OIL COMPANIES are set to increase the price of petroleum products after last week’s decline, with the cost of gasoline increasing by P0.25 per liter (/L), diesel by P0.20/L, and kerosene by P0.10/L. The rate adjustment takes effect on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:00 a.m. Last week, per liter prices decreased by P0.10 for gasoline, P0.30 for diesel, and P0.20 for kerosene after seven straight weeks of price increases. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang
REVIVING THE mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program could cost as much as P23 billion, according to Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua. “If we will be constructing ROTC proposals in every school, it would be 11,000 schools and it would be about P2 million per school if you are looking at one or two classroom per school. That would be something like P22 billion,” he said during the Senate committee on education, arts, and culture hearing on Monday. If schools use existing facilities, he added, the budget would be reduced by nearly 80%, but not all campuses would have the needed space for such training. Mr. Pascua also said that the DepEd is in talks for possible clustering of private and public schools for the use of existing facilities. The proposed law would require the ROTC for Grade 11 and 12 students. Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said during the hearing that such a high budget for new facilities is unlikely to get support from the Senate. “That would raise a lot of eyebrows and definitely this might be shut down. Our question is, can we afford P23 billion for this program?” he said. — Gillian M. Cortez
THE PRESIDENTIAL Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) said the Office of the President and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) approved its recommendation to order the preventive suspension of 18 BI agents who allegedly attempted to extort P9 million from 15 Koreans they arrested last March 6 in Pampanga. “(W)e recommended that they be preventively suspended which the president and the bureau of immigration has acted upon,” PACC Executive Director Eduardo V. Bringas said in a press conference. PACC Commissioner Greco B. Belgica said further investigation indicates that it was not the first time that the same group attempted to extort from foreigners. He also claimed that the BI agents “name-dropped” both President Rodrigo R. Duterte and senatorial candidate Christoper Lawrence T. Go in the extortion. He added that the Koreans arrested were legally working in the country for a long time. Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente asked Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra to order the preventive suspension of the BI agents. They also requested the NBI to conduct its own probe for filing of criminal charges. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has submitted for resolution the complaint of a mother whose 14-year old son is allegedly being forced to stand as a witness in the Oct. 20, 2018 Sagay massacre. Lawyer Josalee S. Deinla, spokesperson of National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), said they expected a clarificatory hearing over the complaint but the prosecutor opted to wrap up the preliminary investigation and instead asked respondents to submit their rejoinder affidavit. The complaint was filed in Dec. last year against the boy’s father, Vic Elisan Pedaso, accusing him of psychological abuse for allegedly forcing his child and the mother to be in his custody. Also accused are Police Chief Inspector Robert Mansueto, chief of Philippine National Police (PNP) Negros Occidental, police officers Julie Ann Diaz and PO Christine Magpusaw for violation of RA No. 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and Rule on Examination of Child Witness. Lawyer Katherine A. Panguban of NUPL said last Dec. that the child is going to be used as witness for the narrative of the authorities, although the boy could not identify the faces of those who shot them. Nine sugar farmers, including two minors and four women, were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
PROBE
Meanwhile, Senator Leila M. De Lima filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 1034 seeking to probe the growing number of farmers killed by police. “There is an urgent need to investigate this escalating trend and spate of killings victimizing our farmers, making it imperative for the government and law authorities and institutions to develop mechanisms which can hold these perpetrators accountable in order for justice and the rule of law to be restored and upheld throughout our lands,” Ms. De Lima said, citing that at least 180 farmers have been killed since 2016 when President Rodrigo R. Duterte took office. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Gillian M. Cortez
PERSONNEL of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard man the Malasakit help desk at the Port of Matnog on April 8 as part of assistance and security preparations for the expected influx of travelers starting this coming weekend for the Catholic Holy Week holidays.
THE CEBU City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) will recommend the declaration of a state of calamity in the upland barangays due to the effects of El Niño to agriculture. Last week, the CDRRMC decided to push for the declaration after assessing reports on damage and losses. Disaster Office Operations Chief Wesley Vincent Yñigo told The Freeman that they will submit the recommendation to the city council as soon as the City Agriculture Department (CAD) gives them the consolidated report, which was expected on Monday. “The CDRRMC resolution recommending for the declaration of a state of calamity will be endorsed to the city council once we can have the consolidated report of CAD office based on the RDANA (Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis) conducted by the disaster council’s technical working group,” he said. City Agriculturist Apple Tribunalo said farmers in 28 upland barangays have an estimated P14.9 million worth of crops. With a state of calamity declaration, the CAD can use more funds for the purchase of necessary equipment that would help the affected farmers. In the meantime, Ms. Tribunalo said the CAD is using part of their approved annual budget of P12 million for the procurement of drums, hoses and power sprayers, which will be distributed to the farmers within the month. — The Freeman
FORTY BLOCKS of suspected cocaine were found by two fishermen floating in the waters off Burgos town in Surigao del Norte on Sunday afternoon, the Police Regional Office-Caraga (PRO-13) reported on Monday. The bricks of powder, wrapped in black fishnet, were similar to the ones discovered at Barangay Pacifico in the neighboring town of San Isidro last Feb. 15. PRO-13 said the latest find weighs 48.575 kilograms (kg) and is worth to be about P257.4 million, based on Dangerous Drugs Board valuation. This latest recovery adds to the four others last February in the region, giving a total of 181.02 kg and an estimated value of P944.5 million. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras
THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) has started disseminating the results of a study intended to help farmers plan their agricultural activities and choose crops that best suit their land. Anne Marie I. Oledan, project coordinator at MinDA, said last week that the Water-Energy Food Study, funded by the United States Assistance for International Development, provides data on water availability as well areas vulnerable to climate change. The study, according to the results summary, indicates the “baseline quantity for surface water supply in eight river basins in Mindanao, simulates the impact of climate change on surface water supply, maps out water rich and water stressed areas as these relate to the agriculture products of Mindanao, and explores policies that efficiency match natural resources to supply availability for sustained economic growth.” The study found out that “the largest impact area for water shortage can be seen in major urban areas” like the cities of Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro, and the entire Zamboanga Peninsula Region. Ms. Oledan said MinDA has been making presentations to local government units (LGUs), which are tasked with “capacitating the farmers through interpretation of the data.” She added that study will also help LGUs in updating their comprehensive land use plan (CLUP) as well as geographic information systems, which would allow them to introduce climate change-adaptation mechanisms like irrigation systems. With the study on hand, MinDA is hopeful that LGUs as well as national government agencies will be able to come up with more comprehensive programs on land use, investments, and policies on shared resource management. — Carmelito Q. Francisco
News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.
A shift in workplace dynamics is underway as more and more members of Generation Z enter the workforce. These youngsters, born roughly between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, have values and attitudes that can be vastly different from and surprisingly similar to those of the cohorts that came before them — the millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers.
In the third leg of Spark Series 2019, held last March 14, the Gen-Z students of San Beda University in Manila gathered at Pamanang Bedista Heritage Center where three industry experts dished out important insights into their generation’s characteristics and nuggets of advice on navigating the world of work and dealing with older folks.
Starting off the talks was Bianca Eleisse Eyales, associate consultant at Acumen Strategy Consultants, who presented fascinating findings of her firm’s study of Gen Zers. According to that 2018 study, the world of Gen Zers is ultra connected, operates at hyper-speed, and is big and expansive.
Members of Generation Z use the Internet for hours to access information and socialize, and they want everything instant and fast, including feedback. They get bored easily when they’re offline and think they express themselves better online than in person. They also have a thirst for learning.
The study also discovered their emerging mindset. Gen Zers have a mature, hyper-empowered mindset, enjoying life responsibly and preferring experience to material possessions. They’re champions of change, who believe they have the power to shape the future. They filter what they see and believe. They pursue purpose and meaning, and value authenticity.
“One thing that Gen Zers themselves should do as they enter the workforce is to be self-aware of how your generation is different in your approaches and your mindset,” Ms. Eyales said.
But they must also be mindful of the fraught gap between generations in the workplace. “There’s always a tension inside the office especially when you deal with people from different generations, different backgrounds, and with different beliefs,” Ken Lerona, head of marketing and corporate communications at Entrego, a logistics solutions provider, said.
“We have to open our minds… To me, it’s our closed minds that keep us from understanding each other and making our lives more harmonious,” he said. Some of the questions he suggested that people should ask to understand those around them include deceptively simple ones like “What makes you happy or sad?” and “What are your dreams and fears?”
Learning to understand and respect one another is a key to bridging the gap, according to Mr. Lerona. “No generation is better than the other. We’re not better than the generation ahead of us. Neither is the generation ahead of us better than us. Let us learn to make the most from our generations’ strengths and weaknesses,” he told the audience.
Meanwhile, Miguel de Vera, head of strategic initiatives at Energy Development Corp., the largest producer of geothermal energy in the country, gave the audience the lowdown on the destructive effects of climate change — which every inhabitant of this planet must concern himself or herself with — and how renewable energy sources will help make the future sustainable for their generation.
“We can all help energize our future by being part of a workforce the upholds sustainability at all times, by adopting a low-carbon lifestyle and by using your voice to make a stand against practices that harm our planet and our future,” he said.
The third leg of Spark Series 2019 at San Beda University was presented by BusinessWorld SparkUp and Energy Development Corporation, together with Acumen Strategy Consultants and J. Legaspi Computer Graphics (JLCG), in partnership with San Beda University, with media partners Philippine Star and ONE News, and organization partner Management and Entrepreneurship Society.
By Mark Louis F. Ferrolino, Special Features Writer
Whether a solution to rapid urbanization and lack of affordable housing, or an answer to the shifting lifestyle of the younger generations, the co-living or ‘dormitel’ concept is gaining traction as an alternative option to traditional residential accommodations. This new and booming market segment is expected to grow further and is envisioned to shape the way of life in the future.
Professional real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) defines co-living as a form of housing where residents with similar interests and values share living space. While it is relatively a new concept in the country, this living trend is now becoming a norm in United States, Europe, and in some parts of Asia.
Similar to how co-working space grew in importance, the demand for co-living spaces is driven by the younger generations who look for flexibility, openness, and collaboration.
In the Philippines, the growth of co-living trend is not limited to such factor. Other reasons, according to MyTown, the first professional rental housing provider in Metro Manila and a homegrown brand under the Philippines Urban Living Solutions, Inc. (PULS), include the growing gap in affordable housing and the worsening traffic in the Metro.
“McKinsey & Company completed an affordable housing study in October 2014 that estimated the affordable housing gap at over $3 billion, and in 2016, the Philippine Housing Finance Conference determined a housing backlog of about 5.7 million housing units,” MyTown shared in an e-mail to BusinessWorld, noting that young professionals bear the brunt of this housing shortage, given that their wages are still too low for them to apply for a mortgage to buy a house or rent in expensive business districts.
Moreover, given the lack of accessible public transportation options and despite the government’s efforts to address traffic congestion through its “Build, Build, Build” program, commuting in Metro Manila remains worse.
After a survey to 1,200 respondents, MyTown learned that many young professionals spend a considerable part of their disposable income and an aggregate of three to nine full days per month on their daily commute, simply to get to work.
MyTown’s value proposition is for less than the cost of your commute, you can live in MyTown, walk to work, and play, learn, and meet new friend.
In addition to providing a solution to every individuals’ struggle in commuting, co-living space, according to MyTown, also benefits firms and organizations located in the metro in some ways.
“Employers are faced with increasing staff attrition, high rates of tardiness, and competition with other employers to hire talent. Moreover, according to Willis Towers Watson (a global advisory, broking and solutions company), HR benefits are the second most and an employee’s commute is the fifth most important reason for signing with a new employer,” MyTown said.
Mark Arellano Kooijman, chief executive officer of PULS, noted that corporate staff housing solutions in co-living buildings such as MyTown solve both the employers’ concerns on attrition and hiring, and the employees’ demand on living close to work and having a community to come home to.
Aside from the obvious benefits of staying in shared spaces, such as cutting commute cost and living closer to work, co-living tenants also enjoy more time that gives them the opportunity to do something productive.
“With the time gained by not having to commute two to four hours every day, co-living tenants have the power and time to develop hobbies, learn a new language, work overtime for extra income, or meet up with their group of friends. Life becomes more than just sleep, commute, work, commute, sleep — repeat,” MyTown said.
Moreover, with the in-house amenities in co-living buildings, such as gym, pool, spa room, cafeterias and other common spaces, tenants have more chance to achieve a balance between work and leisure.
In the case of MyTown, it said that their gyms, roof deck infinity pool, dedicated karaoke rooms, boxing rings with trainers, and a mini movie theater are the facilities mostly enjoyed by tenants in their buildings. To give them a more exciting after-work life, it also organizes various programs that encourage health, fun, and personal and professional development.
“Young professionals don’t simply seek for a place to sleep — they work hard in order to live a lifestyle they enjoy, and have a home away from home. From developing top of the line amenities, to providing convenient retail options and an engaging tenant activity program, MyTown is the young professional’s partner when you want to thrive in the city,” Jelmer David Ikink, group director of PULS, said.
At present, more property developers are starting to enter the co-living market segment by developing their own co-living brands and by establishing similar developments in the fringe areas of Makati and Bonifacio Global City central business districts.
According to Nauriz Zornosa, assistant research manager at JLL in the Philippines, in addition to property developers, the rise in the demand for co-living spaces has also drawn interest from real estate investors.
“Real estate investors are keen in this emerging property investment as it brings in stable recurring income, supported by lower land value for acquisition in the fringe areas, low construction cost, and low operational cost, among others,” Ms. Zornosa wrote in a report titled “Co-living on the rise in Makati and BGC” posted in JLL’s Web site.
In the years to come, industry players and experts believe that demand for this new market segment will continue to grow, especially in Metro Manila.
“We expect co-living spaces in Makati to triple in the next two to three years, serving as a middle ground for an untapped market looking for more comfort and amenities over the traditional dormitory and at a cost more affordable than a residential condominium,” Alvin Fernandez, senior director of Investment and Capital Markets at real estate consultancy Santos Knight Frank, said.
Given the growing affordable housing gap and infrastructure concerns in the country, MyTown believes that co-living is expected to increasingly become the best solution for the hardworking young professionals.
“We don’t see this as a trend, but a way of life that will become the norm in the future,” Mr. Ikink said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Zornosa said that young professionals are observed to penetrate the new segment, with property investors capturing the underserved market and expand their business.
The continued expansion of the offshoring and outsourcing firms and multinational corporations is likely to fuel the demand for co-living spaces as it provide affordable yet convenient housing options right in the heart of Metro Manila, she added.
Co-living, a budding mode of shared housing, is beginning to change the way people — especially the current generation of young professionals — live out their daily routines. Co-living spaces are usually located near the tenants’ workplaces, giving them an alternative to commuting to work. As the problem of traffic burdens commuters and the cost of rent continues to rise, considering to reside in co-living spaces provide many benefits.
Local real estate marketplace Lamudi, in a recent post on its Web site, pointed out that traffic has gone “so bad that it has also become a major consideration for the working class. And with jobs heavily concentrated in Metro Manila, this problem is just one you don’t simply tiptoe around.”
“True enough, it can be a lose-lose situation: you either spend more on a place that is close to your work, or live in a more affordable area with some distance from work, requiring you to spend more on transportation,” it added.
Co-living spaces in the Metro primarily address this problem, giving a convenient solution to young professionals who are getting tired of commuting. Instead of beating the traffic for long hours just to get to work on time, they can just walk from their homes to offices with ease.
Affordability is another thing to note in co-living, since the rent is split to its tenants. “In this economy, it is simply too expensive to live on your own,” Lamudi wrote. “A large chunk of the expenses goes to lodging — and there are not many affordable options near business districts.”
Thankfully, co-living comes in time with the advantage of dividing the typical cost for one unit into 2-4 persons. Since the person is sharing the bill with either friends, officemates, or new people, he can “get the benefits of living in a condo, with a fraction of the cost.”
Likewise, co-living is more cost-worthy as it spares one from the cost of transportation that piles up every commute.
A survey conducted by Philippine co-living and dormitories brand MyTown found out that “a huge amount of young professionals’ income goes to transportation. On top of the costs, they spend between three to nine full days per month on their daily commute, simply to get to work and earn an income.”
With this reality among young professionals, co-living does not only remove the burden of tiresome commutes, but it also cuts off the big cost taken by it.
Also a very important benefit of co-living is the community it creates. As American co-living startup OpenDoor defines it, “co-living is a modern form of housing where residents share living space and a set of interests, values, and/or intentions.” Community is in the essence of co-living.
Allowing residents to cross paths and eventually build connections, co-living closely knits residents together in very profound ways.
On co-living with other residents, OpenDoor co-founder Jay Standish noted in an interview with Business Insider: “We don’t just ignore each other and go about our day when we’re stressed out… I’ll actually drop in and be, like, ‘What’s going on in your life?… It’s a way to start the day that’s actually honoring my humanity.”
In another interview by the Web site, Arram Sabeti, a CEO who shares a house in San Francisco with nine roomates, said “that creating this communal living space has cured his loneliness — and that it was one of the best decisions he ever made.”
Co-living spaces do not merely put people of different backgrounds to share rooms, but they also get them engaged through programs, activities, and workshops.
Among all these benefits, the best advantage of co-living accommodations is the work-life balance they bring. With the convenience it provides and the community it forms, co-living enables professionals to strike a balance between their careers and personal lives. Through co-living, residents live beyond their 9 to 5 work routine and get the chance to make the most out of their schedules.
Co-living spaces “are more likely to positively influence life by helping you achieve a balance between your time for recreation, rest, and work,” Lamudi noted.
“It would actually allow you to rest on your days off, and you would be able to accomplish more on your work-from-home days,” it added. “By drastically reducing your commute time, your expenditures, and your stress, co-living spaces could actually be the solution to the anxieties that come with adulting.”
Co-living, for all its benefits, helps one to work to live instead of living to work, as the saying goes. — Adrian Paul B. Conoza
