TWENTY-FIVE Filipino artists have come together for a special song called “Bayaning Tunay” which is dedicated to frontliners. The song is performed by Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera, Lani Misalucha, Noel Cabangon, Piolo Pascual, Bamboo, Ely Buendia, Rico Blanco, Erik Santos, Christian Bautista, Jed Madela, Nyoy Volante, Angeline Quinto, KZ Tandingan, Morissette, Klarisse, Janine Berdin, Jason Dy, Sam Concepcion, and Lara Maigue. “The cases of COVID-19 are going down. Praise the Lord! Let us not forget the unsung heroes who helped us during the most difficult moments in our hospitals during the pandemic — the frontliners,” Ogie Alcasid, the song’s composer said in a statement. Released by Star Music, “Bayaning Tunay” is arranged by Homer Flores, mastered by Tim Recla, and overall produced by ABS-CBN Music creative director Jonathan Manalo, with Ogie and Gary V as production consultants. The song available on music streaming services worldwide.
Osabel isThe Clash Season 4Grand Champion
ILIGAN’S Mariane Osabel was named The Clash 2021 Grand Champion during The Final Clash held last Dec. 19. Her winning song was Harish Joya’s “Bakit Mahal Pa Rin Kita,” besting Pampanga’s Vilmark Viray who performed Christian Paul Rosa’s “Umuwi Ka Na” —both original compositions are from The Clash songwriting challenge. As Grand Champion, Osabel will receive prizes worth over P4 million, including P1 million in cash, a house and lot, and an exclusive management contract with GMA-7.
Netflix releasesThe Witcher: Blood Originteaser
LEARN the untold history of the Continent with The Witcher: Blood Origin, a new prequel series set in a world 1,200 years before the events of The Witcher. The six-part prequel series will explore the creation of the first prototype Witcher, and the events that lead to the pivotal “Conjunction of the Spheres,” when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged. The prequel is created by Declan De Barra, and directed by Sarah O’Gorman, and Vicky Jewson. It stars Sophia Brown, Laurence O’Fuarain, Michelle Yeoh, Mirren Mack, Lenny Henry, Jacob Collins Levy, Lizzie Annis, Huw Novelli, Francesca Mills, Amy Murray, Nathaniel Curtis, Zach Wyatt, and Dylan Moran. The Witcher: Blood Origin will be released in 2022. Meanwhile, The Witcher Season 2 is available to stream now.
THE RESTORATION of power, water, and telecommunications services in business districts damaged by typhoon Odette should be priorities in the rehabilitation effort, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said.
“Yes, definitely that’s top of the agenda. Damage to transmission lines was severe and it will take days or weeks, but the government and private operators are working 24/7 to restore power as early as possible, and bring food and water to affected areas on a sustained basis,” Mr. Lopez said in a phone message to BusinessWorld late Wednesday.
He was asked to comment on the Cebu IT-BPM Organization’s (CIB.O) suggestion that the government “allocate attention that is more focused on the business districts” so that businesses, including information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) companies, can resume operations immediately “while the rest of the province is being fixed.”
“The President and some of us in the Cabinet have been visiting the affected areas to have first-hand appreciation of the problems and to bring relief and solutions,” Mr. Lopez said.
“From the latest reports I heard from Sec. Cusi (Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi), they have tripled their efforts to restore power and it is partially getting back,” he added.
CIB.O President Exuperto P. Cabataña told BusinessWorld in a phone interview Wednesday that 80% of the IT-BPM companies in Cebu were down.
“The houses have no power and if there’s no power, even if there’s signal, they cannot communicate or use the internet,” he said.
In a statement Thursday, the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said the IT-BPM companies’ priority this time “is to get every employee accounted for and kept safe amid the ongoing chaos in the hard-hit areas.”
“Business continuity plans have also been activated in response to the disruption caused by the typhoon,” IBPAP President and Chief Executive Officer Jack Madrid said.
“IBPAP has been in regular contact with its members who have operations in the Visayas and Mindanao. Their primary concerns reflect that of the general population — food and water, fuel and power supply, stable connection, and shelter,” he added.
IBPAP, he noted, has assisted members in finding hotel accommodations and in one case, chartering a plane for the delivery of relief goods.
“IBPAP has also been leading a donation drive together with its subsector organizations.”
THE PHILIPPINE Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) said it is setting aside around P828 million for potential payouts to farmers and fisherfolk in storm-hit provinces.
In a statement Thursday, the PCIC estimated the number of insured farmers and fisherfolk at around 79,217 in the provinces hit by typhoon Odette (international name: Odette), most of them from the Visayas.
The agricultural damage caused by the typhoon has been estimated at P3.1 billion so far, with the volume of lost production at 90,316 metric tons (MT), according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Crops lost were mainly rice, corn and high-value crops (HVC) across 63,695 hectares in 28 provinces and six regions. Other losses include livestock and non-crop and fisheries assets, such as small boats, the PCIC said.
HVCs include cacao, okra, ampalaya (bitter gourd), red and white onion, and other assorted vegetables.
The DA reported that rice sustained the greatest damage, with P1.7 billion worth of damage. Corn accounted for P82.2 million, while the HVC tally was P20.7 million.
Damage to rice took place over 62,332 hectares corn 2,751 hectares and HVCs 349 hectares.
The fisheries industry is estimated to have suffered P1.3 billion in damage, affecting around 5,887 fisherfolk.
Central Visayas suffered the most damage among regions at an estimated P464.57 million, followed by Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas at P173.12 million and P90.16 million, respectively, according to the PCIC.
The DA also reported damage incurred by agricultural infrastructure, machinery, and other farm property.
The PCIC said in its statement that it will ensure “quick payment for all damage claims, especially in times of widespread calamity.”
Insured farmers and fishermen can now process documents within 20 working days, compared to the previous 60 days required by law.
The DA will also be providing P1 billion worth of assistance to affected areas, along with P148 million worth of rice seed, P57.6 million worth of corn seed, and P44.6 million worth of assorted vegetables, among others. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
DAMAGE sustained by electric cooperatives from typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) is now estimated at P1.12 billion, about triple the previous estimate, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said Thursday.
The initial estimate was P373.12 million. The NEA said the latest estimate covers 11 cooperatives as of late Wednesday.
The agency said 74 cooperatives reported some sort of damage resulting from the storm, affecting 3.65 million households.
The NEA still needs to restore power to 236 of the 936 municipalities in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The National Power Corp. (NPC) reported an estimated P19.34 million worth of damage to power plants in the Visayas and Mindanao.
NPC Energy Services Department Manager Homer S. Galang said during a briefing that P8.45 million represents major damage, while P10.89 million is the estimate for facilities completely destroyed.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Thursday issued a memorandum on the suspension of the biofuel blending requirement for gasoline and diesel fuels distributed in Bohol to ensure the continuous supply of petroleum products to the province.
In July, the Department of Energy (DoE) revised the rules on biofuels accreditation to improve the enforcement of the blending requirement. Biofuel refiners and importers must inform the DoE when they are due to sell locally produced biofuel or import ethanol into the market.
The Philippines requires the blending of 10% bioethanol with all gasoline products sold on the domestic market as required by the Biofuels Act of 2006.
The temporary waiver of the rules in Bohol is expected to lower pump prices.
“All oil companies are still required to ensure their petroleum fuels meet the minimum quality requirement necessary for the safe operation of vehicles,” according to the memorandum.
Bohol Governor Arthur C. Yap this week appealed to the Energy department to triple the volume of petroleum products to be sent to the province amid long lines at fuel stations. — Marielle C. Lucenio
THE NATIONAL Irrigation Administration (NIA) said it transferred 60% of a P33.75 billion irrigation and power project to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM).
The Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) will be a trans-basin tunnel across the Caraballo Mountain range with a capacity of 80 cubic meters per second (m3/s) diverting water to the Pantabangan Reservoir.
The project will also include two diversion weirs in the Casecnan and Taan Rivers in Nueva Vizcaya, where access roads will connect local and provincial networks.
Under the agreement, PSALM will have the authority to operate, manage, and maintain CMIPP’s facilities, such as weather stations and access roads, until its eventual privatization.
Both entities are responsible for maintaining the facility, but PSALM will solely be responsible for selling, trading and allocating the net energy generated to its customers and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) until privatization is complete.
Both parties will share revenue and expenses according to their ownership stakes. — Lucia Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said they have agreed to jointly sponsor a program to supply food to detainees in Tarlac.
The program, known as the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP), will work with four agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in Tarlac to deliver agricultural products to the BJMP, which will serve as an institutional buyer.
“The DAR will assist and empower the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and their ARBOs to increase their production and engagement in agri-based and related enterprises,” DAR provincial officer Jocelyn O. Ramones said.
The program will assure ARBOs of a steady market, with the BJMP making regular purchases of vegetables and eggs to feed persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
“The project has a two-way benefit, both for the farmers, for them to get better returns of their investment, and for the PDL consumers, who will have access to better-quality food products,” she added.
Ms. Ramones said the DAR hopes to explore more institutional markets, like government hospitals and military camps, in order to forge marketing agreements in support of ARBO products.
The EPAHP is a program of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger, which hopes to provide food security and nutrition to the poor, enhance agricultural production, and establish sustainable agriculture by 2030.
The ARBOs involved are Ginintuang BUTIL Farmers Association in San Juan de Mata, Tarlac City; Bacabac Farmers Producers Cooperative in Bacabac, Camiling; San Sotero PMPC in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac and San Agustin Agrarian Reform Farmers Association in Victoria, Tarlac. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
CHINA’S reaffirmation of a long-term goal to be almost entirely self-sufficient in pork production means it will keep scooping up global grain supplies to feed the world’s largest pig herd.
The country, which consumes half of the world’s pork, will maintain a target to produce 95% of the protein at home through 2025. It wants to be self sufficient in poultry and egg, 85% for beef and mutton, and 70% for dairy, the agriculture ministry said, adding that they form part of China’s food security goals.
The targets will likely bolster overseas purchases of soybeans and feed grains needed to fatten hogs, cattle and poultry. China is already the top importer of soybeans and corn, and has purchased unprecedented amounts in the past two years to feed a hog herd recovering from African swine fever. The buying binge sparked a global price rally as investors were also worried about supply.
“Imports of feed grain are likely to remain high for the foreseeable future as China begins to prioritize domestic production of meat and dairy,” said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder and market research director of Sitonia Consulting, a China-based agriculture information service provider.
The self-sufficiency goals, which were flagged since 2020 at least, come as the deadly African swine fever outbreak about three years ago destroyed roughly half of China’s hog population and spurred a surge in meat imports and record pork prices. It accelerated a push to modernize hog production and cut costs.
Today the national herd has recovered to a six-year high and is 17% bigger than before the disease struck. Futures in Dalian are down about 50% this year, underscoring the boom-bust cycle China’s pig farming industry is notorious for.
The self-sufficiency targets are part of a series of measures to ensure stable meat supplies and prices. The ministry said China’s consumption of livestock products will continue to grow but there will be gaps in feed grain supply and demand. It also noted that China is “heavily reliant” on imports for soybeans. — Bloomberg
SALARY increases in Indonesia are on track to rebound to pre-pandemic levels next year as the economy recovers and employers beef up their workforce, a new survey showed.
Median pay hikes in Southeast Asia’s largest economy are forecast to hit 6.5% in 2022, well above the 5.3% registered this year, but still slightly under the 6.9% in 2019, according to a survey of 533 organizations conducted by human resources firm Mercer. Indonesia’s results also beat the Asia-Pacific average of 5.4%.
“Employment recovery is gathering pace with the reopening of economic and social activities, and the future for Indonesia’s job market looks bright,” said Yosef Budiman, Mercer career products manager in Jakarta. “Companies are in a better position to hire while employees have more options when they consider switching jobs in this climate.”
High-tech and Internet companies in Indonesia will offer the highest median salary increases in 2022 at 7.3% due to the high industry demand and stiff competition for skilled labor in the field, Mercer said. The chemical and life sciences sectors are eyeing pay hikes of 7% each, followed by the consumer goods sector at 6.5%.
Mining and related services are likely to maintain their pay hikes next year, but may offer the highest payout of variable bonuses of 3.6 months, the survey showed. Indonesian employers paid out about 2.3 months’ worth of bonuses in 2021. — Bloomberg
COVID-19 treatment pill MOLNARZ® of biopharmaceutical firm MSD
THE PHILIPPINE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the antiviral pill molnupiravir for at-risk adult coronavirus patients, and inoculating children aged 5 to 11 with the Pfizer vaccine.
FDA Director General Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said in a news briefing on Thursday that the emergency use authorization was granted to the COVID-19 treatment pill under the brand name MOLNARZ® by a licensee of biopharmaceutical firm MSD, or known as Merck in the United States and Canada.
Mr. Domingo said several other MSD licensees have pending emergency use applications, some of which are already being dispensed in hospitals under a Compassionate Special Permit.
Molnupiravir, used for the treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, may only be given to patients 18 years old and above with “risk factors for developing severe illness” such as senior citizens and those with comorbidities, the FDA official said.
PEDIATRIC VACCINATION Mr. Domingo also announced the approval of the use of Pfizer vaccines, specifically Tozinameran and Comirnaty, for 5 to 11 year olds.
“Upon review of technical documents and evaluation of the US FDA recommendations, the data submitted is sufficient for the EUA approval,” he said, noting the use of the Pfizer shots in the US, European countries, and Canada.
“It is reasonable to believe that the vaccine may be effective to prevent COVID-19 and the benefits of the vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks,” he added. The possible side effects of the vaccine are light fever or slight pain around the injected area.
The Philippines started pediatric vaccination among 12 to 17 year olds in mid-October.
The Pfizer vaccine, Mr. Domingo said, has an above 90% efficacy rate for children. He emphasized that the dosage and concentration of the vaccine will be lower compared to shots used for those 12 and above.
“They will have to order and procure this separately,” he said, referring to the Department of Health.
Procurement will likely start by January next year, he added.
Meanwhile, 6.4 million jabs were administered during the second round of the national vaccination program held Dec. 15 to 22, short of the seven million target as some areas in the path of typhoon Odette cancelled inoculation activities or still unable to send reports, according to the DoH.
In the same news briefing Thursday, Kezia Lorraine Rosario from the DoH’s National Vaccination Operations Center said they still expect the number to increase in the next few days as many areas are unable to submit their complete data due to communication service problems after the typhoon.
She also reported that booster vaccinations rose by about 8,000 from the average 40,000 during the Bayanihan, Bakunahan II after health authorities shortened the interval for top-up shots against COVID-19 earlier this week.
“Local government units are still adapting to the change of directions and are also preparing for the roll-out of booster doses,” she said, noting that the process will likely speed up in the following days.
The DoH earlier said there are around 19.37 million people eligible for boosters. Of these, around 1.2 million already received their top-up shots.
Mr. Domingo reiterated that only adults aged 18 years and above are currently allowed to take the third dose.
Ms. Rosario assured that the country has adequate vaccine supply of different brands for both the first and second dose, as well as the booster shots.
“We will try to allocate more vaccines which allow heterologous combinations,” she added.
The country has been receiving a steady delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, including those purchased by the national government, private sector, local governments, and donations from different countries.
On Thursday, Germany announced that it has sent its fifth batch of vaccine donations to the Philippines, consisting of 1,531,000 more doses of Moderna vaccines from the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator or COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access facility.
The country has received a total of 8,786,600 Moderna vaccines from Germany, which also previously donated 1,638,100 AstraZeneca doses.
The vaccine donation arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, received by German Embassy Manila Economic Counselor Georg Maue and representatives from the health department and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
Ms. Rosario said the Philippine government at the national and local levels are working to ensure equitable distribution of vaccine supply.
The government is targeting to inoculate at least 54 million Filipinos by yearend. There were 46.4 million doses administered as of Wednesday.
CASE TALLY The DoH on Thursday reported 288 coronavirus infections, bringing the total to 2.84 million.
The death toll from the coronavirus reached 50,981 after 65 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 270 to 2.78 million, it said in a bulletin.
There were 9,251 active cases, 480 of which did not show symptoms, 3,204 were mild, 3,393 were moderate, 1,797 were severe, and 377 were critical.
The agency said 84% of the reported cases occurred from Dec. 10 to 23. The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were Metro Manila with 63, Western Visayas with 38, and Calabarzon with 27.
It said 3% of the reported deaths occurred in December, 9% in November, 22% in October, 48% in September, 6% in August, 2% in July, 5% in June, 5% in May, and 2% in April.
The DoH said two duplicates, which were recoveries, were removed from the tally. The agency said 167 patients had tested negative and were removed from the tally and reclassified as recoveries.
It added that 60 recoveries were relisted as deaths. Two laboratories did not operate on Dec. 21, while 11 laboratories did not submit data.
The agency said 19% of intensive care units in the Philippines were occupied, while the rate for Metro Manila was 20%. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
THE FINANCE department has directed the revenue office to speed up the processing of tax exemptions for imported relief goods intended for areas devastated by typhoon Rai, locally named Odette.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III ordered the Bureau of Internal Revenue to work in shifts to process tax exemptions 24 hours a day so it could quickly release donated goods from foreign governments and international organizations.
Mr. Dominguez, in a Dec. 21 letter to President Rodrigo R. Duterte, said the department is ready to process applications to grant tax exemptions for these goods.
The Department of Finance (DoF), in a press release on Thursday, said it also plans to send guidelines on tax exemptions to the Office of the President and the public.
Mr. Duterte on Tuesday declared a state of calamity in six regions affected by the typhoon to speed up aid deliveries and relief efforts.
These are: Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Northern Mindanao and Caraga.
Government agencies that may apply for the tax exemptions include the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, and the Office of Civil Defense.
Local government units and government-accredited private and non-government organizations may also apply.
Relief goods that may be tax exempt include food, medicine, equipment and materials for shelter, and vehicles.
These goods must be donated or leased to government institutions and accredited private organizations either for free distribution to communities affected by the typhoon or for use during rescue operations in disaster-affected areas.
The DoF has launched an online registration process for tax exemption applications.
The Customs Modernization and Tariff Act or Republic Act No.10863 exempts from duties and taxes relief consignment goods imported during a state of calamity and intended for the areas and population affected by the calamity.
Earlier this week, the Customs bureau has also ordered ports nationwide to set up one-stop shops that will facilitate the speedy processing and release of goods intended for typhoon survivors.
“The OSS shall be available 24 hours and seven days a week (24/7). It shall be responsible for coordinating with other concerned government agencies in the processing of donated relief goods to facilitate its immediate release,” the bureau said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Foreign Affairs department has also organized a national OSS to handle all concerns relating to donations.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, the President’s acting spokesperson, on Thursday thanked all sectors for initiatives to help in the emergency response.
“We again thank all generous allies in the international community, development partners, organizations, families, and individuals for the outpouring of support and compassion to our people,” said Mr. Nograles.
“We also assure our kababayans that your government continues to work double-time in its relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts to aid displaced families in hard-hit areas as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the most devastating typhoon to hit our country this year,” he added. — Jenina P. Ibañez with a report from Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
