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Remote workplace arrangements increasingly the PHL norm — Regus

OVER HALF of the workers in the Philippines work outside their employer’s main office for at least half of the week, a survey by a workplace provider showed.

In a study conducted by the Regus, covering 200 respondents in the Philippines, 57% said that they work remotely, outside of their company’s main offices, for half the week or more.

Only 33% however said they work mostly from home, and 50% said they work remotely “in order to remain productive while traveling to and from meetings within the same city or in other cities.” For the popular locations for remote work, 19% named business centers, while 13% said that they usually work overseas when working remotely.

“While remote working is clearly the norm, it certainly is not synonymous with home working: only a minority work exclusively from home,” the company said in a statement. Only 8% said they work exclusively from home.

Working remotely as shown in the survey indicates flexibility and mobility of the workers, rather than a clear preference for working exclusively at home.

Lars Wittig, Regus Philippines country manager, said in a statement: “These results show that today’s work force is truly mobile. Only a very small proportion of workers are true home-workers spending all their time out of the main office in a home-office. Workers report that they are not looking to replace one fixed office space with another such as the home, but are declaring that they need places to stop off and regain productivity while traveling to and from business meetings in their own, or in other cities.

“Business people clearly show that they need drop-in locations where they can productively work from a few hours to a full day. Business centers prove a popular choice as they can be found scattered across cities and provide a professional and collected environment that favors concentration, very much the opposite of noisy cafes where it is hard to find focus and privacy.”

Regus, based in Luxembourg and listed on the London Stock Exchange, has a network of 2,850 locations in over 1,000 towns and cities across 114 countries, serving 2.3 million members. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

Taiwan’s D-Link hopes to attract more corporate clients

TAIWANESE network equipment manufacturer D-Link International Pte. Ltd. has partnered with local IT distributor Versatech International to broaden its distribution channels and attract more corporate clients in the Philippines.

D-Link, which offers a wide range of networking solutions including Wi-Fi routers, extenders and adapters, DSL modems and routers, and switches, is more known in the country for its home products, which include smart plugs and Internet protocol (IP) cameras.

D-Link President Jacky Chang said they hope to boost its corporate client base in the country, leveraging on the wide network and channels of Versatech.

“A few times more, in dealing with our corporate products… Our corporate products have smaller base than our home products,” Mr. Chang told reporters on Wednesday, when asked about its growth targets for the Philippine business.

“D-Link started launching its corporate products last year. With this cooperation and collaboration, [we can] reach some of our new customers.”

Versatech Executive Vice-President Stephen Yu told reporters: “Our priority really is the enterprise companies in the Philippine marketplace. We’re looking forward to a lot of developments in infrastructure and business growth in the Philippines.” 

Mr. Yu said they are especially looking at retail, apparel, and food businesses, as well as small chains and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies.

Versatech also launched new products to add to its lineup, including the COVR-3902 Covr Wi-Fi System, a wireless networking solution provides seamless coverage for up to 6,000 square feet, and DAP-2610 Wireless AC1300 Wave 2 Dual-Band PoE Access Point, designed for enterprises and SME, offering dual-band WLAN options. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

Kiddie song tops YouTube videos for 2017

A BABY SHARK video by Pinkfong, a Korean brand creating content for children, took the top spot in YouTube’s list of top trending videos in the Philippines for 2017, with local shows and song and dance performances dominating the rest of the list.

The top 10 trending videos in the Philippines are:

• Original “Baby Shark”/Go #BabySharkChallenge/Special Thank You Video/Pinkfong. Pinkfong created and uploaded this video to thank viewers for making the original Baby Shark clip into a YouTube hit. In the thank you video, the kids in the original “Baby Shark” video danced to a much faster beat of the song accompanied by a large group of people and mascots.

• ABS-CBN Summer Station ID 2017 “Ikaw Ang Sunshine Ko, Isang Pamilya Tayo” Lyric Video. Every year the network welcomes summer with a station ID featuring it’s talents and personalities. This year’s station ID saw younger talents took center stage.

• The Voice Teens Philippines Blind Audition: Mica Becerro, “Queen Of The Night” (Magic Flute). For her blind audition for music competition Voice Teens Philippines, Mica Becerro, 17, of General Santos City, delivered a powerful rendition of a piece from the opera The Magic Flute.

• Happy Break Up The Movie (2017 full movie with English subs). Donnalyn Bartolome, creator of this full-length film, describes this video as her debut in YouTube filmmaking. Inspired by her single “Happy Break Up,” the film explores heartbreak through the eyes of Valentine (played by Bartolome). The film also stars Niño Muhlach, Marissa Sanchez, and Ann B. Mateo.

• Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”/ Kyle Hanagami choreography. Los Angeles-based choreographer Kyle Hanagami’s dance moves for Ed Sheeran’s single is now the most popular video on his channel. In this video, trios, pairs, and solo acts take their turns dancing out parts of the song.

• “Dahil Sa ’Yo”/Live Love Party/Zumba®/Dance Fitness. Several videos of Zumba dance group Live Love Party have already reached millions of views including the group’s performance of Iñigo Pascual’s “Dahil Sa ’Yo.”

• Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho: “Sirena sighting sa Calayan Group of Islands, totoo nga ba?” This episode of the magazine show sparked a debate on whether mermaids are mythical or real.

• Rated K: “Meet Xander Ford!” The transformation of teenage group Hasht5 member Marlou Arizala into Xander Ford was one of the biggest reveals of the year. Xander first made his appearance on magazine show Rated K after undergoing a series of cosmetic procedures that gave him his new look.

• The Doctor Finally Called (“The Diagnosis”) In an 11-minute video that included clips of his adventures, former PBB Housemate Wil Dasovich revealed that he has been diagnosed with colon cancer. The confession made headlines after it was uploaded on his channel.

• Hit That “Despacito” Dance (Everytime “Despacito” Comes On)/ Ranz and Niana. Niana Guerrero, one-half of the sibling tandem Ranz and Niana, can’t stop herself from dancing along to “Despacito” whenever she hears it. This video showcases five instances when Niana stopped what she was doing to dance to Luis Fonsi and Yankee Daddy’s hit song.

Bicam agrees on up to 90% of tax reform bill

THE bicameral conference committee harmonizing Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bills from the House and Senate have agreed on “85 to 90%” of the legislation, or about 75 key provisions, Sen. Juan Edgardo M. Angara said.

Mr. Angara, who chairs his chamber’s committee on ways and means, made the announcement in a chance interview. In a separate social media post on Thursday, he added: “It seems that we are close to concluding this landmark measure.”

Mr. Angara also said he expects that Friday, Dec. 8, will be the last bicameral meeting on the tax reform bill.

“Tomorrow, we hope to wrap things up,” Mr. Angara said, adding that the committee still has at least five provisions to tackle and agree on, including the tax rates for “coal, mining, cosmetic procedures, housing, and self-employed and professionals,” which are not included in the House version of the bill.

The legislators also agreed to impose a 6-peso tax per liter for both sugar-sweetened and artificially-sweetened beverages, with a 12-peso tax for beverages using high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Milk and coffee, both ground and 3-in-1 varieties, were excluded, as were 100% juice products, according to Mr. Angara.

“That’s the purpose of the measure, to encourage the consumers to drink healthy drinks,” Mr. Angara said.

In the Senate version, the rate was P4.50 per liter for beverages using caloric and non-caloric sweeteners, and P9 per liter for beverages using HFCS. The House version had a P10 per liter tax on beverages using domestically produced sugar and P20 per liter for other sweeteners.

As for the proposed higher tax rate on cosmetic procedures, Mr. Angara said: “There are many doubts in Congress, and it’s up for a lot of debate. I hope tomorrow (Friday) we can find common ground.”

“The entertainment industry opposes it. Senator (Franklin M.) Drilon feels strongly about (raising the tax) as a matter of principle,” Mr. Angara added.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Drilon said cosmetic procedures should be taxed more as a gesture to those facing higher taxes elsewhere. “We are increasing the excise tax on fuel, which affects everybody. The cost of everyday goods will rise… The poorer segments of society will be affected, so why can we not impose a tax on activities which are purely luxury?”

On the tax rate of self-employed and professionals, Mr. Angara said the two chambers are far apart.

“The House version has a mandatory 8% rate on gross income which falls below the VAT threshold of P3 million.”

In the Senate version, Mr. Angara said an 8% rate is optional for those earning below the VAT threshold, giving them a choice to pay income tax according to the income tax schedule, with deductions.

Mr. Angara said the House wants to totally do away with the excise tax on coal, because of the impact on power prices.

The Senate bill raises the coal excise tax from P10 per metric ton to P100 per metric ton in the first year of implementation, P200 in the second year, and P300 in the third and succeeding years.

Mr. Drilon said: “Many provinces are served solely by coal-fired power plants. The national average would show that 48% of the power source is from coal and bunker fuel. That is the national average. However, there are certain areas where this is not the proportion because there is no renewable source of energy that is sufficient. For example, in the case of Mindanao, the whole of Mindanao is 60% dependent on coal-fired and bunker power plants as source of energy.”

Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez meanwhile said he sees no way for the chamber to approve the coal tax.

“We will not agree to that. Definitely not,” Mr. Alvarez said.

“Let us look at this objectively from the point of view of the consumers because the power industry will not complain much — it can pass on the cost to consumers,” he said.

Mr. Angara also announced that members of the bicameral conference committee agreed on Wednesday to increase the tax-exempt portion for 13th month pay and other bonuses to P90,000.

The Senate version of TRAIN had an P82,000 tax-free cap, unchanged from current law, while the House version called for tax-free treatment for up to P100,000. — Arjay L. Balinbin, Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

More than half of local governments in Panay, Guimaras still use open dump sites

OUT OF the 101 local government units (LGUs) within the islands of Panay and Guimaras, 55 have yet to close or rehabilitate open dumps, based on data from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). Of these, 34 are partially compliant, which means closing activities have been initiated. Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, mandates the closure and rehabilitation of open and controlled dump sites. Of the 46 compliant LGUs, 21 are in Iloilo province, 11 in Aklan, 8 in Antique, 4 in Capiz, and 2 in Guimaras. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Western Visayas Regional Director Jim O. Sampulna lauded the compliant LGUs saying, “We need the LGUs to help us in our fight to clean the environment.” Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has earlier warned LGU leaders of being slapped with criminal and administrative charges if they do not act towards the requirements of the solid waste management law. In Iloilo, the towns of Ajuy, Banate, Concepcion, Sara, and Sta. Barbara were among the 50 LGUs that were placed under investigation by the Environmental Ombudsman for failure to close or rehabilitate open dump sites. — Louine Hope Conserva

Jamming with Jae Joong

By Cecille Santillan-Visto
Contributor

Fan Meet
2017 Kim Jae Joong Asia Tour Fan Meeting in Manila
Smart Araneta Coliseum, QC, Nov. 30

KOREAN STAR Kim Jae Joong may be considered as one of the most versatile artists of his generation. He has a flourishing singing career — both as a soloist and as a member of the group, JYJ. As a singer, he has performed in sold-out concerts in world-class arenas in Korea, Japan, China, and other Asian countries. As an actor, he has starred in six drama series and has two films under his belt. As a recording artist, he has two full-length albums, WWW and No.X, on top of the album he released with JYJ and his former group, TVXQ.

It is this versatility that endeared him to his Filipino fans who finally had a chance to see him perform in Manila during a fan meeting at the Big Dome on Nov. 30.

The fan meeting is among Mr. Kim’s activities meant to touch base with his supporters following his discharge from two years of mandatory military service. The first of the series of worldwide fan meets was held in Seoul last October. Notably, tickets to the Seoul leg of his fan meeting tour sold out in just one minute.

“It’s been a long time but you guys are the same,” Mr. Kim, who debuted in 2003, told his fans.

The fan meeting was divided into two segments — the first had him playing games with fans, while the second half was devoted to a mini-concert.

In the first part, aside from the usual charades and Q&A with the fans, he also tried some Filipino food like papaitan and sisig, which he downed with local beer.

“San Miguel?” he asked the audience, visibly enjoying the brew, but he had to restrain himself from indulging in more as he still had to sing several numbers during the show. Mr. Kim was relaxed throughout, even gamely sharing with fans that he has been frequently visiting his dermatologist and at 31, he admitted in jest that he now easily loses stamina.

The Asia Popularity awardee at the 31st Golden Disc Awards also gave in to requests for him to dance to some Filipino novelty songs, such as the Sex Bomb’s “Spaghetti Song,” “Whoops Kirri” by Fruitcake, and Vhong Navarro’s “Pamela One.” And adapting the promotional video of Manhole — where the stars were shown dancing in their pajamas in Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul — some fans who had worn unique sleepwear were invited on stage to play charades with Mr. Kim. A fan in a revealing red nightie won the game hands down.

While Mr. Kim was unable to perform a Filipino song, he did hum some Filipino favorites like Side A’s “Forevermore” and Up Dharma Down’s “Tadhana” during the guess-the-song portion.

But the highlight of the day was Mr. Kim’s performance. Proving why he was named the Best Male Artist at the 2017 Yin Yue Tai V-Chart Awards, he rocked the stage with “Good Morning Night” and captured the audience with ballads like “Now is Good” and “Although We Met, We Will Meet Again” from his album, No.X. His talent and confidence on stage demonstrated why he is considered one of Korea’s hottest stars.

What made the show more engaging was the fact that most of those in the audience were long-time fans of Mr. Kim, JYJ, and TVXQ, prompting host Kim Elenzano-Kim to refer to them, to their delight, as “lumang tao” (old folk).

The show was comparatively short but sweet, with Jae Joong saying he will return soon, presumably for a full-length concert. For now, the fans have memories of their close encounter with him to savor until their next encounter.

Why the WTO Argentina Ministerial means nothing for the Philippines

The “bicycle theory of international trade” goes a little like this: think of trade as a bicycle; you keep peddling or you stop and if you keep peddling hard enough and get enough momentum, the rider (the government) can afford to step back once in a while just to keep minimum checks, but eventually the peddling has to keep going.

The theory was said to have been popularized by Fred Bergsten. Or Jagdish Bhagwati. Either way, it had been used to justify continued liberalization of trade despite possible burdens being suffered by poorer peoples as they absorb the dislocations that increased competition necessarily brings.

However, as Dani Rodrik points out, it is also being used by others to justify the continued freeing up of trade even though “further trade liberalization may not be an important priority for the world economy given how open it already is: you need to keep liberalizing, otherwise you risk giving up all the gains.”

Somehow, am reminded of the foregoing when thinking of the upcoming 10-13 December 2017 WTO Ministerial in Argentina. Much will be made of the meet, of the stakes for the global economy. But, in truth, does it really mean anything?

One immediate consideration is the lack of leadership with regard to international trade. I know some people eagerly look to China for that leadership but — short of something drastic occurring — it will not happen. Neither can the EU, plagued and confused as they are right now by their immigration and welfare policies, with the only intellectually stable country in terms of policy (the UK) opting out of the union.

No, at most, what the EU (or rather the exiting UK), along with Japan and South Korea, could do is serve as cheerleaders for trade while the United States makes up its mind. India (and perhaps Brazil) could continue in the role they’ve happily played so far: as ombudsman for the other big trading players.

Most of the opprobrium has been heaped on US president Donald Trump, for being “protectionist,” “isolationist,” or “anti-trade.” In truth, Mr. Trump simply verbalized what many Americans and what the US has always been generally: a domestically oriented country that just happens to see itself as a model for other countries. That it plays a role at all in the international scene is merely the accidental outflow of that latter belief.

Economic Policy Institute’s Jeff Faux confirms this: “The United States has always been a trading nation, but not a ‘free-trading’ nation. Until a quarter century ago trade policy — primarily the raising and lowering of tariffs — was an instrument of domestic economic development. As the US economy grew, so did its trade with the rest of the world. For the hundred years of America’s post — Civil War industrialization, America’s trade was in balance or in modest surplus, i.e., we paid for our imports with exports.”

The problem is thus not Mr. Trump, who has merely channeled the American ethos as to trade, but rather the hypocrisy of the cosmopolitan elite and of liberal politicians like former US president Barack Obama that (as Faux puts it) “cared more about its relationship with Wall Street and foreigners than with Americans whose lives were being wrecked by globalization.”

And Faux makes a significant point (citing Scott, Salas, and Campbell: Revisiting NAFTA: Still not Working for North America’s Workers, Economic Policy Institute Briefing Paper #173, September 2006): “Trade as a share of our economy was increasing way before NAFTA and will continue at a high level after TPP is officially rejected.”

Now consider the foregoing in relation to the upcoming Buenos Aires Ministerial. The 9th Ministerial in Bali did good, somewhat reviving sincere interest in trade and — more importantly — a tiny hope the Doha Round could go eventually get back on track. The 10th Ministerial in Nairobi quickly dashed any such notions, introducing new issues that are really more of a distraction and seemingly there to keep as many people to remain interested in the WTO.

The thing is that what one wants with regard to international trade — at this point in the WTO’s existence — is quality and not quantity of those interested in working with it.

So, instead of focusing on reviving the WTO’s primacy of place over that of regional trading blocs or free trade arrangements, one hears a lot of static regarding small and medium enterprises, gender equality, and even food security. All matters definitely taking away oxygen from the more crucial matters needed to be discussed at the Ministerial and are better off deliberated before domestic institutions of the individual members.

At this point, the US is right to examine its trade deficits or the discriminatory trade practices against it vis-à-vis individual countries, its unemployment levels, its growth, and competitiveness, rather than plunge itself into an international trade scene that is as confused as it has never been before.

And so should the Philippines.

 

Jemy Gatdula is a Senior Fellow of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations and a Philippine Judicial Academy law lecturer for constitutional philosophy and jurisprudence.

jemygatdula@yahoo.com

www.jemygatdula.blogspot.com

facebook.com/jemy.gatdula

Twitter @jemygatdula

Semirara sets P2-billion share buyback program

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) said its board in a special meeting on Thursday approved a buyback program of up to P2 billion worth of common shares.

The program aims to enhance shareholder value and to provide stockholders an opportunity to liquidate their investments, the Consunji-led company told the stock exchange.

SMPC said shares in the buyback program were based on the trading price at the open market through the trading facilities of the Philippine Stock Exchange beginning Dec. 8.

“The Corporation cannot accurately determine at this time its capital structure after the buy-back program since the actual number of shares to be repurchased will depend on the total buyback price of the shares,” it said.

Before the buyback program, SMPC’s capital structure is made up of 10 billion authorized capital stock, 4,261,145,720 issued shares, 4,261,145,720 outstanding shares and 3,463,570 treasury shares.

“The buyback is not an active and widespread solicitation, nor will it involve substantial number of shares, and will not adversely affect the Corporation’s prospective and existing development projects,” it added.

On Thursday, shares in SMPC surged 7.04% to close at P38 each.

In its trading recap for the day, RCBC Securities, Inc. said SMPC shares jumped “as investors turned optimistic on news that there is a split in the RCBC Securities added the listed firm’s buyback plan may have helped the stock’s rise. It said SMPC current market capitalization is at P151 billion.

Davao shifts gear on localized peace plan with NPA

THE DAVAO City Peace Committee (DC Peace) will no longer pursue localized peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA) following President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s official declaration of the armed group as terrorists. Instead, the DC Peace, which will be renamed as either DC Peace Dev or the Davao City Advisory Committee on Peace and Development, will implement community-based discussions to address concerns. “Definitely there will be no negotiations with the NPA leaders due to their designation as terrorist group,” lawyer Eliza E. Lapiña of the City Legal Office and spokesperson of DC Peace said in a press conference Thursday. “Before our function was to negotiate but now the mandate will be community based, with us going to the community to listen to them and discuss what they need,” she added. The committee will conduct a strategic planning today, Dec. 8, before their first consultation meeting with the community on the 20th. “I am saddened as a mayor because there were efforts from the city government to sit down and talk peace with them (NPA),” said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. “We acknowledge that the community has issues with regards government services so we will ask them what they need, problems, and the advisory committee will tell the city mayor’s office what to do about these issues,” she said. — Carmencita A.Carillo

Monetary Board sees robust manufacturing, spending driving growth

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez,
Senior Reporter

UPBEAT manufacturing activity coupled with increased government spending provide assurances that the Philippines’ growth momentum will be sustained, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in deciding to keep policy rates steady last month.

“High-frequency indicators supported the continued positive outlook for domestic demand,” read the minutes of the BSP’s Nov. 9 policy meeting. “Increased fiscal spending is likewise expected to boost economic activity and support the growth momentum.”

The policy-setting Monetary Board kept benchmark borrowing rates unchanged last month, citing manageable inflation and robust domestic activity which render current policy settings appropriate.

The central bank kept the key policy rate at 3%, with the interest rate corridor spread remaining at 2.5-3.5%. Reserve requirement ratios were also maintained.

In particular, the BSP took the view that factory output continues to be robust, as reflected in the strong Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) readings logged during recent months.

The seasonally adjusted Nikkei Philippines Manufacturing PMI picked up to 54.8 in November from 53.7 the previous month, the highest score so far this year amid production expansion and new orders. Factories also operated at near-full capacity, the BSP said.

A PMI reading above 50 suggests increased activity, while a score below that signals a decline. In particular, strong economic conditions, promotional activity and greater client demand sustained the rapid growth in product orders.

Meanwhile, the country’s budget gap widened ninefold in October as public spending surged to an 11-month high, Treasury data showed, with the year-to-date deficit settling at P234.9 billion, compared with a P216-billion gap in the same period in 2016.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.9% during the third quarter, beating market expectations as public spending surged. This brought the nine-month tally to 6.7%, close to the low end of the government’s 6.5-7.5% target band for 2017.

This year, the government is looking to spend P847.22 billion on public infrastructure projects, which will account for 5.3% of GDP. This forms part of the P8.44-trillion program until 2022, which will be supported by a mix of foreign grants, public-private partnerships, and government funding.

Economic managers expect growth to pick up in the coming quarters as more infrastructure projects are rolled out, with Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III betting on a “more riveting” pace during the last three months of the year as the Duterte administration embraces bigger investments.

By 2018, the government is targeting to expand the economy by 7-8% to keep the Philippines one of the fastest-growing in the region.

“[T]he outlook for domestic economic activity remained firm, supported by positive consumer and business sentiment and ample liquidity,” the BSP said.

Against this backdrop, price increases are expected to remain within target but are at risk of trending higher, the BSP said.

Higher taxes on goods as prescribed under the tax reform plan, coupled with petitions for transport fare and electricity rate increases, could hasten the pace of price movements, but could be offset by slower global economic growth.

Inflation has averaged 3.2% as of end-November after hitting a three-year peak at 3.5% in October to stay within expectations, and within the 2-4% target for the full year.

RP Blu Girls’ runner-up finish good for WBSC World Championships, Indonesia Asian Games in 2018

THE RP Blu Girls ended their campaign in the 11th Asian Women’s Softball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan with a second-place finish that was capped by a triple header against powerhouse teams Japan, China, and Chinese Taipei. This marks the first time in 45 years that the country has bagged the silver in the tournament.

“Nobody expected us to be in the top three, so it’s a big accomplishment already,” noted team coach Randy Dizer. “It shows that the Blu Girls can compete among the best in the world and with the preparation that the team is doing and with the support that we have been getting from Jean Henri Lhuillier, I know the team is ready.”

With their podium finish, the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Filipina softbelles have earned a slot in the 2018 WBSC Women’s World Softball Championship in Japan and the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, bringing them a step closer to their goal of being one of only six teams to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 17th-ranked Blu Girls faced world number 6 China in the semifinals after demolishing Hong Kong, 17-0. Against the Chinese, the Filipinas were down 3-1 at the bottom of the last inning when Fil-Am Danny Gilmore hit a 2-run home run to tie the game, 3-3, and extend it to extra inning.

The Philippines held China scoreless on the top of the 8th with perfect pitching from Anne Antolihao before Chelsea Suitos and Sky Ellazar teamed-up to bring Cheska Altomonte home for the come-from-behind win.

In the playoff match, the Philippines faced world number 9 Chinese Taipei for the right to face world number 1 Japan. The hometown team easily built a commanding 3-1 lead in the first 4 innings before the Blue Girls came back with four runs in the fifth, capped by a home run by Chelsea Suitos for a 5-1 advantage.

The Philippines kept Chinese Taipei scoreless until the end, arranging a championship match against Japan later in the day. But fatigue caught up with the Blu Girls who eventually succumbed to the world number 1 team as they settled for a runner-up finish.

5 firms qualify for next stage of Clark bidding

By Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

FIVE OF THE SEVEN groups that submitted bids for the Clark International Airport (CIA) Phase I terminal upgrade project have qualified for the next stage of the bidding process.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Thursday said the companies eligible to make financial bids are China State Construction Engineering Corp., China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., Sinohydro Corporation Limited, the joint venture of Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Infrastructure (Singapore) PTE Limited, and the consortium of China Machinery Engineering Corp. (CMFC) and Tokwing Construction Corp.

However, the consortium of DDT Konstract, Inc. and DABS, and R-II Builders, Inc. and Losberger were deemed ineligible due to due to noncompliance with the prescribed requirements of the project.

“They did not comply with the different sets of requirements prescribed, from legal, technical, and financial. For example, they cannot prove that they have the minimum experience [in constructing airports]. They were saying that they have experience but they did not have the supporting documents. They also should have the capacity to raise funds,” BCDA Vice-President for Business Development and Chairman of the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) told BusinessWorld during the opening of the technical documents on Thursday.

Among the qualification requirements are the completion of a total of P15 billion worth of related projects; design of an airport currently in operation; net worth of at least the cost of the project; and the capacity to raise loans, with the winning bidder putting up 20% equity.

Qualified bidders will move on the next phase, which is the opening and evaluation of financial documents, scheduled on Dec. 14. 

The BCDA targets to award the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Contract on Dec. 15. Groundbreaking for the project is targeted on Dec. 20.

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