US VP Harris forges on with Vietnam trip despite mystery ‘health incident’

August 25, 2021 | 12:17 pm

HANOI — Vice President Kamala D. Harris pushed ahead with a trip to Vietnam on Tuesday after delaying the visit over concerns due to a health incident potentially related to the mysterious Havana syndrome.

Ms. Harris arrived in the Southeast Asian country’s capital after a three-hour delay in Singapore that the US government blamed on reports that someone in Hanoi may have been targeted by the Havana syndrome, a condition of unknown origin with symptoms including dizziness, nausea, migraines and memory lapses.

The incident upstaged a bid by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s top deputy to woo the allies Washington hopes will help it challenge China’s assertive foreign policy in the region.

Beijing, meanwhile, attempted to stage its own diplomatic coup with a surprise meeting in Vietnam and a donation of two million coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines to the country.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Havana syndrome case was reported in Vietnam before Ms. Harris’ departure but not confirmed. A safety assessment was done before sending Ms. Harris to the country, she said.

“The Vice President’s office was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in Hanoi,” the local US Embassy said. Some 200 US officials and kin, including Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers, have been sickened by “Havana syndrome,” CIA Director William Burns has said.

A US National Academy of Sciences panel in December found that a plausible theory is that “directed energy” beams caused the syndrome, which is so named because it first was reported by American officials based in the US embassy in Cuba in 2016.

The CIA sees a “very strong possibility” that the syndrome is intentionally caused, and that Russia could be responsible, but is withholding definitive conclusions pending further investigation. Moscow denies involvement.

VIETNAM SAYS IT PICKS NO SIDES

The incident came as Washington faces icy relations with another global competitor, China.

As Ms. Harris’s trip to Vietnam was delayed, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held the unannounced meeting with Chinese Ambassador Xiong Bo, during which Chinh said Vietnam does not align itself with one country against any other.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ms. Harris had accused Beijing of coercion and intimidation to back claims in the South China Sea, her most pointed comments on China during a visit to Southeast Asia, a region she said is critical to US security.

“The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam adheres to an independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diverse foreign policy and is a responsible member of the international community,” the Vietnamese government said in a statement.

“Vietnam does not align itself with one country against another,” it said. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea should be settled according to international law and “high-level common sense,” it said.

The US administration has called rivalry with China “the biggest geopolitical test” of the century.

“The fact that China’s ambassador insisted on a meeting with the Vietnamese prime minister shortly before Harris landed shows how anxious Beijing is that its communist neighbor may tilt toward the US,” said Murray Hiebert, a Southeast Asia expert at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies.

During the meeting, Mr. Chinh thanked the ambassador for the vaccine donation. It was not immediately clear which vaccine China had donated.

Vietnam had successfully contained the coronavirus for most of last year but since April has been dealing with a large COVID-19 outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus. Just under 2% of its 98 million people are fully vaccinated. — James Pearson and Nandita Bose/Reuters

Pozzi bathroom solutions: The future of comfort

August 25, 2021 | 12:00 pm

Pozzi is a trusted brand for all-around bathroom solutions that focuses on design, quality and functionality — an excellent choice for achieving a smart bathroom space. The modern and innovative features of each bathroom piece ensure high standard and convenience that you and your family can benefit on for generations. If you’re looking for top-notch bathroom fixtures, here are more reasons why Pozzi is a superb choice of comfort for all types of bathrooms:

Bathtubs

Pozzi bathtubs are one of the most impactful items you can add to your bathroom area. Offering an exceptional collection of bathtubs, Pozzi carries high-quality tubs, ranging from clawfoot tubs, drop-ins, free-standing, corner, and whirlpools that can guarantee a satisfying experience with every use. In addition, these tubs are ergonomically designed to consistently bring delight while adding value to your space.

Lavatory Sinks

Pozzi lavatory sinks come in a stunning selection of wall-mounted, drop-in, pedestal, corner, vessel, under-mount, and free-standing sinks. From simple and classic designs to modern ones, these sinks come in different shapes and sizes that can complement your taste as well as your bathroom interior.

Lavatory Faucets

Smooth, sleek, and stylish, Pozzi lavatory faucets are effortless to maneuver and install with unique features that improve everyday usage. For example, some faucets are designed with a smaller spray head that allows lesser water splashes in every use, while others come with an extended hose that can be pulled out and reach more areas for easier cleaning. Pozzi faucets also allow more control in terms of adjusting the water flow and temperature.

Toilets

Toilets are one of the most essential parts of any bathroom. Thoughtfully made with intelligent features and sleek designs, Pozzi toilets range in different designs like one-piece, two-piece, and wall-mounted. These toilets also come in three kinds of bowls that provide needed convenience including elongated, round, and square. Pozzi also offers different types of flushing made to conserve water and energy like single, dual, siphonic, touchless, and intelligent flushes.

Shower Enclosures

Corner shower cabins from Pozzi are a space-saving, all-in-one shower enclosure that is designed to provide a relaxing shower time. Some enclosures include intelligent features such as an electronic power control, water jet for back massage, illuminated rain shower, multi-spray telephone shower, hot and cold water mixer, foot massager, FM radio, exhaust fan, and a tempered glass with a tempered sliding door. Pozzi shower enclosures offer an optimal bath experience for all your shower needs.

Whirlpool Bathtubs

Aside from classic tubs, Pozzi also offers whirlpool tubs made for relaxing hydro massages. It is available from 2 to 4-seater tubs with whirlpool motors, superjets, mini jets, microjets, LED seven color lights, and even a multi-spray telephone shower. Whirlpool tubs are corner-type tubs that can seamlessly fit in your bathroom space without taking up necessary space.

Bathroom Cabinets

Perfect for storing all bathroom needs in one safe place, Pozzi bathroom cabinets offer a diverse range of styles, textures, and finishes that adds to the aesthetic appeal of the whole bathroom. Some cabinets also come with built-in sinks for convenient installation and better space efficiency.

Bathroom frameless mirrors

Pozzi bathroom mirrors come with a minimally designed frame with built-in lights that allow better convenience when doing your daily vanity needs. Made with functional and modern features, the lights on these mirrors are also activated through sensor touch for easier access.

Bathroom accessories

Aside from bathroom fixtures, Pozzi also offers classic and minimal-looking accessories perfect for embellishing your bathroom space. They carry bath baskets, toilet bowl brushes, bath towel holders, tumbler holders, bathrobe hooks, and corner glass shelves. These will help you store your bathroom needs more efficiently and create a complete overall look for your bathroom area.

Upgrade your bathroom space with high-quality bathroom fixtures from Pozzi, exclusively available at Wilcon Depot. You can get all these and more when you shop at any of their 68 Wilcon Depot and Wilcon Home Essentials stores nationwide or shop online at Wilcon Online Store by visiting shop.wilcon.com.ph.

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Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.

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Pfizer, Moderna get EU nod for boosting mRNA COVID-19 vaccine output

August 25, 2021 | 11:32 am

Europe’s medicines regulator has approved additional manufacturing sites for mRNA-based coronavirus vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to help boost production amid a resurgence in infections.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Tuesday its human medicines committee had approved a site at Saint Remy sur Avre in France for making the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Comirnaty.

The Delpharm-operated site will help provide up to 51 million additional doses of Comirnaty in 2021, the EMA said.

The regulator also said it had approved a new manufacturing line at BioNTech’s site at Marburg in Germany, which would help boost capacity for the vaccine’s active substance by about 410 million doses this year.

The European Union has been trying to boost and protect supplies after a rocky start to its vaccination campaign by bringing more facilities online and paying more for new COVID shots.

The EMA also gave its go-ahead for an additional site at Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States for Moderna’s vaccine and several other locations involved in testing and packaging.

The Bloomington site is operated by contract drug manufacturer Catalent Inc.

The recommendations do not require a decision by the European Commission and the sites can become operational immediately, the EMA said. — Reuters

July budget gap narrows to P121B

August 25, 2021 | 12:34 am

Government spending remained muted in July, according to data from the Bureau of the Treasury. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT narrowed its budget deficit to P121 billion in July as an uptick in revenues failed to offset muted government spending amid the pandemic, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported on Tuesday.

Preliminary BTr data showed the July fiscal deficit declined by 13.57% from the P140.2-billion shortfall recorded in July 2020 and by 19.3% from the P150-billion deficit in June.

Despite this, the seven-month budget deficit widened to P837.3 billion, up 19.5% from P700.6 billion in the same period last year.

The government runs on a budget deficit as it spends more than the revenue it generates to fund programs and projects that will stimulate economic growth.

Overall public spending inched up by 0.69% to P377.3 billion in July, which was attributed to high base effects last year when the government was still implementing its cash aid program and the timing of subsidy releases to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and National Housing Authority.

Primary spending — which is overall expenditures net of interest expenses — edged up 0.93% to P318.2 billion in July, while interest payments were flat at P59 billion.

For the seven-month period, government spending increased by 8% year on year to P2.58 trillion. Primary spending rose 8.16% to P2.316 trillion as of end-July, while interest payments grew by 8.3% to P267.6 billion “due to discounts from the reissued Fixed Rate Treasury Bonds and coupon payments from Retail Treasury Bonds issued last year and this year.”

HIGHER REVENUES
Meanwhile, revenue collections in July increased by 9.2% year on year to P256.1 billion, bringing the seven-month total to P1.746 trillion, up 3.4% year on year. This was attributed a 10% rise in tax revenue, which made up 90% of the year-to-date total.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) posted a 7.5% annual increase in collections to P170.8 billion. This helped boost the BIR’s tax take by 7.8% to P1.2 trillion in the January to July period.

On the other hand, the Bureau of Customs collected P57.2 billion in July, rising 15% from the same month a year ago. For the seven-month period, the BoC collections went up by 18.49% to P358.9 billion.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) saw its income surge by 78% to P13.6 billion in July, which it attributed to higher dividend remittances, National Government share from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and interest income from government deposits.

The BTr’s income stood at P95.2 billion for seven-month period, 50% lower than the P190.9 billion during the same period a year ago due to the base effect of higher income and dividend remittances as part of the provisions of Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan I).

NO STIMULUS
High base effects caused the deficit to narrow in July because unlike last year, the government did not implement a massive cash aid program for those affected by stringent lockdowns, UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said via Viber on Tuesday.

“No more Bayanihan stimulus and it will definitely have impact on economic recovery amidst the Delta variant risk ravaging many other economies in the region,” Mr. Asuncion said.

The government has released roughly P13 billion for cash aid to poor families in areas placed under hard lockdowns in August, while P23 billion was released for cash aid in April.

This compares with the P200-billion social amelioration program and the P50-billion wage subsidy program implemented by the government last year.

Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), said the slimmer budget deficit last month reflected improvements in the economy as the BIR and BoC reported higher collections.

“The renewed lockdowns in the National Capital Region since August could lead to increased government spending, lower tax revenue collections and wider budget deficit,” Mr. Ricafort said in an e-mailed note to journalists.

The government is expecting the deficit to reach 9.3% of GDP this year on expectations of ramped-up public spending, but Mr. Asuncion said hitting the ceiling would be a challenge due to absorptive capacity issues.

The narrower deficit was due to underspending by the government, which still had around P18 billion in unspent funds for its pandemic response, said Albay Rep. and House Ways and Means Chair Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda.

“The only consolation in lower deficit spending is that it leaves us more room for Bayanihan III. I am confident that we will have a final agreement on the matter by next week. Time, of course, is of the essence,” Mr. Salceda said.

“When we meet again, I will ask the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) about which agencies spend money the best. Ayuda (cash aid) is certainly both spent quickly and needed critically. Hence, Bayanihan III devotes P110 billion, or 65% of its total budget of P170.1 billion, on an ayuda fund that we can spend anytime an ECQ is declared,” he added.

The House of Representatives has approved the proposed P400-billion Bayanihan III stimulus program, but the Senate has remained lukewarm to the measure. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Philippines gets $2.8B in new SDRs from IMF

August 25, 2021 | 12:33 am

A participant stands near a logo of the International Monetary Fund at the annual meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Oct. 12, 2018. — REUTERS/JOHANNES P. CHRISTO/FILE PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINES will receive $2.8-billion worth of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as part of the latter’s efforts to help countries recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The IMF said in a statement it distributed around $650 billion in SDRs — the largest in its history — to its members on Monday.

“The allocation is a significant shot in the arm for the world and, if used wisely, a unique opportunity to combat this unprecedented crisis,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said.

Data from the IMF website showed the Philippines gained 1.958 billion in newly allocated SDRs on Monday. This is equivalent to about $2.777 billion, based on a social media post by the IMF Asia and Pacific.

Prior to the new allocation, the Philippines already has 837.964 million in SDRs with the IMF, bringing the cumulative total to $2.795 billion.

Member countries were allocated SDRs — the fund’s unit of exchange backed by dollars, euros, yen, sterling and yuan — in proportion to their quota shares in the IMF. The SDR valuation is calculated daily and was at $1.41847 each as of Aug. 23, based on IMF’s website.

“The SDR allocation will provide additional liquidity to the global economic system — supplementing countries’ foreign exchange reserves and reducing their reliance on more expensive domestic or external debt. Countries can use the space provided by the SDR allocation to support their economies and step up their fight against the crisis,” Ms. Georgieva said.

Around $275 billion of the SDRs will go to emerging and developing countries, of which low-income countries will receive about $21 billion, the IMF said.

“SDRs are a precious resource and the decision on how best to use them rests with our member countries. For SDRs to be deployed for the maximum benefit of member countries and the global economy, those decisions should be prudent and well-informed,” Ms. Georgieva said.

In a guidance note issued in July, the IMF said that countries can tap the newly allocated SDRs to boost reserve buffers in order to ease external financial constraint and to lower borrowing costs. These may also be exchanged into usable currencies for countries with liquidity constraints and those needing to finance additional spending during the crisis.

“Countries will need to address policy challenges related to the pandemic to prevent extended scarring, including from an increase in poverty, while being mindful of containing external financing needs and managing debt vulnerabilities,” the IMF said.

“Any use of SDR holdings should be consistent with debt sustainability and be implemented in the context of a well-defined and announced medium-term fiscal plan,” it added.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) as of end-July was at $106.548 billion, of which $1.221 billion was in the form of SDRs.

This GIR level can cover 12.1 months of imports. It is also equivalent to about 7.7 times the country’s short-term foreign debt based on original maturity and 5.1 times the short-term external debt based on residual maturity.

The BSP projects the country’s foreign exchange buffers to reach $115 billion by end-2021.

ING Bank N.V. Manila Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said the SDR boost is a welcome development as the country faces continued uncertainties from the pandemic.

“The SDR infusion will help shore up the external position of the Philippines which will go a long way to helping provide financial stability for emerging markets like the Philippines. We expect the peso to receive a short-term boost with the $2.77-billion SDRs expected to boost confidence in the country’s external buffers,” Mr. Mapa said in an e-mail.

The IMF’s last SDR distribution came in 2009 when member countries received $250 billion in SDR reserves to help ease the global financial crisis.

To spend their SDRs, countries would first have to exchange them for underlying hard currencies, requiring them to find a willing exchange partner country. — Luz Wendy T. Noble with Reuters

Gov’t seeks more loans from ADB, WB

August 25, 2021 | 12:32 am

THE PHILIPPINES is planning to tap its development partners including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB), for a combined $3.25-billion worth of loans to fund projects mostly aimed at helping the economy rebound from the pandemic.

Documents for the proposed 2022 national budget showed the government is planning to tap the ADB for additional $2 billion to finance five projects until next year.

The government is seeking a $400-million loan for the second phase of a local governance reform development program by end of the year.

For next year, the government will seek ADB financing worth $400 million each for projects supporting universal healthcare, post-pandemic employment recovery, infrastructure financing, and agriculture development.

The government will ask the World Bank for $433 million in loans to support two projects next year. This includes the $400-million program to promote competitiveness and enhance resilience to natural disasters, and $33 million to support the Education department’s program to improve teachers’ competencies.

The Philippines is also looking to tap Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a $283.65-million emergency support loan for the government’s pandemic response.

The government is also looking at tapping the Agence Francaise De Developpement (AFD) for a $181.5-million Disaster Risk Management Policy-based loan this year.

For next year, the Philippines will ask AFD for a $181.5-million climate policy-based loan and another $121 million for an infrastructure financing program.

The country is also tapping Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) for a $50-million loan to further support its pandemic response.

“Based on the composition of the loans, all multilateral packages contain support for COVID-19 response, among others. Recovery will be closely associated with the implementation of pandemic-related programs and shall be among the main drivers of the growth outlook for the Philippines,” Robert Dan J. Roces, Security Bank Corp.’s chief economist, said via Viber on Tuesday.

The government borrows from both local and foreign lenders to address the funding gap seen to hit 9.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year. As a lower-middle-income economy this year, the country has access to the concessional loans of its development partners. — BML

Pandemic threatens Asia’s progress on dev’t goals

August 25, 2021 | 12:31 am

poverty-slum-area — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

MANILA — The coronavirus pandemic may have pushed as many as 80 million people in developing Asia into extreme poverty last year, threatening to derail progress on global goals to tackle poverty and hunger by 2030, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Tuesday.

Developing Asia’s extreme poverty rate — or the proportion of its people living on less than $1.90 a day — would have fallen to 2.6% in 2020 from 5.2% in 2017 without the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the crisis likely pushed last year’s projected rate higher by about two percentage points, ADB simulations showed.

The figure could even be higher considering the inequalities in areas like health, education and work disruptions that have deepened as the COVID-19 crisis disrupted mobility and stalled economic activity, the ADB said in a flagship report on the region.

“As the socioeconomic impacts of responses to the virus continue to unfold, people already struggling to make ends meet are at risk of tipping over into a life of poverty,” the Manila-based lender said.

Among reporting economies in Asia and the Pacific, which refers to the 46 developing and three developed ADB member economies, only about one in four posted economic growth last year, it said.

As unemployment rates increased the region also lost about 8% of work hours, affecting poorer households and workers in the informal sector.

The economic damage brought about by the pandemic had further intensified the challenge of meeting global development goals adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015.

UN members unanimously passed 17 Sustainable Development Goals, known as SDGs, in 2015, creating a blueprint of ambitious tasks from ending hunger and gender inequality to expanding access to education and healthcare.

The goals had a deadline of 2030.

“Asia and the Pacific has made impressive strides, but COVID-19 has revealed social and economic fault lines that may weaken the region’s sustainable and inclusive development,” ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada said in a separate statement. — Reuters

Retention of telcos as public utility opposed

August 25, 2021 | 12:07 am

Foreign business groups say ‘liberalizing sends strong signal to investors’

FOREIGN business groups are joining local industries in opposing proposals to retain the status of the telecommunications sector as a public utility, which would limit foreign ownership in the sector.

Senate Bill 2094 could amend the Public Service Act (PSA), changing the definition of public utilities to allow more foreign investment in telecoms. The Constitution limits foreign ownership in public utilities to 40%.

The business groups expressed concerns over proposals to retain the status of telecoms they said are being considered in Senate deliberations.

The groups said that allowing foreign competition into the country would improve the quality and pricing of internet connectivity, which lags behind most Southeast Asian countries.

“The Philippines has the lowest mobile broadband subscription rate of 68 per 100 and lowest service population penetration rate of 80%. Even Cambodia and Myanmar are more advanced,” the groups said in a statement on Monday.

Business groups behind the statement include the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, and Korean chambers of commerce in the Philippines, along with the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc.

The groups added that the PSA amendments would help the country comply with commitments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to open investment in services to other members of the region.

“Liberalizing telecommunications sends a strong signal to foreign investors that the Philippines is more open and welcoming to foreign investors.”

Some senators have raised concerns on lifting the foreign ownership restriction, warning that it could threaten national security or favor a single country.

But the groups maintain that SB 2094 could protect against foreign government control of Philippine public services.

“The bill contains provisions to protect against foreign government-owned and influenced firms controlling Philippine public services by adopting national security review practices followed by major governments, including Australia, Japan, and the United States, in reviewing and approving major new foreign investments,” the groups said.

The foreign chambers join other Philippine business groups — which include the Management Association of the Philippines and the Foundation for Economic Freedom — that had written to the Senate opposing any move to retain telecoms as public utility. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Manila among cities to be served by Eve’s electric aircraft

August 25, 2021 | 12:06 am

EVE Urban Air Mobility, LLC is planning to deploy up to 100 aircraft to be marketed by Ascent Flights Global Ltd. for use in key cities in the Asia-Pacific region, including Manila.

Eve and Ascent announced on Tuesday “a deepening of their partnership aimed at developing a robust urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region,” Embraer S.A. said in a statement e-mailed to reporters.

Eve is a company under Embraer, a Brazil-based multinational aerospace manufacturer.

“Beginning in 2026, Eve will provide Ascent with up to 100,000 hours of flight time per year on its electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, also known in the market as EVA (electrical vertical aircraft), for use in key cities such as Bangkok (Thailand), Manila (Philippines), Melbourne (Australia), Singapore, and Tokyo (Japan),” Embraer said.

It also noted that Eve plans to deploy up to 100 aircraft to be marketed by Ascent, which operates as an independent on-demand platform, on its current and future routes.

Ascent, a Singapore-based start-up that powers Asian air mobility, will pay for flight time utilized on Eve’s aircraft while working with partners in the Asia-Pacific and other markets, Embraer said.

“This new agreement is part of Eve´s comprehensive UAM strategy to position the company as a leader in the industry. The deployment of Eve aircraft across the Ascent network is subject to the parties entering into definitive final agreements,” the company added.

Eve President and Chief Executive Officer Andre Stein told BusinessWorld in a recent e-mail interview that the company wants to make eVTOLs accessible to the middle-class population in the region. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Metro Pacific’s CALAX Silang East Interchange now open

August 25, 2021 | 12:05 am

MPCALA Holdings, Inc. announced on Tuesday the opening of the Silang East Interchange section of the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project.

“This afternoon… mabubuksan na po natin ang (we will open the) additional five-kilometer Silang East Interchange,” Roberto V. Bontia said at the opening ceremony of the expressway section from Silang East Interchange to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road Interchange.

Mr. Bontia is the president and general manager of MPT South Corp. and its two main expressway companies in the south of the capital — Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. and CALAX operator MPCALA Holdings.

“With the completion of the Silang East of CALAX, motorists can now travel from Mamplasan in Biñan, Laguna up to Silang East, exiting at Tibig Road, in Silang,” MPCALA Holdings said in a statement.

“The newly opened Silang East Interchange will be serving 5,000 motorists and help decongest traffic coming from Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road,” it added.

The opening of Silang East extends the operating sections of CALAX from 10 kilometers to 14.24 kilometers.

“As approved by the Toll Regulatory Board, the following toll rates at CALAX will now range from P14 to P64 for Class 1 vehicles, P29 to P128 for Class 2 vehicles, and P43 to P192 for Class 3 vehicles, depending on the vehicle’s entry and exit point,” the company said.

Once completed, the CALAX project will have interchanges at the following locations: Kawit, Governor’s Drive, Open Canal, Silang (Aguinaldo) Highway, Silang East, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Boulevard, and Laguna Technopark.

“It will cut travel time between Cavite and Laguna from two hours to under an hour,” MPCALA Holdings said.

The opening ceremony was attended by key government officials from Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, Presidential Palace, and Cavite province, among others.

MPCALA Holdings is a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin

SM says ‘Call to Deliver’ service posting double-digit growth

August 25, 2021 | 12:04 am

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) said its “Call to Deliver” service is seeing a double-digit growth amid the pandemic as it provides a personalized online shopping experience for customers given the current situation.

“Call to Deliver gives you that element of human interaction that is very important to the Filipino. We are able to offer a more personalized store experience,” SM Retail President Ponciano C. Manalo said in a statement on Tuesday.

The service is available through #143SM, Facebook Messenger, and Viber, along with video call services.

Customers may chat with personal store shoppers and have the option to have their items delivered or be picked up in-store.

It has partnered with third-party delivery companies and has also mobilized tricycle and taxi operators, as well as bicycle partners for the service, especially in provincial areas.

The SM Store offered a free delivery service to areas under the enhanced community quarantine restrictions during the lockdown that lasted until Aug. 20. It is also offering discounts to those vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) via #SMCalltoDeliver.

SMIC said the Call to Deliver service has been adopted by its retail operations as well as its affiliates.

“We will continue to evolve and be where our customers want us to be. SM Retail is investing a lot in technology to ensure the best delivery and most convenient service for an enhanced customer experience,” said Mr. Manalo.

On Tuesday, SMIC shares at the local bourse climbed 2.28% or P22.00 to finish at P987.00 each. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

There is life after live

August 25, 2021 | 12:04 am

Photo-from-live-show-in-2019-by-Michelle-Soliman — Rak of Aegis live show in 2019. — PHOTO BY MICHELLE SOLIMAN

PETA finds success with Rak of Aegis streaming

A VIDEO of aspiring singer Aileen belting out the Aegis’ hit “Basang-basa sa Ulan” under the pouring rain at her flooded home in Barangay Venezia went viral online. This year, not only did the performance video go viral, but her community’s story also reached international audiences for the first time.

PETA’s hit musical Rak of Aegis — which streamed online via ticket2me.net on July 31, Aug. 1, 7, and 8, followed by a one weekend extension on Aug 14 and 15 — sold a total of 23,962 tickets.

The PETA folks behind the streaming project said that expectations were uncertain when they decided to stream Rak of Aegis, but its potentially huge audience made an online release worth the shot.

Mitch Go, PETA’s Head of Sales, Leloi T. Arcete, the theater group’s Head of Public Relations, and Maria Gloriosa “Beng” Santos-Cabangon, its Executive Director, discussed the project with BusinessWorld via e-mail.

“There were so many unknown factors when we decided to stream Rak — and we really didn’t know what to expect. It was clear to us that Rak had a huge audience base, from our experience of running it for seven seasons prior. We also knew that many clamored for its online streaming. However, we are also aware that selling pay-per-view tickets is an unknown territory for theater, and that there’s immense competition online,” they wrote.

Prior to the end of its 7^th run, the musical had been seen by about 150,000 people over the course of more than 400 live shows. (https://www.bworldonline.com/put-another-dime-in-that-jukebox-musical/).

According to Ms. Go, Ms. Arcete, and Ms. Santos-Cabangon, their announcement on Facebook reached 800,000 people, garnering 5,000 shares and over 600 comments.

“That’s when we knew that we might stand a chance. We felt that there was a lot of excitement over the streaming, from people who saw Rak before, to new audiences who never got to see it live,” they said.

“More than the revenue and donations that came in for PETA, we were overwhelmed with the love and admiration that we received from our audiences, and the strong support from our fellow artists, partners, and the entire PETA family, and Rak community. It was really an affirmation that humble work should continue beyond COVID-19. To us, that is an inspiration to push forward despite the bleak circumstances for theater and live entertainment in general.”

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and strict lockdowns imposed in an attempt to control it, PETA had already realized that “there is life after live.” Prior to venturing into pay-per-view screenings, PETA had showcased workshops and online shows through its YouTube channel and Facebook page, drawing in an audience with the “Let’s Get Creative” workshops on acting, scriptwriting, and music production, and “Storytelling Sundays” for children. PETA had previously streamed the musical 1896, and the children’s plays Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang and William.

“When we first ventured into free and pay-per-view streaming, we have realized that the digital platform provides a unique opportunity for us to expand our audience in terms of number and geographic reach, and ultimately, go beyond the limitations of our physical spaces,” they said.

PETA’s team noted the importance of a good product offered at a correct price, promotion mobility, partnerships and people, and proper timing as being key to a successful show.

“There’s simply so many options now, ranging from the latest original TV shows and movies on-demand from entertainment and tech giants like Netflix, to emerging digital events, concerts, and shows online,” Mss. Go, Arcete, and Santos-Cabangon said.

“Rak of Aegis came at the right place and at the right time. People saw parallels of their experience with the story of Aileen and the people of Barangay Venezia. More importantly, Rak carries a message of hope that is deeply needed during these very troubling times,” they added.

After streaming Rak of Aegis online, PETA plans to make the musical available for exclusive streaming for companies and groups until the end of the year. Meanwhile, the election comedy/drama Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto is also streaming for their partner schools and institutions, as part of the voters’ education campaign “Rak the Vote.” The anthology drama on HIV, 2019’s Under My Skin, which had been shot for film, is scheduled to stream in November and December this year.

For more information about PETA’s shows and exclusive streaming, e-mail mitchgo@petatheater.com. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman