Manila Standard - 2022 January 29 - Saturday

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PH welcomes back tourists

No visa, quarantine for fully vaxxed travelers from 157 nations by Feb. 10

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3,511,491 18,638

231,658

53,801

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VOL. XXXV • NO. 347 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tourism operators across the nation have been devastated by a plunge in international visitors and restrictions on domestic travel.

Their misery was worsened by super typhoon “Odette” that smashed into the country in December, wiping out resorts, restaurants and bars in popular tourist destinations.

"The tourism industry can now recover and it can contribute greatly to jobs, livelihoods and the country's economic growth," presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles told a briefing.

A previous plan to welcome back tourists from Dec. 1 was suspended after the emergence of the hyper-contagious Omicron variant that has since ripped through the Philippines.

Friday's announcement allows for the resumption of visa-free travel for short visits by nationals from the 157 countries who already enjoyed permit-free entry to the Philippines before the pandemic began.

Fully vaccinated tourists from countries on the list will need to test negative

3,226,032 13,106 (As of 4 PM, JANUARY 29)

Case uptrend in Mindanao, Visayas holds

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta COVID-19 cases in the Visayas and Mindanao are increasing, while infections are decreasing in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

The DOH earlier flagged a "sustained increase" in cases in the Visayas and Mindanao at 87.35 percent and 164.72 percent, respectively, during the previous week.

“Let's not worry, let's not panic because we can prevent the spread of the virus through immediate vaccination and observance of health protocols,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in Filipino at an online briefing.

Most of the cases in Metro Manila are asymptomatic, mild, or moderate, she Next page said.

PH last anew in Bloomberg resilience list THE Philippines plunged to the bottom of the Bloomberg COVID Resilience Ranking, again making the country the worst place to be during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest Bloomberg report, released Thursday, showed the Philippines was ranked last among 53 countries with a score of 48.3.

In response, Malacañang said Friday the country's latest economic growth was the best indicator of resilience.

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles cited government data which showed that the fourth quarter 2021 growth rate stood at 7.7 percent. This is faster than the 6.9% posted in the third quarter.

Full-year growth was at 5.6 percent, beating the government's forecast.

Last December 1, 2021, the country was at the end of the list with a resilience score of 43.1.

The Philippines “edged up” slightly from being the worst place to be during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it ranked 50th last December 23, 2021.

“Difficulties administering vaccines in remote areas continue to be a vulnerability as the country sees an Omicron Next page

HE Philippines will re-open to fully vaccinated tourists from most countries on Feb. 10 and lift quarantine requirements, officials said Friday, nearly two years after closing its borders to contain the coronavirus.

Next page

CROUCHING TIGER. Shoppers enjoy taking selfies with a giant tiger statue made from fresh petals inside a mall in Pasay City on Friday, January 28, 2022. Danny Pata

Ferolino: Guanzon tried to pressure me Macalintal: Punish her for violating rules

By Maricel V. Cruz COMMISSION on Elections Commissioner Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio on Friday turned the tables on her colleague, fellow First Division member Rowena Guanzon, over the latter's allegation that there was a delay in the resolution of three disqualification cases against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Ferolino-Ampoloquio belied Guanzon's claim that there was an “internal agreement” for the First Division to decide on the cases by Jan. 17.

She said it was not possible to resolve the pending cases that quickly since the consolidated Next page

WHO exec accused of ‘racist,’ abusive behavior THE World Health Organization vowed to take action following a slew of allegations from staff past and present against its Western Pacific regional director, including racist, abusive and authoritarian behavior.

Japanese doctor Takeshi Kasai, who denied the allegations, is accused of presiding over a "toxic atmosphere" at the WHO regional office in Manila, with a culture of "systemic bullying and public ridiculing."

The staff, who wanted to remain anonymous "for fear of retaliation," accused him of making "derogatory remarks to staff of certain nationalities," in particular local Filipinos.

"WHO is aware of the allegations and is taking all appropriate steps to follow up on the matter," the organization's global headquarters in Geneva told AFP, without elaborating.

Earlier Thursday, the Associated Press news agency published an in-

vestigation indicating that dozens of WHO staff filed an internal complaint in October.

They then sent an email in mid-January to member states on the WHO's 34-country executive board – which is meeting in Geneva this week and was attended by Kasai.

In the email, seen by AFP, the staff accused Kasai of Next page

Cebuana first Miss Summit International

By Eton Concepcion

OPEN AGAIN. Devotees of the Black Nazarene are back as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) reopens for public masses on January 28, 2022.

Norman Cruz

NICA Zosa kicked off the Philippines’ winning tradition for 2022 after claiming the first Miss Summit International 2022 title in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Miss Canada and Miss USA were named first and second runners up, respectively.

Next page

CEBUANA LASS.

Nica Zosa, a 22-year-old beauty from Medellin, bests 22 other representatives for the Miss Summit International 2022 crown.

DepEd bats for jabs for all students

By Willie Casas THE Department of Education on Friday said it would prefer to vaccinate all students against COVID-19 in preparation for expanded face-to-face classes.

At an online briefing, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said this is based on their agreement with the Department of Health (DOH).

Malaluan said the DOH as well as vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. have already committed to prioritize the vaccination.

The pilot rollout of the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 is set to start on Feb. 4. According to Malaluan, there are around 14 million students in basic education who belong to this age group.

With the start of the vaccination of this age group and the ongoing inoculation drive for 12 to 17 years old adolescents, Malaluan said these would cover students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 Level.

The conduct of the expanded faceto-face classes in the country will start

by February, the DepEd said.

The DOH on Friday said walk-ins for COVID-19 vaccination for children Next page

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News

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

4 of 5 Pinoys OK with booster shot The survey found that only 7 percent were unwilling, while 3 percent probably not, 3 percent surely not, correctly rounded, to get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The remaining 13 percent were uncertain about getting a booster shot.

The December 2021 survey found only 8 percent of adult Filipinos were unwilling to get vaccinated against COVID-19, down from the 18 percent in September 2021, 21 percent in June 2021, and 33 percent in May 2021.

The survey showed that willingness to get the booster was also high among different areas in the country—82 percent in Balance Luzon, 81 percent in Metro Ma-

nila, 79 percent in Visayas, and 78 percent in Mindanao.

“On the other hand, those unwilling to get a booster dose hardly vary by area, ranging from 6-7 percent,” SWS said.

At the same time, those uncertain about getting a booster dose are highest in Mindanao at 17 percent, followed by the Visayas at 15 percent, Metro Manila at 12 percent, and Balance Luzon at 10 percent.

Likewise, the percentage of vaccinated adults willing to get a booster dose is high in all age groups—84 percent among those 55 years old and above, 81 percent for 45 to 55-year-olds, 79 percent for 35 to 44-year-olds, 78 percent for 25

to 34-year-olds, and 74 percent for 18 to 24-year-olds.

“On the other hand, those unwilling to get a booster dose hardly vary by age group, ranging from 5-10 percent,” SWS said.

The Fourth Quarter 2021 SWS survey was conducted from December 12-16, 2021, using face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults nationwide, with a sampling error margin of ±2.6% for national percentages.

Meanwhile, Sputnik Light, Russia's single dose vaccine, can now be used as a booster shot regardless of the primary vaccine, the Department of Health said.

The Food and Drug Administration in November amended the vaccine’s emergency use authorization to allow its use "as a heterologous booster" or a third dose following a primary series of a different vaccine brand.

Experts said Sputnik Light was found to have neutralizing antibodies against the omicron variant when used as a booster

PH...

geire said it made no sense to restrict international travelers when COVID-19 transmission rates in the Philippines were so high, "maybe even higher" than in some countries.

"Based on those premises we recommended to ease restrictions," she said.

Unvaccinated foreigners will be banned from entry from Feb. 16, Nograles said.

Tourism is a major driver of the country's economy, accounting for nearly 13 percent of gross domestic product in 2019, when more than 8 million people visited, official data shows.

That slumped to 5.4 percent in 2020 as tourist arrivals plummeted 82 percent to 1.48 million.

The government tightened restrictions across the National Capital Region and other provinces in recent weeks as Omicron fueled a record surge in infections.

Around half of the country's 110 million people are fully vaccinated.

The Philippines has recorded more than 3.4 million infections since the start of the pandemic, including over 53,000 deaths.

Tourism Secretary Berna RomuloPuyat clarified that the recent decision by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will cover only leisure travelers from countries whose nationals are allowed visa-free entry to the Philippines.

By Feb. 1, 2022 the country classification system will be suspended while fullyvaccinated returning overseas Filipinos will not be required to undergo quarantine as long as they are able to present a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken 48 hours before arrival.

Also, starting Feb. 10 and upon consultation with health experts, qualified leisure travelers will no longer be required to undergo quarantine as long as they are able to present a negative result of an RTPCR test taken 48 hours before arrival.

"We are aware that there is no room for complacency given the unpredictability of the virus. We will closely monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented in all tourism establishments,” Puyat said.

Based on the IATF guidelines, leisure travelers from visa-free countries will be allowed to enter the country, provided that their passports are valid for at least six months at the time of arrival, and they possess outbound tickets to their country of origin or next country of destination.

Leisure visitors must also carry proof of vaccination against COVID-19 that are recognized by the IATF.. They include certificates of vaccination issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), VaxCertPH of the Department of Health, and a national or state digital certificate of a foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF. AFP, Othel Campos

and first of its kind, stressing that the opinions of Comelec officials remain an opinion and are not yet binding until a decision is fully written and signed.

“Until and unless the decision is released to the public, the individual positions or votes or opinions of the commissioners are confidential,” Macalintal said.

“Since it is highly irregular, Guanzon should be sanctioned by the Comelec en banc for violating the confidentiality of the internal proceedings of the Comelec,” he said.

Guanzon, who is retiring on February 2, is presiding commissioner of the Comelec First Division, of which Ferolino-Ampoloquio is the ponente for the case.

Guanzon earlier challenged the counsel of Marcos Jr. to a debate – but George Briones declined, saying the commissioner herself disclosed they were members of the same fraternity.

“I challenge George Briones of Partido Federal of BBM to a debate on TV. If he thinks he is brighter than me he should agree. The Commission en Banc @COMELEC has no jurisdiction over an administrative complaint against a Commissioner. I am an impeachable officer.

You people better study. Let's debate on TV,” Guanzon said in a Twitter post, adding she may cite the party for contempt for threatening her.

“Since Commissioner Rowena Guanzon disclosed that I am her Sigma Rho Fraternity brother. I respectfully decline her invitation to debate with her. For I firmly believe in our Code of Action which is 'to give due respect if not love to a Sister Deltan',” Briones said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Guanzon said the receipt of payment for tax deficiencies presented by the camp of Marcos Jr. was actually for payment for lease rentals “(The Marcos camp) said they paid their tax deficiencies with the BIR. We looked at their receipt but it was only a photocopy. It said it was a payment for lease rentals,” she said.

“I also gave them several days to produce a certified copy of their receipts.

They didn’t submit anything,” she added in Filipino.

Case...

Only 18 percent of those hospitalized had severe to critical illnesses versus 36 percent during the wave of Delta variant infections, Vergeire said.

“This proves that our vaccines are effective in preventing hospitalization and severe and critical condition.,” she said.

Residents of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces must still observe minimum public health standards, she said.

The government urged the public to wear face masks properly and observe good ventilation in their homes and establishments ahead of expected gatherings for the Chinese New Year.

"Good ventilation is an easy way to prevent the spread of airborne COVID-19 (particles)," Vergeire said.

The Philippines logged 18,638 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the nationwide total to 3,511,491, the DOH reported.

The country’s COVID-19 positivity rate was at 34.6 percent based on 62,671 people tested. The rate is still much higher than the World Health Organization's target of less than 5 percent.

There were 231,658 active infections, of which 7,055 were asymptomatic, 219,811 were mild, 2,971 were moderate, 1,509 were severe, and 312 were in critical condition.

There were 68 new fatalities, increasing the COVID-19 death tally to 53,801.

Total recoveries rose to 3,226,032 with 13,106 people recovering from the viral disease.

Nationwide, 49 percent of 3,900

intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients were in use.

At least 51 percent of the 15,900 ward beds in the country were utilized, while 45 percent of the 4,400 ward beds in the National Capital Region (NCR) were in use.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the Philippine Genome Center detected the BA.2 or the Stealth Omicron, a sublineage of the more transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant in 75 percent of the COVID-19 samples they sequenced.

However, the BA.2 was causing only mild symptoms on a COVID-19 patient, just like the BA.1, another sub-lineage of Omicron.

Duque affirmed that BA.2 is currently the predominant variant in the National Capital Region and other regions due to its increasing cases.

The BA.1 meanwhile is predominant among returning overseas Filipinos, and was also seen in Region 5.

The independent OCTA Research Group said it saw daily cases falling to under 10,000 in the next one or two weeks.

OCTA fellow Guido David said new COVID-19 infections in the NCR and most of Calabarzon and Central Luzon were expected to go down.

During the peak, these three regions accounted for 88 percent of the daily new cases, but they now account for only 32 percent, he said.

Also on Friday, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong recommended that his city remain under Alert Level 3, to avoid the risk of a surge due to opening up too early.

Magalong said during a briefing that the city's current alert level gave authorities the flexibility to respond to COVID-19.

February 2019. He was previously the region's number two and has worked for the WHO for more than 15 years.

In a document sent to the WHO, seen

by AFP, Kasai denied the allegations and said he would cooperate fully with any investigation.

"I take the concerns raised about my management style and working culture in WHO's Western Pacific Region very seriously," he said.

"I ask a lot of myself, and our staff.

This has particularly been the case during the Covid-19 response. But it should not result in people feeling disrespected.

"I'm committed to making changes that will ensure a positive work environment for all of the WHO workforce

in our region."

He rejected the accusation of racism.

"It is true that I have been hard on staff, but I reject the suggestion that I have targeted staff of any particular nationality," he insisted.

Kasai also disputed allegations that he regularly gave Japan confidential data on Covid-19 vaccination needs in other regional member states, so that Tokyo could benefit in the diplomatic donation of doses.

The staff letter also alleged that the WHO "failed to contain the pandemic in its early days", particularly due to the regional office being "too China-centric, not daring to contradict or criticize the Chinese authorities."

"I am ready to cooperate fully with

any process to investigate the concerns which have been raised," Kasai said.

Simon Manley, Britain's ambassador in Geneva said in a statment that there was "no place for racism or discrimination in the WHO." "We expect the WHO to robustly investigate all allegations of misconduct and to provide support to those affected," he said, pledging to hold the UN health agency to the highest ethical standards.

France takes the accusations "very seriously," its permanent mission in Geneva said.

If the allegations were proven, it would be up to the WHO's directorgeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to take steps and, if necessary, consult

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

A

T LEAST 80 percent or four out of five vaccinated adult Filipinos are willing to get a booster shot against COVID 19, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.

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for COVID-19 shortly before flying to the Philippines and will not have to quarantine on arrival.

Those fully vaccinated are no longer required to undergo facility-based quarantine, but shall self-monitor for seven days.

On the other hand, unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and those whose vaccination status cannot be confirmed shall undergo the required quarantine protocols as implemented by the Bureau of Quarantine and the local government units.

The list excludes China, the Philippines' fastest-growing tourist market, as well as Taiwan and India.

But it includes Manila's remaining top-10 tourism sources, such as the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Britain.

Health Undersecretary Rosario Ver-

Ferolino:...

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petitions were raffled off to the First Division only on Jan. 10.

In her letter to Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas, Ferolino-Ampoloquio described as “appalling” Guanzon's action to make public her separate opinion in favor of disqualifying Marcos Jr. even before the division has released its ruling.

She said Guanzon's premature disclosure of her vote appeared to be a move to pressure the First Division into disqualifying Marcos Jr. "She [Guanzon] also consistently took liberties in telling me to adopt her opinion," Ferolino said in her letter to Abas.

"It is quite appalling that Commissioner Guanzon was able to draft an opinion when the Ponencia has not yet submitted the resolution and all the case records are in my possession," she added.

Guanzon, for her part, said Ferolino-Ampoloquio should just release the decision.

"If you [Ferolino-Ampoloquio] released the decision, then we will have no need for this discussion...She has time to write a reply to the Chair but not the resolution/decision," Guanzon said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, for his part, urged Guanzon to name the senator who allegedly was trying to influence the Marcos disqualification cases.

"It's best that she names the senator.

Otherwise, we will all be suspect. If there is proof, I will ask the Committee on Ethics to look into the matter," Sotto added.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal recommended punishment against Guanzon for prematurely disclosing her vote to disqualify Marcos Jr. ahead of the First Division’s ruling.

Macalintal – the lead counsel of Vice President Leni Robredo in the electoral protest filed by Marcos against her in 2016 – said the Comelec en banc should look into the act of the outgoing commissioner for possible violation on the confidentiality of the poll body’s internal proceedings.

The veteran election lawyer explained that what Guanzon did was unprecedented

WHO...

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"abusive and racist authoritarian leadership."

They also accused him of mismanaging the pandemic and wasteful spending of donor contributions; abusing his power to secure his re-election; and nepotistic staff recruitment.

They requested "urgent intervention" by the board's member states to address their concerns.

Headquartered in Manila, the WHO's Western Pacific region covers almost 1.9 billion people across 37 territories.

Appointed by the WHO executive board, Kasai has been in the post since

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shot for those inoculated with Sputnik V. According to Dr. Liza Gonzales, associate dean at the UP Manila College of Medicine and a member of the vaccine expert panel, the jab is also beneficial both for those who have contracted COVID-19 and those who have not gotten infected.

"It shows that in those previously infected but who were asymptomatic the neutralizing antibodies vs omicron is 87.5 percent, and for those with mild to moderate infection following vaccination the neutralizing antibodies is detected in 100 percent of the samples," she said.

In related developments, recipients inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine for their primary series may now receive booster shots against COVID-19, the DOH said.

In a Palace briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Sinopharm has been granted an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.

Cebuana...

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The 22-year-old Zosa, from Medellin, Cebu, bested 22 other representatives for the crown and also bagged the Best in Swimsuit and Miss Photogenic special awards. Her prize includes a movie contract with Alien Donut Films in the USA. The Miss Summit International Pageant offers an opportunity to become an ambassador for "Miss Summit International," who is the epitome of the pageant’s vision and values; and which focuses on three key points: Connect, Empower, and Peace for all women around the world.

The pageant aims to promote young women as well as their passion and their accomplishments, and to empower women to develop personal growth, leadership, self-confidence, and friendship.

Zosa, former Bb. Toledo Independence 2017, trained under the “Kagandahang Flores” training camp. She wants to become a medical doctor and is presently taking up Bachelor of Science in Biology at Velez College.

She has a passion for baton-twirling and supports different institutions that help children and young adults with special needs.

On her recent birthday, Zosa shared her blessings with The Missionaries of the Poor Little Lambs, a home for the destitute, physically and mentally handicapped children, and those with cerebral palsy, autism, and Down’s syndrome.

DepEd...

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aged 5 to 11 were discouraged to prevent crowding at vaccination sites.

“Please avoid enrolling as walk-ins in order to prevent overcrowding at health centers, as this could lead to the spread of the virus,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a media briefing.

The rollout is set to begin in Metro Manila on Feb. 4 in hospitals such as the National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine Heart Center, said Vergeire.

It will then move to other areas in the region, she said.

Parents or guardians must bring documents showing their relationship with the child, as well as proper identification, Vergeire said.

If parents are unavailable, guardians must present a special power of attorney.

If this cannot be obtained, they need to bring a notarized authorization letter, an affidavit, or a certification signed by the barangay captain.

Vergeire advised the public to wear face masks and to observe social distancing at the vaccination sites.

Vergeire also said that adverse events following vaccination are rare.

However, she said mild side effects are expected, such as pain and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, and headache.

Vergeire added that the side effects would be gone within two to three days.

She also said it’s best to wait 14 days or two weeks after they've been vaccinated against COVID-19 before getting vaccinated against other illnesses so their body’s reactions can be monitored.

PH last...

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surge worse than other Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand,” the Bloomberg report said, adding developing countries were struggling to administer vaccines due to “logistical issues.”

“Poor health infrastructure, lack of trained staff, and difficulties accessing rural populations are slowing rollouts in poorer places,” the report said.

Nograles also said foreign analysts had projected the Philippine economy to grow above 7 percent in 2022.

"Let the numbers speak for themselves.

That is the clearest indication of the resilience of the Philippines amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," he said at a press briefing.

The United Arab Emirates topped the Bloomberg list with a resilience score of 78.9. It was followed by Saudi Arabia with 77.8, and Finland and Turkey both scored 70.1. Singapore grabbed the 5th spot with a score of 70.

The other nations at the bottom of the list were Argentina with 57, followed by Russia with 55.9, Romania with 55.5, and Vietnam with 53.4. the executive board "on a possible end of contract", the mission said.

France will pay extremely close attention "to the smooth running of the investigation and its results."

In his speeches to the WHO executive board this week, Tedros said his commitment to preventing all forms of abuse was "iron-clad."

"You are right to expect the highest standards of conduct, and you are right to expect an organisation that has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment," he said Monday.

The board is due to discuss management matters on Friday, including the prevention of harassment and abuse.

AFP

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022

Teenage pregnancies in PH drop 13% in 2020, POPCOM reports THE number of births among adolescent mothers in the country in 2020 went down by 23,855—a 13-percent drop which set a 17-year record for the sharpest decrease in births in women under 20 years of age since 2003, according to the Commission on Population and Development.

A substantial part of the decrease occurred in the 15- to 19-year-old age bracket, as there were 23,557 mothers in that group, constituting a 98.7-percent of the decline.

On the other hand, among those 10 to 14 years old or the very young adolescents (VYA), there were 298 fewer births, with the downtrend slightly lower at 12 percent.

As a consequence, the number of 15 to 19-year old mothers who gave birth daily went down to 425, from the previous year’s 489. In the VYA age group, there was a decline to six per day, from 2019’s seven.

The Philippine Statistics Author-

NBI seeks DOJ approval of Espinosa transfer to BJMP facility THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has endorsed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the transfer of Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa to a more secured facility at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bicutan, Taguig City.

NBI OIC-Director Eric Distor said that the request is aimed at complying with the security and safety protocols of Espinosa as a witness under the Witness Protection Program while in the custody of the government and at the same time as an accused appearing at cases pending in different courts.

Distor added the move if favorably considered by the Secretary of Justice will result in the immediate transfer of Espinosa to the BJMP with ample security facilities equipped to hold high-profile prisoners.

On January 13, 2022, the NBI foiled an escape attempt by Espinosa and two other detainees thru the hole of the exhaust fan at the ceiling. The swift and timely action of the newly-designated chief of the Security Management Section (NBI-SMS) and his executive officer has prevented the escape of the three detainees.

“Security measures in the Detention Center and its surrounding premises have already been tightened with regular inspection of jail facilities,” Distor stressed, adding that an ongoing review of the status of the detainees’ case is currently being conducted.

As of this date, there are 79 detainees in the NBI Detention Center facing various criminal cases.

Willie Casas

ity also announced that adolescent birth rates were at 31 per 1,000 girls in 2020—significantly lower than 47 per 1,000 as stated in the 2017 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS).

The Philippine Development Plan targets a rate of 37 per 1,000, while POPCOM is aiming for a 50-percent reduction: from the baseline of 57 percent as stated in the 2013 NDHS, to 28 percent by 2022.

“This is good news for us and our partners who have been advocating for a reduction in teen pregnancies, as well as the health, population and social workers in local government units (LGUs) who stepped up their services in adolescent health to achieve this result,” POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio A. Perez III, said.

It can be recalled that POPCOM noted an increased concern for teen pregnancies among women in a November 2020 survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations.

LUCKY CHINATOWN. A few mall-goers are seen visiting the Lucky Chinatown Mall at Binondo, Manila on January 28,

2022. Decorations for this year’s Chinese New Year adorn Manila’s Chinatown in Binondo but festivities are still prohibited due to COVID-19. Norman Cruz

NBI to summon 30 more people in massive BDO hacking incident T

By Willie Casas

HE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday said it will summon 30 individuals to shed light on the recent hacking of Banco de Oro (BDO).

NBI OIC-Director Eric Distor said that the NBI Cyber Crime Division has identified these individuals in their continuing investigation.

Distor said the NBI has vowed to pursue the investigation of hacking incidents not only of BDO but other banks as well until all the perpetrators are

brought to justice and the stolen money is properly accounted for.

Distor gave this assurance to the public following the arrest of five suspects in a successful series of operations conducted from January 17 to 20, 2022, in Mabalacat, Pampanga, and Pasig City

by Agents of the NBI-Cyber Crime Division (NBI-CCD).

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said criminal complaints have been filed before trial courts against the suspects. Of the five arrested suspects, two are Nigerian nationals and three are Filipinos. All suspects have been presented for inquest proceedings before the DOJ on January 21, 2022.

Charges for Misuse of Devices defined and penalized under RA 10175

or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and Violation of the Access Device Regulation Act of 1998 were filed against the suspects. Distor stressed that a follow-up investigation and actions are now being undertaken to identify and unmask the cohorts.

NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin, also NBI Deputy Director for Forensic Investigation Service confirmed that Distor has ordered the CCD to investigate the alleged hacking of Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) as disclosed by Secretary of Justice.

According to LBP, the incidents of fraudulent transactions on the two teachers’ accounts were reported to have been caused by phishing which has compromised their personal infor-

mation. NBI is expecting complainants/ victims to file their formal complaints before the Cybercrime Division of the Bureau.

The DOJ’s Office of the Prosecutor General said that since trial courts in the National Capital Region and other places in the country are physically closed, the cases against them were “Efiled yesterday, Jan. 27.”

Assistant State Prosecutor Honey Rose E. Delgado, spokesperson Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), said charged with violations of Republic Act No. 8484, the Access Devices Regulation Act of 2012, before the Angeles City regional trial court (RTC) was Nigerian Ifesinachi Fountain Anaekwe alias “Daddy Champ.” With Rey E. Requejo

SC orders courts in Alert Level 3 regions to close

DONATION FOR MANDALUYONG. Deputy Speaker and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II turns over

two units of 54-meter aerial ladder firetrucks to officials of the Bureau of fire Protection (BFP) Friday at Mandaluyong City’s Greenfield District. From left to right: CSUPT. Nahum Tarroza, BFP Director for Plans and Development; CSUPT. Roel Jeremy G. Diaz, BFP OIC/ Deputy Chief for Administration; Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos; FSUPT. Albert D. De Baguio, Office of the City Fire Marshal, Mandaluyong City; Deputy Speaker & Mandaluyong City Congressman Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales; SSUPT. Jerome T. Reano, Deputy Regional Director for Administration; SUPT. Andres C. Daus Jr., Deputy District of Fire Director.

Mandaluyong City gets firetrucks to boost fire response

By Maricel V. Cruz DEPUTY Speaker and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II led the turnover of two firetrucks and five ambulances to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and several barangays to boost the city’s emergency response amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the re-

cent fires that struck some areas in Mandaluyong.

Two units of 45-meter aerial ladder firetrucks capable of a 15-story building elevation were turned over to BFP Mandaluyong during the ceremony graced by Gonzales, his wife Queenie, and city officials in Greenfield District.

The five ambulance units worth P2.4 million each from the Department of Health were given to Barangay

Addition Hills, Barangay Hulo, Barangay Vergara, Command, and Control Center (C3), and the National Center for Mental Health.

“We are elated and thankful that, through our continuous efforts and lobbying in Congress, we are finally able to push for these firetrucks and ambulances which will play a crucial role in serving our constituents here in Mandaluyong during times of disasters and emergencies,” Gonzales said.

“We hope that through these firetrucks, we will be able to boost our firefighters’ capabilities against fire incidents especially for high-rise buildings in the city, as well as crowded areas where elevated firefighting mechanisms would have better reach,” he added.

THE Supreme Court (SC) ordered several courts nationwide to close, starting Friday (January 28) to Tuesday, February 15 amid COVID-19 surges.

The SC said these courts are in areas placed under Alert Level 3 until February 15.

The SC, in a circular, also said courts in Region 4-B: Palawan; Region I0: Camiguin; Region 11: Davao Occidental; Caraga: Dinagat Islands; and BARMM: Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, will be physically closed Malacanang meanwhile has appointed two trial court judges as associate justices of the Court of Appeals, the SC said on Friday.

Appointed by President Duterte as CA justices were regional trial court (RTC) Judges Maximo Mercado De Leon and Jacinto Gavino Fajardo Jr. The SC made the announcement after Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea transmitted to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo the appointment papers of De Leon and Fajardo on Jan. 28.

De Leon took over the post vacated in the CA by then Associate Justice Jane Aurora Lantion. Justice Fajardo, on the other hand, assumed the post vacated by Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda who was promoted to the SC in 2019.

It was not known immediately if they have taken their oaths of office and assumed their new posts. Four CA associate justices have so far been appointed by the President this month of January.

With Rey E. Requejo

DAR distributes agri lands to Ecija beneficiaries

By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Agrarian Reform distributed 33.1488 hectares of agricultural lands, portions of which were formerly covered as resettlement areas, to 61 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Nueva Ecija.

Secretary Bernie Cruz advised the farmers to till the lands awarded to them and make them productive.

“It is payback time and these lands are considered as gifts to the people of Pantabangan for the sacrifices they have experi-

enced when floodwaters from the then newly created dam submerged their town and its environs,” he said.

Eden Ponio, provincial agrarian reform program officer II in Nueva Ecija, said the land titles cover 33.1488 hectares of agricultural lands that are located in the municipalities of Talavera and Pantabangan.

The agency has successfully worked out to distribute the certificates of land ownership award, some of which were formerly covered as a resettlement area under Republic Act 3844.

Opinion

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Just like in the movies

EDITORIAL

for many women victims and survivors of violence and abuse.

Thus, I am familiar with Guanzon’s strong personality. As demonstrated in the story above, even from way back, she is not one to be easily intimidated, threatened, or coerced. She stands firmly for her convictions, and as people are now seeing, she is a fighter.

Comm. Guanzon is now at the center of the controversy over the disqualification cases filed against the dictator’s son and presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. She is the Presiding Officer of the COMELEC’s First Division wherein the cases are heard. Besides her, the other Commissioners in the Division are Marlon Casquejo and Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio. Commissioner Ferolino-Ampoloquio is the ponente or the one who will write the decision on the case.

THIS young female mayor of a rural town decided to put in an afternoon’s work on a holiday. She has been mayor for only a few weeks. Her secretary also reported for work and soon, some of the town’s constituents came to visit. The mayor’s mother dropped by as well.

Then the telephone rang. It was one of the mayor’s supporters asking her to not go out because a regional power broker and his boys were at the plaza and they were armed. This power broker (otherwise also known as a warlord) was also a longtime associate of the recently deposed dictator. A guard looked out the window and confirmed the report. Around 50 men surrounded the town hall and at least 20 were openly carrying firearms.

The mayor’s mother would not calm down and the secretary hid in the bathroom, crying. A teacher who happened to be with them, read the Bible. The mayor bolted the door, posted her bodyguard at one window with an M-16 and she covered the other window carrying a .38 pistol. She handed her uncooperative mother a hand grenade.

But the balance of power soon changed.

A priest came to the plaza with unarmed supporters of the mayor. The mayor’s elder brother also arrived with some friends.

The warlord was forced to retreat, and a potential bloodbath was averted.

Since then, the young mayor had to carry a gun around for self-defense. If she was not carrying one, she would always have a bullet-proof vest on.

This could have very well been a scene in a movie. Only, this actually happened in 1987. The mayor was the then Cadiz town mayor, Rowena Guanzon, now Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner. She was only 28 years old and then the youngest mayor in the country.

Guanzon was appointed to the position by then President Corazon Aquino after several others begged off because being mayor meant taking on Armando Gustilo, the local warlord, power broker, and longtime ally of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. Marcos at that time was already deposed and has fled the country with his family. It was Gustilo and his men who surrounded the town plaza as recounted above.

This story was part of the The Gazette (Montreal) report on 22 August 1987 entitled, “Facing down warlord is part of job for young mayor.”

For full disclosure, I have known Commissioner Rowena “Bing” Guanzon for many years. We used to kid her as the “gun-toting mayor of Cadiz” because of her experience. She was my lawyer when I, and other women’s rights activists were sued by a big politician for libel in the course of our advocacy for the bill that has become the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (Anti-VAWC) law. The cases against me and the others were dismissed. Bing has also lawyered

The ending of this issue should see the good triumph over evil.

The Division announced that the decision would be out by January 17. However, this was delayed because at first, the ponente went on quarantine because of close contact with a COVID-19 positive case.

Guanzon is due to retire on February 2 and understandably, she wants the Division’s decision to be promulgated. However, she said that despite follow-ups, Ferolino-Ampoloquio has not been responding to her. Guanzon then made public her vote on the case, and that is, to disqualify Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on the ground of moral turpitude. She said that upon examination of evidence, the dictator’s son indeed did not pay taxes for four years while he was Governor of Ilocos Norte. Guanzon said that the Landbank receipt submitted by Marcos’ camp was for lease rentals, not for the penalties for taxes.

Guanzon suspects that a powerful politician is causing the delay of the Division’s promulgation of decision. She said that they want her to retire first so her vote will not be counted. She also said that she will release her separate opinion on the case already submitted to the COMELEC to the public.

Not surprisingly, Marcos’ camp, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) has issued a statement calling on the COMELEC to investigate Guanzon for alleged illegal disclosure of her vote on the case. The PFP also wants Guanzon to be disbarred. As expected and true to form, the feisty Guanzon is fighting back.

This issue remains unresolved as of this writing. People are getting anxious and agitated because of the delay of the Division’s decision. Just like how Guanzon battled the politics of guns, goons, and gold in Cadiz as the mayor, and just like in the movies, the ending of this issue should see the good triumph over evil.

Justice should prevail and the Filipino people should win. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

Teaching law in the grand manner THIS is the second article of a series on my experience as a teacher. The first column, published online in the January 15, 2022 issue of this paper, was on my experience as a philosophy student and professor. In the conclusion of the series, I will share my experience as a teacher during a pandemic. This column is on teaching law, which I have been doing for three decades.

Paradoxically, because law is an instrument of power and can be a weapon of oppression, this commitment to the truth was reinforced when I decided to become a lawyer and studied first in the University of the Philippines College of Law (UP Law) and then later in Yale Law School.

In UP Law, I was taught by professors like Professor Haydee Yorac, former Supreme Court Justice Vicente Mendoza, Prof. Owen Lynch, Prof. Alfredo Tadiar, Prof. Ruben Balane, Dean Merlin Magallona, Dean Pic Agabin, Dean Salvador Carlota, Prof. Araceli Baviera, Prof.

Samilo Barlongay, Prof. Myrna Feliciano, Prof. Popo Lotilla, Prof. Domingo Disini, and others. There are many things I can say about these teachers – that they are opinionated or sometimes too passionate for example – but definitely one thing they taught me was the importance of intellectual honesty and personal integrity in the way we behaved as law students and future lawyers.

Yale Law School was a wonderful experience, and continues to be the best academic experience I have ever had. In Yale, honesty and integrity were a given, expected from all of its professors, students and staff. Brilliance too was a given. It was a memorable experience being told by then Yale Dean and now US Court of Appeals Justice Guido Calabresi,

when he welcomed first year JD and LLM students with the conclusive statement that we were the best and brightest in the world and we did not have to prove anything in Yale as our professors, also the best and brightest in the world, knew this.

But brilliance was not a reason for pride, certainly not a means to hurt other people.

Law is an instrument of power and can be a weapon of oppression.

For me, more than the knowledge and set of skills I learned from Yale Law School, the great take-away was the realization that you can be a great lawyer and still be always kind and compassionate.

Having been taught by these great teachers and others in Yale Law School, having lived the New Haven experience, I became a much better teacher and human being when I came back to the Philippines.

In the 1990s, after law school, I moved to UP Law and taught my first generation of law students. And when I became an Undersecretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from 1996-1998, I was joined there by a group of young lawyers who looked up to me for mentoring and professional guidance.

Those lawyers are now in the prime of their careers in the Philippines and globally and continue to reach out to me for guidance and occasionally I serve as their professional references when they apply for new positions.

Since those DENR days, even in my years abroad as an OFW professional, I have mentored dozens of young people in the fields of environmental law and policy, governance and politics, and social entrepreneurship.

In Malcolm Hall, in UP Law, the immortal words of Oliver Wendell Holmes are inscribed in the lobby: “The business

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Persuading the hesitant W E FIND some bright light at the end of this anxiety-laden tunnel unduly constructed by the coronavirus 2019 which has infected 3.4 million and killed nearly 54,000 in the Philippines.

Based on face-to-face interviews done from December 12 to 16, 2021 among 1,440 adults nationwide, 80 percent of adult Filipinos said they were willing to get a third vaccine shot, popularly called the booster shot, with seven percent still unwilling to get a booster and 13 percent uncertain.

Join the vaccination line.

There had been an understandable unwillingness among some in the 110 million population, including the elderly, but reports emerged this week that most Filipinos are now willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Vaccine disinclination has dropped to five percent in December from a high 22 percent in September 2021, according to the OCTA Research’s Tugon ng Masa National Survey.

Resistance to get jabbed was highest in the Visayas and Mindanao at nine percent each, followed by Metro Manila and Balance Luzon at three percent each.

Two days into the weekend, a survey by the Social Weather Stations was released which showed a majority of adult Filipinos are willing to get a booster dose for COVID-19.

The survey results suggested only eight percent of adult Filipinos were unwilling to get vaccinated, 10 percentage points lower than September’s 18 percent.

Willingness to get a booster shot was also high across all regions, with Balance Luzon at 82 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 81 percent. Seventy-eight percent of respondents from the Visayas also expressed willingness to get a booster, and 78 percent from Mindanao also said they were willing to get a third jab.

On the other hand, those unwilling to get a booster was highest in Mindanao at 17 percent, followed by Visayas at 15 percent, Metro Manila at 12 percent and Balance Luzon at

10 percent.

The survey also showed that willingness to get a booster was high on all education levels. Eighty-six percent of college graduates expressed willingness to get a booster, followed by 79 percent among junior high school graduates, 77 percent among elementary graduates, and 82 percent among non-elementary graduates.

Unwillingness to get a booster was highest among non-elementary graduates at 10 percent, followed by junior high school graduates at eight percent, elementary graduates at five percent and one percent among college graduates.

In terms of age, those 55 years old and above were the most willing to get a booster at 84 percent, followed by 45 to 55-year-olds at 81 percent, the 35 to 44-year-olds at 79 percent, the 25 to 34-year-olds at 78 percent and 18 to 24-year-olds at 74 percent.

The mission is near done, given the willingness of the unvaccinated to get inoculated.

We urge those with second thoughts to now join the vaccination line while we call on the authorities to gear up for an aggressive booster campaign to protect the population – for the healthcare system and the domestic economy.

Russia’s red line to the US and NATO The question is for how long can Russia control this provocation? Could one not say the sending of $200 million in military assistance to Ukraine, UK supplying anti-tank weapons and Norway beefing up its forces near Ukraine’s border are not adding tension to the already tense situation? Can the US and UK say their action is not in anticipation of a Russian invasion?

PART II US INTEREST in seeing a united Ukraine does not seem to directly affect its security interest similar to what it did during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 when it asked the Soviet Union to remove its missile base in Cuba, which is only 90 kilometers away from Florida. In the case of Ukraine, the US is using NATO as a front to advance its own hegemonistic ambition.

The world knows the Cold War ended in 1989. The decision made by the last President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, to disband the Warsaw Pact was sadly not reciprocated by the US. Gorbachev took the promise by then US State Department secretary James Baker that NATO will not move eastward after the unification of the two Germany.

Russia does not fear war with the West, but historically, it was the Soviet Union that carried the brunt of fighting the Nazis stopping them in the Battle of St. Petersburg and pushing them back to Berlin. An estimated 25 million Russians perished in that war.

NATO is based on the proposition that an attack on a member country will be treated as an attack on the alliance. This position at the outset exposed that it was not created for defensive purposes but as a springboard to enforce US interest in Europe. Thus, if Russia invades Ukraine, all the 30 members are blindly obligated to come to its defense. This position is based on the assumption Russia will attack that country.

Political analysts are puzzled that the automatic retaliatory clause seals off any justification that NATO was created for defensive purposes. One must note that once war has commenced, nobody can assume with certainty that a member is defending an aggression.

For the record, how many wars has NATO been involved in? NATO fought in Serbia, Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, and certainly, it was not for a defensive purpose. This underscores why Russia is against the idea of an open-ended membership for NATO, for most likely some will be fighting to advance their own interest using the alliance as a shield.

There is a greater possibility that the US and UK will start a war in Ukraine. of a law school is not sufficiently described when you merely say that it is to teach law or to make lawyers it is to teach law in the grand manner, and to make great lawyers.”

I would like to think that starting with UP law in June 1990 and now with the dozen other law schools I teach in all over the country, including four in Mindanao, I have been teaching law in a grand manner and have helped thousands to become good lawyers, including great advocated for big causes greater than them or their families - to be workers for justice, to fight corruption, to protect the planet, to be in

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

For the record, how many wars has NATO been involved in?

In fact, before the tension was heightened, Russia has been warding off the US and UK navies in the Crimea. These moves of the US and UK explains why NATO is deeply divided. The more powerful and leading members like Germany, France and Italy are not supportive of the showdown. First, the three believe Russia is not going to invade Ukraine of which close to 40 percent of the inhabitants are Russians.

Second, Germany will lose much in the event of conflict. The multi-billion-dollar Nord Stream 2 project is already finished and just awaiting certification by the German government.

Should German Chancellor Olaf Scholz allow his government to be persuaded

by NATO, Germany would not only be throwing away billions of dollars but could create a fuel crisis for the EU. Both the US and UK are keen in wanting to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline which passes through the Baltic Sea. Discontinuing the pipeline could force German suppliers to look back to the US for natural gas but at a much higher price.

The three economic powerhouses of the EU are also against using the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) to financially isolate the Russian economy. They know SWIFT no longer works. Besides, Russia has been preparing for the dollarization of its currency, and China is around to financially assist as what happened when the US and EU imposed economic sanctions in 2014 after it annexed Crimea.

Also, NATO members suspect the crisis in Ukraine was purposely generated by the US to give Europe a reason to unite against Russia and collaterally give the US arms manufacturers the opportunity to sell arms in the guise of deterring invasion. Indeed, the crisis is keeping alive NATO’s slogan as alleged peacemaker. solidarity with the poor.

Thomas Merton once described mentoring as an “apostolate of friendship”; it’s a relationship that I strive to have with my students and mentees.

Next week, thousands of law graduates will be taking the bar exams, the first ever in a pandemic under extremely stressful and challenging circumstances, but I am sure it will live up to its aspiration as the best bar ever. I will pray for the success of all the examinees, but will say a special prayer for the over 400 of my former students from UP, Ateneo de Manila, Xavier

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

Besides, all the wars in which NATO was involved were not sanctioned by the UN Security Council nor fought in defense of a member. In other words, NATO has become an instrument for the US to pursue its hegemonistic interest.

Rather, NATO is more interested in dividing states only to demand from them to join the alliance. US and NATO involvement in war includes countries outside the boundaries which the alliance geopolitically demarcated. But behind the fragmentation of Europe is to find justification to increase US arms export. In fact, the US has long been demanding from its members to increase by at least 2 percent of their GDP in the procurement of arms.

President Trump has been complaining, not to mention that countries like Germany, Japan and South Korea are already shouldering the expenses for the stay of the US bases in their country.

One must recall that Russia already put a red line for Kosovo not to join NATO after it was forcibly curved from Serbia. The US did not make a fuss to the demand of Russia fearing it could precipitate a crisis. To date, nobody wants to recall that issue.

The promise of NATO not to advance eastward is a guarantee that Russia will not invade Ukraine. Perhaps, we can say Gorbachev was gullible to take the word that the Americans will honor their promise. Russia was rather liberal not to demand for the dismantling of NATO in return for Gorbachev’s decision to disband the Warsaw Pact (WP).

As the world sees it, NATO today has become the jumping board of the US to implement its policies playing the role as unifier to a fragmented continent. From an original 12 NATO members when it was formed in 1949, it increased its membership to 30.

The US state secretary Anthony Blinken is practically hooping the capitals of NATO orchestrating support to its outof-tune drumbeating for war with Russia.

NATO’s secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, the man who has been talking loudly of possible war with Russia, was not allowed to participate in the conference. As usual, UK played the role of a maverick that in the words of George Galloway, “made the former colonizer a vassal state of the US”. Lately, Boris Johnson has been spreading the word that Russia is preposterously hatching a coup to install a puppet government in Ukraine. This shows just how desperate UK has become to play a big role in the alliance after exiting from the EU. rpkapunan@gmail.com University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Liceo de Cagayan, Lyceum University, Rizal Memorial Colleges, and the pioneering batch of University of Makati. I pray also for the examinees from Cor Jesu, University of San Carlos and Ateneo de Zamboanga as I have a relationship as well with these schools.

To all examinees next week, do make this the best bar ever!

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

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World

‘Ukraine standoff puts world in dire nuclear jeopardy’

E

SCALATING tensions over Ukraine are increasing the risk that nuclear weapons could be used, putting the world in dire jeopardy, the head of the Nobel prize-winning group ICAN told AFP.

“Any conflict involving one or several nuclear-armed states is extremely dangerous,” Beatrice Fihn, who leads the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, warned in an interview.

The world’s two largest nuclear weapons powers are locked in a stand-off over a Russian troop build-up near the border with Ukraine, amid fears of a looming invasion.

The United States this week rejected Russia’s key demand to bar Ukraine from eventual NATO membership, but has offered “reciprocal” measures to address mutual security concerns in a bid to find a “diplomatic path” out of the crisis.

Fihn stressed the urgency of calming the situation, cautioning that in the “very fastpaced security environment... things can es-

calate very, very quickly.”

“I am worried that something will go horribly wrong.”

She voiced particular concerns over “nuclear weapons stationed on the border in Russia, but also the ones across Europe”, which in the case of a full-scale conflict could become “targets.”

“This is the moment when we need to not lean into the war-mongering, macho threats, but really come to the table and negotiate,” she said.

Fihn also stressed the need to promote nuclear disarmament in general to help deescalate the stand-off.

“We’ve seen voices from Belarus talking about wanting to station Russian nuclear weapons there, which I think is an extremely dangerous situation,” she said.

A good way to reduce tensions, she added, would be for Belarus, Ukraine and other countries to sign onto a new global treaty banning the use, development, production, testing, stationing, stockpiling and threat of use of nuclear weapons.

ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Price for its key role in drafting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which took effect a year ago. AFP

SNAPPY. Vice President Kamala Harris salutes as she walks to board Air Force Two to return to Washington in Palmerola, Honduras on January 27, 2022. AFP

US, Taiwan VPs ‘spoke briefly’ at Honduras prexy inauguration THE vice presidents of Taiwan and the United States had a brief exchange at the inauguration of Honduras’ new leader, the island’s state media reported Friday, a first encounter that will likely stoke US-China tensions.

China considers democratic, self-ruled Taiwan a part of its territory, to be retaken by force if necessary, and says its status is one of the most sensitive issues in Beijing’s dealings with Washington.

US President Joe Biden has largely kept the tough approach to Beijing of his predecessor Donald Trump, with both administrations seeing a rising China as the top challenge of the 21st century.

William Lai and Kamala Harris shared “a simple greeting” in which both “spoke briefly” during Thursday’s ceremony to swear in Honduran president Xiomara Castro, Taiwan’s Central News Agency said.

Their conversation was the first public interaction between US and Taiwanese vice presidents since Washington switched dip-

lomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979, according to Fan Shih-ping, a political analyst at Taiwan’s National Normal University.

The exchange was likely kept as a “natural interaction in a tacit understanding between Taipei and Washington to avoid rattling China too much,” he told AFP. “It also shows US’s support for Taiwan and its diplomatic relations with Honduras as China becomes increasingly active to go after Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.”

The US government is careful not to officially recognise Taiwan but the island enjoys broad, bipartisan support in Congress.

Taiwan’s presidential office has not commented on the interaction, only saying Lai “exchanged greetings with the representatives from various countries and interacted with them naturally.”

Lai’s visit to Honduras comes as China intensifies its campaign to isolate Taiwan on the world stage. AFP

HK outbreak exposes flaws quarantine policy

(MS-JAN. 29, 2022)

HONG Kong’s U-turn on its mandatory threeweek quarantine for arrivals follows growing scrutiny of the strict policy after a coronavirus outbreak was traced to a woman infected during her hotel stay.

Like mainland China, Hong Kong is one of the few places left in the world still pursuing a zero-COVID strategy that has largely kept the virus at bay but left the finance hub internationally isolated.

On Thursday, city leader Carrie Lam announced the 21-day quarantine period that most arrivals faced—among the world’s longest—would be cut to two weeks because the increasingly dominant Omicron variant has a shorter incubation period.

The surprise move came after multiple recent outbreaks forced the reimposition of economically painful social-distancing measures and saw thousands of residents in one district confined to their homes.

One large cluster tore through densely crowded public housing blocks and was traced to a 43-year-old woman from Pakistan who

was infected in one of the city’s 40 designated quarantine hotels during the latter stage of her stay.

Some Hong Kong health experts had been warning that the length of hotel quarantines could make people more vulnerable to cross-infections.

“The quarantine facilities in hotels are clearly failing travelers time and time again, and putting them at risk of catching COVID-19,” Siddharth Sridhar, a microbiologist at the University of Hong Kong, told AFP before Lam’s announcement.

Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at HKU, had long argued that 21 days was without scientific merit and raised risks.

Multiple instances of hotel cross-infection had been recorded but spotted before people left quarantine.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise that we’ve had an outbreak... if anything, it’s a surprise that we have six months with zero,” Cowling told AFP, referring to low case numbers in the second half of last year.

“I think our luck’s run out.” AFP

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022

No lockdowns to keep voters out on Election Day, Comelec vows IN BRIEF T CHR puzzled over child marriage veto

THE Commission on Human Rights on Friday expressed alarm over the plea of the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to veto a law on child marriage.

“We urge the concerned members of the BTA to listen to their women and girls, to adopt a view of Sharia that is not opposed to the protection of women and girls right to health, right to education, and right to be free from violence, abuse, and exploitation,” the CHR said.

“We urge the members of the BTA to reach out to women’s organizations and leaders, and to fulfill their obligations as duty bearers – by upholding women and girls’ rights and ensuring a continuing dialogue so that the gains of this law will be fully realized,” the commission’s statement read.

“Lastly, the Commission expresses its commitment and support for full implementation of this measure,” it added.

The BTA is the governing body during the transition period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

According to CHR, as the country’s Gender Ombud, it welcomed the passage of Republic Act No. 11596 or the Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage. Rio N. Araja

HE Commission on Elections allayed fears Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic might be weaponized by local officials with a political agenda to disenfranchise voters on election day.

This was the assurance by Comelec commissioner Marlon Casquejo in response to an inquiry raised by Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera Dy regarding the possibility of local government units ordering lockdowns on election day.

The campaign period will begin on February 8 for national candidates and on March 25 for local candidates.

“On election day there will be no lockdowns because it may be used just to disenfranchise voters,” Casquejo said during the Joint Congressional Oversight Com-

mittee on the Automated Election System hearing.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos is reminding candidates for the May elections and their supporters to abide by the campaign rules set by Comelec as supported by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

“It will be an unprecedented campaign season so we hope that the candidates will set an example to the public of how they should obey our campaign guidelines,” he said.

Comelec Resolution 10732 issued in November last year institutionalizes the new normal in conducting physical campaigns, rallies, meetings, and other related activities based on the alert level being implemented in a certain area.

Minimum public health standards will be observed as prescribed by the Department of Health.

The prohibited acts under the in-person activities include entering private dwell-

ings for house-to-house campaigning even with the owner’s permission, crowding, handshaking or other forms of physical contact, taking selfies or photographs that require proximity among people, and distributing food and drinks.

“Our police personnel shall exercise vigilance in monitoring election-related activities while maintaining our being apolitical,” Carlos said.

Casquejo said they had guidelines on lockdowns and they made sure there would be no lockdown during the election proper.

In related developments, the Comelec has been urged to conduct another round of mock elections for the 2022 national and local polls.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. made the appeal during the Friday briefing of the joint congressional oversight committee on the automated election system after certain technical issues had been observed in previous mock elections.

‘ECSTASY’ TABLETS. The Bureau of

Customs-Port of NAIA with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group show the contents of five parcels containing illegal drugs at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. This prevented the entry of a total of 1,115 ecstasy tablets, and 26.4 grams of Ketamine with an aggregate value of P2.0278 million (see story In Brief).

BOC Photo

Customs nets P2m in ecstasy in Pasay

CUSTOMS agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have seized more than P2 million worth of ecstasy and ketamine at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

The confiscated parcels, which contained 1,115 ecstasy tablets and 26.4 grams of ketamine, were smuggled from the Netherlands and Germany.

The authorities did not identify the consignees. They, however, said the shipments are consigned to four individuals residing in Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Bulacan, and Davao.

Port of NAIA agents seized the shipments with the help from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel and members of the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.

“These parcels were initially tagged suspicious by X-ray Inspection Project personnel. Upon 100% physical examination, the Customs examiner found tablets in different colors and a white crystalline substance,” said NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan.

“Qualitative chemical laboratory test conducted by PDEA confirmed that the seized tablets are ecstasy, while the white substance is ketamine,” she added.

Talusan said the prohibited drugs were immediately turned over to PDEA for case build up and the filing of criminal charges against the persons behind the illegal importation.Joel E. Zurbano

Isko: ‘Sloganeering’ not a solution to people’s poverty MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has spurned traditional way of political campaigning by candidates who make promises to the people to alleviate them from poverty through sloganeering to convince voters to elect them into office, describing the practice as “poverty porn.”

While Moreno enumerated a slew of solutions to various problems besieging the country, the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer stressed that no amount

of promises nor slogan can solve the nation’s ills without hard work.

“Of course, I don’t have a slogan. Because that slogan does not cure human problems. In fact, I call it ‘poverty porn,’ where you rape people’s weakness,” the presidential candidate lamented.

“I, with the volume of the problem, with the speed of the problem, we need real solutions and quick action. That, I can do in my own little way,” Moreno said, during the Presidential One-on-

One Interviews with entertainment host Boy Abunda.

Nonetheless, Moreno vowed to address the perennial problems of poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality and social injustice in the country by focusing on providing the minimum basic needs of the people, such as housing, education, health care and jobs, through the efficient and prudent management of government resources, if elected president in May 2022 elections. Rey E. Requejo

‘Jab to Jobs’ is BBM recovery program toward stable economy, Pinoy safety

By Rey E. Requejo

COLD BOXES. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson (right)

formally hands over the cold chain equipment to Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque (second from left) during a ceremony at Goetz Cargo Centre in Parañaque City on Friday. The equipment help to address gaps in the storage capacity at all levels of the country’s health system amid Covid-19. At left is UNICEF Country Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov.

Makati donates 31k COVID vax to five LGUs

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Makati City government on Friday announced it has donated a total of 31,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to five local government units as part of its sisterhood program.

“We have prioritized our sister-cities and municipalities in offering free COVID-19 vaccines. We aim to help them bounce back from the crisis and contribute to national economic recovery,” city administrator Claro Certeza said.

Last Wednesday, Makati released 13,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Batangas province where Vice Governor Mark Leviste personally attended the turnover ceremony.

Makati also released 2,000 doses to the City of Malabon on Thursday.

Certeza said their administration had released 5,000 doses to Urdaneta, Pan-

gasinan, 1,000 doses and syringes to Cuenca, Batangas, and 10,000 doses to Batac, Ilocos Norte.

He pointed out that over the years, Makati has been prompt in giving every possible aid to sister cities and municipalities seriously affected by typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and other calamities.

“As our partners in nation-building, their rapid recovery is crucial to sustaining our mutual cooperation, which aims to drive sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic growth both at the local and national levels,” he said.

Based on the records of the International Relations Department, Makati has a total of 549 sister LGUs to date. The city also has sisterhood ties with 23 foreign cities and municipalities, many of which were formalized during the administration of former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. said proper vaccination and vaccine rollout which would result in the safety of the people shall lead to a stable economy, paving the way to recovery after the pandemic.

Appearing in “The Boy Abunda Presidential One-On-One Interview” last Tuesday, Marcos stressed that the government has to make sure that the population achieves herd immunity so the economy would be revitalized and people’s lives normalized.

“The idea is that once we are in safe condition then we have to get people back to work. That’s our concerns -- ‘when you ask the Filipino, what do they think of Covid eh.’ I don’t have work, I don’t have money, so that’s the priority we should be preparing,” Marcos said.

“Agriculture, tourism, we should go back to the concept of public-private

partnership, and that way we can bring together different segments of the government working together so that the economy will come back and hopefully it will come back stronger than it was during pre-Covid,” he explained.

He said the country has to come back even stronger after managing the pandemic and slowly work on ways to bring back the economy and get the people back to work.

“A lot of plans were destroyed. Even the whole world seems to have felt it -- the Covid, and so we have to come back and get our people to work. How do we do that? In my view, we have to do that by revitalizing the micro, small and medium enterprises, the small businesses that comprise 95 percent of the businesses and 60 percent of our employment,” Marcos said.

He explained that this sector had been one of the hardest hit and “the government can help them with lower taxes, tax holidays, etc. and the private sector can come up with micro-financing.”

MISSILE PACT. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left) chats with Indian

Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran after the ceremonial contract signing for the Shore-based Anti-ship Missile System acquisition project for the Philippine Navy worth P18.9 billion from Brahmos Aerospace on Friday. Director General, Atul Dinkar Rane, signed for Brahmos Aerospace. DND Photo

A7

Ping moves up in independent survey; tandem with Sotto too

By Macon Ramos-Araneta IT APPEARS that a neck-and-neck battle between the current frontrunner in the 2022 presidential race and Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson is slowly shaping up, as the latter inched closer to his toughest rival, the latest independent poll conducted in mid-January showed.

From a random sampling of nearly 5,833 respondents, Lacson emerged as the second-leading presidential aspirant with 31.11 percent of the votes.

The Lacson camp noted this is a far cry from a single-digit rating that was projected by most mainstream polling firms right before the start of the year.

This result, it said, was based on the participants’ answer to the most basic survey question: “If the elections were held today, who would you vote for?”

The survey was conducted from January 16 to 22, 2022 by Republic Gas Corporation (Regasco) and the LPG Marketers’ Association (LPGMA) among its customers and dealers from 25 locations across Metro Manila, North and South Luzon, and parts of Cebu and Negros Oriental.

Lacson fared better than his competitors when survey respondents were asked different sets of questions.

He gained 40.42 percent of the votes from 4,438 participants when they were asked who among the current crop of presidential aspirants is the most capable of going after corrupt officials.

Incidentally, 99.65 out of the 3,187 people surveyed said they are furious with the thieves in government.

Lacson also stands to benefit in case former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr.—or any other presidential candidate for that matter—is disqualified from the race, according to 37.79 percent of some 4,472 survey respondents.

A broad analysis of these numbers showed that Marcos, Jr.’s 42.51 percent rating and early leads in previous surveys were never safe.

Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo is a distant third in the crowded presidential race with 12 percent.

Falling in the bottom three were Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Moreno Domagoso (8.36 percent), boxing icon turned Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao (5.06 percent), and labor rights leader Leodegario ‘Leody’ de Guzman (0.96 percent).

Robredo: Ilocanos’ ‘energy’ will help lead her to victory VICE President Leni Robredo thanked online supporters from the Ilocos Region for a very warm welcome, despite their area being the bailiwick of her rival for the presidency.

“Kahit pumunta ako sa Region 1 noong 2016, hindi ko naramdaman ‘yung ganitong klaseng energy. And I’m sure you will all agree with me.

‘Yung energy ngayon kakaiba,” said Robredo during an online rally of supporters from the Ilocos region for the Leni-Kiko tandem on Thursday, January 27.

Robredo, who hails from Bicol, recalled that back in 2016, people told her it would be a waste of time to visit the Ilocos region, but she still insisted on making the trip.

“Expected naman yung results ng eleksyon. Talagang napakaliit na percentage yung nakuha ko sa Region 1. Pero wala akong pagsisisi na pumunta ako, kasi actually, yung botong nakuha ko, ‘yun yung botong nilamang ko noong eleksyon,” Robredo said.

In 2016, Robredo won the neckand-neck Vice Presidential race against the dictator’s son and namesake, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., by over 200,000 votes.

In the upcoming May 9 elections, Robredo is again facing a tough battle, but she is confident the efforts of her supporters are enough to lead her to victory.

“The road ahead might be very difficult pero I am very hopeful; I am very inspired with what I see.

Pag sinabi kong what I see, yung mga ginagawa ninyo,” Robredo said, referring to the volunteer-driven efforts. Robredo has called it a “people’s campaign”.

IN BRIEF

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

A8

Digital payments lift revenue collections

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022

Business

MPIC ANTHEM. Metro Pacific Investments Corp., the country’s leading infrastructure investment company, welcomes the new year by launching its new corporate anthem entitled ‘Bayan Sulong Na’—a rallying call for the entire country to face the coming years with hope and affirmation that no matter the circumstances, there is strength in facing it together. The song, performed by MPIC executives and employees as trained by vocal coach Jeanne Velasco-Vicars, penned by Roovee Michelle Magno, arranged by Dominic Benedicto and produced by Garahe Film Productions, aims to become a bearer of light for the future.

BDO raises P52.7b from bond offering

By Julito G. Rada

B

DO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by the Sy Group, said Friday it raised P52.7-billion worth of peso-denominated fixedrate ASEAN Sustainability Bonds under its P365billion bond program amid robust demand.

BDO said in a statement the raised amount was more than 10-times the original offer of P5 billion on very strong demand from retail and institutional investors.

“This was achieved despite the offer period being shortened from Jan. 21,

2022 to Jan. 19, 2022. This is a new milestone for the bank as it exceeds its previous record of P40.1 billion for a single bond issuance, and by far the largest issuance for any Philippine financial institution or company,” it said.

This is the bank’s first issuance of peso-denominated sustainability bonds.

The issue, settlement and listing date was set on Jan. 28, 2022.

The bonds have a tenor of two years and a fixed rate of 2.90 percent per annum. Interest is payable quarterly, calculated on a 30/360 basis.

“The net proceeds of the issue are intended to diversify the bank’s funding sources, and finance/refinance eligible assets under the bank’s Sustainable Finance Framework,” it said.

Standard Chartered Bank was the sole arranger, while BDO Unibank, BDO Private Bank Inc. and Standard Chartered Bank were the selling agents of the

issue. BDO Capital & Investment Corp. was the financial advisor.

BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. These services include traditional loan and deposit products, as well as treasury, trust and investments, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, retail cash cards, credit card services and stock brokerage services.

BDO has one of the largest distribution networks, with more than 1,500 operating branches and over 4,400 ATMs nationwide. It also has fullservice branches in Hong Kong and Singapore as well as 14 overseas remittance and representative offices in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

BDO ranked as the largest bank in

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Federal Land, Japan’s Nomura in joint venture

Friday, January 28, 2022

-21.55 PTS. 7,251.97

TOTAL VOLUME

1,234,146,271

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES

90,975 8,010,623,069.14 76

DECLINES UNCHANGED

109 57

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022

By Jenniffer B. Austria FEDERAL Land Inc., the real estate arm of GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty Group, has formed a joint venture with Japan’s Normura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. to develop township projects across the country.

GTCAP said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday Nomura Real Estate would invest $324 million (P16 billion), or equivalent to a 34-percent stake, in the new joint venture with Federal Land.

The new company, to be called Federal Land NRE Global, Inc., will initially develop four properties with a total land area of 250 hectares. These properties in Metro Manila and Cavite province will have a pipeline of residential, office, commercial and industrial facilities.

“We have invested in a joint venture to accelerate business expansion in a rapidly growing market. We will build and aim for development here while promoting combined housing and commercial projects with Federal Land.

We are committed to demonstrate the strengths of both companies through strong partnership, strategically favorable location, product differentiation, and the introduction of advanced added value,” said Nomura Real Estate chair Eiji Kutsukake.

Nomura Real Estate is Japan’s second-largest real estate developer in terms of condominium unit turnover as of 2020, and the fifth biggest in consolidated sales.

“We are very delighted to bring our partnership with Nomura Real Estate, Japan’s top five developers, to greater heights.” said Federal Land chairman Alfred Ty. “We intend to provide relevant real estate solutions that increase value over time and leave a positive mark for generations by building sustainable communities with distinct Japanese style and infused with Filipino sensibility,” said Ty. Nomura Real Estate president and representative director Daisaku Matsuo said the company would introduce advanced technologies and expertise in the Philippine market.

The joint venture is expected to bring milestone developments that mix Japanese inspiration with Filipino sensibility. It differentiates itself from other developers with its push for smart cities, the presence of Japanese retail concepts, and its client-first mindset.

Ultimately, it aims to create value in townships with sustainable growth.

terms of total resources, customer loans, deposits, capital and trust assets based on published statements of condition as of Sept. 30, 2021.

BDO said net income reached P32.4 billion in the first three quarters of 2021, up from P16.6 billion a year-ago, on the bank’s resilient business franchise and normalized provisions.

Earnings normalized to pre-pandemic levels and showed stable quarter on quarter business performance with loan growth turning positive.

Gross customer loans outpaced the industry with a 5-percent year-on-year increase while total deposits went up by 6 percent, driven by the 14-percent expansion in current account/savings account deposits that comprised 85 percent of total deposits. Non-interest income also increased 13 percent, while trading and foreign exchange gains normalized to P2.8 billion.

OUTSTANDING EXPORTER. Optum Global Solutions Philippines, a health services innovation company, clinches the 2020 Outstanding Exporter Award at the 2021 Philippine Economic Zone Authority Excellence Awards. Optum Globa Solutions director for finance Cecilio Castro (second from right) receives the award from Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (right). They are joined by (from left) PEZA deputy director general for policy and planning Theo Panga, OIC director director general for operations and concurrently zone administrator for Cavite Economic Zone administrator Norma Tañag and PEZA director-general Charito Plaza. Optum has offices in Taguig, Quezon City, Muntinlupa and Cebu.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.3930

Japan

Yen

0.008670

0.4456

UK

Pound

1.338900

68.8101

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128376

6.5976

Switzerland

Franc

1.074691

55.2316

Canada

Dollar

0.784929

40.3399

Singapore

Dollar

0.739317

37.9957

Australia

Dollar

0.703100

36.1344

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652942

136.3426

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266539

13.6982

Brunei

Dollar

0.736594

37.8558

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030130

1.5485

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.9936

Euro

Euro

1.114700

57.2878

Korea

Won

0.000831

0.0427

China

Yuan

0.157011

8.0693

India

Rupee

0.013300

0.6835

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238379

12.2510

New Zealand

Dollar

0.658100

33.8217

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035963

1.8482 Source: BSP

NextPay of Sy and Ayala groups bullish on 2022 after banner year

By Darwin G. Amojelar NEXTPAY, a homegrown financial technology startup backed by the Sy family and the Ayala Group, expects its growth momentum to continue in 2022 after surpassing the P1-billion mark in total transaction volume last year.

“The year 2021 was a banner year for NextPay. From being part of the prestigious Y Combinator Program and successfully closing an oversubscribed seed funding round, we were able to successfully grow our base and reach the P1-billion mark in total transaction volume,” said Don Pansacola, NextPay chief executive and co-founder.

“We expect to persist on a growth path this 2022, as we continue to introduce more innovative financial services that

empower growing businesses with big banking solutions,” he added.

Invoice payments, employee salaries and vendor payments were the main drivers for this milestone, backed by a customer base that has grown by roughly 20 times over the last 12 months.

NextPay’s customers include small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and growing businesses in a wide spectrum of industries, including consumer goods, technology, healthcare, investment management, automotive, e-commerce and agriculture.

NextPay last year raised $1.9 million, or twice as much as its target of $1 million in total investments for 2021.

The amount includes the pre-seed backing of Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator Y Combinator and the seed funding

round that was led by Singapore-based venture capitalist Golden Gate Ventures and Gentree Fund, a private investment vehicle of the Sy family, which owns Filipino conglomerate SM Group.

NextPay, launched in 2020 amid the pandemic, empowers growing companies, entrepreneurs and freelancers with a spectrum of digital financial services that were previously unavailable to them because of the steep requirements and high fees typically aimed at larger, more developed companies that can afford them.

NextPay is a platform that provides underserved customers democratized access to easy and affordable financial services, such as digital invoicing, cash management and batch payments to any bank or e-wallet in the Philippines.

THE move of the Department of Finance and its attached agencies to vigorously pursue digital transformation programs long before the pandemic helped boost revenue collections in 2021.

In a statement Friday, the DoF said the tack yielded the biggest positive impact on the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

Preliminary data show the BIR collected P2.07 trillion in 2021, or just short by 0.3 percent of its target set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee for the year.

The BOC, meanwhile, overshot its target, collecting P645.77 billion, or 4.7 percent over its DBCC-set goal of P616.75 billion for 2021.

The BIR’s ongoing digital transformation program, which has expanded the range of electronic payment channels that allow taxpayers to file and pay their taxes online, enabled it to continue collecting taxes even amid the mobility restrictions resulting from the pandemic.

With the shift to contactless transactions, almost 100 percent of annual income tax returns were filed online in 2021, the BIR said.

Julito G. Rada

Nissan Philippines bares expansion bid

NISSAN Philippines Inc. announced the expansion of the company’s flagship mobility sustainability program to Southeast Asia, with Philippines and Thailand as the first two countries to witness and experience the car firm’s full suite of mobility solutions through the electrification technology.

“Through the expansion of Blue Switch in Asean we hope to enable electric vehicles as purpose-driven energy sharing solutions in addressing social issues including disaster relief.

It also will provide better energy management for ecotourism and industry critical to the region,” said Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. executive vice president Asako Hoshino during the virtual unveiling of the project Thursday.

She added Nissan has been working to expand the Blue Switch program to the Philippines and Thailand as part of the company’s journey to drive sustainable long term growth “by creating value focused on society.”

Othel V. Campos

BAP assures public vs counterfeit notes

BANKERS Association of the Philippines The Bankers Association of the Philippines assured the Filipino public that the banking industry is a proactive partner in eradicating the circulation of counterfeit banknotes.

The BAP said banks implement strict cash management services protocols and meticulous security procedures to follow Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ guidelines on the transit and loading of fit banknotes in ATMs. Peso banknotes from the BSP Cash Management Department are timely, safely and securely transported for loading to ATMs. While bills in ATMs do not come directly from a bank’s transactions of the day, banks have always maintained qualified personnel trained and equipped to identify counterfeit banknotes to prevent these from entering the banking system.

In the event the public suspects they are holding a counterfeit banknote, the BAP encourages everyone to immediately report to authorities for the immediate resolution of the issue.

High travel demand expands AirAsia PH passengers by 201% AIRASIA Philippines said Friday the volume of passengers it carried jumped 201 percent in the fourth quarter from a year ago, on higher travel demand during the holiday season.

The Philippine unit of Malaysia’s AirAsia said passengers flown reached 354,886 from October to December, higher than 117,948 passengers in the same period in 2020.

The load factor also reached its highest quarterly performance outcome in 2021 at 85 percent, jumping by 21 percentage points year-on-year.

“This was achieved from strong pentup demand in a number of core destinations including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay and Tacloban,” AirAsia Philippines said.

Meanwhile, AirAsia Group Berhad announced a name change for the group holding company to become Capital A Berhad.

It said the name change reflects the group’s new core business strategy as an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses, which rapidly transformed the AirAsia brand into more than just an airline.

“This is not just about unveiling a new logo. It’s a significant milestone that marks a new era for the Group. Today’s announcement reinforces we are not just an airline anymore,” said Tony Fernandes, Capital A chief executive.

“While the airline will always underpin the AirAsia brand, it has long been my firm intention, well before COVID hit, to leverage the strong data we have built up over 20 years and incorporate industry-leading new technologies to offer a broad range of products and services, over and above selling just airfares. The pandemic has allowed us to accelerate that strategy,” he said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Cebu-based Vivant announces leadership changes as chief executive Garcia retires

By Alena Mae S. Flores PUBLICLY-LISTED Vivant Corp. on Friday announced key changes in leadership with the retirement of chief executive Ramontito Garcia, who will turn 65 in February.

The leadership changes are due to take place on Feb. 7, the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday.

It said with Garcia’s retirement, Arlo Sarmiento, the incumbent president, will assume the role of CEO while Emil Garcia, senior vice president for power, will take over as president of Vivant.

“My retirement offers the next generation the

opportunity to take the helm, to bring new ideas and to implement new styles of leadership while maintaining the same core values that have brought Vivant to where it is now,” said Garcia, who will continue to sit in the board as chairman.

Garcia said Vivant, a holdings company with investments in energy and infrastructure, made it to Forbes Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion list in 2020, an achievement that became possible with the hard work of everyone in the company.

“I’m proud of being part of the team that made this small holding company of five employees to a conglomerate of several companies with interests in different industries,” he said.

Sarmiento said he is confident that he will be able to steer Vivant towards achieving its mission of bringing excellence to industries that improve everyday living despite the challenging business landscape due to COVID-19 and super typhoon Odette.

“We’ve remained on track amid COVID and even took home some wins. We experienced setbacks due to Odette, but we saw how everyone in the group helped each other during the aftermath of the super typhoon. I am certain we would be able to get back on our feet and gain new ground with the same can-do spirit, guided by the same core values that have been instrumental in Vivant’s growth through the years,” Sarmiento said.

SARMIENTO

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022

Rafa on cusp of history, makes Aussie Open final

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after his victory against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini during their men’s singles semi-final match on Day 12 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Diaz confirms SEAG, Paris Olympics’ bid

By Randy Caluag

T

OP Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz expressed interest to compete in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games as she confirmed her participation in the national weightlifting trials set in Bacolod.

Diaz, the Philippines’ first and only Olympic gold medalist, said she is on her way to full recovery from COVID-19 infection and expressed excitement to compete in the SEA Games’ qualifier, the date of which is yet to be announced by the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas.

The 30-year-old weightlifter said that she is again willing to go through the difficult process in attaining her goal of going for a fifth Olympic stint in Paris in 2024.

“Babalik ako dahil gusto ko pa

Malditas face Taiwanese in AFC playoffs

By Peter Atencio TWO goals in the first half was enough for the Philippine Malditas national women’s team to make it to the quarterfinals.

But four more markers in the second half gave the Malditas a 6-0 rout of Indonesia, and assured them of their best finish in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup 2022.

Katrina Guilliou and Sarina Bolden knocked in the first two goals in the sixth and 27th minutes, lifting up the spirit of the Malditas, who finished Group B with a 2-0-1 win-draw-loss record.

A fired-up Malditas’ side then found more opportunities to score as team skipper Tahnnai Annis struck twice in the 56th, and in the 82nd minutes.

More goals came from Dominique Randle and Malea Cesar in the 74th and in the 94th minute of added time.

Heading to the quarterfinals with their best finish so far, the Filipinas are set to meet Chinese Taipei in the playoffs on Sunday.

Australia, which swept their three-game assignment in Group B with their 2-1 victory over Thailand, meets South Korea, which played second following its 1-all draw with Japan in Group C.

maglaro sa #Paris2024, alam kong ‘di madali itong pinasukan ko pero kakayanin. ‘Di madali mag-qualify sa Olympics and I need to earn it,” Diaz said in the caption for her most recent Facebook video post showing her lifting weights.

Diaz, who won her first SEA Games’ gold in 2019, said she will again rely on her Team HD composed of coach Julius Naranjo, nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and psychologist Karen Katrina Trinidad.

“With their good weightlifting and

SC (strength and conditioning) program, nutrition and mental preparation program, I know it’s possible,” she added.

On Jan. 12, Diaz posted on her Instagram that she tested positive for COVID-19, even as she acquired her booster shot a little more than a week ago in Quezon City.

Diaz won the country’s first Olympic gold medal with a dramatic victory in the women’s 55-kg category in Tokyo last year.

But recent changes made by the International Weightlifting Federation in the weight classes for Paris will force Diaz to compete in the next higher weight category.

Among those that were removed was Diaz’s 55-kg category and the next higher weight class after that is the women’s 59-kg category, one of the four holdover events from the

B1

Hidilyn Diaz

Tokyo edition.

This would mean her team should start conditioning her mind and body to lift heavier weights as the record in the 59kg in Tokyo by gold medal winner Kuo Hsing-Chun of Chinese Taipei was 247 kgs.

Diaz, also the silver medalist in the Rio Olympics in 2016, made a total of 224 kilograms to beat eventual silver medalist Liao Qiuyun of the People’s Republic of China.

MELBOURNE—Rafael Nadal marched into the final of the Australian Open to be just one match away from becoming the all-time men’s Grand Slam leader after overcoming Matteo Berrettini in their semi-final on Friday.

The 35-year-old Spanish great, seeded sixth, was too solid for the Italian seventh seed, winning 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in 2hr 55min, and will face either Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final.

Nadal is level on 20 majors with his golden era rivals Novak Djokovic, who was deported on the eve of the tournament, and Roger Federer, who is absent with injury.

It gives the Spaniard an opportunity to go clear at the top and add to his lone 2009 Melbourne Park crown in his sixth Australian Open final.

“For me it’s all about the Australian Open more than anything else, it’s an amazing event,” Nadal said.

“I have been a little unlucky during my career with some injuries and I played in some amazing finals here with some good chances against Novak in 2012 and Roger 2017, I was close a couple of times.

“I feel very lucky that I won once in my career in 2009, but I never thought about another chance in 2022.

“So I’ll just try to enjoy today’s victory and try my best in the final.”

It has been an extraordinary effort from Nadal at the year’s opening major, having to modify his game to compensate for a degenerative bone disease in his left foot that ended his 2021 season last August.

‘It means a lot’ He then caught Covid in December which, he said, made him “very sick”.

Yet Nadal brushed aside Berrettini’s challenge with precision shot-making, while last year’s Wimbledon finalist could not overcome his sluggish start.

The stark statistic confronting Berrettini was that Nadal had never lost in his 20 Grand Slam semi-finals after leading by two sets.

“I started the match playing great, the first two sets were one my best for a long time and I knew Matteo was a very solid player, very dangerous and I knew at some point in the third set he was going to go for his shots,” Nadal said.

“It means a lot to me to be in the final again here,” added Nadal who is now unbeaten in 10 matches to start the 2022 season after winning a warm-up event in Melbourne. AFP

POC expects improvement for Miller in Beijing ONLY 17 four years ago in Pyeongchang, alpine skier Asa Miller is bound for a sound improvement when he competes in his second consecutive Winter Olympics as a more experienced 21-year-old in Beijing.

“I wish him all the luck that he will improve on his performance from the last Winter Olympics,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Friday. “But his qualification for Beijing is already an absolute honor for a tropical country like ours.”

“We are very fortunate to have a qual-

ified athlete,” Tolentino added.

The Beijing Games are set from February 4 to 20, with the Filipino-American Miller vying in men’s slalom and giant slalom at the Xiaohaituo Alpine Skiing field in Yanqing District starting on February 16.

Miller finished in 70th spot among 110 competitors in his giant slalom debut in Pyeongchang 2018, where another Filipino, figure skater Michael Martinez, also participated.

Richer in experience and with skills he polished incessantly the last four years,

Miller also qualified for men’s slalom in Beijing after making the threshold of 160 International Skiing Federation qualifying points.

“The whole Philippines is excited because we’re one of only a few countries in the Southeast Asian region that will compete in the Winter Olympics,” said Tolentino, who thanked the Philippine Sports Commission for its all-out support to the Philippine delegation. Chef de Mission Bones Floro and Athlete’s Welfare Officer Joebert Yu left Manila via Japan Airlines for the Chinese capi-

tal on Friday morning.

Miller, his father Kelly and Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation President Jim Palomar Apelar will be arriving in Beijing on Sunday from the US on board Japan Airlines. Covid-19 Liaison Officer Nikki Cheng of Philippine Skating Union will also fly to Beijing on Sunday from Manila.

Will Gregorak, the American coach of Miller, will be arriving in China from the US after the opening ceremony.

Team Philippines will stay at the Yanqing Olympic Village.

Rosales, Ikeda featured in Lexus golf video series

Shown here are SEA Games medalist and multiple winner at the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Chihiro Ikeda, Golf Driven host Daniel Peters, and US LPGA Champion Jennifer Rosales.

THE first-ever Filipina US LPGA Champion Jennifer Rosales and Chihiro Ikeda, SEA Games medalist and multiple winner at the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) star in the latest episode of Golf Driven, a series on YouTube presented by Lexus which gives new and seasoned golfers and sport enthusiasts an online show they can watch and learn from the country’s best athletes playing on the course.

The episode shows the two athletes playing two exhibition games in the two most challenging courses at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club against amateur golfer and host, Daniel Peters.

They also share their thought process and techniques they use in given situations like visualizing putts and what clubs they use to achieve shots.

The game of golf requires skill and a certain discipline to be able to navigate and win

the game, which is akin to the Lexus Takumi master craftsmen who work with advanced technology to create exceptional Lexus vehicles that allow you to experience amazing every day.

Watch the latest Golf Driven episode on the Lexus Philippines YouTube Page https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wPAnMSuFrqM&t=5s.

Catch the next episode with special guests Derek Ramsey and Gerry Santos.

To learn more, visit the Lexus website at lexus.com.ph or visit our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram @lexusmanila To arrange a consultation with your personal sales consultant, visit the Lexus Remote page at https://fal.cn/3eSWW You may also download the MyLEXUS App available on both Android and iOS users to receive live updates and access other premium services.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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AUSANNE, an upcoming 24-hectare community in Tagaytay, is poised to mirror the charm of its namesake French-speaking city in Switzerland, famous for its vineyards and dramatic views of Lake Geneva and the French Alps.

Home/Design

Nature’s bounty

Lausanne, too, will offer a residential haven that will allow residents to bask in the bounty of nature—panoramic views of Tagaytay, Laguna de Bay, and the Metro Manila skyline. Developed

by Brittany Corporation, the luxury brand of Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc., Lausanne will rise within the 100ha Crosswinds.

Currently, Lausanne is offering lots, with sizes ranging from 800 sqm to 1000 sqm, for its first phase of development, located within the highest elevation of the community.

Priced at P52,000 per sqm, lots here have seen their values appreciate significantly by 108 percent over the last five years.

BSP lauds Colliers as bridge for real estate information

DIVERSIFIED professional services and investment management firm Colliers recently received certification from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as one of the monetary policymaker’s partners for real estate information.

According to the BSP, Colliers has been for more than 15 years one of its sources of insights and data on the real estate sector, which serve as inputs to several of its key reports.

These reports provide information and analysis to support the review and formulation of monetary policy by the Monetary Board and review policy strategies used by the BSP

to operationalize the stance of monetary policy.

Reflection of data-driven bent As recognition to its contribution, Colliers has been recognized as one of the BSP’s most outstanding partners for information in 2018 and 2019.

“The recognition from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is a clear reflection of our excellent datadriven approach in the real estate service industry,” said Richard Raymundo, Colliers managing director. “We are grateful for the recognition and we look forward to further partnering with government

institutions for accurate and reliable real estate data.”

TIMELY REPORTS Colliers regularly releases reports on the Philippine property market. Covering the office, residential, retail, industrial, and hotel sectors, these reports are published quarterly and are some of the most cited research by the local media, equity firms, and property developers.

In addition to these quarterly reports, Colliers also releases research covering up-and-coming markets and the latest issues affecting the sector.

BRIMMING WITH CONFIDENCE. Real estate developer BRIA Homes, recently vowed to continue launching housing projects in key towns and cities in the Philippines, despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy. BRIA is currently building contemporary homes in over 50 residential communities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, anchored on the firm belief that Filipinos will continue to dream of owning a home, thus fuelling the demand for viable housing nationwide. “We offer a wide range of housing options for all Filipinos, especially now that individuals and families are realizing the value of owning a safe, secure, and stable home, said BRIA homes division head Eduardo T. Aguilar.

Waterfront living in Bacolod City WHILE Bacolod City continues to preserve many of its heritage structures and natural sceneries, the City of Smiles has gradually become more urbanized, evolving into an emerging economic powerhouse.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) recently introduced Smile Residences, a master-planned development that raises the bar of community living in Bacolod.

Perched within the SM City Bacolod complex, Smile Residences is conveniently located in the thriving lifestyle and business sector of Bacolod City, with easy access to and from the Bacolod International Airport and Seaport, as well as transit hubs within the complex.

It is a waterfront property that offers breathtaking sunsets, as well as the one of the best lifestyle features and amenities. For more information, visit www.smdc.com/properties/smile-residences/.

RISING SUN IN TAGUIG. Federal Land, Inc., along with its Japanese partners Nomura Real Estate Development Corp., and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd., recently held a topping off ceremony of The Seasons Residences Haru Tower. The Seasons Residences is a Japanese-inspired residence that marries Japanese ingenuity with Filipino sense of community, located within Grand Central Park, Federal Land’s master-planned community in Bonifacio Global City. Aki, the third tower of The Seasons Residences, is set to be launched in the first quarter of 2022. At the ceremony were: Robert Castillo, EEI president and CEO; Guita Saenz-Resurreccion, FLI sales group head; Arch. Gilbert Berba, urban planning & design group head; Engr. Antonino Aligaen, technical execution group head; Pia Nunez, senior project director; Yasuhiro Ohira, NRE manager for overseas business; Junji Ando, Isetan Mitsukoshi manager for overseas business promotions; Catherine Bengzon, marketing group head; Jocelyn Pua, head of construction for BGC; and Roger G. Antonio , SP Castro Inc. director and senior vice president.

Tech & Gadgets

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EIJING – Xiaomi recently announced Redmi Note 11 series for international markets, pushing forward the legacy of Redmi Note series with four all-new devices: Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 11 Pro, Redmi Note 11S and Redmi Note 11.

Rising to the challenge to bring even stronger specs and features, Redmi Note 11 series again brings powerful upgrades to its camera system, charging speed, display, and SoC—making flagship-level smartphone performance more accessible than before.

Also announced is the brand-new Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 series, starting at P6,999.

Flagship-level camera setup to deliver outstanding photography Raising up the flagship camera experience, Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 11 Pro, and Redmi Note 11S once again feature 108MP primary sensors, allowing you to capture and share moments of your life in high resolution and true-to-life details.

Utilizing the Samsung HM2 sensor with a large 1/1.52" sensor size, the main camera leverages 9-in-1 pixel binning technology as well as dual native ISO to deliver incredible images with higher dynamic range and colour performance, with excellent results even in dim light.

The 8MP ultra-wide angle camera extends your perspective with a 118-degree viewing angle, and the 2MP macro camera captures fine details from up close.

Additionally, the 2MP depth camera on Redmi Note 11 Pro, Redmi Note 11S and Redmi Note 11 allows you to create a natural bokeh effect for your portrait shots.

The front of Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11S feature a 16MP front camera that can capture clear, natural-looking selfies.

FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay with up to 120Hz refresh rate & trendy flat-edge body Boasting a high refresh rate up to 120Hz and a touch sampling rate up to 360Hz, Redmi Note 11 series en-

Xiaomi presents Redmi Note 11 Series for international markets Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G Redmi Note 11S

hances your screen experience with smoother animations and lag-free transitions, while also registering more precise finger touches.

With a screen size of 6.67-inch and 6.43inch, the series is equipped with a FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay featuring DCI-P3 wide color gamut, provides more vibrant colours and details, while also reaching as much as 1200 nits to ensure the screen’s clarity even in bright daylight.

The beautiful display is packed into a trendy flat-edge body design. Plus, with

Enterprise metaverse: Employees ready, can organizations deliver?

JUST as businesses are starting to find their groove with hybrid working, the workplace has begun to evolve again with the emergence of the metaverse. New research from Lenovo reveals that close to half of employees (44%) are willing to work in the metaverse and believe that it can deliver benefits like productivity to the workplace.

The metaverse is primarily defined as a shared digital space with digital representations of people, places, and objects. In the future, the metaverse can be a highly immersive extension of the physical world, with its rich user interface.

At the enterprise level, this opens up possibilities for businesses to create a more viable, interactive workplace.

However, there is skepticism on whether companies have the capabilities to pull it off.

Two in five (43%) respondents believe their employers do not, or probably do not have the knowledge or expertise to enable them to work in the metaverse of the future.

Ken Wong, President, Lenovo Solutions and Services Group: “The pandemic challenged us all to adapt to new ways of work – forcing organizations of all sizes to evolve at an exponential pace.

The metaverse presents businesses with new opportunities but also more complex technological challenges, such as the need for more computing power, better integrated hardware, and simpler and more flexible IT solutions.”

Key findings from the survey include: • While half of employees (44%) are willing to work in the metaverse, 20% are unwilling, with 21% say they are neutral and another 15% say they are not sure.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

• Half of working adults (51%) agree that an employer’s speed of adoption of new technology is an indicator of readiness for new technological realities, such as the virtually enhanced physical reality of the metaverse.

• Working adults in Brazil (53%), Singapore (51%) and China (54%) are split evenly, with around half confident that their employers have the expertise to enable a metaverse workplace, and the other half less confident. Conversely, working adults in the United Kingdom (30%) and Japan (18%) are less optimistic.

• While 44% think the metaverse will improve their work productivity, three in five (59%) do not think or are not sure that their employers are currently investing enough in IT to help them maximize their productivity.

“Though the metaverse has yet to be ubiquitous, organizations can get a head start with improving productivity at work.

They do not have to invest significantly more capital to achieve that. Everythingas-a-service or pay-as-you-go model offers the flexibility, cost efficiency, and scalability to adapt to each company’s unique circumstance,” added Wong.

To manage an increasingly complex technology, businesses need simple and flexible IT solutions. Lenovo’s solutions include ThinkReality platform, which is powering the enterprise metaverse with a portfolio of award-winning hardware, software, and services.

The as-a-Service market is growing at four times the overall IT services total addressable market.

dual super linear speakers located at the top and bottom of the phone, Redmi Note 11 series offers a complete entertainment experience with immersive stereo sound for gaming or watching videos.

Speedy and powerful performance at all fonts Raising up its performance, Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is powered by the advanced octa-core processor Snapdragon® 695.

This chipset offers 5G connectivity and superb performance, thanks to the

flagship-level 6nm technology and clock speed up to 2.2 GHz .

Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11S rise to the challenge with advanced octa-core MediaTek Helio G96 processor and up to 8GB of RAM. Redmi Note 11 is equipped with a Snapdragon® 680 processor built using flagship-level 6nm process to deliver superior performance while conserving power.

Additionally, all four Redmi Note 11 series devices equip you with a 5,000mAh

large-capacity battery.

Alongside this exceptional battery capacity is Xiaomi flagship-level 67W turbo charging in Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G and Redmi Note 11 Pro, which take as little as 15 minutes to fill 50% of battery.

Redmi Note 11S and Redmi Note 11 feature 33W Pro fast charging, allowing you to charge to100% in around an hour.

Market availability: Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11S come in three variants – 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB. Redmi Note 11 comes in three variants – 4GB+64GB, 4GB+128GB and 6GB+128GB. All will be available for purchase via Xiaomi’s official sales channels as early as February 11, 2022 in the Philippines.

Breathe clean, breathe healthy: Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Series Celebrating over 16 million shipments worldwide, Xiaomi also upgraded its widely-acclaimed Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier Series with three new variants - Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Pro, 4, and 4 Lite.

The brand-new series promises Xiaomi Fans a healthier, cleaner, and reduced-allergen indoor air environment year-round, with options for different home spaces and family needs.

The top variant, Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Pro, features a 3-in-1 filtration system that combines electrostatic charge and mechanical filtration technologies to trap 99.97% of air pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. So whether its pet dander, cotton fiber, or other pollutants, Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Pro will have you covered.

To ensure maximized filtration efficiency, the Pro model newly integrates both PM2.5 and PM10 sensors to precisely detect inhalable particles of different sizes.

Learning online trading in time of pandemic THE past two years introduced numerous shifts in our lifestyle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant new ways of living, new working environments, and more so, new ways of learning. We have seen many changes when it comes to education, primarily the shift to online and hybrid environments implemented by traditional institutions to companies involved in learning like SmarTrade (www.smartradeph.com), which offers 100% free financial education.

SmarTrade’s advocacy of providing financial literacy to the Filipinos shifted from face-to-face sessions and events to online learning sessions, online one-on-one coaching, and online consultation. While it has its own challenges, this new setup made it easier for the company to multiply its reach and tap clients who are interested in online trading even from the provincial areas.

During the challenging years of the pandemic, Filipinos looked at different

Online learning session with Gab Santos, SmarTrade Market Analyst and Coach

ways how they can manage their existing financial resources and even grow them. Many looked at online trading as an additional investment opportunity and this is where SmarTrade’s services have been integral.

“We have been providing financial education to the Filipinos for four years and this is really the heart of our mission. Even the pandemic cannot stop us from reaching Filipinos who want to learn about financial wellness,” says SmarTrade President & CEO Joyce Ann Mayo.

SmarTrade’s 100% free online learning sessions helped many Filipinos understand financial wellness and at the same time, gave them resources on how they can grow their money through different investments such as trading. The free online learning sessions catered to different levels: from those who are only dipping their toes in investments to intermediate and advanced traders who want to sharpen their skills and be abreast with the global and local developments in the trading industry.

“SmarTrade’s expansive free online learning modules and personalized one-on-one coaching sessions make learning accessible to all interested traders, no matter where they are,” beams Mayo. “SmarTrade is proud that we are able to provide this platform to make it easier for all Filipinos to dive in and learn through these free resources.”

PH bet leads 'Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring' winners TAIWAN Excellence: Sharing is Caring, a global philanthropic Campaign launched by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs announced the top three winning proposals recently, led by Educating and Empowering the Community through Mobile Kart from the Philippines.

Other winners were Solar Solutions for Indigenous Māori Communities from New Zealand and One-day Medical Tour and Same-day Denture Delivery - Mobile Digital Denture Clinic & Oral Health Service Project from Taiwan.

Cynthia Kiang, Director General of BOFT virtually presented certificates to the winners during an awards ceremony today.

The BOFT said that the winning proposals would be funded and implemented according to how they plan out in the proposed region/country, hoping to promote kindness and good deeds in Cynthia Kiang, Director General of BOFT virtually presented certificates to the the local communities. winners during an awards ceremony.

With the support from the industry, Sharing is Caring that was held for the first time has to address either social or environmental 61 countries poured in, and the best of all recruited ideas from all over the world that in- problems. It was a pleasant surprise for the was finally out after careful and thoughtful corporate Taiwan Excellence winning products organizer that a total of 781 proposals from selection.

Director General Kiang was excited to see that so much could be achieved and so many people participated for the first year of the campaign. “We could feel that love and care are everywhere in the world,” emphasized by Kiang. “At the same time, the Taiwan Excellence winning companies will continue to spare no efforts in pushing forward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via the Campaign.”

Marareia Hamilton, one of the team members of the winning proposal ‘Solar Solutions for Indigenous Māori Communities’ from New Zealand, has long been

devoted to the development of Māori communities and helped establish workable business models for the locals. As many of the communities are located in the remote areas, the power supply might be on and off due to grid stability issues. Thus the team has proposed to install solar panels from Taiwan and to build a self-sustaining green energy power generation system within the communities. Marareia expressed her special thanks to Taiwanese Excellence during the ceremony for lighting up the Māori communities, and for bringing Taiwan and New Zealand closer.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022

Motoring

Raise your game with All-New Toyota Raize

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NE of the most awaited vehicles this 2022 will finally be available for Filipinos in just a few days.

The All-New Toyota Raize - the versatile SUV that has piqued the interest of most fans, enthusiasts, and customers. As early as now, customers may inquire in their nearest dealerships or with their preferred authorized marketing professionals on how to get listed for reservations.

The 5-seater SUV is designed and developed to be compact, active, and useful - both for everyday drives and leisurely weekends. The Raize comes in 4 variants: 1.0 Turbo CVT, 1.2 G CVT, 1.2 E CVT, and 1.2 E MT, and starts at a retail price of PHP746,000 up to PHP1,036,000. It also comes in fun colors – gray and silver metallic. A red finish is available for the G CVT variant while the Turbo CVT variant exclusively offers two-tone colors including white and black, turquoise and black, and yellow and black.

Continue celebrating New Year with CHERY’s 'Year of Growling Tiggo' promo THERE’S always a value-packed CHERY ripe for the picking as it brings out several options that are easy on the budget. CHERY Auto Philippines’ year-starter salvo is the best news this New Year for new SUV buyers. And unlike other financing promos with easy-payment offers for selected models only, CHERY’s budget-friendly promo is applicable to ALL CHERY models.

Tailor-made for practical firsttime car buyers or those who need a versatile second car, the CHERY Tiggo 2 is available for as low as PHP5,435 per month and with cash discounts of as much as PHP100,000.

All-in down payments go as low as P 28,000. The Tiggo 2 is the lowest priced crossover and is competitively priced even against entry-level hatchbacks. Fresh graduates and those who live an active lifestyle are the perfect drivers of this sporty ride.

CHERY’s head-turning all-new Tiggo 2 PRO, meanwhile, can be brought home with a low down payment of PH68,000 or can be availed for a monthly payment of PHP8,213. It’s also available with a cash discount of PHP35,000.

For those who might need a bit more space and a sporty touch, the SUV that boasts generous comfort and convenience features is the CHERY Tiggo 5X. It is available with cash discounts of up to PHP110,000, an all-in down payment of as low as PHP38,000, or monthly amortization of as low as PHP7,005.

On the other hand, just about any type of buyer will gravitate towards CHERY’s upscale-

looking European-inspired featureladen Tiggo 7 PRO, which is offered with a stunning PHP130,000 cash discount, down payment of as low as PHP58,000, or monthly payment as low as PHP10,299. This bestselling world-class crossover is equipped with a push-button start; a huge 10.25” HD touchscreen infotainment system, a panoramic sunroof, and is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged DOHC 16-valve VVT engine mated to a class-leading 9-speed CVT. CHERY’s biggest and most luxurious offer is the 7-seater midsize Tiggo 8, which is available with a cash discount of up to PHP100,000, a low down payment of PHP78,000, or a monthly installment of as low as PHP12,517. The elegant Tiggo 8 is suitable for executives, families, and even single people who put the style, comfort, space, and safety on top. It features a panoramic sunroof; dual, side, and curtain airbags, luxurious leather seats, premium entertainment system and a 360-degree view HD camera, among many other comforts, convenience, and safety features.

To emphasize their confidence in their vehicles, CHERY Auto Philippines offers its industryleading Premium Preserv suite of warranties: 10-year/1-million-km Engine Warranty, 5-year General Vehicle Warranty, plus 3-year FREE Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS), and 3-year FREE Roadside Assistance to all buyers of any Tiggo model.

Foton rolls out promos for all-around mobility AS THE Year of the Water Tiger pounces in, FOTON Motor Philippines Inc. (FMPI) reaches out to more businesses with a new and more comprehensive line-up of promos that make acquiring a new FOTON vehicle more budgetfriendly.

Running until March 31, FOTON Philippines is offering as much as P520k in cash discounts, down payments as low as P48k, and monthly amortizations as low as P5,425 for selected models available at all FOTON dealerships nationwide.

Showcasing its wide array of vehicles boasting world-class design and technology, FOTON offers all-round mobility for an even greater number of industries and companies.

Highlighting power and agility, FOTON puts the spotlight on its bestselling Gratour series, Harabas TM300, and the tough Hurricane EST-M 4x2 Dump Truck this quarter.

Tailor-made for small to medium businesses, the Gratour MT is an economical fullypacked commercial vehicle.

It’s equipped with a 1.5L gasoline engine mated with a 5-speed manual transmission.

The Gratour MT produces a

maximum power output of 110hp at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 142Nm at 4,500 rpm. With its 8-foot-long customizable body, the Gratour MT delivers dependable, fuel-efficient performance.

Built to last, the Harabas TM300 is crafted with heavy-duty construction including a rigid frame structure and a high-strength steel chassis that can accommodate all manner of deliverables inside its 10-footer customizable body. Powered by a 2.2L diesel engine, it can deliver a thousand parcels within its spacious interior and carry as heavy as 1.1 tons of payload on a single trip.

Powered and unmatched by the world-leading durability of the US-developed-and-designed Cummins Diesel Engine, the Hurricane EST-M 4x2 Dump Truck generates massive power to provide effortless and reliable

transportation and logistics. It outputs a strong maximum power of 220hp at 2,500rpm and huge torque with its 5,900cc displacement.

This gigantic dump truck features a 9CBM dump box capacity that can haul cargo payload as heavy as 13 tons for effortless all-round mobility.

Amidst the pandemic, FOTON Philippines launched its Empowering the Filipinos Business campaign as part of the brand’s extensive effort to help our countrymen step-up against the economic recession. Since then, FOTON has been providing accessible and affordable mobility plans all throughout the country.

For inquiries, call your nearest FOTON dealer or sales hotline at 0999-999-9998. You may also explore and reach FOTON PH on various digital platforms via https:// linktr.ee/FOTONPhilippines.

NLEX boosts customer service in '22 WITH over 119 million motorists served last year, NLEX Corporation is continuing to elevate customer experience through its system enhancements and programs planned for 2022.

These include the installation of the RFID early detection feature, installation and software upgrade

of RFID card readers or contactless terminals, upgrade of system servers, and replacement of toll lane equipment — all aimed at improving the service to customers.

About 29 more toll lanes will be equipped with enhanced scanners for faster RFID detection and additional 50 toll lanes will have new contactless

terminals where customers can tap their Easytrip card to process their RFID transactions. Once completed, a total of 217 toll lanes will now have RFID early detection features and 258 toll lanes with contactless terminals.

System servers will also be upgraded, while traffic control gates, as well as lane status and toll fare indicators in 187

toll lanes will be replaced for increased efficiency.

As part of its digital transformation, the tollway company, together with other business units of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), will also launch an interactive chatbot system on its website and Facebook Messenger. This new service will help

customers get instant answers to their basic inquiries.

Stakeholder relations programs such as regular dialogues, consultations, and surveys and other customer touchpoints will likewise continue to get feedback from customers to understand their needs and address their concerns.