meters and crashed into waters off Jakarta just minutes after takeoff.

On Wednesday, investigators said they were probing the autothrottle system as they published their interim report.

“The left (engine throttle) was moving backward too far while the right one was not moving at all -- it was stuck,” said National Transportation Safety Committee CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK BLACK investigator Nurcahyo Utomo.

“But what would have caused this anomaly? We can’t conclude anything just yet.”

Authorities have previously said the crew did not declare an emergency or reHAUNTING. Protesters dressed as ghosts hold up signs during a demonstration against the February 1 military coup in Yangon on port technical problems with the aircraft February 10, 2021. AFP before its dive, and that it was probably intact when it hit the water.

They cited a relatively small area where the wreckage was scattered and defrom a retrieved flight data recorder CYAN tails MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK -- one of two so-called “black boxes” -EIGHT Islamic extremists were on under the government of Prime Minister A defense lawyer for the eight men said showing the engine was still running just Wednesday sentenced to death in Ban- Sheikh Hasina. they would appeal against the sentences. before it crashed. gladesh for the murder of a publisher, as Prosecutor Golam Sarwar Zakir told The Bangladesh government has set Communications with air traffic conthe Muslim-majority nation grapples with AFP that the judge at Dhaka’s Special up two major anti-terrorism police units trol were described as normal up until the tensions between religious hardliners and Anti-Terrorism Tribunal had convicted all in recent years to crack down on Islamic moment that the plane sharply deviated secularists. of the eight accused men. extremists. from its intended course and crashed.

Faisal Arefin Dipan, 43, the owner of “He (the judge) said their goal was More than 100 suspected Islamists The crew, including an experienced a Dhaka-based publishing house that had to muzzle people’s voices by murdering have been killed in anti-terror raids across captain, did not reply to questions about released several atheist books, was hacked bloggers, writers and publishers. They the country and hundreds have been de- the plane’s change of direction. to death in October 2015 by men suspect- wanted to disrupt public security by creat- tained. Around half-a-dozen Islamist miliCrews on previous flights had reported that the system was “unserviceable” and it ed to be members of a local jihadist group. ing panic among the people,” Zakir said. tant outfits have been banned.

The attack was part of a wave of vioTwo of the men are still on the loose Star Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al had been repaired several times before the lence between 2013 and 2016 targeting and were sentenced in absentia, including Hasan has become the latest target of radi- fatal crash, the report said.

But it did not pinpoint the system as secular activists, bloggers and atheist writ- mastermind Syed Ziaul Haque, a sacked cals and had to be given an armed bodyers. army officer, Zakir added. guard after he was threatened for attend- the cause of the accident, and the probe Several top Islamist political party Haque has been charged with the kill- ing a Hindu ceremony in neighbouring would also look at other potential factors, including pilot error. AFP leaders were hanged over the violence ings of several secular activists.

India. AFP

8 extremists to hang over publisher’s murder

PETITION NOTICE FOR DEREGULATION PROPOSAL FOR THE DEREGULATION OF NK 603 FOR COMMERCIAL PROPAGATION 1.

Name of Applicant: Philippine Maize Federation, Inc.

2.

Address/Telephone & Facsimile Nos./Email Address: Datu Mampaalong St., Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

3.

Name of Responsible Officer/Authorized Representative: Roger V. Navarro/Dennis M. Guerrero.

4.

Description and Use of the Regulated Article: Corn seeds are provided glyphosate tolerance to manage weeds in corn fields. This is achieved by introducing gene encoding glyphosate tolerant 5-enoypyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase from Agrobacteriumsp.

StrainCP4 (CP4 EPSPS).

5.

Effectivity Dates of the Original and Renewed Permits: NK603 was issued a Biosafety Permit under DA Administrative Order No. 08, Series of 2002 for commercial propagation on February 8, 2005. Thereafter, said biosafety permit was renewed twice: on 16 March 2010 and 16 March 2015. On 29 March 2019, the transformation event was submitted as a renewal application under JDC 1, series of 2016 and was approved in November 2020.

6.

Narrative Explaining Why the Regulated Article Is Safe: NK03 has been in continued use in the country for the uninterrupted period of fifteen (15) years without any showing of any adverse effect on human health and the environment. Moreover, the Bureau of Plant Industry, in issuing a biosafety permit, has confirmed the safety of the continued use of NK603. Finally, the European Food Safety Authority, upon the request of the European Commission has found that NK603 maize is as safe as conventional maize and therefore the placing on the market of NK03 maize for food or feed or processing in unlikely to have an adverse effect on human and animal health and, in that context, the environment.

7.

Summary of Experiences of the Country on the Regulated Article: The country has not experienced any adverse effect of NK603 on human and animal health and the environment, as reported by the members of the STRP of BPI, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Health.

8.

Other Reasons Why the Deregulation of the Regulated Article Should Be Granted: Deregulation would augur well for the small corn farmer as well as farmers in the hog, poultry and cattle industries whose cost of production will be reduced with the deregulation of NK603 For additional information on the proposed deregulation, please contact: ROGER V. NAVARRO No. 74 Lago Compound, Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City 0917-504-2036/rogervnavarro@yahoo.com DENNIS M. GUERRERO No. 8 Lauan St., Vista Real Executive Village Batasan Hills, 1126 Quezon City 0928-505-8654 guerrero.dennis@gmail.com The public is hereby invited to submit their comments on the proposed Deregulation of the regulated article, within sixty (60) days from the date of publication, to: THE DIRECTOR Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Department of Agriculture San Andres, Malate, Manila Email address: bpibiotechsecretariat@gmail.com Tele-fax no.: (02) 8242-2267 loc. 203 Approved for Publication:

GEORGE Y. CULASTE Director Bureau of Plant Industry Date: FEB. 5, 2021

(MS-FEB. 11, 2021)

Nokor ‘loyal agent’ pleads guilty in NSW AN AUSTRALIAN man once described as a “loyal agent of North Korea” pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempting to broker arms, oil and coal deals for Pyongyang in breach of international sanctions.

North Korea is under tough curbs aimed at choking off revenue to its nuclear and missile programs.

South Korean-born Chan Han Choi was on trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court when he pleaded guilty to two of the seven charges against him.

Prosecutors withdrew the remaining charges -- including those relating to weapons of mass destruction -- and the jury was discharged.

Court documents showed Choi pleaded guilty to contravening a United Nations sanction enforcement law in late 2017 by brokering the sale of goods including arms and refined petroleum on behalf of North Korea.

He also admitted to contravening sanctions by brokering the sale of coal from North Korea to entities in Indonesia during the same period.

Public broadcaster ABC reported none of the alleged transactions was successful.

“We’re very relieved that a more rational array of charges are now facing Mr Choi,” his lawyer Mark Davis told reporters outside court.

Police, who arrested Choi in 2017, described him as “loyal agent of North Korea, believing he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose.”

Davis told reporters outside court that Choi was “rejecting the military implication” and had been in business previously when it was legal to sell North Korean products.

Choi’s case marked the first time charges were laid for violating UN sanctions against North Korea in Australia.

He was allowed to remain on bail and is due back in court next month. AFP

COVID CUPID. Lovers across Bangkok will be heartbroken come Valentine’s Day, with city officials declaring Wednesday that all of the Thai capital’s 50 districts will be banned from issuing marriage licenses. In this file photo, women take a photograph against a heart-shaped projection that reads ‘Love Yourself First’ on Valentine’s Day in Bangkok on February 14, 2020. AFP

Pakistan commutes 2 mentally disabled inmates on death row TWO mentally disabled prisoners on death row had their sentences commuted on Wednesday by Pakistan’s Supreme Court in what activists called a landmark judgement on mental illness.

The top court ordered Kanizan Bibi and Imdad Ali be transferred to a mental health facility and called for the case of a third inmate facing execution to be reviewed.

It also called for the establishment of a medical board to vet inmates for mental illness in capital cases.

“The Supreme Court of Pakistan has made a landmark judgement in the case of three mentally ill death row prisoners,” said Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), a legal nonprofit repre-

senting the three inmates.

“We hope the guidelines detailed in the judgement will permeate to all levels of the judiciary and prison staff so that mental illnesses can be detected and treated instead of being ignored and denied,” JPP spokesperson Ali Haider Habib added.

Human rights organisations have long called on Pakistan to reinstate a moratorium on the death penalty, which was lifted after the Army Public School massacre in Peshawar in 2014 that killed 151 people, most of them students.

Since then the country has hanged more than 500 prisoners, many of whom were linked to militancy. AFP

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Sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Serena strolls into 2nd round; Taiwan veteran stops Andreescu

Serena Williams of the US hits a return against Serbia’s Nina Stojanovic during their women’s singles match on Day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Brazilian volleyball coaches coming to PH VOLLEYBALL coaches from Brazil are coming to Philippines.

Officials of the international volleyball federation are in talks with executives of the Philippine National Volleyball Federations Inc. on their plans to help lift the level of coaching the country.

PNVFI president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said he is into discussions with FIVB on how this can happen in the next two years.

“Brazil is an Olympic power in volleyball. They will be bringing in their knowledge and technology to our local coaches,” said Suzara.

Brazil is ranked no. 1 in the world in the men’s division and no. 3 in the women’s side.

Suzara said talks are continuing on this plan after it was disrupted following a leadership dispute over the last two years.

This time, the chances of Brazilian coaches coming over are big.

The PNVFI is currently finalizing its plans to develop a 10-point strategy to raise the level of the sport in the country through developmental programs.

The Asian Volleyball Confederation has been raising the possibility of the Asian body lending a land to the PNVFI regarding the staging of international meets.

A meeting to discuss the PNVFI’s plans is set today in Taguig. Peter Atencio

Obiena settles for 5 in French tournament E th

By Peter Atencio

RNEST John Obiena could have gone higher against a tough field, but he settled for a fifth-place finish in the men’s pole vault event on Tuesday in the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais in Lievin, France.

The Tokyo Olympics-bound Obiena was able to clear the heights of 5.45 meters and 5.6 meters on his first tries, before technical issues took place at the height of 5.74 meters.

Obiena’s performance came as world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden made his presence felt as he picked up another gold medal, but later ended his stint with an injury.

“I know he (Obiena) went out at 5.74 and there was some controversy as he had only two attempts instead of three,” said James Lafferty, one of Obiena’s fitness advisers.

Technical issues concerning the

placement of the box and crossbar were addressed during the competition, according to observers and Obiena’s dad Emerson.

“5.60 was not his personal best (at that time). Baka napagod at may technical difficulty,” said Emerson, who added that many participants encountered technical difficulties at the height of 5.74 meters.

Obiena’s finish came after he snatched back-to-back gold medals over the weekend.

It was a star-studded field, with reigning Olympic champion Thiago Braz of Brazil, 2012 Olympic cham-

pion Renaud Lavillenie of France, 2019 World pole vault champion Sam Kendricks of the United States, also participating.

The 21-year-old Duplantis vaulted only twice, clearing the bar in his first attempts at 5.6m and 5.86m, before passing on 5.74m and 5.80m.

He then retired due to injury when the bar was raised to 5.92m.

American Chris Nilsen matched Duplantis’ 5.86m vault for second place, while Lavillenie was third at 5.80 m.

Lavillenie passed at 5.86m and failed three attempts at 5.92m, while Braz and Kendricks both missed at 5.74m.

The event is part of the World Athletics Indoor Gold meeting series.

The young Obiena did not discuss his experience any further as he and his travelling companions, Braz and coach Vitaly Petrov hurriedly proceeded to their next event on Fridat in Poland.

MELBOURNE—Serena Williams strolled into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday but former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu’s emotional comeback from 15 months out ended at the hands of Taiwanese veteran Hsieh Su-wei.

Williams, 39, continued her quest to equal Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 Grand Slams with a 6-3, 6-0 romp past 99th-ranked Serbian Nina Stojanovic in just 69 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. “l wasn’t thinking as much in the second (set), as I was in the first,” said Williams, who hit 27 winners in her 101st Australian Open match while again sporting her unique, one-legged catsuit inspired by track legend ‘Flo-Jo’.

“I’m here to have fun and it’s great to be playing in front of a crowd.”

But eighth seed Andreescu, playing her first tournament since October 2019 after a serious knee injury, could never cope with Hsieh’s quirky range of shots and lost 6-3, 6-2 in one hour 23 minutes.

“You need to find a way to get through and the crowd helped me fight,” said Hsieh after beating the Canadian, who was coming off a draining three-setter against Mihaela Buzarnescu in the first round.

Kvitova, the former Wimbledon champion and Melbourne runner-up in 2019, committed 44 unforced errors in her 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 defeat to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.

But seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka was little troubled in going through 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 against Russia’s Daria Kasatkina.

In the men’s draw, eighth seed Diego Schwartzmann of Argentina wasted little time in reaching the last 32, brushing aside Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 in an hour and 32 minutes on 1573 Arena.

Djokovic affair Later Novak Djokovic will look to continue his Melbourne Park “love affair” and march towards a record-extending ninth title against young American Frances Tiafoe.

Djokovic demolished France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 on Monday as the year’s first Grand Slam kicked off three weeks late because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is an ongoing love affair between me and this court, the Rod Laver Arena,” said Djokovic after his opening win.

US Open champion Naomi Osaka will headline the evening session against France’s former world number four Caroline Garcia, with the Japanese star seeking her second Australian Open title in three years.

Germany’s volatile US Open finalist Alexander Zverev will close out the night session against A m e r ic a’s M a x i m e Cressy. AFP

Eala eases Romanian out in French tilt ALEX Eala fought hard for every point in the 10th game of the third and set and eased out Laura Ioana Paar of Romania, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, on Tuesday in the first round of the W25 Trophee De La Ville De Grenoble in Grenoble, France.

After forcing Paar to concede following a series of long exchanges in the 10th game of the third set, the unseeded Eala earned herself a slot in the second round.

The 32-year-old Paar yielded after Eala held serve at match point and three deuces at the end of their two hour and 18-minute showdown.

Paar was leading, 4-3, when she double faulted at the start of the eighth game in the f inal set.

Eala took a stand from there and grabbed a 30-0 edge before tying the match at 4-all.

Paar’s double fault in the ninth game, gave Eala a

chance to break serve for a 5-4 edge.

Seventh seed Cristina Bucsa of Spain will be Eala’s next rival in the second round.

The 23-year-old Bucsa turned back Martina de Giuseppe of Italy, 6-4,6-4, to advance to the Round of 16.

Pemra Ozgen of Turkey and Viktorija Golubic also joined Eala in the second round after the former walloped Marine Szostak of France, 6-4, 6-4, and the latter stopped another French netter in Harmony Tan, 4-6, 6-4, 4-1(retired).

Eala, a Globe ambassador, whose World Tennis Association ranking has gone up to 903 this week, was among 15 young players who recently received junior player grants from the International Tennis Federation of up to $25,000.

She is in her third year of training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. Peter Atencio

Will Superliga merge with PVL? THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO I HAVE always believed that in women’s volleyball, it would be better if there is only one league.

But as it is, after the Premier Volleyball League (formerly Shakey’s V -League) was able to grow the sport, the Philippine Superliga was born and whether you like it or not, there will be a competition between the two leagues.

Yes, they have been co-existing the past years with players, coaches, even teams movi ng f rom one leag ue to the other.

I will leave it to you as to which is

the bigger or better league as people will have different ways of looking at things.

The pandemic, however, levelled the playing field and sports overall was knocked out resulting in a standstill. Both leagues saw teams taking a leave of absence, Motolite in the PVL and Petron, Ayala-Generica, and Marinera in the PSL. Fast forward to the present and it looks like the PVL has the edge following reports of some PSL teams moving to the PVL when it reopens with a bubble league to be held at the Inspire Academy in Calamba, Laguna in April.

I have not heard any news regarding PSL’s beach volleyball in Subic, postponed once already and reset supposedly this February. Ironically, there were supposedly PVL teams that would play in the said tournament.

It has already come out that PLDT

and sister team Cignal, both under the MVP Group, have joined the PVL, and with it the television coverage rights under Cignal, a hard blow I would say to the PSL. And with only powerhouse teams F2 Logistics, Cherry Tiggo (formerly Foton) and Sta. Lucia remaining with PSL, it practically signals the end of PSL, for how can it hold a tournament with only three teams? Unless, the league can attract new teams.

On the other side, PVL has retained Creamline, Choco Mucho, Petro Gazz, Balipure, Chef’s Classics and Perlas, plus transferees PLDT and Cignal, and even a new team, Peak Form, with PVL’S Ricky Palou saying they will have 10 teams in the fold come opening day.

The PVL has also decided to turn professional, egged on for a long time by the Games and Amusement Board.

Alex Eala: On to the second round

The PSL has said in the past that it will remain amateur to allow collegiate players to play, with good players becoming better themselves, a reality for me looking at how UAAP and NCAA players have developed.

One team owner has been batting for a merger of the two leagues in the past, but from what I heard, the issues between the senior officials of both leagues are too deeply rooted.

Trust issues, among others.

The PVL will not agree to a merger, but yes, they are open to accepting transfers from the other league as what has happened not just recently but in the past. It’s the same with the PSL because there is competition, didn’t I tell you that?

But if indeed the PSL only has three teams left and cannot attract new teams, is it possible then that one or even all these teams make a move to join the PVL, and as such, it becomes a de facto merger, not a merger of leagues though but a merger of teams with PVL as the surviving league?

One question though is will these PSL teams agree to become professional teams, too, and not just club teams.

What if say F2 Logistics opted to join the PVL? This is definitely good for the PVL, but not for the PSL. Or will the PSL launch an aggressive marketing campaign to get new teams and maintain its separation from the PVL? Another possible scenario is that the three remaining PSL teams disband, which will leave a lot of players without teams, except for the legitimate big stars of F2 and Cherry Tiggo as I am sure there will be takers for the likes of Jaja Santiago, Dindin Manabat Aby Marano, Kim Fajardo, Dawn Macandili, throw in Mika Reyes and Pam Lastimosa from Sta. Lucia.

No definite answers to all these questions, but definitely, things will change in the local women’s volleyball world.

And that is the bottom line under the new normal.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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Moira dela Torre drops new Valentine’s Day music

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LDT Home brings the message of hope and love this Valentine’s Day through Moira Dela Torre at the forefront. In her newest single, “Pag-ibig ang Pipiliin,” the singer-songwriter once again tugs the hearts of her fans through an inspiring theme of how love can build the strongest connection.

Through the soothing voice of Moira dela Torre, PLDT Home hopes to send the message that love,among other things, is a personal choice.

YUGEL LOSORATA US-BASED Filipino rapper EZ Mil became a pandemic breakthrough artist with the success of his digital album track “Panalo (Trap Carinosa).”

His live performance of it on the Wish USA Bus had amassed, as of writing, 26 million views after just a week of being uploaded on YouTube.

It is very likely that by the time this piece gets out, that number has gotten past the 30 million mark.

The song's triumph can be attributed to few significant factors.

For one, with all the troubles plaguing our country due to the health crisis, and, should I say, the social shakeup brought about by warring political factions, a patriotic song in the vein of the late Francis Magalona’s “Mga Kababayan” had been due for pickup by the brown race. The tuneful rap classic came out just months after our country endured the biggest coup attempt which happened in December 1989. It gave Pinoy pride the modern anthem it badly needed.

This one from Ez Mil, short for Ezekiel Miller, may not be as singable nor original. But its Carinosa-sampled chorus ensures it embraces nationalistic fervor while his vocal attack rightfully aggressive in tune with today’s woke culture.

There had been scores of history revisionists so inserting a wrong detail for poetic license shouldn't hurt.

This track 5 of EZ's 2020-released album, Act 1, imparts “Nanalo na ako nung una pa na pinugutan si Lapu sa Mactan” which obviously worked in his favor. Last week, during a zoom presser conducted by Wish USA, he insisted, “That made people talk and I do not intend to have a corrected

Moira chooses love as the main message for her brand-new music “Pag-Ibig ang Pipiliin,” written and arranged by awardwinning songwriter Jonathan Manalo and co-written by Trisha Denise.

Moira shares that she “feels honored” for being chosen by PLDT Home for this campaign. She says, “The message of this song embodies what I have been advocating for these past few years.

Choosing love and positivity, and now we made it into a song.”

The song tells us that despite the challenges and difficulties of love in the real world, one can always choose to connect the right way. That’s why this Valentine’s Day, PLDT Home also encourages everyone to inspire and cultivate positivity because the strongest Moira teases her fans with an Instagram photo of her and connections are made with love. husband Jason Marvin Hernandez to announce the release of her With “Choose to Love” as the theme Valentine’s Day single.

One in a Mil

EZ Mil's ‘Panalo’ had become the biggest Filipino hit song of this pandemic era and may have triggered a trend Francis Magalona's ’Mga Kababayan’ did in the 90s.

version to keep the recording’s integrity.”

Described as a Caucasian, this young man, who is the son of ballad rocker Paul Sapiera, is fortunate to have such looks, which many Pinoy fans would rather count as “pogi points." That he legitimately can sing or rap in Tagalog minus that cute foreign accent made him sound extra sincere in espousing his feelings for having Pinoy blood. When in the middle of the song he accepted the challenge of saying things in Ilocano, which was like a home run.

For those too young to know, EZ’s dad is the voice behind the classic Rockstar hits “Parting Time” and “Mahal Pa Rin

Kita.” When I asked if he’d like either of the two songs to be sampled in an upcoming track of his, he said that would be interesting. Sure hit I think. Imagine him doing his thing while someone else sings in counterpoint the line “I wish someday you’ll be back home.”

That wish must now be in the minds of many, to see him back in the Philippines.

Besides, he is now a powerful galvanizing force for the often-fractured rap/ hip hop scene. “Let’s bring everyone up. Why us against us?” he asked. All the more father Paul should be heard singing, “Please come home.”

‘It’s Showtime’ kicks off TNT's 5th year with new mechanics

JM Yosures wins the 4th season of 'Tawag ng Tanghalan.'

THE search for the best singers in the country continues as “Tawag ng Tanghalan” welcomes its fifth year with exciting new mechanics that will test its contenders beginning this week on It’s Showtime.

Contestants will have to be ready to belt out their songs as the new season gets more competitive with four contestants taking the stage every Monday to try and earn the top two spots or “spotlight” in order to avoid elimination and advance to the next day.

Two new singers will also be entering the competition from Tuesdays to Fridays to face off in the first round. Whoever receives the highest score from the judges will then advance to the second round and face the two spotlight holders in a threeway battle.

The two remaining spotlight holders at the end of Friday’s episode will then have to impress the judges come Saturday as they battle each other in two rounds in order to be crowned as the weekly winner.

The competition will also be awarding

P10,000 each to the two contestants with the highest scores for the day, while the singers still have to be on their toes as they can automatically be eliminated by the gong component.

In Monday’s (Feb. 8) episode, Cherry Rose Amorin of Carmona, Cavite and Froilan Cedilla of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte were named the season’s first spotlight holders.

Viewers at home, meanwhile, can also win P5,000 in cash by watching the show and joining the live conversation online.

Every day, the cash prize will be awarded to one lucky viewer who posts on Twitter or Facebook the name of a contestant who they think will be part of the daily top two along with the show’s official hashtag of the day.

Watch the brand new season of “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on It’s Showtime on A2Z channel on digital and analog broadcast.

Digital TV box users can scan and look for A2Z channel in Metro Manila and in some parts of Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, and Pampanga.

of her newest Valentine’s song, Moira shares her life’s personal connection to the soundtrack. In her latest social media post, she says, “Every morning, I wake up to a man who chooses to love me…But then this guy knocks. Every single day.

Knocks until I open the door. Hugs me ‘til I’m out of tears. Takes care of me ‘til I’m well. Prays with me when I can’t find hope for myself. And for that, I find myself so thankful. What I’ve learned from marriage is that love is a choice – a very beautiful and brave choice to make every single morning.”

Winning her way into the hearts of her fans by the sheer beauty and honesty of her songs over the years, Moira’s journey to fame was not an easy one. Much like her music, it was filled with challenges, heartbreak, and letting go. But true love does not give up, and neither did she.

In 2018, Moira released a song entitled ‘Malaya’. Shattering hearts and records alike, this hit-single propelled Moira and her mastery of songwriting to greater heights. A multitude of listeners all claims that Moira’s songs hit more than just the right note, but that they spoke straight to the heart and echo the feelings and stories of those that listened to them. The hits continued to pour out; “Tagpuan,” “Ikaw at Ako,” “Paubaya,” and many other songs started to pull at the heartstrings of fans and established Moira as a genuine artist.

Powered by PLDT Home, Moira’s fans and online listeners can eagerly catch the singer-songwriter’s latest single ”Pag-ibig ang Pipiliin” on PLDT Home’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

Sam Fischer teams up with Demi Lovato FOLLOWING the huge success of his make this song with Sam – ultimately global smash hit “This City” and recent it’s about two humans coming together project “Homework,” Australian pop to connect and find solutions to their rock singer-songwriter Sam Fischer has problems,” Demi says in turn.

Alongside the announcement of the teamed up with American singer Demi Lovato to announce his official new single, Sam Fischer has also shared that he single “What Other People Say” released has been chosen as YouTube’s first ‘Artist on the Rise’ for 2021, which follows on Feb. 4 through RCA Records.

Written by Sam before his single “This previous winners Mabel, Aitch, Freya City” became a hit, it was a song he Ridings, Mahalia, Beabadoobee, and always knew would be a duet and was Celeste. blown away when Demi Lovato became the perfect person to accompany him on vocals. Written about a feeling of being alone and not wanting to let people down, the pairing takes two different lives and perspectives and unites them in one message of human experience, emotion and togetherness, so they are alone with one another in the song. It is a truly special track with a powerful, moving and relatable chorus and is the next official single release for Sam since “This City.”

“What Other People Say is a confession, realizing how far away you can get from who you are in an effort to be liked. It’s about the pressures of society and how getting caught up with the wrong things can change you,” Sam says.

“This song is a reflection on what it’s like to lose who you truly are in an effort to please other people and society. Sam Fischer teams up with Demi Lovato for the It’s why I wanted to empowering new song 'What Other People Say.'

ABS-CBN postpones Regine’s ‘Freedom’ concert FREEDOM: Regine Velasquez-Alcasid Digital Concert, originally scheduled on

VIP tickets to Regine’s ‘Freedom’ concert have been sold out within 12 hours upon ticket release.

Feb. 14, has been postponed.

In a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment by ABS-CBN Corporate Communications team, the network said that Regine Velasquez was recently exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and she is now in quarantine.

"We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused. All tickets sold with the original date will be honored on the new 'Freedom' concert schedule, which will be announced soon," the statement said.

"The health and safety of our artist and staff is our priority and we are thankful for your support and understanding," the statement ended.

Freedom is produced by ABSCBN Events, IME, and PLDT and will be directed by Paolo Valenciano with musical direction from Raul Mitra.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

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HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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T’S the year of the hardworking and dutiful Ox. As many are likely looking to increase their luck and attract positivity after the year that was plagued by one bad news after another, these establishments roll out Chinese New Year treats and activities that usher in the good things we all desperately need.

Auspicious food at SM Mall of Asia Complex Food plays a huge role in the celebration of Lunar New Year, and MOA Complex offers a guide to help mall-goers dining in or ordering takeaway get the food that are considered auspicious to eat during the occasion.

No Chinese New Year dinner would be complete without fish, a symbol of prosperity. The scales of the fish and the abundance of roe signify wealth and fortune.

Paradise Dynasty at S Maison and Mann Hann at MOA’s main mall have delightful fish offerings on their menus.

Duck is another lucky specialty, especially when served whole, signifying a better new year. Mall-goers can enjoy the taste of authentic duck meat roasted to perfection at Hong Kong Little Kitchen at SM by the Bay. Shrimp, on the other hand, symbolize happiness and good fortune. Mei Lin Restaurant at the North Wing of SM Mall of Asia is known for its Fried Spicy Shrimp.

Chinese dumplings and spring rolls are both associated with wealth. Spring rolls are said to resemble gold bars; dumplings, on the other hand, are supposed to look like gold ingots. Tim Ho Wan has a delightful dim sum selection; while Mai Weng Fang’s popular pan fried soup dumpling will give diners a taste of Northern Chinese cuisine with wheat flour ingredients. Both are located at

Usher in the luck in the Year of the Ox

AUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES. SM Mall of Asia’s Chinese New Year centerpiece at the Central Atrium features Chinese lanterns, cherry blossoms, lights, and oxen images.

The Pasay lifestyle complex houses an array of restaurants offering food the bring fortune such as (from left) Bijin Nabe’s collagen hot pot with fresh vegetables and seafood, Hong Kong Little Kitchen’s HK Roast Duck, Mann Hann’s Cha Bihon, and Tian Mansion’s Chinese hot pot with fresh seafood.

MOA’s main mall.

Noodles mean happiness and longevity for the Chinese, their length symbolizing the life of the person eating them; the longer the noodle, the longer their life will be. Hence, it is advised not to cut the noodles when eating them. Masuki, on the ground level of the North Park Building, prides itself in its original mami made from fresh egg noodles in pork bones soup and topped with chicken and roasted pork slices.

For many, hot pot, which symbolizes the coming together of family and friends, is the centerpiece of Spring Festival dinners. Tian Mansion serves Chinese hot pot soup with fresh seafood at its ground floor outlet in the South Wing of the Entertainment Mall.

Bijin Nabe by Tsukada Nojo’s bijin nabe collagen soup, on the other hand, is considered a “beauty hot pot” that

helps in rebuilding dead cells to achieve a youthful, healthy glow. It helps in replenishing the body’s natural collagen supply and is good for bone health. The restaurant is located on the second level of S Maison.

Diners enjoying Chinese favorites with their family at the Lucky Feasts enjoy fortune treats and group dining deals: For a minimum 1,000 spend on dining, they can play the Lucky Spin for a chance to win shopping money; meanwhile those ordering for delivery and pickup will get Ang Pao with a surprise treat for a minimum purchase of P1,000. The dining promos are available until Feb. 12.

Moreover, the Lucky Dining Spot designated dining area lets diners read their astrological forecast by simply scanning a QR code.

SM Mall of Asia is offering discounts in all red merchandise during its Lucky

Red Sale, while the Luck and Love Fair at the Central Atrium is open until Feb. 15.

Buffet and fortune Novotel Manila Araneta City’s buffet restaurant Food Exchange Manila, meanwhile, offers a P2,021 nett buffet for two persons on Feb. 11-12.

The spread features all-time Chinese favorites like dim sum, roasted specialties, noodles, and desserts, among others.

Lunch buffet starts at 12:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., while dinner buffet is open from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

In addition to an auspicious feast, the hotel also offers the Prosperity Box (P2,500) filled with an assortment of luscious treats including glutinous rice cakes, egg tarts, lo mai chi, ampaw crispies, mooncake, dice hopia, chili sauce, and scallops XO sauce in a jar.

Lucky rituals and activities Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Ma-

nila is taking its festivities virtually via livestream on its Facebook page today at 11:00 p.m. Traditional lucky rituals and attractions following safety protocols like Prosperity Tree, Eight Laughing Buddhas, and more are also open to guests.

Other Megaworld Lifestyle Malls in the metro have also prepared activities to usher in the Year of the Metal Ox. Eastwood City has a traditional Dragon and Lion Dance on Feb. 12, Uptown Bonifacio on Friday will host a virtual talk on charms and crystals, Venice Grand Canal has a Fate and Fortune exhibit at the mall atrium, Forbes Town likewise has an exhibit where guests can scan a QR code and know their fortune for the coming year, and Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila has an ongoing Luck and Love Fair until Feb. 21 as well a Dragon and Lion Dance on Feb. 15.

SHOPPING

Muji to open largest Philippine store in Mandaluyong JAPANESE retail store Muji is opening its largest Philippine store in the first quarter this year at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong.

The branch is an expansion of the Muji store in the mall that closed for renovation in September. Once it reopens, the 400-square meter outlet will feature a 1,400-square meter retail space that will house new specialty products and services exclusively available at the branch.

Muji Shangri-La Plaza store will showcase various textures and natural materials such as old wood and metal. With its larger space, the brand, known for its minimalist products, will have around 4,000 items available under health and beauty, stationery, travel, kitchenware, houseware, furniture, and electronics categories, as well as men’s and women’s apparel, children’s wear, innerwear, bags, shoes, and accessories.

The expanded store will house Muji Labo, the brand’s unisex clothing line; the first Muji water refilling station where customers can refill their Muji water bottle (to be available in store at P160) for free; and free consultation services for furniture, storage, interior coordination, styling coordination, and product recommendations provided by Muji Advisors.

It will also feature the Open Muji area where the brand will showcase concepts and house activities as well as serve as the venue for Muji Advisor-led workshops. Muji will reintroduce its bestsellers at better prices with its Price Review campaign.

Customers can refill their Muji water bottle for free at the refilling station in the ShangriLa branch.

The largest Philippine store of Muji will carry the brand’s unisex clothing line, Muji Labo.

The filter sheets capture up to 93 percent of PM2.5 particles according to a test conducted by 3M.

How to protect your family from allergens ENSURING the air quality at home is at a high level has become a priority as many families now spend most of their time in.

Allergens and pollutants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, and fumes from household chemicals can accumulate inside the house. According to a science company, some of these allergens are trapped in air conditioners and spread around each time the units are switched on.

An innovation for the home, 3M offers air cleaning filter sheets said to capture 93 percent of PM2.5 particles and outperform ordinary AC screens by at least 60 times.

According to Lai Mei Yip, Command and HEM portfolio manager of 3M, the 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets work effectively by pulling in and trapping the allergens and small particles, so the air conditioner delivers cleaner air. “It addresses the common household dust, pollen, dust mite debris, mold pores, and pet dander.”

Each pack contains four 8x13 sheets and two filter-change Koala indicators that turn black to notify users when it’s time to change the AC filters.

To install the 3M Air Cleaning

Filter Sheets, remove and clean the plastic mesh screen that comes with the air conditioner unit; cut the filter sheets following the shape and size of the built-in plastic mesh screen; place the 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets vertically onto the center of the plastic mesh screens (allow gaps on each side); use the double-faced adhesive tape to attach the filters to the mesh screens; and install the plastic mesh screens with 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets back into the air conditioner.

The filter must be replaced once every one to three months.

Science company 3M offers air conditioner filter sheets that trap allergens and other small particles to ensure they are not recirculated inside.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 || advertise@manilastandard.net

BENDING BUT NOT BREAKING

The Philippine banking system swaying through the COVID-19 pandemic

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HE Philippine banking system showed strength, flexibility and balance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier.

“It will sway back to a robust, positive trajectory once the pandemic is over,” Fonacier said, likening the BSP-supervised Philippine banking system to the resilient bamboo grass.

In a presentation on the state of the Philippine banking system at the 15th J.P. Morgan Philippine Conference on Jan. 28, 2021, the BSP official highlighted three key industry indicators where the banking system held its ground.

First, bank assets’ share to the country’s gross domestic product during the third quarter of 2020 reached a new record high of 102.2 percent.

“This means that banks have more than enough resources to support the country’s financing needs,” Fonacier explained.

A second indicator is the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) of universal and commercial banks and their subsidiary banks and quasibanks, which Fonacier said remained above the regulatory minimum of 100.0 percent.

She added that the minimum liquidity ratios of stand-alone thrift banks and rural and cooperative banks surpassed the 20.0 percent minimum.

Lastly, the banks’ capital adequacy ratios remained above minimum thresholds set by the BSP at 10.0 percent and the Bank for International Settlements at 8.0 percent.

Fonacier, however, pointed out that despite the continued strength of the banking system, the BSP remains vigilant of threats caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular, the banking industry’s non-performing loans (NPLs) surged by 73.6 percent as of end-November 2020 versus 27.7 percent in the same period last year. NPLs largely stemmed from loans to

Clean Water key in the fight against COVID-19

By Peter Paul Duran WITH the fight against the dreaded COVID-19 virus reaching its crescendo, we are finally seeing giant leaps of progress in finally quelling the pandemic.

We may see medical frontliners in full gear as the faces of this battle against the coronavirus, but at the forefront of keeping the world a healthy place amid this crisis is the water industry which ensures a steady flow of an essential resource pivotal in combating the global pandemic.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier

individuals for consumption purposes, real estate activities, and wholesale and retail trade.

“The BSP will continue to use its tools at its disposal, including the use of stress testing, scenario analysis and even the latest supervisory technology, to ascertain the true status of the financial system. This will enable us to proactively adopt or calibrate the necessary measures as warranted,” Fonacier said.

To address concerns on the banking system’s asset quality, the BSP strongly supports the enactment of the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act and the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act. The FIST ACT is meant to assist financial institutions offload their debts and manage their pandemic-affected non-performing assets. Meanwhile, the GUIDE Act aims to strengthen the capacity of government financial institutions in providing the needed assistance to micro-, small and medium enterprises, and other strategically important companies.

“The challenge for all of us here today is in the manner by which we, as a community, ‘sway’ challenges into opportunities.

Together, let us bring about a sound, pliable, and stable next-level financial system into the post-COVID-19 era,” Fonacier concluded.

LWUA acting administrator Jeci A. Lapus

With 532 operational water districts serving communities in the countryside, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) made huge strides during the lockdown to bring an uninterrupted supply of safe and clean water in the regions.

“The water industry is in the forefront of the fight against COVID 19 because it supplies the water needed for hand washing and bathing, cleaning of utensils, equipment and premises

to fight the virus, and prevent infection and transmission of the disease” said LWUA administrator Jeci Lapus in an interview with Manila Standard.

“Access to clean water and sanitation is, therefore, a critical element to protect human health during the pandemic,” he added.

According to the agency, the water sector needs to address the growing demand for access to clean water, not only during this pandemic but because of the demand of the significant increase in population, especially in fast-emerging provincial urban centers.

With the effects of pandemic still present, more challenges added to this roadblock, including limited funding and hampered infrastructure projects amid the lockdown.

Banking on a seven-point strategy, LWUA streamlined its services from top to bottom, rallying to help its water districts facing headwinds in the time of COVID, which included a moratorium on loan payments and utilization of funds to ease 33 water districts’ operational expenses nationwide amounting to P633M. But these measures can only do so much, that’s why Lapus has been drumbeating for some time now the drive for an agency establishing a national framework of water resource management.

“The main role of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is to ensure safe, adequate, reliable, and affordable water supply for our people and ensure good governance and effective regulation of the water service,” Lapus explained.

As of December 2020, the funding provision of the bill seeking to create the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has already been approved by the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.

The bill seeks a P2-billion fund for the creation of the new department. Under the bill, the new Department shall be the primary national agency responsible for the planning, policy formulation, and management of water resources in the country.

B8 || THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 advertise@manilastandard.net

The catalytic role of e-payments in digital financial inclusion

By BSP Gov. Benjamin E. Diokno their needs and context. As previously THE year 2020 was something we did not see coming. Within eight months from the onset of the pandemic, we were forced to change gears and find ways to navigate a new world. A thread of hope in this seemingly daunting new economy is the emergence of compelling cases to use digital financial services, especially e-payments. From our perspective in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), retail e-payment instruments are a critical prerequisite for Filipino citizens, especially the financially unserved and underserved sectors, to avail of opportunities for recovery and growth.

A basic measure of financial inclusion is account ownership, which has shown improvement as the number of Filipinos with accounts rose from 23% in 2017 to 29% in 2019. The BSP however recognizes that more still needs to be done. While people cite “perceived lack of utility” as among their top reasons in choosing not to open an account, most Filipinos, regardless of economic status, actually engage in payment transactions.

Payments can drive people to open an account—enabling them to experience its utility for e-payments as a more convenient alternative to cash transactions. This pandemic has provided impetus for Filipinos to gravitate from cash to digital.

The benefits of e-payments are significant for sectors who also need them most: wage earners, microentrepreneurs and beneficiaries of government programs. Through electronic fund transfers (EFT), they can promptly and safely receive salaries, pension, social security benefits, and other types of financial assistance such as those provided under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Microentrepreneurs who are able to accept e-payments are also able to expand their market and client base.

Individuals and small businesses likewise build transaction histories as they use e-payments. These histories can support access to financial products, like credit, that are more responsive to

unbanked users become more comfortable with e-payments, they can eventually be onboarded to use other value-adding financial services like savings, investments and insurance. In essence, e-payments can jumpstart and catalyze financial inclusion.

The BSP encourages adoption and usage of e-payments as it supports the achievement of one of our key strategic objectives—digital financial inclusion. The BSP envisions a new economy characterized by universal, democratized access by all Filipinos to a wide range of financial services, through a digitally connected ecosystem of responsible and responsive financial institutions, whether banks or nonbanks.

The BSP is confident that we are on our way toward achieving this vision, not least in part due to the pandemic-induced necessities. EFTs grew at 87% in volume and 42% in value before and during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Around four million new accounts were opened digitally from March 17 to April 30, 2020, the height of the ECQ. The account-based distribution of benefits under the government’s Social Amelioration Program resulted in the opening of millions of new accounts. The disbursement of financial assistance under the Social Security System’s (SSS) Small Business Wage Subsidy Program through PESONet benefited over three million employees of MSMEs affected by the pandemic.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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Reopening expected to lift economy from deep slump T

HE Philippine economy is expected to rebound from the 9.5-percent contraction in 2020, the deepest slump on record, as it resumes reopening of businesses on expectations that the arrival of vaccines would stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the gross domestic product sank 9.5 percent in 2020, despite the shallower contraction of 8.3 percent in the fourth quarter on the prolonged impact of the health crisis.

Meanwhile, the gross national income, which was formerly known as GNP, decreased by 12 percent in the fourth quarter and 11.1 percent in the whole of 2020, after the net primary income from the rest of the world went down by 53.2 percent in the fourth quarter and by 27.3 percent in 2020.

Following the release of latest economic data, the National Economic and Development Authority updated the 2017-2022 Philippine Development Plan, the country’s economic blueprint.

Under the updated PDP presented

by NEDA Undersecretary for policy and planning Rose Edillon, economic managers retained the 2021 GDP growth target at 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent.

The government slightly adjusted the 2022 GDP growth target to a range of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent from 8 percent to 10 percent announced last year by the Development Budget Coordination Committee.

“It is important to keep in mind that the emergence of new threats has only reinforced our commitment to our collective vision. Our long-term vision remains the same and has even become more pronounced now. We will manage this crisis and recover as quickly as possible,” said Edillon.

The gross national income is expected to expand by 5 percent to 6 percent for both 2021 and 2022, after contracting 12.3 percent in 2020.

NEDA also revised the poverty incidence target to a range of 15.5 percent to 17.5 percent from the previous goal of 13 percent to 15 percent. Unemployment rate is expected at 7 percent to 9 percent for both 2021 and 2022, lower than the

average of 10.2 percent in 2020, but higher than the pre-pandemic level of 5.1 percent in 2019.

Meanwhile, the inflation rate target was maintained at 2 percent to 4 percent in 2021.

“We realize that many obstacles may come at any time between now and 2040. COVID-19 may just be one of these. It is important to quickly reclaim lost ground, ensure sustainability of the gains to prevent a reversal, and get back on track towards achieving AmBisyon Natin 2040,” Edillon said.

“The reality today is that the virus is not going to go away soon, and we will have to learn to live with it. We need to safely open our economy and address both COVID and non-COVID challenges—such as hunger, poverty,

unemployment, and non-COVID-19 diseases,” said acting Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua.

“Our focus for the next two years is to build a healthy and more resilient Philippines as the foundation for the future. Our goal remains the same: to bring Filipinos closer to a strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life. To achieve this, the Updated PDP’s strategies have been adapted to respond to the needs of today while preparing for the requirements of tomorrow,” said Chua.

Chua said the pandemic last year disrupted the country’s growth momentum. “We started 2020 with a strong foundation and the country was likely to become an upper-middle income country in 2020 if not for COVID-19. Between 2015 and 2018,

poverty fell from 23.5 percent to 16.7 percent of the population, lifting six million Filipinos from poverty, or four years ahead of our 2022 target,” he said.

He said key reforms, such as the Rice Tariffication Law, helped stabilize inflation within the government’s target of 2 percent to 4 percent, while the comprehensive tax reform program expanded the fiscal resources, pushing the revenue-to-GDP ratio to 16.1 percent in 2019 and reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio to 39.6 percent.

“Then came COVID-19. This disrupted our growth momentum and development trajectory. To address this unprecedented crisis, the government made the difficult decision of imposing community quarantines last year up to this year as it put a premium on saving

lives and protecting communities from the virus, while beefing up our healthcare capacity. This is, of course, not without any consequence,” he said.

Chua said that with border restrictions in the second quarter of 2020, the GDP fell by 16.9 percent and the unemployment rate climbed to 17.7 percent. Improvements followed the gradual easing of restrictions in the succeeding quarters.

“By the fourth quarter of 2020, our economy performed better with a smaller GDP contraction of 8.3 percent while unemployment rate dropped to 8.7 percent. This performance brings our full-year GDP contraction to 9.5 percent, which is at the low end of the DBCC estimate of -8.5 to -9.5 percent for 2020,” Chua said.

Speedy vaccine rollout will win the war against COVID-19 THE vaccine rollout is a critical element in the full opening the Philippine economy. It is the starting point or ground zero that will culminate in achieving herd immunity and the return to normalcy.

Inoculating the entire Filipino population is not by any means an easy task. One has to plan and organize people to do the job. Identifying the logistics requirements to carry out the vaccination task is another thing.

The most crucial factor in the vaccine rollout, of course, is the speed by which we want to accomplish the objective. How soon can we establish a herd immunity to finally and effectively contain the virus infection should be guiding factor of the vaccine program.

Building herd immunity quickly by region should be the main task of vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez

Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. The herd immunity will reduce the COVID-19 spread as the non-immune people will have lesser chances of getting infected by those who have already received the jabs.

From the looks of it, local government units and the private sector on its own will spearhead the vaccine drive. The two sectors have the resources, or money, to implement the vaccine rollout. LGUs in the early stages of the pandemic were relatively successful in distributing food packs or relief goods to the needy and to those who were displaced by COVID-19.

The private sector, meanwhile, has the wherewithal to fund the inoculation starting with their workers. It will be in the interest of big private companies to initiate the vaccine drive. Inoculation holds the key to fully reopening the

A health worker is vaccinated with the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine on February 7, 2021 at the Mignot Hospital in Le Chesnay near Paris. The top French medical authority Haute Autorite de Sante has approved the vaccine for use in France, but only for people under 65, echoing decisions made in Sweden, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland over concerns about a lack of data on the effectiveness of the vaccine for over 65s. AFP

economy.

As to the choice of vaccines, LGUs and the private sector have the freedom to select which dose is apt for their respective constituents and employees. The vaccines of USbased Pfizer and Moderna require expensive cold storage, which urban centers like Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao can afford. On the other hand, China’s Sinovac, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Novavax do not require ultra-cold storage.

Distributing the vaccine to the majority of the population as soon as possible is, indeed, a big challenge to the government of President Rodrigo Duterte. He must mobilize the entire government machinery, including the military, in the campaign to ensure the success of the program. It is time to win the war against COVID-19.

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PH on the verge of coinless society T

HE Philippines is on the verge of becoming a coinless society, according to an information technology executive.

Digital payments are becoming the preferred mode of settlement of Filipinos, as the government promoted cashless transactions as part of the health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

Paymaya Philippines Inc. founder and chief executive Orlando Vea said cashless modes of payment―which include e-Wallets such as PayMaya, cards and bank transfers―most likely reached a tipping point in 2020 when more than 50 percent of online shopping transaction value were paid through cashless means, based on data from Google, Temasek, Bain & Company, Euromonitor and PayMaya.

“From cash-on-delivery, today COD now means cashless orders and delivery. In 2020 alone, we processed over P95 billion worth of online shopping transactions across all of our platforms, which only shows that consumer preference for cashless payments and online REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES shopping is overwhelmingly present,” Vea said.

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“Consumers are now used to ordering online or via their phones and paying via cashless, and many businesses have accelerated their migration to digital, so there’s no turning back now when it comes to digital payments and e-Commerce in the Philippines,” he said.

PayMaya is an end-to-end digital payment ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities and government.

PayMaya saw marked increase in the number of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises utilizing its cashless payments solutions as many of them migrated or began their operations online―with DTI recording as many as 900,000 newly registered business for the entire 2020.

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 28 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 200,000 digital touch points nationwide, the widest network in the country.

Meanwhile, GCash, the mobile wallet of Globe Telecom Inc., said it recorded over P1 trillion in transactions in 2020, a 254-percent growth from 2019.

The service peaked to P7.5 billion in daily gross transaction value, and more than 6 million transactions a day. Customer base ballooned to more than 33 million―a third of the Philippines population―from 20 million in 2019.

“The remarkable growth GCash experienced this year shows that Filipinos have embraced financial technology. People have realized that fintech isn’t just an option but a necessity, allowing them to fulfill their financial lifestyle conveniently,” GCash president and chief executive Martha Sazon said.

Sazon attributed the exponential growth of the mobile wallet firm to people’s readiness to shift to cashless payments. Consumers found fintech a necessity during the pandemic, she said.

The growth is driven by an unprecedented surge in usage in GCash to GCash money transfers, bank transfers, online and offline cash-in services, and bills payments, all of which have become necessities during the pandemic.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the country is on track to achieving its goal of having a coinless society by 2025, especially with the increase in digital transactions that are evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diokno said in an online briefing the BSP pursues a phased digital transformation wherein the country would transition from a cash-heavy, to cash-lite and eventually a coinless and ESSAGE ROM HE cashless society.

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Your legacy in news reporting SMALL businesses, many of which were forced to shut down in the first three months has definitely resonated in of pandemic, are beginning to show recovery. everyone’s lives and has touched A survey commissioned Since 1987, and by the Philippine many people throughout the the Manila Standard has been a responsible Exporters Confederation Inc. shows that micro, years. You have come a long media institution. It has immensely contributed small and medium enterprises are gradually dependable coping with the new business trend despite the way, and it has not been the halts and in shutdowns in 2020. towards strengthening the pillars of democracy our easiest journey, but your The survey, conducted in January 2021, commitmentsociety to abide in truthful found out thatand businesses were keen on by delivering timely information, fair reporting, observing government-mandated public and sincere news writing has which not only helped in the become thesharp foundation that commentary.

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celebrates its 34th anniversary of reliable service to the Filipino nation.

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housewares, metals, textiles and tourism.

According to the survey, 90.9 percent of the firms were operating at a certain capacity while 9.1 percent were temporarily closed.

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d the staff, journalists, and media persons who have contributed towards this paper. May your independent and responsible voice continue to be ny years to come.

reported that the situation of their respective firms was similar to last year while 12.1 percent answered that their situation was better than last year.

About 69.7 percent of respondents said difficulties in coordinating with supply/ value chains was the topmost reason why firms experienced operational slowdown/ shutdown last year.

This was followed by difficulty in transportation with 48.5 percent; insufficient manpower, 30.3 percent; lack of access to financing 27.3 percent; not allowed to operate, 21.2 percent; and absence of business continuity plans, 9.1 percent.

It was also revealed that the higher cost or insufficiency of raw materials was a major reason some firms were not yet fully operational as of this time.

On the issue of employment, majority or 57.6 percent of the respondents reported no lay-offs while 42.4 percent confirmed having laid off employees either temporarily or permanently. Some 244 employees who were laid off permanently, while 228 were laid off temporarily among the survey participants.

The survey also found that access to financial resources/funding from the government, which may also come in the form of grants, is the primary assistance most of the respondents need from the government.

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Gov’t moves to enhance logistics and connectivity T

HE government unveiled its plan to improve logistics and connectivity to steer the Philippine economy towards recovery.

Logistics—or the flow of commodities from production sites to households—nearly collapsed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic after the government closed its borders to contain the spread of the disease, resulting in the shortage of products in the market.

This was remedied by the easing of the quarantine restrictions in the following weeks that allowed cargo ships and trucks to resume operations. However, partial restrictions continued, keeping the flow of goods below the pre-pandemic level.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that merchandise exports contracted by 10.1 percent in 2020 to $63.77 billion from $70.926 billion in 2019, while imports posted a deeper decline of 23.28 percent to $85.606 billion from $111.593 billion.

The National Economic and Development Authority said the government will prioritize the safe opening of the economy, connectivity and logistics reforms to bring down cost and improve competitiveness of the trade sector amid the pandemic.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Philippine Competition Commission recently launched two reports under the OECD’s Fostering Competition in ASEAN Project–the OECD Competition Assessment Review of the Logistics Sector in the Philippines and the OECD Competitive Neutrality Reviews: Small-package delivery services in the Philippines.

“This study on the logistics sector is very timely as the pandemic restricted the flow of goods in the domestic and global supply chains and exacerbated the issues in the Philippine logistics industry, which was already lagging behind its ASEAN neighbors even before COVID-19,” said acting Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua.

The virtual launch was attended by British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce, Deputy Director of the Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs of the OECD Antonio Gomes, acting head of the OECD Competition Division Antonio Capobianco, ASEAN Secretariat Deputy Secretary General Aladdin Rillo and PCC Chairman Arsenio Balisacan.

The event disseminated the key results and recommendations of the two reports to raise awareness about the importance of having a level playing field for all firms, regardless of ownership.

“Despite the country’s improved ranking in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index from 71st place in 2016 to 60th place in 2018, more work is needed to upgrade our logistics system to approach that of our neighbors—for instance, Hong Kong and Singapore,” the NEDA chief said.

According to the latest available data from the Department of Trade and Industry and the World Bank, logistics costs in the Philippines accounted for 27.2 percent of sales of manufacturing firms in 2017.

Meanwhile, foreign direct investment data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that the share of FDI in transport and storage averaged only 0.6 percent of total FDI recorded in the period 2014-2019.

To address the issues in the logistics sector, the government enacted significant landmark measures, including the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 and the National Competition Policy through a joint memorandum circular issued by NEDA and PCC. The administration is also investing in more infrastructure projects by continuing the “Build, Build, Build” program. The 2021 budget of P4.5 trillion includes P1.1 trillion allocated for infrastructure spending.

Chua said the National Logistics Master Plan 2017-2022 would be updated to further improve efficiency of the national logistics system.

The Master Plan highlights the regulations needed to boost the performance of logistics

components such as customs procedures, port operations and transportation connectivity.

The NEDA chief also highlighted the pending measures that are immediately doable to attract more investments in the logistics sector.

“We urge our legislators to swiftly pass the amendments to the Public Service Act, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Foreign Investment Act. All these are crucial in enhancing competition and creating more and better jobs in the country, especially the logistics sector, and crucial for the economic recovery

from COVID-19,” he said.

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PH far from a financial crisis despite last year’s recession

T

HE Philippines is far from a financial crisis that bedeviled it in the mid-80s and the late 90s despite last year’s deep economic recession.

There is no such debt moratorium that emerged from the years leading to the People Power revolution in 1986 and the Philippines has enough dollar reserves to stem a foreign exchange crisis that engulfed Southeast Asia in 1997. There is no loss of business confidence, either. Investor sentiment remains positive, with many businessmen merely postponing their expansion plans and treating the pandemic a temporary aberration.

Even the negative factors in the economy are a blessing in disguise.

A sharp decline in the country’s trade deficit has enabled the country’s balance of payments to post a huge surplus and the gross international reserves to hit a new record level in 2020.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that the merchandise trade deficit shrank by nearly $19 billion, or 46 percent, in 2020 to $21.839 billion from $40.666 billion in 2019, as the drop in imports was faster than the decline in exports last year amid the pandemic.

The narrower deficit allowed the economy to post a BOP surplus of $16 billion and a gross international reserves of $110.12 billion in 2020, amid the challenging global environment

highlighted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed the BOP posted a surplus of $4.24 billion in December 2020, up from the $1.57-billion surplus recorded in December 2019.

“The BOP surplus in December 2020 reflected inflows mainly from the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and income from its investments abroad, and national government’s foreign currency deposits with the BSP of proceeds from its issuance of ROP Global Bonds,” the BSP said in a statement.

These inflows were partly offset by the national government’s

payments of foreign currency debt obligations, the BSP said. “With the December outturn, the full-year 2020 BOP surplus reached an alltime high of $16.02 billion. This level is more than two times higher compared with the $7.84 billion BOP surplus recorded in 2019,” it said.

The central bank said the higher net foreign borrowings by the government and lower merchandise trade deficit, along with sustained net inflows from personal remittances, foreign direct investments and trade in services, accounted for the favorable performance in 2020.

The BOP position reflects

an increase in the final gross international reserves level of $110.12 billion as of end-December, compared with $104.82 billion as of end-November 2020.

“The latest GIR level represents an adequate external liquidity buffer, which can help cushion the domestic economy against external shocks.

This is equivalent to 11.8 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income,” the BSP said.

The reserves are about 9.5 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.4 times based on residual maturity.

The BSP expects the balance of

payments to post a surplus of $3.4 billion this year.

The strong BOP surplus, supported by narrowing trade deficit, allowed the peso to gain more than 5 percent against the US dollar last year. The local currency was stable at 48 against the greenback in January 2021.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the merchandise trade deficit declined by 46 percent in 2020. Exports contracted 10.1 percent in 2020 to $63.77 billion from $70.926 billion in 2019, while imports posted a deeper decline of 23.3 percent to $85.606 billion from $111.593 billion.

Southeast Asia’s dynamic economies reel from COVID SOUTHEAST Asia, the world’s most vibrant economic region until COVID-19 struck, has completely reversed its growth pattern. After years of spectacular growth rates, the individual economies of Southeast Asian nations are contracting―with tourism and trade slumping due to restricted global travel and reduced consumption.

The Asian Development Bank last year saw the Philippine economy shrinking 8.5 percent last year (it actually contracted 95 percent) on the prolonged impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the deepest contraction among Southeast Asian economies this year.

The rest of the region are also not doing well. Thailand’s economy was poised to contract 7.8 percent, while Singapore would shrink 6.2 percent.

Malaysia and Indonesia were projected to slump 6 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. The ADB had expected Vietnam as the only country escaping the region’s recession with a growth of 2.3 percent.

ADB had predicted Southeast Asia’s economies to decline 4.4 percent overall in 2020.

The COVID-19 outbreak and the ensuing containment measures have taken their toll on the economies of Southeast Asia. Even the anticipated rebound in 2021 is less rosy as predicted by the ADB. Southeast Asia is now expected to expand 5.2 percent next year compared to the 5.5-percent growth the bank forecast in September.

Southeast Asia’s economic recovery in 2021 will hinge on how fast the region can gain access to effective vaccines that are now being distributed in Europe and the US. The developed nations are getting the first shot at the vaccines, along with Russia and China.

The population of most of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, will likely receive inoculation sometime in the first quarter of 2021. This region, in the meantime, will have to continue enforcing restrictions on travel and the economy as a whole while waiting for the widespread immunization.

The same quarantine restrictions will surely be eased over the near-term period as the vaccination program progresses in Southeast Asia. The economies in the region will reopen further and only then can we expect the anticipated rebound in Southeast Asia.

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Strong peso helps steady inflation

T

HE economic recession in 2020 would have translated into a weak currency—the usual barometer of a nation in crisis. But far from it, the Philippine peso has strengthened and weathered the pandemic storm.

The peso advanced more than 5 percent against the US dollar in 2020, helping tame inflation rate, especially the prices of sensitive imported products such as food and petroleum.

It was one of the most stable Asian currencies last year despite the headwinds from the domestic and global fronts, especially the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Department of Finance.

“The Philippine peso remained firm, appreciating from year-end 2019 level. In 2020, the Philippine peso was in the middle of the pack among the nine currencies in Asia that maintained their value against the US dollar,” the DOF said.

The peso appreciated 5.18 percent against the US dollar last year, or in the middle of the pack of nine Asian currencies, including the Taiwan dollar, Chinese yuan, Taiwan dollar, Korean won and Japanese yen, which rose 6.33 percent, 6.26 percent, 6.07 percent, and 4.94 percent, respectively.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the peso remained resilient and stable amid the pandemic. “The local currency has also performed better compared to other Southeast Asian currencies and appreciated vis-à-vis the US dollar along with the Chinese yuan, Taiwanese dollar, South Korean won, and the Japanese yen, year-to-date,” Diokno said.

He cited analysts’ expectation that the peso would remain strong in the near term and maintain its resilience as one of Asia’s topperforming currencies.

“The peso’s strength can be attributed to sound macroeconomic fundamentals characterized by a benign inflation environment, a strong and resilient banking system, prudent fiscal position and a sufficient level of international reserve buffer,” said Diokno.

The peso was stable at 48 against the dollar in January 2021.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi-

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno

nas would likely allow the peso to sustain its appreciation against the greenback in 2021 to offset the expected uptick in inflation rate.

“In 2021, the peso is on an appreciation path, helped by the current Fed stance and also as import demand fades sharply due to the pandemic, in stark contrast to 2018 wherein imports ballooned to historical highs,” Mapa said.

He said as the BSP would likely continue to keep its eye fixed on the growth objective given the dire needs of the economy and ruling out early rate hikes in 2021, the only card it could play to combat inflation in 2021 would be to let the currency appreciate.

“With BSP not likely open to hiking rates this time around as it would derail what little growth momentum left in the economy, perhaps if ever BSP would be forced into action, allowing the currency to appreciate would be their only play available,” he said.

Inflation picked up to a two-year high of 4.2 percent in January from 3.5 percent in December 2020 because of the uptick in food prices and transport costs, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

The January print breached the inflation target band of 2 percent to 4 percent set by the BSP for 2021 and was the fastest price increase in two years since it hit 4.4 percent in January 2019.

The faster inflation in January 2021 was driven by the increase in the price indices for food items, particularly meat and vegetables.

Food inflation accelerated to 6.6 percent, while non-food inflation was unchanged from the previous month at 2.3 percent.

Meanwhile, faster price adjustments were also recorded in restaurants, miscellaneous goods and services, and transport.

NEDA: Economy must reopen further to create jobs for millions of Filipinos THERE is no doubt COVID-19 and the government-imposed lockdowns took their toll on the labor sector. Millions of Filipinos have lost their jobs since the lockdowns took effect in mid-March last year.

The latest unemployment report issued by the government is a mix of bad and good news. Joblessness in the country as of October 2020 is not as bad as it was in July―it has gone down―but the number of unemployed is higher by 2 million compared with the figure in the same period a year ago.

The pandemic obviously contributed a lot to the rising unemployment in the Philippines. Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Karl Kendrick Chua remains upbeat, though. He sees the latest results of the quarterly Labor Force Survey as further signs of economic recovery.

The reopening of the economy led to an improvement in the unemployment rate but Mr. Chua noted that the number could have been lower if the economy were opened further “coupled with the provision of safe and sufficient public transport.”

The unemployment rate in the country improved to 8.7 percent in October from 10 percent in July and 17.6 percent in April.

The Philippine

Statistics Authority reported that about 3.8 million Filipinos were unemployed as of October, down from 4.57 million in July and 7.23 million in April. However, it was higher than the 2 million jobless individuals in October 2019 when the unemployment rate settled at 4.6 percent.

The statistical agency reported that there were 800,000 million less unemployed workers in October compared with the July survey, but the labor force participation rate fell to 58.7 percent in October from 61.9 percent in July.

The four successive typhoons that battered the country in October and heavy flooding caused a significant employment loss in the agriculture sector. About 1.1 million lost jobs in the agriculture sector in the latter half of October, or about 70 percent of the 1.5 million total recorded between July and October this year.

Quarantine restrictions, meanwhile, are still contributing significantly to the high number of jobless persons. Workers in the provinces, for one, face difficulty in returning to their jobs given the current inter-province transport restrictions.

These mobility constraints contributed to 500,000 jobs lost in the industry sector.

Reopening the economy further in the face of declining COVID-19 cases is the only solution to the high unemployment rate. Transport restrictions can be eased as long as strict enforcement of the health protocols are observed.

National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Karl Kendrick Chua

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Rating agencies remain upbeat on PH

T

HE raging pandemic and the economic contraction have not made a dent in the Philippines’ credit worthiness. Foreign credit rating institutions have kept their confidence on the ability of the country to repay its debt.

Fitch Ratings affirmed in January 2021 the Philippines’ investment grade score of “BBB” with a stable outlook, citing the country’s resilience amid the global pandemic and strong growth outlook that may hit around 6.9 percent in 2021 and 8 percent in 2022.

“The affirmation of the Philippines’ ‘BBB’ rating and ‘stable’ outlook balances modest government debt levels relative to peers, robust external buffers and still-strong medium-term growth prospects, notwithstanding the deep pandemic-induced economic contraction, against relatively low per capita income levels and indicators of governance and human development compared to peers,” Fitch said.

It said the economic impact of the pandemic for the Philippines in 2020 was more significant than it had previously expected because of the local infection rate and government policy measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Fitch said efforts to contain the virus severely affected private consumption and investment, resulting in real gross domestic contracting by 10 percent

Department of Finance Secretary Carlos ‘Sonny’ Dominguez

year-on-year in the first nine months of 2020. It said full-year GDP likely contracted by 8.5 percent in 2020 (the economy shrank 9.5 percent last year), after accounting for an improvement in activity indicators in the fourth quarter.

Fitch said economic activity might continue to recover in the coming quarters. It projected GDP to expand by 6.9 percent and 8.0 percent in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“We estimate the general government deficit to

have widened to 6.9 percent of GDP in 2020 from 1.2 percent of GDP in 2019. We project the deficit to widen further to 7.7 percent in 2021, before narrowing to 6.6 percent in 2022.

Underlying the projections for 2021 are a central government deficit of 8.7 percent of GDP, up from an estimated 7.5 percent of GDP in 2020, as government expenditure aimed at supporting economic recovery is likely to remain high,” it said.

The wider deficits, it said, reflected the authorities’ policy response to COVID-19 under their four-pillar socio-economic strategy.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said he appreciated Fitch’s understanding of the Philippines’ credit and macroeconomic direction amid the global pandemic.

“For our part, the BSP was among the first central banks in the world to respond to the crisis with a policy rate cut as early as February last year.

We deemed it important to signal to the market that we were ready to act swiftly and decisively to buoy market confidence, as well as to ensure sufficient liquidity and efficient functioning of the financial system,” Diokno said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the affirmation of the Philippines’ “BBB” rating with a stable outlook showed that the country remained credit and investment-worthy throughout the global COVID-19 crisis.

“This is because, first, our strong economy on the Duterte watch gave us enough fiscal space to deal with the unprecedented health and economic crises.

Second, there is a whole-of-government approach

in saving lives, protecting communities and livelihoods, and providing relief to the hardest hit families, workers, and businesses,” Dominguez said.

Japan Credit Rating Agency in June even upgraded the Philippines’ credit rating by a notch from BBB+ to A-, citing the country’s resilience amid a pandemic that has slowed down growth, impaired fiscal positions and hurt credit ratings of economies across the globe.

JCR assigned a “stable” outlook on the new rating, which indicates that the “A-” would be maintained over the near term. JCR said the decision came on the back of its assessment that the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the domestic economy and the government’s fiscal standing would be temporary, given the country’s strong fundamentals going into the crisis, the massive relief measures and the pursuit of important legislation such as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act under the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

Diokno said JCR’s assignment of an A- rating to the Philippines reflected the agency’s confidence that the Philippines was pursuing appropriate policies to help Filipino individuals, businesses and the economy at large to recover from the unprecedented crisis.

While we have temporarily veered our attention away from the Road to A agenda because our focus at the moment is on saving lives, jobs, and livelihoods, we welcome positive assessments from international observers like JCR. We hope this helps to uplift the Filipino spirit at this trying time and to inspire us to work harder together to emerge stronger after the pandemic, Diokno said.

Consumer spending is the economy’s weakest link THE economy’s slump in 2020 is not unexpected. With COVID-19 restricting travel and the movement of people, and forcing the closure of many business establishments, the economy contracted by 9.5 percent for the full of 2020.

The partial reopening of the economy obviously is not enough to reverse the tide. Fourth-quarter figures show the story of the economy. Construction sank 25.3 percent, other services tumbled 45.2 percent and accommodation and food service activities slumped 42.7 percent. Philippines exports declined 10.5 percent, while imports plunged 18.8 percent―the telltale signs of reduced economic activities.

The retail and tourism sectors, along with construction, suffered the brunt of the pandemic. With air travel and local border restrictions, hotels and resort facilities cannot operate viably. Many of them are forced to cease operations.

The same is true with thousands of retail and fast-food outlets. Office workers that frequent these establishments are nowhere to be found. There is no consumer spending that can fuel the economy.

Acting Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua noted that the prevailing stay-at-home orders on children were also stalling the economic recovery. Parents and their children often visit shopping malls and dine in fast-food restaurants. The absence of this routine has curtailed spending in the economy and is directly contributing to unemployment in the services sector.

A contraction in the economy simply means more jobs are being lost in the pandemic. The United Nations took note of the situation. The UN’s International Labor Organization found that 8.8 percent of global working hours were lost in 2020 compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. The rate is equivalent to 255 million full-time jobs, or “approximately four times greater than the number lost during the 2009 global financial crisis,” according to the ILO. The key to economic recovery, thus, is the lifting or easing of the virus restrictions that have shuttered many retail outlets, closed down tourism establishments and impaired the mobility of people. Consumer spending should return to open a bottled-up economy.

TURNING PORTS INTO TURNING POINTS These are trying times, but we are resilient, responsive.

Despite the many challenges in this unprecedented time, we continue to quickly and safely deliver basic goods, food, medicine and supplies.

With tireless, selfless men and women at the forefront, we are able to deliver essentials needed by societies and economies to heal and recover.

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Tourism rebound plan: International travel bubbles, domestic ‘revenge’ travels T

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

HE Philippines is eyeing a two-pronged approach to revive the tourism industry after it was brought to a standstill by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures that were implemented to arrest the spread of the mutating coronavirus.

The government is looking to establish partnerships to create “international travel bubbles” or “travel corridors” with neighboring countries while on the domestic front, it has rolled out a recalibrated portfolio of products such as nature-based tourism, dive tourism, farm tourism, and health and wellness tourism, among others.

“We are turning this setback caused by the pandemic as an opportunity to bounce back better as a stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable industry,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told Manila Standard in an interview.

Asean: Single tourism destination As air travel remains highly restricted and with COVID-19 vaccines rolling out at an uneven pace, Puyat said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations forged a

Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework in November that would allow reciprocal travel with testing but without quarantine for select groups from areas with controlled community transmission.

During last week’s recently-concluded Asean Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, the bloc likewise affirmed measures to promote the region as a single tourism destination to bolster recovery.

Asean member-states suffered a decrease of approximately 75.8 percent in tourism receipts, while international arrivals went down by approximately 80.5 percent.

“We can only successfully recover from the pandemic if we do so in unity, guided by data and information that lead to effective planning,” Puyat told her counterparts in Asean during the meeting.

Among the new Asean priority programs are the digitization of the tourism industry, the strengthening of data and information networks, and the conduct of activities to promote connectivity and facilitate travel to and within the region.

Pivot toward domestic travel “The travel bubble or travel corridor approach is the initial strategy in reopening destinations and borders both domestically and internationally. We are starting tourism bubbles domestically. The Department

of Tourism is working closely with various line agencies responsible for making this arrangement possible,” Puyat said.

“Our goal remains the same – to pivot towards domestic tourism which has always been the backbone of the tourism industry. With the country’s 7,641 islands and a resilient tourism industry, the country is well-poised to pivot and conform to these new market preferences,” she added.

The DOT has created a number of tourism corridors in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1, Region 4A, and Region 4B for domestic tourists in the Philippines. Baguio, for example, is open to domestic tourists provided they undergo the usual entry protocols, online registration and triage evaluation upon arrival.

The Ridge & Reef Travel Corridor was established in September as an effort to slowly, surely, and responsibly restart the tourism economy. The corridor initially consists of travel between the Ilocos Region and Baguio City, with entry limited to its residents. For the initiative’s second phase, which is to open Region 1 provinces to residents of neighboring regions, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte have widened their market to allow Luzon residents entry in November following strict border entry requirements and proper health

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Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat

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Tourism of tomorrow: Green, sustainable and digital

File photo shows people safely celebrating the arrival of spring at Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi inside transparent, igloo-shaped domes surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms. Tokyo Midtown

S COUNTRIES scramble to bring about a return to relative normalcy with mass COVID-19 vaccination, the outlook for the tourism sector remains uncertain.

A

According to the Madrid-based World Tourism Organization, most experts do not see a return to pre-pandemic levels of tourism activity before 2023.

Open-air and nature-based tourism will see growing demand when tourism restarts, the United Nations body said, adding that domestic tourism is also expected to be more popular.

Already, domestic tourism is helping to soften the blow as governments – some more successful than others -- have taken immediate action to restore and re-activate the sector while protecting jobs and businesses.

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a more resilient tourism economy post-COVID must include preparing plans for a sustainable recovery, promoting a digital transition and moving to a greener tourism system.

“Encouraging news on vaccines has boosted hopes for recovery but challenges remain, with the sector expected to remain in survival mode until well into 2021,” OECD said.

“The crisis is an opportunity to rethink tourism for the future. Tourism is at a crossroads and the measures put in place today will shape the tourism of tomorrow.

Governments need to consider the longerterm implications of the crisis, while capitalizing on digitalization, supporting the low carbon transition, and promoting

the structural transformation needed to build a stronger, more sustainable and resilient tourism economy.”

The coronavirus crisis cost the global tourism sector $1.3 trillion in lost revenue in 2020 as the number of people travelling plunged, with the UN calling it “the worst year in tourism history.”

Revenue lost last year amounted to “more than 11 times the loss recorded during the 2009 global economic crisis,” the World Tourism Organization said, warning that between 100 million and 120 million direct tourism jobs were at risk.

International tourist arrivals fell by one billion, or 74 percent, in 2020 with Asia, the first region to feel the impact of COVID-19, seeing the steepest decline, it added.

“While much has been made in making safe international travel a possibility, we are aware that the crisis is far from over,” WTO head Zurab Pololikashvili said.

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is expected to “slowly normalize travel” this year but many countries are reintroducing travel restrictions such as quarantines, mandatory testing and border closures “due to the evolving nature of the pandemic,” the UN body said.

While international tourism has taken a hit from the outbreak of diseases in the past, the coronavirus is unprecedented in its geographical spread.

By comparison, international tourism arrivals fell by just 0.4 percent in 2003 after the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which killed 774 people worldwide.

The coronavirus has killed over 2 million people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019.

The tourism industry accounts for about 10 percent of the world’s gross domestic product and jobs. With AFP

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of Peru’s tourist sites, has reopened in November after a nearly eight-month lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. For safety reasons, however, only 675 tourists will be able to access the site per day, just 30 percent of the number of visitors pre-pandemic. AFP

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and safety protocols.

“The DOT Regional office is currently working alongside the local government units of La Union and Pangasinan to validate their readiness for tourism as they prepare to open their borders to Luzon residents within the 1st quarter of 2021,” Puyat said.

Calabarzon, on the other hand, is currently developing its flagship domestic tourism program called the G.R.E.E.N. Corridor Initiative.

Soul of the industry Puyat also underscored the importance of helping stakeholders in their effort to bounce back from the travel slump, including affording them access to working capital.

Under the Bayahinan to Recover as One Act, DOT was given P10.1 billion to help the tourism industry in its recovery.

Of the total amount, P6 billion was for working capital loans while P3 billion was allocated to help displaced tourism workers under a financial assistance program of the DOT and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Puyat said P1 billion will be spent for tourism road infrastructure while the remaining P100 million will be used to help community and regional tour guides.

“We also remain committed to our goal of keeping our stakeholders safe as they rediscover the fun in traveling in our own country. As such, we continue to make innovations that are targeted towards maintaining market presence, COVID-proofing the industry, and creating a brand new consciousness/awareness among stakeholders. We are hoping all these efforts will slowly uplift consumer confidence in the market in the coming months,” Puyat said.

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Cope and adapt: How PH hospitals deal with COVID-19 pandemic

By Bernadette Lunas

W

E ARE currently at war. In this war, the men and women leading the charge are wearing white coats and scrubs. Their armors are face masks, face shields, single-use coveralls, and strong immune system.

The fight against the invisible enemy is happening everywhere— on the streets, in malls and supermarkets, in cars and on buses and trains, at home—but the main battle, where every victory and defeat are added to the tally and reported on TV, takes place inside the white-painted walls and tiled floors of hospitals.

While we were scrambling and Googling about which side of the surgical mask should be on our face, our healthcare institutions had to quickly implement changes to their day-to-day operations, focusing on triage, designating hot zones, and obtaining test kits and personal protective equipment (PPEs). Protocols were immediately and strictly enforced to protect patients, healthcare workers, and the general public from the virus that has so far attacked over 500,000 here in the Philippines and taken the lives of more than 10,000.

Protocols in place Immediate action was necessary when Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) received the country’s first local COVID-19 case—a Filipino man who frequented a prayer hall in San Juan—before he was transferred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

“Upon confirmation of the case, the hospital management immediately took precautionary measures and made sure that all those who had contact with the patient have been processed following the Department of Health’s guidelines on quarantine, monitoring, and observation,” Dr. Rosemarie V. Serrano, senior assistant medical officer

Makati Medical Center

and head of CSMC’s COVID-19 Task Force, told Manila Standard.

The hospital then allocated 90 beds or 36 percent of total bed capacity for COVID-19 patients. It has also installed two emergency

quarantine facilities. PPEs were provided to healthcare staff, while testing for all frontline workers started as early as April.

To ensure the safety of its frontliners, quarantine areas, staff quarters, and shuttle

services were provided. On top of the aforementioned, Dr. Serrano said the employees were reassured of coverage of COVID-related medical expenses and given free online

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counseling services.

In another hospital in Metro Manila admitting COVID-19 patients, governmentmandated health and safety protocols are enforced with a few additions: wearing of right

face masks (excluding those with valves) and face shield, hand washing, physical distancing, contactless interaction, limiting guests and companions, and installing of HEPA filter and acrylic shields.

UP-PGH conducts testing of its healthcare staff

The Medical City’s Rehab on Wheels brings rehabilitation services to the patient’s home.

Makati Medical Center offers drive-thru services

Cardinal Santos Medical Center’s Molecular Laboratory

“These protocols do not exist in malls and other public places, but are maintained in hospitals,” said Dr. Saturnino Javier, medical director of Makati Medical Center. “With protocols in place, we can diminish the pervasive fear among healthcare professionals and patients.”

Months after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded in the Philippines, MakatiMed on May 18 cautiously and gradually resumed its clinic operations to ensure patients who require constant and immediate care can once again access the services in the hospital.

To further ease patients’ hesitation to come to its premises, MakatiMed designated COVID-19 wing zones “If you’re identified as COVID suspect, you will be designated to hot zones,” explained Dr. Javier.

The Makati hospital revised and adjusted its infrastructures, expanded bed facilities, and ramped up testing which includes a drive-thru option. Since last year, the healthcare institution, which maintains a low COVID-19 mortality rate, has already deployed home care services.

“We understand there are many who are afraid to go to hospitals. For those who are still afraid we will bring the service of MakatiMed, whether corporate or home setting,” said the medical director.

CSMC, on the other hand, partnered with Discovery Hospitality for the Safe Care program. “The concept is simple,” said Dr. Serrano. “DHC will provide a venue where patients and doctors can conduct face-to-face consultations. This service allows clients to book one- to two-hour meetings with their doctors within the safe spaces of Discovery Suites Ortigas, the project’s pilot hotel.”

The San Juan hospital has also intensified its Cardinal on Wheels that allowed patients needing services to avail of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the comforts of their home.

Teleconsultations, offered by hospitals and independently by physicians, have likewise enabled access to valuable diagnostic and therapeutic advice, especially during the months of stricter implementation of the stay-at-home order.

For instance, CSMC launched its E-Consult in March, as well established drive-thru testing booths and molecular laboratory.

The Medical City likewise offers easier access to testing with its drive-thru RT-PCR testing site. Meanwhile, on Jan. 25 the Philippine Red Cross has begun offering coronavirus saliva testing, which is P1,800 cheaper than the swab test.

Lessons learned Standing on the front lines of the battle, our healthcare providers have quickly updated their knowledge—staying on their toes to better help curb the spread of the infectious disease.

The Philippine General Hospital empha-

sizes the implementation of science-backed COVID-19 operations, highlighting that “nothing can be left to chance.”

In the published account of Dr. Regina Verba, et.al, they admitted the PGH had struggled during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But with a UP-PGH Crisis Command Center orchestrating the movement of manpower, equipment, and process to mobilize what needed to be done, we were able to create, innovate, and implement systems based on what was known (science), what we think we know (expertise), and what we felt was needed by our stakeholders: our patients and our staff.”

The result of PGH’s community-wide surveillance test, with only 2 percent positive rate among the 4,871 RT-PCR tested personnel, was attributed to its COVID-19 best practices that include the crisis command center and unified call center for patient queries and donations; zoning of hospital; installation of controlled ventilation system, air purifiers, UV light, and automatic hand hygiene dispensers; the creation of the five risk-based levels of PPE; and onsite access to RT-PCR testing with 24-hour turnaround time.

The PGH also enforces a timely dissemination of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials.

The state-owned healthcare institution also clarifies to the public that PCR tests “are only a point-in-time test,” and not an assurance or a ticket to be reckless. “A negative test result means that you are negative at the time you were tested. It does not guarantee you will be negative the next day, and the week after.”

Dr. Serrano, meanwhile, highlights the importance of contact tracing in this ongoing pandemic. “For patients coming to the hospital, a QR code tracking system continues to be in place. For employees, we centralize entry points and have implemented the Daily Health tracker so we can continue to monitor their health and prevent unknown transmissions.”

Our army of medical experts continuously calls for cooperation among all citizens as the war rages on.

“We are one with the WHO (World Health Organization) when it states what we need to get through this pandemic are: science, solutions, and solidarity,” said the UP-PGH. In his statement about “health adaptation under COVID and restarting the economy,” The Medical City chairman Eckie Gonzales in April emphasized the need for everyone to work together. “[The] citizenry needs to cooperate—as individuals with good hygiene practices, and in cohorts where behavior is managed as a pool of social norms. We did not need formal government to fight in World War 2. We only need ourselves, acting in an empowered way as one nation, to beat COVID.”

The Medical City

Makati Medical Center ensures frequent sanitation and disinfection of surfaces.

University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital

Cardinal Santos Medical Center

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Hospitality 2.0: Hotel Sogo’s innovation in post-COVID-19

T

HE world is facing an economic, health, and social crisis due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), which is identified as an illness caused by a virus that can spread from person to person. Truly, this COVID-19 pandemic shook the hotel industry really hard, and turned many hotel businesses upside down, especially here in the Philippines.

As we all know the hotel industry is designed to operate and accept guests 24/7. But because of this pandemic, travel restrictions were put in place to control the further spread of the virus.

In line with that, Hotel Sogo, the largest hotel chain in the Philippines, utilized this pandemic as an opportunity for innovation.

Hotel Sogo unveiled new measures to re-establish confidence in the hotel industry as they adapt to the “new normal” state.

Innovation at its finest As part of their “So Clean, So Good, So Safe” campaign under its Sogo So Safe Program, concrete ways were made to increase its cleanliness standards to meet the new health and safety challenges brought on by this pandemic.

Take a look on their innovation during this post COVID-19 giving their patrons a So Clean, So Good, So Safe stay.

Anti-Microbial Copper Films To increase everyone’s safety, Hotel Sogo installed Microbial Copper in frequently touched surfaces of the hotel.

3M Filtrete Electrostatic Air Filters in All Rooms Sogo started installing 3M Filtrete™ 3-in-1 Technology Aircon Filters in all rooms to augment its regular aircon filters.

These are made with permanently-charged electrostatic fibers

that remove Microparticle pollutants that include fine dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, bacteria and viruses, resulting in cleaner air.

UVC Disinfection Hotel Sogo is also implementing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing cash registers, keycard cases, elevator buttons, and its ceiling, room door handles, as well as in food preparation for an enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes.

With the use of UVC-light for dis-

infection, you are safe to stay at any Hotel Sogo branches as UVC cleans 99.99% of harmful pathogens, bacteria and viruses in seconds.

No-Contact Hotel Features As we develop more changes this new normal, Hotel Sogo has innovated all its branches in having no-contact facilities like contactless thermal detector, automatic doors, and developed the use of SaniKey for door handles, elevators buttons, and ATMs to lessen contact points and reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Microbial testing Hotel Sogo makes sure that cleaning is accurate and effectively sanitized which gives proven results in just minutes.

So Clean…So Good…So Safe!

Hotel Sogo continuously vows to protect and provide excellent accommodation despite of CoVid-19 danger.

“We promise to protect our staff and our guests who will visit our hotels, we are ready for new normal and this is a long-term commit-

ment. This virus won’t stop each of us to create wonderful memories with our love ones. Together, let us enjoy our stay in Hotel Sogo,” Mr. Reynaldo Malaca, Hotel Sogo CEO stated.

To find out more about Hotel Sogo, visit its website at www.hotelsogo.com or like and follow us on Facebook page @HotelSogoOfficialPage, Twitter, and Instagram @hotelsogo, and Youtube account @OfficialHotelSogo.

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Malls at our fingertips: The future of retail TeaM Energy’s CSR programs continue to touch lives in Quezon Province THE ongoing COVID crisis has placed many Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs to the test last year.

Corporate foundations had to respond to the crisis in ways that are beneficial to their stakeholders given the current situation, with some programs taking a backseat during the pandemic.

In Quezon Province, TeaM Energy Foundation, Inc. (TEFI) continues to implement programs on health, education, and livelihood in order to address specific needs of the community during this time, and other forward looking programs anticipating a return to normalcy .

Just last December 2020, TEFI, through its Project SIKAP, turned over a brand new multi-purpose building to Padre Burgos Central Elementary School in Padre Burgos, Quezon. While a one-classroom, one-storey school building was constructed in Cabuyao Elementary School in the same town.

This brand new classroom is fully furnished with desks, chairs, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, and a comfort room for the convenience of students and teachers.

As students and teachers eased into distance learning last school year, TEFI donated 650 reams of bond paper and more than 200 ink cartridges to DepEd Quezon Division. These were used to print learning modules for the teachers and students in the province. Additionally, TEFI also partnered with DepEd Quezon to facilitate the airing of learning programs over Quezon radio.

As part of Brigada Eskwela, TEFI donated over half a million pesos worth

By Bernadette Lunas

A

llison*, 27, has a folder on her phone which she opens whenever she needs some retail therapy or when she’s bored. She calls it her “sin folder.”

It’s complete with all the e-commerce platforms present in the Philippines as well as the mobile applications of several retailers and brands. And since more businesses are strengthening their online presence while the country’s in quarantine, her “sin folder” keeps getting bigger.

Representatives of TeaM Energy turn over medical supplies to the Provincial Government of Quezon through Quezon Medical Center led by QMC Hospital Chief Dr. Rolando Padre (second from right). Also in the photo are L-R: Rizaldo Ricafort, OIC Supplies Officer, QMC; Juliet Velasco, External Affairs Supervisor, TeaM Energy; and Carlo Calvario, External Affairs Associate, TeaM Energy.

of learning tools and equipment to select public schools in Quezon. Hygiene and disinfection packages like alcohol, bleaching solutions, and surgical masks were also donated through the program.

Late last year, over Php 1.35 million worth of medical supplies were donated

by TEFI to the Provincial Government of Quezon through the Quezon Medical Center (QMC) for the on-going fight against COVID-19. Among the items donated were sets of Personal Protective Equipment, scrub suits, hospital shoes, disposable flat bed sheets, face shields, boxes of disposable masks, disposable gloves, gallons of alcohol, 15 units of electric fans and multi-vitamins for the use of medical front-liners. Four hundred (400) sacks of rice were also

The brand new one-storey, one-classroom building donated by TEFI to Cabuyao Elementary School in Padre Burgos, Quezon is fully furnished with desks, chairs, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, and a comfort room for the convenience of students and teachers.

contributed by TEFI to the relief efforts of the Provincial Government.

In Pagbilao, Quezon, TEFI donated one fully-equipped rescue vehicle and two motorcycles to the municipality.

The rescue vehicle can be used as an ambulance, and for various rescue operations. While the two motorcycles will be used by the local police to patrol the municipality in maintaining peace and order, and for anti-crime operations.

Further to enhancing peace and order in Pagbilao, last October 2020, TeaM Energy turned over heavy duty Closed Circuit Camera Monitoring Systems to two barangays in Pagbilao (Parang and Ikirin).

Fishing nets and other fishing equipment were also donated by TEFI to a community of fisher folk in Barangay Bantigue, Pagbilao, Quezon. A program to provide fish cages for aqua-culture for fisher folk of Barangay Tulay Buhangin in Padre Burgos, Quezon is also on-going as part of TEFI’s program to empower local fisher folk and ensure their continued livelihood.

TEFI is the social development arm of TeaM Energy, which operates two coal-fired power plants: the 735 MW Pagbilao Power Station in Quezon Province and the 1,200 MW Sual Power Station in Pangasinan. It also has a 50% stake in the 420 MW Pagbilao Unit 3 Power Project in Quezon, and a 20% stake in the Ilijan natural gas project in Batangas.

“I know having the option to easily buy anything you want can hurt you financially if you’re not mindful about your purchases,” of which Allison admits to be guilty “sometimes.”

“But I think,” she continues, “it’s a really great thing that shopping for clothes, accessories, food, groceries, and even furniture can be conveniently done online, especially when many establishments were closed to customers.”

The evolution of online shopping Online shopping is not the child of the ongoing pandemic. It has been around for decades. Several accounts say it was an invention of English innovator and entrepreneur Michael Aldrich in 1979, when he connected a modified television to a realtime transaction processing computer via a domestic phone line.

But it was not until the growth and development of the Internet as a secure shopping channel in the early ‘90s that online shopping was developed to what we know today (Amazon launched its online shopping site, Amazon.com in 1995, while eBay was introduced in the same year). The evolution has been continuous since—from Michael’s modified TV to Allison’s mobile phone.

Big chains and small brands were quick to take advantage of the Internet as a wide-reaching retail channel. Interactive web pages that offer a seamless e-commerce experience, from browsing to checkout, allow customers to shop anytime, anywhere.

Retail apps then entered the field, driving mobile sales and offering an interactive way to bring the physical shopping experience to the digital sphere.

E-commerce platforms such as Galleon.ph, Carousell, Zalora, Shopee, and Lazada, meanwhile, serve as an online department store or mall, either specialized (e.g. fashion) or diversified. They enable big brands and small retailers to sell their products to the site’s visitors—much like how businesses rent a space in malls.

Social media services such as Facebook and Instagram—initially used as a marketing tools by businesses to build and promote their brands and interact with customers—have also become a marketplace, where the sale of products and services happens on the sites.

The item is posted and promoted on Facebook or Instagram, and the buyer can directly send the seller a message, place an order, and pay for the item depending on which mode is available. The emergence of sellers on both sites has led to the creation of Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Shops, and Instagram Shop.

Inclusive retail spaces Business-to-consumer e-commerce platforms and social media have both made it easier for mom-and-pops with little to no budget for marketing to sell goods online.

All aspiring online sellers need is a camera, phone or computer, an account, and Internet connection to sell their products and connect with customers.

Seeing an opportunity in the huge demand for vitamins and supplements last year, Elijah Lazaro decided to buy five boxes of multivitamins from a local distributor and signed up on Shopee and Lazada. “I had time to focus on it because my small business, considered nonessential, was ordered to close,” he relates.

Although he started a bit late, making his first sale on Shopee in July and on Lazada in August, his target customers found him on both platforms. From then, he increased his sales by offering good quality and authentic products that are packed safely, providing good customer service (responding to every query), and shipping early.

“I had no budget to offer promos or discounts to attract customers, so I had to build a good reputation, making sure that they get the product they paid for and that it arrives to their doorsteps in good condition,” shares Lazaro.

Although a percentage of his revenue goes to the platforms’ transaction fees, he says the shipping convenience and the protection for both sellers and buyers they provide “let me conduct my business easily especially when I had no other source of income.”

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The pandemic has indeed contributed to the growth of e-commerce platforms. In his yearend report, Lazada Philippines chief executive officer Ray Alimurung said more sellers and brands joined in 2020 compared to the previous year.

“Lazada saw a 2x growth of sellers on-boarded year-on-year on the platform. The platform now has 4,000 local and international brands available on LazMall and 100,000 active sellers monthly,” he said in a virtual press conference in December.

Social media giants Facebook and Instagram likewise enable independent sellers to sell products or offer services. During the early days of the pandemic, when many establishments were closed, home bakers,

food sellers, and those looking to sell a few items to earn extra income took advantage of social media.

Cami* launched her online thrift shop Muli on Instagram in July 2019, but it was during the first few months of the quarantine that she hit record sales, “mainly because,” she believes, “everyone was stuck at home and was immersed in social media.”

“The pandemic favored online businesses and all businesses that are anchored on social media,” opines Cami.

“The lockdown favored Muli in terms of exposure but sourcing products has become a challenge because of the closing of some establishments.”

However, exposure, which social media affords its users, Cami says “does not always equate to sales.”

She adds, “The pieces still have to be of quality.”

Users of the photo and video sharing social networking service have innovated ways using the features already available on the site to increase exposure and grow their following.

“When I entered business on Instagram, I was actually amazed how the community has created very efficient techniques to grow following and, eventually, sales. Some examples are Story for Story (SFS) and grow-together groups which host giveaways.

Others do Instagram promotion or advertisement, influencer marketing, TikTok, etc.,” shares Cami.

Seeing the growth of online shopping on their platforms, Mark Zuckerberg in May 2020 introduced Facebook Shops to “make it easy for businesses to set up a single store for customers to access on both Facebook and Instagram.” The feature was first launched in the US. Facebook automatically sets up the shop

once the seller has already set up their product catalog.

Instagram Shopping maximizes the “70 percent of shopping enthusiasts [who] turn to Instagram for products discovery.” It lets customers shop the photos or videos “no matter where they are in the app.” In addition to in-app shopping feature, it also allows businesses to highlight the products from their catalog in their Stories or feed.

Live selling on Facebook and Instagram is another way sellers make a sale online.

From the mall to your home According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) secretary general Mukhisa Kituyi, “the pandemic has accelerated the shift towards a more digital world,” triggering changes in the online shopping behaviors of consumers.

UNCTAD and NetComm Suisse eCommerce Association’s survey revealed a 6- to 10-percent increase in online purchases across most product categories, albeit spending declined due to the pandemic, with travel and tourism taking the brunt at 75 percent. In the Philippines, tourism spending plummeted 72 percent in the first seven months of 2020.

The global health crisis has not only accelerated the shift to digital,

but has also changed the retail landscape. The latest data from McKinsey and Company show that consumer behaviors adopted during the pandemic are seen to persist postCOVID, with 40 percent of those surveyed planning to spend online and 64 percent not planning to resume “normal” outof-home activities.

Brickand-mortars, especially huge chains, are keeping up with the needs and wants of consumers in this digitally driven

time.

Department store giant The SM Store, for instance, has strengthened its online presence and introduced its Call to Deliver service that lets customers get in touch with a personal shopper who will look for the product/s they’re looking for in the store they’ve chosen, and arrange payment and delivery for them. The personal shopper service, which spawned other variations, is also available in other SM-operated specialty stores.

Rustan’s likewise offers a personal shopper service through which orders can be delivered or picked up at designated locations. Ayala Malls, meanwhile, launched “a digital and mall companion” app called Zing whose features cover both online and offline shopping. *Names have been changed.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

E1

SPORTS DURING THE PANDEMIC

The stains of affliction

By Nathaniel T. Dela Cruz

T

HE 65-inch LED television mounted on the wall came to life with a push of a button from a remote control I found on the sofa. I eased slowly towards the cushioned seat like an old man bothered by arthritis and back pain; not that it is untrue, but today I am painfree, and I wish there are more days like this. The coffee mug I hold with my left hand is full to the brim, and all I can think of as I slowly sat down is the good fortune of keeping my legs and the floor free of spilled coffee, for it is too early in the day to be mopping the mess of my clumsiness and insouciance. But I risk it all the time anyway because this is the perfect amount of coffee I want to have in the morning and life is not worth living without the thrill of harmless risks. And if I make a mess, then it is not a great start to a day, but that is ok, I’ll settle for good, or even typical: hot coffee, soft sofa, and an NBA game.

But it was 2020. Life has been upended by a pandemic. In the Year of the New Normal, nothing is typical.

It took a few minutes for coffee to reach the brain, and even then, the haze of somnolence hasn’t been fully lifted yet, so it took me a few moments to sort things out and make sense of things. Yesterday, the OKC-Utah match was canceled.

Players warming up before tip-off were asked to return to their respective locker rooms, and fans were asked to exit the stadium and go home. I thought there was a bomb scare, but it turns out, it was because

of some virus with flu-like symptoms, and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has it.

The Coronavirus disease – we used to call it NCOV in the early days, but now it is more popularly known as COVID-19 - has introduced itself to the world early in the year, and because of the conceit in our hearts, or the ignorance in our minds, or the arrogance from our severely misguided sense of being impervious and unsusceptible to the troubles of the rest of the world, we ignored it and dismissed it as another inconvenience that would soon

Utah’s Rudy Gobert: First COVID-19 case in the NBA

disappear.

I personally didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. Now, the NBA has suspended one game, and the following day fans were informed that the season is on hold.

The PBA, just three days after the opening of the 2020 Philippine Cup, also announced that games were in-

definitely suspended. Basketball is a religion in the Philippines, and as a true-blooded Filipino, my immediate lament was obvious (and, in retrospect, petty): what am I going to watch now?

As COVID-19 grew to become a global menace, it shut down life as we know it – no commute, no mass

gatherings, and no physical interactions. It meant no travel, no work, no recreation, and no sports. No one was prepared for what happened next, and this is why it was unforgettable. It was like watching domino pieces fall one by one, watching this collective collapse accelerate faster Next page

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Globe feted at recent ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard TODAY

Globe dominated the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) in a virtual awarding ceremony held on January 29. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) recognized Globe and other Philippine companies which excelled in the 2019 ACGS assessment.

Globe won in all prestigious award categories, being the lone telco to do so, among publicly listed firms in six of the participating ASEAN member countries - namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

“Corporate Governance plays a significant role in the Globe Purpose. Our vision mission and core values are manifestations of how engrained corporate governance is in the business,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. Globe was given the following recognition: Top 20 ASEAN Publicly Listed Companies, Top 3 Publicly Listed Companies per Country (Philippines), and ASEAN Asset Class Publicly Listed Companies.

“The Circle of Happiness ensures that accountability, transparency and integrity are applied when we engage with our customers and stakeholders to address their needs and assist their lifestyles. The Globe mission statement caters to the business’ accountability and sustainability even amid challenging times. At Globe, corporate governance is not simply about adhering to rules and regulations.

Corporate governance is part of Globe culture and the business’ journey,” added Cu. Globe is accompanied by Ayala Land, Inc. in all three categories, with Ayala Corporation and Bank of the Philippine Islands joining in the roster for the ASEAN Asset Class category.

Introduced in 2011, the ACGS recognizes corporate governance achievements of publicly listed companies in the region, with the first inaugural awarding ceremony held in 2015. Globe has been consistently in the list since then.

“Corporate Governance is about achieving equilibrium between business and compliance in an organization. While not always easy, we work together to achieve and preserve this to keep Globe truly sustainable,” said SVP - Law and Compliance, Chief Compliance Officer and Asst. Corporate Secretary Marisalve Ciocson-Co. The ACGS is a joint effort of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) aimed at promoting integration within the region and the ASEAN as an investment asset class. The ACGS is composed of two levels that focus on key corporate governance principles including rights and equitable treatment of shareholders, role of stakeholders, disclosure and transparency, and responsibilities of the Board, with bonus and penalty items.

Assessment of the top ASEAN publicly listed

companies based on market capitalization were conducted using a Scorecard supported by rigorous methodology and benchmarked against international principles and best practices.

Globe’s dedication to corporate governance was also repeatedly acknowledged by domestic and international award giving bodies, which include recognition from Alpha Southeast Asia Magazine’s 10th Annual Poll for Institutional Investor Corporate Awards, and London’s Ethical Boardroom where it received the “Best Corporate Governance - Telecoms - Asia 2019” award.

Globe is committed to upholding the 10 UNGC principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The company has also made it to the FTSE4Good Index Series for the fifth consecutive year, as well as received an “A” rating from MSCI ESG, proving its dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices that help shape society’s sustainable future.

Globe further strengthened its commitment to environmental transparency by disclosing its environmental impact through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a global non-profit that runs the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform.

The company received a B- rating from CDP in 2020, for its commitment to continuously manage and fight climate change.

For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph.

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The stains...

from E1

and faster and faster.

Tethered boats in the eve of a storm The NBA and the NBA G League suspended the season. FIBA competitions were suspended, as well as American collegiate basketball. No games in The Big Ten, The Big East, The Big 12, The Pac-12, AAC, ACC, and SEC. In the Philippines, all basketball tournaments have been suspended, too - the PBA, the National Basketball League, and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Basketball wasn’t the only one running towards the bomb shelter.

Football matches were canceled (La Liga, Major League Soccer). The ATP and ITF suspended all tennis tournaments until April 20. NHL suspended professional ice hockey matches. The NCAA canceled all remaining winter and spring championships. Formula 1 canceled the Australian Grand Prix. In golf, the remainder of The Players Championship and all tournaments through the Valero Texas Open were all canceled. UFC Brasilia was not canceled, but the fight will take place without fans. Other leagues not yet playing have re-arranged their calendars. NFL canceled the scheduled league meeting. MLB canceled spring training. Minor League Baseball announced there would be a delay to the start of the season.

The bad news didn’t end with the announcement of the cancelation of games and suspension of the playing season; what followed was a roll call of athletes and sports personalities infected with COVID-19, from stars like the NBA’s Donovan Mitchell to English Premier League’s Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

All of these in just 24 hours. And the days that followed carried the same news of grim. Every sport in the world took a hit.

This was the first time I saw something that is so powerful that

it caused such a degree of devastation to sports, an institution that has proven itself sturdy, resilient, and constant through the years. And before things got better, first, it got worst.

Sports stands at the edge of a cliff Manila was supposed to host the Badminton Asia Championships and the AFF Women’s Championship, but now these have to wait, as do footballers who found themselves with no match to play; the 2020 season of the Philippines Football League suspended along with the start of PFF Women’s League and youth tournaments, while the Copa Paulino Alcantara was canceled for 2020. The Philippine national team’s three remaining matches in the second round of qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup was suspended by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. The CeresNegros versus Bali United match was played without spectators. It was the last football match in the country before the long, agonizing pause that also affected swimmers, volleyball players, national team members, and collegiate athletes.

The 11th Asian Swimming Championships was postponed, while the Philippine Superliga’s PSL Grand Prix Conference was suspended.

The ASEAN Para Games was canceled, just like UAAP Season 82 and Season 83. NCAA Season 95 ended prematurely with no overall champion. The Philippine Sports Commission canceled all of its sporting events until December 2020 -- the Palarong Pambansa, the Philippine National Games, and the ASEAN Para Games.

The shutdown sports was experiencing is worldwide. And even that one major sports spectacle that happens once every four years – the Olympics – was not spared.

Sports events were canceled.

Tournaments were being suspended. Sports personalities got sick.

Stadiums, which served as halls of

Cardboard cutouts at the stands

athletic competition, have become a refuge for the sick. The iconic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the newly-built New Clark City Sports Complex, the Philippine Arena complex, and the Philippine Sports Center were all refurbished as temporary quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients. When you see stadiums, you think of strong athletes in the peak of health, fine specimen of a human being. Now it is haunted by men and women in PPE gowns and face masks, and sick people in bed isolated from kin and community.

As a place where games are fought, stadiums have provided a setting for the display of tenacity and resilience of human beings built and designed to be a fighter. Those who were quarantined here were in the fight of their lives, and it is clear who the fans outside are rooting for. I find solace thinking this buoyed their fighting spirit and gave the sick and the quarantined hope, for the outside world has its own sense of bleakness.

The government prohibited the

people from playing basketball, not long after the NBA and the PBA were suspended. This was part of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon. The lockdown was meant to stop people from spreading the virus. Locking the gates of the basketball courts was not enough to keep obstinate ballers out. Barangay officials knew why this is happening. The ring is a beacon, a homing device that calls basketball players to come and play. If they can use the hoop, they will find a way to sneak in to come and play, something that local officials directly addressed.

They padlocked the net and placed a slab of wood or a piece of cardboard to cover the ring. When it became apparent this lot were ready to become vandals and law-breakers for the sake of a half-court shoot-around or a quick dose-bente singko pick-up game, barangay officials reminded everyone of the stiff penalties for violators. Ladders came next, brought by men who removed the hoop from the backboard. It felt like a behead-

ing, and now the basketball court lay there dead.

Soon, dust filled the basketball courts that sang the sound of eerie silence, watching night and day come and go, nary a footstep cushioned by rubber slippers, or a basketball bouncing on concrete. At home, I relied on mundane tasks for my basketball fix. The trash can is the classic go-to for shooters practicing their form, but there are other opportunities, too. I roll my dirty laundry in a ball and toss it in the washing machine 3-4 feet away.

Splash! Literally.

I give my imaginary defender my best version of a staredown after a made basket, all the while making a mental note to clean the soap suds and soapy water on the floor around the washing machine.

Without basketball for months, many developed a tick. You’ll see pedestrians walking on the sidewalk suddenly doing a crossover dribble with his imaginary basketball, or Turn to E3

3 ISO certifications for MMDC

Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation employees at the mine site in Surigao del Sur

THE International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has recertified Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC) for its Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015), Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2015) and the migration from OHSAS 18001:2007 into ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety Management System).

All three certifications are a testament of the unified, streamlined, and high efficiency level of the business processes across MMDC’s management spectrum.

“At MMDC we are constantly challenged to come up with efficient measures to constantly improve our

business processes to ensure occupational safety and environmental sustainability. We achieve this by working closely with the communities within the areas we operate,” MMDC Vice President for Compliance and Tenement Management Engr. Ramesh G. Paliza explained.

The ISO is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. The organization promotes worldwide propriety, industrial and commercial standards.

The Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015) is the standard as an integral part of an organization’s efforts towards sustainable development and promotes it as a tool

MMDC Head office Compliance Team (from left) Pedro Armando V. Valencia, Bernard P. Baluda, Abigael A. Masangkay, Joyce Ann F. Flaviano, Hermino A. Aquino II and Engr. Ramesh G. Paliza, Vice President for Compliance, Acquisition and Tenements Management.

for improving overall performance.

The Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2015) is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system. It helps organizations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders. It also calls for the management of environmental aspects and ensures their conformity to compliance obligations while addressing risks associated with threats and opportunities.

The Occupational Health & Safety Management System (ISO 14001:2015) Certification is mandated to all mining contractors as per Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order No. 201507 otherwise known as Mandating Mining Contractors to Secure ISO 14001 Certification.

The NQA Philippines Inc. has also recommended MMDC to migrate from OHSAS 18001:2007 into ISO 45001:2018. This certification enables MMDC to provide safe and healthy workplaces by preventing work-related injury and ill health, as well as by proactively improving its occupational health and safety performance.

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someone waiting in line hoisting a shot and holding a perfect follow through. It is embarrassing to watch but they - we didn’t care. It was one of the few things keeping us sane, as we watch sports and normalcy disappear as the COVID-19 menace raged on.

Casualties of the crisis It didn’t end with the suspension of tournaments and cancelation of games and the infection of athletes. At the coattails of the raging pandemic is death that sees no exception. Many people died worldwide, including athletes and sports personalities. Doctors warned that older adults face the highest risk of severe illness if infected by the virus.

The list of sports personalities who died because of COVID-19 is proof of that.

But some died at a young age. Atletico Portada Alta coach Francisco Garcia was 21 years old. Japanese sumo wrestler Shobushi was 28. NBA reporter Sekou Smith was 48.

Those who survived have a different battle to fight. With the cancelation of games and suspension of tournaments, many people became jobless. Financial insecurity became a major problem for people who relied on sports for wages that sustain them and their families.

A question of what we will become The parade has begun since Day One of this crisis, and the march of those moving on proceeds unimpeded. Our collective refusal to not allow our institutions like sports to shrink and cower is the rock upon which this new normal is built upon. In sports, it meant stadiums without live fans, athletes and personnel in masks, tournaments played inside the bubble which the NBA has successfully done, and the strict and rigorous observance of protocols to minimize the risk of potential outbreaks. Sports in the age of COVID-19 is taking shape.

Now, it has been a year since the COVID-19 menace began - a perfect time, if any, to pause and see how much the pandemic has changed sports. I sat down on the sofa like I always do, with a mug of coffee in one hand full to the brim. NBA games have resumed and yet I chose to keep the TV in front of me a blank screen, but in my mind, everything I’ve seen, I’ve read, I’ve heard, are on display, simultaneously playing, an exhibit of the proofs of chaos. What can we find if all of these are distilled?

For me, I see questions.

Underneath the layer of optimism painstakingly nurtured by stakeholders who refused to let sports go quietly into the night, I see anxieties that we should address and not simply sweep under the rug.

For sports fans, there are persisting uncertainties we enjoy entertaining because it gives color and excitement to the very little part and participation we have in this exciting world of athletic prowess and showmanship, as observers who offer what we hope are intelligent opinions to questions cleverly dangled by those who know we are too hungry and too vain to refuse the bait. We allow ourselves to worry about what could happen in the trade deadline, or who would be the first-round pick this year, or which team emerges from the bracket to win it all.

Now, we have something bigger to worry about, and something that, without question, directly and genuinely affects us as fans. Can we return to the stadiums again? And will it feel the same way as before? Will I spend most of the time wondering if the people around me inside this contained space are vaccinated? Will I be distracted by someone from the crowd not wearing a mask, or someone near me coughing? Have we become more tolerant, more compassionate, or more feeling more entitled and privileged?

Policymakers have decisions to make.

Shall we return to stadiums now that we know how vulnerable we are to a biological threat or attack? Are we willing to risk it, knowing that something more potent than COVID-19, something that could spread and infect faster, could trigger the next epidemic with a more catastrophic result? How do we rationalize the validity of defiance, of not giving in to fear? How much weight do we give this conviction?

I think about COVID-19 and I think about the future. What kind of impression will this experience of the pandemic create in the minds of children? How will these ideas inform and influence their choices on what kind of sports to pursue and be involved in? More importantly, we should start asking if there is the possibility of stigma for COVID-19 survivors seeking to be athletes and be part of a team sport because this is our moral obligation. How will a child’s CO-

Tokyo Olympics 2020 reset to 2021

VID-19 medical history factor when it comes to being accepted in a basketball team or a football team, and most importantly for them, when it comes to being accepted as part of a group?

I think about this because of our long and documented history of willful ignorance, bias, and bigotry. Look at how far science has come in studying and understanding HIV-AIDS. Look at the amount of knowledge we have about this health crisis. Look at the effort of organizations and institutions geared at educating everyone with correct information. And look at how people continue to choose to live as misinformed, unevolved creatures that still recoil at the presence of someone who is HIV-positive, thinking one will get infected with HIV with a handshake or a pat on the back or by just being in the same room. Will COVID-19 survivors face the same stigma brought about by ignorance? I see people today, in the age of the internet, social media, online trolls, and fake news, face COVID-19 without a face mask and with ignorance flaunted with God-like abandon, deaf and blind to the methods, reason, and logic of medicine and science and the evidence they’ve gathered. This is far from the promising start I can hope for.

Sports is meant to bring people together. It is sad if some people don’t want others to come.

There is a question Turn to E5

E4

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Sports training and tournaments in the time of COVID-19

By Peter Atencio

S

INCE the lockdowns began last March 2020 to help control the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic, only a few athletes and teams have undergone physical training and played in face-to-face competitions.

Many athletes and sports organizations have done their activities online, in line with the physical and social distancing protocols mostly set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

This has led to what is now commonly known as a sports “bubble”, wherein competing sports teams stay isolated from the general public during a series of games, and which includes accommodations, amenities and the playing venue, where games are held without spectators in attendance.

Following the success of the “NBA bubble” inside Disney World in Orlando, Florida, many sports organizations in the country were encouraged to follow the example set by the said league.

And with officials of the NBA willing to share their knowledge, the Philippine Basketball Association started to set up one inside Clark Development Corporation in Clark, Pampanga.

“We are very much aware and well connected to the PBA. We have shared our profiles with them already, and we are disseminating this widely to many leagues and the world,” said Scott Levy, the executive vice president and managing director of NBA Asia.

Levy’s inputs and discussions with PBA officials led to the holding of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City, Pampanga starting on October 11, 2020.

Upon entrance to the PBA bubble, players, officials and other team personnel had to go through COVID-19 swab tests, with results released a day or two after.

As they waited for the swab results to come back, players spent their downtime inside their hotel rooms.

When the results finally came out, no

For amateur sports For the last nine months, the physical training of national and student athletes alike still has to begin, even though they have already been conditionally allowed to resume their activities.

To make this happen, the Philippine Sports Commission issued a strict 10-point guideline on the safety and health protocols that must be followed to the letter, aimed at preventing the transmission of the coronavirus infection to concerned athletes and coaches.

Chairman William Ramirez said if these instructions laid down by the PSC are not complied with, sporting activities will not be allowed to take place.

“Sa pananaw ng PSC, kapag isa lang ang na-infect, isasara namin sila,” said Ramirez.

“If they are not able to observe (the guidelines), they will not be allowed,” added Ramirez.

The PSC, in coordination with the Department of Health and the Commission on Higher Education, has consulted the national sports associations and schools regarding the resumption of training in amateur sports since October. But for now, many national athletes have stuck to virtual training, while others have gone to the provinces or other countries to do their own set of workouts to prepare for national and international meets.

Last October, the guidelines paving the way for student-athletes to train physically at the collegiate level were revealed.

Olympic training In the early days of January, members of the national boxing team have started entering the Olympic training bubble at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

Women’s boxer Nesthy Petecio, who is seeking to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in the featherweight devision, led the early

James de los Santos: eKata king

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TODAY

Online is the New Normal for the Property Industry As a company geared towards digitizing the property sector, Lamudi’s biggest priority amid the pandemic was to help partners adapt to restrictions on mobility that halted transactions dependent on traditional real estate marketing.

Lamudi’s roadmap for pandemic success included easing the transition for those who were new to selling property online, and helping real estate professionals reach their sales goals through virtual tours, online events, and training and coaching sessions from the Lamudi Academy.

Pandemic Impact on Property Search Following the strictest community quarantine guidelines imposed from March to May 2020, the idea of homeownership increased in priority. In the second half of 2020, pageviews for homes grew by 33%, land 30%, and foreclosures 16.86%. Condominiums and apartments also earned 9.43% and 11.33% more leads, respectively.

Taking all of its events online, Lamudi highlighted the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. With events such as The Outlook Roundtable Series, Virtual Broker Awards, and a new series featuring the WebiLaunch of the latest projects in the country, Lamudi showed its stakeholders that despite physical distancing, the industry can survive online.

Lamudi also made online payment for its partner brokers easier, and provided support for property sellers to post virtual tours. The platform also added landmark information and neighborhood rating to give property seekers a better location insight without physically visiting the area. Taking things one step further, in April, Lamudi will host the first and biggest Online Housing Fair in the Philippines.

player tested positive for the deadly disease, paving for the pro league to go on with its All-Filipino conference.

The league concluded in December with Barangay Ginebra being crowned as champion, and no one testing positive of the virus, which was an achievement in itself.

birds, which also included men’s team members Marjon Pianar and Junmilardo Ogayre.

They were joined Carlo Paalam, Marvin Tabamo, John Paul Panuayan, Mario Fernandez, Aira Villegas, Analyn Cellon and Josie Gabuco.

Growing the Team to Address Greater Demand As the leading real estate partner and trusted source of industry information, Lamudi reports the latest trends in the industry to aid stakeholders in course-correcting their strategies to reflect new normal demands from property seekers.

With the support of its parent company, EMPG, one of the leading digital classifieds groups in the MENA, South Asia and Southeast Asia regions, Lamudi aims to double its Philippine team in 2021 in response to the growing needs of the property sector, with its new CEO, Kenneth Stern, leading the company into its hypergrowth phase.

Since Lamudi’s inception in 2014, the future of real estate has always been geared towards digitizing the industry. In 2021, Lamudi is taking big strides with a bigger team to lead the industry’s survival in the new normal.

Visit lamudi.com.ph to know more.

The Ninoy Aquino Stadium transformed into a COVID-19 facility

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E5

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PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial

Sports...

from E4

Irish Magno, who had already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, followed with other national squad members Ian Clark Bautista, James Palicte, Jere Dela Cruz, and Riza Pasuit.

Members of the national karate and taekwondo teams also joined the Calamba bubble, where they will be doing their physical workouts in isolation for the next 90 days to get ready for their respective Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

The Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball squad has also been training in Calamba.

Training abroad and online tournament There are many Filipino athletes who are currently training and competing while based abroad.

There’s pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, who has been in Formia, Italy for more than a year.

Obiena has been training for the Tokyo Olympics, preparing with his coach Vitaly Petrov and training partner Thiago Braz da Silva.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old tennis phenom Alex Eala is under development by the Rafa Nadal Academy, in Mallorca, Spain, joining professional tennis competitions in Europe.

Seven-foot-three Kai Sotto was in the United States for years, training with the NBA G-League through coach Brian Shaw.

He went home recently to join the Gilas Pilipinas practice sessions in Calamba in preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.

Boxer Eumir Marcial is preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, training at the Wild Card gym of Freddie Roach. He recently won his first fight as a pro.

Gymnast Carlos Yulo is in Tokyo to also prepare for the coming Olympics, while weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz is in Malaysia, getting ready to join her last qualifying competition for the Tokyo games.

James de los Santos, on the other hand, took advantage of the various online tournaments and forged an amazing winning streak that had him being crowned as the world’s no. 1 e-kata karateka.

SEA Games athletes The Philippine Olympic Committee appointed Philippine Sports Commission commissioner Ramon Fernandez as chef de mission of the national delegation for the coming 31st Southeast Asian Games.

“We are meeting with the POC leadership.

And we are pencil-pushing and reviewing what sports will be played,” said Fernandez.

Philippine Sports Commission National Training Director Marc Velasco is also closely coordinating with the IATF in a bid to get more athletes back into physical training.

“The training must be in a bubble set-up, especially for contact sports,” said Velasco.

“We want to field a competitive team for all scheduled games. We know how important it is to resume formal training. However, we also find ourselves in unique times at the moment and we work on what we can and are allowed to do.”

There was an effort for NSAs to have their athletes go into physical training independently. But the emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus has pushed back plans to have members of the national athletics team go into physical training.

They were supposed to go into a training camp bubble at the New Clark City Athletics stadium for two months.

Instead, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, led by its president Philip Ella Juico, will go on with the workouts in February.

“Because of the documentary requirements that emerged due to the COVID-19 variant, our athletes will have to undergo swabbing seven times,” said Juico.

Aside from athletics, the sports of baseball, fencing and gymnastics which are set to get their athletes ready for the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games, are looking for other places as training venues as the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio and the Inspire ports Academy in Calamba, Laguna are not available.

Two gymnasiums inside the RMSC facilities are being used to quarantine coronavirus patients. The multipurpose arena in Philsports is also reserved for such a purpose, while the three NSAs of karatedo, taekwondo and boxing, and the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team are already busy with their workouts in Calamba. On the other hand, the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio is undergoing renovation.

Waiting for these venues to become ready will take time, prompting NSAs to look for alternative venues.

Velasco noted that the national fencing team will do their preparations in Ormoc City, with POC second vice president and Mayor Richard Gomez taking care of their needs.

On the other hand, the national gymnastics squad has gone ahead by doing their activities at a hotel in Makati City.

Collegiate bubble training Guidelines have been crafted at the collegiate level following an incident last August involving the alleged training done

by University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers men’s basketball team in Sorsogon at a time when face to face training wasn’t still allowed. It was found out later that the UST Tigers were just involved in farming and piggery.

As a result of the brouhaha, guidelines were written last October, paving the way for student-athletes to train physically at the collegiate level.

Under the proposal submitted by the Technical Working Group formed by the Com-

mission on Higher Education, these activities should take place under a bubble, and limited to just 14 days.

An age restriction of 15 years old and above has been set for the bubble training to be organized by each member school. Training must be done in isolated facilities inside their respective campuses, and if their location is under General Community Quarantine or Modified General Community Quarantine.

For a bubble to be put up, each varsity team, not just the school, is required to first submit a Collegiate Training Activities’ Certificate of Compliance.

And it has to have the recommendations of both the school’s athletic director and school president.

CHED chairman Prospero de Vera said that with the

guidelines out, competitive activities from among the many leagues will soon be possible.

“Now, if we do a good job in implementing this with the protocols, the next logical step would be to think of the opening of sports competitions,” said de Vera.

But league officials in the NCAA said competitions for them will only happen some three or four months after a “new normal” situation is established, and a coronavirus vaccine is already available and distributed.

UAAP officials said their schedule of opening for competitions are still up in their air, given the present situation.

From hassle-free transaction to half a million pesos!

Aklanon wins big at PayMaya and Smart Padala’s Add Money to Get Lucky Promo

The stains...

from E3

of what we, as citizens, will become as survivors of this pandemic, we who will move sports forward regardless of whether COVID-19 stays or leaves.

For the Japanese, what they want to become is the perfect mix of cautious and courageous. Japan is determined: Tokyo Olympics will have spectators.

This means that the Tokyo Olympics will serve as a litmus test. If there is one to make a calculated and dangerous gamble with high risks and high rewards, why not the very conscientious, methodical, and disciplined Japanese?

If there is no major crisis from opening day to closing ceremonies, it brings hope to the future of sports, that there in the horizon clear as day is the possibility that

we can inch closer and closer to a semblance of normal that we used to know and enjoy before the pandemic demanded we change our ways. But if it starts a localized outbreak infecting athletes, officials, spectators, and logistic personnel, it will serve as a cautionary tale, and a warning many will take to heart if they are thinking of organizing another mass gathering event, or if they plan to attend one.

I, on the other hand, will take my spot on the sofa, and from my 65-inch LED television I will watch sports very slowly, very cautiously, reclaim lost grounds, one year after the war began, as I sip hot coffee from my mug full to the brim, looking for any sign that will tell me the tides of fortune has finally turned.

FOR Johndel F. Olid, a 24-year old employee from Kalibo City, Aklan, going cashless paid off big time when he won the P500,000 grand prize from PayMaya and Smart Padala’s Add Money to Get Lucky Promo.

Launched in October 2020, the Add Money to Get Lucky promo gave PayMaya users a chance to win half a million pesos by simply adding money to their accounts via Smart Padala.

Johndel usually visits the trusted Smart Padala agent in his neighborhood to add money to his account. His Add Money transaction is quick—all he has to do is tap “Add Money” on his PayMaya app and click Smart Padala via code. Once this is done, he just has to give the Add Money code to the Smart Padala agent, and hand in the payment along with his valid ID. “Having a PayMaya account makes completing my daily transactions hassle-free, especially since sari-sari stores are quite far from our home. Since it’s a mobile app, I can quickly buy load, do bank transfers, or even shop online, wherever I am, and whenever I or my family need it,” said Johndel F. Olid, winner of Smart Padala by PayMaya’s Add Money to Get Lucky Promo.

“We launched this promo as a way to make our users’ cashless experience even more convenient and rewarding.

With Smart Padala as the preferred Add Money option for many account holders like Johndel, adding money to their account is just as easy as doing a quick visit to their kapitbahay,” said Mark Dee, Head of Growth Marketing and Partnerships for PayMaya Philippines.

For Johndel and for many Filipinos across the country, Smart Padala’s network of 37,000 agents nationwide serve as the most accessible Add Money touchpoints for their PayMaya accounts - allowing them to continue enjoying safe and convenient contactless transactions for their daily essentials amid the current public health situation.

SAFE AND CONVENIENT REMITTANCES VIA SMART PADALA Every Smart Padala transaction also helps the local community as neighborhood branch agents are micro entrepreneurs. Fees are also competitive. For example, every Add Money transaction worth P1,000 and below are charged with a P15 service fee, while an added P7.50 is charged for every additional P500. Compared to taking time to travel and pay for transportation, transacting via the neighborhood Smart Padala agent is more convenient.

Once the funds are received in his PayMaya account, Johndel is able to instantly unlock safe, convenient, and rewarding contactless transactions for his everyday needs.

On top of Johndel’s frequent transactions like buying load, doing bank transfers, and shopping online, PayMaya users can also use their account to settle their

government and utility bills, pay contactless at physical stores, buy treats and gaming pins at the in-app shop, and so much more.

Utilizing PayMaya for everyday transactions is not just convenient, it’s also safer as paying contactless, whether online or via QR lessens the risk of virus transmission often associated with cash handling. On top of this, PayMaya users also enjoy exclusive rewards for paying with PayMaya ensuring that they get the best value for their money.

Getting PayMaya and paying contactless for your purchases is very easy. Just download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and register an account, to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores! Remember, for your everyday needs, don’t pay cash. PayMaya!

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including “everyday” merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 28 million Filipinos with access to financial services.

Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 200,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 37,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya’s products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Technology as a great enabler

By Peter Paul Duran

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F ALL of this is just a dream, then many of us would want for this nightmare of COVID-19 to end.

A year into the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus of 2019 in the Philippines, the pandemic has definitely modified almost every facet of our waking life.

In the business sector, for example, companies were forced to shutter indefinitely, while some permanently, as effects of strict lockdowns resulting in diminished foot traffic for brick and mortar stores, financial fragility and the inevitable cost of reopening in the new normal.

However, as the age-old adage would say, there is a rainbow after every storm, and in a world halted by an unprecedented global health crisis, there is always a silver lining.

Zoom meetings in boxer shorts, safe food deliveries to satisfy midnight cravings and Netflix while chilling all day long, were just some of the ways people stayed in the safety of their homes for weeks and months on end.

Indeed, technology came as a necessity and a necessary medium for us to continue on with our altered lives amid the pandemic. Banking on the power of technology, companies that have strived during the bleak first few months of the health crisis, stood out among the crowd as they leveraged the power of the internet and the availability of digital assets to row against the current.

These businesses played their cards right and showed all of us just how to do the right kind of commerce in a pandemic— technology as the great enabler.

This comes at no surprise. In the confines of our homes, we find comfort in the rectangular spaces of the digital realm. We fidget with our phones, and for those more privileged, with tablets, laptops, smart speakers and TVs— all at the same time, even.

Through these gadgets and the connectivity given by social media, people have run to tech for entertainment, food, supplies, and many more.

As the demand and customers moved online, businesses that have been onboard digitally even before the pandemic hit, reaped the benefits of the sudden exodus to tap and click purchasing.

Not only that, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have suddenly popped up and setup shop through

Traditional businesses that once had physical stores, migrated to the online sphere to adapt with the changes brought about by COVID-19

their respective Facebook pages, posting in online groups to bank on free digital channels to sell their products and services.

Meanwhile, traditional businesses that once had physical stores, migrated to the online sphere to adapt with the changes brought about by COVID-19.

These establishments were forced to shut their doors down, but technology opened a big window of opportunity.

It comes Gadgets and connectivity as no surprise that technology has become indispensable in helping us buy, finance or otherwise acquire all the delicious food, irresistible shopping deals, and other wonderful things and everyday necessities that have kept us alive and well in the past year of the pandemic.

Technology really is the great enabler in these physically-distant times.

Accelerating...

from E7

advantages of technology in today’s world.

Yet despite the many advantages that followed the rise of technology, several others have also noticed some negative impacts that come with having gadgets around.

They argue that technology can distract people from their goals and disconnect them from reality. This comment is usually reserved for those who spend too much time on their phones or laptops.

Another negative view of technology is how it affects a person’s health especially during prolonged periods of use. Staring at computer screens or phones can cause eye strain, stress, and even fatigue.

Fortunately, thanks to technology, improvements have been made to help users stay in optimum shape despite long periods of use. Phones now give off notifications that remind people to take a rest after a certain amount of time, and anti-radiation glasses were likewise created so that the bright light from screens hardly affect one’s eyesight.

Moreover, modern scientists and inventors also took the state of the world into account.

With many years of being exposed to carbon emissions from factories and cars, more appliances, gadgets, and other items have been created with an environment-friendly feature.

In conclusion, technology has evolved over the years to fulfil the different needs of the progressing world. And like all things, it has pros and cons when used to a certain extent. But having gadgets around and hearing new ideas on how we can advance as a civilization leave room for much excitement as we continue to watch how we grow alongside technology.

In conclusion, technology has evolved over the years to fulfill the different needs of the progressing world. And like all things, it has pros and cons when used to a certain extent. But having gadgets around and hearing new ideas on how we can advance as a civilization leave room for much excitement as we continue to watch how we grow alongside technology.

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By P.Y. Deligero

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IVING in the 21st century has many advantages. We get to live in a society that’s forward-thinking and looking to solve issues that have been rampant in the past to create a more inclusive and safe environment for all.

Aside from that, we also get to enjoy comforts that the early generations didn’t experience. These comforts come in the form of technology which ultimately makes life easier, faster and entertaining.

Examples of these include vehicles, appliances, and gadgets. Vaccines and modern medicine are also a result of modern technology, which continues to evolve to keep up with the everchanging demands of society. It has also helped maintain civilizations, especially when it comes to their health and wellbeing.

Technology in the time of a pandemic The early years in our history bore some of the most gruesome records of illnesses that took millions of lives.

But with technology, vaccines, as well as countless medicinal solutions, were produced to help secure the health and safety of people.

This gave the public access to antibiotics, pain relievers and countless pharmaceuticals that we now enjoy today.

And just last year when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, sending the world into chaos, technology allowed medicine and research to expedite the process of creating a vaccine to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.

Using advanced technology, scientists were able to isolate a gene of the virus and work around it to create the vaccine that is now available today.

But this wasn’t the only crucial role that technology played during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through new apps and gadgets, technology has also found an opportunity to keep the world sane and functional.

Those at home had the chance to learn and work safely because they had the means to communicate and carry out their responsibilities using the technology they have with the use of laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

Accelerating rise of tech technology.

Households all across the globe need not worry about the temperature since they have access to air conditioners, electric fans, space heaters and more.

Entertainment has also become available in homes because of television sets and personal computers.

But aside from all these, portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, and the like have also become available to make life easier for its users. These gadgets allow people to communicate, play, work, and engage in their hobbies.

The internet has also become a commodity needed by people to be able to connect with others and stay updated on events from all around the world. It has been an accessible source of information especially if you know where to search.

Looking at the pros and cons of technology Nowadays, people tend to rely greatly on technology to get through their day to day routines because it allows them to get to where they want to go, communicate with others, and carry out their tasks faster and more efficiently.

It has also allowed various companies involved in research and development to create innovations to allow humankind to progress even further into the future.

These are only some of the many

Unlocking the power of technology

Employees who were given work from home conditions resorted to using online apps such as Zoom, Google Meet, Viber and many others. These were extensively used since they allowed members of a company to be able to communicate effectively with each other, even when physically far away from each other.

As for the students, they engaged in a new form of schooling that allowed them to learn more while staying safe: online classes.

The Department of Education and schools in the Philippines spruced up their online websites and e-classrooms so that teachers will have a platform to teach. On the other hand, students did their part by accessing and submitting their schoolwork through their school’s provided websites or Google Classroom.

Apps and gadgets have also kept people entertained and informed about what happened in their surroundings,

while adhering to the months-long community quarantine aimed to slow the spread of the virus.

Online streaming services such as iFlix, Netflix, and YouTube have seen a rise in the numbers of their viewers who want to “kill” time. The gaming community has also spent hours connecting and working towards finishing games to make the most of their time indoors.

But during the pandemic, a social media app called TikTok has become popular as it gave its users creative ideas for making videos while in isolation.

Modern times require modern technology In the 21st century, one of the prevalent technologies includes appliances and electronics. Since science has then been developed by great minds, who used their curiosity and creativity to get to the bottom of things, people now know that anything is possible with the right

Turn to E6 Scientists are able to isolate a gene of the virus and work around it to create the vaccine that is now available today.

BPI: Helping MSMEs navigate the challenging road to recovery

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HILE the world prepares for widespread vaccination programs to fast-track the return to normalcy, the MSME sector (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises) continues to struggle with sharp drops in demand and revenue.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), MSMEs, which play a vital role in creating jobs for Filipinos, have experienced an unprecedented decline in their businesses over the past couple of months because of the continuous implementation of varying community quarantine measures.

With this, according to ADB, a prolonged pandemic requires governments to consider an optimal approach that neither impedes national revenues nor increases the budgetary burden in the fight against COVID-19.

For MSMEs, this prolonged agony makes them worry about loan repayments and tax payments.

For its part, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)—the country’s pioneering bank which has survived economic upheavals, natural disasters, and even a pandemic in its 169-year history—has taken the necessary steps to support hard-hit firms to help them bounce back.

BPI, through its Business Banking unit, is among the first banks to respond to the needs of small and medium businesses and help them pivot towards resilience and growth.

The Bank offered flexible business loan solutions designed to help owners sustain their businesses during these challenging times. While many are probably hesitant to avail of loans given the uncertain economic environment, some have considered this as part of resiliency planning, one that helps organizations adjust and cope with the needs of the market.

In this respect, BPI Business Banking has also rolled out the Price Break program to extend support to qualified SME clients by offering discounted interest rates for their loans.

SMEs with small business credit and have SBC loans with rates above 8.0 percent per annum took advantage of the exclusive offer which lasted until December 2020. For its reprieve program, BPI extended a loan payment deferral for qualified clients for 90 days.

BPI’s Business Banking has also partnered with bancassurance firm BPI-Philam to provide free COVID-19 life insurance coverage worth P200, 000 for its clients and their employees for 90 days.

Digital banking BPI’s Business Banking also helped businesses innovate and cope with the changes in consumer behavior brought about by COVID-19, enhancing its cash management platform and other customercentric functionalities, and loading in-app e-wallets and website-integrated payment systems.

The bank has been giving many business clients a secure integrated payment system for their apps and websites to boost their branding and customer experience.

This is in addition to BizLink, BPI’s online corporate platform, which provides companies with a one-stop shop for digital collections, account management, and disbursements.

BPI has also ensured that withdrawing and depositing are convenient at this time through its 3,000 ATMs and CAMs available in major locations nationwide.

Through BanKo Mobile, NegosyoKo borrowers may easily view the schedule of their repayments, check their balance and payment history, and even pay their loans without having to leave their home or store, which is very convenient given the current restrictions and difficulty in transportation.

Even in these trying times, BanKo loans associates called BanKoPares and BanKoMares continue to check their clients’ situation and advise them on ways to sustain their businesses.

Since introducing NegosyoKo Loan to the market in 2016, BanKo has already served over 120,000 clients nationwide and released over PHP 12 billion in loans.

Innovative webinars BPI also launched a series of free innovative webinars to help SMEs adjust to the new normal. Its webinar series highlights economic and industry analysis from its inhouse economists and analysts; the benefits of technology in boosting organizational efficiency; and new normal practices that SMEs can integrate with their business model.

BPI also provides ideas and tips for improving business operations and tapping opportunities—collating articles, research reports, and other troves of useful knowledge from credible publicly available information and proprietary sources.

BPI cares Sustaining its position as a pioneer, BPI also launched the country’s first pesodenominated bonds to be issued as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were called BPI CARE Bonds (COVID Action Response Bonds).

Microfinance clients BPI issued the CARE Bonds to address BPI Direct BanKo, the microfinance arm of the financing needs of MSMEs as they work BPI, also offered its mobile banking app for to overcome the challenges brought about by its microfinance clients to urge its customers COVID-19. BPI has exceeded initial target and to go digital in this time of COVID-19. raised ₱21.5 billion, more than seven (7) times

the initial planned issue size of ₱3 billion.

The amount raised added to BPI’s capability to provide financing to this very important segment of the economy. The proceeds of the CARE Bonds have been allocated for the purpose of financing and refinancing eligible MSMEs under BPI’s Sustainable Funding Framework.

Sustained risk management Consistent with the Philippine central bank’s sustainable finance framework, BPI has also elevated its sustainability agenda by extending its project evaluation criteria surrounding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) to MSMEs. The Bank will bolster loan offering programs for MSMEs to facilitate greater productivity, higher employment, and reduced poverty for the sustainable growth of the sector.

This focus on sustainability has come into focus with the recent issuance of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular 1085.

Under the central bank’s guidelines, all banks are required to integrate sustainability principles, including those covering environmental and social risk areas in their corporate governance framework, risk management systems, and strategic objectives suitable for their size, risk profile, and consistency of operation.

BPI hopes that, with this, the sector will see the urgent need to improve sustainability risk consciousness to come up with better business continuity plans, in light of the new risks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that have become more likely in the future.

These are all part of the Bank’s commitment to the MSME sector. BPI is ready to provide sustainable solutions and innovations that empower MSMEs to rise up and recover from this difficult period. As their partner, BPI hopes to continue being a lifeline for its customers, a bank that responds to their needs, whatever the situation may be.

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Pamper your loved ones with affordable gifts from Shopee’s Valentine’s Day Sale

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OMPARED to 2020, this year’s Valentine’s Day festivities might be a little different.

With community quarantine still in place, we’ll surely miss romantic dinner dates in restaurants, crazy nights out with friends, and homey family get-togethers.

While we can’t be together physically, we can find other ways to celebrate and make the day special. Sending gifts is one way to make this unusual Valentine’s Day still worth remembering for people who mean the world to you—be it your partner, friends, family, or even yourself.

Choose from a wide selection of gifts up to 90% off at Shopee’s Valentine’s Day Sale.

Check them out below!

1. For your significant other T600 Smart Watch P498 Make sure your partner finds time for wellness with the T600 Smart Watch. This looks good whether you’re on or off the treadmill. It also monitors calorie intake, heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and sleeping habits.

2. For your best friend Heart Chain Necklace P15 Getting matching necklaces is a sweet, subtle way to show off your friendship. This minimalist Heart Chain Necklace is made of alloy and comes with a dainty heart pendant.

3. For your dad Sweet Night SuperMan Perfume P51 Your real-life superhero may not don a cape, but he can smell like one with this Sweet Night SuperMan Perfume. Each spritz contains notes of red currant, pear, orange blossom, and patchouli.

4. For your mom Fitflop Sandals P2,800 If your mom hasn’t bought anything for herself in a while, treat her to a new pair of sandals. These Fitflop Sandals are biomechanically engineered with seamless built-in arch contour, slip-resistant rubber outsole, and Microbubbleboard midsole technology for a comfy fit.

5. For ate CosRx Pimple Master Patch P125 Add this important item to your sister’s skin-

care routine. The CosRx Pimple Master Patch may be small, but it’s a skin savior! Each hydrocolloid sticker draws out sebum buildup, encourages cystic acne to come to a head, and calms down redness.

6. For kuya Mini Bluetooth Speaker P159 For your bro who’s into all things music, get a Mini Bluetooth Speaker. This portable option is perfect for both indoor and outdoor sound trips. It works up to a distance of 10 meters, operates at a capacity of 1200mah, and can play tunes for up to 10 hours.

7. For bunso Crab Shower Toy P399 Make bath time fun for your family’s little troublemaker!

This cute crab-shaped toy is a two-in-one bubble maker and music machine. It plays nursery songs and comes with three suction cups for attaching to the bathtub or bathroom wall.

8. For your boss Toblerone Chocolate P90 Bosses are notoriously hard to shop for, but who can say no to chocolate? Toblerone is a classic, fool-proof choice. This creamy Swiss chocolate comes in five variants: milk, white, dark, fruit & nut, and crunchy almond.

9. For your co-worker Hokka Notebook P90 Help your work BFF get organized with a Hokka Notebook. With its vibrant, eye-catching design, she’ll be sure to check off her to-do list every day!

10. For yourself Wolf Blass Yellow Label Moscato P674 Spending the day alone? Toast to self-love instead. Wind down with a chilled, refreshing glass of Wolf Blass Yellow Moscato, which has notes of citrus, florals, and musk.

Don’t miss out on the chance to score big discounts on these gifts and more at the Shopee Valentine’s Day Sale. Enjoy up to 90% off until February 14.

For more deals, don’t forget to top up your ShopeePay! Until February 28, enjoy 10% cashback on all cashback shops when you use ShopeePay. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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LGUs urged to step up COVID-19 vaccine info campaign

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OCAL government units (LGUs) must exert all efforts in educating their constituents on the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said this is to combat misinformation about the program.

“Right now, marami hong fake news na lumalabas at pag di natin ‘to na-verify at na-explain sa ating kababayan, maaaring mawalan ng kumpiyansa ang ating mga kababayan (there are lot of fake news appearing and if we do not verify and explain these to the people, they will have apprehensions about it),” Densing said during the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team visit to Pasig City.

Densing, however, clarified that those who do not want to be inoculated with

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will not be forced to get the vaccine.

“Based on DOH guidelines, those who don’t want to be vaccinated will not be forced. What is important is we are able to explain this and encourage people to get vaccinated. But we assume once the vaccine arrives and we hear that they don’t like the brand given to the local government, they will be at the end of the line again,” he added.

Earlier, the DILG urged all local government units (LGUs) to prepare a local vaccination plan as provided in the DOH guidelines on the National Vaccination Program and coordinate closely with their respective DOH-Centers for Health Development in preparing this plan.

DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that agency has issued Memorandum No. 2021-007 where LGUs are directed to come up with a vaccination plan that contains the preparation of risk communication plans and conduct of early vaccine communication campaign to disseminate critical information on COVID-19 vaccination.

Next page

Assistance Program which guides clients on the requirements needed when applying for a home loan in any of its accredited banks. It also developed CORA, the Customer Online Records Assistant, where homeowners can receive updates about their Century home, track receipts and documents, and pay for monthly amortizations via credit card.

Business as usual

In the face of change, Century Properties pushes forward with innovation and adaptability 2020, though a year of challenges, proved to be a lesson in perseverance, resilience, and adapting to changes. It’s no secret that businesses took a hit this year and the real estate industry was not spared from the effects of the pandemic. Construction was put on hold, operations had to be adjusted, and the customer’s journey of buying a home had to be revisited, too.

True to its values of working with purpose a n d s t r i v i n g fo r i n n ova t i o n , C e n t u r y Properties rose above the hurdles by quickly addressing the roadblocks set by the times.

From ensuring the safety of its employees and workers, to further boosting its digital effor ts to keep homeowners informed, the company continued to be of service – delivering on its commitment of building life - enhancing proper ties and helping clients own a home.

Aside from having safety protocols in place, the frontliners were also housed nearby so they can go to work without worrying about transportation.

A convenient digital homebuying experience Recognizing the need to meet clients on another platform, the company amped up its digital efforts, letting clients know they can still find the home of their dreams in these times. Taking safety into consideration, CPG

enhanced its websites to include virtual tours – allowing potential homeowners to view the properties without having to go to the location. Not only can they see the amenities, they can also look around the neighborhood and tour the available units, dressed or bare. What’s better is they can chat with a property specialist to discuss payment terms – bring contactless selling to a whole new level.

Going above and beyond these services, the company also introduced the Client Credit

CP-AD-2021-0053-(Manila Standard ad)-01.indd 1

In addition to these accomplishments, CPG also completed projects, turning over 1,200 units this year. Another 1,600 units will be turned over from February to April in 2021 as well. Construction is currently on-going at Commonwealth by Century in Quezon Cit y, Batulao Ar tscapes in Nasugbu, Batangas, and Azure North in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Health and safety first With the health of its employees, on-site personnel and construction workers as one of its priorities, the company extended assistance by providing additional r e s o u r c e s , s e t t i n g u p f l ex i b l e w o r k arrangements, and conducting regular testing. Before resuming construction in its project sites, workers and employees underwent testing and protocols were put in place to avoid the spread of the virus.

One with the nation The company practiced good corporate ci tize nshi p by ex te n di n g h e lp wh e re needed. CPG contributed to convert the Philippine Spor ts S tadium in Bulacan into a COVID -19 mega testing facility that has a minimum testing capacity of 1, 500 per day. Just recently, it also helped expedite the purchase of up to 3 million vaccines together with more than 30 other companies through a tripartite agreement with the government and AstraZeneca.

#CenturyAtYourService When the country was put under strict quarantine measures, the company made sure that its frontliners are ready to serve while also keeping them safe. CPG’s service champions in all its residential communities and establishments at Century City Mall and Centuria Medical Makati – from the concierge and security staff, to the engineering, proper ty management officers, and housekeeping teams – continued to report to duty despite the trying times, making certain that each property is running smoothly.

Despite the challenges, Century Properties soldiered on and pushed through with its business expansion plans. Aside from growing its commercial leasing business and affordable housing portfolio, it also maintained the healthy sales of its in-city vertical developments.

A better year ahead

Century Properties’ service champions continue to report to duty despite the trying times, making sure customers are taken care of.

As we prepare for 2021, Century Properties is ready to take on the year with optimism, guided by the three core principles of Innovation, Resilience and Growth, and Sustainability. The company will continue to re-align its strategies to meet the changing consumer needs and be of better service to its customers.

2/4/2021 12:33:35 PM

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LGUs urged...

LGUs have enough personnel for COVID-19 vaccine deployment: ULAP

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OCAL government units (LGU) have enough personnel for the Covid-19 vaccine deployment as the first wave of vaccine supplies is expected to arrive in the country within the month, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) national president and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua said.

“In the instance that the LGU doesn’t have enough personnel, the DOH [Department of Health] and the NTF [National Task Force] advised us na pwede po makipag-partner (that we can partner) with private hospitals, private practitioners to enlarge the manpower behind the vaccination rollout,” Cua said in an online media forum.

Cua said ULAP have conducted several activities to capacitate LGUs in the planning and implementation of processes related to the vaccine rollout such as masterlisting, microplanning, mapping of vaccination sites and teams, and human resource and management training.

“Masterlisting is an LGU led process and to consolidate the data LGUs were advised to use certain options such as COVID-19 electronic immunization registry,” he said.

The group also invited resource speakers from the national government to explain the vaccine procurement process and some pharmaceutical companies to present their products.

“In order to secure vaccines, LGUs

Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) national president and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua

enter into multilateral or tripartite agreement with the DOH, the NTF and the pharmaceutical company. In particular, the League of the Provinces of the Philippines will gather and collate the orders from the provinces and the League of Cities will gather the orders from independent and highly urbanized cities,” Cua said.

The DOH earlier said the LGUs cannot procure and roll out Covid-19 vaccines without coordination with the national government as it adheres to the principle of equity where delivery of services is biased towards the vulnerable and the disadvantaged.

In preparation for the delivery and distribution of the vaccines in their respective areas, Cua said LGUs are advised to establish local COVID-19 vaccination operation centers with needed supplies and equipment, syringes and other consumables, and stable electricity and freezers which are critical in the implementation phase.

“LGUs are also given guidance in the identification of vaccination

centers, the estimation of vaccine requirements, the preparation of a list of health personnel needed for the roll out, training of health personnel, preparation of cold chain storages and other logistical requirements, cascading information to the target groups, and spear-heading community engagements, activities and social preparations such as crafting of risk communications plans, vaccine communication campaign, mobilization of barangay personnel and other volunteers to assist in the actual vaccination,” he added.

As for the contact tracing regarding the United Kingdom variant of SARSCoV-2, Cua assured the public that LGUs observe the guidelines set by the DOH and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“As always reminded by the NTF and the DOH, the preparation for the vaccine rollout must not diminish the manpower behind the contact tracing in COVID-19 management, so dapat hindi dapat maapektuhan nung management ng Covid ‘yung (so the Covid management should not affect the) vaccination rollout, so we really need to expand and get as many people as we can involve,” he said.

COVAX Facility Managing Director Aurélia Nguyen said their office will distribute 117,000 doses of Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine and 5.5 to 9.2 million indicative doses of AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccine to the country starting the third week of this month.

COVAX is a global initiative that ensures rapid and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for all countries regardless of their income level.

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The plan must also include a master list of priority eligible vaccinee population; identification of possible vaccine centers, available cold chain storages, and other logistical requirements; and a master list of existing human resources and personnel needed in the vaccination program.

Malaya said that the reorganization of existing Emergency Operation Centers in LGUs to include a dedicated arm for vaccine concerns; mobilization of barangay personnel and other volunteers to assist in the preparation and actual vaccination; and, the participation of concerned offices and personnel such as LGU health offices, Public Information Offices and Sanitation Offices, among others, must also be part of the said plan.

“This COVID-19 vaccination will be the biggest of such program in our history so we encourage the LGUs to prepare their vaccination plan for we need this to be as smooth as possible since the lives of the people are at stake here,” he said.

Malaya also said LGUs must comply with the guidelines issued by the DOH and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 on matters regarding the vaccination and that they must be in close coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection for assistance for any assistance required.

Following the tripartite approach in LGU procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, the DILG also urged close coordination among local government units (LGUs) and between the LGUs and the National Task Force COVID-19 Vaccine Cluster led by Sec. Carlito Galvez.

Malaya said that in the recent meeting between Galvez, the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), DILG, and DOH, all component cities and municipalities with available funds for vaccine procurement are encouraged to coordinate with their provincial governments.

LGUs seeking authorization for emergency use for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccine must also coordinate with their provincial governments to ensure that there is enough vaccine supply for everyone, he said.

In a recent advisory released by the DILG, the provincial governments are directed to consolidate all purchase requests of their component LGUs and submit these to their respective Regional Task Forces for submission to DOH and the NTF Vaccine Cluster.

Meanwhile, highly-urbanized cities (HUCs) and independent component cities (ICCs) intending to procure COVID-19 vaccines are encouraged to coordinate directly with the DOH and NTF Vaccine Cluster.

LGUs are also advised to procure not more than 50 percent of their vaccine requirement due to the current limited supply of vaccines worldwide.

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Angara files bill seeking to assist LGUs in shifting to digital

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O BOLSTER the country’s efforts in developing and implementing e-government services, Senator Sonny Angara said local government units (LGUs) should take the lead in digital transformation for the public sector.

Angara noted how the shift to digital or online services has accelerated because of the COVID-19 pandemic and “government cannot afford to be left behind.”

“One need only to look into how more Filipinos now use their mobile phones and computers to shop, do their groceries, and even transact with their banks. Our government processes and services should follow suit,” Angara said in a news release.

According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, only 30 percent of LGUs have taken steps to digitize their processes.

In a September 2020 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, researchers pointed out that limited access to computers, lack of standardization, poor infrastructure, and other related issues are hindering the development and implementation of e-government services throughout the country.

While many LGUs have opted to maintain the status quo and continue with face-to-face transactions with their constituents, Angara said the absence of digital services poses some real problems such as what was experienced in the distribution of cash aid during the enhanced community quarantine period.

“We witnessed how thousands of people had to go out of their homes and line up at designated areas in their respective LGUs to apply and receive their cash assistance. This was not only a labor-intensive and tedious process, but also created significant health risks on both the recipients and the government workers,” Angara said.

To facilitate the transition of LGUs to

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Transport...

Senator Sonny Angara

digital services, Angara has filed Senate Bill 1943 or the Local Information and Communications Technology Officer (ICTO) Act, which seeks to create a new position of ICTO in all provinces, cities, and municipalities across the country.

This will entail an amendment to Sections 443 (a), 454 (a), and 463 (a) of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, which deal with the officials of the municipal, city and provincial governments.

ICTOs will manage the following: formulating and executing digitization plans for processes and public documents in their respective LGUs; develop, maintain, and supervise all other information and communications technology programs and services of the LGU (including partnerships with the private sector); and collate and disseminate information regarding ICT and the services of the local government to the public.

Aside from being Filipino citizens of good moral character, ICTOs will be required to have degrees from recognized colleges and universities, in information and communications technology, computer science, computer engineering, data science, electronics and communication engineering, or any other course that will be directly relevant to the job.

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The transport department is also pushing for the acquisition of new train sets for the MRT-3, LRT-1, and Philippine National Railways (PNR) lines to increase their respective capacities, among others. At least four (4) 4th Generation LRVs out of 120 for LRT-1 and its Cavite Extension; three (3) new Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives (DHL) and fifteen (15) passenger coaches are now being utilized.

Apart from these endeavours, the DOTr said it was putting in place mass public transportation as the principal means of mobility to reduce dependence on private vehicles, with the objective of reducing exhaust emissions, given that 70% of air pollution comes from vehicle emissions.

That has prompted the shift to clean energy of public buses and other public utility vehicles, which has become more relevant and timely with the pandemic.

The LTFRB has rationalized routes and has undertaken the Public Utility Modernization Program (PUVMP) to ensure order, efficiency, safety and protection of the environment through clean fuel use in public land transport.

At the same time, PUV drivers through the Service Contracting program have been able to make up for loss income during the restrictions.

At present, the DOTr is expanding bicycle lanes in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao under the Bayanihan 2 Bike Lane Networks project.

Around 29 kilometers of bike lanes were

already established to date. Before the year ends,and 140 kilometers of bike lanes are expected to expand the bike lane network, apart from the 31 bike sharing participants.

The concept of a “walkable community” is also on top of the transport list, with the EDSA Greenways Project Phase 1. The project aims to establish “greenways” or walkable nodes at different railway stations. It aims to serve 1.1 million pedestrians daily in 2023 and 1.2 million/day in 2051. Target partial operations of the project is by December 2021, and full operations by February 2023.

Outside Metro Manila, the concept of public and active transport on roads goes hand in hand with the establishment of bus systems.

In Cebu, the DOTr is pushing for the partial operability of one of the crucial segments (Package 1) of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (Cebu BRT) within 2021. DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade ordered a 24/7 construction work schedule for the project.

The Cebu BRT’s Package 1, which covers the 2.6-kilometer busway, with four (4) stations, urban realm enhancement, and vital intersection improvements, is already at the procurement stage.

In Davao, a modern high priority bus system is mandated to provide an efficient, world-class, and affordable mode of transportation through the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP).

Partial operations will commence this year as the parcellary works are currently ongoing following the awarding of its contract.

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GETTING BACK ON TRACK

Auto industry seeks rebound as ‘frontliners’ adjust tacks

By Randy Caluag

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HEN the chips are down, expect wily Filipino business owners to innovate and succeed at any circumstances.

The local car industry was one of the hardest hit sectors by the raging blows of the COVD-19, but thanks to the industry “frontliners”, it remained resilient, steady on the way to slow recovery.

While principal brand makers develop and re-route their strategies to stem the adverse effects of the pandemic, it was almost like the fate of survival was left to the hands of the local car dealers—considered as the car industry’s frontliners.

Karlo Domingo, who manages one of the family-owned Isuzu dealerships in North and Central Luzon, achieved a perfect sales target through digital innovation and re-focusing of energy.

“Car dealers, including us, took a bad hit in terms of service operations. Areas

were quarantined and have different protocols on allowing vehicles to come in and out for several months,” admitted Domingo.

With limitations in the movement of people due to government-imposed quarantine that may last longer, Domingo and his management team developed a business strategy—the digital way. And it proved to be an excellent formula for success.

“The number of walk-in customers might not be the same as before but there are ways of reaching them safely online.

The digital platform for marketing is a great tool we have yet to maximize.”

Testament to Domingo’s Isuzu Bulacan branch was its being awarded the top Izusu Branch of the Year from

GAC Motors and Isuzu are set to introduce new models amid the pandemic era

Commercial vehicles like the Isuzu Travis are expected to dominate the market this year

Izusu Philipppines for achieveing 100 percent sales target in 2020.

The BM Domingo Motor Sales Inc.’s branches in Cabanatuan and Isabela also achieved the same feat in terms of units and parts sales.

Of course, it also helped that Isuzu has a more diverse models – from passenger to commercial vehicles--- that proved more useful at a time when people want mobility for business purposes rather than leisure or casual transport.

“I think that our products are in a segment that was needed in situations like these,” Domingo added.

“Our truck lineup covers a wide range of businesses. From utility vehicle to tractor heads. The Isuzu Traviz, for example, is a light duty truck, perfect for

SMEs that can be be paires with a variety of truck body application.”

For this year, Domingo said the company is also banking on the government’s full support of the Jeepney Modernization Program of which Isuzu is actively participating.

“I believe that the four-wheeler trucks will have the biggest demand in the truck category for booming industries such as courier services, food deliveries, and medical needs. Isuzu can provide such vehicles with the prefered truck body suited for every clients needs.”

“For now, our business strategy is to continuously explore the potential of digital marketing.”

INDUSTRY SETBACK The pandemic claimed two of the

biggest Japanese automakers which recently closed their manufacturing facilities in the country.

First was Honda Cars Philippines which stopped production operations for its compact SUV BR-V and small sedan City in its plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna in March last year at the onset of strict quarantine protocols imposed by the government aimed at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Honda said its action was part of the optimization of its production operations in Asia and Ocenia.

Honda Cars Philipines though will continue its automobile sales and aftersales service operation in the Philippines, Next page

Color Your World: MPIC Calendar brings life to 2021

By Magic Bautista

C

HALLENGING, eventful, relentless, uncertain – all words that can define the year that was 2020. The obstacles of a global pandemic, incessant natural disasters, and the resulting aftermath served as a powerful eye-opener to the Philippines and the world.

2020 became the year of strife and struggle, of surviving situations that nobody was truly prepared for, and of changes that affected millions, if not billions of lives. It became the year of missing: missing life events and loved ones, missing freedom and the luxury of moving without restrictions, and missing the small things that make our lives bright and colorful.

With all the challenges the country and the world has faced, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) is determined to make 2021 all about bringing color back to the lives that were dulled and darkened by the year that passed. Even throughout the imposed quarantines, MPIC has made it a goal to continuously shine as a beacon of light amid the darkness by keeping the lights on, the clean water running, the roads open, and the hospitals world-class.

Bringing Color Back to 2021 As a sentiment to the prospect of a better, brighter future ahead, MPIC recently released its Color Your World 2021 Calendar, the first coloringbook-style corporate calendar depicting its core businessesin black-and-white images coupled with inspiring quotations.

“The MPIC calendar which comes with a set of Colleen colored pencils, was conceptualized to help us reflect and meditate on how the past year has affected the world and how we can bring color back to 2021,” said Melody del Rosario, Vice-President for Public Relations and Corporate Communications. “The graphics illustrate how ourcore businesses are intertwined with our daily cycle of life. It likewise depicts motivational quotes from successful businessmen, philosophers, artist and novelist in order to let you see life from another, wider perspective,” added Del Rosario.

For the Planet and the People The calendar is MPIC’s immediate follow-up to its commitment to two sustainability alliances: the United Nations Global Compacwt (UNGC) and the Sustainable Accounting Board Alliance (SASB), geared towards perpetuating the global standards of monitoring the sustainability initiatives of corporations.

Through Color Your World, MPIC addresses two pillars of sustainability: environmental and social, informally referred to as planet and people. It is intended to be an interactive past time that not only yields a useful and beautiful product, but also creates benefits for the individuals’ who participate in the coloring experience. It puts value to their

January Winner Althea Faith Abao’s colorful rendition won her a special prize and a feature on MPIC’s social media platforms.

time, their creative vision, and their intention for the year 2021.

Each month features an image dedicated to a core business and a corresponding sentiment that becomes the inspirational boost needed to make each day count. Both internally with its employees in the mother company and subsidiaries, and externally with its stakeholders, MPIC invites all to color in each page and share their colorful months with the company. It becomes an homage to the Filipino spirit of bayanihan – of bringing back color to the lives of Filipinos most affected by 2020.

Color Your World enjoins all to move forward with gratitude and give 2021 a fresh coat of life.All that’s left is to color in the rest of the year.

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through the utilization of Honda’s Asia and Oceania regional network.

Another Japan-based carmaker Nissan Motor Philippines has also informed the Department of Trade and Industry that it was ending its assembly deal with Univation Motors, which assembled Almera units in its manufacturing operations in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

As a result of the assembly plant shutdown, some 133 workers faced displacement althought Nissan assured that they would be compensated well.

The first to close down their production facilities in recent years were Ford Motor Co. in June 2012 and Isuzu’s pickup truck assembly plant in 2019.

DTI secretary Ramon Lopez acknowledged the critical situation the local auto industry is in right now and attibuted this largely on surge in imports with the country being one of the most open markets among Southeast Asian nations in terms of automotive vehicle imports.

In an an effort to stop the bleeding, at least temporarily, the DTI has imposed a provisional increase in tarrif on imported passenger cars and imported light commercial vehicles that

will be in effect within 200 days.

“The provisional safeguard measures need to be immediately put in place to protect the domestic industry from further serious injury,” Lopez said.

POSITIVE PROSPECT Isuzu Bulacan’s Karlo Domingo, just like other industry expert, expects the car industry to bounce back this year.

“I personally think that the automotive industry will recover from last years decline.

The industry is starting to pickup, new vehicle models are coming in, and the market is starting to adjust to the new normal. All these factors will contribute to regain numbers. There are booming businesses that have great potential which will be needing vehicles for operation.”

While growth is expected to be impeded by the government’s import safeguard measure, car industry players remain optimistic and will not hold back in their expansion and introduction of new models for the Filipino car buyers.

KIA Philippines president Manny Alegado said it projects to double their market share as it banks on two new models that it plans to bring in within the second half of 2021 and possible two more if the acceptance is good.

KIA will also introduce new products as part

of its after-market services, beginning with a new mineral oil which is 40 percent more affordable than synthetic oil.

It also intends to spread its wings with the planned addition of eight more dealers and two sales outlets to add to its exisiting 30 dealers nationwide.

Isuzu, for its part, is also expanding this year with new branches, most recent was the Bacoor sales office. It is also is introducing in March the latest version of its Isuzu pick-up truck.

CHAVIT’S BET Undettered by the pandemic that still persists, GAC Motor (Guangzhou Automotive Group Co. Ltd.), one of China’s top-ranked auto brands is making a strong bid this year to be spearheaded by the group of former Ilocos Sur Governor and now Narvacan Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson With 66 years of manufacturing, GAC Motor has become one of the most trusted Chinese car brands in terms of quality and reliability.

Through the years, it has invested heavily in a first-class Research and Development (R&D) and recently in a world-class supply chain suystem that earned for it top Chinese brand honors by J.D. Power Asia Pacific for

BM Domingo’s Isuzu Bulacan turns over several trucks to clients

eight consecutive years.

If a GAC car were a robot, its citizenship would be multination.

GAC Motor is being supplied by the leading auto part brands in the world such as Bosch, Denso, Continental, Aisin, Siemens, and Magna. It has also partnered with Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, N.V. for local production of foreign brands in China.

In recent years, the brand has witnessed steady development by strengthening its global brand presence in 25 countries in the Middle East, South Africa, and the Southeast Asia.

Singson was so impressed that

he vowed and envisioned bringing this automotive brand to the Philippines. In October 2018, the GAC Motor brand was officially launched in the country under the exclusive distributorship of Legado Motors, Inc. With the on-going demand for passenger vehicles and positive market feedback, GAC Motor is set to introduce its 7-seater MPV to the Philippine market: the 2021 GAC GN6.

So far, the local GAC Motor vehicle line-up consists of five models namely: the GA4 sedan, GA8 executive sedan, GS3 subcompact SUV, GS4 compact SUV, GS8 mid-sized SUV, and the GN8 minivan.

Been driving around more often?

Here are some road safety tips to remember EVER since quarantine restrictions were eased mid-last year, more and more Filipinos have been starting to head out and hit the road. And with the expected arrival of COVID-19 vaccines soon, these numbers will definitely increase.

Despite this rise in mobility however, there are still plenty of risks when driving around at this time. These include the more aggressive COVID-19 strain, the hassle that comes with not having RFID stickers installed yet, and being disoriented by new lane assignments along major highways like EDSA. So how can you ensure yours and everyone else’s safety on the road? Here are five tips to keep in mind: Try not to head out unless it’s absolutely necessary If you have no business heading out, just stay at home. Doing so will significantly reduce the likelihood of contracting and spreading the virus and the probability of getting into an accident on the road—these odds exist by the way. Sure, you’ve probably seen many of your friends driving around frequently, but it doesn’t mean you should, too.

Brush up on road rules and regulations Being stuck at home for an extended period of time last year may have prompted us to feel a bit disconnected from the outside world and have led most to forget the usual sights and road signs that we see. Add that to the fact that there are newly implemented and revised road laws that we may not be as well acquainted with, as we once were.

To refresh and sharpen your road knowledge, try browsing through the reviewers provided by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on their website.

It’s the perfect refresher course for all road rules, signs, and regulations relevant today.

Ensure that your vehicle is in the right condition Do you remember the last time you brought your vehicle in for maintenance?

If the answer is a “no” or “yes, but it was before the pandemic hit”, it would probably be best to have your vehicle checked before driving it around to prevent any mechanical problems on the road.

One way to ensure that your vehicle is in the right condition is to check out which warning lights on your dashboard are on.

Be as defensive as ever before While most drivers agree that driving is a skill that one never forgets, no one said anything about how driving skills can diminish after going months without using them. Many drivers have been feeling a bit rusty and careless especially during their first drive after quarantine. With that, be as defensive as you can when you drive this year. Be conscious of your surroundings and try to eradicate any distractions especially since majority of road accidents last year involved distracted drivers.

Watch out for Road safety tips from Honda’s official Facebook page A good tip would also be to constantly seek out advice for road safety. Like and follow pages like Honda Cars Philippines to get regular doses of tips that will definitely come in handy as you go along Philippine roads.

These tips are part of the car company’s commitment to reduce road accidents through road safety education and collaboration with different sectors of society so you can rest assured that these are well thought of.

Honda has been releasing tips like these for quite some time now as it has been prioritizing road safety not just through the technological advancements installed in their vehicles, but through their “One Honda Road Safety” program.

The program, launched in 2017, aims to educate current and future Filipino drivers on road safety through activities like the “TeenSmart Road Safety seminar” for senior high school students, the “Road Safety for our family program” for Honda employees, Barangay safety riding clinics, and engaging road safety promotion posts on social media.

To learn more about road safety tips and One Honda Road Safety, visit HCPI’s official Facebook page or head to www. hondaphil.com

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Kaagapay sa Pagtugon sa Hamon ng Bagong Panahon

MILLIONS of workers affected or displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic receive cash assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment. The aid is part of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) to accelerate the recovery and bolster the resiliency of the Philippine economy.

One-time P5,000 financial assistance to affected workers in private establishments

Assisted 1,025,547 workers from the formal sector amounting to over P5.2 billion *as of January 31, 2021

TUPAD

Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced Workers

Emergency employment for workers in the informal sector

Disbursed over P5.2 billion covering 934,900 informal sector workers *as of January 31, 2021

DOLE-AKAP FOR OFWs Abot-Kamay Ang Pagtulong

One-time USD 200.00 or P10,000 cash aid to displaced sea-based and land-based OFWs

Benefitted 118,416 displaced OFWs amounting to over P1.191 billion *as of January 31, 2021

HOTLINE 1349

(02) 8527-3000

dole.gov.ph

@laborandemployment

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TRANSPORT INDUSTRY DEFIES THE PANDEMIC, ROLLS ON

By R. L. Tomeldan

HINGS are looking up in the transport industry, one of the engines of growth which the government is banking on to drive the economy through the virus pandemic.

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The private automotive sector is also starting to regain its footing, fired up by the growing need for enhanced mobility other than commuting on public transport.

The Edsa Carousel and PITX bus exchange and related systems have been installed and are working like clockwork despite some minor kinks. State-supervised railways have also been chugging along, ferrying front line workers and commuters whose number has to be limited given the lingering threat of COVID-19 infection.

Drawing inspiration from the mantra that is “build back better”, the private sector did its bit, although not to be sneezed at, and created road infrastructure one after the other flag shipped by the Skyway Project 3 of San Miguel Corporation’s Ramon S. Ang, President and chief executive officer. While still at it, the visionary Ang doubles down on his advocacies for enhanced mobility by initiating the AeroCity in Bulacan, which has just received formal approval from government and is now preparing for the takeoffs. At the same time, Ang has drawn up the Pasig River Expressway, that is touted to

34TH ANNIVERSARY

connect East and West sections of Metro Manila, thus speeding up the transport of people and cargo in the next few years.

Another visionary, Manny V. Pangilinan of the MVP Group of companies has begun the spadework for the mega-buck project, Urban Ring Road that is envisioned to link north and south for seamless travel. MVP’s Metro

Data Science, AI to accelerate Aboitiz businesses’ growth THE Aboitiz Group is fully embracing the use of digital technology, pushing for further innovation, a change in the way that it operates its various businesses through the use of data-driven solutions and Artificial Intelligence.

“Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) are transformative capabilities that will accelerate the Aboitiz Group’s productivity, drive business value, and open up new revenue streams,” Aboitiz Group president and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz said.

The company formed working groups on Data Governance, Data Science, and Innovation, which will serve as avenues for alignment, consultation, and discussions to maximize and optimize the reuse of DSAI solutions, knowledge, and source sharing among SBUs. At its helm is global data science expert Dr. David R. Hardoon, UnionBank Senior Advisor for Data and AI and Aboitiz Group Data Committee Chairman.

“DSAI is a core differentiator enabling organisations to flourish digitally. Our focus within the Group is to innovate and systematically operationalise DSAI benefits for all BUs in areas such as customer engagement, operations and in materialising ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) goals, ” Dr. Hardoon said.

Banking and Financial Services.

Aboitiz banking subsidiary Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) pioneered in leveraging DSAI in banking solutions as part of its digital transformation. The bank saw a surge in digital banking transactions over the years due to evolving consumer behavior. And with the lockdowns brought about by the pandemic, consumers were forced to embrace digital banking.

In 2019, UnionBank encouraged aspiring data scientists to elevate the profession with the launch of its own Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute, which is aimed at producing and nurturing big data professionals to help usher innovations at the bank.

To date, more than 65 future data scientists are part of a learning program that covers data processing, programming visualization, analysis and mining, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

PETNET, a financial services unit under UnionBank, has one goal in mind: ensure that team members are data-driven and analytically capable in running the business. Hence, the company formed a Data Analytics team which will help in reading trends and drawing insights to make data-driven and informed decisions to provide better customer service.

Power. For the Aboitiz Group’s energy arm, Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), DSAI will play an inte-

Pioneer in Digital Banking. UnionBank is at the forefront of leveraging DSAI in banking solutions (file photo)

gral role in driving the company’s 10-year growth strategy. This is to address the energy trilemma of the availability, cost-efficiency, and sustainability of the country’s energy supply.

DSAI will be a key component of AboitizPower’s 1AP Digital Strategy, called DigitaLeap, which aims to implement several initiatives as part of its digital transformation. These include remote plant operations, convergence of information and operational technologies, next-generation energy trading capabilities, and advanced metering infrastructure, among others.

Food. For its DSAI implementation, the Food Group built a tool called Analytics Central—a one-stop portal that not only addresses ease of access to data-driven solutions, but also data security by using a double-layer solution.

Current applications available in the tool are Pilmico’s retail meat shop “The Good Meat,” the Food Group Covid-19 Health Pass, Feeds and Farm Division’s operational dashboards, and budget presentation for management meetings.

Infrastructure. Meantime, Aboitiz cement manufacturing unit Republic Cement & Building Materials, Inc. (Republic Cement), sees the value of DSAI in operations planning and optimization of production costs. The precision that data science offers will not only provide Republic Cement with data-driven insights but also allows it to remain steadfast in delivering consistent and high-quality products for the Philippine market.

Republic Cement teamed up with UnionBank’s Data Solutions Team to create a tool that predicts cement quality based on historical chemical concentration combinations. It helps operators and quality managers optimize concentrations of raw materials and efficiently save time, resulting in better resource management and increased operational efficiency.

Land. Real estate unit AboitizLand is jumpstarting its journey into DSAI as it prioritizes providing better services to its customers. The launch of its contactless homebuying campaign at the onset of the pandemic marked its successful pivot into the digital sphere.

The company recently teamed up with UnionBank for an improved customer profiling system and a predictive model that will detect construction delays. Also in the pipeline is the update of its Sales and Vecino Portal for a smoother end-to-end home-buying process making it easier for buyers to reserve units, track payments made, monitor construction milestones and easily apply for a housing loan.

Distribution unit Davao Light manages its first digital substation.

Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) is tasked with building a network of urban expressways to link up the west, east, north, and south sides of the entire Metro Manila area through interconnected tollways which will comprise a “ring around the metropolis “That’s why we call it the‘MPTC Urban Ring Road,’ which is designed to improve circulation and assure unimpeded traffic flow,” said Rodrigo E. Franco, MPTC President and CEO. The MPTC Urban Ring Road solves city traffic by providing high-speed, highstandard seamless network of expressways within and around Metro Manila, Franco says. It will decongest local roads and strengthen the road network configuration by separating local in-city trips from inter-city to inter-regional travel.

For its part, the Transportation department as regulator is seeing to it that all land-seaair travel projects dovetail with government rules and regulations. Its latest project the Metro Manila Subway has taken delivery of a major equipment, In the works are several key mass transport systems and highcapacity public transport vehicles, to move more people while using less vehicles and occupying less road space, Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Most notable of these projects is the country’s first ever subway system. Last Friday, the 74-ton cutterhead of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) “Kaunlaran” recently arrived in the country. Which signals that all systems are “go” for the Metro Manila Subway.

Nearing completion, Tugade said, are the extension works on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Extension from Metro Manila to Cavite― stalled for almost two (2) decades, but is now targetted for partial operations by the 4th quarter of 2021; the LRT-2 East Extension from Santolan to Masinag, which will be completed in April; the PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban to Malolos), that is targeted for partial operations by 4th quarter of 2021; the Common Station, which is expected to be completed by the 4th quarter of 2021; the Manila MRT-7 from North Avenue, Quezon City Standard TODAY to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, shall be ready for partial operations by 4th quarter of this year and for full completion by 2022; and the MRT-3 rehabilitation, which is slated for completion in July 2021.

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