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Death threats from sacked workers? Here’s the cure

Our HR manager received a small package with a bullet inside. Clearly, it’s a death threat from a disgruntled worker who lost his job. But how do we identify the culprit given that HR has dismissed around 18 workers for various serious offenses the past eight months? What’s your advice? — Terrified
A cluster of small boys without entrance money was milling around the gate to a football stadium. An old man with a voice resonating with moneyed authority said to the ticket-taker: “Let these kids in and tell me how many they are.” The boys filed in and scampered delightedly inside the stadium.
As the last one entered, the ticket-taker said to the old man: “Thirty-four.” The man nodded: “Right you are,” as he hurried back anonymously into the crowd outside the gate, never to be seen again.
It’s easy to get lost in a crowd. That’s how people with criminal minds ensure they don’t get caught. If that happens, you simply shrug it off and learn from that sad experience. Otherwise, it’s difficult if not pointless, even if you have only 18 suspects who were dismissed by your organization.
Forewarned is forearmed. No matter what, take it seriously and report the matter to your management, so they’ll know the severity of your situation. We can’t do much at this point except to be proactive in everything that you’ll be doing in the human resources department, now and in the future.
Here are some practical and streetwise tips to avoid death threats from disgruntled employees:
1. Have a clear-cut employee discipline policy. It must be in writing and accessible anytime via an online system. Be sure that it contains the definition of offenses, the applicable penalties, and procedures to be observed in case of a violation.
2. Issue constant reminders. There’s no such thing as over-communication. If the workers are regularly informed about the policy, the better for them to understand the rationale and the process behind it.
3. Be fair, impartial, and objective with erring workers. Presume that a worker is not guilty, until the evidence shows otherwise. Extend due process to the culprit in both the substantive (penalties) and procedural (a chance to explain) aspects.
4. Act like a public defender, whatever it takes. “Be an employee champion” says Oliver Requilman, vice-president for HR at St. Luke’s Medical Center. “Workers when counselled and given importance will leave the company less disgruntled.”
5. Exhaust all administrative remedies. If management has decided to dismiss a worker, give him all possible legal options, including the offer to bring the matter to a voluntary arbitration, instead of resorting to an expensive, protracted court case.
6. Let the “convicted” employee save face. Allow him to write a resignation letter on the spot. Keep everything hush-hush, as if nothing happened. It’s more economical, practical and less stressful for the worker and the organization.
7. Offer a minimal amount to sweeten the firing. It helps soften the impact of the dismissal and maintains HR’s active role as an “employee champion,” as per management guru Dave Ulrich’s prescription.
8. Seek the involvement of line managers in the process. Distribute the heat. Discipline is not a monopoly of HR people. In fact, employee discipline is a prime responsibility of line executives, and not HR which is limited to an advisory function.
9. Transfer the HR manager to another work area. The seat of HR is a “hot stove.” The longer that an HR manager is required to perform his task as an administrator of the company’s “code of conduct,” the more stressful it becomes for him.
10. Report the matter to police authorities. HR or its representatives must not take any death threats lightly. Still, be cautious. It pays to be vigilant. Heed the advice of your security and safety department, for whatever it is worth.
Employee discipline is a bit like the common cold. You can’t prevent it from taking its natural course, but there are measures your organization can take to manage, if not control instances of worker retaliation against HR and the organization. It is certainly necessary for you to be reasonably at peace with all types of workers.
Some culprits will occasionally attempt to silence HR, and if they’re allowed to succeed, then like the common cold, the unsavory threat could affect everyone in management. It’s a difficult proposition. But there’s no other way to address these incidents but to take precautionary measures.
As with many other things, prevention is critical when it comes to employee discipline.
ELBONOMICS: Suffer the pain of a threat, rather than suffer the pain of death.

* * *

Rey Elbo is facilitating a one-day workshop on “Value Stream Mapping for Busy People” on June 28, 2018 at Dusit Thani Hotel Makati. For details, contact Ricky Mendoza at (02) 846-8951 or 0915-406-3039 or e-mail operations@kairos.com.ph
elbonomics@gmail.com

Well worth its price tag

By Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong
KOEI TECMO and Omega Force were on to something when they unveiled Attack on Titan in 2016. Based on the manga and anime series of the same name, the actioner follows the story of Eren Yaeger, a soldier of the Scout Regiment who actively fights against a race of man-eating giants called titans. Through the use of Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, equipment that allow humans to do battle in a three-dimensional setting, Eren and his friends square off against the titans, actively hunting them outside and beyond district walls for survival.
Building on the popularity and success of the video game spin-off, Attack on Titan 2 proves to be less of a sequel and more of a remake. With better graphics, tighter controls, and more attention placed on human-versus-titan combat, it tracks developments in the first two seasons of the anime series and presents a much more enjoyable gameplay experience that reflects Koei Tecmo and Omega Force’s receptiveness to product feedback.
In Attack on Titan 2, players control a nameless, customizable recruit who joins the military, eager to fight against titans that threaten the inhabitants of the island Paradis. They go through the canonical events of the series and beat down giants through the use of superior maneuverability and smart positioning. Along the way, they form bonds with fellow soldiers, develop skills, forge better weapons and gear, and prepare themselves for harder battles and tougher missions against a never-ending horde of titans eager for blood.
As an adrenaline-pumping title, Attack on Titan 2 easily draws players in through its sheer scale, an astounding feat given how difficult titans can be to portray. They are towering monstrosities with leering, unintelligent faces, not to mention bizarre features and twisted bodies far too large and too bulky to be anything close to human. Hundreds of feet tall, they crush buildings and swipe people aside with ease, and the game captures their imposing physique extremely well with its cel-shaded design choices. The way each titan is drawn to be unique just like in the anime series, and the way environments are made to be tossed aside add to the thrill, as these fit both the theme and the feel of the source material.
Storywise, Attack on Titan 2 is a faithful rendition of its inspiration. Players are able to read about characters and the synopsis of chapters of the anime series through a logbook. Moreover, they are also able to get to know protagonists personally through a basic relationship system. With a fairly lengthy campaign and an interesting cast, it’s a romp to go through. Admittedly, it comes at a cost, as the game’s adherence to the anime series means that longtime fans already know what’s coming. Still, it is able to present the story in an interesting manner, focusing on characterization as opposed to exposition.
Nonetheless, Attack on Titan 2’s biggest draw is its gameplay. There’s a steep learning curve to combat; while the concept is straightforward on paper, the controls are difficult to master. The interactions between humans and titans don’t make for standard hack-and-slash button mashing, but, rather, require far more finesse and nuance. That said, familiarity will invariably set in, enabling players to experience unique and distinct mechanics. They need to hook on to titans, and, with good timing, attack weak spots; only a swift blow to the back of the neck can end a titan, but arms and legs can be severed if targeted so as to make successive attacks easier. And because limbs provide players with valuable materials for items and equipment, any given battle effectively becomes a set of choices between risk and reward.
Significantly, Attack on Titan 2 places emphasis on momentum en route to victory. It not only dictates how fast players moves around while swinging; it determines how much damage they can deal when their attacks connect. Frequently, they will find themselves dashing across walls, swinging from building to building, and then hooking on to the bodies of titans for leverage. Certain angles lead to faster movement, and for those who have the appropriate button presses down pat, nothing is quite as enjoyable as swinging from titan to titan, bringing them down with one perfect strike after another. As an aside, up to four non-playable characters can be recruited to help in battles, damaging or stunning titans with timely strikes.
It bears noting that Attack on Titan 2 doesn’t limit players to the Story Mode. There’s another mode (appropriately titled, well, Another Mode) which allows them to use their favorite characters in several multiplayer options, including one in which opposing teams vie for the honor of having the better kill rate. In short, it gives ample bang for the buck. It isn’t perfect, to be sure; among other technical issues, it suffers from uneven pacing and optimization bugs. Glitches will show titans seemingly merging with buildings and walls or appearing on top of hard-to-reach places, making combat difficult if not outright impossible. On occasion, humans can get caught on terrain or on the body parts of titans after swooping in for an attack.
Needless to say, game slowdowns serve to dampen enthusiasm for Attack on Titan 2. The lags aren’t unbearable, but they happen often enough as to erode player goodwill. In early segments of the game, for instance, the sight of titans destroying buildings causes massive frame drops and forces proceedings to a crawl. Meanwhile, boss titans can be too much of a challenge to overcome, a rapid departure from the relatively low degree of difficulty accompanying the slaying of most other titans.
In any case, the problems don’t detract from Attack on Titan 2’s core experience. For all its missteps, it manages to stay fun and enjoyable through the length of its campaign. For fans of the series, picking it up is a no-brainer; it encapsulates all that has produced a loyal following for Attack on Titan. For those new to the franchise, the adherence to canon juxtaposed with compelling gameplay make it well worth its $60 price tag.

Video Game Review

Attack on Titan 2
PlayStation 4
THE GOOD

• Compelling combat mechanics, placing emphasis on speed, skill, and timing

• Ample customization options

• Another Mode provides ample replay value

THE BAD

• Noticeable lags during combat

• Glitches on occasion, dampening gameplay

• Boss titans can be difficult to overcome

RATING: 9/10

How PSEi member stocks performed — May 24, 2018

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Manufacturing’s promise

April spending up 43%, highest for current gov’t

GOVERNMENT spending in April rose 43% year on year to P261.2 billion, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.
According to the April 2018 cash operations report released late Wednesday, government expenditure in April represented the “fastest rate of expansion since the beginning of the Duterte administration.”
In June 2014 spending grew 44% year-on-year.
Compared to March, government spending in April fell 16.58%.
According to the BTr, P238.1 billion or 91% of the funds spent in April went to “productive spending,” up 40% year on year.
The remainder went to interest payments worth P23.2 billion, up 72% from a year earlier, as the “servicing of obligations scheduled during the holidays in March were made in April instead.” The peso’s depreciation was also a factor, according to the BTr.
Sought for comment, Budget Undersecretary Laura B. Pascua said: “budget reforms (to encourage spending) are certainly working.”
“DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) came out with internal guidelines, effectively asking contractors doing work on previous years’ contracts to try and finish the work,” she added.
Since 2017, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has shortened the validity of agencies’ budgets under the obligation-based system to be valid only for one fiscal year, as they gear up to implement a cash-based appropriation scheme in the 2019 budget.
The surge in spending shrank the budget surplus in April — which is usually buoyed income tax payments — by 12% year on year to P46.3 billion.
Revenue in April grew 30% year on year to P307.6 billion, the highest growth rate since the 35% posted in December.
Tax revenue in April accounted for P281.3 billion, up 28% from a year earlier. The Bureau of Internal Revenue was responsible for collecting P232.6 billion, up 24% from a year earlier, while the Bureau of Customs collected P46.8 billion, up 50%.
The BTr said collections rose due to the “higher excise tax take on fuel due to the implementation of the TRAIN law as well as improved and correct valuation and tariff classification,” referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law or Republic Act No. 10963.
Nontax revenue, meanwhile, amounted to P26.3 billion in April, up 66% from a year earlier. The BTr raised P14.2 billion of the total.
“Bulk of the increase was due to higher remittance of dividends on shares of stock held by the government and higher earnings from BTr-managed funds,” the Treasury bureau said.
In the four months to April, the fiscal deficit came in at P105.9 billion, which was revised downward by the BTr from the P115.9 billion announced on Wednesday. The year-earlier deficit was P30.2 billion.
The BTr also revised its overall four-month expenditure estimate to P1.033 trillion from P1.04 trillion earlier announced, up 29% from a year earlier. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

S&P expects inflation rise to be temporary; no overheating seen

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez
Senior Reporter
S&P Global Ratings said that it expects the uptick in Philippine inflation to be temporary, and reiterated its view that overheating is unlikely because the country’s growth is based on solid investment and consumer spending.
S&P downplayed fears of the economy running too hot following a 6.8% rise in gross domestic product (GDP) in the three months to March, up from 6.5% during the fourth quarter of 2017 and 6.4% a year earlier.
“The sustained high pace of growth plus a recent increase in inflation has led some analysts to wonder about the possibility of overheating,” S&P said in its monthly report on Asia-Pacific economies.
“However, in our view, the high growth is the result of continued demographic dividends as well as higher investment rates in the past half-decade, while higher inflation is a temporary effect of the implementation of the first tax reform package earlier this year.”
Overheating risk has been highlighted amid a continued increase in bank lending. While credit growth eased to 18.3% at the end of March — the slowest rise in over a year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) — growth remains in double digits.
The government has set a target of 7-8% GDP growth this year, picking up from 2017’s 6.7%, after expanding infrastructure spending.
The government hopes to spend P1.068 trillion on infrastructure, equivalent to 5.4% of GDP. This forms part of P8-9 trillion worth of total infrastructure investments from 2016-2022.
Inflation surged to a five-year peak of 4.5% in April using 2012 as a base.
The BSP estimates that inflation will breach its 2-4% target band for 2018, with the 2018 forecast now at 4.6% due to the impact of the tax reform law as well as surging world crude prices.
S&P said overheating concerns are overblown as current price spikes are transitory.
“[T]he recent rate hike by Bangko Sentral will help to ease potentially higher inflation expectations,” the credit rater said.
S&P expects Philippine GDP growth of 6.7% this year, with the expansion sustained by a young labor force with greater purchasing power due to the increase in take-home pay from income tax cuts. The expected surge in consumer spending is expected to offset “some moderation” in merchandise exports.
“Inflation will likely remain high for a few more months before the tax reform-induced one-off spike dissipates in the second half of the year,” it added.
Trade tensions between the United States and China remain the biggest risk for the Philippines so far, with S&P pointing out that such a shock could mean bigger capital outflows and trade losses for the Philippine economy.
S&P bumped up its credit outlook for the Philippines to “BBB positive” last month, which points to a possible rating upgrade over the short term amid an improved fiscal environment following the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law in January.

ADB approves technical aid for Batangas LNG project

THE ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance loan for the Philippine National Oil Co.’s (PNOC) Batangas Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project.
According to project documents available on its website, the ADB said that it approved on May 11 the $2-million loan for the natural gas project in San Pascual, Batangas.
The ADB said that the project will act as a hub for imported LNG, breaking it down into smaller shipments for neighboring islands. It will also re-gasify the LNG and supply gas-fired power plants nearby which are currently dependent on gas from the dwindling supply provided by the Malampaya offshore field in northern Palawan.
The LNG project “is envisaged to consist of a 5-million ton per annum LNG terminal, including storage units, re-gasification facilities, a power plant, loading/unloading area for LNG carriers, and supporting infrastructure,” the ADB said.
The ADB will provide transaction advisory services (TAS) for the project, which it hopes will “strengthen outcomes” via improved sector engagement, technical design, and implementation.
“TAS will promote the sustainability of infrastructure by emphasizing operations and maintenance, and ultimately leveraging private sector investments more effectively,” the ADB said.
However, the scope of assistance will depend on the project’s procurement mode. For unsolicited proposals, the ADB will screen and assess the viability of unsolicited proposals; assist the PNOC in negotiations with the unsolicited bidder until the granting of original proponent status; assist with the drafting of tender documents and the conduct of tender to competitively challenge the proposal of the original proponent; and the drafting of final legal agreements and negotiations of the legal documents until the concession agreement is signed.
For solicited tenders, the ADB will assist in the structuring of the project, preparing the pre-feasibility or feasibility study, drafting the tender documents, drafting the legal documents, market sounding, tendering the project and assist in the negotiation of the project with the winning bidder until the concession agreement is signed.
It may also provide advice on the monetization of the project.
Aside from securing energy sustainability, the project is also expected to “reduce the need for other fuel imports like coal or liquid fuel, which are considered more harmful to the environment.”
“Additionally, savings in foreign exchange from less expensive fuel, jobs creation, and stimulation of local economy are also anticipated,” the ADB added.
Separately, the Department of Finance said it expects to start using program loans from the ADB for infrastructure development and financial inclusion projects by the fourth quarter.
Documents distributed to reporters by the DoF’s International Finance Group indicate that two of four loans that are in the ADB’s 2018 country lending pipeline are to be used later this year.
These include the $300-million Expanding Private Participation in Infrastructure Program, Subprogram 2, which seeks to strengthen the financial support, implementation, and regulatory frameworks to Public-Private Partnerships; as well as the $300-million Inclusive Finance Development Program, Subprogram 1 worth $300 million that aims to strengthen the institutional environment and infrastructure to support financial inclusion, as well as to increase the capacity and reach of service providers of nonbank institutions to rural areas.
The DoF said that the first loan program is currently “awaiting the Office of the President’s issuance of Special Presidential Authority,” as it is targeted for the ADB Board of Governors’ approval by the fourth week of June, following which the target for first disbursement of $100 million has been set for Oct. 10.
The financial inclusion loan is awaiting the National Economic and Development Authority’s signature and the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s approval. The target for ADB approval is the third week of August with the disbursement of an initial $150 million targeted for Nov. 8. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Fuel-marking contract to be bid out in Q3

THE GOVERNMENT hopes to launch the bidding process for the fuel-marking system, a measure intended to curb tax evasion, by the third quarter, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.
“We want to see some progress by the third quarter for the fuel-marking contract,” Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa S. Habitan told reporters.
She said that the terms of reference (ToR) have been approved by the DoF, alongside other government agencies.
However, she said that the DoF has only a conservative estimate for the fuel-marking program’s resulting impact on fuel excise tax collections. She did not elaborate.
Fuel marking involves the use of low concentrations of dyes to be introduced into a shipment of fuel to mark its progress through the supply chain, at certain points of which taxes are paid. The absence of the marker dye when the government conducts random inspections will be considered prima facie evidence of nonpayment of taxes.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said: “We are assuming that all fuel importers are paying their tax; we just want assurances that they are continuing to pay their tax.”
“They said it’s good to trust, but it’s better to verify. It’s a verification program,” he added.
Mr. Dominguez said that it would cost the government P2 billion to implement the measure, but noted that it is “not that expensive in relation to the entire potential revenue we are getting.”
Oil companies will absorb the nine centavos per liter cost of dyes, which will be passed on to consumers.
Finance Undersecretary Antonette C. Tionko said that although the ToR has been signed, the authorities are “ironing out certain issues concerning the procurement exercise with the Department of Budget and Management.”
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in a 2015 study, estimated that the Philippines loses $750 million annually from fuel smuggling.
A previous fuel-marking program was launched in 2007, but was halted in 2014 due to the costs.
“We’ve done extensive research on this thing. We had meetings with people in various parts of the world that are already implementing the fuel marking system. We are learning from everybody’s experience in Asia, Africa, Europe, so I think we will come out with a very very good program,” Mr. Dominguez said.
The fuel-marking program is authorized by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, or Republic Act No. 10963.
The law also mandates the issuance of electronic receipts and invoices, and the linking of point-of-sale machines to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
“The invoicing is also proceeding, although we want to have it also as soon as possible because that would help in further reducing the number of days which VAT (value-added tax) refunds will be processed,” Ms. Habitan said. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Customs bureau seizes shipment of cigarettes worth P36.5 million

THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC) said it intercepted a Chinese shipment of smuggled cigarettes valued at P36.5 million.
The BoC said in a statement yesterday that it seized seven containers from China which were misdeclared as agricultural products and household goods. The cigarettes were also mixed in with fruits and vegetables.
“The actual contents found by the Customs authorities are very different from what was declared. They found inside 947 cartons of More cigarettes and 53 cartons of Marvels cigarettes, 950 boxes of Mighty cigarettes, boxes of apples mixed with onion, apples mixed with boxes of fresh carrots, and bales of (used clothing) mixed with food without Food and Drug Administration permits” Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña said.
He said that the consignees will have their Customs accreditation revoked, with complaints against them pending.
The consignees were identified as Trixcean Trading, Marid Industrial Marketing, Khalevskies Enterprises, Ashton & Ilyze Trading, and Yohann Rein.
The BoC on April 10 seized shipments of cigarettes carrying Philippine brands from China worth P18.5 million.
Last year, the Finance department discovered that fake Philippine excise tax stamps were being sold on Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba.
“We will be filing cases against the consignees and brokers for violating Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” Mr. Lapeña said. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Cable cars still on the table, Tugade says

THE Department of Transportation said plans to attract investment in a cable-car line are ongoing, two years after the department first floated the idea as a means of easing road congestion.
Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said at the Asia CEO forum at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City that he “has not forgotten” about the cable cars.
“We are finalizing certain details, hopefully I would be able to convince proponents,” he said.
Mr. Tugade said the current issue is fares, which he hopes will be set at levels that will make cable cars attractive relative to jeepneys, buses, taxis and trains.
“I don’t want a rate that is high so that the public can benefit (from the cable cars),” he added.
In 2016, a month after President Rodrigo R. Duterte assumed the presidency, Mr. Tugade first floated his intention to pursue a cable car project.
At the same forum, Mr. Tugade said he is determined to see through jeepney modernization, noting that the protests of transport groups will not stop him from pursuing the program.
“How many more lives would you like to lose? How many more people will be injured simply because we are using a dilapidated transport system? This has got to stop,” he said.
He said his goal is to create a transport system that treats the rich and poor equally.
The government has given jeepney drivers and operators three years to replace units aged 15 years and above with “modernized” e-jeepneys that are “safer” for the environment. It also offered loans through the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines to support drivers and operators in the transition. — Denise A. Valdez

DA hopes easy-access credit will replace subsidies by 2021

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it hopes to phase out farm subsidies by 2021, replacing them with easy-access credit.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol told reporters after the first Philippine Agriculture and Trade Investment Forum on Thursday that the move to financing instead of subsidies will save the government money.
“The subsidy program is a political decision and bleeds the government dry every year. For production support for all sections, it reaches P30 to P40 billion annually and all of that money is just given away without chance of recovery,” Mr. Piñol said.
“The subsidy program is the reason why all our economic managers are stingy when it comes to giving money to agriculture because they feel that we’re just throwing money away every year.”
Mr. Piñol expressed confidence in easy-access credit after Production Loan Easy Access program under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council recorded a 96% repayment rate.
“Next year we have a P4-billion [budget for credit]. Plus, in tier two, I’m asking for P10 billion from Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno and the good thing is that the DBM (Department of Budget Management) likes the idea,” he added.
“They love the idea of the DA being able to recover its investment and plow it back into the program again next year.”
Mr. Piñol also said that he will be making a formal proposal at the next Cabinet meeting, and will seek to tap the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a conditional cash transfer scheme, as another form of agriculture-related financing.
As the 4Ps have a budget of P70 billion, Mr. Piñol said the program can be deployed for livelihood activities to increase further food productivity.
Mr. Piñol said he does not propose that the 4Ps be taken away from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Instead of it being a cash dole out, it will come out as a livelihood fund assistance,” he added, noting that this approach respects the dignity of recipients. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Ease of doing business bill to be signed next week

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will sign next week the Ease of Doing Business bill, which requires government agencies, including local government units, to reduce processing time for applicants seeking to obtain business permits and official documents.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said the president will sign the bill Monday.
The processing time for “simple transactions” will be set at three days at maximum and “complex transactions” have a seven-day deadline while “highly-technical applications” have been allotted 20 days.
Failure to meet these deadlines will be penalized with 30 days’ suspension without pay on first offense and a three-month suspension without pay on second offense.
A third offense will lead to dismissal and disqualification from public office; the forfeiture of civil service eligibility and retirement benefits; and possible imprisonment for one to six years.
The government is hoping to improve its standing in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings after the Philippines fell 14 places in 2018.
The Philippines’ ranking also declined 9 places to 50th out of 63 economies surveyed in the recently published World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) compiled by the International Institute of Management Development (IMD).
Asked for comment, Mr. Lopez said the WCY survey was “hard to believe” considering the country’s strong economic growth.
“We have one of the fastest growth rates in the world. Faster than most peers. And infrastructure improvements are continuing,” Mr. Lopez said in a mobile message.
Mr. Lopez is expecting the government’s recent efforts “to enable us to improve our ranking soon.” — Janina C. Lim

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