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DUTERTE EXTENDS STATE OF CALAMITY, OKAYS ‘RED LIST’ ON TRAVEL BAN PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte extended the nationwide state of calamity for another year as the country continues to battle rising number of COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant. “The number of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths continue to rise despite efforts and interventions to contain the same,” Duterte said in Proclamation No. 1218 extending the state of calamity until September 12, 2022. League of Cities of the President and

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier wrote Duterte to appeal for the extension of the state of calamity proclamation that allows local governments to use funds for development, special education, local disaster risk and reduction, and other available resources for their COVID-19 responses. The commander-in-chief also approved the “red list” of countries where travel bans will be imposed effective Sept. 12 until Sept. 18.

The red list covers Azerbaijan, Guadeloupe, Guam, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Saint Lucia, and Switzerland. Passengers coming from or who have been to the said countries within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines will be prohibited from entering, except returning Filipinos via repatriation flights and special commercial flights allowed under Next page

CHINA HOLDS NAVAL DRILLS

'COVID-POSITIVE VOTERS CAN VOTE'

NEWS / A4

NEWS / A2

VOL. XXXV • NO. 208 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Roque resign—frontliners

Health workers denounce his outburst against physicians that was caught on video By Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

president Dr. Maricar Limpin, who was one of the targets of Roque’s ire, said she was shocked and insulted by his outburst EALTH workers on Friday tore into presidential called for his removal, saying his acspokesman Harry Roque and demanded he resign and tions were a disservice to President Rodrigo Duterte. after he berated a group of doctors who warned "It is not an action that is expected from that relaxing lockdowns could lead to a further spike of a government official. Secretary Roque COVID-19 infections. has to realize that, as the spokesperson of the President, he is basically representing In a video that has been widely circu- Agency Task Force for the Management the President. Therefore, any actions he lated online, Roque was seen shouting and of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) makes, it is reflective of the President," wagging his finger at a group of doctors on Tuesday. Limpin said in an online interview with during an online meeting with the InterPhilippine College of Physicians (PCP) reporters. Next page

11 volunteer-doctors opt out of PGH— spokesman By Willie Casas SOME 11 volunteer doctors from the Department of Health (DOH) have left the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), which has reached its full capacity amid a surge in COVID-19 patients, according to the hospital’s spokesperson.

PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario said the 11 doctors decided not to renew their contract to pursue residency training. Del Rosario could not say the individual reasons behind the resignations even as he surmised that these doctors could earn more elsewhere for a lesser workload. Next page

Outbreak shifts focus to kids By Rio N. Araja

2,179,770 17,964

175,470

34,899

168

1,969,401

9,067

(As of 4 PM, SEPTEMBER 10)

Divided, bruised US marks 9/11 20th anniversary AMERICANS mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday with troops finally gone from Afghanistan, but national discord—and for President Joe Biden, political peril —are overshadowing any sense of Next page closure.

AMID reports that 99 children at the Gentle Hands Inc. orphanage had contracted COVID-19, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte urged the government to expand its vaccination program to children.

She noted a steady rise of cases among children, citing a report from the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) that 12,608 children had COVID-19 as of Sept. 8. Belmonte said three male staff of

COA backs PS, PITC abolition; Senate panel orders Yang arrest INVISIBLE BRIDGE. In this photo taken on September 9, 2021, residents disembark from a wooden boat serving as ferry transport in Cauayan, Isabela province in the northern Philippines after the bridge was submerged by the swollen Cagayan river due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Jolina. In Metro Manila, A personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority sorts out heaps of garbage before it is disposed of at the Tripa De Gallina Pumping Station on Friday. The trash piled up during the onslaught of typhoon Jolina at the pumping station that collects trash from neighboring cities such as Pasay and Makati. AFP, Norman Cruz

ment (PS-DBM) and the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) as senators THE chairman of the Commission on moved for the arrest of former presidenAudit (COA) said Friday he supports the tial economic adviser Michael Yang and abolition of the procurement service of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals executive Next page the Department of Budget and Manage-

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

WEATHER ‘Jolina’ death toll, damage rise THE idiom “when it rains it pours” breathes in the death toll and damage caused by Storm Jolina as a new super typhoon named Kiko (international name: Chanthu) was threatening the northeastern tip of the country's main

island of Luzon Friday. At least 14 people including one from Buenavista, Marinduque were reported dead, seven missing, and at least 20 injured after Jolina lashed the Next page

Pharmally chairman and president, Huang Tzu Yen tesfifies at the inquiry into the 2020 Commission on Audit report on the Department of Health's its expenditures for the COVID-19 program Friday, September 10, 2021. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

Michael Yang, former Presidential Economic Adviser, attends the continuation of the Blue Ribbon inquiry on the 2020 Commission on Audit report on the utilization of the Department of Health budget in Friday, September 10, 2021. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

News

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘COVID-positive voters can vote’ Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said this during the deliberations on the proposed P26.728-billion budget for the poll body. Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Dalipe pressed Abas and inquired from the Comelec if a registered voter afflicted with COVID-19 might still go to his or

her polling precinct and exercise his or her right to vote. Abas answered: "Yes, they can still vote." But the Comelec chairman said "we will just make adjustments. We will have an isolation center in each polling center so we will isolate those who are COVID-

positive. They will cast their votes in that isolation center." But as for the case of poll servers, Abas said they would not be allowed to serve in the elections if they were COVID-19 positive. He said Comelec had been coordinating with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to finalize the guidelines for next year's polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Abas told legislators that the Department of Budget's approved budget for Comelec amounting to P26 billion does not include the

Roque...

health. Who wants COVID to kill people?” “Are you saying that only medical frontliners are concerned about the health of the people? We all want to save lives. For crying out loud, no one in the government wants a single life lost. No one!” Roque said. “How dare you think that we are not considering steps to prevent the loss of lives!” he added. He chided Limpin's group for always criticizing the government's pandemic response. "And let me point out to everyone, this group, they have never said anything good about the government response,” said Roque as he raised his voice anew and jabbed a finger at the computer screen. Roque only stopped scolding Limpin and Hans, after Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles told him to cool off, saying, “Relax, partner, relax.” After that, the meeting then went into a recess and the doctors were asked to leave, Limpin said. Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) president Robert Mendoza said Roque should step down for insulting medical professionals at the frontlines of the pandemic.

“Maybe it's time for Cabinet members to resign who are rude to the Filipino public,” Mendoza said in Filipino. Mendoza said doctors were only giving suggestions on how to improve the government's COVID-19 response, which many have criticized as inadequate. Filipino Nurses United president Maristela Abenojar said Roque should have listened to the sentiments of health workers, who are mentally and physically exhausted from the still-raging pandemic. She said Roque was unworthy of votes if he seeks a seat at the Senate in the 2022 elections. Limpin, who lost her mother to COVID-19, said she could not think of anything she said at the meeting that would appear arrogant. Dans said they were appealing against the implementation of the proposed granular lockdown since it is not yet clear to the public what that is and how it will be implemented. "It seems difficult to experiment in a situation like this where the emergency department is overflowing," Dans said. When sought for an explanation of his behavior, Roque only said in a text message, "IATF meets are secret." But later in an interview over radio dzBB, he apolo-

gized. In a press briefing, Roque admitted that he got emotional after hearing Limpin and Dan's recommendation to impose a twoweek hard lockdown. "I confirm that I got emotional. I am sorry. I’m just human. That’s the first time that I lost my bearing in an IATF meeting, but as I said I may apologize and I have in fact apologized for the manner but never for the message," Roque said. He maintained the government should do away with hard lockdowns as people need to earn a living. He also said the government is ramping up vaccination efforts so that it can reopen the economy safely. Roque said he got mad because he thinks it’s time for the IATF to hear the voice of the people. "Let’s stop this lockdown. COVID-19 is here for the long haul, not just in the Philippines, but also across the globe," he said in Filipino. In his official Facebook account, Roque also posted a message. "We employed the ‘entire government approach’ thinking about economic ramifications, thinking about the people (who) will go hungry. It does not mean that we care any less,” he said.

somewhere, they can earn twice as much,” he said. Del Rosario said they needed more health workers as 65 percent to 70 percent of their patients were severe to critical. "We do not want to compromise the care that we deliver to our patients... they need to be monitored; we are really trying our best. We have to cut down on our non-COVID elective cases," he said. Del Rosario also said their COVID-19 beds were now fully occupied, with 100 people still waiting to be ad-

mitted to the hospital. “We have 300 beds for COVID. We have 298 patients in the hospital, but we also have about close to 35 patients in the emergency room," he said. “And the reason why they are still in the emergency room is because a lot of these patients would require either a ventilator or a high-flow oxygen machine, you need oxygen ports, but we cannot accommodate them inside the hospital. The ER becomes an extension of the ICU setup in our COVID facility.

We’re full,” he said. Del Rosario also said they would have to close some of the non-COVID facilities “so that we can open up more beds that have available oxygen ports.” The hospital has also mobilized health workers from other departments to help treat COVID-19 patients, but del Rosario admitted this was not enough. “Even with that, kapos pa rin (it’s still not enough) because we have other non-COVID patients to take care of," he said.

for the medical equipment it bought from China-based suppliers and sold to the Philippine government. Yang also guaranteed the Philippine government would pay Pharmally for the COVID-19 medical supplies, Pangilinan said. Ong also said Yang acted as the middle man in the multi-billion-peso contract between the company and the PS-DBM. Ong said if the amount involved was huge, Yang would guarantee for Pharmally. Senators are investigating how a small company like Pharmally was able to land such a huge contract to supply face masks, face shields and PPE. But Yang said he had nothing to do with Pharmally and its operations. “Mr. chairman, Mr. Yang said he doesn’t know and he has no relation to Pharmally,” Yang’s interpreter told the Senate panel. The interpreter said Yang merely introduced Ong to the Chinese suppliers and it was Ong who talked and negotiated with them. "He only introduced [them] and let them discuss things on their own," Yang said. Lacson moved for the issuance of an arrest warrant against Yang and Ong, which Senator Risa Hontiveros seconded. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Duterte...

lockdowns, based on the guidelines of the NTF. The difference is these lockdowns are stricter, Roque said. With the implementation of stricter granular lockdowns, health and allied health professionals are the only ones who will be considered Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR), he said, noting that government workers in areas under localized lockdown would not be allowed to go out. He said, however, that local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would provide assistance to households that might be affected by the granular lockdowns. “Local governments and the DSWD will give assistance so residents of areas under granular lockdown would no longer need to leave their homes,” he said. Roque did not say when the pilot implementation of localized lockdowns would begin. Originally, Metro Manila was placed under regular GCQ from Sept. 8 to 30 to give way for the pilot implementation of granular lockdowns. The IATF, however, decided to retain the modified ECQ (MECQ) status in Metro Manila until Sept. 15, pending the release of the final guidelines on localized lockdowns. Also on Friday, the IATF approved the creation of a task force to focus on augmenting the oxygen supply in the country. Willie Casas (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

By Maricel V. Cruz

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will allow COVID 19 positive individuals to vote in the May 2022 national and local elections.

From A1

"As far as I’m concerned, the President should remove him from office.” The other doctor at the meeting was Dr. Antonio Dans, convener of the Healthcare Professional Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC). "We were there as representatives of the health care workforce. He has to apologize to the whole of the health care workforce, not just to us. What he did is against all of us in the health care sector," he said. Dr. Leni Jara of the Shape Up to Defeat COVID-19 group demanded that Roque apologize to medical professionals for his outburst. “Stop it. You've gone overboard. You disrespected those working and saving patients. You disrespected them,” Jara said in Filipino during an online media forum. Jara said that even if Roque was feeling stressed, there is no excuse for ranting against health professionals. In the video, Roque scolded Limpin during a Zoom meeting. “Do not sit there as if you’re the only ones right. We’re trying to achieve total

11... From A1

"Maybe I can just hypothesize. Maybe they are tired, probably the others are getting sick. They probably look at PGH as a place with a lot of work to do.),” Del Rosario said in an interview with CNN Philippines. "I heard even if your salary is P50,000, to a lot of people that’s not enough. Because if they can moonlight

COA... From A1

Lincoln Ong for evading questions on allegedly overpriced personal protective equipment. At the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearings on the COVID-19 spending by the Department of Health, COA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo said he would support measures to abolish the two organizations that are supposed to procure common-use supplies in bulk for various government agencies. He said he was willing to provide suggestions on how common use supplies could be procured without opening them to possible corruption. Senator Imee Marcos recently filed two bills seeking the abolition of the PITC and the PS-DBM due to the alleged “systemic corruption” in the said agencies. Meanwhile, testifying with an interpreter, Yang denied reports that he was involved in the PS-DBM contract with Pharmally, a small company that bagged an P8 billion contract to supply face masks, face shields and PPE. He also said he has had no contact with the President since 2017. But Senator Francis Pangilinan said Yang acted as the guarantor of Pharmally

Divided... From A1

A whole generation has grown up since the morning of September 11, 2001. In the interim, Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been hunted down and killed. A towering new skyscraper has risen over Manhattan, replacing the Twin Towers. And less than two weeks ago, the last US soldiers flew from Kabul airport, ending the so-called "forever war." Yet 9/11 never fully went away. The Taliban who once sheltered bin Laden are back ruling Afghanistan. The mighty US military has been humiliated. In Guantanamo Bay, accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men continue to await trial, nine years after charges were filed. Even the full story of how the attack came to happen remains secret. Only last week did Biden order the release of classified documents from the FBI investigation over the next six months. Monica Iken-Murphy, who lost her 37-year-old husband Michael Iken in the World Trade Center, says this will be a "heightened" anniversary for many

Americans. But for her, as for many other survivors, the pain has never wavered. "I feel like it just happened," she told AFP. Same as every year, simple, heartwrenching ceremonies will unfold at each of the three places where Al-Qaeda hijackers crashed packed airliners, striking the cultural, financial and political hearts of the United States. Ground Zero in New York was where the majority of the approximately 3,000 fatalities, including people from all over the world, were killed in the initial explosions, jumped to their deaths, or simply vanished in the inferno of the collapsing towers. At the Pentagon, an airliner tore a fiery hole in the side of the superpower's military nerve center. And in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the third wave of hijackers crashed into a field after passengers fought back, sending United 93 down before reaching its intended target – likely the US Capitol building in Washington, a short flight further on. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will stop at each of these places on Saturday to "honor and memorialize the lives lost," the White House said. AFP

From A1

existing resolutions of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Meanwhile, the IATF has “provisionally” approved the guidelines on the pilot implementation of granular lockdowns in Metro Manila, Malacañang announced on Friday. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the COVID-19 policy shift would only impose either the strictest enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or the general community quarantine (GCQ) with four alert levels in Metro Manila. “Based on the policy shift that we will carry out, there will only be two quarantine classifications,” Roque said in Filipino. “These are the ECQ that will be imposed by the IATF or the GCQ.” He said the localized lockdown that would be pilot-tested in Metro Manila has four levels. The IATF-EID is still ironing out the details on the implementation of alert level 4, the strictest level, Roque said. Roque said all areas that would be placed under an alert level system should follow the protocols that are consistent with their alert levels and issued by the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19. The classification of pilot areas and their alert levels will also be done weekly, unless otherwise specified, he added. All areas will implement granular

Outbreak... From A1

Gentle Hands allegedly went out of the orphanage to get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 13. Six days later one of the children developed symptoms. On Thursday, CESU confirmed that 122 residents at the Gentle Hands Orphanage tested positive, including 23 staff members and 99 youths aged 18 years and below. The orphanage has a total of 163 residents, including both children and personnel, of which 143 were tested by CESU for Covid-19. Of those tested, 118 tested positive plus the four index cases bring the total positive cases to 122. On Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the government may gradually include children in the COV-

hazard pay for the poll servers including teachers. The Comelec proposes a P41.9-billion budget for 2022 but the DBM approved only P26 billion. Abas said funds for the hazard pay of the Board of Election Inspectors were not approved by the DBM. “As to the hazard pay, we asked DBM. Unfortunately, it was not approved. Right now, our budget does not cover hazard pay," Abas told congressmen. Lawmakers at the House of Representatives called for the restoration of the P15.5-billion cut made in Comele's proposed budget.

ID-19 vaccination program in the fourth quarter of the year. “We will get the bulk of our supply in the) 4th quarter of this year. Once we get the bulk of the volumes, we can slowly include the children in the program," Duque told members of the House of Representatives. The government expects to receive nearly 137 million doses from this month until the end of the year. The Food and Drug Administration has allowed the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccines of Pfizer and Moderna for minors aged 12 to 17. In Cuba, health workers have started to inoculate children as young as two years old in a bid to reopen face-to-face classes – making it the first country to roll out a vaccination program for toddlers. In the US, Los Angeles made vaccination mandatory for children aged 12 or over who attend public schools by the start of next year. With AFP

P160b in ‘FLR’ funds held by DBM—solon By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER from Mindanao on Friday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to order the release of about P160 billion in so-called “For Later Release” (FLR) funds, saying the “hijacking” of the money was unconstitutional. “The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has effectively hijacked these funds by withholding them. The President should direct the DBM to immediately release the money," Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said. The representative of Cagayan de Oro’s second district said even if the DBM and the President had classified the appropriations as FLR, “it is against the Constitution to impound them.” “These are line items in the 2021 budget law or General Appropriations Act, which the House and the Senate approved and which President Duterte signed. The President’s approval is not needed for their release because they are contained in a law,” he stressed. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

32 lawmakers slam exorbitant yellow card fee By Maricel V. Cruz SEVERAL legislators have sought a congressional inquiry into the Bureau of Quarantine's contract with PisoPay for what they described as an exorbitant P70 convenience fee per issuance of International Certificates of Vaccination (ICVs) for COVID-19 to Filipino travelers or migrant workers. In House Resolution 2198, at least 32 lawmakers led by Reps. Sharon Garin of AAMBIS OWA, Jesua Suntay of Quezon City, Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, Francisco Benitez of Negros Occidental, Juan Miguel Arroyo of Pampanga and Michael Gorriceta of Iloilp asked the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into Bureau of Quarantine's contract with PisoPay for the issuance of ICVs as well as the fees being charged. The Bureau of Quarantine has been tasked with issuing the international vaccine certification or yellow card as proof of inoculation against COVID-19. In particular, the lawmakers questioned the need to pay P300 for the certification plus an additional P70 in convenience fee. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Du30 signs law arming firemen PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11589 that will strengthen and modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection, including a provision arming firefighters. Duterte defended the arming of BFP personnel. saying the move would allow them to do their job without worrying of the “fraught of so many dangers.” “They are facing challenges because they are getting threats),” he said. “So, to boost the firefighters’ confidence, we thought of just arming them also since they are part of the government and they can be called upon during emergencies to contribute to the law and order of the place,” the commander-in-chief added RA 11589 is one of the Duterte administration’s priority measures.

Jolina.. From A1

country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Friday. At the same time, officials said preliminary estimates of damage and losses from Jolina amounted to P270.39 million, affecting 11,499 farmers and fishers, with volume of production loss at 15,450 metric tons and 8,083 hectares of agricultural areas in Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas. Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, and fisheries. These values are still subject to validation. Damage to infrastructure, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways, reached almost P60 million, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Friday. Meanwhile, the eye of super typhoon Kiko was at 190 kms east of Aparri, Cagayan, at the mouth of the winding Cagayan River, the state weather bureau said yesterday. Packing maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 265 km/hr, Kiko was moving northwestward at 15 km/hr. Rio N. Araja and AFP

News

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

Prudence urged on multi-party vaccine deals

Simultaneous buy-bust operations in Imus and Bacoor cities in Cavite were conducted by combined law enforcement units that resulted in the killing of two suspects and the capture of 229 kilos of shabu with a combined value of P1.58 billion. PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva identified one of the slain suspects as Basher Bangon, leader of the Basher Drug Group which has direct links with the Chinese drug syndicates whose main markets are Visayas and Mindanao. JR Josue, Roy Tomandao

PUVs assured of P3-b service contract pay A TOTAL of P3 billion will be disbursed to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles across the country throughout the second phase of the service contracting program. The program would work similar to the previous SCP, with faster and “real time” payouts if members of the program have their own Landbank account, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Martin Delgra III said in a virtual relaunch of the SCP on Friday. The program’s second phase provides incentives to member drivers and operators based on the kilometers their vehicle has traveled and compliance with performance indicators. During the previous SCP, incentives were based on the maximum number of trips per week and other performance indicators. While the second phase will have a program manager to oversee the proper disbursement of funds similar to the previous SCP, he said phase two would be monitored by other LTFRB personnel. In Metro Manila, he said the new SCP would be rolled out in the Edsa Busway and monitored through the Center for PUV Monitoring System established at the LTFRB Central Office. The budget for the new SCP—funded under the General Appropriation Act of 2021 (GAA 2021)—is smaller than the P5.5 billion SCP that ran under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2). However, he said PHP3.38 billion is yet to be disbursed to participants of the previous SCP after the recent release of the funds from the Department of Budget and Management. On Thursday, the LTFRB announced the resumption of the SCP to help the public transportation industry and the riding public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Macon Ramos Araneta

2 drug dealers killed, P1.6b shabu seized in Cavite sting By Joel E. Zurbano, Rio Araja and Roy Tomandao

OVERNMENT agents killed two suspected drug dealers and seized P1.58 billion worth of shabu during simultaneous anti-narcotics operations Thursday night in Imus and Bacoor in Cavite. A composite team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) conducted the operations in line with the government’s continuing crackdown on drug dealing in the country. The team confiscated 182 kilos of shabu valued at P1.2 billion during the buy-bust operation that resulted in the shooting encounter along Block 6 Lot 15 in Springville Executive 1 in Molino,

Bacoor around 9:30 p.m. Killed were Basher Bangon, 59, of Cagayan de Oro, and Danilo Untavar, 51, of Datu Ismael, Dasmarinas City. Bangon, the target of the operation, is a known top-level drug personality with links to the Chinese drug syndicate, and operating in the Visayas and Mindanao areas. PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva said the suspects are called “bodegeros” of the Chinese drug trafficking organization.

“These dangerous drugs are supposedly supplies for Mindanao. So, all of these are en route to Mindanao. That’s how we intercepted it and we conducted an operation and we’re able to stop the impending delivery of the dangerous drugs to the southern Philippines,” he said. “What we got here is their stockroom while the buy-bust in the other is supposedly a part of that is they will deliver to southern Philippines which is in Mindanao.” PDEA Southern Tagalog director Juvenal Azurin said the Bacoor site was used as a stockroom for the Golden Triangle Syndicate. Aside from the prohibited substance, authorities also recovered P600,000 cash, two identification cards, and two short firearms from the slain suspects.

17th WAVE OF AYUDA.

San Juan City Mayor Francis M. Zamora hands over food packs to residents of Brgy West Crame in San Juan City, during the the 17th wave of Ayuda Distribution to San Juan residents during this pandemic. The food packs contain rice, canned goods, powdered milk, face shields and face masks and other items which were donated by private individuals, organizations, and corporations and repacked by city hall volunteers. Manny Palmero

Housing ‘very vibrant’ despite the pandemic—DHSUD chief AMID the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s housing sector remains “very vibrant,” according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. The housing sector continues to thrive despite the adverse impact of the pandemic on the national economy, Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said.

It remains on track and is performing well despite the health crisis, he added. The housing production has been posting an average surge of 15 percent since 2016, he cited. It peaked in 2019, he said. Del Rosario said they earlier expected another 15 percent increase in 2020 but the Covid-19 situation slowed down

the production. “But surprisingly, in 2021, figures showed that the housing production went up higher than during the period of 2019’s first semester,” he noted. More Filipinos tend to buy housing units than save their money in the banks, he said.

“The housing sector is very vibrant in 2021. And we did this through helping housing developers. We adopted various intervention to be able to resume construction,” he said. The housing czar dismissed claims that the housing sector is experiencing a “crisis” amid the pandemic. Rio N. Araja

VACCINE czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stood firm on the national government’s position on multi-party agreements, saying they were put on hold due to questionable deals made by third-party consolidators. “I need to have prudent judgment on securing and entering into agreements. We cannot sign an agreement] without the indicative delivery dates. They should be complete because all of our contracts have that to inform us if there would be slippages,” Galvez said during the hearing of the House Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday. As this developed, a China Airlines flight carrying 502,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday. The vaccines were procured by local government units and the private sector through the “A Dose of Hope” initiative spearheaded by Presidential Adviser for ntrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion. The COVID-19 Vaccination Act of 2021 or Republic Act 11525 allows local government units (LGUs) and private firms to procure vaccine supplies through multi-party agreements with the national government. Proofs of this arrangement are the seven million doses of Moderna purchased by various private companies and the 17 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines procured by the private sector and over 69 local government units nationwide, Galvez said The task force will not allow dubious deals made by consolidators that might put the procuring entities, particularly LGUs, into the “disadvantaged side”,Galvez said. Joel Zurbano

SSS members get P115.7b in benefits, loans By Rio N. Araja THE Social Security System has disbursed P115.73 billion in social security and employees’ compensation benefits to 3.60 million members and beneficiaries during the first half of 2021 alone. President and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio said these are the respective increases of 20.6 percent and 15.4 percent from the P95.96 billion benefits disbursed to 3.12 million members for the same period of 2020. Loan releases, including the salary, educational, calamity, housing and pension loans, period reached P17.19 billion for 691,048 borrowers from January to June this year. These are increases of 19.2 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively, over the P14.42 billion loan releases for 639,735 borrowers in the same period of 2020. Ignacio yesterday spearheaded the launch of uSSSap Tayo Portal in the month-long celebration of the 64th founding anniversary of the SSS. “Last Sept. 1, we marked the 64th anniversary of the SSS in providing meaningful social security protection to its members, pensioners, and their beneficiaries. On behalf of the SSS, I would like to reiterate our commitment to executing this mandate continuously,” he said. The agency’s theme “expreSSS: Handog sa Miyembro, Serbisyong Makabago” embodies its dedication to continuously pursue the goal of digitalization by way of providing more convenient and efficient transaction channels for its stakeholders and the public.

Mining scholars undergo training SOME 50 scholars are undergoing a two-month training on digital platforms under the Digital Jobs Project, which is sponsored and conducted by Masbatebased mining firms Filminera Resources Corporation and Phil Gold Processing & Refining Corporation (PGPRC). The multi-million peso project has put up a Community BPO Training Center, training facilities and supplies, recruited faculty, provided millions of pesos for trainees’ allowance, set up a systematic job search and placement system. The trainees come from the Montana Relocation Site in Barangay Bangon, Aroroy. The two mining firms have partnered with the Department of Infor-

mation and Communication Technology (DICT), which provided faculty to train the scholars in these digital courses: virtual assistance, web development, search engine optimization, graphic design, e-commerce, online bookkeeping, among others. Initial feedback from deployed trained scholars is encouraging, according to Benjamin Magalit, PhilGold social development management program (SDMP) supervisor. For example, a highly trained PWD is now earning more than US$2,000 a month as website content developer, while a farmer is earning US$1,000 a month as BPO manager specializing in Search Engine Optimization.

Filminera digital jobs project

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Blinken meets Locsin, PH gets more virus aid By Rey E. Requejo THE United States on Friday extended an additional $11.3 million in aid to the Philippines to support its COVID-19 vaccine rollout as well as the country’s national response plan to detect, manage and treat COVID-19, especially among its most vulnerable population. The assistance came as the Philippine government implemented a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila until September 15, deferring an earlier plan to shift the capital to a more relaxed quarantine. “This support brings the total USAID, US Department of State, and US Department of Defense COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines to more than $39 million since the start of the pandemic,” the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement. “As part of President Biden’s pledge to serve as the world’s arsenal of vaccines, the United States has donated more than 6 million doses to the Philippines to help save lives and end the pandemic,” the embassy added. Additionally, USAID has supported 44,000 frontline healthcare workers and strengthened more than 800 hospitals and clinics, as well as procured essential items such as personal protective equipment (PPE), medicines, hygiene kits, and other life-saving products to support the Philippines’ COVID-19 response. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., currently in the US for an official visit, met with counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, where they discussed the pandemic and America’s commitment to support Manila in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bong Go backs more incentives for vax ‘bubble’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta

News

FIRST FACE-TO-FACE MEETING. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right) meets Philippines Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin at the State Department in Washington, DC

on September 9. AFP

China sets naval drills; US praises VFA redux

HINA has cordoned off an area in its southern coast to naval traffic for live-fire exercises on Thursday and Friday that would enhance its ability to seize an island, the South China Morning Post reported. This developed as the United States is “very gratified” the Philippines has restored the Visiting Forces Agreement between the old treaty allies, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said on Friday (see related story – Editors). Despite potentially inflaming its military friction with the United States in the South China Sea, China sealed off an area in the west of the Leizhou Peninsula, just above the Chinese island of Hainan, for the livefire drills, its Maritime Administration said in a notice as reported by SCMP. Chinese state media reported separately

that a naval detachment under the Southern Theatre Command had conducted an amphibious landing exercise in the South China Sea in early Wednesday morning. According to video footage released by the state broadcaster CCTV, the exercise involved using Wuzhishan – a Type 071 amphibious transport dock – and two helicopters, at least one tank and three air-cushioned landing craft. The video also showed soldiers being sent to an unspecified island by both the helicopter and the transport dock, SCMP reported.

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday aired his support to proposals to provide more incentives and allow greater mobility for fully-vaccinated individuals. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Go said this would encourage more Filipinos, especially those who are still hesitant, to get their COVID-19 shots. As the vaccines become more available, Go called on the government and private sector to come up with unique and innovative ways to incentivize people to help the country achieve population protection leading to herd immunity at the soonest possible time. In other countries, he said those fully vaccinated can already watch basketball games live like in the United States. “If many will be vaccinated, our lives will be more normal,” Go said. He back the proposal of the mayors in the National Capital Region to relax some of the COVID-19 guidelines for fully-vaccinated individuals.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is leaning on the US and its obligations under the VFA and the Mutual Defense Treaty to counter any potential Chinese threat in the SCS. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday key areas in the MDT with the United States must be updated “to make it more current and relevant to the existing security situation.” To that Blinken said: “We are very gratified to have the recent renewal of the Visiting Forces Agreement,” during a meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in the US. This was the first time Locsin and Blinken met face-to-face in time for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the MDT and 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

COURTESY CALL.

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez (left) talks with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez during a courtesy call at the Majority office, as Lopez presented to the Committee on Appropriation Budget Briefing DTI’s proposed 2022 Budget. Ver Noveno

2 senators hit Ombudsman for shielding SALNs from public scrutiny THE Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of government officials are public documents that should be open for public comments, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Friday. “We all know that SALNs are public documents that are supposed to be accessible to anyone who requests it. And

since these are public documents, these are matters of public knowledge and it should be open for comments by any citizen, even us who are working in the government,” said Hontiveros. Detained Sen. Leila de Lima also took potshots at Ombudsman Samuel Martires for defending public officials

instead of investigating them. “If an alien from another planet landed on the Philippines for the first time, it would think that the Office of the Ombudsman was created to defend and protect abusive and corrupt public officials from the citizenry, instead of the other way around,” said De Lima.

“Because that is what Ombudsman Samuel Martires projects to be the mission of his office: to protect public officials from the public, instead of investigating their wrongdoing,” she added. Hontiveros underscored the importance of SALNs in investigating cases of graft and corruption. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Legarda confirms bid for Senate By Rio N. Araja

ANTIQUE Rep. Loren Legarda on Thursday said she is running for senator in the 2022 elections to push for more environmental laws and “to save lives literally.” During a media briefing through Zoom organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Legarda, 62, said she could still work, serve the Senate for another three terms, and pass more bills even until she is 80 years old. “Promise, I will ask you to campaign. Why is Loren Legarda asking you to campaign? Yes, a campaign for nature. We must nurture nature. That is our life to survive and thrive in the new normal,

in the better new normal,” she said. When asked if she would run for senator, Legarda categorically said “yes.” “In my three terms at the Senate, I have done so much for the environment, education, health and jobs. I am so excited to do more amid the (COVID-19) pandemic,” said the lawmaker, who served 18 total years in the Senate. “The pandemic recovery would be so long,” the former broadcast journalist added. Legarda has revived a partnership with the DENR to pursue “Our Fragile Earth: Protected Areas of the Philippines” to heighten public awareness of the importance of conserving the country’s rich biodiversity.

PEPSI JABS. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia oversees the on-site vaccination drive for employees of Pepsi Cola at their Bacolod plant on Friday. Supervising the vaccination drive at Pepsi Cola is EOC Deputy Medical Dr. Chris Sorongon, assisted by Pepsi Cola AVP and General Manager Gerardo Madamba, Operations Manager Agustini Amar, Human Resource Manager Cindy Tombocon, Finance Manager Nechoseth Brizo, and Group Sales Manager Garrett Tabanao.

Leni laments 21% budget cut for OVP in ‘22 By Maricel V. Cruz VICE President Leni Robredo on Friday lamented the Department of Budget and Management’s decision to slash the 2022 budget of her by over a fifth. Attending the budget deliberations at the House of Representatives, Robredo said the Office of the Vice President’s DBM-approved budget for next year is 21 percent less than the P900 million her office got in 2021. Despite the budget cut, Robredo said she was confident that with the proposed budget for the OVP next year, “we can continue working with our partners to contribute to our shared goals of defeating the virus and improving the lives of our people.” She said her office would want to allocate “almost half of its total funds in 2022” or P357.602 million for its financial assistance and subsidies under Robredo’s flagship anti-poverty program Angat Buhay. Lawmakers led by Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado, a Robredo ally, supported a bigger budget for the OVP. Bordado said that Robredo’s office “deserves more funds.” “Mr. Chairman, I am therefore proposing once again that the P713 million-budget of the Office of the Vice President for 2022, representing a substantial cut of more than 21 percent, be increased to at least P1 billion,” he said. But the House committee on appropriations later on approved the DBMslashed budget for the OVP.

Caloocan city workers get free flu jabs, vitamins By Jun David THE Caloocan City Government is offering free flu vaccines and vitamins to all its staff, who are considered the city’s main frontliners in the fight against COVID-19. According to Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan, city hall staff that provide health care services, peace and order, emergency response, and environmental sanitation, or who often engage in field work and “respond to the needs of our citizens” will be prioritized. “We know that the 5,000 employees or the frontliners of our local government face the risk of pandemic every day. Therefore, in addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, we want to give them additional protection so that they can continue to serve the from Caloocan,” the mayor said. Priority employees include the staff of the Caloocan City Medical Center, Caloocan City North Medical Center, City Health Department, City Social Welfare and Development Department, Public Safety and Traffic Management Department, and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. They will be vaccinated with the flu vaccine on September 13.

Opinion Blowing his top

There is fire in QC, too The local government conveniently obtained the grocery packs via a negotiated contract with Thyme General Merchandise, a sole proprietorship business, rather than through an open and competitive public bidding involving direct suppliers, the lawmakers pointed out. The procurement was made through Purchase Order No. 2012134, for P402,493,000.00 worth of groceries. Had the groceries been bought straight from any supermarket at P636 per bundle, the solons say, the local government could have procured a total of 632,850 packs for the beneﬁt of an equal number of families.

Why has the COA failed to question these deals? “The local government not only squandered P179 million in taxpayers’ money. It also deprived an additional 282,850 families the opportunity to receive their share of the relief goods,” they said. In calling for the inquiry, the lawmakers invoked Section 4 of Republic Act 6713, which provides that: “Public officials and employees shall always uphold the public interest over and above personal interest. All government resources and powers of their respective offices must be employed and used efficiently, effectively, honestly and economically, particularly to avoid wastage in public funds and revenues.” This was aside from another alleged overpriced procurement of the Quezon City government involving face shields and disinfectant sprays. About two weeks ago, Defensor called

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EDITORIAL

Limpin felt shocked and insulted by what the spox did to her and other HCWs. Limpin, besides being the President of the PCP, is also a convenor of the Healthcare Professional Alliance Against COVID-19. She said, “I was surprised with the reaction. I think that reaction is uncalled for, it’s not expected and should not be a reaction by THE video of the presidential spokesper- government officials.” She added that the son berating healthcare workers represent- spox has to realize that he is representing ed by Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the the president and that, therefore, any action Philippine College of Physicians, is all over he makes reflects on the president. social media. The spox blew his top after It is true that the spokesperson only Dr. Limpin pleaded with the Inter-Agency serves as the President’s mouthpiece. Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19 to re- Strictly speaking, his personal opinions consider the decision to ease restrictions must be kept to himself because he can and lower quarantine classification in only officially speak on behalf of his Metro Manila in the middle of the recent principal. He is not entitled to express record-breaking number of cases. In her his personal views. Most of all, he has emotional appeal, the doctor said that cases no right to lash at HCWs who have been will surely skyrocket further and that our sacrificing since last year to save the lives health system will collapse. of Filipinos at the risk of getting the virus In a leaked video from the September and losing their own lives. 7 IATF meeting, the spox was shown fuHis being in the IATF must be official riously berating and and therefore, whatcastigating Dr. Limpever he says there This man was in and other HCWs must completely adfor allegedly thinkhere to the president’s unprofessional, ing that only they position on issues disrespectful, and (HCWs) are correct being discussed. It is (in terms of addresshard to imagine that he outright rude. ing the pandemic) and was under instructions for not saying anyto lose his temper and thing good about the way the government berate HCWs. It is dreadful to think that the is responding to COVID-19. spox’ unprofessional, disrespectful, and Social media has been on fire and the outright rude behavior reflects how this spox is at the receiving end of people’s ire. administration looks at HCWs. He has been trending in a very negative Dr. Limpin said that if the spox could treat way since the video surfaced. Not a few them that way, how would he treat ordinary noted that at one point, he was afflicted people? She is of the opinion that the Presiwith the virus and had the temerity to dent should actually remove the spox from jump the line of COVID-19 patients at office because he is not doing the president the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). service. The doctor also demanded that the On the other hand, a doctor on Twitter spox apologize to the whole healthcare noted that Dr. Limpin is also a COVID-19 workforce because what he did was against survivor. She contracted the virus while all who are in the healthcare sector. taking care of her patients. Her family Outside of the spox’s rudeness, the IATF was also hit and this caused her moth- must immediately address Dr. Limpin’s er’s death. The doctor has continuously warning that should COVID-19 cases served as part of our health system and further increase significantly, our health as president of the PCP, she definitely system will collapse. This is most worriknows what she speaks of. some because if this happens, many more Because of the scandal caused by his Filipinos will die. meltdown, the spox has since apologized, As it is, several hospitals have ansaying that he became emotional and that nounced that they have reached full cahe’s “tao lang.” He also said that IATF pacity in terms of COVID-19 cases. The meetings are supposed to be secret, al- Health Department has issued a statement legedly because they make very important that COVID-19 medicines are already decisions that affect everybody. He, there- low. Not a few HCWs are protesting about fore, hinted that the leaking of the video their working conditions and the lack of should not have been done. government support for them. At the time This is interesting and instructive. One, of this writing, ten volunteer doctors of does the spox feel that he is entitled to blow the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), his top and berate medical professionals be- the country’s largest COVID-19 referral cause, after all, their meetings are secret? center, have resigned. And two, is the leaking of the video a sign If only the spox listened intently, this that there are those in IATF that do not like warning was what should have made him the spox, and saw his loss of temper as an blow his top. And his anger should have opportunity to make public a characteristic targeted the IATF for its failure to contain otherwise not seen by people? Whatever it COVID-19. If they refuse to heed the apis, the video has added to an already long peal of our HCWs, they must make sure that list of reasons why people are predicting COVID-19 cases will not surge because if that the spox will not win should he push Dr. Limpin and her group are correct, it through with his plan to run for a Senate might spell the health system’s collapse. If seat next year. this happens, it is the Filipino people who For her part, according to reports, Dr. will suffer the consequences.

WHILE the whole nation is heavily focused on the Senate investigation regarding alleged overpriced procurement of health paraphernalia intended for the government’s COVID-19 response, a group of lawmakers at the House of Representatives hastrained their guns over P430 million worth of grocery packs procured by the Quezon City government at allegedly almost double its actual price. The four members of Congress have called for an inquiry into the alleged anomalous procurement by the Quezon City government of 350,000 grocery packs worth a total of P403 million that were later found to be overpriced by a whopping 44 percent, or by P179 million. In House Resolution No. 2184, Anakalusugan Representative Michael Defensor and Quezon City Representatives Anthony Peter Crisologo, Precious Hipolito-Castelo and Allan Reyes urged the appropriate congressional committee to investigate the purchase of the overpriced grocery bundles meant as “ayuda” or relief goods for families reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. “The groceries were acquired at a price of P1,149.98 per pack. However, upon inspection of the items, these could have been easily bought off the shelf from any supermarket at a total cost of no more than P636 per pack,” the House members complained, adding that the groceries were manifestly overpriced by P513.98 per pack, or by 44 percent, which they described as simply outrageous.

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‘Only human’

HESE days when you lose your cool, you better hope there is nobody with a camera around. Unfortunately for those attending meetings online, they have no control of who can see, hear, document, and share their actuations if they happen to have an outburst.

care any less.” Wagging his ﬁnger in front of the screen, he added: “And let me point out to everyone, this group, they have never said anything good about the government response.”

We should stop using this as an excuse for boorish behavior.

This happened to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday, during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. A 17-second clip of Mr. Roque—livid as he addressed the president of the Philippine College of Physicians, who was asking the task force to reconsider its decision to relax the quarantine in Metro Manila—surfaced online. Roque was shouting in the video: “We employ the ‘entire government approach’ thinking about economic ramiﬁcations, thinking about the people who will go hungry. It does not mean that we

Initially sought for comments, Roque curtly replied that such meetings were supposed to be conﬁdential. On Friday, after his meltdown became public, Roque apologized and said: “I conﬁrm that I became emotional. Sorry, I am only human.” Immediately after the “apology,” however, Roque asked the public not to liken the task force’s decisions to clinical decisions, and maintained that he was speaking on behalf of the poor and the hungry whose voices were not being heard in the IATF meetings. The rude behavior nonetheless rankled,

among fellow government ofﬁcials in the meeting, among medical professionals and the general public. It is customary for people to say “I am only human” when trying to explain reprehensible behavior. To be human is to err and be fallible. Invoking humanity is always a good way to convince others to tolerate boorish behavior. Unfortunately, it has always led us to accept what should be unacceptable It is time we started seeing humanity not as an excuse for imperfect behavior but as a challenge to be kinder, more compassionate, more open-minded. There are indeed numerous interests that decision makers should consider and balance—it’s what makes their job so difﬁcult. But at a time when health workers are risking their lives every day while not receiving ample compensation, it does no good at all to scold them for being critical of the government response to the pandemic. Let’s all take pride in being human —with the ability to listen to different views and humbly acknowledge our failings in order to do better the next time around.

The dangerous ideology of neoliberalism Part I THE most destructive economic ideology conceived since the advent of the Marxism is neoliberalism. In a strict sense, neoliberalism is not an ideology but a policy to better overcome the challenge of Marxist socialism. It does not have a set of ideas but more of a repetitive denunciation of socialism. The core of neoliberalism is to reduce tariff and eliminate other forms of trade barriers, the liberalization of international capital and the curtailment of trade unions in disregard of the security of tenure of the workers such as the legalization of outsourcing. Even China refrained from using the term “globalization” in favor of multilateralism and inclusiveness especially after that the Trump administration gave it a bad connotation called “backwater nationalism”. Neoliberalism came about after the rise of protectionism consequent to the serious trade deficit after the US decoupled its currency from the gold standard and due to the US unlimited involvement in war promoted by its own arms industry. They all contributed to nibbling at the very economic system which the neoliberals sought to protect. The neoliberals treated their emergence as epochal, beginning in their bloody riot at Tiananmen square in Beijing in June 1989, followed by a coup that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in August 1991 to later on rip apart the monolithic ideology of Marxist socialism. The collapse of the Soviet Union brought untold suffering to its people. Prior to that, the neoliberals tore down the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. The events that unfolded became their cry to denounce state-control in businesses. State-control in business was perceived as inefficient, laden with corrupt government bureaucrats, and stands as a symbol of a parasitic society of which existence is dependent on the taxes collected. This is the same shrill of denunciation parroted by pro-American hecklers in the Liberal Party and their shameless cabal. US President Ronald Reagan outlined his concept of neoliberalism when he said, “government is not the solution to our problem, but the government is the problem.” To interpret the government as a problem is to literally revert to anarchy. The existence of society is predicated on the existence of social order. The government is the highest form of social order and all must abide by what is now understood as the fundamental law of the land. Reagan and many of his acolytes overlooked that social order allowed society to on the Quezon City Government to explain why it paid P27 million for 400,000 pieces of face shield or P67.50 each. In a virtual press briefing, Defensor presented a copy of the Purchase Order with No. 2012367 for the face shields and for 32,000 bottles of disinfectant spray worth P695 each for a total of P22,240,000, signed by Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte. The PO was awarded through a negotiated sale to a certain company, Strength Medical and Drug Supply, registered as a sole proprietorship, which Defensor says

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

advance, loosely interpreted as civilization. Science and civilization will not gain headway had it not for the intervention of social order. There will be chaos such that the capitalist theory of property rights will never come to the mind of great libertarian political thinkers. Many blindly subscribed to the ideology of neoliberalism not knowing that it is like a trip to “neverland.”

To interpret the government as a problem is to literally revert to anarchy. The neoliberals woefully badmouth the government forgetting that society owes its existence to the government. The neoliberals take the state as the oppressor rather than as protector of the people. They spread lies that the government is corrupt, lorded by inefﬁcient bureaucrats, syndicated cheaters and sinecure employees. Their propaganda was conditioned to pollute the mind for people not to pay their taxes on the premise that taxes are likely to be pocketed through corruption, thus justifying Reagan’s heathen theory that “government is not the solution to our problem, but government is the problem.” It was the neoliberals and their LP counterpart that triggered the demand for the reduction in the payment of income, corporate and property taxes, demanded grant of bailout to sinking corporations irrespective whether the ﬁnancial collapse is due to corruption, granted tax exemption to the Church and charitable organizations, and erased altogether the concept of public welfare. Many institutional organizations such as educational, cultural, etc. were shifted as rightfully belonging to private corporations, which today is used to secure tax exemption, to dissuade public opinion and to tamper election results. In the economy which is the heart of the neoliberal ideology, they worked for the abolition of price controls even if the business was granted on the basis of franchise. The neoliberals sought to abolish regulation of tuition fees, rate of electricity, cost of transportation and purposely privatized roads and highways to justify the collection of exorbitant toll fees in violation of Section 6, Article III of the Constitution to effectively limit the right of one to travel. To charge the public for the use of any public utility on top of the taxes they pay is to erase altogether the concept of public service. In effect, the neoliberals sought to fry the people in its lard to get back their investment to justify the practice of usury. Liberal Party and their yellow confederate allowed the Constitution to exempt the church from paying all forms of taxes, forgetting that clerics who refuse to pay is rather odd as suppliers for requirements with such a big amount are usually registered corporations as sole proprietors tend to be short on the required capital. It’s just strange the Commission on Audit failed to question these particular deals, when it had raised similar issues with several national government agencies including the Department of Health, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

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

taxes to the government equally commit sin and should be denied their right to share the benefit and protection of the state. The militant Left today practically stands as a bouncer because of their inexplicable alliance in defense of human rights. Even the sale of basic commodities such as rice, corn, meat, fish, and poultry products necessary to the survival of man was exempted from regulation. The lifting of regulation such as control and subsidy became plausible after these economic cannibals privatized the country’s irrigation system and disposed of the country’s fertilizer plant only to be dismantled by the buyer in favor of importation. The Chicago economists, as the leading proponents of neoliberalism, advocated the printing of money to release the economy from the burden of the supply side and called it “quantitative easing.” Milton Freidman was the same fellow who advocated the decoupling of the dollar from the gold standard to boost production. He again sought to have himself vindicated by using public funds to salvage big business from sinking. The process was clever which some say amounted to swindling the American public of the taxes they pay. The technique started with the printing of money to abate the anticipated recession in 2008-2009. The central banks of countries around the world entered uncharted territory when they began to purchase through the US Federal Reserve long-term securities such as Treasury bills and mortgage-backed securities (MBS). This allowed the US federal reserve to pump money into the financial system to stave off the collapse of the US banking system. The unexpected flood of cash lowered interest rates, and everything went back again to normal. The neoliberals called it “quantitative easing.” Neoliberals compartmentalize everything, unmindful that the lending of US treasury bills will remain a debt that accumulates and has interest that must be paid. In other words, the neoliberals allowed the US economy to live only for the day. Worse, the Philippines, being a member of the World Bank, has to contribute its share of lending to the US to make the system of easing work in its favor. The Liberal Party and their cabal of hypocrites are howling left and right to announce to the whole world that the Duterte administration has mired the country in a debt trap to China because of the projects mostly financed by it. Yet, not a word was heard from them that the US is directly borrowing from our currency reserve to finance its respirator to sustain life to its policy of quantitative easing. rpkapunan@gmail.com

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Biden, Xi hold ‘candid’ talks but skirt US-China ‘conflict’

LANDMARK CASE. A young boy from the Kayapo tribe hugs a young girl from the Krenak tribe at a protest camp in Brasilia. The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil (STF) resumed on Wednesday, September 8, a trial that could put in check hundreds of indigenous lands pending demarcation in the country. AFP

US PRESIDENT Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping talked for the first time in seven months Thursday, with both leaders urging a path away from conflict but holding ground on fierce competition between the superpowers. In the 90-minute call, Biden warned against misunderstandings that could lead to confrontation between Washington and Beijing, the White House said, while Xi called for a new direction in a relationship beset by “serious difficulties.” US-China relations went into a nosedive under Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump, who launched a trade war between the world’s number one and two economies and harangued the Chinese government for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden’s administration, while urging multilateralism and an end to Trump’s “America first” ideology, has kept trade tariffs in place and remains tough on

other contentious areas of the relationship with Beijing, such as cybersecurity and human rights. During the call, Biden’s message was that the United States wants to ensure “we don’t have any situation in the future where we veer into unintended conflict,” a senior US administration official told reporters. In Beijing, state broadcaster CCTV reported that the phone call was “candid, in-depth” with Xi noting the “serious difficulties” caused by recent US policy towards China, which has seen the countries joust over trade, tech, human rights and the origins of the coronavirus. “Whether China and the US can properly handle their relations... is critical for the future and destiny of the world,” state broadcaster CCTV said citing Xi. The White House signaled the diplomatic impasse is unsustainable and potentially dangerous, requiring intervention by the leaders in Thursday’s call. AFP

Denmark lifts all COVID-19 curbs

ITH no masks in sight, buzzing offices and concerts drawing tens of thousands, Denmark on Friday ditches vaccine passports in nightclubs, ending its last COVID curb. The vaccine passports were introduced in March 2021 when Copenhagen slowly started easing restrictions. They were abolished at all venues on September 1, except in nightclubs, where they will be no longer necessary from Friday. “We are definitely at the forefront in Denmark as we have no restrictions, and

we are now on the other side of the pandemic thanks to the vaccination rollout,” Ulrik Orum-Petersen, a promoter at event organizer Live Nation, told AFP. On Saturday, a sold-out concert in Copenhagen will welcome 50,000 people, a first in Europe. Already on September 4, Live Nation organised a first open-air festival, aptly

named “Back to Live,” which gathered 15,000 people in Copenhagen. “Being in the crowd, singing like before, it almost made me forget COVID and everything we’ve been through these past months,” said Emilie Bendix, 26, a concert-goer. Denmark’s vaccination campaign has gone swiftly, with 73 percent of the 5.8 million population fully vaccinated, and 96 percent of those 65 and older. “We’re aiming for free movement... What will happen now is that the virus will circulate and it will find the ones who are not vaccinated,” epidemiologist Lone Simonsen told AFP.

“Now the virus is no longer a societal threat, thanks to the vaccine,” said Simonsen, who works at the University of Roskilde. According to the World Health Organization, the Scandinavian country has benefitted from public compliance with government guidelines and the Covid strategy adopted. “Like many countries, Denmark has, throughout the pandemic, implemented public health and social measures to reduce transmission. But at the same time it has greatly relied on individuals and communities to comply voluntarily,” said Catherine Smallwood, WHO Europe’s emergency officer. AFP

Japan vax chief Kono jumps into leadership race JAPAN’S Taro Kono, a former foreign and defense minister currently leading the vaccine rollout, announced his run for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday. One of the country’s most recognisable political figures, Kono is a top contender for the post, up for grabs after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he would not stand. Whoever wins on September 29 will lead the party into general elections in October or November, and Kono said he was running to “move Japan forward.” “Japan may seem to be standing still, while other countries are trying to actively move forward. Maybe once Japan was in a top position, but unfortunately now we are maybe no longer a front-runner,” he said. “We must push the heavy door in front of us and open up our path forward.” Kono, currently minister for administrative reform, said he wanted to boost Japan’s tech prowess through smart grids and 5G, and hit out at government bureaucracy that he said had slowed vaccination. He also said the country needs to wean itself off coal and petroleum to achieve its 2050 goal of carbon neutrality, upping renewables and keeping the option of nuclear if necessary. AFP

Australian woman charged over fake coup d’etat attempt AUSTRALIAN police on Friday said they had charged a woman for her alleged role in a coup hoax that featured a fake recording of the police chief calling for the government to be toppled. Earlier this year, a 43-minute audio clip circulated purporting to feature the Australian Federal Police commissioner calling for recruits to help “overthrow the government.” Australian police said the recording is fake and have arrested two people, a man in Western Australia and now a 49-yearold woman in South Australia. The Australian woman – who was not named – has been charged with impersonating a police officer and helping secure a shipment of over 400 fake federal police badges from an overseas manufacturer. The audio recording features a list of conspiracy-filled grievances against Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations, and has been seen more than 100,000 times. It calls for recruits – some armed – to carry out a wave of “arrests” of top Australian officials and “dissolve the government” by force if needed. AFP

TOLERANCE. A giant cross can be seen with monuments of the Hungarian kings at the Heroes square in Budapest, the venue where the Holy Mass will be celebrated by Pope Francis as he pays a half-day visit to Budapest on September 12, 2021. Hungarian Catholics are bracing for what could be an awkward high-level meeting. On the one side, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a self-styled “defender of Christian Europe” from migration. On the other, Pope Francis, who urges tolerance for those fleeing war and poverty. AFP

Hong Kong councilors swear new loyalty oath to China DOZENS of local community politicians in Hong Kong swore a newly required loyalty oath to China on Friday after hundreds of their colleagues quit in protest as authorities try to purge the city of “unpatriotic” elements. District councils are the only political office in Hong Kong where all seats are directly elected by residents. They deal with bread and butter local issues like bus routes, trash collection and playgrounds. But they have also become a symbol of residents’ urge for a greater say in how their city is run. In late 2019, toward the end of months of huge democracy protests, opposition candidates critical of China’s rule won

a landslide, hammering pro-government candidates. China has since responded with a crackdown on dissent as well as an overhaul of the city’s political system that reduces the number of directly elected officials and vets politicians for their perceived patriotism. Twenty-five councillors were told to take their oaths in a closed-door ceremony on Friday, but only 24 of them attended the event. In a Facebook post published shortly before the ceremony, pro-democracy councillor Peter Choi said he “couldn’t compromise and pledge allegiance to a regime that does not value the people.”

“From standing for the elections to entering the council, my objective was to monitor the government, not bearing allegiance to the regime,” wrote Choi, who didn’t show up at the ceremony and has been unseated with immediate effect. Similar ceremonies have been held for other sectors, including civil servants, government officials and lawmakers. However, those who swear allegiance can still be disqualified. Under the new rules imposed by Beijing earlier this year, a national security committee can disqualify anyone deemed an “anti-China” element or disloyal. AFP

UN chief wants ‘dialogue’ with Taliban gov’t UN CHIEF Antonio Guterres pleaded for nations to continue dialogue with the Taliban as he expressed fears that the hardline Islamists’ return to power in Afghanistan could embolden jihadists in the Sahel. “We must maintain a dialogue with the Taliban, where we affirm our principles directly – a dialogue with a feeling of solidarity with the Afghan people,” he said. “Our duty is to extend our solidarity to a people who suffer greatly, where millions and millions risk dying of hunger,” added the secretary-general. Guterres said that the world must avoid an “economic collapse” in Afghanistan. Without calling for the lifting of international sanctions or the release of Afghan funds frozen around the world, the UN head predicted that “financial instruments” would allow Afghanistan’s economy “to breathe.” Guterres said there were “no guarantees” about what might come out of talks but that discussions are a must “if we want Afghanistan not to be a center of terrorism, if we want women and girls to not lose all the rights acquired during the previous period, if we want different ethnic groups to be able to feel represented.” “Until now, in the discussions that we have had, there is at least a receptivity to talk,” added Guterres, who does not rule out going to Afghanistan one day if conditions are right. What the UN wishes is “an inclusive government,” where all components of Afghan society are represented, and “this first preliminary government” announced a few days ago “does not give that impression,” he added, regretfully. He said Afghanistan must be governed “in peace and stability, with the rights of the people respected.” Guterres added that the Taliban wants recognition, financial support and sanctions to be abolished. “That gives a certain leverage to the international community,” he said. Asked about the risks of an Afghanistan-like scenario occurring in the Sahel, the secretary-general said he feared the “psychological and real impact” of what happened in recent weeks. AFP

Hurricane Olaf slightly weakens over Mexico’s Baja California HURRICANE Olaf weakened to a Category One storm on Friday as it swept through Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and as the disaster-prone country recovered from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake and major flooding. But Olaf still threatened more damage, causing “hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall” over the Baja California Sur, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest report. Olaf made landfall near the city of San Jose del Cabo late Thursday as a Category Two storm near the beach resorts of Los Cabos before it dropped to the lowest on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale. A hurricane warning was in effect for

a stretch of Baja California coastline from Los Barriles to Cabo San Lazaro. “Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the NHC said earlier as the storm approached. A dangerous storm surge was expected to be accompanied by large and damaging waves near the coast, the NHC said, warning that heavy rainfall may trigger “significant and life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.” Authorities set up storm shelters and school children in the state of Baja California Sur were told to stay home on Friday. Ports were closed for smaller boats and flights were cancelled at the Los Cabos and La Paz airports. AFP

PANDA-MONIUM. A giant panda named Kai Kai opens a present to celebrate his upcoming 14th birthday at the River Safari wildlife park in Singapore on September 10, 2021. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; Globe Telecom gains T

HE stock market rose Friday on select bargain hunting, taking its cue from the rest of Asia and with talks between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping adding to the positive mood heading into the weekend.

US JOB MARKET. People wear face masks as they wait in line to attend a job fair for employment with SoFi Stadium and Los Angeles International Airport employers, at SoFi Stadium on September 9, 2021, in Inglewood, California. Fewer Americans made new claims for unemployment benefits last week than at any point since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to government data released on September 9, the latest sign of progress in the job market following last year’s mass layoffs. AFP

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 46.49 points, or 0.7 percent, to 6,970.51 on a value turnover of P4.9 billion. Gainers beat losers, 100 to 90, with 54 issues unchanged. Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest mobile phone company, climbed 2.6 percent

to P2,862, while International Container Terminal Services Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., the largest port operator, advanced 2.2 percent to P190. Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. of the Aboitiz Group gained 2.7 percent at P46, while AC Energy Corp. of the Ayala Group was up 1.2 percent to P10.16. Th rest of Asian markets bounced back Friday from the previous day’s losses. Hong Kong led the advances thanks to healthy buying into tech firms that were battered Thursday by China’s latest clampdown on the gaming industry, but fears that authorities will crack the whip again continue to weigh on sentiment. And while Wall Street ended

ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. Unit 10A, 5th Ave. cor. 26th Street, E-Square

ATRAM TOTAL RETURNEQUITY DOLLAR ATRAM PHILIPPINE BOND FUND, INC. OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. 8th Floor, Rockwell Building, Hidalgo Drive, Unit 10A,85th Ave. cor. 26th Street, E-Square

Toyota cuts production again on virus issues, chip shortage ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. 8th Floor, 8 Rockwell Building, Hidalgo Drive,

in the red again, there was some cheer from the European Central Bank as it tweaked its monetary stimulus program, with boss Christine Lagarde saying the move was not a “tapering” but a “recalibration.” But she did warn that “the speed of the recovery continues to depend on the course of the pandemic and progress with vaccinations.” The move eased concerns about the end of the ultra-loose monetary policy that has been crucial to a recovery in economies and equities. It also came as the Federal Reserve considers when it will start winding in its own scheme, with observers expecting it before the end of the year. With AFP

Rockwell Center, Makati City, Metro Manila Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

Rockwell Center, Makati Manila Crescent Park West, Bonifacio GlobalCity, City,Metro Taguig City, Metro Manila Tel. Tel. No. No. 8814-7800; 8814-7800; Fax Fax No. No. 8814-7820 8814-7820

Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

NOTICE NOTICE OF OF ANNUAL ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING MEETING

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

NOTICE NOTICE IS IS HEREBY HEREBY GIVEN GIVEN that that the the Annual Annual Stockholders’ Stockholders’ Meeting Meeting (ASM) (ASM) of of the the aforementioned aforementioned Corporation Corporation will will be be held held virtually virtually or or via via remote remote communication communication on on 65 October October 2021 2021 at at 3:00 3:00 PM PM via via Zoom Zoom webinar. webinar. Stockholders Stockholders can can register register atat https://bit.ly/ATRAMDollarMFASM. https://bit.ly/ATRAMPesoMFASM. Webinar Webinar password password will will be be sent sent via via email email after after registration. registration.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting (ASM) of the aforementioned Corporation will be held virtually or via remote communication on 5 October 2021 at 3:00 PM via Zoom webinar. Stockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMPesoMFASM. Webinar password will be sent via email after registration.

The The Agenda Agenda of of the the Meeting Meeting is is as as follows: follows:

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:

1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3.

1. Call to Order 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum 3. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on 28 September 2020 4. Management Report 5. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of 31 December 2020 6. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last annual stockholders’ meeting 7. Appointment of ATRAM Trust Corporation as Fund Manager, Principal Distributor, Fund Administrator, and Transfer Agent, subject to SEC approval 8. Election of Directors for 2021 to 2022 9. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation 10. Amendment of the By-laws 11. Appointment of Standard Chartered Bank as Primary Custodian and Fund Accountant 12. Appointment of External Auditor for 2021 13. Other Matters 14. Adjournment

TOKYO, Japan—Toyota, the local suppliers due to the proNOTICE top-selling IS HEREBYautomaker, GIVEN that longed the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting world’s spread of COVID-19 in (ASM) of the aforementioned Corporation will be held virtually or via said on Friday it would further Southeast Asia and the impact remote communication on 6 October 2021 at 3:00 PM via Zoom webinar. slash production in Japan and of tighter semiconductor supStockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMDollarMFASM. Webinar password will beof sent via email after registration. abroad because ongoing virus plies,” the firm said in a statedisruptions and a chronic global ment. Theshortage. Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:But it added that the move did chip The Japanese 1. Call to Ordercar giant will cut not affect its full-year operating output by 70,000 units in Sep- income forecast. 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum 3. Approval of the Minutes of theitAnnual Shareholders held on 2 tember and 330,000 in October, The outlook Meeting for November 2020 said, December adding that the move would and beyond remained “unclear,” 4. Management Report reduce projected annual produc- though it said demand was strong 5. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of 31 December tion 2020 for the fiscal year ending and “the production plan for NoMarch 2022 to nine million ve- vember and beyond assumes that 6. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last hicles.annual stockholders’ meeting the previous plan will be main7.It Election of Directors for 2021 to 2022 comes after the automaker tained.” 8. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation had already last month announced The auto industry has struggled 9. Amendment of the By-laws a 10. 40 Appointment percent cutof to September to recover the Custodian pandemicand as Standard Chartered Bank asfrom Primary production, equivalent to 360,000 new waves of infections affect Fund Accountant 11. Appointment of External Auditor for 2021 units. production lines and with a con12. Other Mattersfor the produc- tinuing global shortage of the “Key reasons 13. Adjournment tion adjustment include a de- semiconductors used in modern cline in operations at several Only holders of issued stocks of recordvehicles. as at the AFP close of business hours on 12 August 2021 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

Ban on Malaysia’s Top Glove lifted

(CBP) had banned all the KUL GivenLUMOUR, the currentMalaysia—Macircumstances and in order to ensure thecompasafety and welfare of oursaid stockholders the COVID-19 the ny’sofgloves from US pandemic, ports of entry laysia’s Top Glove Friday thein light Corporation the physical stockholders at earlier attendance this year of after concluding United States will hasdispense lifted anwith import the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication and they were produced using forced ban imposed over forced labor alleby voting in absentia or voting through the Chairman of the meeting as gations, proxy. a boost for the world’s top labor. The firm said the agency had upsurgical glove maker after multiple Stockholders who intend to participate in findings the meeting via remote dated its after receiving adscandals. communication andbusiness to exercise vote ininformation, absentia must notifyit the allowing to The firm has seen boomtheirditional Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the resume exports. during the coronavirus pandemic as 2021 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before 24 September 2021. “Top Glove remains committed countries worldwide rushed to stock All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the to the health, registrants safety andwill well beupCorporate on protective equipment. Secretary by 1 October 2021. Successful receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access anpeople,” online web address which ing of its it said in a stateBut it faced myriad controverwill in allow join with the meeting cast votes in absentia or by proxy in sies thethem past to year, the USandment. favor of the Chairman of the meeting. The firm’s shares rose were up banning its gloves over forced two percent Kuala labor The concerns, proceduresand for coronavirus participating more in thethan meeting throughin remote communication for casting their votes in absentia are set in the Lumpur. There was no forth immediate outbreaks hittingand its migrant labor Information Statement. reaction from CBP. workforce. In an initial probe last year, CBP On Friday, Top Glove, which Makati City, Philippines, 07 September 2021. can make up to 100 billion gloves a said it suspected there was evidence year, said it was now allowed to re- of debt bondage, excessive over(Sgd.) ATTY.time, MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SANJUAN and abusive working and livsume exporting to the United States ingCorporate conditionsSecretary in Top Glove’s proand selling its products there. Customs and Border Protection duction processes. AFP (MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021)

Call to to Order Order Call Certification of Notice and Quorum Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of of the Minutes of the Annual Approval Annual Shareholders Shareholders Meeting Meetingheld heldon on28 2 September2020 2020 December 4. Management Report 4. Management Report 5. Presentation Presentation of of the the Audited Audited Financial Financial Statements Statements as as of of 31 31 December December 5. 2020 2020 6. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last 6. annual stockholders’ stockholders’ meeting meeting annual 7. Election Appointment of ATRAM TrusttoCorporation as Fund Manager, Principal 7. of Directors for 2021 2022 Distributor, Fund and Transfer Agent, subject to SEC 8. Amendment of theAdministrator, Articles of Incorporation approval 9. Amendment of the By-laws 8. Appointment Election of Directors for 2021 to 2022Bank as Primary Custodian and 10. of Standard Chartered 9. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation Fund Accountant 10. Amendment of the By-laws 11. Auditor for 2021 11. Appointment Appointment of ofExternal Standard Chartered Bank as Primary Custodian and 12. Other Matters Fund Accountant 13. 12. Adjournment Appointment of External Auditor for 2021 13. Other Matters Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on 14. Adjournment 12 August 2021 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily in accordance theclose corporate records of the Only holders established of issued stocks of record aswith at the of business hours on Stock and Transfer Agent andstatus the Corporate Secretary the date Company, will 11 August 2021 and whose as stockholders onofthat has been be entitled to notice of, andintoaccordance vote at, the with scheduled stockholders’ meeting. satisfactorily established the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will Given the tocurrent circumstances in order to ensure themeeting. safety be entitled notice of, and to vote at,and the scheduled stockholders’ and welfare of our stockholders in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Given the current circumstances and in attendance order to ensure the safety Corporation will dispense with the physical of stockholders at andmeeting welfare and of our in light theremote COVID-19 pandemic,and the the will stockholders allow attendance onlyofby communication Corporation dispense with the physical of the stockholders at by voting in will absentia or voting through the attendance Chairman of meeting as the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication and proxy. by voting in absentia or voting through the Chairman of the meeting as proxy. Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Stockholders who intend to participate in Company’s the meeting via remote Corporate Secretary by registering through the website for the communication and of to the exercise their vote absentia must notify the 2021 annual meeting stockholders on orinbefore 24 September 2021. Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the 2021 annual meetingby of1the stockholders on or before 24 September 2021. Corporate Secretary October 2021. Successful registrants will receive All e-mail information submitted will be subject to an verification and validation by an with instructions on how to access online web address which the allow Corporate 30 September will them Secretary to join the by meeting and cast2021. votes Successful in absentia registrants or by proxywill in receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address favor theallow Chairman whichofwill them of to the joinmeeting. the meeting and cast votes in absentia or by proxy in favor of the Chairman of the meeting. The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication andfor for casting their votes in absentia set forthremote in the The procedures participating in the meetingarethrough Information Statement. communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement. Makati City, Philippines, 07 September 2021. Makati City, Philippines, 07 September 2021.

(MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021) (MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021)

(Sgd.) ATTY. MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SANJUAN Corporate Secretary (Sgd.) ATTY. MA.ALICIA G. PICAZO-SANJUAN Corporate Secretary

Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on 11 August 2021 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting. Given the current circumstances and in order to ensure the safety and welfare of our stockholders in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Corporation will dispense with the physical attendance of stockholders at the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication and by voting in absentia or voting through the Chairman of the meeting as proxy. Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2021 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before 24 September 2021. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary by 30 September 2021. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia or by proxy in favor of the Chairman of the meeting. The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement. Makati City, Philippines, 07 September 2021.

(MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021)

(Sgd.) ATTY. MA.ALICIA G. PICAZO-SANJUAN Corporate Secretary

ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. Unit 10A, 5th Ave. cor. 26th Street, E-Square

ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. UnitFloor, 10A, 5th Ave. cor.Building, 26th Street, E-Square 8th 8 Rockwell Hidalgo Drive,

ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. 8th Floor, Rockwell Building, Hidalgo Drive, Unit 10A,85th Ave. cor. 26th Street, E-Square

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

NOTICE NOTICE OF OF ANNUAL ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting (ASM) of the aforementioned Corporation will be held virtually or via remote communication on 5 October 2021 at 2:00 PM via Zoom webinar. Stockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMPesoMFASM. Webinar password will be sent via email after registration.

NOTICE NOTICE IS IS HEREBY HEREBY GIVEN GIVEN that that the the Annual Annual Stockholders’ Stockholders’ Meeting Meeting (ASM) (ASM) of of the the aforementioned aforementioned Corporation Corporation will will be be held held virtually virtually or or via via remote remote communication communication on on 56 October October 2021 2021 at at 2:00 2:00 PM PM via via Zoom Zoom webinar. webinar. Stockholders https://bit.ly/ATRAMPesoMFASM. Webinar Stockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMDollarMFASM. Webinar password password will will be be sent sent via via email email after after registration. registration.

NOTICE NOTICE IS IS HEREBY HEREBY GIVEN GIVEN that that the the Annual Annual Stockholders’ Stockholders’ Meeting Meeting (ASM) (ASM) of of the the aforementioned aforementioned Corporation Corporation will will be be held held virtually virtually or or via via remote remote communication communication on on 65 October October 2021 2021 at at 2:00 4:00 PM PM via via Zoom Zoom webinar. webinar. Stockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMDollarMFASM. Webinar Stockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMPesoMFASM. Webinar password password will will be be sent sent via via email email after after registration. registration.

NOT (ASM remo Stoc pass

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:

The The Agenda Agenda of of the the Meeting Meeting is is as as follows: follows:

The

1. Call to Order 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum 3. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on 28 September 2020 4. Management Report 5. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of 31 December 2020 6. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last annual stockholders’ meeting 7. Election of Directors for 2021 to 2022 8. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation 9. Amendment of the By-laws 10. Appointment of Standard Chartered Bank as Primary Custodian and Fund Accountant 11. Appointment of External Auditor for 2021 12. Other Matters 13. Adjournment

1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3.

Call Call to to Order Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval Approval of of the the Minutes Minutes of of the the Annual Annual Shareholders Shareholders Meeting Meeting held held on on 28 29 September September 2020 2020 4. 4. Management Management Report Report 5. 5. Presentation Presentation of of the the Audited Audited Financial Financial Statements Statements as as of of 31 31 December December 2020 2020 6. 6. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last annual annual stockholders’ stockholders’ meeting meeting 7. 7. Election Election of of Directors Directors for for 2021 2021 to to 2022 2022 8. 8. Amendment Amendment of of the the Articles Articles of of Incorporation Incorporation 9. 9. Amendment Amendment of of the the By-laws By-laws 10. 10. Appointment Appointment of of Standard Standard Chartered Chartered Bank Bank as as Primary Primary Custodian Custodian and and Fund Fund Accountant Accountant 11. 11. Appointment Appointment of of External External Auditor Auditor for for 2021 2021 12. 12. Other Other Matters Matters 13. 13. Adjournment Adjournment

1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3.

Call Call to to Order Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval Approval of of the the Minutes Minutes of of the the Annual Annual Shareholders Shareholders Meeting Meeting held held on on 29 28 September September 2020 2020 4. Management Report 4. Management Report 5. 5. Presentation Presentation of of the the Audited Audited Financial Financial Statements Statements as as of of 31 31 December December 2020 2020 6. 6. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last annual annual stockholders’ stockholders’ meeting meeting 7. 7. Election Election of of Directors Directors for for 2021 2021 to to 2022 2022 8. 8. Amendment Amendment of of the the Articles Articles of of Incorporation Incorporation 9. Amendment of the By-laws 9. Amendment of the By-laws 10. 10. Appointment Appointment of of Standard Standard Chartered Chartered Bank Bank as as Primary Primary Custodian Custodian and and Fund Fund Accountant Accountant 11. 11. Appointment Appointment of of External External Auditor Auditor for for 2021 2021 12. 12. Other Other Matters Matters 13. 13. Adjournment Adjournment

1. C 2. C 3. A S 4. M 5. P 2 6. R a 7. E 8. A 9. A 10. A F 11. A 12. O 13. A

Only Only holders holders of of issued issued stocks stocks of of record record as as at at the the close close of of business business hours hours on on 11 12 August August 2021 2021 and and whose whose status status as as stockholders stockholders on on that that date date has has been been satisfactorily satisfactorily established established in in accordance accordance with with the the corporate corporate records records of of the the Stock Stock and and Transfer Transfer Agent Agent and and the the Corporate Corporate Secretary Secretary of of the the Company, Company, will will be be entitled entitled to to notice notice of, of, and and to to vote vote at, at, the the scheduled scheduled stockholders’ stockholders’ meeting. meeting.

Only Only holders holders of of issued issued stocks stocks of of record record as as at at the the close close of of business business hours hours on on 12 11 August August 2021 2021 and and whose whose status status as as stockholders stockholders on on that that date date has has been been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock Stock and and Transfer Transfer Agent Agent and and the the Corporate Corporate Secretary Secretary of of the the Company, Company, will will be be entitled entitled to to notice notice of, of, and and to to vote vote at, at, the the scheduled scheduled stockholders’ stockholders’ meeting. meeting.

Only 11 A satis Stoc be e

Given the current circumstances and in order to ensure the safety and welfare of our stockholders in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Corporation will dispense with the physical attendance of stockholders at the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication and by voting in absentia or voting through the Chairman of the meeting as proxy.

Given Given the the current current circumstances circumstances and and in in order order to to ensure ensure the the safety safety and and welfare welfare of of our our stockholders stockholders in in light light of of the the COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic, pandemic, the the Corporation Corporation will will dispense dispense with with the the physical physical attendance attendance of of stockholders stockholders at at the the meeting meeting and and will will allow allow attendance attendance only only by by remote remote communication communication and and by by voting voting in in absentia absentia or or voting voting through through the the Chairman Chairman of of the the meeting meeting as as proxy. proxy.

Given Given the the current current circumstances circumstances and and in in order order to to ensure ensure the the safety safety and and welfare welfare of of our our stockholders stockholders in in light light of of the the COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic, pandemic, the the Corporation Corporation will will dispense dispense with with the the physical physical attendance attendance of of stockholders stockholders at at the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication and the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication and by voting in absentia or voting through the Chairman of the meeting as by voting in absentia or voting through the Chairman of the meeting as proxy. proxy.

Give and Corp the m by v prox

Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2021 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before 24 September 2021. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary by 30 September 2021. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia or by proxy in favor of the Chairman of the meeting.

Stockholders Stockholders who who intend intend to to participate participate in in the the meeting meeting via via remote remote communication communication and and to to exercise exercise their their vote vote in in absentia absentia must must notify notify the the Corporate Corporate Secretary Secretary by by registering registering through through the the Company’s Company’s website website for for the the 2021 2021 annual annual meeting meeting of of the the stockholders stockholders on on or or before before 24 24 September September 2021. 2021. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the the Corporate Secretary 30 September 2021. Successful registrants will Corporate Secretary by 1byOctober 2021. Successful registrants will receive receive anwith e-mail with instructions to access an online web address an e-mail instructions on howon to how access an online web address which which will them allowtothem to join the meeting and castinvotes in absentia or by will allow join the meeting and cast votes absentia or by proxy in proxy in the favor of the Chairman of the meeting. favor of Chairman of the meeting.

Stockholders Stockholders who who intend intend to to participate participate in in the the meeting meeting via via remote remote communication communication and and to to exercise exercise their their vote vote in in absentia absentia must must notify notify the the Corporate Corporate Secretary Secretary by by registering registering through through the the Company’s Company’s website website for for the the 2021 2021 annual annual meeting meeting of of the the stockholders stockholders on on or or before before 24 24 September September 2021. 2021. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by Corporate Secretary by 1by October 2021. Successful registrants will receive the Corporate Secretary 30 September 2021. Successful registrants will an e-mail instructions on how on to access an online address which receive anwith e-mail with instructions how to access an web online web address will allow join the meeting and castand votes in votes absentia or by proxy in which willthem allowtothem to join the meeting cast in absentia or by favor Chairman of the meeting. proxyofinthe favor of the Chairman of the meeting.

Stoc com Corp 2021 All in the C rece whic prox

The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement.

The The procedures procedures for for participating participating in in the the meeting meeting through through remote remote communication communication and and for for casting casting their their votes votes in in absentia absentia are are set set forth forth in in the the Information Information Statement. Statement.

The com Infor

Makati City, Philippines, 07 September 2021.

Makati Makati City, City, Philippines, Philippines, 07 07 September September 2021. 2021.

Mak

Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

Crescent ParkRockwell West, Bonifacio Global City, City, Metro TaguigManila City, Metro Manila Center, Makati Tel. Tel. No. No. 8814-7800; 8814-7800; Fax Fax No. No. 8814-7820 8814-7820

(Sgd.) MA.ALICIA (Sgd.) ATTY. ATTY.MA. ALICIA G. G. PICAZO-SANJUAN PICAZO-SANJUAN Corporate Corporate Secretary Secretary

(Sgd.) ALICIA G. JUAN (Sgd.)ATTY. ATTY.MA. MA.ALICIA G.PICAZO-SAN PICAZO-SANJUAN Corporate Corporate Secretary Secretary

(Sgd.) ATTY. MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SAN JUAN Corporate Secretary (MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021)

Rockwell Center, Makati Manila Crescent Park West, Bonifacio GlobalCity, City,Metro Taguig City, Metro Manila Tel. Tel. No. No. 8814-7800; 8814-7800; Fax Fax No. No. 8814-7820 8814-7820

(MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021) (MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021)

(MS-SEP

(MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021) (MS-SEPT. 10 & 11, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, September 10, 2021 46.49 PTS. 6,970.51

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

864,831,283 73,789

TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES

4,877,594,989.26 100

DECLINES UNCHANGED

90 54

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.0500

Japan

Yen

0.009114

0.4562

Pound

1.384100

69.2742

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128579

6.4354

Switzerland

Franc

1.090869

54.5980

Canada

Dollar

0.789578

39.5184

Singapore

Dollar

0.744768

37.2756

Australia

Dollar

0.736800

36.8768

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653576

132.8115

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

13.3456

Brunei

Dollar

0.742005

37.1374

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030581

1.5306

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6272

Euro

1.182600

59.1891

Korea

Won

0.000856

0.0428

China

Yuan

0.154895

7.7525

India

Rupee

0.013602

0.6808

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241196

12.0719

New Zealand

Dollar

0.710800

35.5755

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036196

1.8116 Source: BSP

HILIPPINE Airlines Inc. said Friday it secured an approval from US Bankruptcy Court in New York to access the first $20 million from a $505-million loan facility to support operations.

The airline unit of tycoon Lucio Tan said the US Chapter 11 court approved all “First Day” motions on an interim or final basis for PAL’s voluntary restructuring following petitions filed on Sept. 3, 2021. It said the approvals marked an important step forward in PAL’s recovery

Vehicle sales fell 11.5% in August on NCR lockdown By Othel V. Campos VEHICLE sales fell 11.5 percent in August to 14,847 units from 17,906 units in the same month last year, after Metro Manila was placed under the most stringent form of lockdown again. The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report sales of passenger cars dropped 10.3 percent to 4,894 units in August from 5,484 units a year ago, while those of commercial vehicles decreased 13 percent to 10,953 units from 12,452 units. CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez attributed the negative performance to the decline in economic activity and consumer spending in general, which was worsened by the two-week lockdown in the National Capital Region and other areas during the month. “The message of this bleak performance is worth noting: stricter lockdown strategy in response to curbing the COVID-19 pandemic affects the auto industry’s recovery this year. The industry targets to achieve total sales of 295,400 units or 20.9 percent growth than the actual sales recorded last year,” Gutierrez said. Data showed automotive sales on a month-on-month basis fell 26.3 percent from 21,498 units in July. Passenger car sales tumbled nearly a third from 7,102 units while commercial vehicles declined 23.9 percent from 14,396 units in July. The two industry groups said despite the slump in August sales, the industry sold 170,112 units in the first eight months, up 37.8 percent from 123,489 units in the same period last year. Passenger car sales climbed 53.1 percent in the eight-month period to 54,402 units from 35,523 units a year earlier. Commercial vehicles sold were also higher by 31.5 percent to 115,710 units from 87,966 units. Toyota Motor Philippine Corp. led industry sales with 48.43-percent market share, followed by Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. with 14.06 percent. Completing the top 5 were Suzuki Philippines Inc. with 7.61-percent share, Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc. with 7.6 percent and Nissan Philippines Inc. with 6.76 percent.

Dominguez sees bright economic prospects FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III is seeing bright economic prospects amid the government’s recovery support for businesses heavily impacted by the pandemic. “There is much to be optimistic about the outlook of our economy even as we continue to grapple with the pandemic,” Dominguez said Friday at the close of the two-day 29th Metro Manila Business Conference. Our country is “well on its way to a solid rebound,” he told the MMBC participants at the virtual conference. “I am confident that our partnership will be even stronger as the Philippines blazes the path to sustainable and inclusive economic recovery.” Dominguez said the government has infused additional capital into state financial institutions to enable them to provide low-interest loans to MSMEs, and fine-tuned fiscal and monetary policies to encourage banks to lend to pandemic-hit enterprises. The institutions include Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and Philippine Guarantee Corp. Julito G. Rada

Prime Infrastructure lauds Maersk infusion

SAFE FLIGHTS. A female pilot of budget carrier Cebu Pacific receives a COVID-19 shot during the Gokongwei Group’s COVID Protect vaccination drive. Close to 37,000 of the conglomerate’s workforce were inoculated under the ongoing COVIC Protect program in cooperation with various local government vaccination drives.

US court okays PAL’s rescue funding By Darwin G. Amojelar

IN BRIEF

plan, which would reduce the company’s debt by $2 billion and help the airline recover from the impact of the global pandemic. “This is a significant step in our recovery plan and supports our ongoing operations to continue serving our valued customers and connecting the Philippines with the world. The combination of our substantial creditor support and the court’s approvals enables us to progress toward an expedited emergence and full recovery,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Gilbert Sta. Maria. “As travel demand increases and restrictions ease, we continue to increase domestic and international flights, while maintaining the safety and health of our passengers and employees,” he said. The orders granted by the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of

New York allow PAL to operate in the normal course, ensuring that the company can continue to serve customers as a full-service airline and the flag carrier of the Philippines. PAL received authorization to honor and maintain all customer programs, including valid tickets and travel vouchers, Mabuhay Miles and benefits and refund obligations, subject to PAL’s usual terms and conditions of use. Mabuhay Miles members can expect to continue to accrue and redeem Mabuhay Miles as usual. The airline also allows PAL to pay ongoing suppliers and trade creditors in the ordinary course for goods and services delivered throughout the Chapter 11 process. It will continue to pay all employee wages, compensation and benefit obliga-

tions, subject to the continuation of any temporary work arrangements as necessary and maintain employee benefit programs in the ordinary course of business throughout the Chapter 11 process. PAL was also granted to access the first $20 million of its debtor-in-possession financing totaling $505 million led by majority shareholder Buona Sorte Holdings. The airline expects to exit from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding by end of the year. PAL said it would continue to operate flights in the normal course of business in accordance with safety regulations. The company said it was expecting to meet all financial obligations throughout the Chapter 11 process to employees, customers, the government, lessors, lenders, suppliers and other creditors.

2GO SUPPORT.

PRIME Infrastructure Holdings Inc. (Prime Infra) on Friday welcomed the investment of Maersk in US-based WasteFuel Global as the container shipping firm commits to decarbonize its fleet. Prime Infra, the infrastructure arm of the Razon Group, is a shareholder and has been part of WasteFuel since February. “Prime Infra is incredibly pleased to have Maersk join WasteFuel Global. Maersk adds to the line-up of impactful shareholders working towards a greener and cleaner future of mobility,” said Prime Infra president Guillaume Lucci, also a member of WasteFuel board, in a statement. Prima Infra said Maersk’s investment would help WasteFuel develop bio-refineries that turn waste into low-carbon sustainable fuels. Prime Infra will put up a bio-refinery plant in Luzon that is expected to be operational by 2025. The plant will convert municipal waste into green fuels, including aviation fuel. Alena Mae S. Flores

BDO accelerates digitization move BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s biggest lender controlled by the Sy family, said it is accelerating its digitization efforts in a bid to entice clients to do more online banking transactions amid the pandemic. “The digital initiatives do not only revolve around technology infrastructure, but also the revamp of operational processes and the engagement of experts to enable the bank to be more agile and responsive to its clients’ needs,” the bank said in a statement Friday. The bank has introduced a mobile payment app that links directly to the client’s BDO account and credit card—making banking even more convenient, safer and responsive to clients’ needs. Called BDO Pay, the app will enable clients to use their savings account or credit card to do contactless payments for bills, to online sellers and various stores nationwide. With this newest initiative, BDO clients need not move in and out of different apps just to transfer money from one account to another. Moreover, having a mobile payment app linked directly to a client’s bank account allows the former to save from paying cash-in fees repeatedly. Julito G. Rada

Megaworld’s REIT reduces IPO price to P16.10 per share

2GO Group Inc., the largest integrated supply chain enterprise, provides critical services in support of the local economy, especially micro, small and medium enterprises, in these pandemic times. 2GO Sea Solutions continues to ensure the unhindered flow of essential and fastmoving consumer goods, pharmaceutical and farm products, food, finished goods, raw materials and liquid bulk between Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 2GO has served and delivered 97,173 twentyfoot equivalent units as of June 30, using its container ships. 2GO delivered over 198,000 TEUs in 2020.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Foreign direct investments climbed 40% to $4.3b in first half tal declined by 8.9 percent to $971 million from $1.1 billion during the same period. The BSP said that in June, FDI net inNET inflows of foreign direct investments jumped 40.7 percent in the first half to flows surged 60.4 percent to a five-month $4.3 billion from $3.1 billion in the same high of $833 million from $519 million in period last year on sustained investors’ the same month last year. “FDI net inflows in June increased confidence in the economy, the Bangko mainly on account of infusion by foreign Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday. “The higher cumulative FDI net in- direct investors to their subsidiaries/affiliflows was due mainly to the 86.5-percent ates in the Philippines in the form of net growth in non-residents’ net investments investments in debt instruments, which in debt instruments to $2.8 billion from rose year-on-year by 151.8 percent to $1.5 billion,” the BSP said in a statement. $630 million,” the BSP said. Reinvestment of earnings grew by 23.4 Reinvestment of earnings rose 7.7 percent to $522 million in the six-month percent to $110 million from $89 million. Meanwhile, non-residents’ net investperiod from $484 million a year earlier. However, net investments in equity capi- ments in equity capital declined 48.4 per-

By Julito G. Rada

cent in June to $93 million from $180 million in the same month last year. “This was due to the downturn in equity capital placements by 38.2 percent to $119 million from $192 million along with the increase in equity capital withdrawals by 112 percent to $26 million from $12 million,” the BSP said. The BSP said concerns over the spread of more transmissible Delta variant may have prompted investors to remain on the sidelines. Equity capital placements during the month originated mostly from Japan, the United States and Singapore. These were invested largely in manufacturing real estate, and financial and insurance industries.

MREIT Inc., the real estate investment trust company owned by Megaworld Corp., priced its initial public offering at P16.10 per share, a 26.8-percent discount from its proposed maximum price range. MREIT also reduced the offering to 844.3 million shares, with an over-allotment option for another 105.527 million. The company originally planned to sell up to 1.24 billion common shares. MREIT is expected to raise P15.29 billion in proceeds. BDO Capital and Investments Corp., one of the underwriters for the deal, said the shares were reduced to tighten pricing and ensure post listing demand. “We could have kept the original number of offer shares but we wanted investors to buy after the IPO,” BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said. MREIT president Kevin Tan said the company decided to price the deal at an attractive level to provide more upside to IPO investors who would be its longterm partners in the new journey. “At this IPO price, MREIT will be offering investors an attractive dividend yield of 5.65 percent, to be distributed quarterly, and at the same time, we will be giving them exposure to high quality, fast-growing portfolio of assets,” Tan said. Data showed that at the new issue size, the institutional tranche would be close to twice-oversubscribed while local demand was expected to build up further.

Meralco bares slight increase in September power rates due to higher generation cost By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS of Manila Electric Co. will pay slightly higher electricity rates this month on the back of higher generation cost. The electricity retailer said the average household rates would increase by P0.1055 per kilowatt-hour to P9.1091 per kWh this month from P9.0036 per kWh in August. Meralco vice president and spokesper-

son Joe Zaldarriaga said the adjustment would be equivalent to an increase of around P21 in the monthly bill of a typical residential customer consuming 200 kWh. The company said the higher generation charge was due to the net settlement surplus corrections at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, which serves as the trading floor of electricity, and increased costs from power supply agreements and independent power producers.

The generation charge, which makes up about 55 percent of customers’ electricity bills, rose P0.1117 per kWh to P5.0439 from P4.9322 per kWh in August. Meanwhile, Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said the ongoing restriction from the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan already affected the ability of the natural gas power plants to deliver power. “We are already seeing today, as part

of the generation charge for the past few months, since there is already restriction or reduction of supply from the Malampaya platform. Since March, it has not supplied the full requirements of the natural gas plants in the Luzon grid. Around 400 MW to 500 MW of capacity have been running on liquid fuel for the several months now and this has led to an adjustment in the generation charge in the past few months,” Fernandez said.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

Obiena affirms elite pole vault status By Peter Atencio

In a real-life epic as amazing as any fairy-tale, teen prodigies Leylah Fernandez (right) and Emma Raducanu (left) will meet Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where one of them will claim her first Grand Slam title. AFP

FERNANDEZ VS RADUCANU IN FINALS

Battle of teens with Asian roots

EW YORK—British 18-year-old qualifier Emma Raducanu and Canadian 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez completed astonishing runs to their historic first Grand Slam final on Thursday at the US Open.

Fernandez, a 73rd-ranked left-hander, beat second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4, for her third Open win over a top-five rival, a feat not seen at a Slam since Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2012. “Now I can say I’ve done a pretty good job of achieving my dreams,” said Fernandez, who related the tale of how her mother, a Canadian of Philippines heritage, moved to the United States to make money to support the family and her tennis dream. “My mom had to go to California for a few years to support my family and I in the tennis world,” she said. “That few years been definitely hard for me because I needed a mom, I needed someone to be there for me through the age of 10 to 13. “I’ve barely seen her at that time. Every time I saw her, it was like seeing a stranger but at the same time someone so familiar.” That’s one reason why she is so happy to have her

PH’s Eala falls to unseeded Swiss player WORLD no. 2 Alex Eala of the Philippines failed to advance in the junior girls’ division of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York on Friday The 16-year-old Filipino was the third and last seeded player to bow out of contention, after she fell to unseeded Sebastianna Scilipoti of Switzerland, 5-7, 3-6. Fatigue took its toll from the three matches that Eala played in just 28 hours, as she needed a medical timeout before the start of the eighth game in the second set. Scilipoti took over when Eala began slowing down after taking a 4-3 lead in the first set. The Swiss player eventually rallied and weathered Eala’s strong resistance in the next set and prevailed, taking on Kristina Dmitruk of Belarus in the semifinals next. The match was supposed to take place at 1 a.m. but was pushed back seven hours later due to heavy downpour. It lasted for one hour and 42 minutes with the Filipina committing nine double faults against the two of her foe. A Rafa Nadal Academy scholar, Eala currently has two Grand Slam titles under her belt after ruling the girls’ doubles event of both the 2020 Australian Open and the 2021 French Open. Eala, however, will still compete in the doubles’ quarterfinals with Hanne Vandewinkel of Belgium. Peter Atencio Alex Eala

mother watching every match in the stands at the US Open. “I was just very lucky to have my mom here at this tournament cheering for me and having fun with me all this time,” Fernandez said. “We’ve gone through so many things together as a family. I’m just glad that right now everything’s going on our side.” On the other hand, Raducanu became the first qualifier to ever reach a Grand Slam final, and the youngest Slam finalist in 17 years, by ousting Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4. A major reason for Raducanu’s success is influence from her Chinese heritage and the example of Li Na, China’s first Grand Slam champion. She has ties worldwide. Raducanu was born in Canada to a Romanian father and Chinese mother before the family moved to England when she was two. “For me, having a Chinese mom, she definitely instilled in me from a young age hard work and discipline,” Raducanu said. In a real-life epic as amazing as any fairy-tale, the teen prodigies will meet Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where one of them will claim her first Grand Slam title. “Is there any expectation?” Raducanu said. “I’m a qualifier so technically on paper there’s no pressure on me.” It’s the first Slam final between teens since 17-year-old Williams beat 18-year-old Martina Hingis at the 1999 US Open, and just the eighth all-teen

Slam final in the Open era (since 1968). “I just want to play a final,” Fernandez said. “I’m going to enjoy my victory and worry about it tomorrow.” Raducanu is the youngest Slam finalist since 17-yearold Maria Sharapova won at Wimbledon in 2004. She became only the second woman ranked outside the top 100 to reach a US Open final after unranked Kim Clijsters came out of retirement and won the 2009 US Open. “Today I wasn’t thinking about anyone else except for myself,” Raducanu said. Raducanu is trying to become the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977 and the first British woman to win the US Open since Wade in 1968. Wade and British legend Tim Henman were watching. “Tim is such a big inspiration,” said Raducanu. “He has been helping me, telling me take one point at a time. You have to stay in the moment and can’t get ahead of yourself.” Fernandez, who turned 19 on Monday, had earlier ousted defending champion Naomi Osaka and fifthseeded Elina Svitolina before Sabalenka, 23, become her third top-five victim. “I had opportunities but I didn’t use them in the key moments,” Sabalenka said. “I didn’t play well. She deserved this win.” Raducanu could become the first US Open champion not to lose a set since Serena Williams in 2014. AFP

FILIPINO pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena affirmed his place in the world stage at the close of the 2021 Diamond League in Zurich, Switzerland. The 24-year-old Obiena, using the stiffest pole he has in his possession, came up with another decent finish of fourth place as he became the first Filipino to reach elite status in the overall standings of the Diamond League series, where he also finished fourth overall. James Lafferty, Obiena’s strength and conditioning coach, said Obiena’s performance in the Diamond Leagues is a great achievement. “Making the Diamond League final is a tremendous honour. He’s the first Filipino athlete to achieve this. Ever. Everyone in that Final is best in class and capable of winning an Olympic or World Championship medal on a given day,” said Lafferty in a message to the Manila Standard. But the evening belonged to Sweden’s Armand Duplantis when he cleared his first ever six-meter vault in Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium for the gold medal as he took the overall top honors in the Diamond League’s 14th and final leg. As Duplantis established another meet record of 6.06 meters, the 24-year-old Obiena vaulted to 5.83 meters on his second attempt to settle for fourth position. And now that it’s over, Duplantis expectedly took the no. 1 spot in the overall standings, collecting 52 points after joining seven events in the Diamond League series. On the other hand, Obiena included himself in the list of Diamond League top notchers for the first time, making it to overall fourth with the 21 points that he collected from five events that he was in. “He finished fourth. That’s good. He’s still among the world’s best,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Juico. The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions comprising 14 of the best invitation-only athletics events. And only the world’s best are able to compete here.

Mocon carries Painters past Hotshots JAVEE Mocon rebounded from a bad game with a team-high 19 points, including a split free throw in the last 13 seconds, propelling the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to a 75-72 triumph over the Magnolia Hotshots. The 6’2” Mocon’s freebie came off Calvin Abueva’s foul as it kept the Elasto Painters in contention for the playoffs on Friday in the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. Mocon also finished with 5 rebounds to lead the Elasto Painters to

their fifth win in nine games “I had many bad games. Coach (Chris Gavina) told me to learn from my mistakes. It’s a collective effort. And we need badly to enter the playoffs,” said Mocon, who only had nine points when the Elasto Painters bowed to Barangay Ginebra in their previous game. The Hotshots closed in at 72-74 after Andy Barroca’s basket with 54 ticks to go. The Elasto Painters had a chance to stay out of range, but Norbert Torres bungled a triple. In the return play, Paul Lee could have grabbed the lead for

Javee Mocon

the Hotshots but his triple attempt missed. Mocon then iced the game with his charity shot. “Team confidence. A sense of panic is not in our culture. We have to face everything and rise,” said ROS coach Chris Gavina. Leonard Santillan contributed 14 points apiece with James Yap, and his three-point play in the last 2:20 allowed ROS to keep its distance, 70-65. Ian Sangalang powered the Hotshots with 21 points, while Abueva added 12 points and 13 rebounds. Peter Atencio

PSC backs Gymnastics Academy of Cebu CEBU now has an academy for gymnastics, and the “We initially donated 23 rubber landing mats on Visayas Ramon Fernandez. Philippine Sports Commission gave its support by Monday, and we are expected to send more equipThis soon-to-rise gym located at Labangon Eldonating gymnastics equipment to the Gymnastics ment to get them started on their grassroots sports ementary School will undergo renovation and will Academy of Cebu. development,” said PSC oversight commissioner for be retrofitted with showers, locker rooms and other facilities. Fernandez added that the sports agency will be sending a complete set of gymnastics equipment including, balance beams, high, horizontal and parallel bars, pommel horses, flex floor systems, spotting blocks, trampolines, vaults, and spring boards, once the quarantine restriction eases up on local government units. “Once Metro Manila goes to GCQ, we will be sending these equipment right away, as tasked by Chairman Ramirez,” said Fernandez. The GAC is also in close coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), as it closely dedicates the gymnasiums of the Labangon Elementary School and nearby Guadalupe Elementary School for the sport. “With about 12,000 students attending these schools, we hope that this new indoor arena will be a rich source of grassroots sports talent in the region, and develop the next Carlos Yulo who will represent the country,” concluded Fernandez. Last year, the PSC also aided in the refurbishment of the Burauen Sports Complex in Leyte, and the Mindanao State University Track Oval in Marawi City in 2018. The PSC donated 23 rubber landing mats to the Cebu Gymnstics Academy.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

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

Home/Design

Uplifting living experience

ILIGREE properties continues to reinvent modern living with emphasis on generous spaces as highlighted in its latest residential project, the Tower 2 of Botanika Nature Residences.

brought in by Filligree. “So, there is a nice sense of community and it’s really very much in keeping with the overall idea of being in a healthful place where you can just relax and not feel confined.” Botanika Nature Residences is Filigree’s flagship development and is strategically located in the first and only township with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold in “The concept of the building is you’re in a vertical village,” Neighborhood Development certification in the Philippines, said Tina Periquet of Periquet Galicia, a space planning expert Filinvest City.

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES. Bria Homes,

a developer of quality affordable homes, has initiated eco-friendly schemes in its more than 50 projects all over the country, to combat climate change. “Apart from providing security to BRIA residents, and contributing to better architectural landscaping in our developments, solar-powered streetlights promote renewable energy and lessen the carbon footprint of our communities,” said Red Rosales, President of BRIA Homes. Prospective residents who aim to live eco-friendlier lives can purchase a BRIA unit through flexible schemes and digital payment methods available both locally and internationally through BRIA’s partner banks and e-wallets like GCash, AllEasy, and PayMaya. Buyers can check out BRIA’s website for 360 virtual tours, or inquire online through the BRIA Facebook page.

Concrete innovation MEGAWIDE Construction Corporation recently partnered with German concrete technology developer MultiCON to bring in its patented mixing innovation to the country. The venture allows Megawide to use of MultiCON’s concrete mixing system, OptiCon, for its own projects as well as commercially. “We chose MultiCON because we have examined firsthand the numerous advantages of its concrete mixing

technology for our business and the environment,” explained Edgar Saavedra, Megawide chairman and CEO. He added that the technology could reduce raw material costs, as well as bring down carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30% during production. Megawide intends to use the technology internally in its precast plants, as well as make it available to all contractors via the company’s readymix plants in the future.

On-the-go communities

Immersive education at Lipa AYALA Land, Inc. (ALI), is currently developing a 6,000-sqm land lease block fronting its Vermosa estate development along Daang Hari road, south of Manila. Upon full development, the master planned project is expected to bring together residential, retail, and business spots in one destination, with the

addition of sports and fitness attractions to cater to on-the-go lifestyles. Open spaces await residences and locators as 24 percent of the entire development will be devoted to parks and gardens. A 14-kilometer stretch called the Vermosa Greenway will encourage

people to walk, jog, or explore their neighborhood while bike lanes make it easier to take bikes to work. The 8-hectare Vermosa Sports Hub— which opened its doors to the public in 2018—is a one-stop training and lifestyle destination for triathletes and sports enthusiasts.

Off-site office option here to stay THE Filipino workforce has seen the rise of the workfrom-home (WFH) setup since major lockdowns were imposed last year. RL Commercial REIT, Inc. (RCR) has a portfolio of 14 commercial real estate assets located in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Naga, and Tarlac, with total gross leasable area of approximately 425,000 sqm. RCR, together with its parent company, Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), recently inaugurated Bridgetowne, its first destination estate in Metro Manila, to foster sustainability and convenience. Strategic location offices located in central business districts (CBD) and near transportation hubs, are also offered. One of these is Robinsons Equitable Tower, part of the Robinsons Galleria Complex in the Ortigas Center CBD, which easy access to the Metro Retail Transit 3 (MRT 3). Other locations outside Metro Manila include Cybergate Naga; Robinsons Luisita Office in Tarlac; Robinsons Galleria Cebu; Robinsons Cybergate Cebu; and Robinsons Cybergate Delta in Davao City.

LIMA Estate, a 794-hectare industrialanchored estate, run by Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., is hosting Edustria High School (Edustria), a joint venture between the Far Eastern University (FEU) and the Technological Institute of the Philippines (T.I.P.). The institution bridges education and the industry by preparing its students for immediate employment, equipping them with practical skills, knowledge, and values that companies within the estate are looking for. Open to Grade 7 to Grade 12 students, the school offers scholarships and

discounts. Edustria is located within LIMA’s growing central business district, at ‘The Outlets at Lipa,’ a lifestyle destination that complements the industrial estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas. LIMA Estate is home to 130 international and domestic locators, their 60,000 employees, and 2,500 households. “The school will be able to give its students employment prospects as we gradually head into recovery,” said Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, first vice president of Aboitiz Integrated Economic Centers.

Tech & Gadgets

Lenovo’s ThinkPad P1 boosts user experience, productivity L

ENOVO's Future of Work and Digital Transformation study found that 70 percent of global employees surveyed reported higher job satisfaction and that 56 percent felt more productive at home.

To deliver a smarter way forward as many companies explore a hybrid working environment that balances the continuation of remote working with a return to the ofﬁce post-pandemic, Lenovo™ today introduces the next generation of its ThinkPad™ P1 mobile workstation in a virtual media launch. The new iteration has the choice of the latest 11th generation Intel® Core™ and Xeon™ processors, the latest NVIDIA® GPU architecture up to the NVIDIA RTX A5000 GPU, and added support for PCIe Gen 4 SSDs. This new mobile workstation delivers the performance and power professional users need to maximize productivity. As is true with the entire Lenovo workstation portfolio, the ThinkPad P1 is ISV certiﬁed and tested at the highest level to pass MIL-spec standards1—allowing users to take their productivity to the next level with a reliable device they can trust. “There is no doubt that the pandemic accelerated the shift toward a digital society as all work, education, and leisure had to pivot to virtual means to keep people safe and healthy. Given that technology has been integrated into our lives more intimately, we have to innovate what we have in order to better suit our needs,” said Michael Ngan, President ang General Manager, Lenovo Philippines, Inc.

ThinkPad P1 Gen 4: New Display, Improved Performance Same Thin & Light Form Factor

The ThinkPad P1 has been redesigned with remote users in mind who are looking for power, premium design, and true mobility. Content creators, architects, product designers and data scientists alike can bring their creative vision to life across multiple use cases, even while on the go thanks to the high performance of the ThinkPad P1. New for this fourth-generation system is a complete clean sheet design with user-expe-

Latest generation of ThinkPad P1 gives professional users all they need for today’s flexible, work-from-anywhere environment.

rience improvements and a patent-pending thermal design to support increased capacity. The ThinkPad P1 maintains its thin and light appearance, a larger 90WHr battery, a newly engineered keyboard design featuring a larger touchpad, a higher resolution FHD camera for superior video conferencing and a top-ﬁring Dolby Atmos® Speaker System. This next generation also includes a new 16-inch UHD+ display with narrow bezels, low-blue light technology, and 16:10 aspect ratio for more screen real estate, all while maintaining its 15-inch footprint. For the ﬁrst

time, the new ThinkPad P1 will offer both professional graphics support with the ability to power up to the NVIDIA RTX™ A5000-level GPUs or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. This lets users conﬁgure the machine to best meet their real-time rendering, animation, and visualization needs. Ngan adds, “As more and more companies see the value of a remote work environment, they also see the value of investment in proper tools to help their workers stay productive and support them in creating an environment that is conducive to their creativity.”

PropTech: Real estate digitalization, convergence to advance industry THE increase in digitalization and the rapid adoption of technology in property development will advance the industry, especially as digital solutions and platforms are becoming the norm in business. This forward-looking outlook was discussed during the launch of the PropTech Consortium of the Philippines which gathered experts in property, banking, government, energy, and technology. Techifying real estate and related sectors can also reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, and generate employment and business opportunities. “The digitalization of the real estate industry will allow [the practitioners] to make processes more efficient, which will benefit the end user of these developments … PropTech will be a great platform to achieve that, " Carlos Dominguez III, Secretary of the Department of Finance, said during the digital event. Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development also gave a preview as to why adoption of technology is vital to the development of the real estate industry: “Climate change is among the biggest challenges [that housing faces]. The Philippines is strengthening its efforts into environmentally-friendly [structures]. We need to promote efficient, affordable, and clean energy for more efficient energy consumption.”

Also represented and participating in the inaugural PropTech consortium were the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines, the Philippine Retailers Association, the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance, the National Real Estate Association, the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, and FinTech Philippines Association. Citing that the anticipated post-pandemic boom in real estate requires innovative solutions, Agnes Devanadera, Chairperson of the Energy Regulation Commission, expressed that “with PropTech all the leading companies and organizations that contribute to property development will be able to help each other in managing the emerging needs of this industry. We have seen the rise of the residential sector compared to the industrial and commercial sectors, and PropTech Shown here are (first row, from left) Eduardo del Rosario, Secretary of DHSUD; Jean-Marc will allow us to better plan and tackle these set of Arbogast, Country Manager of IFC; Rosemarie Bosch Ong, Founding Director of PropTech; new challenges and opportunities.” Rosie Tsai, Chairperson of SHDA; Anton Perdices, SVP and CEO of AboitizPower; Carlos While the current health situation has put Dominguez III, Secretary of of Finance; (second row, from left) Agnes Devanadera, ERC more challenges in implementing innovation, Chairperson; Amor Maclang, Co-Founder of PropTech; Emma Imperial, Chairperson & the PropTech leaders still see the Philippines Co- Founder of PropTech; Cathy Saldaña, CEO & Managing Partner of PDP Architects; rising as a technology leader in Southeast Asia. Raymond Rufino, CEO of NEO; (third row, from left) Sylvester Wong, VP of Asia Pacific Cities in AECOM; John Januszczak, President & CEO of UBX; David Almirol, Founder & CEO Amor Maclang, PropTech Co-Founder, pointed out that “by merging technology and real estate of Multisys; Engr. Juanito D. Cunanan, ASEP President; Ricardo Lagdameo, President of and other recent developments on ﬁnance, the Damosa Land; (fourth row, from left) Carlo Luis Rabat, President of the NHMFC; Imelda Philippines is well-positioned to be a PropTech Magtoto, President of NREA; Mike de Guzman, President of PSSEA; Marcelino Mendoza, capital in Asia one sandbox, one experiment, OSHDP Chairperson; Wick Veloso, BAP President; (fifth row, from left) John Aguilar, Host; one talk at a time.” and Josephine Romero of PropTech.

HP, Mandaue Foam bring comfort for pros, students COMFORT is a basic need to address productivity when working and learning from home. It’s important to have a PC setup and space that will help people to focus and even keep their posture in check. For those looking to update their workspace, HP and Mandaue Foam have teamed up to create a conducive environment. Starting with the PC, nothing’s more versatile and portable than a laptop. The HP Pavilion x360 convertible laptop PC runs with a 10th Generation Intel® Core™ processor with up to 4.6 GHz processing power, as well as a long battery life so

HP Pavilion x360

users can work on tasks smoothly. This device has a three-sided micro-edge display with full HD resolution to read documents and video clearly. It also has a touchscreen and pen for the tablet feature, which is perfect for creatives. Additionally, the laptop has an HP Audio Boost courtesy of B&O to ensure highquality sound during video calls and while listening to audio ﬁles. These features ensure a smooth PC experience for work and learning. For maximum comfort, complete the space with a new chair, desk, lamp, neck pillow, and more from Mandaue Foam. Customers can also get mattresses and cushions for a restful break after a long yet productive day. Grab the chance to get up to P6,000 worth of online vouchers from Mandaue Foam with each purchase of HP Laptop and Desktop products valid until October 31, 2021. For more information on the promo and the products available, visit the HP Flagship store in Lazada HP | PH and Shopee Custom Page or from HP’s Authorized Resellers.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

51% of AsPac firms blame cyberattacks on unknown assets CAMBRIDGE—A new poll by MIT Technology Review Insights, in association with Palo Alto Networks, uncovers the complex challenges Asia-Pacific companies face in securing networks and systems for remote workers in the post-pandemic era. In this new cybersecurity landscape, conducting a full inventory of internet-connected digital assets— from laptops to cloud applications— and rebooting cybersecurity policies for today’s modern remote work environment can mitigate risks. But organizations must also understand the cybersecurity trends and challenges that define their markets, many of which are unique to organizations operating in the Asia-Pacific region. Report highlights include: ● More attacks are expected: Fifty-one percent of respondents have experienced a cyberattack originating from a digital asset they didn’t know about or didn’t manage, and 16% expect such an attack eventually. Unique challenges such as varied cyber maturity across the region and being unprepared to pivot to remote work during the pandemic have heightened the urgency to establish cybersecurity strategies. ● Securing cloud assets is a priority: Forty-three percent of respondents report that more than half of their digital assets are in the cloud. Well-funded and well-organized hackers and the fast-evolving nature of technology are forcing organizations to consider multiple ways to secure their cloud environments and monitor digital assets. ● Executives are paying attention to cybersecurity: Organizations also can mitigate risks by adding cybersecurity to the C-suite agenda. As it stands, 68% of respondents say their organization’s board of directors will request an attack surface management plan for cybersecurity this year. “Our research shows that 70% of companies report a secure cloud management strategy is key to avoiding cybersecurity attacks. And 67% of respondents realize that continuous asset monitoring is the cornerstone of that strategy,” says Laurel Ruma, editorial director at MIT Technology Review Insights, US. The research is based on a multiindustry poll of more than 728 technology decision-makers across more than a dozen global industries, including information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, health care, and retail. It includes in-depth interviews from public- and private-sector organizations in Asia-Pacific (22%), Europe (38%), North America (24%), and the Middle East and Africa (13%). Three resulting reports have been published: “IT Security Starts with Knowing Your Assets: AsiaPacific,” “A Game-changer in Security Operations,” and “IT Security Starts with Knowing Your Assets: Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”

Tagaytay Highlands ramps up digitalization efforts TAGAYTAY Highlands conforms to the new normal as it accelerates its digital conversion. Discerning homebuyers are now given online access to experiential journeys that allow them to ‘explore’ potential alternative primary homes without onsite visits. The country’s premier mountain resort complex has developed a 360° Virtual Walkthrough of its Horizon Terraces Garden Villas’ Glendale model unit, a contactless solution for attending to customers on their property-prospecting journey. With just a few clicks of the mouse, this immersive virtual tour allows one to check out all rooms and living spaces in the model home as if they were actually standing there. Interactive images allow users of the virtual walkthrough to click hotspots and directional arrows in order to navigate its ﬂoor plan. Best of all, the 360° Virtual Walkthrough can be accessed on any device— Android, iOS, Windows, or Mac. To experience this immersive walkthrough, visit Tagaytay Highlands’ ofﬁcial website at https://www. tagaytayhighlands.com/glendale-360/ Harnessing Tagaytay Highlands’ digital capabilities to complement its 360° Virtual Walkthrough is the Virtual Tour Guide. It provides potential buyers with a warm, person-

dining area, as well as the kitchen are located. For the last segment, the Guide takes the viewer to the 3rd floor, which houses the master’s bedroom and another bedroom. It finally winds up at the unit’s 3rd floor balcony, from which the viewer ‘looks out’ onto stunning vistas of lush gardens and the vast Midlands Golf Course nearby. Take this experiential journey through Tagaytay Highlands’ official YouTube channel at Glendale Model Unit Walk Through AVP - YouTube. The Garden Villas are well-designed three-bedroom townhouse units with 136 to 168 square meters floor areas. Each cluster of villas is made up of only seven units for utmost privacy and security. Residents who need a guest room or space for a home office may utilize the multifunctional den on the ground floor. Here, they can ‘isolate’ themselves as they wait out the pandemic and still remain connected to the rest of the world. A hectare dedicated to a lush, verdant setting is perched right at the heart of the community. The Central Garden provides space for convergence amidst tranquil hues. Families who are looking at investing in Blending beautifully with the natuan alternative primary home that they can ral landscape, it lets families indulge retreat to from the widespread contagion in a holistic lifestyle with nature’s in the metro, would do well to choose The beauty all around. Garden Villas at Horizon Terraces. alized service through an experiential journey featuring the exclusive lifestyle lived at a Garden Villas home. The Virtual Tour Guide begins by showing the Glendale model unit’s ground floor features, then proceeds to showcase the second floor, where the living room,

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

Make every moment count with Toyota

Hyundai celebrates 20 years in PH

HERE’S no denying that we’re making bigger steps into a whole new kind of normal. For many, that means having to move around with ease, comfort, and most of all, in utmost safety. For some, it could mean upgrading and exploring new opportunities to make the most out of the new ordinary. But beyond all these adjustments and changes, one thing is clear: we move forward and make every moment count.

This is why this September, Toyota Motor Philippines is inviting everyone to make more precious memories with incredible deals on new vehicle purchases, free maintenance services and a whole lot more, exclusively this month. Make New Experiences Count An entry-level hatchback that’s well loved by many – the well-loved Toyota Wigo is perfect for starters, whether as a family or as a business. Drive it home for as low as PHP5,970 per month for the 1.0 E MT variant (at a 50% down payment, 60 months to pay). Share in the new stories this year with the New Toyota Innova. Upgrade your ride with the balance of sophistication and practicality. Get it for a light monthly payment plan of PHP12,372 for the 2.8 J Diesel MT variant, or with the all-in package rate of PHP192,750 for the 2.8 E Diesel MT, that’s a cash out of 15% down payment that comes with Free Insurance on the first year, Free 3-Year LTO Registration and a whole lot more. Get up PHP45,000 worth of savings for select

MA. FE PEREZ-AGUDO

models when you choose for outright cash transaction. Brave the future and get that power to lead new moments with the Toyota Fortuner. It’s time to take on new journeys and tread the path less taken with this crowd favorite. Get it for only the light monthly payment of PHP16,992 for the 4x2 G AT variant. Save up to PHP65,000 if you choose to for the outright cash purchase. Whether you’re venturing into new streams of income or expanding your business, it’s time to make your efforts and hard work count with the Toyota Hiace. As a partner that truly delivers quality, durability, and reliability, you can also trust on the savings with a low monthly payment of PHP17,155 for the Commuter Deluxe variant (at 50% down payment, 60 months to pay).

Participating brand-new models are entitled for a Free Periodic Maintenance Service of up to 20,000 Kilometers. Select variants from Vios, Corolla Altis, Rush, Innova, Fortuner, Hilux, and Hiace are eligible for basic periodic maintenance service, parts and job items that use Toyota Genuine Motor Oil. Terms and conditions apply. Remember, Toyota service experts recommend booking and availing services on a calendar schedule for simpler tracking and monitoring rather than basing it on mileage. Toyota experts recommend booking and availing services on a calendar schedule for simpler tracking and monitoring rather than basing it on mileage. Having your vehicles checked and maintained regularly helps keep it in top shape, even when you’re not using it. Getting a Vios? You get a 5-Year

Brandon Vera trusts Petron Rev-X PETRON Corp. has partnered with former ONE Heavyweight Mixed Martial Arts World Champion Brandon Vera, who is known to only work with world-class brands, when he agreed to represent Petron Rev-X diesel engine oils. An athlete who has ruled the cage through the mastery of various combat disciplines, Vera's outstanding performance and versatility parallel the worldclass specifications and class-leading benefits of Petron Rev-X. Diesel engines are typically seen as tough and strong, powered by diesel fuel that is a heavy fuel with high energy density. Previously, diesel was perceived to be a "dirty" fuel, producing smoke-belchers on our roads. However, recent technology trends have produced more sophisticated, more energy-efficient, and more environment-friendly diesel engines, resulting in wider

BRANDON VERA

market acceptance for diesel-powered vehicles. Specially formulated to get the best out of diesel engines, Petron Rev-X engine oils perform the primary functions of (1) reducing friction, (2) protecting metal parts from corrosion, (3) preventing wear on moving engine parts, (4) keeping the engine clean from engine deposits, and (5) acting as coolant. The Dynamic Cleaning Technology (DC Tech) additive package of Petron Rev-X sustains engine cleanliness for a more responsive, smoother driving experience as well as longer engine life. Petron Rev-X ranges from mineral to fully synthetic and is offered in different SAE viscosity grades and quality levels to cater different types of diesel engines operating under diverse conditions. These include: Petron Rev-X RX 800 Fully Synthetic SAE 5W-40 — a toptier product specially formulated for heavy duty and, high-speed 4-stroke diesel engines to provide excellent protection under extreme driving conditions. It is approved and certified according to specifications of API CJ-4/SM and it has the performance profile of ACEA E7, E9. Petron Rev-X Fully Synthetic SAE 5W-30 — a highperformance fully synthetic engine oil formulated to deliver superior benefits for turbocharged or supercharged high performance heavy duty diesel engines and light duty trucks. Petron Rev-X Premium Multi-Grade HD4X SAE 15W-40 — a high-performance multi-grade engine oil designed to provide ultimate protection. This is suitable for FX, trucks, buses, offroad vehicles as well as agricultural tractors and equipment. It has the performance profile of API CF/SF and MB Approval 227.1.

FASTLANE

Geely Auto names new Global Design VP STEFAN Sielaff was appointed Vice President of Geely Auto Group’s Global Design. Stefan succeeds Peter Horbury, who joins Group Lotus as Senior Vice President of Design. Stefan has previously worked at the design studios of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen Group etc. In 2015, Stefan became the Director of Design for Bentley Motors. Stefan, who will be based in Gothenburg, Sweden, brings over 30 years of car design experience to Geely and will oversee the Geely Auto Group portfolio of brands including Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, and Geometry. He will also

support the development of the premium EV brand, Zeekr. Andy An Conghui, Geely Holding Group’s President and CEO of Zeekr Technology said “We are highly appreciative of Peter Horbury’s contribution and dedication to Geely over the past decade. Peter led one of the most creative global teams in the automotive industry and helped Geely to redefine its brand image globally. At the same time, we also warmly welcome Stefan Sielaff to the Geely family, we believe that his years of design experience will further enhance Geely Auto Group portfolio of brands with the ultimate goal of providing the best products to consumers.”

STEFAN SIELAFF

Warranty! Beyond levelling up your drive, you can be sure of the best-selling sedan in the Philippines with a guarantee of five years based on the provisions of the warranty. The Toyota Vios G, E, and XLE variants are eligible for a warranty coverage of 5 Years of 150,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. Make Every Point of Safety Checked Toyota’s commitment to safety goes even further with an exclusive offer this month of September. All Toyota customers are entitled for a Free Safety Inspection at All Toyota dealership nationwide from September 1 to 30, 2021. Customers who will require replacements of featured brakes and clutch parts are also entitled to a 15% discount on parts and labor. They can also enjoy 10% discount on Toyota Genuine Battery during the promotion period. Terms and conditions apply.

SNEAK PREVIEW

NextGen Ranger on the loose FORD Philippines has just released the first official glimpse of the #NextGenRanger, which will be revealed later this year and launch in 2022. Embracing superior off-road credentials and Ford’s dynamic driving DNA, customers will rejoice at the toughest, most capable and connected Ranger pickup yet developed by Ford. At its core, the next-generation Ranger will be the ideal pickup partner for work, family and play. This is not just a Built Ford Tough truck, but the smartest, most capable, and most versatile Ranger yet.

THE country’s official distributor of Hyundai vehicles continues its yearlong celebration of 20 years as the Filipino’s lifetime mobility partner with the launch of Hyundai MOVE (MObility Virtual Experience) on Friday, September 10, 2021. Coming at the heels of the The Great Accent Find online game, Hyundai MOVE is designed to further engage the People of Hyundai online via a virtual city, divided into six zones, each promising a one-ofa-kind experience for all Hyundai vehicle owners. Participants can join the following fun activities that will trace highlights and the better journeys that Hyundai has offered the Filipino through the year: Me and My Hyundai Ride. A photo contest where participants submit imaginative photos of themselves with their Hyundai vehicle. Most Memorable Ride. A story contest where participants share a 20word account of their best experience with their Hyundai vehicle, dealership, or HARI-sponsored activity. Test Your Hy-Story. A quiz contest where participants answer 20 trivia questions about Hyundai in the Philippines. Wishboard. A venue for posting comments, greetings, and well wishes to other Hyundai owners. Best Ride Ever. Participants vote on their best Hyundai vehicle ever. Drive Forward Theater. A virtual movie house where participants can watch videos produced by HARI and Hyundai Motor Company. Participants who finish all six activities are qualified to join the Hyundai MOVE raffle. Prizes are also in store for winners of the Me and My Hyundai Ride photo contest, the Most Memorable Ride story contest, and Test Your Hy-Story quiz. At stake is as much as P10,000 pesos worth of eGCs for the contest winners. “We very well know how Pinoys enjoy a good game. For the evergrowing online community of Hyundai loyalists, Hyundai MOVE is our way of bringing happiness in the midst of these challenging times, and of course our big THANK YOU to all the people who have been part of our 20 years of successful operations,” said HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.