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Dining In/Out (08/31/23)

Disney mooncake gift box for the Mooncake Fest

HONG KONG MX is poised to launch several new products, including the new Musang King Durian Molten Mooncake and an exclusive Disney mooncake gift box, just in time for the Mooncake Festival. The Musang King Durian Molten Mooncake has creamy 100% Musang King Durian pulp from naturally ripened fruits from Malaysia. Meanwhile, in celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary, Hong Kong MX offers an exclusive mooncake gift box featuring classic Disney characters. Inspired by a vintage vinyl record player, the music box is decorated with some of Disney’s most iconic characters and also plays the melody of “It’s a Small World.” The Disney gift box includes four Mickey Mouse-shaped White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes with Egg Yolk. This year Hong Kong MX also offers classic flavors for the more traditional palates, including its pioneering product, the Lava Custard Mooncake. In addition to the Lava Custard Mooncake gift box, other lava mooncake gift box options are also available, including Lava Duet Mooncake, Lava Quartet Mooncake, and Custard Duet Mooncake, all in the new artistic packaging. The Lava Mooncake Series comes in an array of flavors, including the classic Lava Custard Mooncake, Lava Caramel Macchiato Mooncake, Lava Chocolate Mooncake, and Lava Cheese Mooncake. Meanwhile, the signature best-selling White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Two Egg Yolks and Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Two Egg Yolks has a new look that includes mythical touches in its packaging. For this Mooncake Festival, Hong Kong MX has launched a variety of gift boxes that allow buyers to enjoy these classic flavors in whichever way they like — whether it be with reduced sugar or in an assortment of classic flavors which include Red Bean Paste, Lava Chocolate, and Lava Custard variants. Hong Kong MX mooncakes are available viaFacebook (Hong Kong MX Products Philippines); Instagram (@hkmxproductsph); TikTok |(@hkmxproductsph); the official website, www.doubledownimportexportinc.com; Lazada/Shopee (Hong Kong MX Products Phils); GrabFood (Hong Kong MX Bakery at multiple locations); Pickaroo/MetroMart (Hong Kong MX at multiple locations); or by calling 0917-137-2129 or 8635-0748. Hong Kong MX also has physical stores at SM Aura Premier, V-Mall Greenhills, SM Southmall, DoubleDragon Plaza, and SM Mall of Asia. For a limited time only, customer can collect free gifts for orders of P5,000 and above. Orders worth P10,000 and above get free delivery within Metro Manila.

1800 Cristalino tequila launched in Manila

THE NEWEST player in the premium tequila market is 1800 Cristalino, which was launched on Aug. 17 at Yes Please! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The tequila’s flavor is achieved by meticulously filtering an Añejo tequila through activated charcoal. This unique process gives 1800 Cristalino its fine and clear color with a full-bodied taste and a hint of fruity and floral notes. The tequila is available in all S&R Membership Shopping stores around Metro Manila and at online stores Boozy, The Booze Shop, and Singlemalt PH.

The Oriental holds motorcycle dining tour of Bataan

MOTORCYCLE aficionados can ride and dine in style and rediscover the countryside of Bataan province with the Explore Bataan promo of The Oriental Hotel and Resort in Mariveles. Riders can avail of the room rate promo of P3,888 for deluxe cellar and P4,888 for deluxe executive, which come with breakfast for two and a 10% discount at the Cocoon Restaurant and Forest Grill. They can also take a swim in the circular pool and get signature massages at the Asian-themed spa after a long ride. The Oriental’s partner tour operator, Aura Mosca has unique itineraries for guests, or customized tours which combine nature, adventure, culture, and cuisine. But for those who prefer the do-it-yourself mode, they can stop by the First Line of Defense Monument at the Layac Junction in Dinalupihan; the Bataan Tourism Center in Balanga City; the World War II Surrender Site inside the Balanga Elementary School; the City of Balanga Wetlands and Nature Park, the Dambana ng Kagitingan on top of Mt. Samat in Pila; Death March Km Zero, a memorial plaza in Mariveles; Five Fingers Cove; and the town of Morong, with its beach resorts and the conservation center for sea turtles. For more information, log on to www.bataan.theorientalhotels.com.

Tinapayan Festival offers healthy back-to-school snacks

TINAPAYAN Festival, a Manila-based best known for its soft and sweet bread, pastries, and cakes, is prepared for the school year kickoff with a wide array of healthy baked offerings, namely, their Agri-Pandesal products. These include its Squash Pandesal, crafted using real squash, and Carrot, Malunggay, Sweet Potato, and Potato Pandesal variants. These, along with its Classic Sandwich Bread, Cream Loaf (made with high protein flour, refined sugar, and powdered milk), Raisin Bread, and Wheat Bread are available at any of Tinapayan Festival’s branches. Tinapayan Festival also recently introduced two new healthy products to their lineup, Cheesy Monay and Milk Bread, which are also available in all five the branches across Metro Manila — Manila Zoo, SM North EDSA North Towers, Shoppesville Center in Greenhills, Riverbanks Mall in Marikina, and the main store on Dapitan St. corner Don Quijote, Sampaloc, Manila. For advanced bulk orders, drop by the main branch or call 8732-2188 or 0933-814-4912, or send an e-mail at sales@tinapayan@gmail.com. Tinapayan Festival is also available in GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Mang Inasal opens new stores in 2023

AS IT celebrates its 20th year, Mang Inasal continues to expand its store network nationwide. In the first half of 2023, seven new branches have opened: Biñan, Laguna; SM City Grand Central, Caloocan; Baler, Aurora; SM City Tuguegarao; WalterMart Caloocan; WalterMart Capas Tarlac; and Polomolok, South Cotabato. Among the Mang Inasal stores set to open in the rest of the year are those in Cavite, Quezon, Leyte, Samar, Quezon City, and Marikina.

Manulife IM launches ASEAN UITF

MANULIFE INVESTMENT Management and Trust Corp. (Manulife IM Philippines) on Wednesday launched an Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) unit investment trust fund (UITF) that will invest 70% of its net assets in equity-related securities of listed companies in the region.

The UITF, called the Manulife ASEAN Equity Feeder Fund, provides access to investment opportunities in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, for a minimum amount of P1,000 or $100, Manulife IM said in a statement on Wednesday.

The ASEAN Equity Feeder Fund will use “on-the-ground resources to uncover inefficiencies between company fundamentals and market perception,” it said.

“Our equity UITFs are suitable for aggressive investors looking to capture the long-term capital growth potential of professionally selected companies across the world,” Manulife IM Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Aira Gaspar said.

Interested investors may open a UITF account online through Manulife’s digital investment platform iFUNDS, contact a Manulife Wealth Specialist, or visit manulifeim.com.ph.

“Through the Manulife ASEAN Equity Feeder Fund, we’re bringing to investors easy access to ASEAN’s robust growth potential, driven by its growing working population, the digitalization of its resilient economy, and its evolving tourism story,” Ms. Gaspar said.

Manulife IM Philippines’ parent company Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phils.), Inc. recorded a premium income of P4.07 billion in the first quarter, data from the Insurance Commission showed. — AMCS

Kindly wait outside

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

IT DOESN’T HELP to hurry up a process that hasn’t quite reached its end point, whenever that may be. Even one with an appointment made two weeks ago to discuss career prospects may be told to kindly wait outside — the boss is still taking a nap. (Maybe you can just reset the meeting?)

Waiting frustrates the supplicant. He cannot just follow up with another patron to lower the boom on a reluctant, or even forgetful favor giver. (But I am supposed to be in his succession plan.)

The rule for one being told to wait is simple — don’t call them, they’ll call you. But what if they take their time? There is no use trying to pin down a schedule when a decision is likely, as one will only be given vague timelines like: when your granddaughter has grandchildren of her own.

The waiting period can be preordained, which doesn’t make it any easier to bear. In politics, for one, the delay of gratification is determined by an election schedule, even when the opening is appointive in nature. There are even times when an office seems vacant, but the occupant is designated to be just “on indefinite leave.” There’s the incumbent’s empty office with the files still not cleared away.

Here are some rules for waiting outside the loop.

Manage your expectations. You will hear from the grapevine that you are the frontrunner for the position you have been craving. You are at the top of a shortlist down to three. You may even be congratulated prematurely by people maybe expecting favors later. It’s best to temper your greed and act nonchalantly — I’m sure they are considering others, maybe even from the outside. You may even be prophetic.

Do intermediaries help shorten the waiting? It’s best to leave the process alone. Use of go-betweens can spook the process. The assigned broker may even add unsolicited comments like “this guy is really in a hurry and pressuring you to give him the position.” Such remarks can only reflect badly on your nonchalant posture (see above).

If you seem to have a lock on a position, it is best to keep quiet. For an appointive position in government, silence means not giving any comment on any issue of the day. Learn from the mistake of previous contenders who seem drawn, like moths to the flame, to any live microphone. Resist sending memos to those on top, wondering why there is no reaction or marginal notes back.

The best posture to take while waiting for that announcement is simply working hard in one’s present position, limiting comments and e-mails to one’s area of responsibility, and refraining from commenting on other subjects. When asked about plans should one get the coveted position, it’s best to just shrug and walk away. (Let’s have coffee next week.)

Names are always swirling around a vacant position. And if yours is not among the buzzed list, there’s no need to panic. A name from “left field” which has not even been mentioned before will be a surprise. It may not even be you.

Those waiting to be appointed to an important position can be allowed to fantasize about the desired position with its salary grade, perks (new hybrid car), and power. They tend to read into such things as the long gap between being called to meetings, the unexplained silence from the appointing authority, even the exclusion from an invitation to a birthday party.

The most important aspect of waiting has to do with patience. Only an expert in the game can practice restraint and let seemingly harmless opportunities for self-promotion go unexploited. Conversations with the powerful ones are off tangent. (Yes, I know that music. It’s Bach.)

Even the most astute player cannot calculate when the waiting will be over. When is the right time for taking the bull by the horns, forcing the issue, or simply writing off the possibility and submitting a letter of resignation? (Will I be requested to stay on?)

There’s no use checking the calendar too often. Just kill time and read War and Peace. Maybe you’ll even reach almost halfway to page 765… and appreciate Tolstoy’s portrayal of Napoleon as a bumbling buffoon foiled by the Russian winter. You can surely relate to such epic frustrations. And then your cell phone buzzes… with another shared joke.

 

Tony Samson is chairman and CEO of TOUCH xda

ar.samson@yahoo.com

Domestic trade in the regions: Which have (un)favorable trade balances?

THE DOMESTIC TRADE in goods declined by an annual 36.2% in the second quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday. Read the full story.

How PSEi member stocks performed — August 30, 2023

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

Peso inches up on dovish Fed hopes

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO inched up against the dollar on Wednesday amid expectations of a pause by the US Federal Reserve at its September meeting after a soft US jobs report.

The local currency closed at P56.725 versus the dollar on Wednesday, rising by 2.50 centavos from Tuesday’s P56.75 finish, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ website showed.

The local unit opened Wednesday’s session slightly stronger at P56.68 per dollar. Its intraday best was at P56.60, while its weakest showing was at P56.79 against the greenback.

Dollars traded went down to $1.23 billion on Wednesday from $1.28 billion on Tuesday.

“The peso strengthened as the weaker US job openings and consumer confidence reports tempered market views of a more hawkish US policy stance,” a trader said in an e-mail.

US job openings dropped to a near two-and-a-half-year low last month amid a slowing labor market, which fanned bets that the Fed would keep borrowing costs steady in September.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey released on Tuesday showed job openings dropped by 338,000 to 8.827 million on the last day of July, the lowest since March 2021.

Meanwhile, a survey from the Conference Board showed consumers’ perceptions of the labor market cooled in August.

The US central bank hiked borrowing costs by 25 basis points (bps) last month, bringing the fed funds rate to a range between 5.25% and 5.5%.

It has raised rates by a cumulative 525 bps since it began its tightening cycle in March last year.

The Fed will hold its next policy meeting on Sept. 19-20.

The peso was also supported by a weaker dollar following the release of weak US data, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

For Thursday, the trader said the peso could appreciate further ahead of likely softer US private payrolls data.

The trader sees the peso moving between P56.55 and P56.80 per dollar on Thursday, while Mr. Ricafort sees it ranging from P56.60 to P56.80. — AMCS

PSEi climbs as soft US data boost Fed pause bets

REUTERS

PHILIPPINE SHARES climbed on Wednesday following the release of soft US economic data, which could lead the US Federal Reserve to pause its tightening cycle again next month.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went up by 70.29 points or 1.12% to close at 6,295.29 on Wednesday, while the broader all shares index rose by 27.57 points or 0.82% to end at 3,382.19.

“The PSEi continued to climb today as sentiment found a lift from the lower-than-expected US job openings and consumer confidence, reinforcing prospects of a tightening pause from the US Fed at their September meeting,” China Bank Securities Corp. Research Director Rastine Mackie D. Mercado said in an e-mail on Wednesday.

“Sentiment was buoyed by the bigger than expected drop in US job openings and consumer confidence, with investors speculating that this could ease the pressure on the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates,” China Bank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet likewise said in a Viber message.

US job openings dropped to a near two-and-a-half-year low last month amid a slowing labor market, which fanned bets that the Fed would keep borrowing costs steady in September.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey released on Tuesday showed job openings dropped by 338,000 to 8.827 million on the last day of July, the lowest since March 2021.

Meanwhile, a survey from the Conference Board showed consumers’ perceptions of the labor market cooled in August.

“Despite upbeat price action over the past two trading days, we remain wary of a possible uptick in volatility and selling pressure [on Thursday] given the upcoming effectivity date of the MSCI rebalancing (Sept. 1), and likely profit taking following the oversold rally,” Mr. Mercado said.

“The PSEi may try to move above 6,300 as part of the market’s current rebound from oversold conditions, but selling pressure is expected to build as we approach the major resistance at 6,375,” Mr. Colet added.

Most sectoral indices rose on Wednesday, except for property, which dropped by 0.10 point to 2,598.27.

Meanwhile, holding firms went up by 136.22 points or 2.32% to 5,998.92; industrials increased by 107.68 points or 1.23% to 8,858.97; financials jumped by 8.20 points or 0.44% to 1,855.93; mining and oil climbed by 33.51 points or 0.33% to 10,082.30; and services rose by 2.58 points or 0.16% to 1,532.27.

Value turnover went down to P3.97 billion on Wednesday with 672.71 million shares changing hands from the P5.63 billion with 395.06 million issues seen on Tuesday.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 90 to 82, while 62 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling went up to P375.70 million on Wednesday from P219.17 million on Tuesday.

For the rest of the week, Mr. Mercado put the PSEi’s support at 6,150 and resistance at 6,370. — S.J. Talavera

Palace approves three-year plan to upgrade food logistics network

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has approved a three-year plan to upgrade the food distribution network, saying that the logistics industry remains hampered by the lingering impact of the pandemic.

The Three-Year Food Logistics Action Agenda seeks to “modernize” the food distribution system, reduce transport and logistics costs, increase investment in logistics infrastructure like transport and storage facilities, and address “other supply chain gaps,” the Palace said in a statement.

It said the plan also seeks to deter hoarding and smuggling, as well as food imports that are not immediately moved from the ports to the markets.

The plan calls for increased monitoring of warehouses and cold storage facilities and harnessing information and communications technology “to improve logistics performance.”

“The action plan’s general objective is to ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food, and that consumers reliably get the right product at the right time,” the Palace said.

It said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is currently seeking to integrate food terminals into the logistics network. It is currently building additional food hubs in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

“By integrating food terminals, the supply chain from producers to consumers could be shortened, with standardized logistical processes and transportation system directed towards specific destinations,” the Palace said.

The food hubs would operate as central command centers to effectively maintain “balance between demand and supply.”

The Philippines ranked 60th of the 160 countries in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index in 2018.

Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said in a statement that the DTI is endorsing logistics-related measures for inclusion in the priority legislative agenda, including a proposed International Maritime Competitiveness Act that would task the Maritime Industry Authority with regulating shipping lines and keeping shipping charges in check. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

BCDA sees land sales of up to P1.45T if bill approved, may help fund military pensions

BCDA.GOV.PH

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said on Wednesday that it could generate up to P1.45 trillion from land sales if House Bill (HB) 8505 is signed into law.

“The BCDA estimates that this provision will free up 1,856 hectares of land, which can potentially generate P451.26 billion up to P1.45 trillion in revenue,” the BCDA said in a statement. It added that the proceeds could go towards funding military pensions.

HB 8505 will allow the conversion of 5% of BCDA economic zones to freehold status from leasehold, freeing up the land to be sold.

The BCDA expects the prospective buyers to be residential developers, who will then offer homes for sale.

On Aug. 22, the House of Representatives approved on third reading HB 8505, which is a proposed amendment to Republic Act No. 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992. 

BCDA said HB 8505 will help it address obstacles to the full development of land it controls.

“The BCDA (needs) to make big, bold moves to adapt to changes (in the economic landscape) and deliver the socioeconomic transformation we envision for our development areas in Clark,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said.

Mr. Bingcang said that the bill will also extend the BCDA’s corporate term by another 50 years. The BCDA currently has a remaining corporate life of 19 years.

“This extension will increase the confidence of investors when transacting with the BCDA, as well as allow the BCDA to continue its support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program,” it said.

The bill will also increase the authorized capital of BCDA to P400 billion from P100 billion. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

IRR on streamlined telecom permits expected next month

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Executive Order (EO) No. 32, which calls for the telecommunications permit process to be streamlined, are due for launch by the third week of September, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said on Wednesday. 

“The IRR of EO 32 is required to be formulated by the technical working group (TWG) within 60 working days upon the EO’s effectivity on July 5,” ARTA said in a statement.

ARTA is a member of the TWG.

“The TWG members expressed optimism that… the IRR will be finalized ahead of schedule and submitted to the Office of the President,” it added.

On July 4, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. issued EO 32, also known as “Streamlining the Permitting Process for the Construction of Telecommunications (telco) and Internet Infrastructure,” which is intended to accelerate the Philippines’ digital transformation.

On Aug. 17, ARTA met with the other members of the TWG and consulted with stakeholders to finalize the IRR.

ARTA said that the TWG members tasked to complete the draft are the National Telecommunications Commission and the Departments of Public Works and Highways, and Interior and Local Government.

“The IRR provides the specific procedures to be followed by all regulating government agencies and local government units and outlines the requirements that must be complied in applications for constructing, operating, repairing, and maintaining telco and internet infrastructures,” it said.

“This is not just about making it easier to build telco infrastructure. It is about creating an environment where communication knows no bounds and technological progress becomes an accessible reality for all,” ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez said in a statement.

In Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index in July, the Philippines ranked 89th with a mobile internet speed measurement of 25.88 megabytes per second (mbps), four places lower than its rank last month and last year. 

In fixed broadband, the Philippines ranked 49th with a median speed of 91.56 mbps, two places down from a month and a year earlier. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL GDP target still within reach — Market Call

STOCK PHOTO | Image Dmitry Berdnyk from Unsplash

THE economy will likely hit the lower end of the government’s growth target this year, driven by improved employment numbers, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said.

“We think the economy has sufficient vitality to still meet the lower part of the government’s target of 6-7%. The growth in employment in the second quarter should feed into second-half income and spending,” FMIC and UA&P said in their latest Market Call.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.3% in the second quarter, well below the 6.4% posted in the first quarter and the 7.5% from a year earlier. It was also the weakest GDP reading in over two years.

GDP growth averaged 5.3% in the first half, falling behind the pace on the 6-7% full-year target.

“Despite the slowdown in GDP expansion to 4.3% year on year in the second quarter, other key economic data do not preclude full-year growth of 6-7%. Sustained job growth, especially in manufacturing, construction, accommodation and food services and other services, and a slight uptick in exports, with an added boost from the peso depreciation in August, provide some glow for the economy,” it added.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the unemployment rate averaged 4.6% in the first half, lower than the year-earlier reading of 6.1%.

FMIC and UA&P said growth in the second half will need to be driven by “robust gains” in employment and tourism, accompanied by tame inflation.

Government spending is also expected to accelerate in the second half, it added.

“National Government expenditures should accelerate in the second half as it ramps up infrastructure spending, with the Metro Manila subway and North-South Commuter Rail projects leading the way,” it added.

The lower-than-expected growth reading in the second quarter had been partly driven by a decline in government spending, which contracted by 7.1%.

“There remains more work to be done in the second half before we achieve the GDP growth target of 6-7% for the year,” the report added.

Meanwhile, FMIC and UA&P also revised upward their inflation forecast.

“Barring a possible transitory jump in rice and oil prices, inflation continues to move southward. Given these risks, we have upped our full year inflation forecast back to 5.7% from 5.5% last month,” it said.

Inflation eased to 4.7% in July. However, this was the 16th straight month of inflation exceeding the central bank’s 2-4% target.

Inflation averaged 6.8% in the first seven months, still above the central bank’s revised 5.6% full-year forecast.

“While inflation will likely spike in August and September due to higher oil and food prices, we think this will prove transitory as the supply response to high prices should prove adequate to bring year-on-year inflation to BSP’s 2-4% (target) by the fourth quarter,” it added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Coal-fired capacity for retirement in clean-energy shift seen at 5,000 MW

PEXELS-PIXABAY

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said its plan to retire or repurpose coal-fired power plants will involve up to 5,000 megawatts (MW) as the Philippines shifts to cleaner forms of energy.

“There will be retirement of coal capacity (of) around 4,000 or 5,000 megawatts or even more under the Clean-Energy Scenario,” Michael O. Sinocruz, DoE director for Energy Policy and Planning Bureau, said at a virtual public consultation on Wednesday.

“We are going to come up with an investment plan for the retirement and repurposing of (coal-fired power plants). And again, it is not only the Philippines that looking at the repurposing of coal. Even those countries that have RE (renewable energy) are also looking at the repurposing of coal,” he added.

The DoE estimates current coal power capacity at 12,473 MW, with dependable capacity at 11,394 MW, as of June.

This accounts for 44.1% and 46.1% of the Philippines’ energy capacity, respectively.

The Clean-Energy Scenario of the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2020-2040 aims to increase the share of RE in the power mix to 35% by 2030, then to 50% by 2040.

Separately, Gerry C. Arances, convenor of the Power for People Coalition, said in a statement on Wednesday that his organization remains opposed to the major role played by gas in the PEP’s clean-energy transition.

“The continued presence of gas in the PEP does not achieve any of the goals of the DoE under the law. Gas is expensive, which will not benefit consumers. Gas is imported, meaning the supply will be at the mercy of the international market… Gas, in short, is the worst energy source that the DoE can rely on to fulfill its duties,” he said.

Mr. Arances said the DoE should release “its assumptions for the computation of electricity prices in the interest of transparency and to see if these assumptions are based on science and policy.”

Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development Deputy Executive Director Avril de Torres urged the DoE to heed the results of consultations, which demonstrated significant opposition to the transition plans.

“As the DoE moves forward to next rounds of consultations with stakeholders in Mindanao and Visayas, we urge it to learn from the feedback it received from an overwhelming number of participants raising alarm over these matters,” she said in a separate statement. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

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