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Biggest cage show is coming home

So the biggest basketball show is coming home.

Yes, the Philippines will host the 2023 World Cup for the first time since 1978 alongside Indonesia and Japan and the entire nation is celebrating.

It comes as no surprise as the Philippines is considered as a basketball country.

The Philippines has been knocking on FIBA’s doors as early as 2015 where they bid for the 2019 World Cup. The country became finalists along with China, but the world’s governing body in basketball awarded the hosting rights to the Chinese, owing to their readiness, the infrastructure and venues available and their capability of hosting multi-sporting events such as the Olympics and the FIBA Asia Championships, which it hosted several times.

This time, there’s no denying the Filipinos from seeing the world’s best players playing in the world’s biggest basketball event.

The Philippines has come a long way in terms of staging major international events.

Back in 1978, the country staged the World Basketball Championship in two venues — the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and the Araneta Coliseum.

Nearly 40 years since the last hosting of the event, these two venues will certainly need major upgrading.

Rizal Memorial, which can accommodate 8,000 spectators, is definitely out as among the venues to consider.

The Araneta Coliseum remains to be the centerpiece of sports and entertainment, but as far as FIBA is concerned, the venue should also be upgraded and meet certain standards. When the country bid for the hosting of the 2019 World Cup, the Big Dome didn’t made the requirements set by the world’s basketball federation.

Of course, there are two more venues that can be considered — the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The MOA Arena was the site of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship where the Philippines placed runner-up and made its way back to the world stage.

Philippine Arena, on the other hand, has hosted major events, most notably the PBA games.

Last October, the Philippine Arena drew 54,086 fans who watched Game 7 of the Finals series between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco.

Of course, Filipino fans expect to see Gilas Pilipinas holding their own against the world’s best.

The Philippines, which played in the 1978 World Championship by virtue of the country hosting the event, failed to win any games.

Through the years, the Filipinos had improved by leaps and bounds.

In its return to the world stage in 2014, the Philippines, coached by Chot Reyes, was able to push its rivals to the limit, making things difficult for powerhouse teams like Argentina and Puerto Rico before winning over Senegal.

There’s still enough time to prepare for the 2023 World Cup and by then, our young PBA players like Kiefer Ravena, Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abvueva would probably be joined by the future of Philippine basketball like 6-foot-9 AJ Edu and 6-foot-10 Kai Sotto.

We could only hope for great things to come. For now, let’s savor the great news.

 

Rey Joble has been covering the PBA games formore than a decade. He is a member of the PBA Press Corps and Philippine Sportswriters Association.

reyjoble09@gmail.com

DoH-6 calls on parents not to get scared with other vaccines amid Dengvaxia fiasco

THE DEPARTMENT of Health-Western Visayas (DoH-6) has urged parents to remain confident in submitting their children to the routine immunization program in health centers and schools amid the fiasco on the dengue vaccination program. Dr. Reynilyn D. Reyes, head of the DoH-6 family, health and nutrition cluster, said while Western Visayas did not serve as a pilot area for the national school-based immunization program using Dengvaxia, there could be an impact in terms of hesitation among parents to participate in the government’s other programs. At the same time, Ms. Reyes said they will be will assisting in the monitoring of children who were immunized with Dengvaxia. The Dengvaxia pilot areas were Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the National Capital Region, and was later expanded in parts of Central Visayas. The Philippine Pediatric Society, Inc. — Iloilo Chapter will gather on Dec. 19 in Iloilo City for a meeting about Dengvaxia. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

Public interest over vested interest

Protect public interest over vested interest. This is our call as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion bill (TRAIN) is nearing to be completed in the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam). Some of the controversial provisions have yet to be finalized, but the tentative list of agreements signal that a good TRAIN — one that is geared towards a simpler, fairer, and more efficient tax system — may still be in jeopardy.

The call is nothing short of rational. The outcome of the Senate deliberations on TRAIN, which culminated last Nov. 28, reflected what is the exact opposite of a tax reform that looks after the welfare of the Filipino people. The Senate version of TRAIN, Senate Bill 1592 (SB 1592), is a hodgepodge of provisions securing the vested interests of the affluent and the powerful, including the senators themselves.

In SB 1592, the goods that the rich enjoy will be taxed at lower rates. Senator Ralph Recto’s proposed automobile excise tax rates of 10% for cars priced at below P1 million and 20% for those breaching the million-peso threshold will give away increasingly bigger discounts the more expensive the choice of luxury car is while making it more difficult for the working class to own the most basic model. Excise taxes on fuel products will be justifiably raised after 20 years of non-adjustment to inflation except for fuel that is primarily used for air travel, which can only be maximized by those who have more disposable income.

The Senate bill also removes the provision in HB 5636, the House version of TRAIN, that amends the Bank Secrecy Law and expands the authority of the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue to facilitate tax assessment and audit, especially for individuals who tax evade.

With the retention of the Bank Secrecy Law, those who can easily avoid paying taxes by hiding their money and wealth from government will continue to be protected.

The added and retained provisions in the VAT section of SB 1592, specifically on the VAT zero-rated and exempt transactions, is a gateway to the various vested interests of our dear senators.

At the top of the list is the explicit insertion of Senator Sonny Angara on the VAT zero-rating of transactions within and with entities registered with special economic zones and free port zones, which will institutionalize the perks being given to his and his father’s Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (APECO) project.

Senator Cynthia Villar is also satisfied that real property developers will continue to be able to sell residential dwellings at P2 million and be VAT-exempt. The list does not stop here and can be entertainingly converted into a matching game of senators and their vested interests. Instead of rationalizing the VAT zero-ratings and exemptions, the Senate TRAIN even creates more loopholes in the system.

Although SB 1592 compensates the loss of revenue from its failure to address weaknesses in the tax structure by introducing new elements not found in the original proposal of the Department of Finance or HB 5636, most of these are superficial reforms that may not guarantee a sustainable funding for social services and programs for the poor. The proposed tax on cosmetic procedures is a new tax that will not be easy to administer given the wide range of services and service providers that need to be monitored for compliance. Senator Recto’s proposal to double the rates of documentary stamp taxes will have a distortionary effect on business transactions and may lead to a much lower revenue take than what is expected from it.

While the proposed hikes on coal and mining taxes are meritorious and a step towards the right direction, these, combined with the other elements that the Senate introduced, will still not be enough to finance the P200 billion needed next year for the unconditional cash transfers, implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education and Universal Health Care Laws, and rebuilding of Marawi.

Meanwhile, the clamor of health advocates, including patients and health care providers, to further raise the tax on cigarettes continues to fall on deaf ears. The Sin Tax Law is historically proven to be effective in protecting the young and vulnerable sectors from getting addicted to smoking and, at the same time, raising adequate financing for health. The health community’s proposal of increasing the cigarette excise tax to P60 is estimated to reduce the current number of smokers by one million and generate an additional P50 billion in 2018.

Despite being a popular tax even among smokers and several attempts by some senators to include it in TRAIN, the proposed hike in the cigarette tax was not considered under SB 1592. Health advocates could only guess how the “Recto-Morris” partnership played a crucial role in blocking this proposed measure.

Today might be the last day that the Bicam will meet to finalize the TRAIN that will be ratified by both Houses of Congress before its signing into law by the President. The outcome of the Bicam meetings will shape not just our tax system but our country’s development in the next 10 to 20 years. It will give a sneak peek into our future — the opportunities that will be destroyed or created, and the possibility or impossibility of finally becoming a middle-income country with many of our countrymen freed from poverty.

How the Filipino people will benefit from the comprehensive tax reform will greatly depend on the interests that are shaping TRAIN. Let us remind the members of the Bicam — Senators Sonny Angara, Ralph Recto, Loren Legarda, Frank Drilon and Miguel Zubiri, and Representatives Dakila Cua, Rudy Fariñas, Miro Quimbo, Danny Suarez, Gus Tambunting, Dong Gonzales and XJ Romualdo — that, as elected officials, they will be able to uphold the true interests of the people by defending a tax system that eases the burden of taxpayers, especially the vulnerable, allows those who can contribute more to pay more, and guarantees the sustainability of funds for development and poverty alleviation.

It is not yet too late for the Senate contingent to rectify the problems that they created in SB 1592 and the House version will be a good starting point.

 

Jo-Ann Latuja-Diosana is a trustee of Action for Economic Reforms.

Restaurateur couple map out franchising plan for Poke bowl

By Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

ENTREPRENEURS Speedy and Alta Lyttle are set to open franchising for their Poke Poke restaurant and introduce the Poke bowl of raw fish, vegetables and rice to a wider audience.

“We’re in the process of finalizing our system for franchise. Hopefully, first quarter of next year,” Speedy said.

The restaurateur couple target to see franchise outlets for their popular dish and add to the current branches in SM Megamall, SM Aura, Estancia Mall, and Greenhills in San Juan City.

The Lyttles opened Poke Poke last year, together with Kel Zaguirre, head chef of the Lyttles’ first restaurant — Filipino-themed Locavore Kitchen and Drinks. Franchising will see the owners open up to 10 branches in a year.

“Originally, the plan is four to five, but as we were going through the process of having it franchised, we thought four to five is quite conservative, so we’re looking at opening 10,” Alta said.

With the target pace of expansion, they estimated to have at least 30 Poke Poke branches in five years, but concentrated in Metro Manila given its population and its residents’ familiarity with the food trend.

The dish from Hawaii has become a big trend in the United States, and restaurants have brought their own twist, adding new flavors and ingredients to the simple and healthy dish.

With added Filipino and other Asian twists to the traditional Poke bowl, the Lyttles aim to change the perception of healthy eating.

“We want to introduce to the market as a healthy fastfood, food on the go,” Speedy said, adding that Poke bowls offer satisfying food without giving a bloated feeling to the diner.

Alta adds: “We want to change the perception of fastfood and of healthy food. It’s not all veggies.”

For Locavore, the Lyttles will next put up a branch by the middle of the month on Valero Street in Makati City, and by February or March, in Conrad Hotel, to add to the current locations in Kapitolyo and in Bonifacio Global City. The target market for the restaurant is primarily families, balikbayans and expatriates.

“Our price points [are] not very expensive. The quality matches the price,” Alta said.

The next location is Nuvali, as they target to test going into the areas south of Metro Manila before expanding into the provinces.

“We’re trying to open in the south. Many people are moving into the south. That’s another target market because we’re trying to market families and communities,”she said.

Lyttles have no plans of franchising out Locavore, which has a more complex menu and set-up compared with Poke Poke.

They aim to expand to the provinces, but want to be “100% ready” before branching out from Metro Manila.

NEW CONCEPT
By next year, the restaurateurs said that they are looking at opening one more concept restaurant.

“Next year, we’ll probably roll out one more concept,” he said.

Aside from food, Alta is also in the beauty business and plans next year to open around four branches of her hair extension services salon Xtensions, which currently has 11 locations. She opened Xtensions in 2008, seeing a space in the market.

“That time when I opened Xtensions, hair extensions were so pricey, so I thought why not offer it, use it as an advantage, and make money out of it while a lot of people are offering it,” she said.

Leyte water tariffs stable for 2 years after Manila Water JV’s entry

WATER TARIFFS in Leyte will not increase during the first two years of the joint venture between the province’s water district and Manila Water and any subsequent increase will be subject to regulatory approval.

This was the assurance given by Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) amid what it called “unfounded claims and statements” about the partnership.

Manila Water said last week that it had received the notice of award dated Dec. 6, 2017 from LMWD for the implementation of the joint venture project for the design, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, operation, financing, expansion, and management of the province’s water supply and sanitation facilities and services.

In a statement on Sunday, the water district said its partnership with Manila Water had been forged in consideration of the best interest of its customers. It said both parties strictly followed the process called for under the National Economic and Development Authority’s 2013 revised joint venture guidelines.

It said despite the partnership’s “enormous amount of benefits to the Leyteños and Taclobanons, several misconceived issues have been raised regarding the project.”

The water district said some groups had issued warnings to the residents of Tacloban City of unnecessary tariff increases when Manila Water starts its operations.

It also said the City Government of Tacloban had raised “a distorted issue” surrounding the appointment of the current members of the water district’s board of directors.

LMWD said the partnership “is under the condition that there will be  no tariff increase during the first two years of the project and that [Manila Water] will have to prioritize improvements in water services.”

“In such a case where [Manila Water] is allowed to make tariff adjustments after 2019, the same will be subject to the approval of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), being the tariff regulator for water districts. Moreover, any tariff adjustments will comply with the procedures, including, but not limited to, public consultations,” it said.

It added that Manila Water through the partnership, “will front load its investments to reduce losses” as it cited a non-revenue water target of “reaching, at least, a world-class level of 18%, increase water pressure to an appropriate level, and deliver potable water supply 24/7.”

The benefits of the partnership will include not requiring the water district to contribute monetary equity, better earnings opportunities for the government, and all assets invested by Manila Water being transferred to the water district at the end of the project, LMWD said.

The water district said it is aware that the Tacloban government is claiming authority to appoint the members of the LMWD board, pursuant to the Supreme Court Decision in the case “Rama vs. Moises, G.R. No.  197146 dated 6 December 2016.”

However, it said the application of the case to LMWD “is misplaced and erroneous.” It said all members of the board have valid appointments confirmed by LWUA.

“Further, all appointed members of the [board of directors] have fixed terms, and  are expected by its customers to fulfill its mandate,” it added. — Victor V. Saulon

Stocks to take cues from BSP, Fed policy meetings

STOCKS will move depending on the results of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’ policy meeting this week, alongside announcements from the US Federal Reserve at its own review.

The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index ended last week on a positive note as it climbed 1.59% or 129.77 points to finish at 8,304.70.

Week on week, the benchmark index was up 2%.

All sectoral indices posted upticks last Friday, led by the industrials counter which added 3.5%, followed by holding firms which saw a 1.8% increase. Overall, advancers narrowly outpaced losers, 96 to 94.

“Before investors take on their Christmas break, key announcements from US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and BSP’s policy meeting are among items slated this week,” according to a weekly market note by online stock brokerage 2TradeAsia.com.

The FOMC is expected to implement a 25-basis point rate hike at its two-day meeting set on Dec. 12-13. The Fed will also release economic projections, including US inflation figures.

Meanwhile, analysts said the Philippine central bank will likely hold on to current policy settings this week as inflation and liquidity conditions remain manageable, despite “building” pressure due to the expected Fed rate hike.

Twelve economists tapped in a BusinessWorld poll late last week said the BSP Monetary Board will keep its policy stance unchanged at Thursday’s review, which follows the rate-setting meeting of the Fed.

Rates currently stand at 3.5% for the overnight lending rate, 3% for the overnight reverse repurchase rate, and 2.5% for the overnight deposit rate.

Analysts said current policy settings remain appropriate, with the growth momentum seen intact and with inflation easing from a three-year peak.

Commodity prices picked up by 3.3% in November, slowing from the 3.5% logged a month ago. This put the year-to-date average at 3.2%, matching the BSP’s forecast for the year.

Summit Securities, Inc. President Harry G. Liu said he sees no negative factors that may affect the market until yearend.

“If you look at it overall, so far we’re trailing 8,100 to 8,350 — that’s the window that we’re moving in. So far, I don’t see anything on site to be bearish on our market to yearend,” Mr. Liu said in a phone interview last week.

2TradeAsia.com also expects investors to take cues from listed firms’ announcements of their capital spending plans in 2018, which it noted should be balanced with benefits from the tax reform program and the awarding of infrastructure projects.

“Addressing the funding side is also crucial, and international players will also assess the administration’s ability to support tariffs to allow capital-intensive investors to recover investments and fulfill their mandates to shareholders,” the brokerage said. 

2TradeAsia.com noted the market will be trading with an immediate support level of 8,250, with resistance ranging from 8,400 to 8,450. — Arra B. Francia

Century Properties bullish on Batulao Artscapes project

By Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

CENTURY PROPERTIES Group, Inc. (CPG) is bullish on its newly launched Batulao Artscapes project in Nasugbu, Batangas, after selling out the first phase even before its public launch.

“We’ve sold out the first phase, so we exceeded in terms of expectations our sales velocity. We’ve very happy. This is our first public launch, and we’ve done that (the first sales) through teasers,” CPG Managing Director Jose Roberto R. Antonio said at the sidelines of the official launch of Batulao Artscapes in Bonifacio Global City on Saturday.

Batulao Artscapes is CPG’s newest project that will feature houses designed by local and international architects and built by Revolution Precrafted. It is part of the company’s 142-hectare property in Nasugbu.

CPG earlier said it expects to generate P19 billion in sales from Batulao Artscapes, a 54-hectare development described as the “world’s first liveable art park.”

Mr. Antonio, who is also the chief executive officer and founder of Revolution Precrafted, said each house will take up to three months to be built.

“The price point is about P3.6 million [for the units under the area] called Clusters. We have this area called Curated where we sell one-of-a-kind designer homes by international architects,” Mr. Antonio said.

Batulao Artscapes’ first three villages are designed by Filipino architects and designers — architect Eduardo Calma’s Polygonal Successions for Cluster Village; Budji Layug and Royal Pineda’s Tranche and Facet Homes for Collection Village; and designer Kenneth Cobonpue’s Hedera Homes for Commune Village.

For the fourth section Curated Village 1, CPG is offering 12 one-of-a-kind homes by international designers and architects such as David Salle + AA Studio for the “Billboard Home,” Marcel Wanders for “Eden,” Studio Libeskind Design for “Adaptation II,” and Daphne Guinness for the “Daphne Skin Home.” 

Units at Curated Village, which have their own private pool and guest home, start at P17.4 million.

CPG Chairman Jose E.B. Antonio said the company expects Batulao Artscapes to contribute significantly to its sales in the next few years.

“I think in four years’ time, we expect to earn much more than we’re earning now but a quarter to a third will be contributed by this platform Batulao Artscapes,” he said.

Batulao Artscapes represents CPG’s foray into leisure and tourism estate development. With the project, the company is targeting mainly foreign retirees and people looking for a second home which can serve as a weekend getaway.

“We really believe in the future of tourism and hospitality because this is still, what I believe, is one of the sunrise industries in the country considering that our tourism count is very low compared to our neighbors in the [Southeast] Asia. So that is an untapped potential that our company Century together now with Revolution Precrafted will be able to supply not only Filipinos but foreigners,” the CPG chairman said.

CPG has been diversifying its product mix by venturing into retail, office, and leisure development, from previously focusing on high-end condominium projects with international brand partners. This strategy is expected to transform the company into a multi-platform real estate firm by 2020.

The company’s attributable profit declined by 17% in the first nine months of 2017 to P538 million, following a 15% slump in revenues to P3.92 billion.

Shares in CPG closed 1.06% higher at P0.475 each on Friday.

Johnson in Iran to push for Briton’s release

TEHRAN — Britain’s foreign minister visited Iran on Saturday to press for the release of British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe amid accusations at home that one of his gaffes has seriously harmed her case.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson held two hours of “frank” talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, which also touched on the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, the future of which has been thrown into doubt by US President Donald J. Trump.

“They both spoke frankly about the obstacles that remain in the relationship, including the foreign secretary’s concerns about the consular cases of British-Iranian nationals,” the British Foreign Office said in a statement.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian citizen, was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016 after visiting relatives.

She was given five years in prison over her alleged role in mass protests in 2009, which she denies, and will face additional charges in court on Sunday of “spreading propaganda.”

Husband Richard Ratcliffe, who had lobbied to join Mr. Johnson on the visit, says his wife has been used as a pawn in Iran’s efforts to extract some £450 million ($600 million) owed to Iran since before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

He has raised concerns about his wife’s mental health, citing the mounting toll of her prolonged incarceration in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

The case has become highly politicized, especially after a “slip of the tongue” by Mr. Johnson last month when he stated that Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been training journalists in Iran, which has been used by the Iranian authorities to help justify the new charges.

Mr. Johnson, who is due to meet President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday, did not speak to reporters.

Mr. Johnson is on a three-day trip to the region, stopping in Oman on Friday and moving on to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

It is the first visit of a foreign secretary to Iran since 2015 when the nuclear deal was signed. It unfolds amid mass protests across the Muslim world over Mr. Trump’s decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. “While our relationship with Iran has improved significantly since 2011, it is not straightforward and on many issues we will not agree,” Mr. Johnson said ahead of the trip.

Britain severed diplomatic relations in 2011 after protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran in response to sanctions over the nuclear dispute. The embassy was reopened in 2015 and full relations restored last year. — AFP

Yanks snatch Stanton

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Yankees don’t just get anything they want. After all, they did strike out on the Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes; for all their inherent advantages, they were eliminated from contention early, with the Japanese sensation choosing the Angels for a variety of reasons. That said, they do get just about everything else. Over the weekend, for example, they managed to win the battle for Giancarlo Stanton, benefiting from, among other factors, their deep pockets, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player’s required imprimatur on any transfer, and close ties with Marlins CEO Derek Jeter.

To be sure, the deal that will net them Stanton, Major League Baseball’s leader in home runs, RBIs, extra base hits, and slugging percentage, isn’t cast in stone yet. He could nix it the same way he did those previously struck with the Cardinals and Giants. Then again, he appears to be a great fit for the Yankees, who already boast of big bats in Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, and who figure to parade the most potent offense in the majors, and in a homer-friendly stadium to boot. Having been just the sixth player in MLB history to claim MVP honors for a losing season, he should be looking forward to his time in pinstripes.

Certainly, the Yankees found no small measure of good fortune in reviving talks for Stanton, which had stalled over the Marlins’ demands in the face of luxury-tax constraints. Following his decision to say no to the Cardinals and Giants, however, his employers saw limited options, compelling them to turn to the sport’s most storied franchise. And he’s set up well to thrive in the media capital of the world; the expectations may be much higher, but the entry of Aaron Boone as manager — and the ensuing honeymoon period — should give him the space he needs to claim comfort under the klieg lights.

Parenthetically, it pays to be in a large market, which can absorb the additional cost the Yankees will shoulder in securing Stanton. Of the $295 million he’s due over the next decade, $265 million will be to their account. And it’s telling that they once again opened their checkbooks after choosing to lie low in recent memory. Once again, they’re swinging for the fences. And while nothing is a sure thing in baseball, once again, they’re coming close to it.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.

Another four Marawi City barangays ready for residents’ return

RESIDENTS of four more barangays in Marawi City are set to return home today, Dec. 11, under Task Force Bangon Marawi’s Kambalingan, or homecoming, program for the more than 350,000 people displaced by the gunbattle between government forces and local followers of the extremist Islamic State. The four barangays — Kormatan Matampay, Rorogagus East, Cabasaran, and Bangco — are part of the third Kambalingan group, which has earlier saw the return of residents in four other barangays. The first two Kambalingan clusters covered 19 barangays. Marawi City has 96 barangays, some of which were far enough from the battle zones and did not have residents who needed to flee.

How to cure a toxic workplace

By Christopher Stephens

THE seemingly endless sexual misconduct allegations of recent weeks make it clear that too many businesses have profound and systemic deficiencies that perpetuate a toxic work environment. The question now is how can companies create and maintain safe and dignified workplaces for women?

There are four necessary components of a sexually hostile workplace: The first is a morally — even psychologically — deficient bad actor with a capacity and inclination for debasement. The second is a disparity in power between the abuser and the victim that empowers the abuser by playing to his worst impulses and sense of entitlement.

Third is a workplace environment that ingrains an impression in both the powerful and the victim that complaints are useless or even harmful, as they will be ignored or met with shame or reprisal. This component is particularly prevalent in hierarchical corporate cultures that reinforce the notion that the comfort and safety of subordinates are less important than the aggressors’ entitlement to their excesses, indulgences, and even a degree of misbehavior.

In such a workplace, exalted status results from the seniority of a person’s position or his ability to generate revenues or exert an outsized influence on the success of the enterprise. Here, management values those qualities over staff safety as well as common decency.

The fourth component is complicity by senior management — real or perceived — that creates an air of tolerance of reprehensible behavior. These are the corporate stewards or board overseers that turn a blind eye towards misbehavior and, in some cases, act to conceal it.

An unfortunate reality of the human condition is that occasional bad actors and their bad behavior are a mathematical and anthropological certainty in business and elsewhere.

But internal management and governance frameworks can avoid the hiring and promoting of such people, and can deal with them when they do appear.

These systems can mitigate the risks and impact of their actions, build staff confidence and morale, and save corporate reputations. It is incumbent on the management and boards of directors of all business enterprises to take reasonable steps to implement a few simple safeguards.

The first step is to adopt a clear code of conduct that requires all personnel to treat their colleagues and others with dignity and respect, and includes sanctions for mistreatment, including immediate suspension and termination. Senior managers should also be required to enforce standards and be disciplined for their failure to act deliberately on allegations of disrespect, bullying, or harassment.

The second is a whistle-blower protection policy that shields the identity of accusers, protects them from reprisal, and punishes retaliators.

Third is a process that enables a thorough investigation of allegations by professionals who are sufficiently independent from the accused and his work unit to ensure their objectivity and engender the confidence of all staff. Fourth is a training regimen that instills awareness and coaching on required behavior, practices and procedures, for both new staff and periodic refreshers for all staff.

These rules and processes are necessary, but alone will not avoid or rectify a toxic workplace.

There is no substitute for establishing and constantly reinforcing a corporate culture defined by a shared set of values, attitudes, and standards. These are the guiding principles that dictate behavior and expectations at all levels of the enterprise.

The list of values may vary with different companies, but must include certain “core” values that are fundamental and nonnegotiable, rather than merely aspirational.

Among these are dignity and mutual respect between all employees, and the commitment of senior management to ensure a physically and emotionally safe workplace. A strong corporate culture underpinned by such values informs the way staff interact and work. It forms the basis on which important decisions are made, including hiring, training, evaluating performance, and rewarding staff.

It will also strengthen the reputation of the company and its managers by providing it the opportunity to walk-the-talk and to demonstrate good corporate character and integrity.

As the father of three girls soon to enter the workforce, I find recent news stories stomach-churning and terrifying. But these events also present an opportunity to highlight these important issues and to underscore the urgency of addressing them. Harassment and bullying exist throughout society, but corporate leaders have a special responsibility as caretakers of the business communities they lead.

It’s well-past time to act, as a matter of basic decency and as a moral imperative. Moving quickly to impel dignity in our workplaces will boost staff morale and confidence in management, reduce liability and, ultimately, contribute to the success of the enterprise.

 

Christopher Stephens is General Counsel at the Asian Development Bank.

Tribes the focus in Quirino Christmas

QUIRINO PROVINCE recently opened its month-long Paskuhan sa Quirino, one of the most anticipated Yuletide festivities in the Cagayan Valley Region.

Held at the Quirino Sports Tourism Complex in the capital town of Cabarroguis, the fair showcases local crafts, cultural diversity, and tourist attractions of the province’s six municipalities.

Now on its sixth edition, this year’s theme “Inspired Christmas among the Tribes” features exhibit booths with ethnic motifs from the Bugkalot, Agta, Igorot, Kalinga, and Dumagat indigenous peoples, as well as Ilocano lowlanders, to highlight their roles in Quirino’s sociocultural development.

“Paskuhan is one way of attracting domestic and foreign tourists to make Quirino their choice destination for the Christmas vacation,” says provincial governor Junie Cua who introduced the annual event in 2012.

The province’s top tourist draws are Aglipay Caves and Campsite in Aglipay, the Siitian Nature Park in Nagtipunan, and the Governor’s Rapids in Maddela which is known for its massive limestone walls along the Cagayan River.

The province also has a world-class watersports complex with a wake park, winch lagoon, multi-purpose pavilion, and hostel.

He said that the Paskuhan fair takes on a different theme annually to put the spotlight on diverse aspects of Quirino’s way of life.

Running until Dec. 31, Paskuhan features live bands, giant lantern contests, a food plaza, a bazaar, and musical presentations from public schools and government agencies. It will conclude with a fireworks musical display to welcome the New Year.

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