BusinessMirror June 04, 2021 by BusinessMirror

3 agencies to help DOE in gencos’ cases By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

ALACAñANG has instr ucted the Energ y Reg ulator y Commission (ERC), the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist the Department of Energy (DOE) in building up cases against 17 power generation companies (gencos) cited for violating energy policies. According to DOE–Electric Power Industry Management Bureau Director Mario Marasigan, a letter from Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles was sent to the agencies concerned.

“We have presented to the Cabinet Assistance System the power outlook and the concerns that we see in the power industry, whereby Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles instructed DOJ, PCC and ERC to coordinate with us. We had initial coordination with ERC and PCC while preparing for DOJ,” said Marasigan in a text message. In April, the DOE said it would refer to the ERC, PCC and DOJ for assistance in enforcement and in building up cases against gencos for their prolonged power plant outages; the grid system operator for not securing enough firmcontracted ancillar y reser ves (AS); and the distribution utilities

(DUs) for not conducting competitive power supply auctions on time. “We have been working closely with the other enforcement agencies in pursuing options available to us to ensure that unplanned, prolonged, and perhaps even alleged malicious activities of certain players in the energy sector are scrutinized, investigated, and possibly penalized by the ERC, the PCC, and the DOJ,” the DOE said Thursday. The Energy department, whose chief, Secretar y A lfonso Cusi is under fire from senators for having assured them on April 27 there would be no brownouts, also reminded DUs and the system operator of their contracting

Friday, June 4, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 233

obligations to address the needed capacity increases for a reliable power system for its consumers. The Senate Committee on Energy, chaired by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, is calling a hearing soon on this week’s spate of power disruptions in Luzon, which Gatchalian said affected 339,000 households in 90 barangays in 60 cities and provinces. Gatchalian promised to open the inquiry soon after Sen. Manny Pacquiao, in a privilege speech on Wednesday, called out Cusi for “incompetence” and said he cannot pass on the blame simply to private companies as he has command responsibility. See “3 agencies,” A2

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 30 pages |

PANDEMIC LOANS SWELL GOVT DEBT TO P10.991T n

PHL BANKS’ OPERATING ENVIRONMENT AMONG ‘CHALLENGING’ IN ASIA

ITCH Ratings has identified the Philippine economy as one of the most challenging operating environments for banks among emerging markets in Asia. In its recent commentary on emerging market banks across the world, international credit watcher Fitch Ratings said the Philippines, along with India and Sri Lanka, face the greatest challenges for banks this year. “The operating environment (OE) remains challenging— though to varying degrees—in most emerging market banking systems in Asia, excluding China. This is because most jurisdictions' OE have weakened in the past 12 months even if their outlooks are now stable,” Fitch Ratings said. “Challenges are greatest in India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines,” it added.

IT’S WORLD BICYCLE DAY! Cyclists are seen crossing a drainage canal as a construction crew does its work below, along the Riverbanks area in Provident Village, Marikina City. The city government is constructing drainage systems in various places in the city to alleviate severe flooding during the rainy season. NONOY LACZA

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE national government’s (NG) total outstanding debt continued to swell to a fresh record-high in April this year, as the country resorts to more borrowings to finance its pandemic response. See “Pandemic,” A2

PESO exchange rates n US 47.8210

Fitch Ratings identified the ”stubborn infection rate” as the main challenge in the country as it is “testing past years’ underwriting standards” of banks. For India, the surge in new coronavirus cases are exacerbating pre-pandemic issues and are affecting banks’ asset quality and capital shortfalls. For Sri Lanka, sovereign and macroeconomic risks are the problem. Earlier this month, Fitch Ratings had warned of “diminished revenue growth opportunities” and “worsening non-performing loans ratio” for Philippine banks, as the economy continues to grapple with recession. Banks will particularly be hit, the credit watcher said, because the weaker economic outlook translates to low revenue growth opportunities for banks as credit demand remains muted and as See “PHL,” A2

PHAP prefers voluntary licensing on vaxx By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

ESPITE concerns about potentia l ly restr ictive measures, the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) maintained that securing volun-

tary licensing is the way to go if other companies seek to produce Covid-19 vaccines. The industry group said that several vaccine candidates have been approved or are in advanced clinical trials already in less than a year, through technology transfer collaborations among companies.

“In just a few months following close to 300 partnerships globally, these collaborations have been successful in increasing production from zero to 2.2 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses by the end of May,” PHAP told the BusinessMirror. It is estimated that 11 billion doses will be produced this year, the

group added. “At the moment, unprecedented voluntary licensing and technology transfer agreements, bilateral agreements, and working with established organizations are models that are producing quality and safe vaccines,” it continued.

n japan 0.4365 n UK 67.7863 n HK 6.1636 n CHINA 7.4937 n singapore 36.1677 n australia 37.0613 n EU 58.4038 n SAUDI arabia 12.7526

See “PHAP,” A2

Source: BSP (June 3, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, June 4, 2021

Pandemic... Continued from A1

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported on Thursday that the NG debt of the country rose to P10.991 trillion in end-April this year. This is up from the P10.77 trillion reported at the end of the year’s first quarter. The BTr attributed the increase to the net availment of both local and external financing. Of the total debt stock, 28.9 percent was sourced externally while 71.1 percent are domestic borrowings. Broken down, NG domestic debt amounted to P7.8 trillion, which is P67.78 billion or 0.9 percent higher compared to the end-March 2021.From the end-December 2020 level, meanwhile, NG domestic debt increased by P1.12 trillion or 16.7 percent. The BTr attributed the rise in domestic debt primarily to the net issuance of government securities during the month. On the other hand, NG external debt hit P3.2 trillion during the month, rising by P149.71 billion or 4.9 percent higher from the previous month’s level. From the end-December 2020 level, meanwhile, NG external debt has increased by P78.61 billion or 2.5 percent. According to the BTr, the higher NG external debt reflected the government’s net availment of foreign loans amounting to P163.01 billion. This included P146.16 billion from the issuance of Global Bonds. Further adjustments include the impact of third-currency appreciation against the US dollar which added P10.91 billion, while local-currency appreciation trimmed P24.21 billion. The total NG guaranteed obligations, meanwhile, decreased by P1.07 billion or 0.2 percent from the previous month to P434.74 billion in April. The lower level of guaranteed debt was attributed to the net redemption of both local and foreign guaranteed obligations amounting to P750 million and P80 million, respectively. Local-currency exchange rate fluctuations also further lowered the peso value of external guaranteed debt by P1.57 billion, while third-currency appreciation added P1.33 billion to the peso value of guarantees. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) economist Michael Ricafort said the latest rise in NG debt was brought about by higher borrowings and reduced government tax revenues. Ricafort also said the NG debt could still continue to rise in the coming months. “Going forward, government debt could still go up in the coming months, in view of the recent borrowings by the government, both commercial and multilateral/official development assistance [ODA]; partly to finance the relatively wider budget deficit and the various Covid-19 programs, as well as additional government borrowings to finance the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines,” the economist said. “For the coming months, the risk of the new coronavirus strains/variants that are more contagious and partly led to the record-high new Covid-19 local cases on a daily basis, as well as any delays in the Covid-19 vaccine arrivals and rollouts, could slow down economic recovery prospects worldwide and locally, thereby could lead to wider budget deficits; as slower economic recovery could lead to lower government/tax revenues and could lead to more government spending for any resulting increase Covid-19 programs [especially if there would be risks of more lockdown measures and travel restrictions],” he added.

4 service contracts on oil, gas exploration in WPS pending By Samuel P. Medenilla

tracting Program (PCECP). This after President Duterte lifted the moratorium on oil and gas exploration in the WPS in 2020. This is part of the government's efforts to seek new energy sources amid the looming depletion of the Malampaya natural gas field, which is the second-biggest source for fuel for the energy production in Luzon. Cusi said they continue to look for

more partners in conducting more exploration in areas within the country’s exclusive economic zone in WPS and territorial seas. He noted the said activities are expected to push through despite the countr y's territorial disputes with China in WPS. “The said incursions of Chinese Coast Guard vessel [in Philippine waters] is a separate [issue]. It does not interfere [our] exploration,” Cusi said. The most recent of the incursions happened in early March Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) located 175 nautical miles from Bataraza, Palawan. Over 200 boats believed to be maritime militia of China have remained in areas within the Philippines’s exclusive economic zone. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been filing daily diplomatic protests against Beijing, as it vowed to do, while the boats remain in the area.

in nonperforming loans since 2016. Also, among the nine emerging market economies, only the Philippines and Indonesia’s bank lending contracted in 2020. Fitch expects the Philippine banking industry’s nonperforming loan ratio to worsen to nearly 6 percent by end-2021. “Consumer and business sentiments remain dampened by high coronavirus infection rates and consequent social distancing measures, and we

expect more business failures in the mid-market segment,” Fitch Ratings earlier said. The Philippine economy plunged into recession in 2020 due to the disruption caused by the global health crisis. Last year, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 9.5 percent on average. For the first quarter of the year, the economy remained in recession with a contraction of 4.2 percent. Bianca Cuaresma

Agnes Devanadera said. The extended plant outage and power plant derating have resulted in rotational brownouts since Monday, May 31. This even as the DOE assured in April that Luzon will be spared from power outages, saying there is enough supply in the grid. As of Thursday, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) projected a total available capacity of 11,601 MW, relative to the projected peak demand of 10,331 MW. This means the Luzon grid is in normal system condition based on NGCP’s advisory issued in the morning. “There are currently enough power supply reserves to accommodate the projected demand, which has significantly decreased due to adverse weather condition,” said the DOE.

cillary Services Procurement Agreement [ASPA] in place to support the transmission of power capacity and energy from generation sources to consumption loads and maintain the reliable operation of the transmission system,” Devanadera added. As of December 2020, the DOE said NGCP’s level of firm contracted AS are still way below the requirement of a department circular and the ERC-approved AS Procurement Plan. The NGCP, for its part, said earlier that the lack of supply hampers the procurement of power reserve. “If there is no supply provided by generation companies, there is no reserve or there is no ancillary services to be procured,” NGCP counsel for legal and regulatory affairs Ronald Dylan Concepcion told a recent Joint Congressional Energy Commission hearing. The DOE’s DC2019-12-0018 order mandated NGCP to renegotiate its existing non-firm contracts, as necessary, and comply with the 100-percent firm AS requirement.

@sam_medenilla

OUR service contracts for oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are now in the final stages of processing, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). “As we are talking now, I believe that we have four service contracts that are being processed already and then [will be brought] to Malacañang for President’s signature for award,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in an online press briefing on Thursday. In December, Cusi had reported they received 14 applications for oil and gas exploration in the WPS under their Philippine Conventional Energy Con-

PHL...

Continued from A1

set yields are capped by excess liquidity amid a dovish monetary policy. In their Thursday report, Fitch said among the nine emerging market economies in the region under their watch, the Philippines—along with Sri Lanka and Thailand—posted the largest rise

3 agencies... Continued from A1

On T hursday, Minor it y Leader Franklin M. Drilon also rejected what he deemed Cusi’s blame tossing. Energy Secretary Cusi said he is fully aware of his responsibilities as energy chief and that he has not been remiss in his duties. “We are aware of our responsibilities and we have been carrying them out,” he said, while lamenting that the criticism “came from partymates,” referring to Pacquiao and Senator Koko Pimentel.

Economic sabotage

Meanwhile, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella has said the 17 gencos’ noncompliance with government policies—banning the conduct of maintenance shutdowns in the second quarter, when demand is at peak—is thoroughly being investigated for a possible case of economic sabotage. For instance, the ERC said 17 gencos breached the maximum allowable unplanned outage days per year. The 17 gencos are SEM Calaca Power Corp., GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd., Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd., Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp., Team Sual Corp., SPC Power Corp., Panay Power Corp., SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc. CBK Power Company Ltd., SPC Island Power Corp., First Natgas Power Corp., FGP Corp., First Gas Power Corp., Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., Energy Development Corp., Hedcor Bukidnon Inc. and PSALMSoosan ENS Co. Ltd. The ERC said 35 units that belong to the 17 gencos have been on prolonged shutdown. “We are strictly monitoring and reviewing the weekly reports being submitted by the gencos in compliance with our directive pertaining to the Reliability Performance Indices and Equivalent Outage Days Per Year of Generating Units. Based on the examination of our technical group, there are gencos that have breached the maximum allowable unplanned outage days as of April 2021,” ERC Chairman

NGCP told to explain

The ERC has also directed the NGCP to explain the causes of delays of 33 transmission projects that were already approved. “The NGCP’s explanation will shed light on the status and reason/s for the delay of the completion of the 33 transmission projects that we have already approved,” said Devanadera in a statement. Also, NGCP was directed to comply with the requirement of RA 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) to enter into Ancillary Services (AS) contracts and to update the ERC of the status of its negotiation, if any, of the additional AS, particularly Contingency Reserve (CR). The NGCP under the Epira, particularly Section 8, in relation to Section 21, has responsibility over the planning, construction and centralized operation and maintenance of its high-voltage transmission facilities, including grid interconnections and Ancillary Services. The ERC has approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (ASPP) which sets the required level of the AS. “The completion of the NGCP transmission projects is a crucial element in ensuring the stability of electricity in the entire country. In the same manner, there must be sufficient An-

DOJ eyes collusion

The Department of Justice (DOJ) willlook into possible collusion among gencos tantamount to economic sabotage following this week’s brownouts. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters, “We have not received any formal directive from the palace regarding this matter but I will alert the NBI to stand by and prepare to investigate.” Guevar ra’s statement fol lowed DOE’s disclosure that it has presented to the Cabinet Assistance System the power outlook and the concerns that it sees in the power industry. The DOE earlier said power gencos experiencing prolonged outages on their generation facilities could face anti-competitive behavior and economic sabotage charges for breaching government-enforced laws and policies. Those likely to be investigated are gencos whose facilities are on extended shutdowns—including those that performed unplanned maintenance that led to rotational brownouts in Luzon. With Joel R. San Juan and Butch Fernandez

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PHAP...

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This is a response to a recent statement by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, who said that intellectual-property (IP) holders could put in place some restrictions preventing the grant of voluntary license. (Read related story: MSF not to upbeat on Covid jab voluntary licensing, https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/05/21/msf-not-tooupbeat-on-covid-jab-voluntary-licensing/) In securing a voluntary license, the patent holder grants a generic company permission to produce the patented article subject to terms and conditions. MSF Legal Advisor Yuan Qiong Hu earlier said that the IP-holding company can dictate who they want to work with, set the terms and conditions for the licensing, choose which countries can supply and decide which IPs are only allowed for production at a certain price tag. With this, MSF has joined the call of over 100 countries to scrap the patent protection on Covid-19 doses to boost the production of the muchneeded vaccines. The United States recently threw its support behind the patent waiver, which is seen to inf luence other major economies to heed the campaign. (Read related story: ‘US backing for vaccine IP waiver to sway other majors,’ https://businessmirror. com.ph/2021/05/11/us-backing-for-vaccine-ip-waiver-tosway-other-majors/)

Ensuring quality

The pharmaceutical group, however, argued that voluntary licensing ensures the quality of the Covid-19 doses to be manufactured. “The safeguards of voluntary technology transfer include know-how transfer, sharing of expertise, and joint training of skilled workers with the shared objective of developing and manufacturing quality and safe Covid-19 vaccine,” PHAP said. In identifying partners, PHAP said IP-holding firms consider the capacity of the applicant to deliver the expected output and quality assurance processes without compromising safety and quality. “[F]orcefully obtaining the intellectual property for Covid-19 vaccines may give a company the right to manufacture a vaccine, but without the collaboration enshrined in voluntary technology transfer, quality and safety could be compromised. The development, manufacturing and supply chain process for vaccines is complex and not as simple as ‘plug and play,’” the industry group explained.

Requirements

In voluntary licensing agreements—which are consensual in nature—the terms of conditions are negotiated by the licensor and the licensee, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) explained. Still, IPOPHL said voluntary licensing agreements should adhere to Sections 87 and 88 of the IP code, which are about the prohibited anti-competitive clauses and mandatory clauses, respectively. “The failure to comply with these provisions shall result in the non-enforceability of the Voluntary Licensing Agreement against third persons,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba told the BusinessMirror. In securing voluntary licensing for Covid-19 vaccines, Barba cited the following requirements: capacity of the licensee to produce the vaccine, volume to be produced and rate of production, period of licensing agreements and warranties of the parties. “Government and pharma companies must strive for mutually beneficial terms when negotiating for a voluntary license,” Barba said. “It would be counterintuitive for a pharma company to be very strict in imposing voluntary licensing conditions because it will be left behind by the other producers/competitors given there are many other companies government can deal with.” In addition, the IPOPHL official said governments can issue compulsory or special compulsory licenses “when the rollout is slow or being hampered by private interests.”

Towards vaccine equity

PHAP underscored that the IP system has allowed the biopharmaceutical industry to respond rapidly and responsibly to the current pandemic. “Fostering an environment conducive to innovation by establishing predictable business policies, enabling responsive regulatory processes, increasing investments for pharmaceutical research, incentivizing innovation, and forging collaborations with innovative vaccine manufacturers globally will help in immediate and long-term vaccine security in the country,” the group pointed out. With this, PHAP said it supports the measures set by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Association in ensuring vaccine equity. These commitments center on the need to step up dose sharing, optimize production, eliminate trade barriers, support country readiness, and drive further innovation on Covid-19, PHAP said.

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PNP chief open to suggestion to subject cops to regular neuro-psychiatric exams By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

AT IONA L Pol ice c hief General Guillermo Eleazar said on Thursday that he is seriously considering suggestions on subjecting all members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to regular neuro-psychiatric tests. “The PNP will study this recommendation of subjecting our personnel to regular psychiatric assessments or tests. Personally, I acknowledge that there is really a need to prioritize this given the nature of our duty,” he said. The recommendation came following the recent killing of Lilybeth Valdez, 52, by policeman Hensie Zinampan in Barangay Greater Fairview, Quezon City, which was caught on video. The policeman has been slapped with criminal and administrative charges. The call to subject policemen to neuro-psychiatric assessment was reinforced by a similar incident in December last year wherein Jonel Nuezca, then a policeman, shot and killed his neighbor in Tarlac. While Eleazar sees the validity of the proposal, he also admitted that the health-care services of the PNP still has its own limitations. “We should also need to take a look at the trauma risk management of

our organization. However, I would also have to admit the limitations at present, in our health-care capacities and services,” he said. “We will thoroughly study on how we can regularly conduct the neuro-psychiatric tests of all of our policemen,” the PNP chief added. But until then, Eleazar said, police commanders “who observe signs of emotional imbalance or mental disorder on their men should immediately refer them for neuro-psychiatric evaluation, through their respective health units.” “This way we can help them cope and heal and avoid being a danger to themselves and others,” he said. Eleazar said they would explore possible partnerships with groups, institutions and facilities advocating the importance of mental health. He said that aside from their physical health, policemen’s mental health should also be well taken care of. “We will also assess if we could enter into partnerships with mental health institutions so that we can also take good care of the mental health of our personnel. It is not only the physical health that we should be taking care of so that we can fully serve the public, but also our mental health,” the PNP chief admitted.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, June 4, 2021 A3

Mayor Sara to IATF: Place Davao City under MECQ By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has requested the national government to scale up its quarantine restriction of the city to the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from Saturday until the end of the month. The city mayor filed this week her request to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) as the City Health Office expressed belief that a Covid variant is likely causing a spike in infection as early as May. Mayor Duterte presented the surging Covid-19 cases to support her request to place the city under MECQ in her letter addressed to Undersecretary Epimaco V. Densing III of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and chairman of the IATF Screening and Validation Committee. “As of May 31, 2021, we have a total of 1,665 active cases currently admitted at the Southern Philippines Medical Center [SPMC] and our Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities and Isolation Facilities,” she said. Duterte-Carpio said there were nearly 1,000 cases reported from

MAYOR SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO

PNA FILE PHOTO

May 23 to 29 alone. Dr. Ashley Lopez, acting City Health officer, said the city has 338 accumulated cases from the last four days of May, with 156 cases on May 28 alone. “This is the highest spike since October last year. It’s a spike, not a gradual increase,” he added. He said the city enjoyed a lowdown in cases in March and April “when we have only 200 active cases.” By May, the cases immediately jumped to a daily average of 100 cases. “I believed there’s a variant causing this but this can not be confirmed yet because there was no result yet from the Philippine Genome Center.” So far, the last known variant cases were recorded in February and March yet but the three UK variant

and two South African variant cases among returning migrant workers were already quarantined in Manila for 14 to 28 days before they were allowed to go home to this city. The mayor said she was concerned that the beds at the SPMC are already at a “critical utilization rate,” while the Intensive Care Units at SPMC and two private hospitals were already full. While awaiting approval from the IATF, the city government has posted announcements of its request to prepare the 1.7 million residents for an eventual stricter quarantine protocols requiring residents to carry always their food-and-medicine pass, the equivalent of quarantine passes in other localities.

The mayor said her request to elevate the quarantine status to MECQ should allow “a circuit breaker in the surge of patients inside hospitals.” Davao, along with Iligan City, has been placed in the category of more relaxed general community quarantine, but other cities in Mindanao, such as Butuan, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga, were placed under MECQ. As it prepared the city for an MECQ status, the city government also called on those affected by MECQ “zero operational capacity [that they] can coordinate with the Trabaho Dabawenyo employment assistance at the City Mayor’s Office Special Project Office at Magsaysay Park.” “Dabawenyos are encouraged to review the regulations for MECQ by reading the IATF Omnibus Guidelines dated May 20, 2021, particularly Page 9, Section 3 and the Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 21-19 dated May 14, 2021,” the city said. Among the salient points of the guidelines include limiting the movement of all persons to accessing goods and establishments and for work in such establishments, and requiring to stay at home any person below 18 years old, above 65 years old, persons with comorbidities and pregnant women “except for obtaining essential goods and services.”

Sen. Imee seeks probe into BARMM spending Los Angeles Fil-Am leader appeals transfer of PAL check-in gate at LAX S

FILIPINO-AMERICAN community leader has field an urgent appeal to the Los Angeles City Council to intervene in the decision of the LA Worlds Airport (LAWA) transferring the check-in gates of Philippine Airlines (PAL) from the main terminal of airport to the Midfield Satellite Concourse starting June15. Fil- Am Community Leader Ethel

Rubio issued the appeal to the LA City Council last June 2. “As one of the Filipino-American community leaders, I implore the City Council to intervene in LAWA’s customer insensitive decision to move the PAL gates to the new concourse gates.” He said the move would aggravate the mobility of the aging population, which makes up more than a third

of PAL’s passengers. “Philippine Airlines carries between 20 and 80 wheelchair-bound passengers per flight, and a transfer to a farther location would necessarily impair their mobility,” Rubio said. “Please help us in reversing this decision on behalf of the FilipinoAmerican elderly in your district,” Rubio added. Recto Mercene

Storm kills 4, damages ₧14.6M worth of crops, initial report shows

OME P14.6 million worth of farm crops were reported damaged in Region 12 and Caraga alone amid the destruction wrought by Storm Dante, initial reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed on Thursday. The NDRRMC also reported four deaths in Dante’s wake, while two otherswereinjuredandanotherseven,four of them fishermen from Pilar, Capiz,

are still missing. The damage on agriculture, mostly involving rice and corn crops affected at least 442 farmers and covering 723 hectares of agricultural areas in Region 12 and Caraga. The NDRRMC said it is expecting the damage would further increase as assessments are ongoing in other provinces and regions in Mindanao, Visayas and Bicol affected by Dante. While the weather has already improved and the rain has ceased,

the NDRRMC said that Dante’s rain triggered flooding, landslides and even flash floods in some of the areas that it battered. The NDRRMC said the typhoon, which made eight landfalls in Eastern Samar and in various areas in Romblon, Mindoro, Masbate and Batangas, initially affected a total of 9,831 families or 45,456 individuals in Caraga and Regions 11 and 12 alone. Rene Acosta

EN. Imee Marcos has filed a resolution directing the Senate Committee on Finance to conduct an inquiry into the expenses on rehabilitation, development projects in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The senator said the committee shall delve into the accounting and liquidation of the appropriations and the annual block grants (ABG) allocated for the years 2020 and 2021 to BARMM, including the annual Special Development Fund allocated for the rebuilding, rehabilitation, and development of conflict-affected communities. It was gathered that the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the region’s law-making body, approved the Bangsamoro Development Plan for 20202022. The development goals include the establishment of foundations for inclusive, transparent, accountable, and efficient governance, to uphold peace, security, public order and safety, and respect for human rights, create a favorable enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable economic development, and

promote Bangsamoro identity, cultures, and diversity. It also seeks to ensure access to and delivery of quality services for human capital development, harness technology and innovations to increase socioeconomic opportunities and improve government services, and increase strategic and climate-resilient infrastructure to support sustainable socioeconomic development in the Bangsamoro Region, among others. In filing Senate Resolution 729 recently, the senator said under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2020, BARMM was allocated an annual appropriation of P7 billion, an ABG of P63.6 billion, and a Special Development Fund (SDF) of P5 billion. In addition to this, under the 2021 GAA, the BARMM was also given an annual appropriation of P8.6 billion, an ABG of P71.6 billion, and P5 billion SDF. “Prior to the establishment of the BA R MM, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao [ARMM] was allocated an annual appropriation of P32.4 billion and adjustments of P7.2 billion with total available ap-

propriations of P39.7 billion,” Marcos said. “ Thus, as compared to the ARMM appropriation of only P39.7 billion, the total BARMM allocat ion wa s h igher, a mou nt i ng to at least double the amount of the budget allocated to the ARMM,” Marcos said. “Despite these allocated appropriations, there is too little progress and change in the BARMM.” “With the huge appropriations made in the GAA for 2020 and 2021, it is imperative for Congress to determine the status of the projects implemented, especially since the Bangsamoro government is still in its transition stage,” Marcos added. “It is also important for Congress to be informed on the progress of the transition process, implementation of programs and the proper utilization of funds, as well as the reasons for delay, which are not attributable to the dire effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and to determine other legislative measures, if necessary, to be legislated by Congress in order to promote the long-term vision of meaningful growth in the Bangsamoro Region,” she said.

Group welcomes lawmaker’s call to probe NSWMC implementation of garbage law By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

N V IRONMENTA L group Oceana Philippines on Thursday welcomed the call for a congressional inquiry into the performance of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) and other government agencies in the implementation of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. This as House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda filed a resolution on June 2 to investigate and audit the NSWMC, a body created for the purpose of implementing the garbage law, which took effect in 2001. “Despite these legal mandates and budgetary support is given in 2016 and 2017 amounting to P1.3

billion, the commission has unjustifiably failed to act on its ministerial function of preparing the list of NEAPP [non-environmentally acceptable products and packaging] in the last 20 years,” Legarda pointed out in the resolution. Under Republic Act 9003, the NSWMC, which is composed of 14 national government agencies and private sector representatives, is mandated to prepare a list of NEAPP within a year after the law’s effectivity, and updates every year thereafter. “The Secretaries of the member agencies of the Commission are required to formulate action plans for their respective agencies to complement the National Solid Waste Management Framework,” she said. Legarda explained “this massive delay in the implementation has ex-

acerbated the plastic pollution crisis in the country to the point where we have become known as among the top marine plastic debris polluters in the world with the largest source of singleuse plastics leaking into the ocean.” Oceana said that in a study by Ocean Conservancy in 2015, the Philippines produced 2.7 million metric tons of plastic wastes—more than half a million metric tons of which were leaked to the ocean. Meanwhile, the Waste Assessment Brand Audit 2019 report of the Global Alliance for Incinerators Alternatives (GAIA) showed that the country produced daily 164 million pieces of sachets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45.2 million pieces of labo bags. On the other hand, the Asian Development Bank, in its report in

April 2020, estimated that Manila could have been generating up to 280 tons of extra medical waste per day during the peak of the pandemic. “Deputy Speaker Legarda’s initiative is a much-welcome development to seriously address the perils of plastics. It is high time to inquire why after 20 years and despite a progressive and visionary law, we are still among the laggards in mitigating and addressing the worsening plastic pollution problem in the country. Why are the commission and agencies sitting on it? We cannot feel the sense of urgency even as we are facing a plastic crisis, with deep and damaging impacts on the health of our people and our ocean,” stressed Ocean Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos. RA 9003 promotes the adoption

of a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program to ensure the protection of public health and development. “To effectively ban single-use plastics is to get rid of plastics from the source. We will not be in this plastic pandemic had the Commission fulfilled its legal mandate to the letter on the issuance of NEAPP list beginning 2002. We can’t just pass the burden to clean up the plastic waste to the consumers and local government units [LGUs] without asking the commission to fulfill their responsibility by virtue of the law that established it,” Mae Chatto, Oceana’s campaign specialist and lead for the ban single-use plastics campaign said, for her part. In February of this year, NSWMC held the first public consultation on

the NEAPP list that yielded a resolution to ban two single-use plastics items: plastic soft drink straw and coffee stirrers. However, the said resolution has not yet been fully signed as of this writing. Environmental groups, including Oceana, said that the ban on plastic stirrers and plastic straws is welcome but it is not enough to reduce plastic pollution. In filing the resolution, Legarda, the principal author of RA 9003, emphasized that “the Philippines is an archipelagic nation that is now navigating in a sea of plastics with the majority of the population, who, directly dependent on the marine resources and ecosystems are now bearing the negative effects of plastic pollution in and around the coral reef environments.”

A4 Friday, June 4, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Govt readies sale of mine sites to boost pandemic recovery By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE Duterte administration is eyeing to sell mining assets to generate much-needed revenue that could boost the country’s recovery from the economic impact

of the Covid-19 pandemic, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu revealed on Thursday. The Department of Environment and Natura l Resources (DENR), through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), is now preparing an inventory of essential

mining information on government’s idle mining assets. Among the government’s idle mining assets being eyed for sale are the Basay Mining Corp. in Negros Oriental, which stopped operations in 1983, and the Marinduque Mining and Industrial Corp. (MMIC

Bagacay Mine) in Samar, which was foreclosed by the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Philippine National Bank in 1984. “This is in preparation for the bidding and sale of mining assets to gain revenues and help the country recover from the economic devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Cimatu said i n a ne ws statement. MGB Director Wilfredo Moncano, in a telephone interview, said the sale of some the government’s idle mining assets had already been c lea red by concerned government agencies. However, he told the BusinessMir ror that he has no idea how much can the governm e nt m a y gain from the sale, saying based on the a g r e e m e nt reached, the

Privatization and Management Office (PMO) of the Department of Finance (DOF), will be in charge of the preparation of bid packages, while the MGB will be in charge of the technical aspect, which essentially involves evaluation. “These are former mining projects and these mining projects borrowed money from banking institutions guaranteed by the government… the Philippine National Bank,” he said. Some of the government’s idle mining assets with pending cases or questions, he said, will not be put on the sale block, Moncano said. “Only the government mining assets that are already owned by the government for a long time will be up for sale,” he said, adding that the DOF and the PMO would soon come up with the bidding process details. In the same news statement, Moncano said that the bureau would be updating the mineral resources and mineral reserves data of identified state-owned mining assets to determine the viability of future mining operations. “Some of these mining assets stopped operating in the 1980s, which means these hold mining information that is around 40 years old,” Moncano pointed out. “Data are necessary to be collated and evaluated to see if the reports of former geologists and mining engineers are compliant with the Philippine Mineral Reporting Code that is in place sometime in 2010 only,” he added. To be evaluated is the volume of mineral resources and reserves, the

technical basis of estimates, and methodology of estimation, Moncano explained. A mineral resource refers to the concentration of materials of economic interest found in the Earth’s crust, while a mineral reserve is the economically mineable portion of a mineral resource. According to Moncano, the updating of the baseline information will also improve the “packaging” of the mining assets to help boost sales. “The MGB will allot some funds from its budget for the updating of data. The updating of the mining information will most likely advance first on those assets without pending legal cases like the Basay Mining Corp. and MMIC Bagacay Mine,” he said. However, Moncano said that some assets under the PMO have already sufficient and updated data, which may hasten the bidding process. “Once investors will bid on these mining assets, operations will resume. However, documentary requirements to allow for the development and commercial operations to resume will have to be submitted by the winning bidder to MGB,” he said. The PMO of the DOF and the Philippine Mining Development Corporation are the agencies responsible for the sale and disposal of such state mining assets through public bidding. The DOF has been working with the MGB in the preparations for the sale since its announcement last year to privatize state-owned mining assets.

DHSUD chief says KSAs posted record performances in Q1 ’21 By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

EY Shelter Agencies (KSAs) posted record performances in the first quarter of 2021, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s (DHSUD) reported on Thursday. The DHSUD said the National Housing Authority (NHA) posted a 302-percent accomplishment rate for “Yolanda” housing and 68-percent accomplishment rate for shelter schemes for former rebels. The agency also said NHA also recorded a 253-percent growth in housing completions for informal settler housing facilities. “The housing agency trumpeted a 253-percent growth in housing completions mainly due to finalized projects intended for informal settlers affected by the Supreme Court mandamus and those affected by government-led infrastructure projects,” DHSUD said. DHSUD added NHA also excelled in terms of housing programs for government employees, recording a 94-percent growth rate for the said period. Meanwhile, the DHSUD said the Home Mutual Development Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund posted a 33-percent increase in home loan releases valued at P20.94 billion during the first three months of the year. The Fund also recorded a P29.4 billion worth of dividend payout for fiscal year 2020, marking a 5.62-percent surge per annum. The National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), meanwhile, posted P6.82 billion worth of housing receivables purchased. DHSUD also said the NHMFC also issued

BALAI Bonds 1 and 2 and secured ISO certification for securitization of housing loan portfolios and borrowers’ services. Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), for its part, reported that it released P228.8 million worth of housing loans through 13 projects under its Community Mortgage Program that benefited 3,742 informal settler families (ISF) during the first quarter of the year. It also rolled out five housing schemes that helped improve the lives of 8,282 ISF families across the country. SHFC modified its collection efficiency by nearly 84 percent as of January 2021 and succeeded in collecting P248.19 million as of the end of March this year. DHSUD also said the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) disclosed that its Regional Adjudication Branches (RABs) were able to handle 1,816 cases in the first three months of the year, with most of the cases lodged with the RAB-4A. A total of 119 of these cases were disposed of, 39 percent of which were from the National Capital Region. There are still 1,697 ongoing cases being handled by HSAC as of end-March 2021. The accomplishments were reported during the recent National Human Settlement and Urban Development Coordinating Committee meeting led by DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario. Del Rosario called on KSAs to further bolster collaboration with the private sector in attaining their common goal of providing decent and affordable housing communities to Filipino families, especially the underprivileged.

Program to control dog-mediated rabies gains OIE endorsement

HE Philippines became one of the first two countries to earn World Organisation for Animal Health’s endorsement (OIE) for its control program for dog-mediated rabies, which shows that the country’s protocol is in line with international standards. In a recent statement, the OIE recently announced that they endorsed the control programs for dog-mediated rabies of Namibia and the Philippines, a move seen to move forward the global fight against the disease. “It is the first time that OIE Members could apply for such approbation by the OIE World Assembly,” the Paris-based intergovernmental organizations said.

“This is a great move forward in the fight against this disease, which still kills nearly 60,000 people every year,” the OIE added. OIE said its endorsement of the Philippines and Namibia’s dog-mediated rabies control programs would allow them to “advocate for support from their governments to progressively prevent and control the disease.” “The ultimate objective will be to eventually eliminate the disease from their territories and self-declare its freedom, thus contributing to the ‘Zero by 30’ global goal to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies,” it added. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

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Putin vows more Sputnik V jabs as PHL, Russia mark 45 years of ties

$300-M WB loan prepares NCR for ‘big one,’ other climate risks By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

T PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin PNA FILE PHOTO By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE Philippines is now eyeing build stronger trade and diplomatic ties with Russia following the latest talk between Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The telesummit between the two leaders happened on Wednesday during the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the PhilippinesRussia diplomatic relations. In the said conversation, President Duterte mentioned he wants greater access for Philippine products in the Russian market. Putin said Russia is open to importing more Philippine agricultural products. Also discussed in the meeting is the government’s procurement of the Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, from the Russian pharmaceutical firm Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Putin committed to increase the volume of deliveries of Sputnik V

vaccines to the Philippines. Currently, the Philippine government has already secured 80,000 doses of Sputnik V for its inoculation drive. The Russian said they are also ready to support the country’s initiatives to build more transportation infrastructure projects, renewable-energy facilities, as well as help in the modernization of the Philippine military. President Duterte welcomed Putin’s commitments, especially since the government is currently procuring 16 heavy lift helicopters from Russia. He also thanked the Russian government for its “warm hospitality” to 10,000 Filipinos in Russia. “The Philippines and Russia have indeed a lot to celebrate. Our cooperation continues to strengthen and gain new momentum,” President Duterte said in a news statement. For his part, Putin attributed growing Philippine-Russia bilateral relations to the “personal contribution” of Duterte.

Tugade seeks police presence, public vigilance for commuters By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

HE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has asked law enforcement agencies to increase security measures at the Edsa Busway following a recent robbery incident. Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said he is asking the InterAgency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) and the Philippine National PoliceHighway Patrol Group “to intensify security measures to protect our commuters at every stage of their daily commute using our public transportation systems.” “The security and safety of our

commuters are of utmost importance. We at the DOTr are not only tasked to provide the public with convenience in their everyday commute. We also want to ensure their safety and security at the stations and while onboard passenger vehicles, in coordination with concerned law enforcement agencies,” he said. On Monday, a man on crutches started threatening waiting passengers with a knife, demanding cash. He then tried to attack a traffic marshal who apprehended him, but was disarmed through the help of a bus controller in the area. The police then took custody of the man only identified as “Ariel.” He was described as mentally unstable.

IRR of coconut trust fund worries groups continued from a16 The called “opaque” the disposition of non-cash assets which involve the United Coconut Planters Bank and the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) oil mills. “RA 11524 provides only for proceeds from privatization of coconut levy assets within five years to flow back to the Trust Fund. It does not specify how these assets may be used in their current state to better serve the coconut farmers and industry,” they said. “The fates of UCPB and the CIIF Oil Mills are definitely of great concern to the coconut sector. The Presidential Commission on Good Government [PCGG] reports the total worth of shares in these companies at P30-P40 billion,” they added. In relation to this, the group noted that disputed coconut levy assets (cash and non-cash) are not subject to reconveyance under RA 11524. “The purpose, therefore, of including them in the IRR [Rule IV, Section 2], should be explained. How will the IRR uphold coconut farmers’ interests in negotiations related to these disputed assets?” they said.

“With DOF’s primary mandate being revenue generation, how will appraisal of asset dispositions be handled when its revenue maximization objective may not jibe with the interests of coconut farmers or the principal government agency mandated to serve the needs of farmers and coco-based industries?” the groups added. The groups also raised issues on the budget mandated by law for the trust fund management expenses. They noted that the fund management fee, set at 0.5 percent of the trust fund principal and is estimated to reach hundreds of millions, “may be excessive.” “Ordinarily, fund managers are rated in terms of projected returns earned by the fund. Fund management fee has to be a reasonable portion of the fund earnings,” they said. “The management fee must be treated therefore not as a fixed amount but as the ceiling for expenditures, which should be matched against the level of earnings generated by a fund manager,” they explained.

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HE World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new loan to prepare Metro Manila for the “big one” by upgrading public structures in the megacity. In a news statement, the World Bank (WB) said the $300-million loan will strengthen the capacity of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to reduce risks for approximately 300,000 teachers, students, doctors, patients, and staff who are the users of these facilities. The Philippines Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project aims to upgrade 425 structures, including school buildings and health centers to reduce damage from natural hazards, such as earthquakes and other climate-related events. “Metro Manila or the National Capital Region [NCR] is the seat

of government and the country’s population, economic, and cultural center,” said Ndiamé Diop, WB country director, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. “Enhancing the safety of its buildings and structures while boosting institutional response to disasters will help protect the lives and safety of more than 12 million residents, including the poor and most vulnerable. In addition, it will provide much-needed economic resilience for the country,” Diop said. Through the project, the WB said, the government can retrofit vulnerable buildings and help generate close to 4 million labor-days throughout Metro Manila. This will also contribute to the recovery of the construction sector, which has been hit hard by wage losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. The project aims to improve the capability of the DPWH to systematically prepare for and respond to potential overlapping hazards,

Mapa: PSA taps malls for Natl ID registration

ILIPINOS can now accomplish their National ID registration in various malls across the country after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) signed memoranda of agreement (MOA) with these private establishments. National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa told the BusinessMirror that there are now 1,569 registration centers, which includes PSA offices and malls nationwide. Of these registration centers, Mapa said 788 are now operational. “Our field offices are identifying more partners for the registration, in addition to the local government unit-based registration centers and our own Fixed Registration Centers,” Mapa told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday. Malls where registrations can be done include SM; Robinsons; City Mall in Negros Oriental, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aklan and Negros Occidental; Fiesta Mall in Lipa; Vista Mall; Waltermart; and Ayala Harbor Point in Subic. Mapa also said Ayala Malls; Star Mall; Metro Town Center; Northstar mall in Ilagan; Magic Star Mall in Tarlac; Pacific Mall in Quezon; Nuciti Mall in Calapan; Fernando’s mall in Sorsogon; and Gaisano Malls and Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro. Last Monday, the PSA signed a partnership with Robinsons Malls to bring the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration experience closer to Filipinos. In line with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two organizations on May 27, 2021 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Ortigas, the Robinsons Malls will open registration centers in its branches nationwide to allow registrants to complete the Step 2 Registration for PhilSys. “We are always ready to lend a

helping hand to the government agencies that we feel will benefit from having their services in the malls because [as we know] people like going to the malls. They know where it’s located, it’s very accessible, whether by public or private transportation,” Robinsons Malls Senior Vice President and General Manager Arlene Magtibay said. “It’s a very convenient, comfortable, and safe environment. And so, whatever we can do to help them do their jobs better and bring their services closer to the people, that’s what the Lingkod Pinoy is all about,” she added. This partnership will be part of the Robinsons Malls Lingkod Pinoy Center Program, Robinsons Malls’ flagship public service advocacy that began in 2011. Under the program, the mall branches currently house at least 10 government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Tourism, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other local government units in select cities/municipalities. Currently, the registration centers in Robinsons Malls were opened in select branches only. The PSA and Robinsons Malls assured the public that strict implementation of health protocols will continue as more registration centers open. PhilSys aims to facilitate the nation’s transition into a digital economy by providing a valid proof of identification to Filipinos to make public and private transactions seamless, safe, and efficient. The PhilSys is also anticipated to ease the delivery of services by improving the public’s access to financial, social protection, health, education, and other government services. Cai U. Ordinario

including typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, and pandemics, particularly in line with its mandate under the different national emergency response plans for multiple hazards. The project will finance DPWH’s essential equipment to upgrade its capability for communications and restoration of mobility and transport in Metro Manila after a major earthquake. It will also improve core capacities and capabilities to organize operations and coordinate resources to respond to other emergencies. The WB said Metro Manila is particularly vulnerable as it is transected by numerous earthquake generators, of which, the West Valley Fault poses the most significant earthquake threat. The Greater Metro Manila Area (GMMA) risk assessment study estimated that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on the West Valley Fault (a probable maximum sce-

nario, so-called “The Big One”) would result in an estimated 48,000 fatalities and $48 billion in economic losses, with catastrophic impact on government continuity and service provision. To address the threat of a potentially catastrophic earthquake in the Greater Metro Manila (NCR and surrounding provinces), President Duterte issued Executive Order 52 (EO 52) on May 8, 2018 creating the Program Management Office for the Earthquake Resilience of the Greater Metro Manila Area. The EO 52 defines institutional roles and responsibilities of government agencies to strengthen the country’s resilience to earthquakes, and to ensure public safety and government continuity. The executive order also mandates government agencies to take proactive steps to guarantee the resilience of public infrastructure like roads, bridges, buildings, hospitals, in the GMMA.

Comelec okays DepEd’s request to hike teachers’ honoraria for 2022 elections By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

HE Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday announced that the Commission of Elections (Comelec) has approved its request to increase the honoraria of teachers who will serve as Electoral Board (EB) and Poll Workers in the upcoming 2022 National and Local Elections. “We want to express our gratitude to the Comelec for approving our request for higher compensation for our teachers who will render their services in the next year’s election. Given the current health situation, it is rightful for them to receive additional allowance,” said Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones after her request in February was finally granted. In a letter to Briones dated April 29, 2021, Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas, through Executive Director Bartolome J. Sinocruz Jr., stated that the commission “fully supported” the adjusted honoraria, which gets bumped up to a P3,000 increase. In the proposal, the DepEd prescribed the following honoraria rates based on the Consumer Price Index and Inflation Rate as of January 2021: P9,000 for Chairpersons; P8,000 for EB members; P7,000 for DepEd Supervisor Official (DESO); and P5,000 for Support Staff. In addition to the remuneration, Comelec will include the provision of transportation allowance, food and water allowance, and cleanup and repair/maintenance expenses as part of its budget proposal for the 2022 elections. With the current risk of Covid-19,

DepEd’s request for health insurance coverage for those who will be infected with the virus will also be part of the budget proposal. Other benefits such as on-site swab testing, shifting, and working hours of public school teachers in the EB, tax exemption, and any absence/ transfer/leave of DepEd employees due to election-related incidents will still be studied by the commission and the department. To ensure that teachers will be technically and legally equipped for the upcoming elections, the DepEd has also proposed the creation of ComelecDepEd Monitoring and Coordination Teams as part of the 2022 DepEd Election Task Force, composed of select officials and personnel from the different levels of DepEd governance. According to Comelec, the honoraria for members of the Monitoring and Coordination Teams will also be put forward in the budget. “With DepEd and the teachers’ vital participation in the 2022 National and Local Elections, we will continue our dialogue with Comelec to ensure the health and welfare of our teachers and personnel who will be sitting in the polling,” Briones noted. Before coming up with the decision, Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo and DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain del Pascua discussed the said matter as early as February 8 this year. DepEd’s Bureau of Human Resources and Organizational Development (BHROD) calculated the rate increase. “While DepEd and Comelec have both agreed on the proposal, the proposed increase will still need the approval of Congress when they deliberate the annual budget,” Pascua said

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India infections seen declining as govt orders 300 million jabs

ew infections in India held near the lowest level since early April as the country ordered 300 million vaccine doses from local manufacturer Biological-E. India added 134,154 new cases in a day, close to the lowest number since April 8, government data showed. The country’s death toll from the pandemic climbed by 2,887 to 337,989. India ordered 300 million coronavirus vaccine doses from local manufacturer Biological-E as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government comes under pressure from the nation’s Supreme Court to cover more of the population. An advance of 15 billion rupees ($205 million) will be paid to the Hyderabad-based company, the government said Thursday. Phase 3 trials are currently on and the firm will prepare the order between August and December. Key developments:

Taiwan adds 583 local cases

Taiwan reported 364 newly confirmed domestic cases on Thursday and added 219 local infections to previous tallies due to test result delays. It’s too early to say whether Taiwan needs to further raise the Covid alert level, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said at a briefing. Taiwan’s Cabinet earlier approved a plan for NT$260 billion ($9.4 billion) in Covid-19 relief measures, including about NT$58.4 billion for the economics ministry to distribute as subsidies for companies to cover salaries and operating costs.

Vietnam sees 120 million doses this year

Vietnam’s health ministry said the country will have more than

120 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines this year. The total includes 5 million doses from Moderna Inc., 20 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine and 31 million doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, it said. Vietnam will also acquire 30 million AstraZeneca Plc vaccine doses and 38.9 million doses through the Covax initiative, the World Health Organization-backed effort to buy and distribute vaccines to low- and middle-income nations.

Bahrain gives different boosters

Bahr ain started giving booster shots to vulnerable citizens who have been inoculated with Sinopharm vaccine using a different vaccine made by Pfizer I nc . a nd BioN Te c h SE , Dow Jones reported, citing the countr y’s undersecretar y of health Waleed K halifa al Manea. The country is fighting a sharp resurgence of Covid-19. More than 90 percent of those hospitalized in the latest wave haven’t been vaccinated. C h i nese d r u g m a ker Si no pharm’s vaccine has accounted for

more than 60 percent of Bahrain’s inoculations and was providing a high degree of protection, the report said. The government started offering the boosters at the end of May, according to the report.

Apple sets return to offices

Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said Wednesday employees should begin returning to offices in early September for at least three days a week. The iPhone maker is pushing staff to return on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at a minimum, w ith remote work still an option for Wednesdays and Fridays, Cook said in a memo obtained by Bloomberg News.

US vaccine donation plan imminent

The White House has settled on a plan and is set to announce which countries will receive the first vaccine donations from the US. The Biden administration hopes the move will help fend off risks of more coronavirus variants emerging in countries with limited access to vaccines, people familiar with the matter said.

Brazil expects fewer shots, Globo says

Br azil’s Health Ministry said it expects to receive 39.8 million doses of vaccines in June, 3.9 million fewer than it had forecast, O Globo reported, without saying how it got the information. Until last week, the federal government expected to receive about 43.8 million vaccines in June. The estimated delivery of CoronaVac fell to 5 million doses from 6 million previously, while the forecast for AstraZeneca/Oxford shots was reduced to 18 million from 20.9 million.

NJ to close vaccine mega-sites as demand wanes

New Jersey will close all six of its vaccine mega-sites by July 23 as demand wanes and the state nears its goal of immunizing 70 percent of residents. “We’re localizing and this is yet another step in that direction,” Governor Phil Murphy said at a streaming virus update. Health officials now will encourage vaccine seekers to make arrangements at any of almost 1,800 sites, including pharmacies, retailers and community

medical centers. The mega-sites at their height were processing 400 or more recipients per hour on an appointments-only basis, for almost 1 million people in all. Each now takes walk-ins. New Jersey, with 9.2 million residents, intends to fully vaccinate 4.7 million people by June 30. The state is at 90 percent of that goal.

NYC plans in-school vaccinations

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city would launch inschool vaccination sites in partnership with the United Federation of Teachers, the city’s largest teachers union, starting on Friday. The program will begin with four schools in the Bronx and expand to all five boroughs in the next few weeks. New York is outpacing the nat ion in vacc inat ing you ng people, de Blasio said at a briefing Wednesday. Nearly 120,000 kids in New York City age 12-17 have been vaccinated, or about 23 percent of the population, which sur passes the national average of 22 percent, he said. Bloomberg News

UN says Covid-19 pandemic created an ‘unparalleled’ employment crisis

NITED NATIONS—The Covid-19 pandemic has created an “unparalleled” global labor market crisis that will affect the employment market for years, the International Labor Organization said in a report Wednesday. The UN agency said that “all countries have suffered a sharp deterioration in employment and national income, which has aggravated existing inequalities and risks inflicting longer-term `scarring’ effects on workers and enterprises.” The 164-page World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2021 report said the crisis has hit vulnerable workers, including 2 billion in the informal sector, women and young people the hardest. During 2020, an estimated 8.8 percent of total working hours were lost—“the equivalent of the hours worked in one year by 255 million full-time workers,” the agency said. By contrast, it said, if there had not been a pandemic, the world would have created an estimated 30 million new jobs in 2020. The Geneva-based agency said recurring waves of the pandemic around the world have caused working hour losses to remain high, with a 4.4 percent loss corresponding to 140 million full-time jobs in the first quarter of 2021 and a 4.4 percent loss in the second quarter equivalent to 127 million full-time jobs. “The crisis is far from over,” the agency added, pointing to Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia as the worst affected regions in the first half of this year. The report said an uneven economic

recovery is expected to begin in the second half of 2021, driven by progress in vaccinations and large-scale fiscal spending. It projects that the recovery will create 100 million jobs this year and an additional 80 million in 2022, but says that is still far short of pre-pandemic levels. “To make matters worse, many of the newly created jobs are expected to be of low productivity and poor quality,” the report said. The agency predicts employment growth will be insufficient to make up for the losses suffered as a result of the pandemic until at least 2023. It said that many businesses—especially micro and small enterprises—“have already gone bankrupt or are facing a highly uncertain future.” A survey of 4,520 businesses in 45 countries worldwide in the second quarter of 2020 found that 80 percent of micro-enterprises and 70 percent of small firms “were facing significant financial difficulties,” the report said. “Recovery from Covid-19 is not just a health issue,” said the agency’s director, Guy Ryder. “The serious damage to economies and societies needs to be overcome too.” Without accelerated efforts to create decent jobs and support for the world’s most vulnerable people and hardest-hit economic sectors, “the lingering effects of the pandemic could be with us for years in the form of lost human and economic potential and higher poverty and inequality,” Ryder said. AP

Assailants kill Indian ruling party politician in Kashmir

RINAGAR, India—Assailants fatally shot a politician belonging to India’s ruling party in disputed Kashmir, police said Thursday, blaming separatist rebels for the attack. The unidentified assailants fired at Rakesh Pandita late Wednesday in the southern town of Tral, where he was visiting a friend, police said. He was declared dead in a hospital. Rebels in Indian-controlled Kashmir have been fighting the central government for decades. Suspected militants carried out a string of deadly attacks last year on members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in Kashmir. Among those killed was a top BJP politician and his father and brother, who were also party members. Pandita had a secured accommodation in the region’s main city of Srinagar and was protected by two police guards, but he went to Tral without them, a police statement said. Manoj Sinha, New Delhi’s top administrator in Kashmir, and BJP leaders condemned the killing. “Terrorists will

never succeed in their nefarious designs, and those responsible for such heinous acts shall be brought to justice,” Sinha said in a tweet. No rebel group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan and both claim it in its entirety. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel goal that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India says militants are sponsored by Pakistan, but Islamabad denies the charge. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict since 1989. In 2019, Modi’s Hindu nationalist party pushed through with constitutional changes that stripped Kashmir of its semi-autonomy and statehood that gave its residents special rights in land ownership and jobs. The region was also divided into two federally governed territories. Many Kashmiris and critics have likened India’s changes as the beginning of settler colonialism. AP

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Drought ravages California’s reservoirs ahead of hot summer

ROVILLE, California—Each year Lake Oroville helps water a quarter of the nation’s crops, sustain endangered salmon beneath its massive earthen dam and anchor the tourism economy of a Northern California county that must rebuild seemingly every year after unrelenting wildfires. But now the mighty lake—a linchpin in a system of aqueducts and reservoirs in the arid US West that makes California possible—is shrinking with surprising speed amid a severe drought, with state officials predicting it will reach a record low later this summer. While droughts are common in California, this year’s is much hotter and drier than others, evaporating water more quickly from the reservoirs and the sparse Sierra Nevada snowpack that feeds them. The state’s more than 1,500 reservoirs are 50 percent lower than they should be this time of year, according to Jay Lund, co-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California-Davis. Over Memorial Day weekend, dozens of houseboats sat on cinderblocks at Lake Oroville because there wasn’t enough water to hold them. Blackened trees lined the reservoir’s steep, parched banks. In nearby Folsom Lake, normally bustling boat docks rested on dry land, their buoys warning phantom boats to slow down. Campers occupied dusty riverbanks farther north at Shasta Lake. But the impacts of dwindling reser voirs go beyond lu x u r y yachts and weekend anglers. Salmon need cold water from the bottom of the reser voirs to spaw n. T he San Francisco Bay needs fresh water from the reser voirs to keep out the salt water that har ms freshwater fish. Farmers need the water to irr igate their crops. Businesses need reser voirs full so people will come play in them and spend money. And everyone needs the water to run hydroelectric power plants that supply much of the state’s energy.

If Lake Oroville falls below 640 feet (195 meters)—which it could do by late August—state officials would shut down a major power plant for just the second time ever because of low water levels, straining the electrical grid during the peak demand of the hottest part of the summer. In Northern California’s Butte County, low water prompts another emotion: fear. The county suffered the deadliest US wildfire in a century in 2018 when 85 people died. Last year, another 16 people died in a wildfire. Walking along the Bidwell Canyon trail last week, 63-year-old Lisa Larson was supposed to have a good view of the lake. Instead, she saw withered grass and trees. “It makes me feel like our planet is literally drying up,” she said. “It makes me feel a little unsettled because the drier it gets, the more fires we are going to have.” Droughts are a part of life in California, where a Mediterranean-style climate means the summers are always dry and the winters are not always wet. The state’s reservoirs act as a savings account, storing water in the wet years to help the state survive during the dry ones. Last year was the third driest year on record in terms of precipitation. Temperatures hit triple digits in much of California over the Memorial Day weekend, earlier than expected. State officials were surprised earlier this year when about 500,000 acre feet (61,674 hectare meters) of water they were expecting to flow into reservoirs never showed up. One acre-foot is enough water to supply up to two households for one year. “In the previous drought, it took [the reservoirs] three years to get

A home destroyed in the 2020 North Complex Fire sits above Lake Oroville on May 23, 2021, in Oroville, California. At the time of this photo, the reservoir was at 39 percent of capacity and 46 percent of its historical average. California officials say the drought gripping the US West is so severe it could cause one of the state’s most important reservoirs to reach historic lows by late August, closing most boat ramps and shutting down a hydroelectric power plant during the peak demand of the hottest part of the summer. AP/Noah Berger

this low as they are in the second year of this drought,” Lund said. The lake’s record low is 646 feet (197 meters), but the Department of Water Resources projects it will dip below that sometime in August or September. If that happens, the state will have to close the boat ramps for the first time ever because of low water levels, according to Aaron Wright, public safety chief for the Northern Buttes District of California State Parks. The only boat access to the lake would be an old dirt road that was built during the dam’s construction in the late 1960s. “We have a reservoir up there that’s going to be not usable. And so now what?” said Eric Smith, an Oroville City Council member and president of its chamber of commerce. The water level is so low at Lake Mendocino—a reservoir along the Russian River in Northern California—that state officials last week reduced the amount of water heading to 930 farmers, businesses and other junior water-rights holders. “Unless we immediately reduce diversions, there is a real risk of Lake Mendocino emptying by the end of this year,” said Erik Ekdahl, deputy director for the State Water Board’s Division of Water Rights. Low water levels across California will severely limit how much power the state can generate from hydroelectric power plants. When Lake Oroville is full, the Edward Hyatt Power Plant and others nearby can generate up to 900 megawatts of power, according to Behzad Soltanzadeh, chief of util-

ity operations for the Department of Water Resources. One megawatt is enough to power between 800 and 1,000 homes. That has some local officials worrying about power outages, especially after the state ran out of energy last summer during an extreme heat wave that prompted California’s first rotating blackouts in 20 years. But energy officials say they are better prepared this summer, having obtained an additional 3,500 megawatts of capacity ahead of the scorching summer months. The low levels are challenging for tourism officials. Bruce Spangler, president of the board of directors for Explore Butte County, grew up in Oroville and has fond memories of fishing with his grandfather and learning to launch and drive a boat before he could drive a car. But this summer, his organization has to be careful about how it markets the lake while managing visitors’ expectations, he said. “We have to be sure we don’t promise something that can’t be,” he said. Low lake levels haven’t stopped tourists from coming yet. With coronavirus restrictions lifting across the state, Wright—the state parks official for Northern California—said attendance at most parks in his area is double what it normally is this time of year. “People are trying to recreate and use facilities even more so [because] they know they are going to lose them here in a few months,” he said. AP

Lebanese leaders exchange barbs as country sinks deep into crisis

EIRUT—Lebanon’s president and prime ministerdesig nate traded barbs Wednesday, accusing one another of obstruction, negligence and insolence in a war or words that has for months obstructed the formation of a new government as the country sinks deeper into economic and financial crisis. The power struggle between the premier-designate, Saad Hariri, on one side and President Michel Aoun and his son-in-law Gebran Bassil on the other, has worsened despite warnings from world leaders and economic experts of the dire economic conditions tiny Lebanon is facing. The World Bank on Tuesday said Lebanon’s crisis is one of the worst the world has seen in the past 150 years. In a reflection of the growing turmoil, scores of Lebanese lined up in front of ATM machines late on Wednesday, after a top court suspended a Central Bank decree that allowed them to withdraw from dollar deposits at a rate two and a half times better than the

fixed exchange rate. In a late night burst of anger, protesters blocked main roads in Beirut and north of the capital. A young activist told a local TV station the protest was against the constant humiliation of Lebanese who line up to fill their cars with fuel, increasing power cuts, search for medicine and deal with confused banking decisions that are robbing thousands of their savings. The Lebanese pound, pegged to the dollar for 30 years at 1,507, has been in a free fall since late 2019. It is now trading at nearly 13,000 to the dollar at the black market. Lebanon is governed by a sectarian power sharing agreement but as the crisis deepens, members of the ruling elite bicker over how to form a government that will have to make tough decisions. Hariri, who was tasked by Aoun to form a Cabinet seven months ago, blames the president for the months-long delay, accusing him of insisting on having veto power in the upcoming government.

Aoun, an ally of the powerful militant Hezbollah group, has said that Hariri did not shoulder his responsibilities in forming a government they both can agree on. There is no legal avenue for the president to fire the prime minister-designate, who is chosen to the post by a majority of lawmakers. The rift has paralyzed the cashstrapped country, delaying urgently needed reforms. The economic crisis, which erupted in 2019, has been compounded by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Lebanon and a massive blast at Beirut’s port last year that killed over 200 people and defaced a big section of the capital. The crisis has driven more than half of the population into poverty, caused the local currency to lose more than 85% of its value, and prompted banks to lock deposits through informal capital controls, eroding trust in a once-thriving banking sector. The country’s highest administrative court on Tuesday ordered the temporary suspension of a

Central Bank circular that gave depositors a chance to withdraw at a rate better than the pegged rate. The Central Bank announced late Wednesday it was accepting the decision, prompting the queues outside ATMS. One man said he went from one ATM to another to withdraw as much as he could. Another complained that people’s savings are at the mercy of corrupt politicians. “This is not resilience. We got used to being humiliated and controlled this much by the politicians,” said Mustafa Taoush, a 23-year-old who failed to withdraw more than a weekly limit imposed on withdrawals. A statement from Aoun’s office on Wednesday accused Hariri of trying to usurp presidential powers, and coming up with “delusional propositions and insolent expressions.” “The prime minister-designate ‘s continuous evading of responsibilities ... constitutes a persistent violation of the constitution and national accord,” it added. AP

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Netanyahu opponents announce coalition deal to oust Israeli PM J

ERUSALEM—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents announced Wednesday that they have reached a deal to form a new governing coalition, paving the way for the ouster of the longtime Israeli leader. The dramatic announcement by opposition leader Yair Lapid and his main coalition partner, Naftali Bennett, came shortly before a midnight deadline and prevented what could have been Israel’s fifth consecutive election in just over two years. “This government will work for all the citizens of Israel, those that voted for it and those that didn’t. It will do everything to unite Israeli society,” Lapid said. The agreement still needs to be approved by the Knesset, or parliament, in a vote that is expected to take place early next week. If it goes through, Lapid and a diverse array of partners that span the Israeli political spectrum will end Netanyahu’s record-setting but divisive 12-year rule. Netanyahu, desperate to remain in office while he fights corruption charges, is expected to do everything possible in the coming days to prevent the new coalition from taking power. If he fails, he will be pushed into the opposition. The deal comes at a tumultuous time for Israel, which fought an 11-day war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip last month while also experiencing mob violence between Jews and Arabs in cities across the country. The country also is emerging from a coronavirus crisis that caused deep economic damage and exposed tensions between the secular majority and the ultra-Orthodox minority. Under the agreement, Lapid and Bennett will split the job of prime minister in a rotation. Bennett, a former ally of Netanyahu, is to serve the first two years, while Lapid is to serve the final two years—though it is far from certain their fragile coalition will last that long. The historic deal also includes a small Islamist party, the United Arab List, which would make it the first Arab party ever to be part of a governing coalition. In the coming days, Netanyahu is expected to continue to put pressure on hard-liners in the emerging coalition to defect and join his religious and nationalist allies. Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, may also use his influence to delay the required parliamentary vote. There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu or Likud. Lapid called on Levin to convene the Knesset for the vote as soon as possible. Netanyahu has been the most dominant player in Israeli politics over the past three decades—serving as prime minister since 2009 in addition to an earlier term in the late 1990s. Despite a long list of achievements, including last year’s groundbreaking diplomatic agreements with four Arab countries, he has become a polarizing figure since he was indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in 2019. Each of the past four elections was seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s fitness to rule. And each ended in deadlock, with both Netanyahu’s supporters as well as his secular, Arab and dovish opponents falling short of a majority. A unity government formed with his main rival last year collapsed after just six months. The new deal required a reshuffling of the Israeli political constellation. Three of the parties are led by hard-line former Netanyahu allies who had personal feuds with him, while the United Arab List made history as a kingmaker, using its leverage to seek benefits for the country’s Arab minority. “This is the first time an Arab party is a partner in the formation of a government,” said the party’s leader, Mansour Abbas. “This agreement has a lot of things for the benefit of Arab society, and Israeli society in general.” Among the concessions secured by Abbas were agreements for legal recognition of Bedouin villages in southern Israel, an economic plan for investing 30 billion shekels ($9.2 billion) in Arab towns and cities, and a five-year plan for combating violent crime in Arab communities, according to Army Radio. Lapid, 57, entered parliament in 2013 after a successful career as a newspaper columnist, TV anchor and author. His new Yesh Atid party ran a successful rookie campaign, landing Lapid the powerful post of finance minister. But he and Netanyahu did not get along, and the coalition quickly crumbled. Yesh Atid has been in the opposition since 2015 elections. The party is popular with secular, middle-class voters and has been critical of Netanyahu’s close ties with ultra-Orthodox parties and said the prime minister should step down while on trial for corruption charges. The ultra-Orthodox parties have long used their outsize political power to secure generous budgets for their religious institutions and exemptions from compulsory military service. The refusal of many ultra-Orthodox Jews to obey coronavirus safety restrictions last year added to widespread resentment against them. Bennett, 49, is a former top aide to Netanyahu whose small Yamina party caters to religious and nationalist hard-liners. Bennett was a successful high-tech entrepreneur and leader of the West Bank settler movement before entering politics. In order to secure the required parliamentary majority, Lapid had to bring together eight parties that have little in common. Their partners include a pair of dovish, left-wing parties that support Palestinian independence and three hard-line parties that oppose major concessions to the Palestinians and support West Bank settlements. Lapid’s Yesh Atid and Blue and White, a centrist party headed by Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and the United Arab List are the remaining members. The coalition members hope their shared animosity toward Netanyahu will provide enough incentive to find some common ground. “Today, we succeeded. We made history,” said Merav Michaeli, leader of the dovish Labor Party. The negotiations went down to the wire, with Labor and Yamina feuding over the makeup of a parliamentary committee. Earlier this week, when Bennett said he would join the coalition talks, he said that everyone would have to compromise and give up parts of their dreams. In order to form a government, a party leader must secure the support of a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat parliament. Because no single party controls a majority on its own, coalitions are usually built with smaller partners. Thirteen parties of various sizes are in the current parliament. AP

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BusinessMirror

Friday, June 4, 2021 A13

A14 Friday, June 4, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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editorial

‘A perfect solution’: The coward’s excuse

‘C

ourage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt. We all have the same two choices in life when it comes to problem solving: We can think about it or we can do something about it. The former is easy and the latter is difficult. Doing something and making a decision requires taking a risk, whether it is what color shirt you are buying or helping manage a country. It is easier to sit like “Juan Tamad” and wait for the perfectly ripe mango to fall from the tree. We justify our fear of action by saying that we need to find the perfect solution. In fact, it is nothing more than an insidious form of cowardice that keeps us paralyzed from doing something. There is no perfect solution. A great idea to solve a problem today may not work 10 years from now. That which might be more costly today might be cheaper in the long run. Both of these are facts of life. But we can always justify our cowardice or laziness by using our “quest for perfection” to keep us from moving. Almost every year we are going to have a brief period during the hottest days when we may run short of electricity. Every day we know that we are spending more than our neighbors to keep the lights on. We also know that we do not have generation advantages such as Thailand’s domestic oil and natural gas and Vietnam’s hydroelectric. There is no perfect solution. But there is the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). Is there a risk with nuclear power generation? Of course. Can those risks be mitigated or managed? Yes, of course. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was designed for a peak ground acceleration of 0.18 g (1.74 m/s2). BNPP was designed for a peak ground acceleration of 0.40 g. Daiichi withstood an intensity 9 earthquake, so BNPP should do well past intensity 9. The problem with the Daiichi plant was the huge flaw in construction when plans to put the emergency generators much higher up in the structure were ignored. The earthquake did not directly cause the problem. A quality and safety culture is imposed on nuclear and all support industries by the international regulator (the IAEA), which has the authority to inspect randomly and without notice. After the Japanese disaster, inescapable international peer review is a standard practice that the Philippines cannot escape from. The BNPP will avoid about $400 million in coal or gas importation per year, for its entire life. Worth the risk? Let’s make the firm decision to find out. Flooding in the NCR will make the headlines in a few weeks or so. We have a huge place for floodwaters to go, called Laguna de Bay. But dredging and rehabilitation is not a “perfect solution.” However, doing nothing is the “Worst Solution” as we have found out. November 25, 2020: “The Laguna Lake Development Authority is backing an unsolicited proposal from a private consortium for the rehabilitation and development of the Laguna de Bay.” It will take as long as 10 years, which will disrupt fishermen and local residents. But “fish pens in Laguna de Bay were wiped out and unleashed some 2.2 million kgs of bangus estimated at P115 million in losses to fish pen operators during Typhoon Rolly. During Typhoon Ulysses, severe flooding affected thousands of residents in several municipalities and cities in Laguna.” “I learned that courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it,” proclaimed Nelson Mandela. Since 2005

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TELLTALES

DP-Laban is a marriage of two renowned progressive political parties, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) and Lakas ng Bayan (Laban). The older party, Lakas ng Bayan, more popularly known as Laban, was formed by our national hero, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., to launch the bids of the opposition candidates for the 1978 Interim Batasang Pambansa regional parliamentary elections. It’s acronym, “Laban,” which means to fight, symbolized the principal opposition to the Marcos regime and a call to arms to all those who defy the despotic rule imposed by the Martial Law in the country. Despite the suppression of political rights and civil liberties, Laban fielded a complete slate of 21 candidates for assemblyman in Metro Manila led by Ninoy Aquino who was then in prison. However, he was allowed one television interview hosted by Ronnie Nathanielsz where he was able to pitch for his candidacy and the entire opposition bets. His family represented him in the campaign rallies, including Kris Aquino who was then a kid. The ruling party slate was led by no less than the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, and all the political heavyweights of the administration. On the eve of the election on April 6, 1976, Laban successfully staged a nationwide noise barrage to rally people’s support to the opposition. But it was a hollow show of force since the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the political party of the ruling administration, swept the polls. There was reported massive cheating and electoral fraud and not a single can-

didate of Laban, including the late Ninoy Aquino, won. Popular politicians like Ramon Mitra, Ernesto Maceda, Neptali Gonzales. Teofisto Guingona, Nene Pimentel, Soc Rodrigo, Alejandro Roces and Jimmy Ferrer all suffered defeat. However, pockets of opposition particularly in Cebu, bannered by Pusyon Bisaya led by Hilario Davide Jr., vanquished the KBL candidates. Many Laban stalwarts after the elections went on exile to avoid prosecution like Carmen Planas, Ernesto Maceda and others. Some of those who stayed were arrested such as Nene Pimentel, Lorenzo Tañada, Soc Rodrigo and Ramon Mitra. Alex Boncayao joined the NPA and after his violent death, Alex Boncayao Brigade became the dreaded and notorious armed unit of the underground forces in the urban areas. Laban continued its opposition even after losing at the polls by conducting street protests and mass rallies and marches. Laban’s electoral

loss did not silence the opposition. It only strengthened its resolve to oppose tyrannical rule. During the dark days of Martial Law, Laban, and later on joined by Partido Demokratiko Pilipino and other anti-Marcos groups like UNIDO and ATOM, kept the opposition alive. After the assassination of Ninoy, Laban was dissolved in 1986 and merged with PDP headed by Aquilino Pimentel and became known as Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban. PDP was founded by human-rights lawyer and leading oppositionist Nene Pimentel. Lakas ng Bayan resurfaced in 1987 in the legislative election that year. As President Cory was already in power, Laban overwhelmingly won the elections taking 22 Senate seats out of 24 and a majority of the House seats. Both parties were born out of principled politics. They were products of hard-fought struggles to preserve civil liberties and political freedom. Both formed during the difficult years of Martial Law, their founders and leaders, Ninoy Aquino, Lorenzo Tañada, Jose W. Diokno and Aquilino Pimentel suffered harassment, arrests and persecutions. Together with other politicians with conviction, they did not play footsie with the dictator and joined the ruling party. Instead they formed Laban and PDP and led the fight for freedom and democracy. They confronted power and intimidation with sheer courage and conviction. They undauntedly faced their abusers and defended the legality and morality of their cause before the courts, in the streets and in the hearts and minds of our people. The authoritarian regime gave rise to grave national

issues, which became the rallying points of all opposition forces. Human-rights abuses, maltreatment of political prisoners, militarization, social and economic problems and labor unrest had unified our people against the government. The united opposition lost many battles but they eventually won the great EDSA Revolution, which ousted the abusive regime and gave us our first free breath after 14 years of Martial Law. PDP-Laban played a substantive role in reclaiming many of our freedoms. In the past, the uncompromising stand of its founders and leaders against injustices, abuses and corruption had prevented authoritarian rulers from ensconcing themselves and their heirs in power. Now that it has become the ruling party, PDP-Laban has become less principled and unworthy of the names of its great founders. PDPLaban has abandoned the people in their struggle to get a good and accountable government that they deserve. It has changed dramatically during the last few years and has become fundamentally unrecognizable from its original political philosophy and values. It has become a party based on personality and loyal only to one man. Very much like the GOP in the US where the party and its future revolves around Trump alone. What the PDP-Laban needs is to find its moral compass and a new manifesto that will revive the high ideals that will promote justice, freedom and dignity for the Filipino people. We hope that the party leaders will find their moorings, integrity and courage to provide us a political platform that we can support and offer us candidates who will be equal to our trust.

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

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The sad tale of PDP-Laban

Slow to start, China mobilizes to vaccinate at headlong pace

By Huizhong Wu | Associated Press

AIPEI, Taiwan—In the span of just five days last month, China gave out 100 million shots of its Covid-19 vaccines. After a slow start, China is now doing what virtually no other country in the world can: harnessing the power and all-encompassing reach of its one-party system and a maturing domestic vaccine industry to administer shots at a staggering pace. The rollout is far from perfect, including uneven distribution, but Chinese public health leaders now say they’re hoping to inoculate 80% of the population of 1.4 billion by the end of the year. As of Tuesday, China had given out more than 680 million doses—with nearly half of those in May alone. China’s total is roughly a third of the 1.9 billion shots distributed globally, according to Our World in Data, an online research site. The call to get vaccinated comes from every corner of society. Companies offer shots to their employees, schools urge their students and staffers, and local government workers check on their residents.

That pressure underscores both the system’s strength, which makes it possible to even consider vaccinating more than a billion people this year, but also the risks to civil liberties — a concern the world over but one that is particularly acute in China, where there are few protections. “The Communist Party has people all the way down to every village, every neighborhood,” said Ray Yip, former country director for the Gates Foundation in China and a public

health expert. “That’s the draconian part of the system, but it also gives very powerful mobilization.” China is now averaging about 19 million shots per day, according to Our World in Data’s rolling sevenday average. That would mean a dose for everyone in Italy about every three days. The United States, with about one-quarter of China’s population, reached around 3.4 million shots per day in April when its drive was at full tilt. It’s still unclear how many people in China are fully vaccinated—which can mean anywhere from one to three doses of the vaccines in use—as the government does not publicly release that data. Zhong Nanshan, the head of a group of experts attached to the National Health Commission and a prominent government doctor, said on Sunday that 40% of the population has received at least one dose, and the aim was to get that percentage fully vaccinated by the end of the month.

In Beijing, the capital, 87 percent of the population has received at least one dose. Getting a shot is as easy as walking into one of hundreds of vaccination points found all across the city. Vaccination buses are parked in high foot-traffic areas, including in the city center and at malls. But Beijing’s abundance is not shared with the rest of the country, and local media reports and complaints on social media show the difficulty of getting an appointment elsewhere. “I started lining up that day at 9 in the morning, until 6 p.m., only then did I get the shot. It was exhausting,” Zhou Hongxia, a resident of Lanzhou, in northwestern Gansu province, explained recently. “When I left, there were still people waiting.” Zhou’s husband hasn’t been so lucky and has yet to get a shot. When they call the local hotlines, they are told simply to wait. See “Slow,” A15

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US Science chief wants next pandemic vaccine ready in 100 days

Murdering and burying identities Tito Genova Valiente

annotations

By Seth Borenstein | AP Science Writer

he new White House science adviser wants to have a vaccine ready to fight the next pandemic in just about 100 days after recognizing a potential viral outbreak.

In his first interview after being sworn in Wednesday, Eric Lander painted a rosy near future where a renewed American emphasis on science not only better prepares the world for the next pandemic with plug-and-play vaccines, but also changes how medicine fights disease and treats patients, curbs climate change and further explores space. He even threw in a “Star Trek” reference. “This is a moment in so many ways, not just health, that we can rethink fundamental assumptions about what’s possible and that’s true of climate and energy and many areas,” Lander told The Associated Press. Lander took his oath of office on a 500-year-old fragment of the Mishnah, an ancient Jewish text documenting oral traditions and laws. He is the first director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to be promoted to Cabinet level. Lander said President Joe Biden’s elevation of the science post is a symbolic show “that science should have a seat at the table” but also allows him to have higher-level talks with different agency chiefs about making policy. Lander is a mathematician and geneticist by training who was part of the human genome mapping project and directed the Broad Institute at MIT and Harvard. He said he is particularly focused not so much on this pandemic, but the lessons learned from this one to prepare for the next one. “It was amazing at one level that we were able to produce highly effective vaccines in less than a year, but from another point of view you’d say, ‘Boy, a year’s a long time,’” even though in the past it would take three years or four years, Lander said. “To really make a difference we want to get this done in 100 days. And so a lot of us have been talking about a 100-day target from the recognition from a virus with pandemic potential.” “It would mean that we would have had a vaccine in early April if that had happened this time, early April of 2020,” Lander said. “It makes you gulp for a second, but it’s totally feasible to do that.” Scientists were working on so-called all-purpose ready-to-go platform technologies for vaccines long before the pandemic. They’re considered “plug-andplay.” Instead of using the germ itself to make a vaccine, they use messenger RNA and add the genetic code for the germ. That’s what happened with the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 shots. Beyond being optimistic about confronting future pandemics, Lander wonders about the implications for preventing cancer. “Maybe the same sort of experience about moving so much faster than we thought is applicable to cancer,” said Lander, who during the Obama administration was co-chair of the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. A company already has been working on that. For that matter, the pandemic and telehealth brought the doctor to patients

Slow. . .

continued from A14

Central government officials on Monday said they’re working to ensure supply is more evenly distributed. China has even focused on vaccinating its citizens abroad, donating vaccine s to Thailand, some of which were used to inoculate its nationals before most Thais received their doses. Globally, it has vaccinated more than 500,000 overseas citizens under what it calls the “Spring Sprout” program. Before the domestic campaign ramped up in recent weeks, many people were not in a rush to get vaccinated as China has kept the virus, which first flared in the country, at bay in the past year with strict border controls and mandatory quaran-

in some ways. Lander said he is reimagining “a world where we rearrange a lot of things” to get more patient-centered health care, including community health workers checking up every few weeks on people about their blood pressure, blood sugar and other chronic problems. Two of Lander’s predecessor praised him. Neal Lane, President Bill Clinton’s science adviser, said Lander is “perfect” for the pandemic because of the need for a strategy and international agreements. Obama’s science chief, John Holden, called him “a Renaissance man.” Lander’s nomination had been delayed for months as senators sought more information about meetings he had with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a financier who was charged with sex trafficking before his apparent suicide. Lander said he only met with Epstein twice, in 2012, and never requested or received funds from Epstein or his foundation. At his confirmation hearing, Lander also apologized for a 2016 article he wrote that downplayed the work of two Nobel Prize-winning female scientists. Lander, who has visited Greenland on a balmy 72-degree day, told the AP he sees climate change as “an incredibly serious threat to this planet in many, many ways.” Still, Lander said he was more optimistic now than he and others were a decade ago because “I see a path to doing something about it.” Lander pointed to a drop of about in 90 percent in solar and energy wind costs, making them now as cheap as fossil fuels that cause climate change. But he said what’s also needed is “an explosion of ideas” to improve battery life and provide carbon-free energy that is not weather-dependent. Those innovations need federal incentives that are part of Biden’s jobs package, he said. Reducing methane is key to fighting climate change, Lander added, but first improvements are needed in technology to determine where methane is leaking from. As for space, Lander said he was too new to comment on whether heading to the moon or Mars should be the goal. The Obama administration redirected NASA away from the Bush-era plan to send astronauts back to the moon and was more aimed for Mars or an asteroid. The Trump administration not only focused back on the moon but set a 2024 goal for a new moon landing. “Are we going to go to the moon and are we going to go to Mars and are we going to moons of Jupiter? Sure. The exact order I think is great to think about or great to talk about,” Lander said. He quoted “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,” when Captain James T. Kirk’s love interest asked if he was from outer space. He responded: “I’m from Iowa, I only work in outer space.” Adds Lander: “That was a fun line in ‘Star Trek IV,’ but folks in Iowa are really going to say that.”

AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.

tines. It has faced small clusters of infections from time to time, and is currently managing one in the southern city of Guangzhou. Although there are distribution issues, it is unlikely that Chinese manufacturers will have problems with scale, according to analysts and those who have worked in the industry. Sinovac and Sinopharm, which make the majority of the vaccines being distributed in China, have both aggressively ramped up production, building brand new factories and repurposing existing ones for Covid-19. Sinovac’s vaccine and one of the two Sinpharm makes have received an emergency authorization for use from the World Health Organization, but the companies, particularly Sinopharm, have faced criticism for their lack of transparency in sharing their data.

Friday, June 4, 2021 A15

sinite parvulos venire ad me Suffer the little children to come unto me…—Matthew 19:14

he news is disturbing: from the 19th century until the 1970s, some 150,000 First Nations children, or even more, were compelled to remain within government-backed Christian schools. The term, “First Nations” refers to the indigenous peoples of Canada other than those belonging to the Inuit and Metis, also considered as Canada’s aboriginal peoples. Among these communities operated these educational institutions that were also called “indigenous residential schools.”

“Compel” is the word I used but documents attested to how children belonging to several Indian communities were forcibly taken from their mothers and families to be placed in schools funded by the government. All in the name of Christianization and all with the aim of removing any trace of the “native” in them. The children’s languages were banned and were not allowed to be spoken in the schools and in the campus. There were before-and-after photographs of boys with long hair wearing their indigenous clothing only to be presented in another frame “Westernized,” altered, different. Culturally integrated. Coming from ethnolinguistic communities with their own respective rites of passage, these young boys and girls were once more subjected to another transition, this time more radical, forced and violent. All in the name of a new religion. All in the name of a dominating ideology. All in the name of a New God. Where, in some societies, this New God was taught as merciful, for these children of othered societies, the New God would be harsh, punitive. The real Almighty. An angry god with brutal acolytes

and priests and priestesses would be behind the banishment of cultures. This was once more the Crusades, of shrine maidens and knights marching into a colder Damascus, in the land of heathens, all destined by Fate marked by a light, no less evil than its belief that there is only one true God and one true Religion. Ethnocentrism had never had a shining example than what happened in these places in North America. That we are not aware of these cultural genocides particular to Canada is exemplary of how wide and far-ranging is colonization not only in underdeveloping countries but in a nation that prides itself in the splendor of ethnicities. Dramatic depictions of this hideous past in Canadian history are captured in paintings. There is one circulating online and it is a painting by Kent Monkman. It carries the title, The Scream. Where the more famous “Scream” by Munch is about angst of deeper intellectual and moral provenance, this other “Scream” showing nuns and priest aided by the members of Royal Canadian Mounted Police is of anger and anguish urged from the guts. Mothers helpless before the might

of government could only scream and shriek and cry as their children are dragged, never to come back again. Or if they did come back, they were not the same children born of their own beliefs and myths, but citizens of the new order, plastered with a new culture they did not necessarily embrace but forced to practice. Made in the image and likeness of a pure Christian God that would not tolerate any other ceremonials. The government program was called “aggressive assimilation” supported by a religion that believed, as in this history, no less in aggression. That assimilation caused thousand deaths, thousand more brutalities, including rape. But nothing illustrates what happened years back in what was recently reported. Some 200 or more remains of children have been found buried on the site of one of these larger indigenous residential schools. A leader of one of the communities belonging to the First Nation was said to have confirmed this horrible discovery. Not Art this time and not politics but science, which discovered the crime by means of a groundpenetrating radar. More bodies are expected to be found.

It is not as if this is the first time the truths about the deaths of children forcibly assimilated are narrated. In the past, however, there were no hard proofs; there were talks of children missing, of undocumented disappearances. The fact: There were more than a hundred residential schools housing these children and most of them were managed by the Catholic Church. The current affair: Back in our own Catholic yard, the celebration of Christianization and colonization continues. The year is festive enough. The nation has arranged events where they could affix the “500” to anything from poetry competition to music concourses, the numerals assuming a talismanic impact. Historians are part of the commemoration and the crime while I remain outside, my sarcasm terrific, intact yet marginalized. But I refuse to honor my rage by imbuing irony in this national memory. Let me offer a prayer though to Canada for the sad deaths of those children and condolences to the demise of their our own cultures, beliefs and languages. We, after all, share in the heritage of this aggressive assimilation.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

‘Healing nature through ecosystem restoration’

By Roy Cimatu & Dr. Selva Ramachandran

he well-being of humanity depends on healthy ecosystems. Nature purifies the air we breathe, regulates our climate, cleans our water and provides us with food and medicine. However, decades of unrelenting economic growth at the expense of our natural resources have taken a toll on our oceans, forests, wetlands and rivers. Now, the state of our natural ecosystems threatens the very survival of mankind. Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, landmark reports from 20182019 have presented us with a bleak outlook for 2020 and beyond. Continuing at its current rate, global warming is likely to reach 1.5C between 2030 and 2052. Even if we strive to end emissions today, global emissions to date will persist for centuries, driving further changes to our climate. If that isn’t worrying enough, around one million species are on the brink of extinction unless action is taken to reduce the drivers of biodiversity loss. In addition, plastic waste pollution has emerged as a pressing environmental threat—scientists expect that by 2050, our oceans will contain more plastic than fish. Microplastics have entered our food chain, with many fish and marine mammals ingesting microplastics on an unprecedented scale. The impacts of these threats vary across continents and communities. In the Philippines, global warming has caused frequent disasters that disproportionately affect vulnerable households. The ability of our natural ecosystems to protect at-risk communities is rapidly diminishing. Over the years, the country has lost 10.9 million hectares of forest cover. That’s 194,000 hectares of average loss each year. Fish stocks are drastically overfished in almost all areas except Eastern Luzon, Palawan, and the Southern Sulu Sea. Reef conditions, an in-

As we celebrate this year’s World Environment Day, we call on everyone to support the global campaign for the healing of nature through the restoration of our ecosystems. We must do our part as responsible stewards of our planet before it’s too late. It is, after all, the only planet we’ve got.

dicator of fish productivity, have similarly declined. In 1997, just their livelihoods—and lives—as a four percent were in excellent consequence. condition, down to less than one All is not lost, however, and percent in 2012. change is taking place. The country’s rivers, coastal and Different parts of society have marine areas have suffered from come together to contribute to the marine litter, especially uncollected repair of the country’s ecosystems. A plastic waste. The Philippines ranks massive greening program launched as the third-largest contributor of by the Department of Environment marine plastics globally, which comand Natural Resources (DENR) in promises fish productivity, tourism 2011 aimed to plant 1.5 billion trees and human health. on 1.5 million hectares of degraded Mangrove forests—together forest. Alongside this effort, NGOs with seagrasses and coral reefs— have ramped up efforts alongside provide protection against storm private sector organizations. surges and rising seas. UnfortuThere are now 244 protected arnately, they have suffered the same eas in the Philippines covering 7.8 fate. Mangrove cover is down from million hectares. Marine protected around 500,000 hectares to almost areas are being incorporated into half this amount. networks for more effective manLand degradation in the form agement. Strengthening wildlife of soil erosion and fertility decline protections have led to coordinathas affected agricultural activities ed efforts among law enforcement in the Philippines. The Global Asagencies. Local communities and sessment of Land Degradation and indigenous peoples are doing their Improvement showed that there are part, with governments recognizan estimated 132,275 square kiloing their effective contributions to meters of degraded lands, affecting conservation. about 33 million Filipinos. Innovative solutions to the plasThe combined impact of these tics problem are beginning to pay threats have yet to be fully realized off. Plastic users are finding new in an economic sense. But, as is the ways to reduce their footprint and case with many other countries, there are growing efforts among the Philippines may have already the public to minimize plastics use. pushed resource usage beyond its These are matched by government limits, compromising long-term efforts to develop a National Action viability. Sadly, it’s the small farmPlan on Marine Litter. ers, local fishermen, and vulnerable These efforts alone aren’t just coastal and upland communities the right thing to do; they’re also that are the most at risk of losing

the economically smart thing to do. It is far more expensive to restore degraded forests, reef systems and wetlands than to protect existing ecosystems. But to support this, we need to think better. Legislators should aim to make protection the priority over restoration. Moreover, communities must be incentivized to protect ecosystems through participation in the benefits derived from them. Such incentives can result in the added benefit of lifting communities out of poverty. Innovative financial mechanisms are needed to encourage investment in conservation. We need to understand nature programs as cost centers rather than revenue opportunities. Treating well-managed ecosystems as assets would go a long way in advancing protection and improved management and the proper valuation of natural resources and their integration into national accounting systems will provide a full picture of their value to the economy. Finally, we should look to encourage the application of technology and science-based approaches to restoration and environmental management. Continued investment in research can contribute to cost-effective solutions to our biggest challenges. Appropriate monitoring can provide better policies and approaches. As we celebrate this year’s World Environment Day, we call on everyone to support the global campaign for the healing of nature through the restoration of our ecosystems. We must do our part as responsible stewards of our planet before it’s too late. It is, after all, the only planet we’ve got. Roy Cimatu is the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Dr. Selva Ramachandran is the Resident Representative of the UNDP Philippines.

A16 Friday, June 4, 2021

IRR OF COCONUT TRUST FUND WORRIES GROUPS By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

OCONUT industry leaders have raised concerns over the draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF), including the “opaque” disposition of noncash assets and the budget for trust fund management expenses. In a position paper, three coconut farmers groups outlined the issues they see arising from the current draft of the IRR of Republic Act 11524 or the CFITF, which utilizes the P100-billion coconut levy fund and its assets. T he position paper was signed by Kilus Magniniyog Convenor Ireneo Cerilla, Confederation of Coconut Farmers Organizations of the Philippines Executive Director Charles R. Avila and Federation of Free Farmers Chairman Leonardo Q. Montemayor. First, the groups want to know who will be the approving authority of the rules to be proposed by the Trust Fund Management Committee (TFMC) regarding the management of the consolidated coconut levy collections.

The current IRR is currently “silent” on approving authority, leaving the TFMC—comprising three executive agencies—“bent on approving their own draft through a joint memorandumcircular,” the three groups said. The TFMC is composed of the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The groups also questioned the “limited time” provided by the DOF for the submission of stakeholders’ comments as well as the “undue haste in issuing the IRR.” “The Supreme Court has ruled that the Trust Fund is a ‘public fund held in trust by the government for the exclusive benefit of the coconut farmers and the industry,’” they said. “For desperately poor producers, will genuine public hearings and consultations on the Fund’s implementing rules be undertaken? How will the Executive satisfy the demand for public transparency and protecting the interests of the Fund’s beneficial owners—the country’s 3.5 million coconut farmers and farm workers?” they added. Continued on A5

Investments OK’d by IPAs in Q1 grow 42.5% to ₧165B D

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

ESPITE a contraction in foreign investments, total approved investments by the country’s Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) grew 42.5 percent in the first quarter of 2021, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In a report on Thursday, PSA said total approved investments made by Filipino and foreign nationals increased to P165.16 billion in the first three months of the year from P115.89 billion in the same period last year. Investments from Filipino nationals reached P145.61 billion or 88.2 percent of total approved investments in the first quarter. Foreign investments only reached P19.55 billion, a contraction of 32.9 percent from P29.14 billion in the

same period in 2020. These combined approved investments are expected to generate 23,472 jobs, a 35-percent contraction from the 36,130 projected jobs from pledges made in the same period last year. “Out of these total anticipated jobs, 78.5 percent would be absorbed by projects with foreign interest. Among industries, manufacturing is expected to produce the greatest number of jobs during the quarter as the industry is expected

to generate 9,514 jobs,” PSA said. Foreign investment (FI) commitments for the first quarter of 2021 were mainly driven by investments from Japan which accounted for 54.8 percent of the total approved FI, followed by Cayman Islands at 5.8 percent and South Korea at 3 percent. PSA said Japan committed P10.72 billion, while Cayman Islands and South Korea pledged P1.14 billion and P592.63 million, respectively. Manufacturing bested all other industries as it stands to receive 57 percent or 11.14 billion of the total FI pledges. Information and Communication came in second with investment commitments valued at P4.58 billion or 23.4 percent of the total approved FI, followed by Real Estate Activities with P2.24 billion or 11.5 percent FI contribution. By region, the majority of the ap-

proved foreign investments in the first quarter of 2021 is intended to finance projects in Region IVACalabarzon amounting to P7.54 billion or 38.6 percent of the total. This was followed by Region VII (Central Visayas) with P2.73 billion or 14 percent, and the National Capital Region with P1.74 billion or 8.9 percent of the total. The investment pledges were approved by the Board of Investments (BOI), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBM A), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (Afab), and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza). However, PSA said no investment approvals were reported from BOI-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BOI-BARMM) for the reference quarter.

ADB raises another $5.5B LGUs must use from US dollar bond market 15% of IRA on health care–solon T By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised another $5.5 billion from the United States dollar bond market to boost its ordinary capital resources this year. The Manila-based multilateral development bank raised $4 billion from a 3-year global benchmark bond and another $1.5 billion from a 7-year global benchmark bond. ADB plans to raise $34 billion-$36 billion from the capital markets in 2021. In April, the ADB tapped the US bond market to raise $5 billion on five-year global bonds. “We are delighted with the strong support from our investors across regions in our dual tranche 3- and 7-year outing,” ADB Treasurer Pierre Van Peteghem said. “With an order book of over $12 billion, we raised over $5 billion across the two maturities. Once again, this provides us with additional resources to assist our developing member countries in Asia and the Pacific,” he added. The 3-year bond, with a coupon rate of 0.375 percent per annum payable semi-annually and a maturity date of 11 June 2024, was priced at 99.94 percent to yield 9.75 basis points over the 0.25 percent United States (US) Treasury notes due May 2024. The 7-year bond, with a coupon rate of 1.25 percent per annum payable semi-annually and a maturity date of 9 June 2028, was priced at 99.414 percent to yield 8.8 basis points over the 1.25 percent US Treasury notes due May 2028. The transaction was lead-managed by Barclays, Citi, JP Morgan, and TD Securities. A syndicate group was also formed consisting of CIBC, Daiwa, ING, and Scotiabank. Both tranches achieved wide primary market distribution. On the 3-year issue, 22 percent of the bonds were placed in Asia; 35 percent in Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and 43 percent in the Americas. By investor type, 51 percent of the bonds went to central banks and official institutions, 32 percent to banks, and 17 percent to fund managers and other types of investors. On the 7-year issue, 42 percent of the bonds were placed in Asia; 42 percent in Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and 16 percent in the Americas. By investor type, 67 percent of the bonds went to central banks and official institutions, 18 percent to banks, and 15 percent to fund managers and other types of investors. In 2015, ADB announced it was significantly scaling up its capacity to provide more financing through a merger of its concessional Asian Development Fund loan portfolio with its OCR balance sheet. The merger will boost ADB’s total annual lending and grant approvals to as high as $20 billion—50 percent more than the current level. ADB assistance to poor countries will rise by up to 70 percent. The Manila-based multilateral development bank (MDB) extends two kinds of lending, the OCR for middle-income countries at market rates and the ADF for poor countries at concessional rates. The Philippines’s ADB loans are obtained from OCR. The ADF, which was established in 1973, are extended to poorer countries at lower interest rates and longer maturities.

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

S local governments are expected to assume the implementation of the Mandanas ruling, a leader of the House of Representatives has batted for a passage of bill that will require all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays to appropriate no less than 15 percent of their internal revenue allotment (IRA) for health services. House Committee on Health Chairperson Angelina Tan pushed for the passage of House Bill 9204 or the “Lokal na Pamahalaan Kabalikatan sa PagAbot ng Kalusugang Pangkalahatan Act,” Tan, in her sponsorship of the bill last Wednesday, remarked that, along with local development initiatives, the provision of quality, accessible, and relevant health services is important, especially in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Based on my initial talks with the Department of Health, the plan really is to push for the renationalization of the country’s healthcare system. But here comes the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling where the Supreme Court says that the “just share” of local government units (LGUs) include all national taxes and not just the national internal revenue taxes, but also customs duties and others. By virtue of this development, LGUs’ IRA are expected to increase starting next year,” Tan said. Tan, a medical doctor, said the issue about the recent Mandanas ruling was raised by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon during his interpellation in the Senate on several local bills passed by the House of Representatives on the establishment of new hospitals in some towns and cities across the country, which include a provision for the

transfer of the control from their respective localities to the national government. Tan said House Bill 9204 seeks to amend Section 287 of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 to ensure the appropriation of at least 15 percent of IRA for health services in all LGUs inasmuch as they must now take action to prepare for the greater responsibilities of providing health services—something expected of them in the context of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling. Tan added the proposed appropriation shall be on top of whatever is allotted for health services under the existing development projects as provided under the LGC and the Special Health Fund (SHF), a component of the Universal Health Care Act (UHC). “The proposal is grounded on the fundamental policies outlined under Republic Act No. 11223 or the UHC law, which adopts an integrated and comprehensive approach to ensure that all Filipinos are health literate, provided with healthy living conditions, and protected from hazards and risks that could affect their health,” she said. “The pandemic has underscored the important lesson that LGUs must be at the front lines of UHC implementation inasmuch as the law ‘requires local leaders who recognize that health is not just one of their concerns but is in fact a strategic concern that has wide-reaching impact on stubborn societal issue,’” she added. The Committee of Local Government chaired by Rep. Noel Villanueva has approved a watered-down version of the bill mandating LGUs to appropriate no less than 10 percent of their IRA for health services after some LGU stakeholders and members of the committee opposed the 15 percent allocation.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1 Pitx Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City WEN, YU Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 1.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in mandarin speaking

DENG, XIANG Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking 2.

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all marketing activity and result. LIN, HAI Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all marketing activity and result. LIU, WEILIANG Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all marketing activity and result. REN, SHANSHAN Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all marketing activity and result. WANG, HONGYAN Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all marketing activity and result.

ZHANG, JIE Marketing And Sales Agent Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting custome information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects, recommend to senior management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects, recommend to senior management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects, recommend to senior management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects, recommend to senior management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the marketing plans and projects, recommend to senior management Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

13.

Brief Job Description: The one responsible to “Get the sale” using various customer sales methods.

Basic Qualification: Can research accounts and generate or follow through sales leads; Can valuate customers skills, needs and build productive long lasting relationships; Can meet personal and team sales targets. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

14.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for all day-to-day management decisions and for implementing the Company’s long and short term plans

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

CHEN, NANNAN Customer Service Representative 15.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

LAI, WEILI Marketing And Sales Agent

10.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

DONG, YUNPENG Customer Service Representative 16.

11.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

Brief Job Description: Customer service DU, JIANLONG Customer Service Representative

17.

Brief Job Description: Customer service HAN, TONG Customer Service Representative

18.

Brief Job Description: Customer service HE, JIANQIANG Customer Service Representative

19.

Brief Job Description: Customer service HE, LINGLING Customer Service Representative

20.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service HONG, LI Customer Service Representative

21.

22.

Basic Qualification: Can contribute information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; Can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans and works for each product or service being offered. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Customer service

Brief Job Description: Customer Service JIANG, XUEJIAO Customer Service Representative

23.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service LIU, FAN Customer Service Representative

24.

Brief Job Description: Customer service LIU, FANGQUAN Customer Service Representative

25.

Brief Job Description: Customer service LIU, QI Customer Service Representative

26. SHANG, FEI Marketing And Sales Agent

Brief Job Description: Customer service

HUANG, GUANYONG Customer Service Representative

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila CHEN, ZUNYU Marketing And Sales Agent

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

Brief Job Description: Customer service LOU, JUN Customer Service Representative

27.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

MIU THI BICH PHUONG Customer Service Representative WANG, JING Marketing And Sales Agent

12.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Can contribute information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; Can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans and works for each product or service being offered. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design and implement marketing plan for each product or service being offered. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City

CHIYODA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Mezzanine, Ug, 5th, 6th, 15th-22nd Floor Sun Plaza Building 1507 Shaw Boulevard Corner Princeton St. 1555 Mandaluyong City ISHII, TSUKASA President & Chief Executive Officer

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

ZHU, JIHONG Marketing And Sales Agent

C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230 Narra Street Marikina Heights Marikina City SHI, CHUN JIN Field Sales Consultant

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

28.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

PHAM THI THU HOA Customer Service Representative 29.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

Friday, June 4, 2021 A17

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

SHI, QIANRUI Customer Service Representative 30.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service SUN, DAIPENG Customer Service Representative

31.

Brief Job Description: Customer service WANG, YAN Customer Service Representative

32.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service WEI, HUANGJUAN Customer Service Representative

33.

Brief Job Description: Customer service WU, DUANXIANG Customer Service Representative

34.

Brief Job Description: Customer service XU, WENYAN Customer Service Representative

35.

Brief Job Description: Customer service YANG, DONGCHENG Customer Service Representative

36.

Brief Job Description: Customer service YANG, DONGBAO Customer Service Representative

37.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service YE, LIN Customer Service Representative

38.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service ZHANG, SIYAO Customer Service Representative

39.

Brief Job Description: Customer service ZHAO, XUE Customer Service Representative

40.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

CHEN, JIACHENG Customer Service Representative

41.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

LIN, JIANKUN Customer Service Representative

42.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WANG, QIZHENG Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

43.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. Unit 2306 Antel Global Corporate Center Julia Vargas Ave. Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ZHOU, HUIYANG Customer Service Representative

44.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; can manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; can manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; can manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and researches to help develop marketing strategies; Can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A18 Friday, June 4, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

GENIX CONSULTANCY INC. 7/f Ba Lepanto Bldg. 8747 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City MAO, MEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 45.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for inbound & outbound calls MAO, BEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

46.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for inbound & outbound calls

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in speaking, reading & writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in speaking, reading & writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor Silver City 4, Ortigas East Ugong Pasig City 2nd, 3rd & 6th Flr. Ortigas Technopoint 2 Ortigas Home Depot Complex #1 Doña Julia Vargas Ave. Pasig City WU, YONG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 47.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in mandarin speaking

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting custom information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HE, HAOJIE Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking 48.

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result.

Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the Marketing plans and projects, recommend optimization to Senior Management. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

64.

49.

Brief Job Description: Handles general CAD operations, coordinates with Japanese clients

Basic Qualification: JLPT N1 passer. Must have a Japanese house floor plan background Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City HTET HTET SHWE MOE Burmese Customer Service Representative 50.

51.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls BI, RENJIAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

52.

CHEN, ANQI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

53.

CHEN, QIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

54.

CHEN, WEINING Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

55.

CHEN, DELI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

56.

CUI, FUCHENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

57.

DU, JIAWEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

58.

EILEEN LIM YI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

59.

FU, XIAOFANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

60.

61.

GAO, YIJUAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls GUAN, WEIYOU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

62.

63.

HAO, ZHIBO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls HE, JINFENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in burmese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HU, HONGQIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

65.

JIN, ZHONGGUO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

66.

JING, SHUAIBO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

67.

LI, WEIXI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

68.

LI, HU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

69.

LI, SHUAI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

LUX CORPORATION 22 C/d 22/f Trafalgar Plaza 105 H.v Dela Costa Street Bel-air Makati City TSUJI, NAOYA Cad Manager

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

70.

LI, XIAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

71.

LI, CHAOYUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

72.

LI, TZU-YANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

73.

LI, DONGYANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

74.

LIANG, JIANHUA Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

75.

LIAO, TIANCAI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

76.

LIU, HONGZHI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

77.

LONG, WEIYANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

78.

LU, CHAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

79.

LYU, JUNYONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

80.

MA, MINGCONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

81.

PENG, HONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

82.

83.

84.

85.

PU, XIUEN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls QI, JIAJUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls QIAO, FEIFEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls QIU, FENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

86.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION REN, GUANYIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

87.

SHANG, TIANLIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

88.

SHEN, JIBIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

89.

SU, WEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

90.

TAN, FUSHENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

91.

TAO, YANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

92.

TONG, SHAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

93.

WANG, CHAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

94.

WANG, JIAWEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

95.

WANG, XING Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

96.

WANG, HONGBO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

97.

WEI, MU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

98.

WEI, JINYANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

99.

XIAO, YU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

100.

XIAO, MENGFAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

101.

XIE, HONGHUI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

102.

XIONG, GANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

103.

104.

105.

XU, JIAJIE Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls XU, RONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls YANG, JIACHENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

106.

YIN, WEISHI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

107.

ZENG, JUNYONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING SERVICE SUPPORT CALLS

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: PROFICIENT IN SPEAKING, READING AND WRITING IN MANDARIN Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

108.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHANG, KUNLUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

109.

ZHANG, FUQUAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

110.

ZHANG, SHENGNAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

111.

ZHANG, YE Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

112.

ZHANG, DI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

113.

ZHANG, JUNXIAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

114.

ZHAO, LEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

115.

ZHOU, JINGWEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

116.

ZHOU, XINZHE Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

117.

ZOU, YU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

130.

131.

118.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing stratigies to develop areas of the business oppurtunities JIANG, JIAYUE Mandarin Operations Specialist

119.

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency DONG, ZHAOJIE Mandarin Technical Support

120.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system HU, XIAODONG Mandarin Technical Support

121.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system LIU, JIAHUI Mandarin Technical Support

122.

123.

124.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

SUN, JIEYU Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WEI, YUBIAO Mandarin Technical Support

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system YU, WENWEN Mandarin Technical Support

125.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

126.

127.

128.

129.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHEN, HUAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHEN, FEIFEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHEN, BIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires CHEN, WANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

132.

133.

134.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service CHUONG MY LE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DENG, LIQIU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires FANG, SONGTAO Customer Service Representative

135.

136.

137.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service FENG, SHANMING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires GAO, WEITING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GUO, SHAOFEI Customer Service Representative

138.

Brief Job Description: Customer service HAN, HUI Customer Service Representative

139.

140.

141.

142.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service HE, MIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

144.

145.

148.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

150. Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

153.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin and basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

JI, BEIBEI Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Customer Service LE THI BICH PHUONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Customer service

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LI, JIANG Customer Service Representative 152.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LI, ZHIBO Customer Service Representative 151.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin and basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HUANG, SHOUMIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires

LE THI QUYET Customer Service Representative 149.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LANG, SHIRUI Customer Service Representative 147.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HEI, HONGYI Customer Service Representative

KYAW KYAW AUNG Customer Service Representative 146.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HUANG, DEZHI Customer Service Representative 143.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

HE, QIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LI, ZICHEN Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City BO, WENGANG Customer Service Representative

CHEN, JIANCHENG Customer Service Representative

CHENG, YONGGANG Customer Service Representative

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City LIU, NINGKANG Mandarin Marketing Specialist

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, DERONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Friday, June 4, 2021 A19

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin and basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LI, CHENGFEI Customer Service Representative

154.

155.

156.

157.

158.

159.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls LI, NING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative LI, HONGYIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, TAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, LIHUA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires LI, FUPING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires LIAN, QUAN Customer Service Representative

160.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service LIANG, YING Customer Service Representative

161.

162.

163.

Brief Job Description: Customer service LIANG, YIMING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIANG, JIAXIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LIN, ZHANGYONG Customer Service Representative

164.

165.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service LIN, HONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LING, YUEXIAO Customer Service Representative

166.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls LIU, DA Customer Service Representative

167.

168.

169.

170.

171.

172.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, YANGYANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, WENBIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, DONGLIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Customer service representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LUU THI UT HIEN Customer Service Representative

177.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin and basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LU, LEI Customer Service Representative 176.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LIU, XIN Customer Service Representative

LU, HAOWEI Customer Service Representative 175.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LU, ZHIHUI Customer Service Representative 174.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LIU, LIRUI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIU, BO Customer Service Representative 173.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: ABLE TO SPEAK, READ, AND WRITE CHINESE LANGUAGE Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A20 Friday, June 4, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

178.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LYU, WENKANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires MA, WANGYUAN Customer Service Representative

179.

180.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service MA, YIHAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MAO, ZHI Customer Service Representative

181.

182.

183.

184.

185.

186.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service MAUNG KYAING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires MO, HONGJIE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NWE NWE OO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires PENG, LONGJIE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PENG, LINGJIE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SHA, ZHIHENG Customer Service Representative

187.

188.

189.

Brief Job Description: Customer service SHI, YI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires SHUAI, SHUANGLIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SONG, XIAOSHAN Customer Service Representative

190.

Brief Job Description: Customer service SONG, SIHUA Customer Service Representative

191.

192.

Brief Job Description: Customer service SU LENH SIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

TANG, LI Customer Service Representative 193.

194.

195.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service TEO LIT SENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TU, SHUYAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TUN AUNG Customer Service Representative

196.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service WAN, YINGGANG Customer Service Representative

197.

198.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. WANG, SAIFENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WANG, YUNPENG Customer Service Representative 199.

200.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service WANG, PENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, DINGKE Customer Service Representative

201.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin and basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin and basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

202.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WANG, QI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, ZE Customer Service Representative

203.

204.

205.

206.

207.

208.

209.

210.

211.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls WANG, JIANQIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, SULIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, LIXIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires WANG, YUTING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires WEE LIH FANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WEI, CHUNBO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires WEN, DEQIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WEN, YUAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, XIUMU Customer Service Representative

212.

Brief Job Description: Customer service WU, CHUHONG Customer Service Representative

213.

214.

215.

216.

217.

218.

219.

220.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service WU, YONGSHI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, ZHENGYAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires WU, ZHIQUAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, HAIHUA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries XIONG, ZHIQIAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires XU, FU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries XU, JIAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative XUE, JING Customer Service Representative

221.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service YANG, JIAO Customer Service Representative

222.

223.

224.

225.

226.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service YANG, KUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires YANG, XIAONAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires YANG, YUNCUI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires YANG, YUE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin and basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

227.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YE, YINBO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YEO CHEE HOE Customer Service Representative

228.

229.

230.

231.

232.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service YI, XI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires YU, QU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires ZANG, XUEDONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZENG, DI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, JINSONG Customer Service Representative

233.

234.

235.

236.

237.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service ZHANG, JINSONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, DANNI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, JIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, YIHE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, BOHU Customer Service Representative

238.

239.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. ZHAO, HAIKUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHENG, XIAOXI Customer Service Representative

240.

241.

242.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service ZHENG, YU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHOU, ZHONGWEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHOU, LICHAO Customer Service Representative

243.

244.

245.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. ZHOU, SUNJIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquires ZHU, HAOQING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHU, WEILI Customer Service Representative

246.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHU, LI Customer Service Representative

247.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

ZI, HAIHUA Customer Service Representative 248.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. ZOU, WEI Customer Service Representative

249.

250.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZOU, HUAIMIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin and basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

251.

252.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LI, HANG Customer Service Representive Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YANG, SHAOSHUAI Customer Service Representive Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

253.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

268.

Brief Job Description: Managing the OPEN+ Deployment Team. 254.

270.

255.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base DENG, ZHILIN Chinese Customer Service Representative

256.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base DENG, HUAHE Chinese Customer Service Representative

257.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests, and maintaining data base

FAN, QINGHUA Chinese Customer Service Representative 258.

Brief Job Description: answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base JIANG, HE Chinese Customer Service Representative

259.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base KE, CHI Chinese Customer Service Representative

260.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests, and maintaining data base

LAO, LIANGJIN Chinese Customer Service Representative 261.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base LI, ZHENJIE Chinese Customer Service Representative

262.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base LIANG, YONG Chinese Customer Service Representative

263.

Brief Job Description: answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base LIAO, MEIDONG Chinese Customer Service Representative

264.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

LIN, YUEDA Chinese Customer Service Representative 265.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database

Basic Qualification: Coordinates the IOS deployment for all affiliates and functions in the cluster in line with PM global direction for ultimately implementing an integrated operating system. This includes leading the OPEN+ implementation and deployment within the cluster with the support of all affiliates OPEN+ Managers. Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate; fluent in Mandarin and English speaking; preferably 6 months to 1 year experience in customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: college graduate, fluent in mandarin and english, preferably 6 mos to 1 year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate; fluent in Mandarin and English speaking; preferably 6 months to 1 year experience in customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: college graduate, fluent in mandarin and english, preferably 6 mos to 1 year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

271.

266.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database

SU, ZHENHUAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 267.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database XIAO, JIAFU Chinese Customer Service Representative

272.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems. fulfilling requests and maintaining data base XIAO, BO Chinese Customer Service Representative

273.

Brief Job Description: answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base XU, JIN Chinese Customer Service Representative

274.

Brief Job Description: answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base YANG, BEIFA Chinese Customer Service Representative

275.

Brief Job Description: answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base YU, JING Chinese Customer Service Representative

276.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database ZHANG, JUNJIE Chinese Customer Service Representative

277.

Brief Job Description: answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base ZHANG, LIHUA Chinese Customer Service Representative

278.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database ZHENG, JUNPING Chinese Customer Service Representative

279.

Brief Job Description: answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base ZHONG, HUIMIN Chinese Customer Service Representative

280.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests, and maintaining data base

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate; fluent in Mandarin and English speaking; preferably 6 months to 1 year experience in customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: college graduate, fluent in mandarin and english, preferably 6 mos to 1 year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: college graduate, fluent in mandarin and english, preferably 6 mos to 1 year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: college graduate, fluent in mandarin and english, preferably 6 mos to 1 year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: college graduate, fluent in mandarin and english, preferably 6 mos to 1 year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: college graduate, fluent in mandarin and english, preferably 6 mos to 1 year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English, preferably 6mos to 1year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: college graduate, fluent in mandarin and english, preferably 6 mos to 1 year customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate; fluent in Mandarin and English speaking; preferably 6 months to 1 year experience in customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

HE, XUECHUN Marketing Specialist Brief Job Description: Responsible for developing and managing all aspects of the company’s marketing strategy. 281.

Basic Qualification: Can conduct market research to find answers about consumer requirements, habits and trends; can brainstorm and develop ideas for creative marketing campaigns can assist in outbound or inbound marketing activities by demonstrating expertise in various areas. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City Flr. No. 5th & 7th Star Cruises Ce Bldg. Andrews Drive, Newport City St. Brgy. 183 Pasay City

282.

CAI, YINGXIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services CHANG, CHIA-WEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services CHEN, XI Chinese Customer Service

284.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills GAO, YUHUA Chinese Customer Service

285.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services

Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer Support and Data Base Services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION GAO, JINQIANG Chinese Customer Service

286.

287.

288.

289.

290.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills HU, FEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services JIANG, YUHAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services KANG, YANAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services LIN, XINWEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services LUO, DONG Chinese Customer Service

291.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communications skills WU, HAIJUN Chinese Customer Service

292.

293.

294.

295.

296.

297.

298.

299.

300.

301.

302.

S&P CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT CO., INC. U-1168b G/f Veca Bldg. Chino Roces Ave. Cor. Estrella St. San Antonio Makati City

283. LUO, ZHIHAO Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base WU, LINGYING Chinese Customer Service Representative

RIGHT CHOICE FINANCE CORP. 5e-1 Electra House Bldg. 115-117 Esteban Street San Lorenzo Makati City CAO, PEIHUA Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database WEI, JIONGYE Chinese Customer Service Representative

PMFTC INC. Plant C & D Champaca Ii Fortune Marikina City AMETA, DEEPAK Manager Open+ Deployment

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests, and maintaining data base

WANG, WEIJIE Chinese Customer Service Representative 269.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TU, FEI Chinese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg. Quirino Ave. Tambo Parañaque City WANG, YINHE Chinese Customer Service

No.

Friday, June 4, 2021 A21

303.

304.

305.

306.

307.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communications skills XIE, JIEXIONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services YAO, MEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services ZHENG, JINGXUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services MAYASARI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services NITA SOFIANI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services LEE SZE YIN Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services TEH YUE HERN Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services WONG LUP FEI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services YAP GUAN CHENG Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services CHOY KIM HUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services DAM TU PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services DO THI DINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services HO CAM HINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services LE THI NGOC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND DATABASE SERVICES PHU CHAN PHON Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND DATABASE SERVICES

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Customer Support and Data Base Services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HAS KNOWLEDGE IN COMPUTER APPLICATIONS Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HAS KNOWLEDGE IN COMPUTER APPLICATIONS Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Jun 3, 2021

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE-NCR Regional Office located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE-NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

BusinessMirror

A22 Friday, June 4, 2021

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362

20.

Mr. DUOYUN CHEN Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

21.

Mr. XIAOLU LIN Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

22.

Mr. BIN YAN Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

23.

Mr. XIANGLONG LI Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

June 04, 2021

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP)

Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s. Name and Address of Employer: AICHI FORGE PHILIPPINES, INC. Pulong Sta. Cruz, Santa Rosa City, Laguna

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

24.

Ms. WENTING ZHAI Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

Mr. YUICHI NISHIZAWA Japanese

Executive Vice President Manage and oversee quality assurance and finishing processes.

Php80,000.00/ month

25.

Mr. QINGLEI WANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

Name and Address of Employer: THN AUTOPARTS PHILIPPINES INC. CPIP, Brgy. Batino, Calamba City, Laguna

Name and Address of Employer: COVAC PHILIPPINES, INC. LTC, Lipa City, Batangas

Name and Citizenship of Position and Job Description Foreign National

Salary

Mr. NIRO NARAWA Japanese

Php1,000,000.00/ annum

Manufacturing Technical Adviser Establish and enforce the section policies and procedures.

Name and Address of Employer: MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Binakayan-Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. XINZHU CHEN Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php50,000.00/ month

Ms. SHAOJING CUI Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php50,000.00/ month

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. YUKI ONO Japanese

Supervisor Participate in lead generation and business development

Php1,353,588.00/ annum

Name and Address of Employer: PHILIPPINE RUIZELONG INC Pan-Philippine Navy Highway, Mayao Silangan, Lucena City, Quezon

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. HAIYANG YANG Chinese

Operation Manager Manage and take care of the business operational activities

Php360,000.00/ annum

Position and Job Description

Mr. TAKAFUMI KIYONO Japanese

General Manager for Product Engineering Development (PED) Php100,000.00/ Lead and manage a product development section in its core month operation.

Salary

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. JONGHYUN KIM Korean

Engineer Manager Develop and implement successful design strategies.

Php420,000.00/ annum

Position and Job Description

Sales and Marketing Manager Manage the operational activities of freight forwarding.

Position and Job Description

Mr. SHINICHI TSUKADA Japanese

Vice President Manage, supervise and administer the HDD design support center, enterprise quality engineering and mobile quality Php180,000.00/ engineering departments of the company which is primarily month responsible of the firmware and hardware of machines and technology design and ensure the quality of the company’s products are met

Salary

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. HIROFUMI ODA Japanese

Technical Adviser Plan, organize and supervise the activities of the overall operation of the department.

Php300.00/ annum

Position and Job Description

Salary

29.

Mr. YIJIN WU Chinese

General Manager Manage the company’s day-to-day operational activities and ensure that all operational requirements are meeting their standards.

Php933,600.00/ annum

30.

Mr. HUCHUN JIANG Chinese

Quality Manager Lead the quality team to reach KPIs target under the condition of acceptable cost and qualified performance.

Php495,600.00/ annum

31.

Salary

Php40,000.00/ month

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. YUJI WATANABE Japanese

CN Coordinator Provide technical training to local staff, particularly engineers and technicians whenever a new product and/ or equipment is transferred from the head office (YEC) to PMI.

Php1,700,000.00/ annum

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. TSUYOSHI NAKANO Japanese

Adviser-Unit MC Check and supervise the quality of outside wall panel from production.

¥2,400,000.00/ annum

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. SUNG HWAN YOON Korean

Administrative Supervisor Hold regular meetings with workers and section heads and review the progress of the work and evaluates their performance.

Php40,000.00/ month

Name and Address of Employer: MEDIC-PRO CORP. Brgy. Inarawan, Antipolo City, Rizal

Name and Address of Employer: BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC. Lot 4044 Molino Blvd. Niog III, Bacoor, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

32.

Ms. YUN KYUNG LEE Korean

Php140,223.00/ month

Name and Address of Employer: H.R.D. SINGAPORE PTE., LTD. CEZ II, General Trias, Cavite

Name and Address of Employer: MJL PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED Brgy. Tejeros Convention CFZ, Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Operation Plant Manager Work and collaborate with others on consulting projects and special projects.

Name and Address of Employer: PRICON MICROELECTRONICS, INC. LISP 1, Brgy. Diezmo, Cabuyao, Laguna

Name and Address of Employer: CRONICS INC. CPIP-SEZ, Brgy. Batino, Calamba City, Laguna

Mr. JONGHYCK LEE Korean

Name and Address of Employer: D AND S INDUSTRIES (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION Sahud Ulan , Tanza, Cavite

Name and Address of Employer: JMS HEALTHCARE PHL, INC. FPIP-SEZ, Tanauan City, Batangas Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Salary

Name and Address of Employer: SANRITSU GREAT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION CIP I, Calamba & CEZ, Rosario, Cavite

28.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Name and Address of Employer: TOSHIBA INFORMATION EQUIPMENT (PHILIPPINES), INC. SEPZ, Laguna Technopark, Biñan City, Laguna

27.

Name and Address of Employer: HONDA LOGISTICS PHILIPPINE, INC. FPIP-SEZ, Sta. Anastacia, Santo Tomas, Batangas

26.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Salary

10.

Mr. ZHUXU LI Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

11.

Mr. XIAODONG PENG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

12.

Mr. QIANG LIU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

13.

Ms. MINLING ZHANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

14.

Ms. YU LIU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

15.

Mr. JINLONG LIU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

16.

Mr. SIDA HUANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

17.

Ms. SHUANG GUAN Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

18.

Mr. RENGUI WEI Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00/ month

19.

Mr. KUAN-TING LIN Taiwanese

Data Analyst Track and analyze reports to determine where improvements can be made in business procedures.

Php30,000.00/ month

33.

Name and Address of Employer: TOMS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION DIP-SEZ, Maguyam Rd., Silang, Cavite

34.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary

Mr. HAYATO ONIKI Japanese

Admin General Manager Supervise the administration including accounting, human resource, sales and purchasing

Php1,767,958.00/ annum

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at the DOLE Regional Office within 30 days from the date of publication. Please inform the DOLE Regional Office if you have an information of any criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

To avail of free job referral, placement, and employment guidance services, visit the nearest Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) or log on at http://www.philjobnet.gov.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Converge buys stake in 2 firms to beef up network

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

onverge ICT Solutions Inc. has acquired shares of Digital Telecommunications Phils. Inc. (DTPI) in Digitel Crossing Inc. (DCI) and Asia Netcom Philippines Corp. (ANPC) for a total of $7.5 million (P358.47 million) to gain “strategic imperative to expand its capabilities in telecommunications.” In two separate disclosures to the local bourse, Converge said it acquired 10 million common shares in DCI for $4.84 million and 300,000 common shares in ANPC for $2.66 million. DCI maintains and operates the cable landing stations in

the Philippines for the East Asia Crossing (EAC) and City-to-City (C2C) cable systems. ANPC holds and owns the land assets where the EAC cable landing station is located. Bringing the two companies into Converge “will promote the

strategic imperative of Converge to expand its capabilities in telecommunications since it acquires interest in entities involved in providing, operating and maintaining the cable landing stations of EAC and C2C international cables,” according to the two disclosures. The two cable systems interconnect several countries in Asia and the Pacific as well as the United States. They were merged through the acquisition of global telecom services provider Pacnet, a company owned by Telstra. Together the two submarine cable systems have eight landing points in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, spanning 19,800 kilometers with a design capacity of 2.56Tbps. For Converge, acquiring ANPC and DCI “will promote synergies in the telecommunications business of Converge and is meant to implement the joint venture between Converge, Pacnet Net-

work Philippines Inc.” and the two recently-acquired companies. Converge saw its profit tripling to P1.55 billion from P574 million thanks to growing demand for Internet connectivity to the home during the first quarter. The rise in net income was complemented by the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Law, which reduced the company’s taxes to 21 percent during the quarter under review. The company’s top line rose by 83.6 percent to P5.55 billion from P3.02 billion, driven by its residential and enterprise businesses. Converge expects to end the year with about 1.6 million to 1.7 million subscribers. The company is gearing up to corner a chunk of the highly unsaturated home broadband market by 2025. It is currently building a national backbone that will allow it to reach approximately 55 percent of the total households in the Philippines.

SBS sells Lence to Royal Cargo By VG Cabuag @villygc

B S Ph i l ippi nes Cor p., a chemical trader led by the Sytengco Group, announced on Thursday the disposal of its 65-percent stake in Lence Holdings Corp., a company that has warehouse facilities in the southern part of Metro Manila. In its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, SBS said it is selling Lence to Royal Cargo Inc. for P585.03 million. “The sale of Lence shares will result in substantial cash flow to the company and sales proceeds will be used for its investment in warehouse expansion within

PSE, DLS-CSB launch online securities course

he Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) and its partner school De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Inc.’s (DLS-CSB) School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPaCE) will launch the first online Certified Securities Specialist Course (CSSC) on June 26. PSE said the course will offer investors and those looking to have careers in the stock market an opportunity to deepen their financial markets acumen and boost professional credibility. “This is our fourth year in partnership with DLS-CSB and our first time to hold an online version of the CSSC. We are grateful to DLS-CSB for having the same resolve to pursue this program and recalibrate it in the most flexible manner to cater to the changing requirements of our target enrollees given today’s challenges,” said PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon. The Certified Securities Specialist Course is a certification program that involves a 124-hour continuing education on financial market theories, valuation techniques and analysis, investment portfolio management, ethics, regulations, and market dynamics among others. The CSSC curriculum was conceptualized and designed by PSE, seasoned market practitioners and industry experts.

Metro Manila for improved operational efficiency, installation of solar energy source for its operation, and reduction of outstanding debt,” SBS said in its disclosure. SBS owned some 89.05 million shares in Lence, which the listed firm sold to Royal Cargo for P6.569 per share. The company said it based its price per share on the market value of the assets of the subject company as agreed upon by the contracting parties. In 2017, SBS formed Lence, which was supposed to serve as the acquisition vehicle for the investment in warehouse facility complex. Lence, which has been reporting losses, is a holding company

with investment asset consisting of buildings, improvements and machineries. It also owned subsidiary Benesale Land Inc., which has no operations other than owning 4.7-hectare parcel of land at Silangan Industrial Park on which the facility is located. “Management considered it to be appropriate time to divest and sell its shareholdings in Lence Holdings Corp. to unlock the share’s maximum value and realize a gain from the transaction. The divestment is aligned with company’s direction to improve operational efficiency through expansion of additional warehouses in its head office located in Quezon City, instead of devel-

oping Lence’s property,” SBS said. SBS reported a net loss of P20.8 million for the three months of the year ending March 31 from last year’s profit of P6.4 million. Sales for the period fell 38 percent to P174.1 million from last year’s P283.4 million with lower volume sales in feed ingredients and other veterinary inputs. For the period, feeds and other veterinary and agricultural inputs accounted only for 23 percent in the total revenue of the company as compared to 37 percent last year. Operating profit on a consolidated basis declined by 20 percent to P33.8 million from P42.1 million last year due to limited business activities.

Firms eye sustainable CSR initiatives

fficials of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) expressed confidence that the private sector’s initiative to address the Covid-19 pandemic will continue despite the closure of some companies due to the lockdowns and quarantine restrictions. “While the situation has undoubtedly presented many challenges, it also inf luences the changes and developments in the prioritization and implementation of CSR [corporate social responsibility] initiatives. It has highlighted the need for collective effort of different sectors to manage and mitigate its impact, especially for the marginalized and underserved communities,” LCF CSR Expo Chair, Board Secretary and Manila Water Executive Director Reginald Andal told reporters during the media launch for the 19th CSR Expo and Conference held virtually on Thursday. At the onset of the pandemic, the private sector played a big role in responding to the various needs, starting with the protection of the frontliners, provision of food and other kinds of assistance to the families that were affected by the lockdowns, and helping the government in improving its testing capacities and in the procurement of vaccines. The economic downturn, how-

ever, caused many companies to incur huge losses, according to LCF Past Immediate Chair and Current Trustee Mario Deriquito. “But I am sure that companies, because their viability is also at stake here, will have to address this pandemic and will have to put an end to it,” he said. “They will dig deeper into their pockets to continue helping. Some companies may rest for a while and take a break, but others will fill in the vacuum and rise to the occasion.” This prospect plus the value of corporate citizenship and its role in spurring long-term integrated social initiatives will be highlighted in this year’s expo slated on July 6 to 8 as part of the National CSR Week and LCF’s 25th anniversary celebration. “The upcoming LCF CSR Expo aims to elevate the conversation on CSR to a higher level. More so now as the world has become more and more vulnerable to the crippling effects of the global pandemic. At this year’s expo, we want to put focus on how CSR is making a difference and helping the world get back on its feet, one advocacy at a time,” said Maribeth Marasigan, LCF chair and president and chief operating officer of Aboitiz Foundation. The theme of this year’s threeday online event is “Rebuilding Together With T he Changing

Landscape of CSR.” It is set to feature panel discussions and talks focusing on the optimization of CSR initiatives and their significance in the country’s current situation. Invited speakers include John Elkington, a world authority on CSR and sustainability; Carlito Galvez, Jr. and Vince Dizon of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases; National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, Guillermo Luz of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, and Margot Torres of McDonald’s Philippines. Apart from providing an interactive platform to share insights and “best-fit” practices, the expo also seeks to bring people together for a common purpose and to collaborate for greater impact through plenary stages, virtual booths and networking lounges. “Over the past years, we saw 600 to 1,000 people attending the CSR Expo, representing perhaps 200 to 300 organizations. We hope to see at least the same number, if not more, in this year’s CSR Expo,” said Deriquito, who is also the president of BDO Foundation. Roderick L. Abad

Friday, June 4, 2021

ABS-CBN gets debt reprieve A

BS-CBN Corp. said on Thursday it has signed a standstill agreement with its lenders, giving the Lopez-led company a bit of breathing room to pay off its obligations. “The existing lenders of the company today agreed to make its standstill agreement with the company effective, i.e. not to declare any event of default or to exercise any rights or remedies under existing loan agreements, after compliance by the company with the lenders’ condition of the creation of a mortgage and security interest over certain assets of the company,” a regulatory filing read. A standstill agreement is a contract between a lender and a creditor that holds in abeyance the debt owed for a specific period. The BusinessMirror sought for more information and a few clarifications on the standstill agreement, but ABS-CBN of-

ficials have yet to reply as of press time. According to its third quarter of 2020 financial statement, the company had a total debt of P21.48 billion. This includes debt of its subsidiaries such as SkyCable and ABS-CBN International. A B S - C BN Cor p. went of f air last May 5, 2020 after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order against the network following the expiration of its legislative franchise on May 4, 2020. In July 2020, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises rejected the franchise application of ABS-CBN. This after the House Committee on Legislative Franchises adopted a resolution denying the franchise application of ABS-CBN to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain radio and broadcasting stations in the Philippines. Lorenz S. Marasigan

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, June 4, 2021

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

June 3, 2021

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALs

BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

105.2 85.7 23.95 7.18 9.58 48.9 10 20.15 22.65 55.15 17.26 125.4 75 1.3 4.03 3 1.31 0.38 206 2,450

105.6 86 24.2 8.28 9.59 49 10.14 20.95 22.7 55.4 17.28 126 75.2 1.34 4.04 3.17 1.43 0.4 207 2,458

106.2 85.7 24.2 6.89 9.78 48.6 9.94 20 23 55 17.36 125 75.15 1.26 4.02 3 1.29 0.41 191.3 2,450

106.6 86 24.4 6.89 9.79 49 10.2 20.95 23 55.4 17.38 126.2 75.2 1.26 4.05 3 1.31 0.41 210 2,450

105.1 84.05 23.95 6.89 9.58 48.6 9.94 20 22.25 55 17.2 123.1 75 1.25 4.02 3 1.29 0.41 191.3 2,450

105.2 86 23.95 6.89 9.59 49 10.14 20.95 22.65 55.4 17.28 126 75.2 1.25 4.04 3 1.31 0.41 207 2,450

1,555,300 949,230 84,300 1,000 123,200 2,354,300 37,200 600 1,946,100 530 14,000 535,980 23,450 15,000 56,000 1,000 44,000 10,000 79,460 310

164,741,662 81,410,122.50 2,027,430 6,890 1,186,693 115,057,810 376,180 12,190 44,064,200 29,330 242,040 67,208,725 1,762,820.50 18,850 226,260 3,000 57,620 4,100 15,861,980 759,500

31,199,718 10,291,366 -99,165.00 71,798,835 -16,368,245 -70,858 22,525,495 286,508 1,007,212 710,500

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 7.53 7.54 7.5 7.54 7.45 7.54 15,678,900 117,784,808 ALSONS CONS 1.32 1.34 1.33 1.34 1.32 1.32 491,000 649,410 ABOITIZ POWER 22.8 22.9 23.5 23.75 22.6 22.9 7,846,200 180,684,520 BASIC ENERGY 0.81 0.82 0.83 0.85 0.81 0.82 17,473,000 14,499,070 31 31.05 30.5 31.8 30.5 31 1,207,400 37,454,125 FIRST GEN 67.95 68 68.3 69.25 67.3 67.95 97,770 6,624,999.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG 283.8 284 285 285.4 280 284 148,000 42,094,096 MERALCO 14.8 14.84 14.7 14.88 14.7 14.84 1,079,900 16,010,092 MANILA WATER PETRON 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.2 3.17 3.18 1,769,000 5,642,500 PETROENERGY 4.04 4.14 4.05 4.14 4.01 4.14 38,000 154,520 PHX PETROLEUM 12.9 13.08 13 13.1 12.76 13.08 77,300 1,006,668 PILIPINAS SHELL 20.65 20.7 20.8 20.85 20.65 20.7 574,100 11,915,455 11.6 11.62 11.4 11.62 11.38 11.6 953,000 10,951,652 SPC POWER 6.33 6.38 6.4 6.42 6.23 6.39 3,686,600 23,461,592 AGRINURTURE 3.04 3.05 3.02 3.04 3.02 3.04 84,000 254,290 AXELUM 13.2 13.44 13.14 13.44 13.14 13.44 2,700 35,982 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 24.15 24.3 23.65 24.4 23.5 24.3 1,120,600 27,132,335 DEL MONTE 14.34 14.42 14.28 14.5 14.26 14.4 172,600 2,482,006 DNL INDUS 7.99 8 7.8 8.05 7.64 8 8,763,600 69,173,352 EMPERADOR 9.75 9.79 9.79 9.79 9.57 9.79 207,200 2,010,408 70.6 70.75 69.5 70.8 69.5 70.75 31,540 2,223,152.50 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.61 0.63 0.61 0.61 0.61 0.61 1,000 610 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.47 1.48 1.46 1.49 1.45 1.48 18,332,000 27,018,340 72.1 72.15 72.9 74 72.1 72.1 32,790 2,399,425.50 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 193.8 194 194.2 195.6 190 193.8 295,790 57,296,321 LIBERTY FLOUR 29.3 29.75 29 29.3 29 29.3 22,500 653,210 MACAY HLDG 7.32 7.65 7.26 7.65 7.26 7.65 700 5,121 6.62 6.67 6.58 6.67 6.58 6.62 201,100 1,331,678 MAXS GROUP MG HLDG 0.255 0.265 0.26 0.265 0.26 0.265 1,140,000 298,050 MONDE NISSIN 13.08 13.1 13.5 13.5 12.68 13.1 148,213,200 1,956,805,658 7.94 7.95 7.98 8.21 7.92 7.94 1,003,500 8,092,825 SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.03 1.06 3,114,000 3,252,860 RFM CORP 4.51 4.59 4.64 4.64 4.5 4.5 8,000 36,600 ROXAS HLDG 1.46 1.53 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1,000 1,500 SWIFT FOODS 0.129 0.131 0.131 0.131 0.129 0.129 1,270,000 164,360 138.4 140.8 142 142 138.4 140.8 167,160 23,480,645 UNIV ROBINA 0.9 0.91 0.89 0.92 0.87 0.91 4,688,000 4,223,380 VITARICH 53.1 56.8 53.2 53.2 53.2 53.2 1,550 82,460 CONCRETE A CEMEX HLDG 1.33 1.34 1.29 1.34 1.28 1.33 8,657,000 11,474,800 DAVINCI CAPITAL 2.9 2.91 2.98 2.98 2.9 2.91 1,319,000 3,843,300 EAGLE CEMENT 13.3 13.34 13.3 13.3 13.2 13.3 256,500 3,411,260 EEI CORP 7.28 7.3 7.4 7.4 7.3 7.3 4,900 36,150 HOLCIM 6.51 6.52 6.41 6.52 6.41 6.52 732,400 4,743,485 6.66 6.69 6.45 6.77 6.45 6.66 1,330,900 8,805,304 MEGAWIDE 12.36 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.36 12.4 74,400 920,960 PHINMA 1.08 1.1 1.08 1.12 1.08 1.1 42,000 45,440 TKC METALS VULCAN INDL 2.11 2.12 2.08 2.13 2.08 2.11 702,000 1,480,280 CROWN ASIA 1.74 1.75 1.74 1.75 1.73 1.75 1,670,000 2,903,000 EUROMED 1.92 1.94 1.92 1.94 1.92 1.94 22,000 42,420 LMG CORP 4.25 4.78 4.3 4.3 4.25 4.25 3,000 12,800 MABUHAY VINYL 5.1 5.19 5.18 5.19 5.18 5.19 2,400 12,438 5.5 5.54 5.5 5.58 5.5 5.5 421,200 2,323,041 PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION 21.05 21.5 21 21.95 21 21.5 6,200 133,735 3.85 3.87 3.9 3.9 3.83 3.86 5,891,000 22,748,900 GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR 9.4 9.41 9.2 9.45 9.2 9.4 2,149,900 20,194,229 IONICS 1.06 1.08 1.07 1.08 1.06 1.06 101,000 107,740 PANASONIC 5.85 5.98 6 6 5.82 5.84 16,900 99,551 SFA SEMICON 1.33 1.36 1.31 1.39 1.31 1.36 1,222,000 1,649,830 5.94 5.95 5.8 5.96 5.77 5.95 3,032,500 17,848,551 CIRTEK HLDG

3,570,675 -120,687,925 732,300 -13,439,970 102,612.50 -9,566,342 5,226,032 -286,600 -374,998 4,798,720 -4,514,214 229,150 187,690 -3,228,140 -51,408 -31,837,777 -638,675 1,210,327 -31,600 -493,400 21,280,896 -154,165,266 41,502 821,380 -3,730,782 -400 431,370 38,040 3,241,050 501,897 138,140 -494,400 33,440.00 -98,900 4,278,400 -3,227,116.00 -111,900 108,705

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG MJC INVESTMENTS METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

1.04 7.2 798 38.75 10.62 3.11 6.8 0.82 0.69 5.1 5.87 8.05 594.5 3.59 59 0.87 3.2 13.82 0.445 1.52 4 3.59 2.79 1.16 990 120 0.72 128.5 0.25 0.207

1.05 7.38 800 38.8 10.64 3.12 6.9 0.83 0.7 5.12 5.88 8.06 595 3.6 59.1 0.88 3.3 13.94 0.475 1.6 4.01 3.7 2.8 1.17 998 120.5 0.73 130 0.265 0.214

1.03 7.15 809.5 39.7 10.7 3.08 6.8 0.84 0.69 5.09 5.75 8.02 611 3.59 59.85 0.85 3.25 13.8 0.48 1.55 4.05 3.59 2.84 1.15 997.5 120.5 0.71 130 0.265 0.215

1.06 7.38 809.5 40 10.78 3.15 6.8 0.84 0.72 5.14 5.88 8.06 611 3.6 59.85 0.88 3.3 13.98 0.48 1.6 4.05 3.69 2.84 1.15 999 120.5 0.72 130.1 0.265 0.215

1.02 7.08 796 38.75 10.6 3.08 6.8 0.81 0.68 5.08 5.74 8.02 595 3.59 58.3 0.85 3.22 13.8 0.48 1.55 3.98 3.57 2.8 1.15 980.5 119.4 0.71 130 0.265 0.209

1.04 7.38 798 38.75 10.64 3.11 6.8 0.82 0.69 5.1 5.88 8.06 595 3.6 59 0.87 3.3 13.82 0.48 1.6 4.01 3.69 2.8 1.15 998 120.5 0.72 130 0.265 0.209

17,335,000 3,200 119,150 1,064,300 22,574,700 848,000 5,200 2,325,000 475,000 2,719,000 8,613,200 24,900 95,340 4,000 1,450,670 732,000 452,000 1,013,900 10,000 33,000 12,594,000 17,000 367,000 8,000 133,905 109,660 146,000 1,310 230,000 120,000

17,901,970 22,782 95,181,880 41,423,090 241,423,318 2,648,650 35,360 1,911,800 329,150 13,860,717 50,229,304 200,369 56,939,710 14,390 85,549,286.50 632,010 1,474,150 14,088,178 4,800 51,250 50,440,690 61,630 1,029,220 9,200 132,645,035 13,187,766 105,060 170,309 60,950 25,200

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.62 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.62 0.62 179,000 111,140 ANCHOR LAND 7.4 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 1,900 14,250 AYALA LAND 36.45 36.5 36.7 36.7 36.05 36.5 14,016,700 510,158,325 ARANETA PROP 1.18 1.2 1.22 1.22 1.2 1.2 26,000 31,300 36.25 36.35 36.8 36.8 36.25 36.25 447,100 16,324,670 AREIT RT 1.38 1.43 1.44 1.46 1.38 1.38 3,675,000 5,163,330 BELLE CORP 0.97 0.98 1 1 0.96 0.97 3,472,000 3,379,620 A BROWN 0.9 0.93 0.9 0.93 0.9 0.93 441,000 404,800 CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES 0.123 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.122 0.126 115,920,000 14,224,480 CEBU HLDG 6.5 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 12,500 82,500 CEB LANDMASTERS 6.95 6.96 7.14 7.17 6.8 6.96 3,198,400 22,436,392 CENTURY PROP 0.395 0.405 0.405 0.41 0.395 0.405 20,970,000 8,378,150 0.32 0.325 0.32 0.325 0.32 0.32 1,270,000 406,450 CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON 12.36 12.38 12.34 12.54 12.34 12.38 521,900 6,485,698 1.92 1.93 1.94 1.94 1.92 1.92 7,632,000 14,716,140 DDMP RT 6.83 6.84 6.82 6.89 6.82 6.84 279,400 1,913,884 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.275 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.275 0.275 180,000 49,650 EVER GOTESCO 0.179 0.18 0.174 0.18 0.168 0.18 15,440,000 2,734,490 FILINVEST LAND 1.09 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.08 1.1 6,544,000 7,187,430 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.88 0.89 0.88 0.89 0.88 0.89 488,000 429,810 7.18 7.44 7.34 7.55 7.18 7.18 128,600 936,493 8990 HLDG 1.32 1.33 1.32 1.35 1.31 1.33 1,916,000 2,530,950 PHIL INFRADEV 1.93 1.94 1.75 1.95 1.73 1.94 7,325,000 13,785,940 CITY AND LAND 3.2 3.21 3.23 3.23 3.16 3.21 45,003,000 143,761,790 MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED 0.37 0.375 0.37 0.375 0.37 0.37 10,950,000 4,070,300 PHIL ESTATES 0.54 0.55 0.55 0.56 0.54 0.54 6,450,000 3,505,390 PRIMEX CORP 3.91 3.92 3.94 3.95 3.78 3.92 3,039,000 11,814,940 17.92 18.02 18.08 18.08 17.62 18.02 789,500 14,136,610 ROBINSONS LAND 0.244 0.25 0.249 0.249 0.249 0.249 50,000 12,450 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.49 1.5 1.48 1.5 1.48 1.5 293,000 434,260 SHANG PROP 2.57 2.65 2.65 2.65 2.57 2.65 25,000 64,610 STA LUCIA LAND 2.57 2.6 2.51 2.6 2.51 2.6 116,000 299,080 SM PRIME HLDG 37 37.4 38.05 38.05 36.75 37.4 3,785,700 140,860,580 VISTAMALLS 3.8 3.88 3.83 3.88 3.83 3.88 45,000 173,630 SUNTRUST HOME 1.57 1.58 1.55 1.61 1.55 1.58 151,000 238,320 3.85 3.88 3.85 3.9 3.79 3.88 7,684,000 29,482,650 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 11.6 11.64 11.66 11.66 11.32 11.64 52,900 613,812 GMA NETWORK 9.09 9.1 9.05 9.13 9.04 9.1 1,129,300 10,262,025 MANILA BULLETIN 0.425 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.44 0.44 20,000 8,900 MLA BRDCASTING 9.79 10.48 10.8 10.8 9.67 10.5 3,300 33,842 1,811 1,828 1,835 1,838 1,811 1,811 83,060 151,305,355 GLOBE TELECOM 1,316 1,318 1,310 1,329 1,310 1,318 107,000 141,289,190 PLDT 0.19 0.191 0.183 0.193 0.181 0.19 253,530,000 47,988,430 APOLLO GLOBAL 19.76 19.78 20.05 20.3 19.7 19.76 10,608,500 212,299,720 CONVERGE DFNN INC 3.86 3.89 3.83 3.96 3.81 3.9 523,000 2,043,930 DITO CME HLDG 9.75 9.78 10.12 10.2 9.7 9.75 22,031,900 220,558,154 IMPERIAL 1.64 1.79 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.8 61,000 106,510 JACKSTONES 2.22 2.26 2.13 2.26 2.13 2.26 72,000 158,250 2.41 2.42 2.5 2.5 2.38 2.42 1,112,000 2,685,500 NOW CORP 0.41 0.42 0.405 0.42 0.405 0.42 7,520,000 3,114,400 TRANSPACIFIC BR 2.49 2.5 2.47 2.56 2.47 2.49 529,000 1,325,150 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 8.18 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.16 8.18 26,200 215,314 ASIAN TERMINALS 14.56 15.16 15.18 15.18 15.18 15.18 8,700 132,066 CHELSEA 3.07 3.09 3.05 3.09 3.05 3.08 489,000 1,507,050 CEBU AIR 46.8 46.85 46 47.3 45.8 46.85 715,700 33,482,405 INTL CONTAINER 148.4 149 149.1 149.3 147 148.4 2,045,890 303,604,125 16.72 16.8 16.8 16.8 16.8 16.8 200 3,360 LBC EXPRESS MACROASIA 5.28 5.34 5.18 5.43 5.18 5.28 6,838,400 36,508,430 2.18 2.19 2.09 2.19 2.05 2.18 300,000 647,310 METROALLIANCE A PAL HLDG 6.05 6.09 6 6.1 6 6.05 65,900 398,485 HARBOR STAR 1.18 1.19 1.19 1.2 1.17 1.19 267,000 315,540 ACESITE HOTEL 1.7 1.75 1.68 1.79 1.54 1.7 184,000 302,600 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.101 0.102 0.107 0.109 0.099 0.101 332,170,000 34,366,510 3.34 3.38 3.56 3.56 3.25 3.38 250,000 840,750 DISCOVERY WORLD 12 16.2 16.36 16.36 16.28 16.28 7,000 114,480 GRAND PLAZA WATERFRONT 0.54 0.55 0.54 0.56 0.53 0.54 553,000 300,520 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.51 6.63 6.51 6.81 6.5 6.51 58,400 380,369 FAR EASTERN U 590 598 590 590 590 590 10 5,900 STI HLDG 0.37 0.375 0.375 0.375 0.37 0.375 1,450,000 540,400 BERJAYA 4.95 5.19 4.99 5.1 4.95 4.95 25,000 125,980 BLOOMBERRY 7.13 7.2 7.1 7.2 7.01 7.13 7,075,700 50,568,962 1.64 1.65 1.54 1.74 1.54 1.65 104,510,000 161,500,010 LEISURE AND RES 1.94 1.95 1.92 1.96 1.92 1.95 2,621,000 5,106,590 PH RESORTS GRP 0.415 0.42 0.42 0.425 0.415 0.42 4,520,000 1,892,050 PREMIUM LEISURE 5.8 6 6 6 6 6 100 600 PHIL RACING ALLHOME 7.64 7.65 7.74 7.74 7.6 7.64 452,400 3,439,860 METRO RETAIL 1.32 1.34 1.3 1.34 1.3 1.32 1,034,000 1,375,580 PUREGOLD 37.65 37.95 38.25 38.6 37.5 37.65 1,963,300 74,822,680 ROBINSONS RTL 52.25 52.5 52.5 53 51.7 52.5 1,040,640 54,470,025 103.3 104.9 102.5 103.3 102.5 103.3 90 9,256 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.29 1.3 1.24 1.3 1.24 1.29 2,240,000 2,860,250 SSI GROUP 18.3 18.32 18.4 18.4 18.28 18.3 1,043,000 19,099,274 WILCON DEPOT 0.375 0.39 0.38 0.39 0.375 0.39 420,000 159,150 APC GROUP EASYCALL 6.05 6.25 6 6.25 6 6.25 1,100 6,625 IPM HLDG 5.1 5.55 5.09 5.1 5.09 5.1 24,800 126,366 PRMIERE HORIZON 1.83 1.84 1.88 1.93 1.83 1.84 13,471,000 25,199,900 SBS PHIL CORP 4.11 4.35 4.26 4.26 4.25 4.25 6,000 25,550

166,140 16,152,535 2,696,755 9,641,486 -44,080 -278,800 -2,859,798 1,687,913 -193,942 10,036,280 14,716,623 -42,900 -4,550,312 -4,800 -7,206,150.00 11,240 -26,537,952.50 -2,347,906 9,300 100,290,155 24,000 495,550 -4,794,460 970 -16,380 1,490,496 -2,641,562 -715,680 -223,668 -1,207,750 -12,000 -59,650 -17,620 -3,653,010 -58,600 1,801,360 -4,434,302.00 -25,378,280.00 -31,000 14,652,450 -102,750,225 15,576,050 237,520 -8,526,061 -304,680 1,633,859.00 92,110 -124,500 16,500 132,066 3,050 -7,147,220 85,947,123 -16,041,470 35,090 -10,600 573,920 6,760 196,100 -3,740,768 153,926,410 107,870 -210,000 3,034,959 786,120 -19,310,860 -12,833,424 4,093 -7,180 8,213,612 -10,600 -8,520

MINING & OIL ATOK 9.34 9.35 9 9.35 9 9.35 107,100 988,410 122,113 APEX MINING 1.8 1.81 1.71 1.8 1.7 1.8 10,121,000 17,938,360 -875,880 ATLAS MINING 7.2 7.23 7.4 7.4 7.18 7.2 2,139,800 15,487,740 34,236 4.26 4.3 4.33 4.41 4.2 4.35 402,000 1,739,220 BENGUET A BENGUET B 4.16 4.28 4.07 4.43 4.07 4.28 318,000 1,357,800 510,770 0.3 0.31 0.3 0.31 0.295 0.31 660,000 198,500 COAL ASIA HLDG CENTURY PEAK 2.8 2.85 2.85 2.85 2.85 2.85 25,000 71,250 71,250 DIZON MINES 6.7 6.76 6.8 6.8 6.7 6.76 3,800 25,526 FERRONICKEL 2.65 2.66 2.56 2.66 2.56 2.65 5,735,000 14,995,160 207,990 GEOGRACE 0.315 0.325 0.315 0.325 0.315 0.325 160,000 50,900 LEPANTO A 0.16 0.161 0.155 0.161 0.154 0.16 57,630,000 9,176,130 0.16 0.166 0.157 0.167 0.157 0.167 210,000 33,070 LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.013 67,400,000 848,400 MANILA MINING B 0.013 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.013 0.014 176,400,000 2,314,300 4,200 1.27 1.28 1.26 1.28 1.23 1.28 675,000 856,860 -235,660 MARCVENTURES NIHAO 1.41 1.42 1.44 1.45 1.41 1.41 185,000 263,760 28,400 NICKEL ASIA 5.2 5.21 5.1 5.26 5.1 5.2 4,395,800 22,927,017 4,361,808.00 OMICO CORP 0.395 0.405 0.405 0.405 0.405 0.405 20,000 8,100 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.97 0.98 1 1 0.96 0.99 584,000 569,990 19,400 6.95 6.96 7 7.09 6.9 6.96 2,351,500 16,400,057 234,009 PX MINING 14.04 14.1 13.68 14.18 13.68 14.04 3,818,300 53,174,290 3,154,712 SEMIRARA MINING 0.009 0.0091 0.0093 0.0093 0.0087 0.009 404,000,000 3,598,800 53,500 UNITED PARAGON 17.1 17.3 16.5 17.38 16.5 17.3 766,700 12,974,780 -294,194 ACE ENEXOR ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 34,900,000 387,800 ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 6,100,000 73,200 PHILODRILL 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 62,100,000 710,800 8.45 8.46 8.15 8.46 8.06 8.45 720,900 6,022,871 217,963 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 101 101.5 101 101 101 101 60 6,060 AC PREF B1 525.5 535 535 535 535 535 200 107,000 ALCO PREF B 100.6 101 101 101 100.6 101 43,300 4,372,900 CEB PREF 44.6 44.9 43.5 44.7 43 44.6 192,900 8,545,580 3,096,655 100.5 101.4 101.4 101.4 100.5 101.4 91,660 9,272,810 861,056 DD PREF 107.5 110 110 110 110 110 450 49,500 FGEN PREF G GTCAP PREF A 1,005 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,005 1,005 770 773,875 GTCAP PREF B 1,019 1,020 1,030 1,030 1,020 1,020 1,435 1,473,400 91,800 MWIDE PREF 100.5 100.9 101 101 101 101 100 10,100 MWIDE PREF 2B 100.5 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 1,000 101,800 PNX PREF 3B 106.5 106.9 106.9 106.9 106.9 106.9 220 23,518 PNX PREF 4 1,001 1,008 1,008 1,008 1,008 1,008 505 509,040 1,025 1,034 1,025 1,034 1,025 1,034 25 25,715 PCOR PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C 79.6 79.95 79.95 79.95 79.6 79.6 140 11,162.50 SMC PREF 2E 76.05 76.95 76.1 77.5 76 76.05 33,290 2,537,329.50 SMC PREF 2F 79 79.85 79.85 79.85 79.85 79.85 420 33,537 SMC PREF 2I 78.5 79 78.3 78.5 78.15 78.5 13,410 1,049,055 SMC PREF 2K 76.5 76.7 76 76.5 76 76.5 15,870 1,209,632.50 - PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 10.8 11.2 10.86 11.2 10.8 11.06 82,100 903,096 506,792 GMA HLDG PDR 8.72 8.8 8.6 8.7 8.6 8.7 137,500 1,196,090 -206,920 WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.75 1.78 1.75 1.87 1.72 1.78 2,631,000 4,721,160 -157,500 SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 17.6 17.9 17.54 17.94 17.54 17.9 23,100 408,126 ITALPINAS 2.41 2.42 2.42 2.44 2.38 2.41 218,000 525,430 KEPWEALTH 5.2 5.3 5.11 5.3 5.1 5.2 15,600 81,256 MERRYMART 4.78 4.79 4.74 4.88 4.72 4.79 6,589,000 31,778,290 7,960 EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF 103.1 103.2 103.7 103.8 102.5 103.1 11,420 1,176,279 122,447

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Blueleaf Energy, SunAsia to develop solar projects

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

lueleaf Energy, a portfolio company of Macquarie’s Green Investment Group, has partnered with renewable energy (RE) developer SunAsia Energy for the development of 1.25 gigawatts (GW) of solar projects in Luzon.

Blueleaf said the partnership coincides with the forecast growth of the Philippines’s solar energy market. The country targets the delivery of an additional 10 GW of solar energy by 2030, which would

comprise in excess of 20 percent of its energy mix. Over the past 20 years, Blueleaf has developed, built and operated almost 2 GW of solar capacity across the globe, including over 500 MW

in the Asia Pacific region and 250 MW in the Philippines. “We are pleased to partner with SunAsia to drive forward Philippines’s green energy transition. This marks another milestone as we partner with reliable, strategic local developers to expand the solar industry across Asia,” Interim CEO of Blueleaf Energy Sol Proops said in a statement. The partnership brings together Blueleaf’s financial and technical capabilities and SunAsia’s local development experience. “With BlueLeaf Energy as our partner, we are in a stronger position today in helping the industry attain the renewable energy targets set by the implementation of the country’s Renewable Portfolio Standards.

This cooperation raises the bar of project development work in the country as the partnership offers the renewable energy market innovative solar solutions that are both viable and appropriate to local conditions,” SunAsia Chief Executive Officer Tetchi Capellan said. SunAsia Energy has a strong track record in implementing solar energy projects in the Philippines. Since its inception in 2013, the company has worked with partners in delivering clean energy foremost of which is the installation of the Philippines 4th largest solar power plant in Cebu. It also specializes in innovative solutions holding today an exclusive license to operate the biggest floating solar pilot project in the town of Bay in Laguna Lake.

BSP to launch new property price index By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced that it is targeting to release a commercial property price index, which will complement its residential real estate price index (RREPI), within the year. In a media briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said the new index will allow the BSP to expand its monitoring of price trends and financial exposures of banks to the property sector. “Together, these two indicators may be used to monitor the developments in the Philippine property sector as a whole and their linkages with the other sectors in the economy,” Diokno said. The BSP’s RREPI, which was first published in 2016, was developed in response to the scarcity of of-

ficial data on the Philippine property sector. It serves as an indicator of change in the prices of residential properties in the Philippines over a period of time. The growth rate of the index measures house price inflation. A rising RREPI denotes rising residential prices on average, while a declining RREPI indicates the reverse. “Using RREPI data, the BSP is able to measure and monitor the banking sector’s exposure to the residential property sector, monitor developing price and credit trends, and develop timely and appropriate policies, together with other regulatory agencies, if needed, to stem the rise of systemic risk,” Diokno said. “As such, it is imperative for policy-makers to possess timely, relevant and accurate data on financial exposure of banks, as well as price trends, in the property sector of a country.”

mutual funds

June 3, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

220.44

11.38%

-4.99%

-3.33%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.2986

31.84%

-5.46%

0.72%

-1.1%

13.11%

-9.81%

-5.74%

-4.02%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0069

-2.98%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7693 14.02%

-5.12% n.a.

-4.3%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7109

-5.29% n.a.

-4.14%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

4.8102

6.9% 12.38%

-3.33%

-2.14%

-2.65%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6943

3.6%

-6.87%

-6.93% -6.25%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

95.57

28.11%

-5.33% n.a.

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

45.0641

13.42%

-3.14%

-2.15%

-3.81%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

474.14

11.6%

-3.14%

-2.5%

-3.03%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d, 5

1.055

21.25% n.a. n.a.

-3.85%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. - a

1.1375

12.66%

-3.11%

-1.76%

-2.63%

33.6645

13.57%

-2.79%

-1.16%

-3.18% -3.82%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8781

12.35% n.a. n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.6156

13.99%

-2.55%

-1.37%

-3.67%

772.9

14.18%

-2.43%

-1.48%

-3.59%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.6969

12.99%

-7.07%

-4.9%

-3.06%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.4955

10.83%

-4.99%

-2.94%

-3.54%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.883 13.61%

-2.79%

-1.63%

-3.78%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-2.96%

-0.65%

-2.66%

-2.22%

-0.86%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

3.2308

12.32%

-8.62%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 103.7251

14.2%

-3.56%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.2925

40.64%

6.05%

9.4%

7.45%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7669

33.41%

11.26%

11.73%

5.63%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities

Villar Group to hold virtual convention By VG Cabuag @villygc

he Villar Group on Thursday said it will launch the first and the biggest virtual property expo in the country. The Vicon or short for Villar Group Convention, will gather the group’s real estate brands in one big virtual property conference that allows the attendee to choose from different properties from various price points across the Philippines from residential, investment or premium commercial spaces. The exhibit will showcase the products and brands of listed property firms Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc. and Golden MV Holdings Inc., such as Bria, Lumina, Lessandra, Camella, Crown Asia, Brittany, Camella Manors and Vista Residences. Golden Haven, the country’s largest death care property developer will also participate in this two-day event alongside commercial space developer Vistamalls Inc. “It has always been the group’s passion to contribute in the improvement of

the lives of the Filipinos by not just providing them with homes to comfortably live in or as an investment across the country but also implementing creations to make necessities within their reach. So we thought of gathering all of these brands as we reach out to almost everyone virtually through The Vicon,” company Chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. said. The company said participants can interact with industry experts and will have a chance to avail of exclusive buyer’s promos and to win prizes during the event. Vista Land earlier said its income in the first quarter fell 14 percent to P2.1 billion from last year’s P2.44 billion. Gross revenues fell 10 percent to P9.2 billion from last year’s P10.26 billion. The company said it is looking at a capital expenditure budget of P27 billion for this year which is mainly for construction and land development. Land acquisition budget remained muted as the company said it is maximizing its existing land bank. The company has 2,968 hectares of land as of end-March.

ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.6684

9.14%

-0.34%

-1.26%

-0.01%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2245

9.5%

-0.94%

-0.45%

-2.66%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5774

7.1%

-0.1%

-0.74%

-1.89%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.193

3.82% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.9454

6.34%

1.75%

0.73%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.6682

6.72%

0.63%

-0.34%

-3.17%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.4407

7.1%

0.75%

-0.39%

-2.93%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0533

7.9%

-0.36%

-0.23%

-1.95%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.4923 7.04%

-1.6%

-1.35%

-2.26% -4.22%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9794

5.18% n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9013

8.07% n.a. n.a.

-5.05%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8879

9.39% n.a. n.a.

-4.84%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

8.36%

-1.63%

0.8732

-2.39%

-1.72%

-2.82%

-0.95%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a

$0.038

-0.86%

2.78%

1.29%

-2.86%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1553

21.43%

3.7%

5.76%

0.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.6857 25.02%

8.7%

8.51%

3.83%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2099 13.18%

4.95%

4.77%

0.65%

0.08%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

371.36

2.02%

3.11%

2.47%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9157

-1.05%

0.96%

0.16%

0.81%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2259

1.38%

3.83%

4.37%

0.35%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2536

-1.05%

2.13%

1.53%

-1.85%

0.12%

3.16%

1.7%

-0.78%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.434 Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4769

-1.54%

3.98%

1.68%

-3.4%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6

1.3226

2.85%

4.26%

2.76%

0.11%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9717

1.34%

4.45%

2.73%

-0.73%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0251

0.2%

4.06%

1.7%

-1.62%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2019

1.66%

5.27%

3.05%

-0.13%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

0.59%

4.54%

2.35%

-0.59%

1.7447

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$484.9

2.84%

3.12%

2.34%

0.21%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є219.74

2.34%

1.12%

1.19%

0.26%

$1.18

-2.78%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0259

2.01%

1.15%

-7.84%

1.46%

0.95%

-2.63%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0488

-1.4%

0.37%

-0.6%

-4.02%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.4919

2.86%

4.95%

2.23%

-1.72%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.0628447

4.52%

3.48%

2.23%

0.84%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1532 -0.46%

2.97%

1.07%

-2.18%

2.52%

0.27%

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

130.16

1.9%

3.08%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0519 1.18% n.a. n.a.

0.36%

Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.3043

0.59%

1.83%

2.88%

2.57%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0571

1.36%

1.7% n.a.

0.45%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.2427 n.a. n.a. n.a.

10.01%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2

7.53% n.a. n.a.

2.04%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019. 4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019. 6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund). 7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance

Majority of tax returns filed electronically–BIR By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

LMOST all tax returns in the Philippines for 2020 were filed online after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ramped up its digitization initiatives. In a report, the BIR said 1.43 million or 99.5 percent of all tax returns were filed online and only 7,139 were filed manually. BIR said the annual income tax returns (AITRs) were filed online through its electronic filing and payment system (eFPS) and electronic BIR forms (eBIRforms) system. “We are starting to reap the benefits of our continued digitization efforts that aim to make tax compliance easier, more accessible and more convenient for the public,” BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel SD Guballa was quoted in the report as saying. Guballa said the AITRs filed online this year represented a 1,465-percent increase from the 10 percent of AITRs filed online in 2015. When the Duterte administration took office, the number of efiled returns steadily increased to 672,820 or 51.84 percent of the total AITRs filed in 2017 and 878,908 or 58.25 percent in 2018. The number of e-filed AITRs rose sharply to 1,281,731 or 80.4 percent of the total AITRs filed in 2019, and to 1,314,672 or 90 percent in 2020, Guballa said in his report during a recent executive committee (Execom) meeting of the Department of Finance (DOF). In 2020, Guballa said BIR collections through the additional electronic payment channels implemented by the Duterte administration starting in 2017 amounted to P4.98 billion from 1.16 million transactions. Guballa also reported that from the 1.91 million electronic payment transactions made with the BIR in 2015, this number rose to 4.01 million electronic payment transactions in 2020, representing an increase of 110 percent. “This is already P3.765 billion higher when compared to the collections made by the Bureau through these additional electronic payment channels at P1.22 billion in 2019 from 449,849 transactions,” he said.

Electronic tax payments

GUBALLA said the revenue collections of the BIR through electronic channels accounted for P1.66 trillion or 85 percent of its total collection for 2020.

This was P51 billion or 44 percent higher than the P1.15 trillion collected by the Bureau through echannels in 2015. This year, preliminary data showed BIR collections through echannels amounted to P573 billion, which represents 83 percent of the total collection of P689 billion as of April 30. The number of e-payers, or the taxpayers who paid their internal revenue taxes through the eFPS, Electronic Fund Transfer Instructions System (eFTIS), and other epayment channels implemented by the BIR, totaled 496,590 as of April 30 this year. Guballa said this represents an increase of 535 percent or 418,472, based on preliminary data when compared to the 78,118 ePayers in 2015. He said the number of e-payers increased dramatically from 4 percent in 2015 to 12 percent in 2017 as a result of the successful implementation by the BIR of the electronic payments channels GCash, Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) ePayment System and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) PayTax online system. Additional e-payment channels launched starting in 2019 include the Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) Online, PesoNet and Paymaya, Guballa said. The number of e-payers went down to 7 percent in 2018 because of the initial unavailability of several tax forms online as the BIR had to adjust them to conform to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law, Guballa said. “Nonetheless, this has already been addressed in the succeeding years, with e-payers accounting for 17 percent of the total number of taxpayers in 2020. Preliminary data also show that from January 1 to April 30, e-payers accounted for 24 percent of the total number of taxpayers,” he added. Dominguez commended the BIR for ensuring the smooth and glitchfree electronic filing and payment of ITRs this year, which encouraged more taxpayers to fulfill their civic duty of paying taxes even amid the mobility restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even before the outbreak of the pandemic, Dominguez had pressed the BIR and the Bureau of Customs to fast-track their digital switch as a way to boost online transactions and improve the ease of doing business in the country’s top two revenue-generation agencies.

LandBank cash cards issued in Parañaque

ENEFICIARIES of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Parañaque City started to receive their cash grants online through Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) cash cards, the bank said last Wednesday. In partnership with the City Government of Parañaque and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the LandBank said they have successfully disbursed cash grants worth P28 million to 7,118 4Ps beneficiaries in the city through their LandBank cash cards on May 6 and 18. “Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, LandBank has worked closely with various government partners for the immediate and efficient distribution of cash subsidies,” LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said. The partnership for the online distribution of the cash aid was formalized through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between Borromeo, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez and DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista last April 23.

Under the agreement, LandBank facilitated the crediting of financial assistance to the cash card accounts of qualified 4Ps beneficiaries based on the list provided by the Pantawid Pamilya Information System (PPIS) of the DSWD. The bank also reported that it has continued to record a usage surge for its digital and e-banking channels since health and mobility restrictions were implemented last year. In particular, in the first four months of the year, the bank said its five major electronic channels—Mobile Banking App, Electronic Modified Disbursement System (eMDS), Link.BizPortal, iAccess, and weAccess—facilitated a total of 38.89 million transactions amounting to P642.68 billion. These represent increases of 12 percent and 55 percent year-on-year for volume of transactions and value, respectively. “We will continuously leverage on our digital and online platforms to facilitate a safe and secure mode of delivering social amelioration programs,” Borromeo said. Bianca P. Cuaresma

BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, June 4, 2021

BSP hikes net open FX limit as demand for dollar spikes By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno announced on Thursday that they are increasing the net open foreign exchange (FX) position (NOP) limit for banks to respond to rising dollar demands.

Diokno said in a news briefing that the monetary board raised the banks’ NOP limit to 25 percent of a bank’s qualifying capital or $150 million, whichever is lower. The previ-

ous limit is 20 percent of unimpaired capital or $50 million, whichever is lower. A bank’s NOP represents the amount of its net assets and/or

liabilities denominated in foreign currency. “This reform initiative aims to ensure that banks can continually provide ample liquidity in the market and service client demand for FX,” Diokno said. The governor also said that the move “recognizes the increased demand for FX arising from the growth in the volume of underlying trade transactions and investments.” Diokno also said a new calculation methodology for the FX NOP is likewise prescribed, with the open position computed as the higher of the absolute value of the sum of net long or short positions in individual currencies, rather than as the net position across all currencies. This is consistent with the com-

putation of a bank’s FX position under the risk-based capital adequacy framework. The newly-adopted approach is widely accepted and used by other jurisdictions. “The increase in the NOP limit is part of a larger set of amendments to the framework for the management of banks’ open FX positions, which aim to make the calculation and measurement of a bank’s NOP more risk-based,” Diokno said. The amendments will take effect on August 1 this year. Meanwhile, as the revised computation methodology shall necessitate the implementation of a new reporting template, the BSP will conduct a one-month parallel run of the new report with the existing report from 1 to 31 July 2021.

Angara moves to correct BIR on tax perks for schools By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

ENATOR Juan Edgardo M. Angara is moving to correct an “erroneous interpretation” of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on tax perks granted to educational institutions under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) Act. Angara filed Senate Bill (SB) 2272 seeking to amend a section of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) in order to “correct an erroneous interpretation on the tax imposed on proprietary educational institutions.” The Angara bill (SB 2272) cited the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Regulation 5-2021 issued last April 8, 2021 on the implementation of Republic Act 11534 (Create law), zeroing in on its provision dealing with preferential tax treatment on proprietary educational institutions and hospitals. It noted that in BIR Regulation 5-2021, the BIR interpreted the provision of Create to mean that an educational institution should both be proprietary and non-profit in order to qualify for the preferential tax rate of one percent on their taxable income until June 30, 2023. Angara clarified in SB 2272 that

“being proprietary and non-profit is a legal impossibility” because the term proprietary generally means one that is privately-owned and managed and run as a profit-making organization. Thus, he added, instead of shoring up proprietary educational institutions during the pandemic with the much needed reduction in the income tax rate from 10 percent to 1 percent sought under the Create Act, “this erroneous regulation would instead subject them to the regular rate of 25 percent.” Moreover, the Angara bill reminded that “the 25 percent was not imposed on schools in the past.” Reminding that schools are among the hardest hit institutions during the pandemic, the senator suggests that “we can be more sensitive in our policies.” “Dapat mas sensitibo tayo ngayon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan; lalo na itong mga paaralan ay mahalagang institusyon sa ating lipunan at ka-partner ng gobyerno sa paghubog ng ating kabataan,” he added. [We must now be more sensitive to the needs of our countrymen; especially these schools are important institutions in our society and partners of the government in shaping our youth.] Angara argued that the wording of Section 27(B) of the NIRC, as

amended, “may have contributed to the erroneous interpretation made by the BIR, as it creates an ambiguity as to whom the preferential tax rates apply to.” He noted the said section of the law states that “Proprietary educational institutions and hospitals which are nonprofit shall pay a tax of 10 percent on their taxable income; provided, that beginning July 1, 2020 until June 30, 2023, the tax herein imposed shall be one percent.” Angara added the RR also contradicts the Constitution, particularly Article XIV, Section 4(3). Article XIV, Section 4(3) of the Constitution provides for the entitlement of exemption from taxes and duties, all revenues and assets of non-stock, non-profit educational institutions used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes. Moreover, he noted that the same provision of the Constitution also states that “proprietary educational institutions, including those cooperatively owned, may likewise be entitled to such exemptions subject to the limitations provided by law, including restrictions on dividends and provisions on reinvestment.” Angara affirmed that the provision on proprietary educational institutions under the Constitution

clearly refers to for-profit educational institutions organized as stock corporations. He observed that the “confusing and erroneous tax regulation, which contradicts the language and the intention of both the Constitution and our tax laws, “will only serve to add to the already difficult circumstances being faced by the educational institutions in the country. Apart from penalizing, marginalizing and discriminating against these proprietary educational institutions, Angara said the unfeasibly higher taxes could lead to even more closures as they are already struggling to cope with the financial pressures brought about by the pandemic. “This will lead to even more teachers and other school personnel losing their jobs and the loss of income for the extensive network of linked small and medium enterprises and livelihood activities of the host communities as well,” Angara said. In order to correct the situation, Angara clarified that SB 2272 amends Sec. 27(B) of the NIRC, as amended, to clearly indicate that the preferential tax rate shall apply to: all proprietary educational institutions, including those that are stock and for profit and nonprofit hospitals.

Intl Budget Partnership praises Bayanihan 1 law

NEW BRANCH

Employees of the new Land Bank of the Philippines Buendia branch, which recently transferred to the Ground Floor of the Napolcom-NCR Building at No. 371 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. Located near the intersection of Makati Avenue and Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, the LandBank Buendia Branch caters to the banking needs of major government and private clients within the bustling Central Business District of Makati. Photo courtesy Landbank

PNB launches digital app

HE Philippine National Bank announced last Wednesday the launch of its new banking platform, the PNB Digital App. The new app will allow PNB clients to register their accounts using their PNB account number, debit card, or credit card number. Upon successful registration, PNB account holders can login via Face or Touch ID. The app can be used to view balance and transaction history; transfer funds to another PNB account via QR code; send money to local banks through InstaPay; pay bills for utilities, credit card, and other partner merchants; and locate PNB branches nationwide and overseas. The enhanced mobile banking app also has an upgraded interface, intuitive design, and quick access to frequent banking transactions with a customiz-

able dashboard. PNB President and CEO Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso said that the new mobile app answers the need for better digital solutions in light of the increasing customer preference for online banking amidst today’s health and safety concerns and quarantine restrictions. “Consumer expectations have changed especially now in the ‘new normal’. As a bank that is truly [one can lean on], we worked hard to come up with the new PNB Digital App to address our clients’ growing need for a more reliable and user-friendly online banking solution,” Veloso said. Just last month, PNB reported a net income of P1.8 billion for the first quarter of 2021, a growth of 34 percent compared to its performance in the same quarter last year. Bianca Cuaresma

N international independent watchdog has hailed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or the Bayanihan 1 law as one of “global best practices” by any government as a response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In a report released in May, the International Budget Partnership (IBP) said the Philippines is one of only four countries that demonstrated an adequate level of accountability in its early Covid-19 fiscal policy responses, based on the rapid assessment survey conducted IBP, covering the period of March to September 2020. The other three countries sharing the same ranking with the Philippines are Australia, Norway and Peru. The watchdog lauded the Philippines’ efforts in its passage of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act specifically its provisions “ensuring weekly reports on COVID-19 response actions” to oversee the landmark bill’s implementation. The IBP is an independent watchdog advocating transparent, inclusive and accountable government budget processes. Swiftly passed under the leadership of former House Speaker

Alan Peter Cayetano, Bayanihan 1 was the country’s first economic recovery plan to help curb the impending effects of the pandemic. Bayanihan 1 allowed the national government to reallocate, realign, and reprogram P275 billion from the annual budget in response to the pandemic. The passage of Bayanihan 1 also provided for the purchase of testing kits and medical supplies, as well as the building of quarantine facilities and isolation centers for those suspected to have contracted the virus. Together with Bayanihan 2, or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, it formed the backbone of Cayetano’s efforts to usher the country into the better normal. Before it went on sine die adjourment, the Lower Chamber approved House Bill (HB) 9538 on second reading. HB9538 seeks to further extend the release, obligation and disbursement of funds of RA 11494 or the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” or the “Bayanihan 2” until the end of 2021. The measure would amend RA 11519, which extended the validity period of the Bayanihan 2 Act until June 2021. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Friday, June 4, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Relationships BusinessMirror

Bakuna pass or bakuna benefits?

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Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Tim Rozon, 45; Russell Brand, 46; Angelina Jolie, 46; Michael Greyeyes, 54. Happy Birthday: Take your time, verify information, and review and make changes as you move forward. Taking precautions and overseeing anything you leave in someone’s hands will ensure that you reach the goals you set out to achieve this year. Pay attention to detail, and do your best to be the best. Personal gain is within reach. Your numbers are 2, 13, 16, 24, 29, 35, 41.

PHOTO BY SWARNAVO CHAKRABARTI ON UNSPLASH

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep your message simple, to the point and easy to complete. Be prepared to walk away from anyone looking for a fight or a chance to criticize you. Don’t lose sight of the truth or fear questioning someone offering incomplete answers. HHH

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay attention to responsibilities, and leave nothing to chance. Look at the cost involved before you take on a project that has potential pitfalls. Voice your concerns and include a safety net to protect against loss. An unexpected opportunity will entice you. HHH

OR weeks now, Presidential Adviser for Entreneurship Joey Concepcion has been pushing for the use of a “Bakuna Pass,” which would enable vaccinated individuals, including senior citizens, to enter restaurants, malls and other indoor establishments. “I believe greater mobility should be given to those who take the vaccine. Seniors will be able to go out, domestic travelers will not be required to do Covid tests or eliminate, if not, reduce their quarantine times, and restaurants can take on more customers provided the additional people are the who have been vaccinated,” he said in recent news statement. In various forums, he has explained that the vaccine pass would enable us to reach “herd immunity” in Metro Manila by encouraging more people to get vaccinated. But how exactly does one encourage people to get a jab when you will actually punish them by not allowing them to get into certain establishments because they aren’t vaccinated? The bakuna pass is, in fact, a punitive measure which I like to dub as “The Forbes Park Solution” on Twitter. Major credit must go to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez for immediately thumbing down Concepcion’s proposal; not only is the measure discriminatory, but the good secretary also noted that there were very few people in Metro Manila who have been vaccinated. In contrast, Eric Teng, president of RestoPH Group, has gathered his members to offer discounts and food incentives to those who have been vaccinated. Interviewed on Teleradyo’s SRO, Teng said the incentives offered by his members, which number about 200, will hopefully increase restaurant business as well. “What we’re hoping to see is that every month, we’ll be able to serve vaccinated people with a special treat,” he explained. The program started on June 1, and along with another private sector-led vaccine campaign, IngatAngat, available bakuna treats include a 10-percent discount on indoor dining (McDonald’s), a free meal on the day of the vaccination (Viking’s), 10-percent

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Live up to your promises; you’ll win approval. Stick to the truth and respectfully decline to get involved with anyone who is alluding to doing the impossible. Be smart and handle matters with confidence and a conscientious attitude. HHHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t stress over something you cannot change. Shake it off and learn from the experience. Pay attention to what you can do to make your life and the world around you better. Be part of the solution, not the problem. HH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Deal with stress by doing something geared toward improving your strength and agility. Good health will lift your spirits and encourage you to contribute to making the world around you function better. A realistic approach to money matters is encouraged. HHHHH

discount for a P1,000 dine-in bill (Din Tai Fung), to name a few. Chef Robby Goco of Cyma, who has joined the Ingat-Angat campaign, told me that he was offering a 20-percent discount on single receipt purchases with a maximum discount of P500. “This in unlimited. You can get these ‘bakuna benefit’ every time you dine at Cyma, as long as you are vaccinated,” he said. Even local government units have gotten into the act, trying to persuade their constituents to get jabbed by offering raffle prizes. In Las Piñas, the LGU is offering a free house and lot developed by one of Villar’s property firms. In Barangay Sucat, Muntinlupa, vaccinated residents can join a raffle in which they could win 25 kilos of rice. Many of these have likely been inspired by Krispy Kreme’s incentive program in the US. According to a report on CNBC, the company has so far given away 1.5 million free donuts and will continue doing so until year-end. Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme’s chief marketing officer, noted that since March when

the company first launched the project, “so many companies, organizations, communities and even state governments [have been] encouraging and incentivizing people to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated.” Concepcion’s groupies like to cite Israel as an example where the vaccine passport works. The country instituted a Green Pass system, but guess what? It has already vaccinated some 80 percent of its adult population. Over here, the Department of Health reported that as of May 18, only 2.25 million NCR residents have received their initial jabs, which represent just 2.1 percent of the region’s population. Also, reports from Israel showed that very few of the establishments actually used the Green Pass system. Arieh Kovler of The Spectator wrote on June 1, the passport has already been scrapped three months after Israel instituted it. “In the last three months, I

Continued on B5

Pride month celebrated with artworks, discussions, comics at Benilde “Benilde Pride 2021 Sari-Saring Sarili: Pagmamasid, Pagmamahal, at Pagdiriwang ng Kanya-kanyang Katangian” aims to encourage the public to recognize and embrace the wonderful aspects that make them unique through a series of storytelling, video podcast, webinar and online art exhibitions. Ilahad, a virtual exhibition of sketches, mixed media and digital artworks, showcases the talent of promising LGBTQIA+ creatives as they utilize art as a platform to express their individuality and shed light on the beauty of each person’s distinct characteristic.

A six-part comic series titled Kinaiya, named after the Filipino word for character or the good attributes and complexities that make a person’s identity, shares personal heartwarming stories of the diverse members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Brought to life by a team of talented artists, the project serves as a safe space as well as a source of inspiration to others. Reminiscent of the pre-pandemic coffee dates with friends, a video podcast titled Kape Tayo! provides insightful conversations and friendly debates on the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ amid the ongoing pandemic.

The talk features Bahaghari member and student activist Shein Capila, together with Benilde Hive President and Gender and Equality Head Bryce de Vera, Vice President for External Affairs and Advocacy Coordinator Immah Toledana, Cultural Diversity Head Paulette Constantino and Mental Health Head Camy Caridad. Marquis Bolima, who champions for gender and social justice, likewise recounts the memory of being one of the 20 protesters arrested during the Pride March in Mendiola, Manila in June 2020. The session will be facilitated by Vince Liban, the national convener of Pantay, a

youth network that pushes for the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill in Congress. He is a human-rights advocate fighting for gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights and youth empowerment. Hosted by BHive of the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde, the first accredited LGBTQIA+ student-organization in De La Salle Philippines, Benilde Pride 2021 is supported by Milkwear and copresented by the Austrian Embassy Manila as well as LGBTQIA+ organizations PUP Kasarianlan and Bulsu Bahaghari. More information can be found at www. facebook.com/BenildeHive/.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Someone will charm you into something that isn’t financially feasible if you aren’t careful. If you want to lend a helping hand, offer your time or services, not your hard-earned cash. A romantic gesture will boost your morale. HHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put your heart and soul into whatever you do. The results you get will be impressive and give you a competitive edge when up against someone who is always out to one-up you. Be gracious and humble; it will sweeten your success. HHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t limit what you can do. Set your sights on your destination of choice, and don’t stop until you are happy with the results you get. Amazing opportunities are within reach. Good things will transpire. Let go of nonessentials. HHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take nothing for granted. Verify information before passing it along. Protect your reputation and meaningful relationships. Choose discipline and willpower over self-destruction and peer pressure. Set goals and high standards. Make positive lifestyle adjustments. HHHHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotional anger will not help a situation you face with a friend or relative. Take a moment to rethink your strategy, and choose to give others the same freedom you expect in return. Keep your opinions to yourself. HH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Hard work will pay off. A change you make at home will give you the space to do something creative. Put your energy where it counts; you’ll turn something you enjoy doing into a lucrative pastime. HHHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take matters into your hands if you don’t trust someone to do things your way. Facts and truth will make a difference to the way things turn out. An emotional matter will require common sense. HHH Birthday Baby: You are dedicated, aggressive and complex. You are perceptive and friendly.

‘two times two’ by jessica zetzman The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Things that may be jam-packed? [#UniversalXwordPride] 5 Secret supply 10 Gem prized in China 14 Toddler’s reaction to an oopsie 15 Try, as beer 16 Ready for customers 17 Values in a set 18 Place to exchange vows 19 Provide temporarily 20 “Help me, ___. You’re my only hope.” (Leia) 23 Iguana, for instance 24 “I’ve got this” 28 Decompose 31 DC MLB player 32 Pop star known for her wigs 34 Towing org. 35 Lacking skill 37 Gradually 39 Boring 40 You could have many in the “fire” 42 Legally Blonde protagonist Woods 43 Korean rice bowl 45 Guide

6 ___ pinch 4 47 Parisian pal 48 Airport safety org. 50 Alcohol-free 51 Sara’s partner in indie pop 53 Largest hot desert 56 What’s celebrated on September 23 to prevent an identity’s erasure, or a hint to the pair of prefixes in each starred answer 61 Just 64 Active starter? 65 Operatic solo 66 Employs 67 Impulse transmitter 68 Perseverance rover’s location 69 Suitcase labels 70 Some native Nebraskans 71 Largest digits in binary DOWN 1 Japanese martial art 2 Moby-Dick captain 3 Indianflatbread 4 Cardigan collar style 5 Poet’s subsection 6 Mansplain, e.g.

7 Fall bloomer 8 Doubles (for) 9 Any frontline worker 10 Angelina of Gia 11 Monkey’s relative 12 Bear home 13 One might be split or bitter 21 “___ that somethin’?” 22 Spill the beans 25 Saved for a future meeting 26 Junk pamphlet 27 Place to grab a bite 28 Frog sound 29 Browsing memes, say 30 Steeped pouch 33 Every dog has ___ day 36 Letter before chi 37 Conk on the noggin 38 “And” or “not” follower 40 Tech company nicknamed Big Blue 41 Chocolaty morsel at the movies 44 Fingernail treatment, for short 45 Garment often worn with a choli 48 Steal 49 Buffalo hockey team 52 Vast void

4 Commercial prefix for “Turf” 5 55 “Remember the ___!” 57 Glassful in Roma 58 Persia, today 59 Grow bored (of) 60 “___ queen!” 61 Not in the closet 62 Intel-gathering grp. 63 Part of a journey Solution to Wednesday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, June 4, 2021

Actors on acting

A SCENE from the third installment in the blockbuster Conjuring horror series.

Brother of boy ‘possessed’ resents retelling in ‘Conjuring’ BROOKFIELD, Connecticut—The brother of a boy who some thought was possessed by demons has told the Hartford Courant previously that he resents the retelling of his family’s trauma, which features as the plot in the new film The Conjuring 3. Carl Glatzel, 55, left Connecticut because of the painful events that started when his brother, David, began having hallucinations and delusions as a boy, the newspaper reported ON Wednesday. Arne Johnson, the boyfriend and later husband of Deborah Glatzel, Carl and David’s sister, alleged that a demon left the boy and entered him during an exorcism and caused him to murder his landlord, Alan Bono, in 1981. Johnson was convicted of manslaughter and served four years in prison. A defense attorney tried to defend Johnson against the charges, saying the devil had made him do it. The judge did not permit the arguments, which were based on claims by a couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren, who said they were paranormal investigators. The couple feature as the main characters in the film franchise. Carl Glatzel has said the Warrens exploited his family for monetary gain. He told The Associated Press in 2007 that his brother had suffered from mental illness as a child but has now recovered. “It was living hell when we were kids,” Glatzel told the AP that year. “It was just a nightmare. I’m not going to go through that again. Neither is my brother.” The case was made into a 1983 NBC television movie, The Demon Murder Case, and was the subject of a book, The Devil in Connecticut by Gerald Brittle. Carl Glatzel sued Brittle and Lorraine Warren when the book was reprinted in 2006, though the case was dismissed. Brittle told the newspaper the book was taken out of print because of the lawsuit. “I did it because I was fed up with the case, fed up with Carl Glatzel,” Brittle said. “It just wasn’t worth it to me. It had no bearing on the fact that the book was true.” The Conjuring 3 opens in theaters on June 4 and will be available on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release. The newspaper could not reach Arne Johnson for comment. Deborah Johnson, Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren have died, the newspaper reported. AP

Bakuna pass or bakuna benefits? CONTINUED FROM B4 was only asked to show my pass twice. A few times I was asked if I had one, but taken at my word without needing to show the ‘paperwork.’ Most often, I wasn’t challenged at all. Enforcement of the Green Pass was close to non-existent; as long as coronavirus cases kept falling, nobody was very bothered.” And OK, even if Concepcion and his groupies may have the best of intentions in implementing their bakuna pass as a means to conquer vaccine hesitancy, their efforts will likely fail. Many retail companies, hotels, restaurants and malls are just too desperate to recoup their sales and move their inventories, it doesn’t make sense to keep patrons out of their establishments even if the latter aren’t vaccinated. Perhaps Concepcion can follow the lead of Resto PH/Ingat Angat instead; hand out free scoops of Selecta ice cream at vaccination centers after people get jabbed. That will surely get those people signing up for their jabs fast, and will likely be a marketing coup as well for Concepcion’s company. Just imagine all those social-media posts of people licking their ice cream cones in the heat of summer after getting vaxxed. ■

UCH as I try to efface this habit of making cinema actor-centric, the areas of performance on-screen and onstage have always seduced fans and admirers of the two arts. The recently concluded Academy Awards, to cite a more popular example, brought to the fore the fact that standards on acting vary. Comparing, let’s say, an Asian actor with an American or Italian really defies logic and rethinks any notion of comparability. And yet, here is an old book I found and it is about acting and, strangely enough, it is not about acting in the showbusiness or workshop sense of it. The book has a formal title—In the Company of Actors: Reflections on the Craft of Acting. It is written by Carole Zucker, a professor of cinema, and is a product of a four-year research, which involved funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the British Council, among many other institutions and individuals. The book promises to be an academic endeavor but I am relieved that it is written in a breezy style, less stodgy, and certainly devoid of the arty-fartsy tone books on acting assumes if only to drive home the point that acting and being actors are no less than divine gifts. The foreword, written by Richard Eyre, who has Iris and Notes on a Scandal to his credit as a filmmaker, demystifies actors and acting immediately with these words: “I don’t know a good actor who is not intelligent, but an actor’s intelligence is like a musician’s, to do with timing, rhythm, hearing, sensibility, physical coordination rather than with cleverness and ability to express ideas.” The filmmaker, who also directs operas, stresses that

acting is magic but it is also handicraft. The book is a compilation of interviews that asks about each actor’s backgrounds, training, preparing for a role, British acting, and, most intriguingly, the difference between classical acting and the Method. First, in alphabetical order, is Eileen Atkins (Equus, The Dresser, Gosford Park). With each interview preceded by a quote from the actor, Atkins has this to say: “...I never understood why people get into such a state about nudity. For God’s sake, it’s much more, much more difficult and revealing, and incredible, to show your soul, and that’s what you’ve got to be willing to do. Why anyone should want to be an actor without being prepared to do that, I have no idea.” But there is more to acting than baring one’s soul; there is also the sexual politics. Atkins recalls how when she was just starting, she was told, “If you’re a woman, give yourself eight years, and if after eight years you are not working steadily, give it up. Men, give yourself five years, and if you are not working steadily, give it up.” There is no single approach for all actors. In the case of Alan Bates, who was big in the late 1960s and 1970s (remember his nude wrestling with Oliver Reed in Ken Russel’s Women in Love?), he is almost experimental in his approach: “You just have to keep yourself very free, very loose so that something can happen, even if it’s not what happened the night before [referring to a theater performance], even if it’s not what you thought would happen.” He ends this quote by saying “something must remain alive and flexible.” Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot) has a most unique take on getting into character. The actor confesses that when she receives the script, she goes through it in different ways. She “reads a script the first time, and if it interests me, I will then read it is if I were the director, and then read it as if I’m each character. If there are 10 characters, I read it as if I’ve been offered that part and that part and that part. Fricker also recounts how she and “Daniel [Day Lewis] did a huge amount of research.” And because My Left Foot “was just so well-written,” all she had to do was love the boy and believe in his character.” Brenda Fricker would go on to win the Oscar Best Supporting Actress for My Left Foot in 1989, the first Irish actor to

win an Academy Award. In this all-star cast of respondents composed of 16 contemporary actors working in theater, TV and film, two interviewees are, to me, most interesting. These are Stephen Rea and Simon Callow. The two actors adore Robert Mitchum. For Callow, the American actor is a “wonderful actor, sensitive and complex.” Rea is specific: “What it is I admire about his [Mitchum’s] acting is that he is one of the great narrative actors. Nowadays, everybody wants to show ‘emotion’; everyone since the post-Brando Italian actors wants to scream the house down and show their innards, and Mitchum simply thinks [italics by Rea].” He articulates this further by proposing how it must have “been wonderful for a director, because all you do is cut to Mitchum and he thinks something, and then you can take the movie in any direction.” When Rea mentions Mitchum, down the line he lists the names of other “narrative” actors like Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, and Brando. Rea has some eight films with Neil Jordan, including The Crying Game and Interview with a Vampire. Simon Callow, who has four films with Merchant/ Ivory, with A Room with a View and Maurice as the two most popular, strikes me as cerebral and funny. He also has some “nice” words about critics. Here he goes: “It’s a little hard to speak temperately about criticism, because of the sensation that you labour and labour... then you stand up on the stage...or show your film to a select group of people, people who write whatever comes into their heads, really, on no known standard, no method of computation.” There are more items in the book by Zucker. The nonsensical, sometimes meditative, wildly pragmatic approaches of each actor to acting are in themselves lessons not only in acting but in presenting truth. I dream of doing this kind of book with some of our esteemed movie actors, as well. ■

ALDEN RICHARDS, host of GMA’s Centerstage

‘CENTERSTAGE’ CONCLUDES WITH GRANDEST, MOST EXCITING FINALE THE journey of the aspiring kids reaches its end as GMA’s singing competition Centerstage airs the second part of its much-awaited grand finals this Sunday, June 6. The four grand finalists—12-year-old Rain Barquin from Caloocan; Colline Salazar from Las Piñas; Vianna Ricafranca from Albay; and Oxy Dolorito from Bulacan—return to the virtual stage for the final stretch of the competition. After keeping viewers in suspense over their fourway battle last Sunday, the second part of the finale features the final one-on-one battle between the top

two finalists to impress voters and Centerstage judges (Aicelle Santos, renowned composer and musical director Mel Villena, and seasoned singer Pops Fernandez. Presented by Centerstage host Alden Richards, together with cohost Betong Sumaya, join the four finalists, alongside their parents, as they tune in live from their respective homes awaiting the big decision. Every kid is out to prove they are the one who deserves the title. Watch out for the finale of Centerstage, airing this Sunday, 7:40 pm after Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko.

The year of GMA shows is now BY PALINE JOY M. GUTIERREZ IT is a big year for television. With no end to the pandemic in sight, audiences are turning to more familiar forms of entertainment as a way to cope with the monotony of life indoors and the worrying realities outside of it. Media giant GMA, armed with a slew of new shows and programs to capture this growing viewer base, is ready to take the reins. In January, it launched the reality game show Catch Me Out Philippines, headlined by the trio of Kakai Bautista, Jose Manalo and Derrick Monasterio, under the helm of esteemed director Rico Gutierrez. Based on the popular UK original, the show follows two amateur contestants who go through weeks of intensive training with mentors and each with a different performance to master, to trick viewers and celebrity catchers into believing that they are professional entertainers while performing alongside actual experts. Meanwhile, Andre Paras and Sef Cadayona host Game of the Gens, where players from different generations—baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z—battle each other in a series of mini games featuring all-around topics on trends, music, and entertainment. Next up is the television drama revenge series Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat, top-billed by John Estrada and Carmina Villaroel, and, in her first starring role, Pauline Mendoza. It premiered in February in the network’s afternoon lineup replacing Prima Donnas. Set to launch as well on GMA afternoon block is the TV adaptation of the 1988 award-winning Ishmael Bernal film Nagbabagang Luha, directed by Ricky

SEF CADAYONA (right) and Andre Paras

THE afternoon drama Babawiin Ko ang Lahat

Davao and starring Glaiza de Castro and Rayver Cruz. De Castro is taking on the role of Maita, which was first portrayed by Lorna Tolentino. Another breakthrough cultural drama series from the network is Legal Wives, where Dennis Trillo takes on the challenging role of Ishmael, a Maranaw Muslim royalty who has three wives portrayed by actresses Alice Dixson, Andrea Torres, and Bianca Umali. They are joined by internationally acclaimed actress Cherie Gil. GMA Public Affairs is also set to bring its ambitious action-adventure series Lolong. Bannered by Ruru Madrid, Lolong is inspired by the world’s largest crocodile in captivity of the same name. Real-life couple Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos are all set for the romance-mystery miniseries Love You Stranger, while Alden Richards and Jasmine CurtisSmith reunite in the drama series The World Between Us

alongside Tom Rodriguez. Heart Evangelista-Escudero returns to the screen in I Left My Heart in Sorsogon, playing alongside Paolo Contis and Richard Yap. “The network has been adjusting to the new normal in all aspects of its operations, always guided by the primary objective of maintaining a safe working environment in this pandemic,” Lilybeth Rasonable, senior vice president for entertainment, told BUSINESSMIRRO� in an e-mail interview. “Productions have resumed, albeit with new ways of producing. It is a continuous learning experience as we move along this new normal—a continuous adjustment in production processes and also in content. We have a mandate to deliver information and entertainment to the public and for the network to fulfill this, we have to continue to adapt to the everchanging environment,” she said.

B6 Friday, June 4, 2021

The countdown to twin spin continues MyPharma: health care that knows you

N this time of COVID-19, staying home continues to be your best defense against contracting this potentially lethal virus. It is a good thing then that with modern technology, you can now buy your basic necessities online. You can order food, purchase all sorts of items, and use various apps to order or even do your groceries. And now, a new and friendlier option to buy your medicines online is here- MyPharma—your friendly and smart neighbor pharmacist! An online pharmacy born out of necessity, MyPharma holds a firm belief that taking care of your health should be as easy as saying “hi” to family and friends. This is the reason MyPharma is always willing and ready to serve Filipinos wherever, whenever.

All you have to do is visit mypharma.ph, and your reliable neighbor pharmacist will take care of not only your medicine-related needs, but also your daily essentials. Owned and operated by Dygen Pharma Distribution Corporation (DPDC), this online platform offers hassle-free health care that makes it possible for anyone to safely get what they need when they need it. It offers correct and useful information to customers when they are buying medicines. It also goes above and beyond to ensure that your online buying experience is SAFER—superb, authentic, fair, easy, and reliable—because you deserve it. At MyPharma, you are the priority, and your friendly neighbor pharmacist will make

you feel that everything you buy is an investment towards a healthier you. It will also make sure that you are getting value for your hard-earned money by offering you genuine, high-quality products that are sourced from trustworthy brands. MyPharma will also give you all the fine details of every product, so you can make informed choices before buying anything. Your friendly neighbor pharmacist will also guarantee smooth, seamless, and straightforward transactions every time, all the time. Just as important, it will make sure that all your orders are delivered safe right at your doorstep! By going to mypharma.ph, you are assured of a wide range of products, including vitamins and supplements, over-the-counter medicines and treatments, self-care products that gives relief, and mom and baby essentials. Soon, prescription medicines will also be available. The best part is that you can shop at MyPharma the way you would at any other online site. It is best to register your account so ordering will be a breeze and you will also receive exclusive offers as a registered user. Browsing and searching for your necessities is also easy, not to mention shipping and payment options are available based on your personal preferences. There is no doubt that in these are trying times, we need to be extra careful and stay safe. With MyPharma, you won’t have to worry about braving long queues, facing traffic, and potentially exposing yourself to viruses because your everyday essentials are available in the site. Register now and get free digital thermometer on your first order! For more details, visit https://mypharma.ph. Like and share our FB page : facebook.com/ mypharmaph or follow us on Instagram : mypharmaph.

Chef Jill Sandique’s cacao journey

ER work on chocolate for more than 25 years as a culinary educator and consultant has led pastry chef Jill Sandique back to a childhood passion. Chef Jill headed the board of judges at the 2021 Philippine Cacao Quality Awards (PCQA) which selected the winning entries to represent the Philippines at the Cocoa of Excellence (CoEx) Programme during the Salon du Chocolat in Paris this coming October. Chef Jill has studied chocolate making abroad, eventually completing the Career French Pastry Program at Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School (now the Institute of Culinary Education) where she graduated with the most coveted Blue Ribbon Award in 1992 (and later inducted into its Alumni Hall of Achievement). She witnessed the emergence of artisan chocolate making which nurtured her appreciation for the craft. When she came back to the Philippines, she developed her signature pistachio sans rival and mango pavlova, beloved specialty desserts she became known for. In between her duties as chef instructor and consultant, she worked with cocoa and chocolate manufacturers and distributors locally as well as in Singapore and Indonesia to develop recipes for them and her own clients. Her longest collaboration at 17 years is with Commodity Quest, Inc., which exclusively imports the premium cacao powder and chocolate ingredients under the deZaan brand. They invited Chef Nick Malgieri, her mentor and teacher at Peter Kump’s, for the WOFEX trade shows to showcase chocolate recipes using deZaan.

Growing up with cacao

CHEF Jill’s love for chocolate began at her family’s Sto. Niño Farms back in her hometown of Makilala in Cotabato. The family started with crops such as coconut, coffee, cacao, corn, and rice. The farm initially produced certified palay seeds before focusing on rubber and banana as its two major crops. Her father, the late Epifanio Al. Sandique was an agriculturist by training.

CACAO Trails Mr. Sandique worked as a banker and did agricultural research at the farm. He was part of the Philippine Cacao Committee in the late 1970s that published The Philippines Recommends for Cacao 1979. The farm served as chef Jill’s informal training ground to learn about how farmers grow food, an experience that would later influence her work as a pastry chef. The Sandiques would expose their children to farm work such that it became an integral part of their childhood.

Philippine cacao beans expert

CHEF Jill regularly upgrades her chocolate know-how through trainings abroad especially in South and Central America with its long history and tradition of growing and processing cacao. She has studied cacao post-harvest processing, chocolate making, and chocolate profiling in the U.S., Ecuador, Peru and Belize as well as cacao bean grading in the Netherlands. She is the only Filipina who is a certified Level 3 graduate of the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting in the UK. She put to good use these trainings and her ability to discern quality cacao beans as a judge at the 2019 International Chocolate Awards (ICA) Asia Pacific in Taiwan, and at the ICA World Finals in Italy. Judges conducted a blind tasting of the chocolates from which Philippine chocolate makers won several awards. Chef Jill also participated as a grand juror for the ICA Asia Pacific via remote online judging in 2020. Then came the opportunity to be closer to home as chairperson for the judging committee at the Philippine Cacao Quality Award from December 2020 to January 2021.

WORKING with Cacao

What’s next for chef Jill

HER other work as the lead trainer and program director of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Manila Council of Chefs and key opinion leader of USDA Cooperators for the past 15 years has helped her mentor others in cooking and baking with quality U.S. ingredients. When the Puentespina family of the Malagos Cacao Development Center in Davao invited her to help train seven farmer cooperatives from Davao Oriental on post-harvest processing of cacao beans, she gladly agreed. But she requested that the farmers also be trained on the business side of cacao as well as composting waste by-products to fully equip them. Her life’s work now brings her back to cacao to improve the competitiveness of the local cacao industry in the international stage. She hopes to share what she has learned about cacao bean processing and educate others who have little opportunity to be formally trained. “Majority of our plants here belong to the category of fine cacao in which there is great potential.” This potential begins with growing good cacao. As the world takes notice of Philippine chocolate, chef Jill hopes to encourage local cacao farmers to aim higher in producing the finest cacao they were destined to grow. “I hope that every cacao farmer here will be able to ferment and process their cacao in a manner that is at par with international standards, which I think is achievable.” Follow Chef Jill on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/ChefJillSandique.

WIN Spin, Enchanted Kingdom’s newest upcoming ride attraction, is envisioned and still the centerpiece of EK’s 25th anniversary celebration, Slowly evolving from the drawing board into the construction and installation phase, it is now just one more step away from bringing a “spintastic EKsperience” to our guests. Last April 21, technical representatives of Mack Rides GmbH of Germany and Enchanted Kingdom Chairman & President, Mr. Cesar Mario O. Mamon, formally signed off on the official turnover of Twin Spin, making it EK’s newest major ride attraction and its third roller coaster after the venerable Roller Skater and ever popular Space Shuttle. Mack Rides GmbH of Waldkirch, Germany is a more than 240-year-old, family-owned manufacturer of amusement rides and attractions. EK’s Twin Spin, Mack Rides’ unique compact spinning coaster ride, is the first of its kind in the country and is a welcome addition

to EK’s growing list of popular rides and attractions. Following the official turnover, Twin Spin was dedicated and blessed last May 8th and will be ready for the park's reopening this June! For promos, ticket reservations, and bookings, visit: www.enchantedkingdom. ph or online store: shop.enchantedkingdom. ph/ or Facebook: www.facebook.com/ enchantedkingdom.ph

Choosing the right personal care products for your family

HERE are a lot of factors to consider before buying that new bath soap or body lotion. With lots of choices in the market these days, moms are more selective when making purchases for the family. In 2018, it was found out that more than half of consumers prefer value or quality over the price – as it should always be. But it doesn’t always have to be a choice between price and quality—Avon Care provides quality personal products for everyone in the family, without the need to spend more. The best personal care products are also the ones that provide care to the most sensitive areas of the body. Whether it’s to moisturize, clean, or protect, it’s best

to choose care that your family needs, regardless of the season. For example, the Avon Care Antibacterial Hand and Body Lotion provides germ-protection and Moisture Lock technology, ensuring you and your family’s protection while having soft and healthy skin. Most pediatricians and dermatologists will recommend that moisturizing daily is important for health. Avon Care Hand and Body Lotions are formulated with Vitamin E that helps keep the skin moisturized and healthy. It also has five variants to choose from that are formulated with active natural ingredients that address specific skin benefits—Milk to hydrate, Avocado Oil to restore, Lavender to relax, Royal Jelly to soothe, and Oatmeal for sensitive skin. More products in your stash to use isn’t always better. You don’t have to spend on a whole bunch of products just to get the desired result. What’s great about products these days is that they can cover more than one base. Avon Care Baby Gentle Wash & Shampoo, for example, provides moms head-to-toe washing for babies, while being suitable for sensitive skin—no need for multiple products for your little one! New product innovations from established brands are more likely to be purchased as consumers are more reliant on their positive experience with the brand’s existing products. And that is the promise Avon delivers for families all over the world: When you choose Avon Care, you choose a trusted brand that provides reliable and quality results with every use. Avon lets you #ChooseCare every day! Like Avon Philippines on Facebook, and follow @avonph on Instagram. Visit avonshop.ph.

‘There’s no linear path to where you want to be, but keep going’— Izzy Matias

ITH writing at the peak of her passion and interest, Izzy Matias takes us on a journey of the experiences she had to go through in bringing her debut novel—ranked as a #1 New Release for a few weeks in the Teen & Young Adult Music eBooks category of Amazon—come to life. Izzy Matias’ debut novel, “The Hush Society Presents…” is a contemporary young adult novel and coming-of-age story about Cameron Evans, a musician in pursuit of his dreams despite the many challenges he encounters along the way. As Cameron dives into the world of secret shows, he is recruited to join a summer tour; however, to make it big, he must face his biggest rival and selfdestructive fears before they destroy his dream for good. Izzy started writing her debut novel, “The Hush Society Presents…” in high school and went through a lot of rewriting and editing during her college years. “I ran a music blog where I would go to lots of concerts and write about them. Over the years, I ran multiple music blogs and wanted to be able to turn blogging into a career. Later on, I decided to approach blogging with a business perspective, which led me to my focus as a blogger now,” explains Izzy. While working and blogging, she continued revising her debut novel, and finally this 2021, she decided to self-publish it on Amazon. Izzy has always enjoyed the opportunity to merge her passion for writing and business. As a finance and wealth management graduate of Enderun Colleges, and now the Managing Editor of INK Enderun, the school’s official student publication, she’s delighted to also work as a blogger at izzymatias.com where

she teaches others to start and build a moneymaking blog of their own. What motivates Izzy is her vision to live life on her terms and do what makes her happy. She strives to constantly grow and be better. Izzy who graduated Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian has a piece of advice to those who dream of becoming an author like her or simply want to achieve a personal goal in the future: “Even if it takes a long time to achieve your aspiration, if it’s something you want, keep going. Take a chance on your dreams and make the most of the opportunities available to you or create an opportunity for you to achieve your dreams. There’s never a linear path to get to where you want to be, but I believe if you keep going, you’ll get there eventually.” “The Hush Society Presents…” is available on Amazon. To order, visit: https://www. amazon.com/dp/B08THPX198.

Sports BusinessMirror

Editor: Jun Lomibao

14-day quarantine could force Kai out of 12-man Gilas roster

EVEN-FOOT-THREE Zachary “Kai” Sotto could only have a one-day practice with the national team to the third and final window of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifier in Clark. That is if the Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff puts Sotto’s name on the 12-man roster. Sotto arrived from the US on June 1 and is serving a 14-day quarantine that ends on June 15, one day before the Philippines’s match against South Korea in the bubble competition set at the Angeles University Foundation Gym in Pampanga. “Kai gives us size, but I can’t say he’s

KAI SOTTO will be out of quarantine a day before the tournament starts.

a shoo-in. Let’s hope for the best,” Coach Jong Uichico said. The 16-member Gilas pool is training inside the Inspire Sports Academy bubble in Calamba. Helping Uichico as his assistants are Boyet Fernandez, Caloy Garcia and Tab Baldwin. The Gilas pool has four big men capable of manning the shade— 6-foot-11 Ange Kouame, 6-foot-7 Justine Baltazar, 6-foot-8 Isaac Go and 6-foot-7 Tzaddy Rangel. Also in the pool are Jordan Heading, Jaydee Tungcab, twins Mike and Matt Nieto, Dwight Ramos, Jason Credo, Carl Tamayo, Dave Ildenfonso, Allein Bulanadi, Kenmark Carino, Geo Chiu and LeBron Lopez. The Philippines will face Indonesia on June 18 and again South Korea on June 20. Ryan Gregorio, Special Assistant to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio, said Sotto could end up making the roster after all. “We have to play it by ear. He has to go through quarantine as mandated by the government. What is important is he is already in town. The schedule is very fluid,” Gregorio said. Josef Ramos

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA strikes in preOlympic competition.

OBIENA CAPTURES GOLD IN SWEDEN

By Josef Ramos

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Friday, June 4, 2021 B7

RNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA won a gold medal in men’s pole vault at the Gothenburg Athletics Grand Prix in Sweden on Thursday, clearing 5.70 meters in his first outdoor competition in almost eight months. Obiena, 25, beat training buddy and Olympic record holder, Brazilian Thiago Braz de Silva, who settled for the silver medal with a 5.65m effort, way off his Summer Games mark of 6.03m. Norway’s Paul Haugen Lillefosse and American Cole Walsh each cleared 5.60m, but the Norwegian had less attempt at the height. “It was EJ’s first outdoor competition. He and the rest of the

competitors encountered transportation delays that did not allow for a day’s rest after travelling from Italy, to Denmark, and finally by train to Goteborg,” said Dr. Philip Ella Juico, president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association. Obiena is one of nine Filipinos who have so far qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. He has been based at the World Pole Vault Centre in Formia, Italy—where he shares a room with De Silva—since the pandemic struck early last year. Obiena’s dad Emerson, also a former national pole vaulter, said that his son was frustrated for failing to break or march his personal best of 5.86 meters he achieved last February 12 at the Orlen Indoor Cup in Atlas Arena in Poland. He clinched silver in that event.

Didal in contention in Rome

ARGIELYN ARDA DIDAL overcame a sluggish start and joined 26 other aspirants in the semifinal round of the Street Skateboarding World Championships—a Tokyo Olympics qualifier—on Thursday in Rome, Italy. Didal scored a terrible 8.28 points in the opening run but re-

deemed herself with 19.00 points in the second run to end up at No. 17 on the semifinals list. Yumeka Oda (40.22) and Momiji Nishiya (34.11) made it 1-2 for Japan in the qualifying round with Root Zwetsloot (33.00) finishing third. The top eight in the semifinals on Friday will advance to

“He believed that he could jump his personal best, but he had a hard time adjusting to his other UCS pole,” the elder Obiena said. “His other pole was damaged so he needed to try the other pole. The good thing was he was able to make it in his third attempt.” Obiena, a gold medalist in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and is currently ranked No. 10 in the world, has a season best 5.80 meters. Obiena, his dad said, could be skipping getting an anti-Covid-19 vaccine because the Olympics are only 50 days away from the July 23 opening day. “Certain side effects of getting vaccinated—like feeling weak or fatigue—may hamper his performance,” Emerson Obiena said.

“We cannot allow that to happen, especially that we’re in the fine tuning stage now.” Obiena bagged three gold, two silver and three bronze medals in several competitions in Europe in 2020 and early 2021. Gymnast Carlos Yulo, who will join Obiena in Tokyo, will also shun the vaccine, according to gymnastics association president Cynthia Carrion-Rollin. The Tokyo organizers said that vaccination is not compulsory for the July 23 to August 8 Games. The other Filipino Olympic qualifiers are weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, rower Cris Nievarez, taekwondo jin Kurt Bryan Barbosa and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Irish Magno.

Monday’s finals were the top three will earn tickets to the Olympics. Didal also needs to keep her No. 13 ranking to be make it to Tokyo were the world’s top 16 will earn automatic qualification. A gold medalist in the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and 2019 Southeast Asian Games, Didal is coming off a semifinal finish in the Dew Tour in Des Moines, Iowa, last month. Josef Ramos

GAC Motor Team back on track for Kalayaan Cup

Coalition celebrates World Bicycle Day

HE Move As One Coalition joined the global community in marking World Bicycle Day on Thursday despite the Philippines remaining far from a paradise for bikes. Many Filipinos and Filipinas— health-care workers, blue- and white-collar employees, entrepreneurs and other essential workers—have been cycling their way through the pandemic. “Bicycles are the future of Philippine mobility,” Robert Siy, Jr., coalition convenor and a development economist, said. “The coalition believes that biking is here to stay and will be part of our better normal if several conditions are fulfilled. The Bayanihan II bike lane networks in Metro Cebu, Metro Davao and Metro Manila, Siy said, are nearing completion toward the June 30 deadline. The entire network is 522.7 kilometers long and as of May 27, 427.4 kilometers have been built. Siy also said that more cities

become bike-friendly, like Iloilo which has become a shining example of how a city can be sweet to its cyclists. In the National Capital Region, the first-ever Mobility Awards recognized the cities of Pasig, San Juan and Marikina as the most bike-friendly cities in the region in 2020. The bike share system on Edsa is completed and according to the Department of Transportation, the initial proposal showed a wide coverage area along Edsa from Mall of Asia to SM North Edsa. “This P200 million-peso investment, if designed well, could be the solution millions of Metro Manila residents have been waiting for,” urban planner Julia Nebrija said. The first bicycle day was celebrated on June 3, 2018 when Professor Leszek Sibilski, Polish social scientist working in the United States, led a grassroots campaign with his Sociology class to promote a UN Resolution for World Bicycle Day.

SERENA SERVES LETHAL IN PARIS P

ARIS—Her superior serve back at its unreturnable best, Serena Williams was in full control of her French Open match— until, suddenly, that stroke wasn’t as dominant and neither was she. And then, pushed to a third set by an opponent offering up all sorts of spins and speeds and angles, Williams regained her form and forged to the finish. Williams got back to the third round at Roland Garros, where she has won three of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, by pulling away to beat 174th-ranked Mihaela Buzarnescu, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, Wednesday on Court Philippe Chatrier. Her serving, especially at the outset, was much better than in her first-round win. In that one Monday, she only put 51 percent of first serves in play and got broken three times in 10 games. “I’ve been practicing my serve a lot. I’ve been playing, in practice, unbelievable on my serve. The other night was, ‘Wooooow,’ she said, rolling her eyes. “I’m glad it

came better today. My coach told me it’s good that I’m doing it well in practice, because eventually it will be good in the match.” It sure was, especially at the outset against Buzarnescu, who didn’t manage to put any serves in play in the first game. By the end of the first set, Williams had won 20 of 23 points she served. In the second set, things changed.

THE countdown clock for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games is seen near Shimbashi Station in Tokyo. AP

10,000 volunteers drop out 50 days before opening

OKYO—The countdown clock for the Tokyo Olympics sat at 50-days-to-go on Thursday. It also brought another problem for the one-year-delayed games. About 10,000 of 80,000 unpaid volunteers for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have told organizers they will not participate when the games open on July 23. Organizers said some dropped out because of worries about Covid-19. Few volunteers are expected to be vaccinated since most will have no contact with athletes or other key personnel. Only about 2 to 3 percent of Japan’s general population is fully vaccinated in a very slow rollout that is just now speeding up. Conversely, the International

SERENA WILLIAMS’S superior serve is back at its unreturnable best. AP

AC Motor Philippines makes its much-awaited return to local endurance racing scene when it takes part in the Kalayaan Cup 12-hr Endurance Race at the Clark International Speedway on June 12 and 13. The GAC Motor Race Team of Brennan Lim and Andre Tan were on top of the racing circuit in 2019, highlighting their campaign with four championships—2019 Kalayaan Cup 4-hour Endurance Championship (Manufacturer’s Class), 2019 Kalayaan Cup 12-hour Endurance Championship (Manufacturer’s Class), 2019 Bonifacio Cup 4-hour Endurance Championship (Manufacturer’s Class) and the 2019 Bonifacio Cup 4-hour Endurance Championship (Open Category). For this year’s Kalayaan Cup, the GAC Motor Race Team will be joined by 2019 Philippine Autocross Championship Series overall champion Kody Ng, multi-awarded racecar driver Milo Rivera and Patrick Mendoza. “Joining motorsports events such as the endurance challenge will play a key role in boosting the presence of GAC Motor and building brand confidence in the Philippines,” Lim, branch head of GAC Motor Metrowalk, Pasig City, said. “It will also enable us to showcase the performance and reliability of the brand’s vehicle line-up, especially the GA4.” The GA4 1.5L MT is powered by a 1.5-liter inline-4 DCVVT Euro 5-compliant engine that can produce an output of 113 horsepower and 136 N-m of torque. It is also equipped with an L-type McPherson front suspension that suppresses high-frequency vibration and for better handling. The Kalayaan Cup 12-hr Endurance Challenge is composed of two categories—Makisig Class, a six-hour endurance race with two race car drivers, and Matatag Class, a 12-hour test that has at least three drivers taking turns in driving the race car.

Olympic Committee (IOC) expects at least 80 percent of athletes and residents of the Olympic Village to be fully vaccinated. “We have not confirmed the individual reasons,” organizers said in a statement. “In addition to concerns about the coronavirus infection, some dropped out because they found it would be difficult to actually work after checking their work shift, or due to changes in their own environment.” Organizers said the loss would not affect the operations of the postponed Olympics. Organizers planned a small event later in the day to mark the milestone in trying to pull off the first postponed Olympics. Support for the Olympics continues to lag in Japan with 50 percent-80 percent—depending how the question is phrased—say-

ing the games should not open on July 23. Unpaid volunteers are a key workforce in running the Olympics and save organizers millions of dollars in salaries. Volunteers typically get a uniform, meals on the days they work, and have daily commuting costs covered. They pay their own lodging. A study done for the International Olympic Committee on volunteers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics said their value was at least $60 million for 40,000 volunteers. Tokyo is officially spending $15.4 billion to organize the Olympics, and several government audits say it’s much more. All but $6.7 billion is public money. The IOC’s contribution is about $1.5 billion. AP

Buzarnescu made the measure of those powerful offerings and managed to get herself right back in the thick of things, breaking twice in a row. “She’s one of the best servers in the world. It’s not easy to read her serve. Being the first time playing against her, it took a while for me to adjust my position in the court on the return,” said Buzarnescu, who called it “a dream” to be able to face Williams. “I’m just happy I was able to figure it out. I hope next time, I can do it earlier.” AP

THE GAC Motor Race Team (from left) Sung Joon Park, Mark Bernardo, Andre Tan, Francis Arjonillo, Aurick Go and Brennan Lim.

B8 Friday, June 4, 2021

Motoring BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

JAC Philippines rolls out the new S2

Story by Randy S. Peregrino

RIESENBURG Auto Corp. (TAC), the official distributor of JAC passenger and light commercial vehicles, came into the country in 2018 as the first Chinese Automaker hoping to make a difference and provide vehicles that will change the way people look at cars and forget what’s normal. The objective was not to get a big piece of the pie but get a modest customer base and ensure 110 percent customer satisfaction. TAC is glad to say that they have so far successfully achieved that. Of the six vehicles in the product line-up, the JAC S2 became the hottest commodity as it provided specs and innovation at a price point that no one in the market can match. Over the last three years, the community of satisfied and proud owners have grown and continues to grow, as evidenced by the numerous testimonials existing owners agreed to give.

Given this, JAC Motors Philippines felt the need to improve their flagship vehicle further and launch a revamped, refreshed, and revitalized JAC S2 that will surely turn heads on the road. As JAC has always done, aside from these features already embraced by existing owners, JAC has listened to the feedback on what needs to be improved and have equipped the New S2 accordingly. Aesthetically, the major change only is the face of the S2. It has been streamlined and combined the daylight running lights (DRL) with the

The revamped, refreshed and revitalized JAC S2.

headlamps for a sportier and more cohesive look. This integration will further complement the sharp-looking front fog lamps. The trapezoidal grille, meantime, remains a staple on it. The roof rack and sharkfin antenna are still there, of course. Other lighting collocations for the CVT grade include rear fog lamp, trunk lamp, headlamps height-adjustable, headlamps auto-

JAC Philippines

matic lightening, follow me home function, and lighting assistance upon steering. Further, the clamor from owners for it to be more competitive for its multi-media has also been heard and done. The vehicle now sports a nine-inch multi-media with Android-Auto and Apple-Carplay functions. Leather material on the seats and trimmings all around the interior has also been improved and

accented with red stitching for that sportier look. Motivation comes from the same EURO V-compliant 1.5-liter VVT engine paired either to a CVT or manual gearbox. Power output is 111 hp at 6,000 rpm and 146 N-m of maximum torque between 3,500 to 4,500 rpm. According to JAC Philippines, changes in the gear ratio from 4.056 to 6.65 result in the vehicle

being more agile than the previous configuration. As for the suspension setup, the MacPherson independent struts still sprung the front while the Torsion Beam Semi-Independent setup remains at the rear. For stopping power and safety, the vehicle still has four-wheel disc brakes. The new JAC S2 will be rolling on 16-inch alloy rims with a new design wrapped with 205/55 series tires. Safety-wise, the new JAC S2, will continue to have the advantages of the high technology features as an advantage over the competition. These features include Dual Airbags, Driver and Passenger Seatbelt Alarms, ISOFIX Ready, Immobilizer, and Antilock Braking System with Electronic Brake Distribution. As for driver-assist functions, there are Electronic Stability Control, Hydraulic Brake Assist, Brake Override System, and Hill-start Assist Control. Moreover, the new S2 will also provide the convenience of the cruise control system, rear parking sensor and backup camera. The refreshed S2 starts at an affordable P748,000 price tag for the 1.5 VVT M/T variant. The top-spec 1.5 VVT CVT grade, on the other hand, retails at P798,000. To know more, customers may check JAC Philippines’s social media page or log on to https://jacmotors.ph.

First-time Car Owner Gets a Hyundai Kona T

HIS computer technology student is bound to turn heads at school as a first-time owner of the globally acclaimed Hyundai Kona which he won from the Shell 105 Raffle Promo last December. He didn’t think much gassing up for the family at the Shell JP Laurel Highway in Lipa City, Batangas as he’d normally do. Coming across a poster promoting the raffle, he decided to try his luck. When the winners were announced, he couldn’t

believe that he won, wary that he is of online scamming. Much less did he dream of driving home something that he’d only see at Hyundai showrooms and in auto reviews. “This is really my first car,” he said, “something that’s to my name.” For a young guy who used to happily move around on a bike, this makes for one awesome surprise. “I am a bit nervous.” “It’s new. It’s a real beauty and I don’t want to have scratches on it!” The Kona is the Tucson’s funki-

er and more adventurous younger brother. Much has been said about its head-turning style but what completes its winning figure among international awards bodies is its outstanding power, comfort, and safety features ideal for conquering long road trips: 2.0-liter Atkinson gasoline engine with 6-speed AT transmission Euro 4 emission rating gives maximum power of 149ps/6,200rpm and a maximum torque of 18.3kgm/4,500rpm; a body is proudly made

with 51.8% AHSS body that boost its safety ratings in various crash tests in Europe and North America; modern, comfy interiors that promise ample head and leg room. Julius is all set to take his dad and siblings on a road trip to Tagaytay. With his fave tunes blasting away to relieve the boredom of traffic and long rides, Julius and his Kona are prepared to give the Latag family safe, smooth, and better journeys ahead.

Julius Drey Latag, 22, is bound for better journeys

CARS cruising on govt help; heart from Isuzu

T is June, traditionally the “marry” month of the year because it’s been many a couple’s calendar of choice to tie the knot. Pandemic or no pandemic, data still show that more lovers exchange vows in June than in any other time of the year—but with limited guests, though, in accordance with social distancing health protocols. But June also impacts on the future of the CARS (Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy). Just a while back, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) assured CARS participants of a much-needed relief through an executive order (EO) to be issued this month. The CARS, as we all know, is a government initiative to boost local automotive production, initiated in 2015 with a startup of P27 billion. It mandates CARS participants to manufacture 200,000 units and produce body shells and large plastic parts in six years. Initially, each player is assured of a P9-billion fiscal support. Only Toyota, through its best-selling Vios, and Mitsubishi’s Mirage had been enrolled thus far, with both companies coughing out roughly P8 billion in investments thus far. In a press briefing several weeks ago, Ceferino Rodolfo, the Board of Investment (BOI) managing head and Trade undersecretary, said the DTI is ready to extend the production compliance period to three years for Toyota and Mitsubishi, citing the industry’s sales setbacks due to lockdowns and other pandemic-related issues.

“We are confident that an executive order for the extension of the compliance period for the CARS program participants would be issued before the end of June this year,” said Rodolfo as quoted by BM’s Tyrone Jasper C. Piad. “It only involves extension of the period of compliance, but the volume requirement remains intact and the national budget caps are still retained.” After selling 162,011 units in 2019, Toyota’s sales dropped to 100,019 in 2020—a still huge market share of 44.69 percent. Second-running Mitsubishi sold 37,366 units in 2020 after registering 64,065 in 2019. Just temporary setbacks, my dear.

Isuzu’s heart and smile

ISUZU Philippines Corp. (IPC) deserves credit for welcoming, through its iconic Isuzu Heart and Smile Project, 18 new scholars and 34 undergraduates in the company’s education thrusts. The program, headquartered at the TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Center (AMTC) in Tacloban City, Leyte, was designed to provide transformative learning and opportunities for the disadvantaged. Started in 2008 by Isuzu Motors Ltd. (IML) together with World Vision and TESDA, the platform has withstood the tests of time, from the tragic Typhoon Yolanda in 2014 to lockdowns amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The ceremonies were graced by Rommel V. Fuerte, the national director of World

Vision; and, Hirokazu Okubo, the IML’s executive officer. Okubo welcomed Batch 19 hopefuls gunning for a 2023 graduation. “Due to the pandemic, things have been difficult and job search has become even harder,” Okubo told the graduates. “Don’t worry. This program will give you more chances here and even abroad. You have made the best choice!” Okubo counseled the newbies: “Admission to the program does not guarantee success. But obey the rules, acquire the basics for auto mechanic and graduate with a driver's license. In two years, you can secure a bright future.” Words matter, as always.

PEE STOP San Miguel Corp. continues to help in the country’s fight against the Covid-19, recently deploying 100 doctors and nurses to government vaccination sites after initially enlisting 19 health personnel on April 26 in Metro Manila. The fresh batch of SMC’s vaccine brigade were dispatched at 11 sites, including Mandaluyong City Hall, Pedro P. Cruz Elementary School, Isaac Lopez Integrated School, Andres Bonifacio Integrated School, and Hulo Elementary School in Mandaluyong City; Potrero Elementary School, Malabon Elementary School, Ninoy Aquino Elementary School, and Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Malabon; and, Pinyahan Elementary School and Ateneo de Manila Grade School, in Quezon City. SMC is looking for 200 more medical workers. “The shortage of medical personnel also hampers the government’s vaccination program that’s why we are doing our own bit to help,” said SMC President Ramon S. Ang, also reiterating that his company’s 70,000 or so employees will soon be vaccinated together with their families in the P1-billion program. “Recovery is in sight,” he said. “Together, we can defeat this pandemic.” God bless you, Sir.