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No one is untradable. No one is safe.

THE Clippers said goodbye to yet another part of its past when it agreed to swap nine-year veteran Patrick Beverley with the Grizzlies’ Eric Bledsoe. For all his susceptibility to injury, Beverley embodied and epitomized the scrappy culture of the red and blue. Acquired from the Rockets in 2017 as part of a contingent exchanged for future Hall of Famer Chris Paul, he quickly won a spot on the regular rotation in the face of his relentless mind-set. His was the kind of character beloved at home and despised on the road, thereby making him all but indispensable.

That the Clippers saw fit to deal Beverley speaks of his diminished standing in recent memory. In part, it’s due to his frequent — if forced — absences from the lineup; the very style of play that made him invaluable to the cause likewise wound up being his handicap. In larger measure, his departure is an offshoot of the franchise’s less-than-prudent spending; he was shipped along with supposed cog Rajon Rondo and trade add-on Daniel Oturu to enable it to save a whopping $30 million in luxury tax payments, not to mention use — should it so desire — of an $8.3-million traded player exception.

To be sure, the move became a no-brainer for the Clippers given Bledsoe’s defensive predilections. And he comes at a relative bargain, as well as providing flexibility next offseason; by then, he will be in the last year of a contract that, on paper, will pay him $19.3 million, but that guarantees him only $3.9 million. Meanwhile, Beverley, whose role he is slated to take over, is two years older at 33 and fresh off a campaign spent half the time on the sidelines.

If the arrangement takes on a “What have you done for me lately?” complexion, it’s because reality has long trumped sentiment. Three and a half years ago, the Clippers parted ways with supposed cornerstone Blake Griffin in order to claim a brighter future. Even as they have remained snakebitten since then, there can be no doubting the front office’s capacity to explore all opportunities. No one is untradable. No one is safe.

Beverley will be missed, but not for long. And the Clippers don’t figure to go deep in the playoffs even with the more reliable Bledsoe suiting up for them. That said, the turn of events was inevitable, especially in a year sans top dog Kawhi Leonard. The hardware comes off as impossible. The savings come off as prudent.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

‘Weird’ and ‘necessary’ — social media influencers on the BIR memo  

PIXABAY

Social media influencers said that the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) memorandum reminding them to pay taxes comes at a suspicious time, days after the Commission on Audit (CoA) flagged “various deficiencies” in the Department of Health’s (DoH) funds worth P67.3 billion — but that the memo was also necessary. 

Isabela Maria D.P. Borres, an actor who has more than 400,000 followers in her monetized Instagram account, said that it was “weird” that the BIR released a clarificatory memo following the DoH’s budgeting issue: “It’s weird na ni-release yung ganyan after nag-release na yung DoH na may budget na ’di na-pu-put into use nang maayos.”  

“I’m sure that I’m paying taxes,” she said over the phone, adding that she has a personal accountant to handle her tax affairs and that it’s important to pay taxes regardless of where they go. “Kung ayaw makulong, kailangan magbayad ng tax.”  

Social media influencers can make P30,000 per post — or much more depending on their clout. 

Nicole Alba, a Generation-Z YouTuber with 287,000 subscribers, acknowledged that the BIR had reason to release the memo. 

“Unfortunately, I don’t think most influencers pay their taxes, so I thought the reminder was necessary on BIR’s end,” she said. “I personally am registered and pay my taxes on my social media earnings,” she added. 

The personal finance enthusiast told BusinessWorld that she pays her taxes through Taxumo, an online tax compliance tool. 

CLARIFICATIONS NEEDED

An expatriate vlogger with over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, meanwhile, said it is interesting how the BIR declared that content created in the Philippines is now considered “Philippine-derived income.”  

“I’m speaking with my attorney now about the implications of this Memorandum on my tax liability,” he said.

While he welcomes the affirmation that vlogging and social media influencing is a legitimate occupation for resident aliens, he also wants a clarification on the correct process of being registered with the BIR and/or the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 

“Can a foreigner be the 100% owner of a sole proprietorship related to social media? Or should I register as a profession?” he asked in an email to BusinessWorld. “I want to comply with the laws of the country, but it is difficult when one government department says one thing, and another is not on the same page! I really hope that the BIR and DTI can clarify that.” 

In a statement released Aug. 19, the Creator and Influencer Council of the Philippines (CICP) similarly welcomed the Circular, as it gave a general overview of all the tax rules and regulations applicable to the organization’s members.

CICP, founded by digital veteran Donald Lim, is composed of more than a hundred influencers, including Erwann A. Heussaff, Carlo Ople, and JJ M. Disini, Jr.

“It is imperative among us, as citizens, to do our part by paying proper taxes. We view the Circular as an opportunity to exemplify the importance we give to paying taxes, and show others that we view it as a patriotic duty that any responsible citizen should fulfill,” the CICP said.

CICP added that it hopes the BIR introduces mechanisms to ease the burden of tax compliance for influencers, as well as everyone else who conducts their business digitally.

In addition to welcoming dialogue with BIR, the CICP also said it is creating a Code of Ethics “centered around content standards, fair dealing, transparency, social responsibility, and compliance with law.”

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

Social media influencers can earn on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, where revenues are proportional to an influencer’s followers and views. To be accepted into YouTube’s Partner Program, influencers need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months. 

Influencer Marketing Hub’s YouTube calculator estimates that the average YouTuber generates $7.60 per 1,000 views with 45% of that revenue going to Google. 

If the earnings qualify to pay taxes, it is only right to start paying for them, said Lisa Marie M. Sicad, who runs the vlog Pinay Travelista. “Influencers fall under the professional category, like doctors, real estate brokers, etc.,” she told BusinessWorld in a Facebook message. 

She also pointed out the practical aspect of being registered with the BIR: “Most big brands work with those who can issue receipts din, mas madali [as it’s easier] for them to do the accounting. It’s a win-win-win for everyone if the influencer wants to earn more through brand deals.” 

 — Patricia B. Mirasol and Brontë H. Lacsamana

Additional clinical trial volunteers for COVID-19 oral pill sought 

REUTERS

Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) has been added as a clinical trial site for molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral pill being evaluated for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Both QMMC and the Lung Center of the Philippines are looking to recruit 10 clinical trial volunteers. 

 To volunteer, one must  

  • have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 5 days   
  • have at least one of the following mild to moderate symptoms: cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, fatigue, fever of at least 38 degrees Celsius, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of smell, loss of taste  
  • not have been to the hospital due to COVID-19 and does not plan to go to the hospital in the next 48 hours  
  • have at least one characteristic or underlying medical condition associated with an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19: more than 60 years old, active cancer, chronic kidney disease (excluding patients on dialysis), obesity, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease   
  • be at least 18 years old  
  • not have been vaccinated by any COVID-19 vaccine   

Excluded are those who present severe and critical symptoms such as shortness of breath at rest, heart rate of more than 125 beats per minute, respiratory rate of more than 30 breaths per minute  

HOW THE DRUG WORKS 
The drug’s mechanism of action is to insert itself in the COVID-19 virus, said Dr. Mary Ann Galang-Escalona, country medical lead, MSD in the Philippines, in a Tuesday webinar. MSD (known as Merck in the United States and Canada) and Miami-based Ridgeback Biotherapeutics developed the drug, which entered Phase 3 clinical trials this June.  

“If you’re given it early in the course of the disease,” she said, “it can cause a viral error catastrophe. It’s a phenomenon where the drug inserts itself into the body of the virus. What happens is that all copies of that virus become defective, which means the virus will not cause further severity of the disease for that person.”  

The difference between the pill and a vaccine, Dr. Galang-Escalona explained, is that the pill itself will not trigger an antibody response. “It aims to address current infection, but not prevent a future one,” she said.   

Those who participate in the clinical trial will be given the trial drug or a placebo to take by mouth every 12 hours for five days.   

QMMC’s Dr. Joel M. Santiaguel said volunteers will be monitored via site visits, home visits, and virtual visits for up to seven months. “We’ll be getting blood for testing, performing RT-PCR (real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), and interviewing patients for safety issues,” he said.   

“Patients can choose to discontinue the trial at any time for any reason,” added Dr. Virginia S. Delos Reyes of the Lung Center, which started its trial on May 17 and has already completed the trial on 15 patients.  

Worldwide, the clinical trial has already reached 50% of its target number of participants. The panelists hope that the drug will be rolled out within the year.  

“It will depend on the interim analysis we are submitting to the Food and Drug Administration for the US’s Emergency Use Authorization,” Dr. Galang-Escalona said. “We are hoping for a merry Christmas.”  

Those interested in the clinical trial can contact Dr. Virginia S. Delos Reyes at the Lung Center of the Philippines, 0917-899-9610; or Dr. Joel M. Santiaguel at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, 0917-841-3314. — Patricia B. Mirasol

Meal replacement targets diabetics

PIXABAY

We know that it might be easy to constantly give in to one’s urges especially during such trying times, but if one wants to get past this pandemic, surely it’s in our best interests to take care of our bodies? A meal replacement product called Diabetasol from Kalbe International, the makers of Extrajoss energy drink, says it can help with keeping diabetics nourished through the pandemic (while also helping those on the path to diabetes).   

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms can be worse and can lead to more life-threatening situations when an infected person has pre-existing health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation said in an article, “Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the COVID-19 virus. When people with diabetes develop a viral infection, it can be harder to treat due to fluctuations in blood glucose levels and, possibly, the presence of diabetes complications.” It continues: “There appear to be two reasons for this. Firstly, the immune system is compromised, making it harder to fight the virus and likely leading to a longer recovery period. Secondly, the virus may thrive in an environment of elevated blood glucose.”   

The federation defines diabetes as “a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces.” This occurs due to genetics, lifestyle choices, age, and many other factors. Complications include (according to the American Diabetes Association) eye problems, skin complications (such as impaired healing), neuropathy, an increased risk of stroke, and cardiovascular disease. In the Philippines, diabetes was the fourth leading cause of death (with a body count of 37,300, ranking below ischemic heart diseases, cancer, and cerebrovascular diseases) in 2020, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.   

Diabetasol is a meal replacement nutrition powder with 11 vitamins and minerals, counting Vitamins A, C, D, E, and Zinc. It helps regulate blood sugar and hunger pangs because it has VitaDigest, a combination of inulin fiber and slow-digesting carbohydrates. It comes in three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and cappuccino; in four sizes: 180 gm, 360 gm, 600 gm, and 800 gm. These range in price from P299 to P889.   

Kalbe International has its headquarters in Indonesia and has a presence in Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Nigeria; among others. According to the brand, Diabetasol can be taken twice a day as a meal replacement, best taken in the morning and evening.   

“As a meal replacement, one serving is equal to 260 kcal, which can replace a full meal following a recommended 1,500 kcal meal plan for diabetics,” they said. Formulating a meal plan including Diabetasol is a discussion best left to a healthcare provider or a registered nutritionist-dietitian, said the brand.    

However, the powder isn’t limited for diabetics: it can also be used as a meal replacement by those who are at risk for diabetes, and for those aiming to lose weight. A Kalbe representative said in an e-mail to BusinessWorld that a serving of Diabetasol (four scoops in a 250 mL glass) can already stand in for one meal, and its Vita Digest ingredient prolongs the feeling of satiety.   

Diabetasol is available in supermarkets, and online through Lazada and Shopee. — JLG  

Globe bests competition on 5G with over 770K devices connected to network

Globe’s aggressive expansion of its 5G network in more areas across the country has resulted in a richer, fuller experience for customers benefiting from the advantages and opportunities offered by the latest global wireless standard.

The country’s mobile leader has more than 770,000 5G devices connected to its network as of June 2021, beating competition’s 520,000 as reported.

“This number is a validation that we are doing the right thing when it comes to our efforts in making 5G technology more pervasive and accessible to our customers. It is also proof that a growing number of our customers now realize the promises of 5G to deliver a better mobile experience,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.

5G is the fifth generation mobile network. It promises unbeatable speeds and almost real-time latency, opening a world of countless possibilities that Filipinos can look forward to as more and more areas are transformed into 5G-powered smart cities, delivering new experiences in retail, entertainment, gaming and healthcare.

Devices on the network will be able to work en masse in large crowds and transfer information in a fraction of the time. A customer can download a two-hour movie in just seconds on a 5G network compared to several minutes on a 4G network. Due to Globe’s relentless expansion, at least 92 percent of the National Capital Region now has Globe 5G outdoor coverage. In Visayas, 5G is now accessible in 85 percent of Cebu City; 77 percent of Boracay Island; 75 percent of Bacolod City and 66 percent of Iloilo City. Globe also has 5G coverage in 77 percent of Davao City and 80 percent of Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao.  More 5G network rollouts are underway including the installation of seven new 5G cell towers in General Santos City and four more in Zamboanga City.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and contributes to the 10 UN SDGs.

To know more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Japan to extend COVID-19 emergency lockdown as cases surge

TOKYO – Japan was set on Tuesday to extend its state of emergency in Tokyo and other regions to Sept. 12 and widen curbs to seven more prefectures, as COVID–19 cases spike in the capital and nationwide, burdening the medical system.

The current state of emergency is due to expire on Aug. 31, but a continuing surge in coronavirus cases has spurred calls to extend it. Tokyo announced 2,962 new daily cases on Monday, after a record 5,773 on Friday.

The government will expand the state of emergency to the prefectures of Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of Japan‘s pandemic response, told reporters.

“Many experts expressed an extremely strong sense of crisis about the medical care situation and the status of infections,” Nishimura said after getting approval from a panel of public health advisers for the government’s plan.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to formally announce the move later on Tuesday and then hold a news conference at 9:00 p.m. (1200 GMT) to explain the decision.

The coronavirus curbs include asking restaurants to close early and stop serving alcohol in exchange for a government subsidy.

The expert advisers also approved the government’s plan to expand less strict “quasi-emergency” measures to 10 additional prefectures, Nishimura said.

Dai-ichi Life Research Institute estimated in a report the government’s extended and expanded state of emergency would lead to a total economic loss of about 1.2 trillion yen ($10.98 billion) and could slash 66,000 jobs.

That was about 60% higher than an expected economic loss of about 750 billion yen if the emergency remained at its current scope and schedule.

Repeated states of emergency have had limited effect in slowing the spread of the virus in Japan as cooperation is voluntary.

Pandemic fatigue and summer vacations have also been blamed for contributing to the latest COVID–19 surge in a nation where only around 37% of people have been fully vaccinated. – Reuters

Hong Kong’s Lam tells solicitors’ group to stay out of politics

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s government may cut ties with one of the city’s key legal profession associations if it gets involved in politics, leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday in her latest warning to civil society groups.

Ms. Lam‘s comments come before an Aug. 24 election for five seats on the council of Hong Kong’s Law Society, the professional association and regulator for the city’s 12,000 solicitors.

Ms. Lam said in April the government could intervene if necessary in the Bar Association for barristers, whose chairman Paul Harris has been labelled an “anti-China” politician by top Beijing officials after he criticised jail terms handed to some pro-democracy politicians.

Although the Law Society is seen as more conservative than the Bar Association, debates in its recent elections have focused on a more liberal agenda. This year, four of the candidates are considered outspoken, raising fears among some government officials of a political agenda.

“If the Law Society’s professionalism is trumped by politics, the government will consider cutting ties with it,” Ms. Lam told reporters at her regular weekly news conference.

On Saturday, China’s People Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, called on the Law Society not to become a “politicised group” and show it was different than the Bar Association, which it described as a “running rat.”

“While there may be some different political views on the Council, even if the four of us all win, the balance will be held by those who are really politically neutral and will not allow the Council to be outspoken in a way that would cause concern to the government,” candidate Jonathan Ross said.

Key institutions of Hong Kong’s civil society have disbanded in the past week, citing political pressure, further cementing the former British colony’s authoritarian turn since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in June 2020.

Civil Human Rights Front, the pro-democracy group that organises Hong Kong’s annual July 1 rally and galvanized millions to take part in street protests in 2019, said on Saturday it had disbanded.

The Professional Teachers’ Union, which had around 95,000 members, said last Tuesday it would disband after criticism by Chinese state media and Hong Kong authorities.

The democracy movement in the city has crumbled in the past year, with the most prominent activists and politicians in prison or in self-exile and popular anti-government tabloid Apple Daily forced to close amid a national security probe.

Ms. Lam also said on Tuesday she did not have an explicit timetable for the implementation in Hong Kong of a mainland Chinese law that retaliates against foreign sanctions. – Reuters

China issues draft rules banning unfair competition in the internet sector

STOCK PHOTO

SHANGHAI – Chinese regulators on Tuesday issued a lengthy set of draft regulations for the internet sector, banning unfair competition and restricting the use of user data, the latest move in a crackdown on the country’s powerful tech companies.

China has been tightening its grip on internet platforms, citing the risk of abusing market power to stifle competition, misuse of consumers’ information and violation of consumer rights.

It has issued hefty fines to companies including e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and social media company Tencent Holdings in recent months.

Shares in Hong Kong-listed internet stocks fell following the rules‘ publication. Video platform Bilibili Inc fell more than 5%, while Tencent, Alibaba, and food-delivery service Meituan dropped 3.5%, 2.6%, and 1.4%, respectively.

Internet operators “must not implement or assist in the implementation of unfair competition on the Internet, disrupt the order of market competition, affect fair transactions in the market,” the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) wrote in the draft, which it published on its website.

Specifically, the regulator stated, business operators should not use data or algorithms to hijack traffic or influence users’ choices. They may also not use technical means to illegally capture or use other business operators’ data.

Companies would also be barred from fabricating or spreading misleading information to damage the reputation of competitors and need to stop marketing practices like fake reviews and coupons or “red envelopes” used to entice positive ratings.

The draft rules also called for a ban on “two-choose-one,” a practice e-commerce companies used to ban merchants from listing on rival platforms.

The rules are currently open to public feedback before a Sept. 15 deadline. SAMR has imposed various restrictions and punishments on tech giants in an effort to restrict anti-competitive or monopolistic behaviour.

In April, following a months-long probe, SAMR fined Alibaba a record $2.5 billion for engaging in unfair competition.

In July, the regulator ordered Tencent to end exclusive licenses for certain songs on its music streaming service, and also blocked a an merger between two game streaming companies Tencent had led. – Reuters

Malala Yousafzai urges world leaders to take urgent action on Afghanistan

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said she was deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, particularly the safety of women and girls, and called on Monday for world leaders to take urgent action.

Ms. Yousafzai said U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. “has a lot to do” and must “take a bold step” to protect the Afghan people, adding she had been trying to reach out to several global leaders.

“This is actually an urgent humanitarian crisis right now that we need to provide our help and support,” Ms. Yousafzai told BBC Newsnight.

Ms. Yousafzai, 23, survived being shot in the head by a Pakistani Taliban gunman in 2012, after she was targeted for her campaign against its efforts to deny women education.

She had become known as an 11-year-old, writing a blog under a pen name for the BBC about living under the rule of the Pakistani Taliban.

“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan right now, especially about the safety of women and girls there,” Ms. Yousafzai told Newsnight.

“I had the opportunity to talk to a few activists in Afghanistan, including women’s rights activists, and they are sharing their concern that they are not sure what their life is going to be like.”

Ms. Yousafzai said she had sent a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan asking him to admit Afghan refugees and ensure that all refugee children “have access to education, have access to safety and protection, that their futures are not lost.”

Ms. Yousafzai moved to England after she was shot, where she received medical treatment and last year graduated from Oxford University with a Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree. – Reuters

Sen. Villar sets out a mission to save planet Earth, pushes for more protected areas under E-NIPAS

“We are very happy to come up with this legislation ensuring protection for more areas in our megadiverse country. We have to take action about this protection because any damage or loss will cost too much for a country such as ours.”

A staunch environmentalist, Senator Cynthia A. Villar has been leading the campaign in the conservation of the environment to even hold at bay climate change that could endanger all forms of life on earth.

The senator has embarked on legislation to protect and conserve biodiversity.

Protecting the environment and preserving ecosystems

Sen. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, noted that under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, it is a declared state policy that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, in line with safeguarding a healthful ecology.

She said the Constitution likewise mandates that Congress shall determine the national parks, which shall be conserved and may not be increased nor diminished except by law.

NIPAS Act builds system of protected areas

The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) was established by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 7586 on June 1, 1992, as amended by RA No. 11038, known as the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018.

The NIPAS Act of 2018 provides the state policy “to secure for the Filipino people of present and future generations the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals through the establishment of comprehensive system of integrated Protected Areas (PAs).”

Under Sec.3 of the NIPAS Act, there are at least seven categories of PAs. They are the Strict Nature Reserve, Natural Park, Natural Monument, Wildlife Sanctuary, Protected Landscapes and Seascapes, Resource Reserve and Natural Biotic Areas. Other categories established by law, conventions or international agreements which the Philippine government is a signatory.

Because of this, Sen. Villar cited the need for stricter implementation of environmental laws especially in protected areas that serve as natural habitats for wildlife, including endangered animals that contribute significantly to biodiversity.

Sen. Villar asserted they should not be damaged or destroyed, but protected instead, not only for the animals’ sake but for our sake as well.

13 Protected Areas under Original NIPAS Act

Region Protected Areas Province
2 1.     Bangan Hill National Park N.Vizcaya
2.     Batanes Landscape and Seascape Batanes
3.     Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park Isabela
4A 4.     Mt. Banahaw – San Cristobal Protected Landscape Laguna & Quezon
4B 5.     Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Palawan
6 6.   Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Negros Occidental
7.     Sagay Marine Reserve Negros Occidental & Oriental
7 8.     Central Cebu Protected Landscape Cebu City
10 9.     Mt. Malindang Natural Park Misamis Occidental
10. Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park Bukidnon
11. Mimbilisan Protected Landscape (protected landscape), Misamis Oriental Misamis Oriental
11 12. Mt. Apo Natural Park Davao del sur
13. Mt. Hamimguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary Davao Oriental

Warnings vs environmental destruction

Despite the Philippines being biodiversity-rich, the country is also among the world’s biodiversity hot spots or those areas experiencing high rates of habitat loss.

Expanding NIPAS Act

Due to this, Sen. Villar led legislative efforts to amend RA 7586 or the National NIPAS Act of 1992. She was principal sponsor of RA 11038 or the law expanding the National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) that President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law last June 22, 2018.

The law provides the legal framework for the establishment and management of protected areas in the country. NIPAS refers to the classification and administration of all designated protected areas to preserve genetic diversity and to maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent possible. The Expanded NIPAS Act was passed in 2017 to include more areas.

The Expanded NIPAS Law facilitated the legislation of 94 more protected areas through the effort of Sen. Villar:

To date, Sen. Villar said there are 107 protected areas in the country that have been so declared through legislation.

Sen. Villar said at least six of these are internationally recognized: RAMSAR Sites: Las Piñas Parañaque Wetland Park, Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Tubbataha Reefs. Heritage Sites: Mount Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok and Mount Iglit-Baco. Malaysia-Philippines Heritage Parks: Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area.

However, based on the records and suitability, assessments by the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the DENR, she emphasized there are still numerous sites in the country that have to be given ‘protected area’ status.

94 Protected Areas under Republic Act 11038 or E-NIPAS

Region Name of Protected Area Province
1 1 Kalbario-Patapat Natural Park Ilocos Norte
2 Libunao Protected Landscape Ilocos Norte
3 Bessang Pass Natural Monument/Landmark Ilocos Sur
4 Bigbiga Protected Landscape Ilocos Sur
5 Lidlidda Banayoyo Protected Landscape Ilocos Sur
6 Salcedo Protected Landscape (formerly Sta. Lucia Protected Landscape) Ilocos Sur
7 Agoo Damortis Protected Landscape and Seascape La Union
8 Manleluag Spring Protected Landscape Pangasinan
2 9 Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Cagayan
10 Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape Cagayan
11 Tumauini Watershed Natural Park Isabela
12 Salinas Natural Monument Nueva Vizcaya
13 Casecnan Protected Landscape Quirino, Nueva Vizacaya, and Aurora
3 14 Amro River Protected Landscape Aurora
15 Dinadiawan River Protected Landscape Aurora
16 Simbahan Talagas Protected Landscape Aurora
17 Talaytay Protected Landscape Aurora
18 Bataan Natural Park Bataan
19 Roosevelt Protected Landscape Bataan
20 Masinloc and Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape Zambales
NCR 21 Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA), also known as Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park Las Piñas City and Parañaque City
22 Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Quezon City
4A 23 Mts. Palay-Palay-Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape Batangas and Cavite
24 Taal Volcano Protected Landscape Batangas and Cavite
25 Buenavista Protected Landscape Quezon
26 Maulawin Spring Protected Landscape Quezon
27 Quezon Protected Landscape Quezon
28 Hinulugang Taktak Protected Landscape Rizal
29 Pamitinan Protected Landscape Rizal
30 Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape Rizal
4B 31 Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary Marinduque
32 Apo Reef Natural Park Occidental Mindoro
33 Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary Occidental Mindoro
34 Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park Occidental and Oriental Mindoro
35 Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park Romblon
5 36 Mt. Mayon National Park Albay
37 Ticao Burias Pass Protected Seascape Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon
38 Abasig-Matogdon-Mananap Natural Biotic Area Camarines Norte
39 Bicol Natural Park Camarines Sur
40 Buhi Wildlife Sanctuary Camarines Sur
41 Lagonoy Natural Biotic Area Camarines Sur
42 Malabungot Protected Landscape Camarines Sur
43 Mt. Isarog Natural Park Camarines Sur
44 Catanduanes Natural Park Catanduanes
45 Bongsanglay Natural Park Masbate
46 Bulusan Volcano Natural Park Sorsogon
6 47 North west Panay Peninsula Natural Park Aklan and Antique
48 Sibalom Natural Park Antique
49 Northern Negros Natural Park Negros Occidental
7 50 Albuquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected Landscape and Seascape Bohol
51 Chocolate Hills Natural Monument Bohol
52 Panglao Island Protected Seascape Bohol
53 Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape Bohol
54 Talibon Group of Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Bohol
55 Camotes Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Cebu
56 Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary Cebu
57 Tañon Strait Protected Seascape Cebu, Negros Occidental and Oriental
58 Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Negros Oriental
59 Balisasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park Negros Oriental
8 60 Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape and Seascape Leyte
61 Lake Danao Natural Park Leyte
62 Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park Leyte
63 Guiuan Marine Resource Protected Landscape and Seascape Eastern Samar
64 Biri Larosa Protected Landscape and Seascape Northern Samar
65 Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape Samar
66 Samar Island Natural Park Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar
9 67 Basilan Natural Biotic Area Basilan
68 Aliguay Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Iablea City
69 Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary Tawi-Tawi
70 Great and Little Sta. Cruz Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Zamboanga City
71 Pasonanca Natural Park Zamboanga City
72 Jose Rizal Memorial Protected Landscape Zamboanga del Norte
73 Murcielagos Protected Landscape and Seascape Zamboanga del Norte
74 Selinog Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Zamboanga del Norte
75 Siocon Resource Reserve Zamboanga del Norte
76 Dumanquillas Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape Zamboanga del Sur
77 Mt. Timolan Protected Landscape Zamboanga del Sur
78 Buug Natural Biotic Area Zamboanga Sibugay
10 79 Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park Bukidnon
80 Mt. Timpoong Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument Camiguin
81 Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park Lanao del Norte
82 Baliangao Protected Landscape and Seascape Misamis Occidental
83 Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape Misamis Oriental
84 Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park Misamis Oriental
11 85 Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape Compostela Valley
86 Mainit Hot Spring Protected Landscape Compostela Valley
87 Aliwagwag Protected Landscape Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley
88 Mati Protected Landscape Davao Oriental
89 Pujada Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape Davao Oriental
12 90 Saragani Bay Protected Seascape General Santos City and Sarangani
91 Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape South Cotabato and Sarangani
13 92 Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Agusan del Sur
93 Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Surigao del Norte
94 Tinuy-An Falls Protected Landscape Surigao del Sur

 

Sen. Villar said additional six protected areas to be legislated by the Senate Committee on Environment which she chaired during the 18th Congress. These are:

Region Protected Areas Province
CAR/R2 1.     Mount Pulag Benguet, Ifugao and N. Vizcaya
2.     Banao Protected Landscape Kalinga
1 3.     Tirad Pass Protected Landscape Ilocos Sur
3 4.     Mount Arayat Protected Landscape Pampanga
6 5.     Sicogon Island Wildlife Sanctuary Iloilo
9 6.   Naga-Kabansalan Protected Landscape Zamboanga Sibugay

Mount Pulag, Banao, Tirad Pass, Mount Arayat, and Naga-Kabasalan are all protected landscapes while Sicogon is a wildlife sanctuary.

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Tata Consultancy Services: A growth and transformation partner of Filipino enterprises

As Filipino enterprises work towards growth and transformation, they can find a partner in Tata Consultancy Services, Inc. (TCS), a multinational company from India.

TCS has been helping the country since 2008 through its products, models, and expertise involving business and technology. Currently, the company has more than 4,500 employees in its three offices in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig and one in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Worldwide, TCS is known for its consulting-led approach to the enterprise value chain and domain-led organization structure that lets the clients access particular industry solutions in a single window. It also forms teams tailored around the domain and technology needs of the clients.

Ensuring the delivery of services is the company’s significant investment in digital platforms and products. It also partnered with business software providers, niche technology developers, and platform and IT infrastructure vendors.

With such solutions, TCS has been supporting various industries in the Philippines. TCS HOBS, for example, serves as a platform for subscription, data, and device management offered in a SaaS model for its partner telcos and broadband providers. Financial services, meanwhile, benefited through TCS Bancs, a product suite designed for the sector to improve end customer experience and enable them to adopt open and innovative technologies. And as a leader in Worldwide SAP S/4HANA application services, TCS effectively implemented SAP S/4HANA to several large companies in the country.

TCS also assures to continue supporting its clients in their mission-critical operations, and growth and transformation journeys even amid the pandemic by creating Secure Borderless Workspaces™ (SBWS™), its new operating model that also prioritizes the health and well-being of its employees.

The SBWS™ encompasses human functions such as infrastructure; talent management and employee engagement; processes, tools, and governance mechanisms; and collaboration and engagement practices.

Furthermore, as TCS Philippines trains the local talent pool and establishes Center of Excellence servicing global clients, it leverages the multinational company’s over 500,000 professionals, who contain abilities across information technology, infrastructure services, and business processes.

TCS Philippines aims to consistently invest in fostering local competency maximizing the global talent to present value-add services and support clients around the world.

Such expertise of TCS in the said fields does not stop at providing advanced and specially made solutions to clients. It further helps to shape the digital future of the Philippines through its goIT program, an initiative acting out Tata Group’s philosophy of creating sustainable businesses that are deep-seated in the community.

The company launched goIT in the country last year for students, especially those from local communities in remote areas. It aims to enlighten students on computer science, encourage them to take up STEM education, and eventually become technology leaders in the future.

Moreover, in the time ahead, TCS sees the accelerating need for technology investments to strengthen operations and enrich customer experience in digital channels. It also looks forward to the rapidly evolving business landscape. Thus, at present, the company works as a visionary to empower that future.

SLMC Bonifacio Global city MAB Corp. announces schedule of stockholders’ meeting

SLMC Bonifacio Global City MAB Corp.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS

To:                     The Stockholders
From:                 The Corporate Secretary

Please be notified that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of SLMC Bonifacio Global City MAB Corp. (the “Corporation”) will be held on September 8, 2021, 12:00 noon through teleconference. The access to the meeting and the relevant Definitive Information Statement, Management Report, Annual Report (SEC Form 17-A) will be distributed prior to the meeting.

CONRADOS.DARSANTOS
Corporate Secretary

 
 
 
 
 

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
September 8, 2021
12:00 noon
Through teleconference

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order
  2. Certification of Notice and Quorum
  3. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held on September 9, 2020
  4. President’s Report
  5. Financial Report
  6. Election of Directors
  7. Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for Year Ended December 31, 2020
  8. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
  9. Ratification of Acts of Management and Board of Directors
  10. Appointment of External Auditor
  11. Other Matters
  12. Adjournment
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