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Shirtless is a no-no in QC

STEPPING OUT into the streets of Quezon City? Make sure you have a shirt on. The Quezon City Council has passed an ordinance prohibiting roaming around naked in public places, with penalties ranging from P1,500 to P3,000, or community service for five days, or six months in prison. Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, author of the new law, said City Ordinance 2623-2017 is anchored on propriety. “There are people oblivious to the senses, feelings, and emotions of others who are displaying, walking or roaming around in public places topless, bottomless or completely naked. Naked persons in public places erode decency, exacerbates disorder, and setting a bad example to children,” the ordinance reads. Mentally ill violators will be apprehended but are exempt from any penalty.

2 firms, brokers face smuggling raps for misdeclared used clothing

THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC)-Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) yesterday filed smuggling charges against two companies over the illegal importation of prohibited used clothing and rags valued at more than P4 million. In a statement, the BoC identified the companies as G-Joyce Enterprises and Zainar General Merchandise. Charged are Zainar owner Berkis Nuh Abdu from Davao City and his customs brokers, Remar Ferniz Mansari and Asniel Mocaram Diamad, and G-Joyce owner Griechelle Joyce Ballon Basio of Tagum City and her customs broker, Asniel Mocaram Diamad. “Two counts of smuggling charges were filed against Zainar while one to G-Joyce for their attempt to smuggle ukay-ukay (used clothing) at Port of Davao,” Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña said. Both companies declared their shipments as containing blankets, bedsheets, and pillowcases, among other items, but BoC examiners found that majority of the contents were used pants, shirts and jackets. — Mindanao Bureau

Long-term planning

Here we go again, about to take another roller coaster ride, if Senator Risa Hontiveros would have her way to cut the value-added tax (VAT) back to 10% from the present 12%. Couple this with the call of the Social Security System (SSS) for an increase in monthly contributions by SSS members, to help raise another P45 billion this year and help keep the fund afloat until 2044.

Both initiatives, while seemingly meritorious, is short-term, in my opinion. In this regard, perhaps we should carefully review both proposal but plan for a longer term. Band-aid solutions, done not in conjunction with any long-term strategic plan, tends to just bring us up and down — much like a roller coaster ride — and we have been on such a ride long enough.

The VAT, since its implementation in the post-EDSA years, have gone up from 5% to 10% and then to 12%, and for good reason. A consumption tax like VAT has helped maintain the government’s revenue stream in the last three decades. It was especially helpful in the last 10-12 years, and perhaps more so with income tax rates reduced starting this year.

I do not see any logic in Hontiveros’ proposal, but then she may be in possession of studies, statistics, and simulations that can prove me wrong and show that cutting VAT to 10% will be good for the economy in general, and will benefit the most number of people. But, if she cannot make her case, then I reckon her proposal is nothing but a populist move to court votes.

As for SSS, I see an increase in contribution rates also as a temporary solution to prolonging the life of the fund — to until 2044, says SSS officials. Of course, there are no guarantees here. Precisely because prolonging the fund relies heavily on the quality of SSS investments in the coming years. Any investment that yields below than expected surely impacts on the fund life.

For years I have been advocating for pension reform. I believe that as the administration gets more money from taxes to fund public infrastructure and services, it can also better manage its expenses by reforming the way it spends money on pensioners, both in public and private service, and uniformed personnel.

The government is short of money, even the SSS is short of money. And here comes Senator Hontiveros calling for a cut in VAT? This doesn’t seem right. Unless, she honestly believes a lower VAT will give relief to people, and for some reason this actually will stimulate consumption and spending and thus drive long-term and inclusive economic growth.

As for SSS, and the pension system in general, the perennial problem of dwindling reserves requires a long-term solution. With its planned increase, SSS is now targeting a fund life until 2044.

As early as six years ago, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reported that periodic increases in contributions from members may not be enough to help prop up SSS in the long term.

ADB said that more reforms were necessary to stabilize the condition of SSS and similar funds all over the region and to assure their continued viability given the “region’s rapidly aging population.” It noted that “with the already high benefit-to-contribution ratio of the SSS [as of 2012], greater increases in contribution rates would be required to sustain the pension program if no improvement is made on the current compliance rate of 31%.”

ADB, in its report, had also noted that as of 2012, the SSS, GSIS, and the military pension system “covered about 79% of the labor force and 28% of the population aged 60 and older.”

Without major reforms, ADB had said it had expected the GSIS fund to last only until 2055, and the SSS fund to last only until 2031. This time around, with a planned increase — if approved by the President — the SSS is looking at 2044.

Among the reforms ADB suggested included “raising the retirement age, increasing contributions, combining the two programs [SSS and GSIS], gradually shifting to a defined-contribution system, and expanding the economy — although the current population growth rate of 2%, one of the highest in Asia, will make sustained economic growth a challenge.”

As for the military and police pension system, the administration already noted in mid-2016 that this was “non-contributory” in nature and that it was presently funded through general appropriations. Thus, the proposal to include police and military pension with that of non-uniformed government retirees at the GSIS.

In a previous media interview, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno noted that by President Duterte’s last year in office, “the amount of budget for pension will be about 80% of the total budget for the military, while only 20% will go to salaries” of soldiers in service. He also noted that to date, the “pension of the military is much higher than the salaries of incumbents. In the police, it’s almost equal.” In absolute amounts, Diokno added that for 2017 alone, the government was allocating P80 billion for military pensioners.

In 2016, the Cabinet-level interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) reported that the “problem is mainly attributable to the features present in all existing retirement laws of the uniformed services — pension entitlement of a retiree is automatically adjusted based on the prevailing scale of base pay for similarly ranked active personnel; pension is non-contributory in nature hence budget comes from the annual general appropriations of the government; and early entitlement to pension benefits even before attaining the compulsory retirement age of 56.”

DBCC noted the 2016 pension budget of P71 billion was projected to more than double in eight years to P187.9 billion by 2024. This amount will come from the national budget, unless changes are made. If so, where will the government get the money, more so if Hontiveros gets her way of lowering the VAT to 10%.

Simply put, the government needs more and more money to fix problems that resulted from short-term planning and short-term policy decisions of previous governments and congresses. I believe a comprehensive pension system overhaul is urgently necessary. Perhaps Senator Hontiveros can instead look into this, rather than lowering the VAT.

 

Marvin A. Tort is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippines Press Council.

matort@yahoo.com

TNT beats Kia in grind-it-out match

The TNT KaTropa defeated the Kia Picanto, 90-85, in a grind-it-out match yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena to get back in the winning column and notch their fourth win in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Found themselves in a compressing match, the KaTropa held steady and adjusted accordingly when needed to held off the Picanto to march back to winning after losing in their previous game.

TNT and Kia got it going right way, jostling to set early control.

They were neck-and-neck three-fourths of the opening quarter before the KaTropa went on a surge to finish the frame and take a 28-24 lead at the end of the first 12 minutes.

Kia stepped up its intensity to start the second period, outscoring TNT, 7-4, to come within one point, 32-31, with seven minutes remaining.

Quick five points after, care of rookie Sidney Onwubere and Jayson Castro, gave the KaTropa more breathing space, 37-31.

The Picanto though would hang tough, not letting things to cascade further for them and kept the KaTropa within striking distance, 42-39, by halftime.

Unlike in the second quarter, TNT got out to a better footing at the start of the third canto.

Led by veteran Kelly Williams, the KaTropa went on a 10-6 run in the first four minutes to hold a seven-point cushion, 52-45.

But the Picanto would rally back, with Mark Yee showing the way.

They seized the lead, 59-58, at the 2:50-minute mark, extended it to four points, 62-58, after Carlo Lastimosa drained a three-pointer.

TNT took the lead anew with an and-one from big man Norbert Torres with a little over a minute left.

It was a springboard they would use to restore order in their favor, 69-62, at the end of the third.

The slugfest continued as the payoff quarter began and the outcome still wide open.

The teams fought to a 76-70 count with TNT on top and 8:31 to go before the latter went on a 5-0 blast to extend its lead to 81-70 after two minutes.

Kia, however, answered with a 7-0 run of their own, to come within four points, 81-77, with 4:31 remaining on the clock.

Back-to-back baskets by Messrs. Castro and Williams steadied the ship for TNT.

The Picanto tried to claw their way back, cutting their deficit to two points, 85-83, with 1:31 to play.

TNT though did not allow Kia to gain more headway after as RR Garcia scored four consecutive points to pretty much put the game away.

Mr. Williams led TNT with 23 points and eight rebounds while Mr. Castro added 22 points and nine boards.

Mr. Garcia finished with 13 points.

Rashawn McCarthy paced Kia with 21 and Jackson Corpuz adding 17 markers.

“While admittedly we are the better team over Kia, it should not only be in our minds but we have to perform as well and I think the message did not get through tonight,” said TNT coach Nash Racela of the struggle they had against Kia.

“It did not help either that Kia played well and made it hard for us. Just the same we must not show the same effort in our next game,” he added.

The two teams next play on Feb. 7 also at the Mall of Asia Arena with TNT (4-3) going up against the Phoenix Fuel Masters and Kia (1-6) battling the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Pork pilgrimage

THE PIG has long been associated with the bounties of the earth: as it feeds on the gifts of the soil, ounces upon ounces of fat are added on to its thick frame, enabling it to be sliced up and shared among family and friends. A trip to Alabang’s The Black Pig, inspired by lechon and the Black Iberian Pig, feels like a pilgrimage to worship on the altar of good livestock.

The chef, Carlos Garcia, a Spaniard who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurant Gauthier Soho in London (among other kitchens) knows his pigs very well. When asked what makes for a good piglet for his cochifrito, he said in no uncertain terms: “The quality of a good pig… is a pig that has been sucking from the booby of the mommy.” A little bit graphic, but the act of suckling and the piglet’s slaughter before actually eating any grain or grass gives the animal a thinner skin, and softer flesh with a hint of butter from the milk it had imbibed in its short life. Poor little piglet, but my, how good it tasted. Cutting through the cochifrito (fried, not roasted piglet) felt like cutting through fine silk. The skin is crisped and singed to give character and flavor to this little baby.

BusinessWorld had this cochifrito with mushroom risotto on the side, and, well, with chicken jus and the juices from the earthy mushrooms, and the al dente texture of the rice grains, it felt like it perfectly captured the feel of a rice field somewhere in Italy, where it was cooked at a break during the harvest.

All animals are offered up to the diner in this restaurant, so the sacred cow was also served on my plate at my pleasure. Beef cheeks were served along with bone marrow, breadcrumbed and sprinkled with mushrooms. The bone marrow absorbed all the smokiness possible from its slow-roasting, and its aggressive but fatty flavor complemented the beef cheeks, which, under a knife, felt like slicing through butter. You can really see the sticky collagen and dissolved connective tissue separate from the chunk of beef, which in turn was so delicate-tasting, and not at all bullishly aggressive as one might expect from its dark-red, almost maroon color.

The meats are mostly imported, except for the baby pig, in a measure for consistency. The menu is very chef-driven, perhaps reflective of Mr. Garcia’s origins in the variable moods and menus of Michelin-starred restaurants. For example, that evening, the cochifrito, usually fried with just garlic and parsely, was baptized with a splash of white wine.

“When we have a dish, how can we improve it all the time?” he said.

“Some people like consistency. I don’t really like consistency. I like changing, evolving.” — Joseph L. Garcia

The Black Pig is located at the Commercenter Bldg., Filinvest Ave. corner E. Asia Dr., Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila.

Max’s to bring Pancake House to Saudi Arabia

MAX’S GROUP, Inc. (MGI) has partnered with a Jeddah-based company to open 12 Pancake House branches in Saudi Arabia, as part of the listed casual dining operator’s overseas expansion.

In a statement, MGI said it has signed a development agreement with Al-Bader National Establishment for Real-Estate Development for the establishment of Pancake House branches in Saudi Arabia.

Pancake House is a restaurant chain known for its all-day breakfast items such as waffles, and sandwiches, as well as tacos, spaghetti and pan-fried chicken. It currently has seven overseas franchised outlets in Malaysia and United Arab Emirates.

“Our international business continues to build on its momentum sustained from last year. We are excited with the prospect of entering a familiar territory this time around with another one of our loved brands. We believe the brand’s attributes and offerings will successfully make its way into the mainstream population,” MGI President and CEO Robert F. Trota was quoted as saying in a statement.

Al-Bader National Establishment for Real-Estate Development is mainly involved in real estate and property development, but has recently expanded into the food and beverage business.

“We are excited to bring Pancake house to Saudi Arabia. We have been searching for a renowned brand to spearhead our venture into the food sector with the intention to deploy a substantial amount of investment. We find the brand’s assorted menu mix and all-day dining concept appealing to various demographic profiles,” Al-Bader National Establishment for Real-Estate Development CEO Badr Hamdi Hamed Albalawi said.

MGI continues to be aggressive in expanding overseas, as it targets to have 200 international stores by 2020.

This year, MGI targets to open 20 to 30 new international stores this year, mostly under its Max’s Restaurant, Pancake House and Yellow Cab Pizza brands.

Two more Pancake House branches in the United Arab Emirates and the first Pancake House store in Qatar are expected to be opened this year.

The company targets to have around 75 to 80 stores overseas by end-2018.

For the first nine months of the year, MGI’s attributable profit increased 8% to P419 million, on the back of an 11% rise in revenues to P9.04 billion.

Shares in MGI lost 6 centavos or 0.33% to close at P17.98 each on Wednesday.

S. Korea market expansion eyed for poultry, fruit

THE PHILIPPINES is seeking to export more poultry, fruit and vegetables to South Korea, diversifying away from the leading products like pineapple and mango.

Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez said that all of the pineapple and around 80% of bananas imported by South Korea are from the Philippines, with Philippine mango taking up only 35% of the market.

“We’re also targeting okra because we just found out that Koreans like okra too,” he added.

The Philippines has been also targeting Japan for its okra exports.

After the latest bird flu outbreak ran its course in Central Luzon, the Philippines is also seeking to ramp up poultry exports to South Korea as well, particularly dressed chicken and duck, Mr. Hernandez said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority ranks South Korea the Philippines’ fourth-largest trading partner, based on November data.

Apart from agricultural exports, the government is angling for various South Korean industries to relocate or invest in the Philippines, including those producing garments, furniture and holiday decor; chemicals; software; education; and business-process outsourcing.  — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Life insurers see double-digit growth in premiums on strong economy, demographics

LIFE INSURERS expect insurance premiums to sustain double-digit growth this year on the back of solid macroeconomic fundamentals, as wealth grows and insurance users seek more protection from risk.

“The stock markets are quite heated and some areas of some markets. In particular in the Philippines, the macrofundamentals are very sound, I would expect double-digit growth,” newly seated Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA) President Olaf Kliesow said at a media roundtable on Tuesday when asked for his outlook.

“I think there is a big opportunity in the Philippines for further supporting customer needs, about half of the population that is still not familiar with insurance. There is still room to grow,” he added.

He said that although the insurance industry took a hit from lower estate taxes and a doubling in documentary stamp tax (DST) for insurance policies under Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, the development is a net positive, because income tax rates have fallen.

“I look at the tax reform more from a positive point of view. If you look at it from an insurance angle you might say that there are some aspects that are more on the difficult side, like the estate tax, the DST. But overall, lowering the income tax should lead to more money in the pocket and more available assets. That means also lower income classes can start accumulating wealth and protecting themselves,” Mr. Kliesow said.

“I think the impact is positive with a very bullish equity market a big part of the equities market in investing in unit linked products. I would expect to see strong growth this year,” he added.

Under the tax reform program, estate taxes were reduced to a single 6% rate from the old tax schedule with varying rates; DST was doubled for policies or other instruments.

Mr. Kliesow said that PLIA will push for insurance literacy this year to boost insurance penetration in the market.

“The goal of PLIA is really to support the growth of the industries and one main focus is of course financial literacy and awareness.”

Apart from macroeconomic factors, he said demographics also favor the Philippines “with a large population that is growing.” As a result, “I think it will make it a good year for the industry,” he added.

Mr. Kliesow said the risks that are always present in the market are natural calamities, but this year the specific risks stem from geopolitics or protectionism that may lead to trade frictions, though he added in the Philippines the impact of the latter two factors may be muted.

According to preliminary and unaudited data from the Insurance Commission, premiums totaled P259.646 billion in 2017, up 12% from a year earlier.

Life insurance firms accounted for P202.341 billion of the total, up 10.69%.

The P48.561 billion in non-life insurance premiums grew 16.7%. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

An egg is an egg is an egg

“A ROSE is a rose is a rose” once wrote Gertrude Stein in her poem “Sacred Emily.” To that effect, after tasting what happens to be one of the world’s most famous omelets (praised by Ernest Hemingway and Yves Saint Laurent) from French restaurant La Mère Poulard, I can now say: an egg is an egg is an egg.

The French restaurant is a relic from the late 1800s, built on an even older relic, the island of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France. The community has prospered since the Middle Ages, and its crowning glory is its monastery, its spire pointing to the heavens as if reaching for God himself. Pilgrimages to the monastery was one of the reasons for La Mère Poulard’s creation. The restaurant was founded by Annette Poulard, and the omelet came about to feed the pilgrims efficiently and quickly.

What is so special about this egg? Its branch in SM Aura, its first in the Philippines (and its third in Asia, following two branches in Japan) boasts of an open kitchen, where chefs in toques beat the eggs in a rhythm, transforming into a song, that lasts from five to 15 minutes. The egg, made fluffy by aeration from the rhythmic whisking, is quickly fried and folded, and comes out of the pan looking like a large yellow sponge, bouncing and fluffing up and steaming on the plate. It is a sight to behold, honestly, the three eggs that went into it becoming bigger than a child’s face, its bright yellow tint reminding one of the sun, and breakfasts by a seaside town.

Once you get past the technical mastery handed down from one generation to another, and the fluffy texture on the outside, concealing a gooey center: well, really — it tasted identical to the omelets my mom used to make. And those eggs, I got for free. This little whopper with a side of bacon and potato, costs up to P420. If you’re feeling a little bit more generous, there’s a tiger prawn and ratatouille option at P550.

After Mme. Poulard’s death in 1931, the restaurant came into the hands of her children, who then decided to sell it to Eric Vannier, who in the 1990s, expanded the restaurant into an inn, a biscuit company, and a worldwide venture. His son, Leo, emphasized that the restaurant’s aim is to promote French cuisine beyond its haute cuisine impressions.

“We want people to know that French cuisine is not just high gastronomy and expensive dinners,” he said. After all, Mme. Poulard, of humble origins, began her cooking career working in Paris as a servant of an architect. The senior Mr. Vannier, meanwhile, spent a large part of his childhood in Mont Saint-Michel, and had long dreamed of possessing Mme. Poulard’s restaurant, because his grandmother, an astute cook herself, had learned from La Mère (mother) herself, Annette.

“It was a magical place for the family,” the younger Mr. Vannier recalled. “Mont Saint-Michel is a magical place. We don’t want to keep the product like this in a small place in the world.” — JLG

ICTSI unit begins operations in Papua New Guinea

A UNIT of global port operator International Container Terminal services, Inc. (ICTSI) has started operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) after obtaining the go-signal from the government.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said ICTSI South Pacific International Container Terminal (SPICT) will kick off the transition by rolling out the terminal’s new operating system Navis N4 — a first of its kind in PNG and the global standard for container terminal planning and operations management.

The system is expected to streamline the flow of information at Lae’s international container terminal and increase seaside and landside productivity levels.

“We anticipate further benefits from delivering (mobile harbor cranes or MHCs) to the site and look forward to seeing a continuous improvement in operations at SPICT from the deployment of the (terminal operating system) to achieving the first MHC move in the near term,” ICTSI Head of Asia Pacific Christian R. Gonzalez was quoted in the statement as saying.

ICTSI expects that a full and stable suite of modules will be operational and ready in time for the arrival of SPICT’s MHCs in April that will further boost productivity levels at Lae and deliver vessel handling capabilities previously unattained in PNG.

ICTSI South Pacific’s investment in IT systems and infrastructure is expected to surpass 3 million Kina (P47.5 million) this year.

SPICT signed a 25-year terminal operations agreement with state-owned PNG Ports Corp. Limited last July. The ICTSI unit will handle the deployment of cranes and other equipment at Port of Lae, the largest container handling facility in Papua New Guinea.

Shares in ICTSI added P3.50 apiece or 3.18% to close at P113.50 apiece on Wednesday. — Krista Angela M. Montealegre

Davao City police eyes more personnel, police stations

THE CITY Council has given its endorsement to the request of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to increase its personnel and police stations. “We are favorably endorsing to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) the request of DCPO for more personnel and more police stations,” said Councilor Ma. Belen S. Acosta, chair of the committee on peace and public safety. Ms. Sunga said the DCPO’s position paper will be submitted along with the council endorsement to Napolcom and the PNP. DCPO Director Alexander C. Tagum said there is a need to expand its resources as the city has become the alternate seat of government being the hometown of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Mr. Tagum cited that the city has 12 police stations, the same number as 10 years ago. DCPO, which currently has 1,890 personnel, is proposing to almost double this to 3,497. — Carmencita A. Carillo

Apple said to delay key features in next iPhone software update

APPLE, INC. executives, seeking to improve the performance of iPhone software after months of reported quality issues, have decided to delay some key features originally planned for this fall’s update, according to a person familiar with the matter.

As part of an annual release of new iPhone models, Apple also usually rolls out a major iOS update each year. The current software version, iOS 11, added augmented-reality features, a file management app and business user enhancements for the iPad. For iOS 12, Apple has been working on additions like a redesigned home screen app grid, a multiplayer mode for augmented reality games, and a merger of the third-party applications running on iPhones and Macs, the people said, asking not to be named discussing information that isn’t public.

While core features like the combined apps platform are still on schedule to be introduced this year, some flashier changes like the redesigned home screen will likely be held back until the 2019 software update, a person familiar with the matter said. The company will also probably delay a revamped photo management application that used new algorithms to better automatically sort pictures, though some smaller upgrades to the Photos app will still appear this year.

The shift in strategy comes following months of criticism due to bugs found in Apple’s software. Late last year, researchers discovered a login flaw that allowed intruders to access files without a passcode on Mac computers and vulnerabilities in the company’s smart-home platform. Apple has also publicly delayed key new iOS features in recent months, including a feature for synchronizing text messages across Apple devices and its peer to peer payments system, Apple Pay Cash.

New features for parents to better monitor how long apps are being used for by kids and their overall screen time, as well as improvements to Apple’s FaceTime video calling service are still on track for this year’s update, the people said. A shareholder group recently criticized the parental control on iPhones, pushing Apple to say earlier this month that improvements would be released in a future software update.

The company told its software engineering groups about the change this month, one of the people said. The shift will also affect this year’s update to Mac computer software, but to a lesser degree, the person said, adding that planned upgrades to Apple Watch and Apple TV software won’t be affected.

Axios reported earlier on the delay. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment. The company reports quarterly earnings on Thursday.

This isn’t the first time Apple has told engineers that focus should be on performance rather than new features. Apple made a similar push in 2015 with the release of iOS 9 and for Mac software updates in recent years.

Earlier this month, Apple said it would release an update for iPhones called iOS 11.3 that would allow customers to disable a feature that slowed iPhone performance in favor of battery life. The update will also have improved AR apps, new video modes for Apple Music and Apple News, and security enhancements for smart-home appliances. — Bloomberg

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