PBA all-out in backing Gilas Pilipinas schedule

March 3, 2022 | 12:01 am

marcial — PBA COMMISSIONER WILLIE MARCIAL — PBA IMAGES

ASIDE from manpower, Gilas Pilipinas seeks to get a lift from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in terms of schedule leeway as it gears up for a hectic calendar running up until its FIBA World Cup (WC) hosting in 2023.

Gilas team manager Butch Antonio said the team has laid out its full calendar to the PBA with hopes of meshing up with the league’s schedule before trooping to at least four major tournaments.

“The PBA is very much supportive of the program that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has put forth. We sort of synchronized schedules. We submitted a calendar of events and the PBA looked into it,” said Mr. Antonio in the SEAG Network after a meeting with the PBA.

“There will be more windows of the WC qualifiers, Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Asia Cup. Then the PBA will have their conferences and the EASL participation, so all of this have to come together perfectly so we can prepare for the World Cup,” he added.

Gilas has also submitted a wish list of 30 players bannered by majority of pro standouts for its expanded pool on top of the synchronized schedule proposal — all of which must gain nod from the PBA Board of Governors.

“That’s where we are with the PBA. All of this is towards the preparations to come up with the best team possible for the World Cup,” added Mr. Antonio, who was joined by Gilas mentor Chot Reyes in the PBA discussion.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, for his part, has told The STAR the league’s willingness to give an all-out backing to Gilas as he is set to bring up the SBP proposal before the PBA Board on March 7.

Gilas is coming off a split campaign in the February window of the WC Qualifiers against India and New Zealand. Its next stop will be in Hanoi for the 31^st SEA Games (SEAG) in May before the next qualifying window in June, the Asia Cup in Indonesia in July and the Asian Games in China in September. — John Bryan Ulanday

SSS digital branches to help its pensioners use online platforms

March 3, 2022 | 12:01 am

THE SOCIAL Security System (SSS) is rolling out digital branches to aid pensioners in using online portals and mobile applications.

The state-run social insurance agency launched its pilot digital branch in San Pedro, Laguna to offer multi-channel services to its members, employers, and pensioners.

The SSS branch in San Pedro has areas for SSS online registration, mobile app learning, and a customer care center for face-to-face transactions.

“As we continue our digital transformation, the SSS is aware of the current situation where some of the members and pensioners need assistance in using our My.SSS Portal and SSS Mobile App,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said in a news release on Wednesday.

“Hence, we created a digital branch to encourage members to enroll in the My.SSS Portal.”

She said branch personnel will guide members and pensioners in using the electronic services so they could later use the online tools at home.

“We will continue to convert regular branches to digital in National Capital Region and selected provinces nationwide.”

The SSS in January said it has seen an increase in fraud incidents being reported by its members.

It warned the public against joining Facebook groups that offer online transaction help for a fee, noting that the groups are illegal and could be mining personal data.

SSS services are mostly free, charging a fee only for Unified Multi-purpose ID card replacement.

The SSS, along with the Government Service Insurance System, has been ramping up digitalization initiatives to deliver services during the public health crisis, the Finance department said. — J.P. Ibañez

POCO announces new ‘flagship-level’ phones

March 3, 2022 | 12:01 am

TECHNOLOGY brand POCO this week announced new mobile phones touted to be “flagship-level.”

POCO announced the global launch of POCO X4 Pro 5G and POCO M4 Pro during its first official showcase at the Mobile World Congress, it said in a statement.

“This unveiling is a key milestone for our brand. At POCO, we strive to surpass customers’ expectations and go above and beyond to provide the best experience at an affordable price,” Kevin Qiu, head of POCO Global, was quoted as saying.

“With POCO X4 Pro 5G, we definitely set the industry standard for this segment, and with these prominent flagship-level features, we truly take the user experience to the next level. For consumers looking for a superior and fun entertainment experience at an unbeatable price, POCO M4 Pro is a highly competitive option,” he added.

The POCO X4 Pro 5G has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by a Snapdragon 695 5G processor and two Arm Cortex-A78 performance cores that can reach speeds of up to 2.2GHz. The phone also has a 360Hz touch sampling rate, which means it responds to each action with less lag.

Its main camera is a 108MP sensor with a 9-in-1 binning technology for improved clarity. The smartphone also has an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP micro camera on the rear, while its front camera is a 16MP sensor. It also offers slow motion, dual-video, time-lapse video, super macro, movie filters and kaleidoscope.

The X4 Pro 5G comes with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W turbo charging. It will be available in three colors: laser black, laser blue, and POCO yellow. The 6GB+128GB model’s recommended retail price is at P16,990 while the 8GB+256GB one will cost about P17,990.

Meanwhile, the POCO M4 Pro features a 6.43-inch screen uses AMOLED DotDisplay with a 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate.

The phone has a triple rear camera setup with a 64MP high-resolution main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro lens, as well as a 16MP front camera.

The M4 Pro has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W Pro fast charging. It carries the MediaTek Helio G96 chipset, a 2.05GHz octa-core CPU and ARM Mali-G57 MC2 GPU.

The POCO M4 Pro will also come in three colors: power black, cool blue, and POCO yellow. It will also be available in two variants: 6GB+128GB (P12,990) and 8GB+256GB (P13,990). — BVR

AllDay rolls out ‘smart carts’ in stores

March 3, 2022 | 12:01 am

ALLDAY Marts, Inc. has rolled out “smart carts,” which gives in-store customers detailed information about their grocery items right after the product is placed inside their cart.

“This puts even more convenience and information about what they are buying in real time, right at their fingertips,” AllDay Vice-Chairman Camille A. Villar said in a statement on Wednesday.

“More importantly, introducing these smart carts helps raise the bar for the local supermarket landscape, driving home our point that Filipino consumers now prefer experiential shopping, and we are of course happy to deliver,” she added.

AllDay’s smart cart automatically scans the items placed inside the cart, showing customers prices and other information about the product on its user interface.

The cart also generates a real-time total of the shopper’s products. AllDay said this lets shoppers “monitor and compare against their budget, or their shopping list for that particular trip.”

Aside from smart carts, AllDay also introduced new services amid the pandemic, such as its Personal Shopper Service and personal self-checkout counters. The company is also planning to improve its e-commerce platform, www.allday.com.ph.

“The importance of continuous improvement of our services and experiences remains a top business priority for us, right alongside expanding our store network and bringing our established elevated in-store customer experience to even more communities all over the country,” Ms. Villar said.

AllDay now has 35 stores across the country. The company is aiming to have 45 by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, AllDay shares at the stock market slipped by 1.92% or a centavo on Wednesday, closing at 51 centavos per share. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

How PSEi member stocks performed — March 2, 2022

March 3, 2022 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Philippines slips in global freedom report

March 3, 2022 | 12:00 am

Shares drop on profit taking as conflict worsens

March 2, 2022 | 9:00 pm

STOCKS slid on Wednesday on profit taking and as Russia continued to attack Ukraine, affecting prices of oil and commodities.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell by 100.59 points or 1.35% to close at 7,304.02 on Wednesday, while the broader all shares dropped by 40.31 points or 1.02% to close at 3,880.74.

“Local and global equities fell in what has become a volatile week as the Russia-Ukraine crisis deepened and stirred anxiety among investors,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

“The local bourse declined near its support level on the back of intensifying Russia-Ukraine tensions, with the global oil prices topping $100 per barrel, especially the Dubai Crude. This raises worries about our local inflation rate,” Philstocks Financial Research Associate Claire T. Alviar said in a Viber message.

“Negative sentiment from overseas markets also spilled over in the local bourse. In addition, traders also took profit after the two-day rally of the market,” Ms. Alviar added.

Russia is aiming to erase Ukraine, its history and people, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video on Wednesday as the seventh day of Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor started with heavy shelling of the Black Sea port of Mariupol, Reuters reported.

Moscow switched to strikes on Ukrainian cities on Tuesday and appeared poised for an advance on Kyiv as the West tightened an economic noose around Russia in retaliation.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.56% with China’s blue-chip CSI300 index 1.12% lower.

Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.68%.

US West Texas Intermediate crude jumped nearly 6% to $109.30, its highest since September 2013.

The effect of the war on commodity prices is causing inflation concerns due to supply worries, Mr. Limlangan said.

“Investors await Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s semiannual hearing at House Committee on Financial Services to get some clues on potential rate hikes,” Mr. Limlangan added.

A shifting global growth outlook has seen investors trim bets that the Federal Reserve will aggressively hike interest rates in coming months.

Majority of sectoral indices ended in the red except for mining and oil, which increased by 178.98 points or 1.43% to 12,661.68.

Meanwhile, property went down by 79.38 points or 2.24% to 3,458.28; industrials declined by 171.67 points or 1.67% to 10,092.95; financials lost by 17.26 points or 1.01% to 1,688.20; services dropped 16.94 points or 0.87% to 1,923.20, and holding firms fell by 55.61 points or 0.78% to 7,072.30.

Value turnover increased to P7.78 million with 1.43 billion shares changing hands on Wednesday from P7.84 billion with 1.01 billion issues seen the previous trading day.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 128 versus 65, while 44 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling climbed to P295.42 million yesterday from P83.13 million on Tuesday. — L.M.J.C. Jocson with Reuters

Peso drops vs dollar as tensions deepen

March 2, 2022 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO weakened versus the greenback on Wednesday as Russia continued to attack Ukraine, which has caused oil supply worries.

The local unit closed at P51.42 per dollar on Wednesday, weaker by 19 centavos from its P51.23 finish on Tuesday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened the session weaker at P51.35 versus the dollar. Its worst showing was at P51.455, while its intraday best was at P51.32 against the greenback.

Dollars exchanged increased to $1.032 billion on Wednesday from $942.21 million on Tuesday.

The peso weakened due to safe-haven demand for the dollar amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a trader said in an e-mail.

Reuters reported that more than 450,000 people have moved to Poland from Ukraine while 113,000 went to Romania to escape the atrocities caused by the Russian invasion that started last week.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said continued increase in global oil prices due to geopolitical tensions also caused market worries.

Oil prices jumped to their highest since 2014 on Tuesday amid market concerns on oil supply despite the agreement of some economies to release crude reserves.

Brent futures increased by $7 or 7.1% to settle at $104.97 a barrel, the highest close since August 2014. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed $7.69 or 8% to $103.41 a barrel, the highest close since July 2014.

For Thursday, both Mr. Ricafort and the trader gave a forecast range of P51.30 to P51.50 versus the dollar. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

Nuclear policy expected to be issued soon, Energy dep’t says

March 2, 2022 | 8:28 pm

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said on Wednesday that it expects President Rodrigo R. Duterte to issue an executive order (EO) outlining a policy on nuclear energy soon.

“We heard from the Office of the President that the policy (on nuclear energy) will be approved soon, it’s an EO. (The Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee) is just looking into the framework of the policy,” Energy Undersecretary Gerardo D. Erguiza said at a virtual briefing.

The nuclear policy is among the components of the Nuclear Energy Program, which will also require the drafting of a framework, legislation, compliance with international standards, and stakeholder consultation.

“We are in a good direction regarding our nuclear (energy prospects) and Russia is in the picture as one of the principal providers of nuclear power plants as they have good technology,” Mr. Erguiza said.

He said the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not expected to affect plans for a Russian role in developing nuclear infrastructure here.

In 2017, the Philippines signed an agreement with the Russian State Atomic Energy Corp. to help develop facilities preparatory to building power plants.

“We don’t see any problem with Russia on (energy) cooperation because it’s cooperation in building the nuclear infrastructure. We won’t immediately build a power plant, but… we have to come up with many studies (on) safety, security, (fuel) management, and radiation,” he said.

The DoE hopes to complete by April a feasibility study with Russia on nuclear energy.

The Philippines also has an agreement to collaborate with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. to develop small modular reactors, and plans to start in two weeks a collaboration with the US to study modular technology as well.

Small modular reactors are fission reactors capable of producing up to 300 megawatts. — Marielle C. Lucenio

DENR, water regulators ready contingency plans as Angat levels drop

March 2, 2022 | 8:28 pm

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it is working on contingency measures for the dry season amid low water levels at Angat Dam, and is currently considering water use efficiency measures, cloud seeding, increasing reliance on treated water, and tapping deep wells.

The DENR and the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) are working on plans to ensure adequate supply for irrigation and domestic use in areas served by Angat, Metro Manila’s main water source, the department said.

“The NWRB will be in the forefront of monitoring the water level of the Angat Dam and putting contingency measures in place. While we are experiencing low water levels in the Angat Dam, the NWRB has already (moved) to solve the looming problem,” DENR Officer-in-Charge Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said in a statement.

Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan supplies 97% of Metro Manila’s water requirements.

“The domestic water allocation of 48 cubic meters per second (cms) will be retained in March,” NWRB Executive Director Sevillo D. David, Jr. said. “Having a sufficient water supply helps control the spread of coronavirus.”

The DENR is also working with the National Irrigation Administration on the use of shallow tube wells to make irrigation more efficient.

“We are using what they call shallow tube wells to enable farmers to optimize water coming from creeks and canals,” Mr. David said.

Cloud seeding will be conducted around the Angat Dam, Bustos Dam, and La Mesa Dam, between March 7 and April 10.

“This endeavor is in coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). We decided to conduct the cloud seeding operations this March due to the right weather conditions and after the amihan or northeast monsoon season,” Mr. David said.

Water concessionaires Manila Water Company, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. are also working on ways to maximize the water available to them.

“We continue to improve our system readiness through the operation of our line boosters, network pressure management, maximization of our distribution reservoirs and regular maintenance of our facilities to prevent any downtime,” Manila Water said in a statement.

“While we work with the MWSS and NWRB on providing the needed supply, we also encourage consumers to use water responsibly so we can maximize the available supply and avoid wastage,” Maynilad added in a separate statement. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

PHL not following through on ‘circular economy’ measures

March 2, 2022 | 8:27 pm

THE Philippines has ample legislation to facilitate a transition to a low-waste, circular economy, but has not managed to shepherd any of the measures to the implementation stage, the Asian Development Bank Institute said in a report.

The report, Prospects for Transitioning from a Linear to Circular Economy in Developing Asia, noted over 400 bills and resolutions filed in Congress over the last decade related to the circular economy. The proposals span waste management and plastics regulation.

“None of these measures have yet translated into a binding law or policy as of this writing,” Gregorio Rafael P. Bueta, a lawyer and legal policy consultant, said in the February report.

He said that the growing urban population heralds a waste management crisis due in part to inadequate infrastructure.

Circular economy solutions, in which products are designed from inception to produce minimal waste, are gradually being considered in the Philippines.

But Mr. Bueta said that most proposals in the Philippines only address a few aspects of waste management, which means they fall short of creating a broad integrated strategy.

“A review of the proposals shows a piecemeal and ad hoc approach to addressing waste issues. This results in too many proposals that get stuck in the legislative mill,” he said.

“Proposals also do not cover developing the recycling industry, or promoting a zero-waste, less consumeristic society that leads to a significant reduction in waste generated.”

Proposals are also reactive to current events, which means legislators fail to pass and implement proposals after the news cycle ends.

“It is necessary to have a plan or roadmap for the journey toward a circular economy,” Mr. Bueta said. “This can also begin with an assessment of the current policy landscape to see what current policies already support the circular economy; what the gaps are; and most importantly what resources are needed to make it happen.”

The International Finance Corp. has said that the proportion of plastics that are recycled in the Philippines is about 30%. This means unrecycled materials that go to waste are valued at about $1 billion a year.

In the Philippines, deterrents to recycling include high power costs that make running recycling facilities expensive, the IFC said. Meanwhile, landfill disposal fees are cheaper.

Landfill tipping fees, or waste disposal charges, are cheaper here compared to other Asian countries, which means there is little incentive for local government units or private companies to promote recycling. — Jenina P. Ibañez

DTI urged to make more use of price control powers

March 2, 2022 | 8:27 pm

GROUPS representing small farmers and laborers said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) needs to use its power to keep prices in check, as authorized by the Price Act, in order for their constituents to better afford basic goods.

The Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Anakpawis Party-list noted that the government has the power to control prices if it chooses to.

“The government is not helpless. The DTI may recommend the imposition of mandated price ceiling on basic and prime commodities as stipulated in the Price Act of 1992,” Anakpawis Chairman Rafael V. Mariano said in a statement on Wednesday.

“All the prices are rising. The government should do something about this,” KMP added in a separate statement.

The KMP said the cost of food and basic goods has been steadily rising in recent weeks in tandem with the high price of fuel products.

Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act of 1992, gives the DTI to set price ceilings for basic goods via a table of suggested retail prices (SRPs) prescribing to retailers a maximum selling price for individual products frequently purchased by ordinary consumers. It can also cap prices during emergencies.

The DTI and the Department of Agriculture can also engage in the bulk purchase of goods and farm produce to ensure the availability of affordable options, he added.

According to data published by the DTI in January, 66% of the 216 price-controlled products, identified by their stock keeping units (SKUs) inventory code, followed the SRP while producers of 34% are seeking permission to raise prices, citing the increasing cost of raw materials and packaging.

“The increase in prices of around 86% of the SKUs (whose producers are seeking permission to raise prices) ranged from 1%-9%,” the DTI said on its website.

The DTI said the price of tamban, a type of sardine which is a raw material for canners, has risen 27% while the cost of another such ingredient, mechanically-deboned meat, is up 25%-100% since the last price adjustment.

The cost of tin cans has also increased 133%, while the price of buttermilk powder is up 46% and that of flour 40%.

Mr. Mariano is a former part-list legislator and unconfirmed appointee to head the Department of Agrarian Reform in 2016. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan