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SsangYong unveils new Korando, Tivoli SUVs

By Ulysses Ang

REMEMBER the SsangYong Korando? The compact SUV whose name means, “Korea Can Do” and whose styling resembles a suppository? No? Well, don’t worry, because the all-new 2020 version is here, and this time, it’s got some killer looks to take on the world. And the best part? Prices start at just P1.290 million.

The fourth-generation Korando gains the new angular family look. With that, it’s got the “birds wing” front grille, curved shoulder lines that taper towards the rear of the car, and available LED headlights and LED fog lights. Ground clearance ranges from 172 to 182 mm depending on the variant, while at each corner are either 17- or 18-inch wheels (225/60 R 17 or 225/55 R 18). And despite its modern design, it still has an 18-degree approach and 24.5-degree departure angle.

Inside, the all-new Korando features enriched interior materials combined with cutting-edge design technologies. Available features include the full 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, 8-inch Smart Audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual zone climate control, and leather seats with power movement for the front occupants.

More than just style, the 2020 Korando also seats 5 comfortably with an enlarged cabin, while the cargo hold can fit up to 1,248 liters of stuff.

Powering the Korando is either a powerful 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine or a punchy 1.6-liter turbodiesel. The base 1.5T Sport has 163 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque, while the 1.6 Diesel Sport and 1.6 Diesel Premium both have 136 horsepower and 324 Nm of torque available on tap. This is mated to a third-generation Aisin 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters, cruise control, and selectable driving modes. Power is routed solely through the front wheels.

In a first for SsangYong, the Korando uses structural adhesives to improve monocoque rigidity, optimizing noise, and tonal qualities. Its work has paid off: its cabin noise at idle is just at 44 dB compared to the Kia Sportage Diesel’s 45.6 dB. Meanwhile, its chassis vibration is at 95 Hz to the Sportage’s 97 Hz.

In terms of safety, the 2020 Korando comes standard with dual SRS air bags, ABS with EBD, and vehicle stability control. Front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera is standard on all but the base trim.

The 2020 SsangYong Korando is available in three variants: the 1.5T Sport at P1,290,000; 1.6 Diesel Sport at P1,578,000; and the 1.6 Diesel Premium at P1,770,000.To make the Korando even more enticing, SsangYong Philippines is adding a P30,000 discount for all who reserve a unit until the end of November. SsangYong currently has three dealerships: Sta Rosa, Laguna; Otis, Manila; and Cebu.

SsangYong Tivoli

SSANGYONG TIVOLI
While the Korando has certainly taken the spotlight over at SsangYong, its subcompact crossover, the Tivoli also gets a makeover for 2020. The most notable change? A swapping from gasoline to diesel power.

For 2020, the Tivoli keeps its two-variant lineup, the 1.6 Sport and 1.6 Premium. However, pop the hood and the old gasoline mill is gone. In its place is SsangYong’s e-XDi160 turbodiesel engine making 136 horsepower and 324 Nm of torque (same as the Korando). The engine itself is the same one found in the Tivoli XLV, but a new turbocharger bumps the power figures up. The sole transmission option is a 6-speed automatic with a Drive Mode selector.

Its swap to diesel power aside, the 2020 Tivoli gets a refreshed exterior and interior.

Outside, the most notable one is the revised front clip with a new grille, headlights, and fog lights. Towards the side, there are more gloss black garnish, while at the back are LED combination lamps. Wheel sizes are either 16 or 18 inches depending on the trim.

Inside, the Tivoli benefits from better materials. The entire center console is new with easier-to-use climate control switches. The top-of-the-line Premium adds leatherette seats, a 10.25-inch full digital gauge cluster, an 8-inch Smart Audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and even an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

For safety, dual SRS air bags, ABS with EBD, and a rear parking camera are standard. The Premium bumps it up to include a full suite of 6 air bags as well.

The 2020 SsangYong Tivoli starts at P1.180 million for the 1.6 Diesel Sport, while the 1.6 Diesel Premium ups the price to P1.290 million. All reservations done from today until the end of the month come with an additional P30,000 discount. All SsangYong models come with a 5-year/100,000-kilometer warranty and a 3-year/60,000-kilometer free PMS package.

Yield on 20-year Treasury bonds to climb amid lack of fresh leads

THE government will likely see higher rates for its reissued 20-year Treasury bonds (T-bond) offer on Tuesday as the market stays on the sidelines amid a lack of fresh leads.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) is looking to raise P20 billion via reissued T-bonds with a remaining life of 19 years and two months and a coupon rate of 6.75%.

For Kevin S. Palma, peso debt trader of Robinsons Bank Corp., the rate will likely fall within the 5.2-5.3% range, as “the lack of firm leads have led bond holders to reduce risk the past few weeks.”

Last Sept. 24, the BTr decided to reject a total of P30.7 billion in bids for the 20-year bonds as the market asked for higher rates.

Had the government made a full award, the papers would have fetched an average rate of 5.356%, higher than the 5.015% quoted when the securities were last offered on July 30.

At the secondary market on Friday, the 20-year bonds were quoted at 5.234%, based on the PHP Bloomberg Valuation (BVAL) Service Reference Rates published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website.

UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said the auction may attract huge demand from investors looking to park their excess funds following the central bank’s moves to boost liquidity.

“I do expect the market to again oversubscribe as institutions and other players are looking for ways to maximize freed up funds due to the central bank’s current expansionary moves,” Mr. Asuncion said in an e-mail on Friday.

“Players would want to lock in with longer tenors especially with the economy in 2020 particularly having better prospects,” he added.

Last Friday, the central bank said interbank borrowings will no longer be classified as deposit substitutes subject to reserve requirements under the new Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Charter.

The BSP said the move to exclude such types of borrowings from the reserve requirement of banks and quasi-banks “will result in freed-up liquidity” which can be used for other lending and investment activities.

This follows the regulator’s move to cut banks’ reserve requirement ratios (RRR).

The reserve ratio of universal and commercial banks now stands at 15% following the effectivity of the 100-basis-point (bp) cut in RRR announced in September. Likewise, the RRR of thrift banks is now at five percent, while that for rural banks stands at three percent.

The BSP announced last month that the RRR of universal, commercial and thrift banks will be slashed by another 100 bps effective December, bringing total reductions to their reserve ratios for this year to 400 bps. This cut will also apply to the reserve ratio of nonbank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions (NBQBs).

This will bring the reserve ratio of universal and commercial lenders to 14% by December, while the RRR of thrift banks will stand at four percent. On the other hand, the reserve ratio of NBQBs will be cut to 14% next month.

Meanwhile, investors have been waiting for news on the US-China trade talks, which affected the local government securities (GS) market, Mr. Palma said.

“Price action in the GS market was choppy the previous week due to mixed signals from US and China trade negotiations, but further rise in yields was tempered by demand in the short to belly-end of the curve in the form of reinvestment from a bond maturity last Friday,” he said.

The government is set to borrow P220 billion from the local market this quarter, broken down into P100 billion in Treasury bills and P120 billion via T-bonds.

It is looking to raise P1.189 trillion this year from local and foreign sources to fund its budget deficit, which is expected to widen to as much as 3.2% of gross domestic product. — B.M. Laforga

Gov’t promises memorable stay for athletes

THE Philippines yesterday promised to “exercise due diligence” in making sure foreign athletes participating in this year’s South East Asian (SEA) Games will have a memorable stay.

“We are not promising that the games will run without a hitch, given the countless athletes who will participate and represent their respective countries,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement.

“But we will exercise due diligence in making sure everyone will have a pleasant, productive and memorable stay in the Philippines,” he added.

Malacanang apologized for the inconvenience that some foreign athletes have been experiencing. Delegates from Timor-Leste, Myanmar and Cambodia were reportedly welcomed poorly. The teams have also detailed their experiences on social media.

“We can no longer undo what has been done,” Mr. Panelo said. “The Office of the President will not offer any excuses. As host country, we apologize for the unintentional inconvenience suffered by our athlete guests.”

The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee has also apologized for the inconvenience. “We acknowledge our shortcoming in this particular incident and vow to do better,” it said in a statement. — Gillian M. Cortez

Banana lobby hopes gov’t intervenes to bring down South Korea tariffs

BANANA growers are pushing the government to help bring down high tariffs imposed by South Korea on their produce as rival banana producers erode the industry’s share of its third most-important market.

“The negotiations only started in the second quarter while the tariff rates for our competitors have been getting more and more favorable,” Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) Executive Director Stephen A. Antig said in a statement.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte is currently in South Korea to attend the commemorative summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with South Korea. He will also have a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

PBGEA hopes Mr. Duterte will bring up the issue, as well as concerns on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Banana tariffs were first brought up during his state visit in April, while the initial discussions on the FTA were held June.

The high tariff is threatening to reduce the country’s market share in South Korea, which has trade deals with Central American banana producers, granting them lower tariffs which took effect in October. Producers benefiting from he arangement include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

“Central American bananas have been slowly eroding the market share of the Philippines. If this continues, the Philippines will not be able to compete,” PBGEA President Victor S. Mercado, Jr. said.

South Korea is one of the Philippines’ top markets for banana next to China and Japan. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), banana exports in the eight months to August grew 46.6% to $1.258 billion. Japan was the largest market from 1991 to 2017, until China took over in 2018. PBGEA said Philippine banana shipments to South Korea hit 420,344 MT in 2018.

In October, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said that FTA negotiations with South Korea are currently stalled because the two parties have yet to agree on banana tariffs, which are currently at 30%.

In exchange for lower tariffs, South Korea is seeking lower tariff on its auto and parts products. The Trade department also hopes to expand the exports of the country’s pineapple, and mango through the FTA. It hoped to wrap up negotiations this month. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Seda’s serviced apartments open in the heart of Makati

SEDA FOUND, and made for the paying public a new home in the Ayala North Exchange Tower.

One gets dropped off downstairs, and you whizz away to the 19th floor for the Sky Lobby. The Seda Residences Makati, which opened last July, was presented to media guests late last month. This Seda shares space with the headquarters of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), a pharmaceuticals company, a BPO, and a mall. Marc Cerqueda, the property’s General Manager boasted about the location. It’s right across the RCBC Plaza and right beside Makati Medical Center, for one. “How much better could you be? Smack in the middle of Makati.” He said that one can walk to Greenbelt in 10 minutes, and by distance, according to him, they’re the property in Makati closest to the airport. “The whole complex is a great addition to this part of Makati,” he added.

He then took us on a tour, showing off a pool (on a clear day, you can see Manila Bay), an e-games room, a laundry room, and a play room. This Seda, after all, isn’t quite a hotel, but a serviced residence, catering mostly to long-staying guests. It is popular, according to Mr. Cerqueda, with corporate clients, embassy staff, and in a very specific scenario, expatriates looking to move in to the country who stay in the Seda to wait until their permanent residences are ready.

There are 179 rooms as of the time of writing, but Mr. Cerqueda says that there will be 293 by the end of the year. The rooms range in size from 31 sqm. to 43 sqm. Studios, to One-Bedrooms from 50 to 57 sqm., to Two-Bedrooms from 93 to 108 sqm., each equipped with HDTV and a dining room.

The rooms and the rest of the property have a bit of an air of stepping into a Mondrian work, with straight clean lines and primary colors in the decor. Each room — actually suites — can come with a washer-dryer combo, but will always come with a fully functional kitchen with an induction cooktop, a refrigerator, a microwave, and a toaster oven. Moreover, the Residences have thought it fit to provide kitchen utensils, and even a set of glasses.

If you’re not the type to cook, there’s the free breakfast at Misto, the all-day dining facility at the 35th floor, which offers a range of choices as well as stunning views of the financial district. At lunch it offers a buffet for P599++ per person and à la carte choices for the rest of the day. For ending the day, one can also whisk one’s self up to the Straight UP roofdeck bar.

“This won’t be the last,” said Mr. Cerqueda about the Seda group’s developments. Seda Hotels is owned and managed by AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts Corp., the hospitality brand of Ayala Land, Inc., and according to him, the group is planning to open a second serviced residences development in Cebu early next year (marking their second property in the region). Seda Manila Bay is slated to open late next year.

In all of the locations that Mr. Cerqueda mentioned — yes, even in their property in Makati — the game is dominated by foreign chains. How does Seda find room for its own? “That’s the attraction, because we’re a Filipino brand. What makes Filipino brands attractive in particular is the brand of service.” — Joseph L. Garcia

Consumer Reports ranks Mazda as the Second Most Reliable Car Brand in the US for 2020

MAZDA jumps up two points in the 2020 Consumer Reports Brand Reliability Survey to rank second overall among 30 automotive brands studied. The study shows Mazda garnering a total of 77 points in its 0-100 points scale. This is just 4 points shy from the top-ranked brand on the 2020 list. According to the US-based nonprofit, independent consumer advocacy organization, the MX-5 two-seat roadster, more popularly known as the Miata, is the most reliable car in the US for 2020 with a reliability score of 95 points out of 100.

“It is no surprise that Mazda continues to improve not only in terms of design and performance, but more so in overall quality and reliability,” shares Steven Tan, president and CEO of Mazda Philippines. “The fourth generation MX-5s we see on our roads today come from the same manufacturing plant in Hiroshima as the rest of the MX-5s around the world. As such, they benefit from the same attention to detail that Japan-made Mazda vehicles have been known for over the past few decades.”

Mr. Tan adds: “Speaking on behalf of Mazda’s engineering, design and production discipline, the level of commitment to quality in order to achieve this high level of reliability is extraordinary for a company of this size. Mazda’s unrelenting commitment to quality from the start of a model’s life cycle, while at the same time pioneering innovation and building-in improvement processes into its products, ensures reliability throughout its lineup. Being ranked just behind a known luxury brand likewise speaks highly of our current direction towards achieving Mazda Premium. It shows Mazda and its products are consistent and focused to answering the challenges that lie ahead of the premium path the brand has taken.”

Consumer Reports’ brand-level rankings are based on the average predicted reliability score for vehicles in a brand’s model lineup. The organization works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace. It aims to inform purchase decisions, improve the products and services that businesses deliver, and drive regulatory and fair competitive practices.

Bermaz Auto Philippines, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles and parts in the Philippines. Its current product lineup now includes the Mazda2 subcompact sedan and hatchback, the Mazda3 compact sedan and sportback, the Mazda6 full-size executive sedan and sports wagon, the CX-3 freestyle crossover, the CX-5 five-seater and the CX-9 seven-seater premium crossovers, the MX-5 2-seater sports roadster and the BT-50 pickup truck. There are 20 Mazda 3S dealerships located across the Philippines and Metro Manila — Mazda Greenhills, Mazda Pasig, Mazda Quezon Avenue, Mazda North EDSA, Mazda Makati, Mazda Alabang, Mazda Cavite, Mazda Sta. Rosa, Mazda Pulilan, Mazda Pampanga, Mazda Dagupan, Mazda Cabanatuan, Mazda Tarlac, Mazda Negros, Mazda Cebu, Mazda Iloilo, Mazda Cagayan De Oro, Mazda Davao, Mazda Butuan and now Mazda General Santos.

Generali said to eye bid for MetLife Europe assets by yearend

ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI SpA is preparing to make a formal bid for European assets of MetLife, Inc. after months of talks on the potential acquisition, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The Italian insurer has been finishing due diligence and is targeting to make an offer for most of MetLife’s business on the continent by yearend, according to the people.

A deal could be valued at about €3 billion ($3.3 billion), one of the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

No final agreements have been reached, and discussions could still fall apart, the people said. Representatives for Generali and MetLife declined to comment.

Bloomberg reported earlier this year that Generali was in early stage talks to buy the central and eastern European assets of MetLife for more than €2 billion as part of its plans to expand through acquisitions.

Generali has said that it’s willing to consider “disciplined M&A to support profitable growth” to reinforce its leading position in Europe or enter new countries as one of the top-five players in that market. Expansion is one of the pillars of Chief Executive Officer Philippe Donnet’s strategy as dealmaking reshapes the insurance industry.

Poland accounts for one of MetLife’s largest operations in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, according to a company filing.

In 2012, MetLife agreed to buy life insurance businesses from Aviva Plc in the Czech Republic and Hungary, as well as Aviva’s life insurance and pension operations in Romania. — Bloomberg

Duterte fires VP as drug czar

By Gillian M. Cortez

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte yesterday fired Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo as her drug czar after she allegedly failed to improve the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“She wasted such opportunity and used the same as a platform to attack the methods undertaken by this Administration,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement.

“Such tack was even motivated by hubris to prove their past arguments against the anti-illegal drug operations were correct,” he said. “It at once crumbled as her request for police data validated the falsity of their arguments that the extra-judicial killings are state-sponsored.”

Ms. Robredo this month said she had agreed to head the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign, if only to stop the killings. She accepted the post against the advice of many of her party mates, who said the appointment might be a trap.

The opposition leader has vowed to enforce the state’s anti-illegal drug campaign within the bounds of the law. She said she would treat the drug problem not only as a crime, but also as a health issue.

Philippine police have said they have killed about 6,000 people in illegal drug raids, many of them resisting arrest. Some local nongovernmental organizations and the national Commission on Human Rights have placed the death toll at more than 27,000.

“The appointment and the eventual firing of VP Leni as anti-drug co-chair prove what we have been saying all along: Both the war on drugs and the appointment of the vice president… are bluff and bluster,” the Liberal Party said in an emailed statement.

“Their scheme to make VP Leni look weak backfired. Just two weeks after her appointment, she has shown courage and competence in facing the problem at hand and redirected the anti-drug war track from a criminal justice issue to a public health problem,” it said.

Ms. Robredo had criticized the government’s deadly war on drugs, saying it needed to be reassessed given the rising number of drug dependents.

She also sought confidential information about the drug campaign, but the government refused to give her access.

Mr. Panelo said firing Ms. Robredo was a “response” to the suggestion of Senator Francis N. Pangilinan on Friday to fire her instead of insulting her. The lawmaker earlier said the president’s statement that he didn’t trust Ms. Robredo was an insult.

“The president has been more than patient enough, giving the vice president adequate opportunity to discuss possible courses of action with him,” Mr. Panelo said. Since assuming the post as Mr. Duterte’s drug czar more than two weeks ago, Ms. Robredo had “not presented any new program that she envisioned to implement,” he said.

“In a campaign where people’s lives are at risk, a day is an eternity. The government cannot twiddle its thumb and sit idly hoping for a flash of brilliance from the vice president,” he added.

After accepting the post, Ms. Robredo met with US Embassy and United Nations officials to discuss the drug war, which majority of Filipinos support even if it has drawn international criticism.

Meralco ousts Alaska

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE Meralco Bolts booked a spot in the semifinals of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup after defeating, and eliminating, the Alaska Aces in their quarterfinals joust, 94-84, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Held a twice-to-beat advantage in their quarterfinal pairing, the Bolts, the number two seed heading into the playoffs, saw no need to make use of it as they made a go at the semis spot-clinching win right at the onset.

Allen Durham led the Bolts to a strong start with the team going on a 13-0 blast in the first five minutes of the opening quarter.

It was a run that they would capitalize on for the rest of the frame, stretching their lead to 17 points, 29-12, after a canto down.

Meralco kept a safe distance from Alaska to begin the second quarter, holding a 38-25 advantage midway.

Alaska tried to get back some lost ground but with little success as the Bolts continued to hold sway, 49-33, at the half.

In the third quarter, the Aces came out with more fight as they started finding their mark in offense.

JVee Casio, Vic Manuel, Simon Enciso and import Franko House towed their team to within three points, 61-58, with 3:21 to go.

But Allein Maliksi would wax hot as the period wound up, giving back Meralco a double-digit lead, 73-63, entering the final quarter.

The teams continued to slug it out to begin the fourth quarter.

The count stood at 78-73 with Meralco still on top at the 7:39 mark.

Alaska kept pressuring the Bolts after but like what they had been doing for much of the contest Meralco found ways to kept its opponent at bay.

It was an 11-point advantage, 91-82, for the Bolts with 1:02 left to play and they were to hold on from there for the victory.

Mr. Durham led Meralco in the win with 28 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists and two blocks.

Mr. Maliksi backstopped him with 23 points with Chris Newsome adding 17.

For Alaska, it was Mr. Casio who showed the way with 20 points followed by Mr. Enciso with 16 points.

“Alaska really challenged us but we know it will only make us better heading into the semifinals,” said player of the game Maliksi after their victory.

PBA 12 FOR SEA GAMES
Meanwhile, members of the PBA-bannered Philippine men’s basketball team seeing action in the 30th Southeast Asian Games were made known at the weekend.

To be coached by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Tim Cone, the national are composed of five-time PBA most valuable player June Mar Fajardo, Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter of the San Miguel Beermen, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio and Stanley Pringle of the Kings.

Also part of the squad are Alaska’s Manuel, Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy of the TNT KaTropa, Kiefer Ravena of the NLEX Road Warriors, Matthew Wright of the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters and Christian Standhardinger of the Northport Batang Pier.

The PBA 12 is out to extend the dominance of the Philippines in the event in the biennial regional meet.

The Philippines will first face Singapore in a Group A match on Dec. 4 at 8:15 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In Group A of the competition as well are Vietnam and Myanmar.

Playing in Group B are Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia.

Paper project using pineapple seen cutting plastics use

AN arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is hoping to raise farmers’ incomes by using waste material from the pineapple-growing progress to make specialty paper that can replace plastic packaging.

The DTI’s Design Center of the Philippines calls the initiative the Pinyapel Project, after the Filipino words for pineapple (pinya) and paper (papel).

“The Pinyapel Project began with the intent of maximizing the use of agricultural waste to improve the livelihood of farmers, address concerns on dwindling natural resources and offer alternatives to plastic; collaborate with local enterprises; and consequently, show to the world what the creative and design mind of the Philippines can do,” Design Center Executive Director Rhea O. Matute said in an e-mail.

Design Center was established in 1973 through Presidential Decree No. 279 to develop, promote, and enhance the design of the country’s manufactured goods. The Pinyapel project is led by its materials research and development team.

Pinyapel uses material left over after the pineapple harvest. Development started in 2018 and is ongoing.

On Nov. 6, Pinyapel was cited by the D&AD Future Impact Awards 2019 for its potential impact on environmental sustainability.

“The inspiration behind the product is the growing packaging needs. According to the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines, our country will not be ready to phase out plastic use until cost-effective alternatives are available,” Ms. Matute said.

“Sustaining the use of pineapple leaves in paper production will ultimately contribute to changing the lives of pineapple farmers and laborers,” she added.

Pineapple leaves were sourced from Nature’s Fresh Pineapple, Inc., which cultivates 300 to 400 hectares in Aglayan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. It can produce about one to five tons of pineapple leaves per month, with 57 kilograms yielding about 88 sheets of 70 by 100-centimeter Pinyapel.

Pinyapel can also be turned into corrugated cup sleeves and gift bags.

Project studies indicate the potential to generate about P1,753 in extra income weekly for seven laborers per five tons of waste product, though production is not yet on a commercial scale.

The preparation process consists of drying, collecting, and bagging.

“Our country will not be ready to phase out plastic use until cost-effective alternatives are available. Pinyapel offers to become one of the solutions to plastic waste by becoming an alternative material for packaging applications since paper,” Ms. Matute said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Vogue cover spotlights Mexico’s transgender ‘muxe’ women

JUCHITAN, MEXICO — A culture of indigenous transgender women that has been part of southern Mexico’s heritage for centuries is primed for global fashion cachet thanks to one of the world’s top style magazines.

For the first time in Vogue magazine’s more than 120 years of publishing, an indigenous muxe will appear next month on the cover of the glossy’s Mexican and British editions.

Muxes, a term probably derived from the Spanish word “mujer” meaning “woman,” are indigenous transgender women who easily mix gay male and feminine identities.

The cover photo features Estrella Vazquez, a tall, lanky 37-year-old indigenous Zapotec muxe wearing a traditional huipil garment with colorful flowers and holding a pink fan in one hand.

The weaver and designer sees the cover as a sign of receding bigotry in Mexico toward muxes. Historically the country’s ingrained Roman Catholic heritage has reinforced anti-gay and anti-transgender prejudice.

“I think it’s a huge step,” Vazquez told Reuters in Juchitan city in southern Oaxaca state, home to perhaps the largest muxe (pronounced MOO-she) community.

“There’s still discrimination, but it’s not as much now and you don’t see it like you once did,” she said.

While muxes are not well known outside Mexico, within the country it is not uncommon to see muxes at gay pride parades or other cultural events. No statistics are collected, but the muxe community is thought to number in the hundreds or thousands.

In August, Vazquez, who had never heard of Vogue, was invited along with a dozen other muxes by the magazine to participate in a photo shoot. Vogue wanted to highlight Oaxaca’s indigenous cultures, she said.

“Everyone is seeing this cover, everyone is congratulating me. I don’t know; it’s just hard to make sense of the emotions I’m feeling. It almost makes me want to cry,” she said.

Many muxes historically have been caregivers to aging parents, a role that has given them prestige in families which typically are shaped by Mexico’s macho, male-dominated culture.

Muxes also played a leading role in the aftermath of a massive 8.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Juchitan in 2017, as many worked to dig out trapped family and friends from the rubble, often using their bare hands.

Vogue, owned by New York-based Conde Nast, publishes more than 20 editions of the magazine around the world with circulation of 24.4 million. — Reuters

Lopez-led First Gen allots $300M for planned FSRU

FIRST GEN Corp. has placed the capital expenditure for its proposed floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) at $300 million, or a fraction of its budget for the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal, its president said.

“[Ang] advantage lang is our capex spent from $1.3 billion [is down] roughly [to] $300 million ang para sa (for the) FSRU,” First Gen President and Chief Operating Officer Francis Giles B. Puno told reporters last week when asked to give an update of the project.

“But it doesn’t include lease payment for floating regas terminal,” he added.

The Lopez-led energy company previously estimated the cost of its planned import terminal to go beyond $1 billion, but in September, it announced a partnership with Japan’s JGC Corp., which will handle the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the LNG terminal project in Batangas City.

First Gen said the immediate focus of the partners was to complete a detailed study on modifications that can be made to First Gen’s existing jetty that would allow the facility to receive large- and small-scale LNG vessels, and to continue to receive liquid fuel.

“We are working with JGC in completing the requirement of potentially shifting to FSRU in the interim… Main reason for that is to enable us to deliver gas earlier,” Mr. Puno said.

First Gen earlier said that building the LNG terminal is crucial to ensure the continued operations of the country’s 3.2-gigawatt existing natural gas-fired plants given the expected and continuing reduction in gas supply from the Malampaya field up to the expiration of the contracts by 2024.

“Main reason why that is advantageous to us is because the prices of LNG today are quite attractive and even cheaper than Malampaya,” Mr. Puno said. “If we can bring in gas lower than Malampaya, it is really good for consumers.”

First Gen has yet to sign a contract to buy LNG from foreign suppliers, although talks remain with possible sources, he said.

“Right now, current Malampaya prices is at $9 per million BTU (British thermal unit),” he said.

He cited India as having auctioned LNG at an estimated range of $6.30 to $6.70 per million BTU, a price that is already cheaper than Malampaya, and even competitive with the price of coal.

Mr. Puno said First Gen targets to lease the FSRU vessel by the first quarter of next year. The FSRU will allow the company to receive LNG as early as 2021, or before the expiration of the Malampaya gas contracts.

The planned LNG storage ship has an onboard regasification plant capable of returning the liquefied fuel back into a gaseous state. The gas can then be supplied directly to some or all of the company’s existing power plants.

The entry of JGC came after First Gen in December 2018 signed a joint development agreement with Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., which is taking a 20% participating interest in the project. This was a preliminary agreement between the parties to jointly pursue development of the LNG terminal.

In March 2019, FGEN LNG received the formal approval of its application for a “notice to proceed” (NTP) from the Department of Energy as defined in and required by the Philippine downstream natural gas regulation. The unit had requested the agency to extend its NTP by a further six months. — Victor V. Saulon

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