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Spain returns smuggled figurines, funeral jars to Egypt

Madrid: National Archaeological Museum of Spain -- EMILIO J. RODRÍGUEZ POSADA / EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORGT

MADRID —  Spain returned 36 stolen antiquities to Egyptian officials on Monday, including figurines of gods and goddesses and ancient jars meant to hold human remains.

The artefacts — among them a granite carving of the lion’s head of the warrior goddess Sekhmet — were taken illegally from archaeological sites, officials said.

Smugglers brought them to Spain where police seized then after an investigation in 2014.

Egypt’s ambassador to Spain, Youssef Diaeldin Mekkawy, received them at a ceremony at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid.

“The recovery of these 36 archaeological pieces is a successful operation that has lasted years, an operation coordinated between Egyptian and Spanish authorities,” he said.

The artefacts, worth more than 150,000 euros ($170,000), were all probably looted from sites at Saqqara and Mit Rahina, Spanish police said.

Egypt and other states have stepped up campaigns for the return of artefacts taken by smugglers or looted by imperial powers. — Reuters

BAVI pledges financial support to Odette victims

LENI GERONA ROBREDO ON FACEBOOK

Chicken rotisserie company Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) said it would provide financial assistance to employees affected by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai).

“The BAVI Sagip fund, to which employees regularly contribute a part of their incentives, will be used to support our colleagues,” said BAVI President Ronald R. Mascariñas. “We are determined to help our people to recover from this disaster as soon as possible.”

Employees will only need to take photos of their homes as proof and submit these to their business center engineers for approval. The Sagip fund was founded in 2013 to support employees affected by calamities and illnesses.

BAVI’s retail brands include Chooks-to-Go, Uling Roasters, Bounty Fresh, Adobo Connection, and HeiHei.

“As of writing, many parts of the VisMin region are still without stable power and phone signals. Food and clothes are also urgently needed, especially in flooded areas,” the BAVI press release read. “Everyone is encouraged, especially this Christmas season, to send additional donations to people in affected areas. This may be done through donation drives of government agencies and credible NGOs, such as BAVI partner Ayala Foundation.”

Typhoon Odette made landfall in Siargao last Thursday. It left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Safer holidays

UNSPLASH

The Department of Health (DoH) recently confirmed that the Philippines is no longer Omicron-free. As this goes to press, at least three imported cases of the Omicron variant of concern were detected by the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center from the samples it sequenced recently.

This came at the same time as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Omicron is spreading at a rate that it has not seen with any previous variants.

The WHO added that while 89 countries have detected the Omicron variant, it believes that it is now probably present in most countries. Clearly, there is reason to take Omicron seriously, and not brush it aside as a mild variant.

At present, more than 43 million Filipinos have completed their vaccine doses, while close to a million people have received their booster dose. Our compliance to health and safety protocols and willingness to get fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are finally paying off.

With the continuous decrease in COVID-19 cases, community quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and other parts of the country have recently been eased. Many families are excited to go to malls, dine in restaurants, get together, and go for a much-needed vacation during the holidays.

However, amid the ongoing pandemic, it is vital that everyone takes steps to minimize COVID-19 risks, and keep the people around us safe. An important step is to get fully vaccinated, stressed the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Doing so will help protect young children who are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.  In the country, children below 12 years old are yet to be vaccinated.

Health standards require that everyone must avoid crowds and poorly ventilated places. Another general rule is to stay six feet apart from persons who do not live with you. Most especially for those in public indoor settings, it is necessary to wear well-fitting masks. The CDC, on the other hand, reminded that one should not put a mask on children younger than two years old.

If gathering with a small group of people from other households and potentially from different parts of the country, the CDC recommended additional precautions such as asking attendees to take a COVID-19 test before the planned get-together. Rapid antigen testing and showing proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for attendees of in-person events and meetings have been implemented by some government agencies and private companies.

Meanwhile, there are also restaurants that comply with government-mandated health and safety protocols. When dining out, alfresco is the way to go. Choose restaurants with open windows that maximize natural ventilation, and take the effort to improve airflow by installing additional fans or exhaust fans. For restaurants that play background music, the volume should be kept to a minimum to discourage talking loudly and reduce the risk of droplet transmission.

If dining indoors, make sure that the restaurant has table-top dividers made of acrylic or any similar transparent material to prevent droplet transmission in face-to-face seating arrangements. Chairs should be one meter apart on all sides. For al fresco dining with no table-top dividers, alternate/diagonal seating arrangement can be implemented.

The DoH believes that COVID-19 cases nationwide will continue to decline if community quarantine restrictions are strictly implemented and the general public complies with health protocols.

“It is very important that while our mobility increases, we should continue to strictly adhere to our minimum public health standards. We must also improve on the immediate detection of cases through early consultation, active case finding, and contact tracing and ensure that identified cases and close contact are immediately isolated or quarantined,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire.

While our yearning to reconnect with loved ones during the break is perfectly normal, it is still important to act responsibly and safely. We must not risk squandering our gains and instead continue to build on the progress we have made in our fight against COVID-19 in the light of continued transmissions due to the various variants.

TEODORO B. PADILLA is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), which represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are at the forefront of research and development efforts for COVID-19 and other diseases that affect Filipinos.

 

Prices of noche buena items slip 2021

Shopee, Colgate-Palmolive team up to grow digital commerce business

BW FILE PHOTO

Shopee and multinational consumer products company Colgate-Palmolive Co. on Monday said they recently signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly drive e-commerce penetration of oral, home, and personal care products on the digital platform.

According to the two companies, there is a rapidly growing online demand for oral care, home care, and personal care products in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, the main markets of Shopee, which is a part of global consumer internet company Sea Ltd.

The objective is to grow Shopee’s digital commerce business across Southeast Asia and Taiwan “more than 20 times by 2025,” they said in an e-mailed joint statement.

“Starting 2022, Colgate-Palmolive will become a strategic partner under Shopee’s Regional Champion Brands Programme, which will help strengthen Colgate-Palmolive’s online presence and deliver more of their innovative and high-quality products to millions of households through Shopee’s extensive reach,” they added.

By 2023, online sales in Southeast Asia are expected to account for 21% of total personal care market revenue. This is due to the rising e-commerce adoption in the region, Shopee and Colgate-Palmolive said.

“As a market leader, Colgate-Palmolive has achieved tremendous growth in the past year and will be a valuable partner in helping to drive further online expansion of the personal care category on Shopee,” said Chris Feng, Shopee’s chief executive officer.

“We hope to support Colgate-Palmolive in capturing more opportunities through our robust ecosystem and deep understanding of consumers in each market,” he added.

Last week, Shopee said majority of its users shopped from local sellers during the 12.12 Christmas sale.

The platform also noted that orders from Shopee Mall, a by-invite-only premium retail space reserved for brand owners and authorized distributors, surged “14 times” from an average day. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Security Bank relocates some branches to high foot traffic areas

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SECURITY Bank Corp. has relocated two of its Zambales-based branches to higher foot traffic areas amid the industry transition to digital banking.

The bank had moved its Subic and Olongapo branches to ground floor office spaces.

“Despite the transition to digital banking, branch banking remains an integral channel of Security Bank to strengthen customer relationships and provide that much needed ‘human touch,’” Security Bank Executive Vice-President and Branch Banking Head Leslie Y. Cham said in a press release on Tuesday.

The bank said it relocated the two branches to improve public access at high foot traffic areas.

“The Subic Bay Branch has moved to the ground floor of the Optima Building while the Olongapo Branch has moved to the ground floor of the C&C Business Center,” Security Bank said.

More Filipinos have transitioned to digital banking after pandemic-related restrictions limited face-to-face transactions since last year.

Security Bank’s net income went up by 71% year on year to P1.715 billion in the third quarter after it cut loan loss provisions and expenses. As of September, its net income dropped 28% to P4.8 billion.

Security Bank runs 316 bank branches nationwide. — Jenina P. Ibañez

PhilMech hits 90% of farm machinery procurement target

PHILSTAR

THE Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) said it has procured P12.9 billion worth of farm machinery for distribution to farmers, equivalent to about 90% of its target between 2019 and 2021.

PhilMech said it procured 19,765 units of machinery, against the target of 20,129, for a program to modernize agriculture which is funded by rice import tariffs.

PhilMech said its delivery rate is 88% of the target or 17,769 units distributed to qualified Farmers Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs).

The modernization drive is supported by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), a component of the Rice Tariffication Law which had liberalized rice imports. RCEF is designed to make farmers more productive and competitive with imports.

“The various farm machinery suppliers… also faced challenges as the lockdowns and quarantines restricted the delivery of farm equipment to the beneficiaries of the RCEF Mechanization Program,” PhilMech Executive Director Baldwin G. Jallorina said in a virtual briefing.

“PhilMech initially encountered difficulties in convincing farmers to undergo training virtually so they will be capable of operating and maintaining the machines given to them at no cost,” he added.

Actual distribution of the machinery kicked off in June 2020 following delays caused by the pandemic.

“To help speed up the procurement process, PhilMech undertook all the pre-bidding, bidding and awarding of contracts through livestream over Facebook, which also assured the proceedings were transparent and free of corruption,” Mr. Jallorina said.

“Eventually, the members of the qualified farmers’ cooperatives and associations or FCAs became very open to be trained virtually and this helped connect more farmers to social media,” he added.

Nueva Ecija was the top recipient over the period, followed by Isabela. Four-wheel tractors and hand tractors were the most distributed items of machinery.

Other machinery included floating tillers, precision seeders, mobile rice mills, riding type transplanters, reapers, and threshers.

Once lockdown restrictions ease, Mr. Jallorina said further distribution activity is expected.

“We also believe that the distribution of farm machinery by PhilMech can be stepped up as COVID-19 cases go down further, and through that, the rural economy can recover faster from the negative effects of the pandemic,” he added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Anilao Underwater Shootout stages a successful comeback

1st Place, Compact Class - Marine Behavior Category, Regie Casia

Amateur and professional underwater photographers, divers, and marine enthusiasts captured the beauty of Anilao, Batangas for the 7th Anilao Underwater Shootout (AUS), recently mounted by the Department of Tourism (DoT).

The four-day underwater photography event highlighted the town’s teeming marine biodiversity, including its world-famous nudibranchs.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the event showcased the country’s readiness to welcome back tourists and reclaim its position as the world’s leading dive destination.

“The Anilao Underwater Shootout is a platform to communicate the importance of safeguarding our delicate reefs and marine ecosystems for future generations. As we slowly rebuild and recover from the effects of the pandemic, this event is our way of announcing to the world that the Philippines’ diving industry is alive and well, and very much ready to welcome divers and underwater photographers,” Ms. Puyat said.

Supporting the department’s thrust to safely restart tourism in the country, Ms. Puyat also noted that more than 95 percent of the tourism workers in dive destinations are now fully vaccinated.

Gathering a total of 120 participants flying in from all over the country, the event also spurred domestic tourism activity in Anilao, trickling down to the community with engagement from the town’s resorts, dive guides, and spotters.

This year’s edition garnered a total of 348 entries across the competition’s 11 categories. Winners were awarded over two million pesos worth of prizes from its official airline partner Cebu Pacific, and underwater photography gear from event partners Nauticam, Scubalamp, and sponsors AOI, XDEEP, Crest, Fourth Element, Divers Point, Nautilus Dive, and Sports Center, Squires Bingham, and Ultralight Control Systems, Inc.

In the Open Class, Macro/Supermacro category, winners are Dennis Corpuz, 1st place; Marivic Verdadero Maramot, 2nd place; and Emil Ribaya Jaranilla, 3rd place.

In the Marine Behavior category, winners are Ariel Careño Locsin, 1st place; Glenn Ian Diaz Villanueva, 2nd place; and Adrian Dan, 3rd place.

In the Nudibranch category, winners are Dennis Corpuz, 1st place; Glenn Ian Villanueva, 2nd place; Armida Esteban, 3rd place.

In the Fish Portrait category, winners are Dennis Corpuz, 1st place; Louis Myse Fae Ronquillo, 2nd place; Angelyca Paras Nery, 3rd place.

For the Compact Class, Macro/Supermacro category, winners are: Rafael Francisco, 1st place; Jorge Ida, 2nd place; and Fr. Nemer de Castro Chua, 3rd place.

In the Marine Behavior category, winners are Regie Casia, 1st place; Lloyd Respicio, 2nd place; and Anjeanette Fuentebella, 3rd place.

In the Nudibranch category, winners are Penn De Los Santos, 1st place; Kim Morfe, 2nd place; Armando Panopio, 3rd place.

In the Fish Portrait category, winners are Teresa Sy Ortin, 1st place; Patricia Santos, 2nd place; and Ronald Amboy Dalawampo, 3rd place.

Special prizes were awarded to Dennis Corpuz in the Blackwater category and Paul Joseph Aristorenas in the Wide Angle category.

Teresa Sy Ortin and Dennis Corpuz were named DoT Photographers of the Year for the Compact and Open classes respectively.

The international event has been organized by the DoT since 2013, in line with the identification of diving as a priority tourism product in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP). This year’s panel of judges includes renowned underwater photography aficionados David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes, Mike Bartick, Scott Gutsy Tuason, William Tan, and Underwater360 Group founder John Thet.

Following COVID-19 restrictions, the event followed a hybrid format with underwater photography workshops hosted via Zoom and the competition’s official Facebook page. Judging and deliberations were also done through the videoconferencing application.

The 7th Anilao Underwater Shootout was mounted in partnership with Mabini Tourism, DoT Region 4 A Calabarzon #DiscoverCalabarzon, Solitude Acacia Resort, Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Crystal Blue Dive Resort, Nauticam, Scubalamp, AOI, and Scubastudio Philippines. The event is also supported by Wetpixel, Underwater Photography Magazine, Underwater 360, and GRID Magazine.

How PSEi member stocks performed — December 21, 2021

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, December 21, 2021.

Peso weakens vs dollar on balance of payment deficit

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO depreciated versus the greenback on Tuesday as the country’s balance of payment (BoP) posted a deficit.

The local unit closed at P49.95 per dollar on Tuesday, shedding two centavos from its P49.93 close on Monday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened Tuesday’s session at P49.88 a dollar. Its weakest showing was at P49.965, while its intraday best was at P49.875.

Dollars exchanged increased to $916 million on Tuesday from $887.35 million on Monday.

A trader said the peso weakened versus the dollar following the BoP data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The BoP posted a $123-million deficit, a reversal of the $1.473-billion surfeit seen in November 2020, the BSP said on Monday evening. It was the smallest deficit in eight months or since the $73 million logged in March.

The peso also weakened due to concerns on the Omicron variant cases that have surged in some economies, including European nations, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber mes-sage.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday he would impose tighter restrictions to slow the spread of the Omicron variant if needed, according to Reuters.

Based on data from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, the UK tallied 92,598 new cases on Monday.

For Wednesday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P49.82 to P49.99, while the trader expects the local unit to move within P49.90 to P50.10. — Luz Wendy Noble with Reuters

Shares dip on US growth outlook, typhoon setback

COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE, INC.

PHILIPPINE stocks declined on Tuesday as investors retreated to the sidelines amid weak US economic growth outlook for next year and the expected economic setback from the damage caused by Typhoon Odette.

The bellwether Philippine Stocks Exchange index (PSEi) on Tuesday slid 70.55 points or 0.97% on Tuesday to close at 7,167.06, while the broader all shares index dropped by 22.71 points or 0.59% to 3,805.67.

“Local market negatively reacted to the weaker US gross domestic product (GDP) growth outlook in 2022 amid Omicron spread and threat of the so-called ‘policy-induced’ US growth slowdown given recent US Federal Reserve policy hawkish pivot,” First Metro Investment Corp. Head of Research Cristina S. Ulang said in a Viber message.

“US growth outlook has historically influenced Philippine GDP growth outlook and equity market outcomes,” Ms. Ulang added.

The annualized rate of gross domestic product growth was expected to drop to 4% in the first quarter of 2022 from an expected 6% in the final three months of this year, according to a Reuters poll of economists published on Dec. 8.

Growth for all of 2022 was seen decelerating to 3.9% — still well above pre-pandemic trends — from 5.6% this year, Reuters reported.

“Investors also priced in the local economic setbacks caused by Typhoon Odette in Tuesday’s session,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in an initial report on Monday that Typhoon Odette caused at least P118 million in damage to agriculture and P225 million in damage to infrastruc-ture.

The Department of Public Works and Highways estimated damage to national roads, bridges, and flood-control structures at P448.9 million as of 12 noon on Tuesday.

At the stock market, all sectoral indices tumbled on Tuesday.

Financials decreased 25.24 points or 1.54% to 1,604.54; services declined 17.40 points or 0.87% to 1,980.07; property contracted 27.03 points or 0.84% to 3,176.51; industrials plunged 75.46 points or 0.73% to 10,192.98; hold-ing firms lost 47.61 points or 0.67% to 7,004.34; and mining and oil went down 4.79 points or 0.05% to 8,999.16.

Value turnover inched up to P6.86 billion on Tuesday with 955.83 million shares switching hands from the P6.70 billion on Monday with 1.09 billion shares traded.

Decliners beat advancers, 106 against 75, while 56 names closed unchanged.

Foreign net selling rose on Monday with P372.02 million in net outflows from the P237.48 million recorded the previous trading day.

Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan pegged the resistance at 7,300, and support at 7,120. — M.C. Lucenio

Supplies running low for survivors of typhoon

CHILDREN sit amid the destruction in Dinagat Island, where typhoon Odette made its second of nine landfalls on Dec. 16. -- DINAGAT GOV. KAKA BAG-AO

PHILIPPINE officials and residents of areas that bore the brunt of typhoon Rai, locally named Odette, pleaded for food, water, and shelter on Tuesday as damaged roads, flooding, and severed power and communication lines hampered relief efforts.

Rai struck last Thursday, the strongest typhoon to hit the archipelago this year, killing nearly 400 people and affecting 1.8 million, displacing 630,000 of them, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“Our food supply is running low. Maybe, in a few days, we will totally run out,” said Fely Pedrablanca, mayor of Tubajon town on Dinagat Island.

The area, facing the Pacific Ocean, was devastated by the typhoon and she said only nine out of more than 2,000 homes in her town were left standing.

The coast guard has deployed vessels to help in relief work and in trying to reach areas still cut-off, including Dinagat.

In the province of Southern Leyte, evacuation centers were also destroyed, said Roger Mercado, acting chief of the public works agency, as he appealed for tents and construction material.

Damage to infrastructure in Southern Leyte, where residents were also in desperate need of food and water, could reach P3 billion, Mr. Mercado told DZMM radio.

“The damage is very extensive similar to Yolanda,” Mr. Mercado said referring to typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, which killed 6,300 people in the Philippines in Dec. 2013.

At least 375 people were killed and 56 are missing. More than 500 were injured, police said on Tuesday.

“The government prepositioned food and non-food items but they are not enough because many are in need,” Danilo Atienza, Southern Leyte’s disaster chief, told Reuters.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered state agencies to immediately restore power and communication services.

Mr. Duterte has vowed to raise P10 billion for the rehabilitation and recovery of typhoon-hit areas, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said a $500-million World Bank disaster response loan can be tapped to help fund rehabilitation efforts as soon as the country announces a state of national calamity.

Quoting Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, he said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has recommended to the President the declaration of a state of calamity in response to the typhoon, which brought heavy rains and destructive winds over central and southern Philippines.

“World Bank has been put on notice,” Mr. Dominguez said in a Viber message to reporters on Monday.

“(The) amount to be drawn will be determined as soon as the respective agencies provide the figures to the Department of Budget and Management/Department of Finance and approved by the Office of the President.”

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE

Foreign aid has also started to arrive, while the United Nations said it was working with partners to help in the areas of shelter, health, food, protection and other life-saving responses.

The Japanese government said that relief goods are on their way to the Philippines, including generators, camping tents, sleeping pads, portable water containers and plastic sheets that could serve as temporary roofing.

“My heart and prayers go out to everyone in large parts of Visayas and Mindanao hit by Typhoon Odette. My deepest respect to the brave first responders of the ongoing disaster relief and recovery operations in the area. I hope for everyone’s safety,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said in a tweet.

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said in a Facebook post that relief goods are now being sent to areas devastated by the typhoon. “China will do its utmost to continue its firm support to disaster relief efforts to the Philippine government and the Filipino people.”

China will be distributing 20,000 food packages worth P8 million and 4.72 million kilograms of rice in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local Filipino-Chinese communities.

The United States will also be providing emergency shelter assistance to 3,000 families. Its embassy said in a tweet that 10,000 family food packs are on the way to Butuan City for distribution.

United Kingdom Minister for Asia Amanda Milling said in a tweet that they have committed £750,000 (P49.4 million) to the Philippine Red Cross to support its relief operations.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet that financial assistance will be provided, also through the Philippine Red Cross, to “help address immediate needs on the ground, such as water and sanitation.”

Several local government units across the country that were not affected by the typhoon as well as private groups and corporations have also been mobilizing relief efforts.

Among the Philippine companies that have been delivering assistance include the Aboitiz group, San Miguel Corp., Jollibee Foods Corp., and McDonald’s.

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III urged the Palace to order a price freeze on basic commodities in worst-hit areas.

“The government should work fast to stop unscrupulous business owners from taking advantage of the calamity and raising the prices of basic commodities amid a shortage in food and water supplies,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. — Reuters, Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, and Jenina P. Ibañez

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