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Tender offer prompts First Gen’s trading halt

Lopez-led First Gen Corp. has sought a one-day suspension in the trading of its shares on the stock exchange, citing a newspaper advertisement put out by a company that offered to acquire up to 5.7% of its shares.

“The request is being made to give the company’s shareholders equal access to the said information,” First Gen told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday when it sought the voluntary trading suspension.

The listed company, which describes itself as the largest clean and renewable independent power producer, identified Philippines Clean Energy Holding Inc. as the entity that intends to acquire the shares through a public and voluntary tender offer.

First Gen said the acquiring company offered to buy a minimum of 3% and up to 5.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of the listed firm. It said it had yet to receive the tender offer report.

The voluntary trading suspension started at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, and will be lifted at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31. Monday is National Heroes Day, a regular holiday in the Philippines.

First Gen’s shares were last traded on Aug. 26 and closed at P28.30 each.

The tender offer from Philippines Clean Energy comes after First Gen President and Chief Operating Officer Francis Giles B. Puno said earlier this month that the company was “steadily progressing” with building the country’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal.

The LNG terminal is “for delivery” in the fourth quarter of 2022, he said.

Mr. Puno also said that First Gen was working to deliver more power projects across its portfolio despite market uncertainty and business risks.

First Gen unit FGEN LNG Corp. had been issued on Sept. 23, 2020 a permit to construct an ancillary facility for its interim LNG floating regasification and storage unit.

In a media release last week, the Department of Energy (DoE) said the facility is scheduled for commercial operation in the third quarter of next year, making FGEN LNG about a quarter ahead of the only other company issued a permit to construct an LNG terminal: Energy World Gas Operations Philippines, Inc.

Behind them are four companies issued by the DoE with a “notice to proceed” to build their separate LNG facilities, namely: Excelerate Energy L.P.; Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Co. of Manila, Inc.; Shell Energy Philippines, Inc.; and Vires Energy Corp.

First Gen has 3,495 megawatts of installed capacity in its portfolio, which it said accounts for 19% of the country’s gross power generation.

In the second quarter, the company posted a net income attributable to equity holders of $62.5 million for the second quarter, down 37.5% from $67.75 million in the same period last year.

Its first-half attributable income rose 46.5% to $146.52 million, figures posted on the stock exchange website show. First Gen said it benefited from higher electricity sales and prices, as well as lower interest expenses and taxes. — VVS

AirAsia’s Teleport sets Zamboanga cargo operations in Sept.

Philippines AirAsia, Inc. said its logistics venture Teleport will begin commercial cargo operations in Zamboanga in September.

“AirAsia Philippines is expanding its commercial cargo operations through its logistics venture, Teleport, in Zamboanga starting next month,” the low-cost carrier said in a recent statement.

The airline said the new venture is expected to bring in four tons of cargo per day.

“Our expansion in terms of infrastructure development will allow us in AirAsia to fly in more goods and services as we strengthen our cargo operations in Zamboanga to cater to the demands of Southern Mindanao,” the company noted.

Philippines AirAsia is a unit of Malaysia-based investment holding company AirAsia Group Berhad .

The group recently reported that its Philippine unit saw a 2% increase in passengers carried in the second quarter of the year, indicating a better performance than the previous quarter.

“Monthly breakdown showed that load factor was as high as 83% in June 2021, boosted by active capacity management,” the group said in a statement.

“This was despite running a limited number of charter and passenger flights due to community quarantine restrictions and despite flying only from its Manila hub,” it added.

The group has said it expects domestic operations in the Philippines to be below 25% of pre-pandemic levels until at least September while the population awaits widespread vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Duterte says govt running out of money, to allow casino on Boracay

President Rodrigo R. Duterte said late Thursday that he will allow a casino to operate on Boracay, citing the need to raise more funds for the government, which he said is running out of money. 

In a taped Cabinet meeting, Mr. Duterte acknowledged the softening of his previous reluctance to allow the expansion of gambling. 

“Kung magsabi kayo, ‘Itong si Duterte, akala ko ayaw mong sugal tapos ngayon ‘yung sa Boracay, ‘yung gambling house doon, ine-encourage mong buksan para sa tourists.’ Patawarin na po ninyo ako for the contradiction (Pardon me if you see a contradiction in encouraging gambling on Boracay, as I was previously opposed to gambling),” he said. 

“Ngayon po wala tayong pera. Kung saan man tayo makakuha ng pera, kukunin ko. Kung diyan sa gambling, so be it (We don’t have money, and need to raise funds using whatever means. If it’s from gambling, so be it),” he added.  

The President in February 2018 had ordered the industry’s regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., to stop approving new casinos due to the risk of oversupply. 

The operations of foreign offshore gaming firms were briefly suspended after the pandemic hit in March 2020. They were allowed to resume partial operations in May last year after being classified as business processing outsourcing companies, which are deemed essential to the economy. 

Previous gambling venues on the resort island had to shut down after Boracay underwent a six-month rehabilitation to repair damage to the environment starting in April 2018. – Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

Outstanding fish import certificates at 60,000 MT 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday that it has approved certificates of necessity to import (CNI) for 60,000 metric tons (MT) of fish, in order to increase supply during the latest lockdown and to offset the impact of the closed season in major fishing grounds.   

In a statement, the DA said the approved imports cover species such as round scad (galunggong), mackerel, and bonito, with the imports to be sold in public wet markets in Metro Manila and other areas with fish deficits.   

“The CNI is valid from Sept. 2 until December 2021, with the approved quantity being slightly lower than the supply deficiency projected by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of 65,000 MT in the fourth quarter,” the DA said.  

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said: “Our primordial concern is to enhance and sustain the development of our fisheries sector, and provide our fellow citizens affordable fish on the table,” Mr. Dar said.   

Mr. Dar said the decision was made on the recommendation of the BFAR, in coordination with the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), and in consultation with the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) as well as the fishing industry.   

The DA said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) recommended a cap on imports of 200,000 MT for the fourth quarter of 2021 and first quarter of 2022.   

According to the DA, closed season is in force in the Davao Gulf (June 1 to Aug. 31), Visayan Sea (Nov. 15 to Feb. 15), Sulu Sea (Dec. 1 to Feb. 28), and Northeast Palawan (November to January) to allow the regeneration of small pelagic fish and other species.   

Mr. Dar also signed Administrative Order No. 22 Friday, which lays out the guidelines for the implementation of the CNI.   

Under the order, only importers of good standing and compliant with food safety guidelines will be allowed to participate.   

It added that interested importers should have imported at least 70% of the total volume assigned to them during the previous importation period, and are not involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.   

The order also provided that the imported fish should arrive within 20 days from receipt of the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSIC), and prescribed an auction to determine allocations from the 60,000 MT.   

“The BFAR will process the SPSICs of winning (auction participants) and endorse them to the DA Secretary for approval. Transfer of allocation is not allowed. Importers should sell the imported fish at P88 per kilogram wholesale, based on the 2020 CNI fish auction conducted by BFAR, or lower as a result of the cost unbundling for imported small pelagic fishes,” the order said. 

“From the Customs Clearing House, the importer should directly unload the imported frozen/chilled fish at its BFAR-registered cold storage facility and trade the imported products at the PFDA fish ports or PFDA-designated trading areas,” it added.  – Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Chinese investors express interest in ecozones; Israeli locators sought

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.  (FFCCCII) said more Chinese investors are interested in exploring business opportunities in Philippine economic zones. 

“Our federation members and many Chinese investors expressed their interests to explore opportunities to do business in PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) ecozones, especially in export manufacturing, IT services, tourism, agro-industrial, and logistics,” FFCCCII President Henry Lim Bon Liong said in a statement Friday. 

PEZA Director-General Charito B. Plaza said the agency is inviting more investors to locate in its ecozones, including those from the Filipino-Chinese business community, noting that they are among the country’s “big landowners.” 

“We aim to invite more investors to the country and replicate the multiplier effects our enterprises created by locating and even creating more ecozones,” Ms. Plaza also said. 

There are currently 172 Chinese locators registered with PEZA, according to the agency. 

“These companies contribute P24.093 billion in investment, $196.374 million in exports, and employ 10,518 workers,” it said. 

Also Friday, PEZA said it invited more Israeli investors to explore more opportunities in its economic zones. 

“Ecozones will hasten the development of our regions and achieve more inclusive growth. This is also the best and fastest economic masterplan that national government must promote to hasten development especially in the countryside and bounce back from this crisis,” Ms. Plaza said in a separate statement. 

Seven Israeli businesses are registered with PEZA. “These companies contribute P114.521 million in investment, $0.255 million in exports, and employ 175 workers,” the agency said.  

“We must attract more Israeli investors to come and bring the industries that are unique to Israeli especially … pharmaceutical and defense industries,” Ms. Plaza said. 

“We have created different types of economic zones such as the Pharmaceutical Ecozone and the Defense Industrial Complex to make use of our idle land and cater to industries that will in turn boost socio-economic progress in the regions,” she added. 

Ambassador Designate of Israel to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said: “As the incoming ambassador, my main goal is to promote business activities and economic relations between our… countries. Israel is the source of innovation, technology, and high-tech entrepreneurship with a lot of experience and expertise. Which is why, Israel would like to share these with the Philippines.” – Arjay L. Balinbin 

Cacao, coconut, rubber, sugarcane post output gains in Q2  

PRODUCTION of cacao, coconut, rubber, and sugarcane increased in the second quarter while output of abaca, coffee, and tobacco declined, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.  

PSA said in a bulletin that coconut production for the three months to June rose 0.8% year-on-year to 3.29 million metric tons (MT). 

The Davao Region accounted for 13.8% or 455,448.53 MT, Northern Mindanao 13.3% or 436,738.98 MT, and Zamboanga Peninsula 12.7% or 416,403.45 MT.   

Sugarcane output for the quarter rose 34.8% to 6.91 million MT.   

“Sugarcane for centrifugal sugar accounted for 98.2% of total sugarcane production. The remaining 1.8% was the collective share of sugarcane for ethanol, panocha/muscovado, chewing, and basi/vinegar,” PSA said.   

Western Visayas was the top sugarcane producer with 46.9% of the total or 3.24 million MT, followed by Northern Mindanao at 20.4% or 1.41 million MT, and Central Visayas at 13.8% or 956,008.56 MT.  

Rubber production rose 5.9% to 123,819.09 MT, led by the Zamboanga Peninsula, which accounted for 39.1% or 48,377.01 MT, followed by ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) at 36.2% or 44,774.45 MT, and SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) at 16.5% or 20,404.2 MT.

Cacao output during the quarter rose 9.9% to 2,224.57 MT. Davao Region accounted for 71.4% or 1,588.54 MT, Zamboanga Peninsula 6.5% or 145.54 MT, and Cagayan Valley 5.7% or 125.79 MT.   

Abaca fiber production for the quarter fell 1.2% to 18,057.76 MT. The top producer was the Bicol Region with a 29.6% share or 5,349.97 MT, followed by Eastern Visayas at 19.7% or 3,551.65 MT, and CARAGA a14.7% or 2,661.75 MT.   

Dried coffee berry output fell 0.3% to 5,866.16 MT. 

“Robusta coffee was still the most produced type (with) 56.6% of the total during the period,” the PSA said.   

Arabica coffee accounted for 30.2%, followed by Excelsa coffee with 12.5%, and Liberica coffee 0.5%. SOCCSKSARGEN accounted for 30.7% or 1,800.92 MT, followed by Davao Region with 21.8% or 1,276.76 MT and ARMM 21.3% or 1,250.17 MT.   

Dried leaf tobacco production declined 2.1% to 36,831.33 MT, led by Ilocos Region with 67.7% of the total or 24,933.85 MT, followed by the Cagayan Valley with 30% or 11,042.17 MT, and the Cordillera Administrative Region 1.4% or 532.89 MT.    

The burley variety accounted for 42.4% of the crop, followed by Virginia tobacco with 41.4%, the PSA said.   

The PSA reported in early August that the value of production of Philippine agriculture contracted by 1.5% in the second quarter as the livestock and fisheries subsectors declined 19.3% and 1.1%, respectively. Crop production rose 3.1% while poultry production improved 2.5%.  

The Agriculture department has lowered its 2021 growth target for the agriculture sector to 2% from 2.5% as a result of the lockdowns and the African Swine Fever outbreak.  – Revin Mikhael D. Ochave   

POGOs flee for Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, PAGCOR says

PHILSTAR

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) opted to close down due to the prospect of increased taxation of their businesses, with around half of the industry decamping for Indochina, according to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chair Andrea D. Domingo. 

“More than half have closed (and gone) to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos,” she said at a House appropriations committee hearing Friday. 

Ms. Domingo said government revenue from POGOs over the past last six months have fallen drastically to P1.6 billion. The industry’s revenues used to average P8 billion to P9 billion a year.

She said that revenue from POGOs this year is likely to hit only  P4 billion.   

Albay Representative Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said on July 22 that the House will adopt the Senate version of a POGO tax bill imposing a 5% tax on gross gaming receipts for offshore gaming licensees (OGLs) and a 25% tax on gross income for nonresident aliens working for POGO service providers.   

The Senate version requires every alien employee of POGOs to have a Tax Identification Number (TIN), imposing a P20,000 fine for each one that fails to acquire a TIN. It also taxes non-gaming income at 25%. 

The bill also bars the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport from issuing new POGO licenses and transfers the regulation of POGOs currently registered with the economic zone to PAGCOR. 

Mr. Salceda estimated that the bill will raise P13.4 billion in the first year and P176.9 billion over five years. – Russell Louis C. Ku 

DoE orders Napocor to resolve Mindoro power issues; improvements expected by end of September  

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it has ordered the National Power Corp. (Napocor) to address the power supply concerns in Mindoro.   

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in a virtual briefing Friday that he has tasked Napocor with addressing the power deficit on the island, adding that better power service is expected by the end of September.   

Mr. Cusi said he met with officials of Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO) and will also talk with Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) and Lubang Electric Cooperative (LUBECO) to resolve issues in their respective jurisdictions.   

Specifically, the DoE directed Napocor to fill the 25-megawatt (MW) power deficit of ORMECO, while also looking at linking the power systems of ORMECO and OMECO.   

“Napocor was tasked to provide the shortfall in supply by Sept. 2020 and for ORMECO to rush the procurement of supply… in accordance with competitive selection process policy within six months. National Transmission Corp. (TRANSCO) was also assigned to be the system operator which will enhance the transparency in the delivery of electricity services to the island,” the DoE said.   

Mr. Cusi added that power supply will be sufficient for the 2022 elections.   

“We can refer to the PEP (Philippine Energy Plan) and included in that is the demand and supply outlook, where we are not only looking at election time. What we stated there is there is enough power during the May 2022 elections,” Mr. Cusi said.   

Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella said last week that no yellow alerts and no power interruptions are expected during the 2022 elections. 

The DoE said planned preventive maintenance on the Malampaya gas field between Oct. 2 and 22 will also not result in supply deficits.   

Mr. Fuentebella said the DoE is looking at the 668 (MW) GNPower Dinginin, projected to be online in the third quarter of the year, for additional power, adding that there are two liquefied natural gas facilities expected to begin operations by next year.   

“As far as the months of September, October – even up to February next year–we have sufficient power, we have more than enough reserves,” Mr. Fuentebella said.  – Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Peso closes stronger ahead of Fed Jackson Hole meeting

The peso strengthened against the dollar Friday, with investors cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium, which might provide clues on the US central bank’s taper plans. 

The peso closed at P49.955 Friday against its Thursday finish of P49.98, according to the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ (BAP). 

It opened the session at P50.06, peaking at P49.925. The low was P50.16. 

Dollar volume eased to $922.60 million from $1.166 billion Thursday. 

Week-on-week, the peso rose from its P50.37 close on Aug. 20. 

“Market participants took profits ahead of the Jackson Hole symposium tonight,” a trader said via e-mail. 

Fed President Jerome Powell is due to speak on Friday at the symposium inn Wyoming. 

The minutes of the Fed’s July policy meeting indicated an intention to start scaling down monthly purchases of $120 billion in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities by the end of the year. 

“The peso also ended stronger ahead of the proposed granular lockdowns starting September at the barangay level and away from the city, provincial, region levels, (that) could help reduce the drag of lockdowns on the economy,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said. 

The increased supply of vaccines, currently at 49 million doses which have been imported, and progress in the vaccination program also buoyed peso sentiment, he said. 

The Health department reported 17,447 new local cases of coronavirus infection Friday, bringing the total number of active cases to 142,531. – Beatrice M. Laforga 

 

PHL shares falter on Fed meeting, profit taking

Philippine Stock Exchange index

LOCAL shares closed lower on Friday as investors lock in gains and while traders monitor the United States Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium.

THE bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 33.91 points or 0.49% to close at 6,786.62 while the broader all shares index dropped 0.89 points or 0.02% to end at 4,204.11.

Claire T. Alviar, Philstocks Financial, Inc. research associate, said in a mobile phone message that the local bourse finished lower on Friday due to profit taking ahead of the long weekend as Aug. 30, Monday, coincides with National Heroes Day.

Ms. Alviar also cited the United States’ Federal Reserve Jackson Hole symposium as a factor that affected the market’s performance.

“Negative sentiment from abroad affected the market with the US indices dropped overnight as investors monitor Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole Symposium in which investors look for more details into the Fed’s plans to taper monetary stimulus,” Ms. Alviar said.

“Ayala Corp. led the index’s gainers, up by 1.93% while Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. lost the most by 4.05%,” she added.

In a mobile phone message, Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said the market’s performance on Friday could be attributed to the recent report of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on the “hot money” that left the country in July.

Data released by the BSP on Aug. 26 showed that more foreign portfolio investments (FPI) left the Philippines in July as the country recorded a net outflow of $339.7 million, a turnaround from the $334.51 million net FPI inflow logged in June.

Majority of the sectoral indices ended in negative territory on Friday. Property went down 49.27 points or 1.56% to 3,093.92; mining and oil declined 137.43 points or 1.48% to 9,125.44; holding firms retreated 21.02 points or 0.31% to

6,760.88; and services decreased 4.31 points or 0.24% to 1,757.46.

On the other hand, industrials climbed 48.20 points or 0.49% to 9,847.76 and financials rose 2.46 points or 0.17% to 1,437.32.

Decliners bested advancers, 100 against 84, while 64 companies ended unchanged.

Value turnover on Friday reached P6.86 billion with 1.62 billion shares switching hands, a decline from the P9.06 billion with 2.48 billion shares traded the prior trading day.

Net foreign buying reached P631.26 million on Friday, higher than the P190.9 million net foreign buying recorded on Thursday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

TaskUs employees to receive cash bonuses, equity after successful IPO

TASKUS.COM

More than 30,000 TaskUs employees, 70% of whom are based in the Philippines, will receive either cash bonuses or equity as a result of the business process outsourcing (BPO) company’s June 11 IPO (initial public offering) in American stock exchange NASDAQ.   

Per the latest financial statement of TaskUs, the total IPO bonus amounts to $4.361 million.  Hundreds of the company’s leaders have been awarded equity while employees spread across the eight countries will receive a one-time cash bonus based on their tenure at the company.  

Valued at around $2.8 billion, TaskUs provides outsourced customer support services to companies like Uber and Netflix.  

“This company only exists because of the tireless work of our frontline teammates and incredible efforts of our support organizations from HR to IT to Finance. Without them, there would be no IPO. We wanted to ensure every TaskUs employee got a chance to participate with a bonus, and to continue our investments to support their career growth,” TaskUs Chief Executive Officer Bryce Maddock said in a press statement.   

To be launched as well is a global tuition reimbursement and professional development program for employees seeking professional and academic development. Employees can select courses as long as it is related to the skills or knowledge required for their current role or any potential career advancement within TaskUs.  

Despite the pandemic, outsourcing revenue rose 1.4% to $26.7 billion last year from the 2019 figure, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines said.  

Globally, the BPO market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% from 2021 to 2028, according to market research firm Grand View Research.  — Patricia B. Mirasol  

Student-led startup develops solar-powered ventilation system

By Brontë H. Lacsamana  

The idea for Cleenvent — an automated ventilation system that placed second out of 500 ideas this June at a student pitching competition in Indonesia — was born last year in a jeep, on a hot day in Metro Manila. 

Raven R. Anot, a mechanical engineering student at Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), wanted to make his commute via public transportation more comfortable. Why not develop a solar-powered ventilation system, he thought, for his jeepney rides.  

And why stop at jeeps when there was a pressing need for good ventilation in indoor spaces due to the coronavirus pandemic, which is transmitted through droplets suspended in air.   

His invention would use radiation from the sun to create a better air environment, lower temperatures, monitor humidity levels, increase air circulation indoors. 

Unlike the usual exhaust fans found in kitchens and restrooms, the product can be installed on either walls or ceilings with zero operating costs due to its flexible design, said Mr. Anot.  

It comes with its own solar panels, in line with the sustainable development goal (SDG) of providing access to clean and affordable energy, as a way to introduce solar power to those who can’t afford full solar panel installation at home.  

Finally, its magnetic screen filter, which collects dust and small particles from the air, can be detached and easily cleaned, doing away with the need for air ducts to be built into the wall or ceiling like usual exhaust fans, he added.  

CHASING EUREKA MOMENTS  

The Cleenvent team — composed of students, alumni, and industry partners brought together through TIP’s incubation arm Nurture Innovation Technology Revolution Office (TIP-NITRO) — improved Mr. Anot’s ventilation system based on feedback from seven homes, where the product was pilot-tested from May to July, and from the 2021 Youthpreneur in Action pitching competition in Indonesia.  

“Doon ako nae-excite, yung parang moments na meron kang natututunang bago rin, yung mga eureka moments, sabi nga nila [That’s what excites me, those moments that I also learn something new, which they call eureka moments],” Mr. Anot said, crediting  Shearyl U. Arenas, another engineer on the team and his technopreneurship professor, for encouraging him to pursue his passion. 

While Cleenvent is in phase one of its operations and still working on patents for recent innovations, that startup has already received residential and commercial pre-orders. 

“The response of the general public to our Facebook posts was overwhelming,” said Irene A. Banguilan, chief marketing officer of Cleenvent. “We are trying our best to meet the demand because we get questions every hour, so it [validates] this young generation’s ideas that are very timely.”  

THE PURSUIT FOR CLEAN AIR  

With the coronavirus pandemic making health a priority, people are looking for cost-effective solutions for removing mold, dust, allergens, and other pollutants from indoor air environments, according to Ms. Banguilan.  

“Here in Manila, if you want to breathe natural air, you need to go to places with many trees which we can’t usually access these days. With Cleenvent, the air can be purified naturally,” she added. 

There are, however, caveats. The Department of Health “does not endorse the use of necklace air purifiers that claim to kill bacteria or viruses, or protect from COVID-19.” The health agency also emphasized that these personal accessories do not replace practicing minimum health standards. 

Likewise, Dr. Gregorio Ocampo of Makati Medical Center’s (MMC) section of pulmonary medicine cautioned the public against air-purifying products in a statement this July: “Be careful of air purifiers that may produce ozone, which can damage the lungs when inhaled. It can cause coughing, throat irritation, shortness of breath, and chest pain even in low amounts.”  

Before rushing out to buy an air purifier, consumers should check the size of the room, as most air purifiers have specifications for this, the doctor reminded.  

If used properly, air purifiers can alleviate allergic reactions and asthma symptoms, and adding anti-COVID-19 defense mechanisms at home is always a welcome response to the ongoing pandemic, according to MMC.  

But, added Dr. Joseph Buensalido, of MMC’s section of infectious diseases, products like air purifiers (and UVC lamps) should only be part of a multi-faceted approach in fighting the virus. 

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