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Dialysis patients advised to get COVID jabs ‘right now’

DOCTORS encouraged Filipinos with chronic kidney disease — especially dialysis patients and transplant recipients — to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). “The best vaccine is the one you can get right now,” said Dr. Marichel Pile-Coronel, head of the Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, at a recent forum on kidney health.

“Vaccines are responsible for making antibodies, which then become our body’s frontliners that will fight infections like measles, mumps, hepatitis B, smallpox, pneumonia, polio, and tetanus. COVID-19 is now one of the infections that we can fight using vaccines,” she added.

Dr. Pile-Coronel also emphasized that authorized COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of type or brand, are effective in providing immunity and protection against coronavirus.

While there is no data regarding “the best time” for dialysis patients to be vaccinated, Dr. Pile-Coronel shared that many opt to get their shots after dialysis so that they can immediately go home and rest. Side effects, she added, are the same for those who suffer from kidney disease and those who don’t — muscle pain, fever, and, very rarely, allergic reactions.

“Comorbidities do heighten risks, but everyone should just be proactive,” Dr. Pile-Coronel said. 

Common signs and symptoms for kidney disease include swelling of body parts; and changes in the color, consistency, and smell of urine. The forum was held in line with National Kidney Month. — B. H. Lacsamana

UnionBank’s SeekCap partners with Maxicare to provide MSME loans

SEEKCAP, the online lending platform of UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc., will offer loans to small businesses that have healthcare plans with Maxicare HealthCare Corp.

The new deal will allow Maxicare users, particularly micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), to avail of credit ranging from P50,000 to P1 million, UnionBank said in a statement.

Maxicare has a set of health management organization (HMO) plans tailored for MSMEs that have a workforce of three to 99 employees. These plans also cover the dependents of employees in small businesses.

“This partnership will enable continued business growth for MSMEs while keeping the best asset of every business — its employees — a priority,” UnionBank said.

The loan offerings for MSMEs will have a repayment period of over 36 months.

The loan application with SeekCap as well as approval are done online, reducing processing time and borrowing costs, the bank said.

“By removing the need for physical paperwork and personal appearances at the bank, approvals that used to take days or weeks, are now completed within a single day,” UnionBank said.

Online lending marketplace SeekCap has over 40,000 MSMEs registered on the platform and has processed over P2 billion in business loans since it was launched in 2019.

Its parent UnionBank saw its net profit climb by 78% year on year to P4.7 billion in the first quarter, backed by an improvement in its risk profile and stronger capital buffers.

Shares of the Aboitiz-led bank closed at P77 apiece on Tuesday, down by 50 centavos from its previous finish. — LWTN

AC Energy’s 120-MW solar plant in Laguna starts commercial run

AC Energy’s 120 MW Gigasol Alaminos, Laguna

AC Energy Corp. said on Tuesday that its 120-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Alaminos, Laguna started commercial operations and is now supplying renewable energy to the grid.

The Ayala-led listed firm touts “GigaSol Alaminos” as the second largest plant of its kind in the country, adding that it can power around 80,000 homes while avoiding 111,034.37 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases.

“We are pleased to add much needed capacity to the grid as electricity supply remains tight,” AC Energy President and Chief Executive Officer John Eric T. Francia said.

AC Energy also said it partnered up with building and housing solutions provider Green Antz Builders Inc. to collect 32,540 kilograms of plastic from the packaging materials of the solar panels. The plastic waste was subsequently upcycled into eco-bricks and incorporated into building facilities within the plant.

GigaSol Alaminos has a tree nursery that targets to produce 120,000 seedlings in three years. It is surrounded by Ayala Land, Inc.’s Carbon Forest, a woodland reserve that acts as a “carbon trap.”

“AC Energy’s robust line up of projects allows it to play an integral role in the green-led recovery, which is especially critical as the economy gradually reopens and demand for power picks up,” Mr. Francia said.

AC Energy aspires to become the largest listed renewables platform in the region as it has targeted to reach an attributable capacity of 5,000 MW by 2025.

As of May, the company’s power assets in the Philippines had a net attributable capacity of 1,200 MW, of which more than half or 56% come from renewable sources.

AC Energy shares at the local bourse improved 1.19% or 10 centavos to finish at P8.50 apiece on Tuesday. — Angelica Y. Yang

Escuela Taller starts La Loma Chapel conservation

La Loma Conservation Launch

IN order to save La Loma chapel from further deterioration the Diocese of Kalookan has partnered with Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation Inc. to undertake conservation work.

The plan for this restoration project dates back in 2017 when Bishop Pablo Virgilio David approached Escuela Taller for assistance in removing the heavy plant growth on the walls of the old cemetery chapel.

The current project will begin with the restoration of the chapel’s facade. After documentation and a survey of the chapel to assess its condition, the next step will be to remove the plants via the use of herbicides and possibly the disassembly of some parts of the masonry wall to completely remove the roots systems.

According to Jeffrey Cobilla, architect and head of Escuela Taller’s conservation team, they expect to complete the work on the facade within eight months. Escuela Taller recommends to then start a preventive maintenance program for the continuous care of the heritage site.

The Old La Loma Cemetery Chapel has been declared as a National Cultural Treasure. La Loma Cemetery, formerly known as Binondo Cemetery, is one of the oldest extramural cemeteries and the oldest active cemetery in Manila.

Director of the Diocesan Commission on Cultural Heritage Fr. Paul Woo said the diocese and the community said they wanted La Loma Chapel to become a center for worship again. The conservation aims to make the chapel more accessible and to provide liturgical services.

Apart from the physical conservation, the Diocese of Kalookan has also been working with Escuela Taller to draft a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) to inform and guide the Diocese and the community on how to manage and care for the chapel regularly and sustainably.

“It is important to educate the community about heritage and heritage sites. The value that comes from every artifact is a gentle reminder for all of us to appreciate the richness of history, culture, and heritage that come from within,” Fr. Woo said in a statement. — MAPS

Regulators tell Biden US financial system in good shape — White House

THE White House in Washington, D.C. — STOCKSNAP/PIXABAY

WASHINGTON — Financial regulators assured President Joe Biden on Monday that the US financial system is in good shape and that financial risks are being mitigated by strong liquidity in the banking system, the White House said.

White House officials said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu, as well as the heads of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, were among those who met Mr. Biden.

The meeting was Mr. Biden’s first face-to-face encounter with many of the leading federal regulators of the banking industry and financial markets, including Mr. Powell. The Fed chief was appointed by former President Donald Trump.

“The regulators reported that the financial system is in strong condition. They further indicated that financial risks are being mitigated by robust capital and liquidity levels in the banking system, and healthy household balance sheets stemming from fiscal support and the ongoing economic recovery,” the White House said in a statement.

No policy decisions were expected to be made at the routine meeting, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

Mr. Biden is seeking to use trillions of dollars in government spending to prod a strong rebound from the coronavirus-triggered recession that put millions of Americans out of work.

A nearly 12% gain in the S&P 500 stock index this year has helped fuel hopes of a strong recovery, but markets are closely watching inflation and government borrowing costs for signs of trouble.

Mr. Biden issued an executive order in May pushing federal agencies to encourage full disclosure of often-hidden climate-related risks to banks, other financial institutions and the federal government.

The White House statement on the meeting said regulators reported that they were making “steady progress” on Mr. Biden’s climate-related executive order, and discussed ideas for promoting financial inclusion and for “responsibly increasing access to credit for potential homeowners and small businesses.” — Reuters

Burden on hospitals can be eased by community-based care, say experts

THE PHILIPPINES, which has a population of over 105 million, has less than one hospital bed per 1,000 people, according to Dr. Arturo S. De La Peña, president and chief executive officer of St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC).

“This is way below the minimum requirement suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) of three hospital beds per 1,000 people,” he said at “The Future of the Hospital,” a webinar organized by SLMC’s College of Medicine.

To alleviate the burden on hospitals responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Philippines, panelists recommended a multisectoral solution that invests in healthcare, education, technology, and community development.

A collaborative effort can also address other issues plaguing the health system, including brain drain, natural disasters brought about by climate change, poor design and infrastructure of hospitals, and the rise of infectious diseases.

“Communicable diseases related to lifestyle and bad habits like smoking, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses have an impact on our healthcare delivery, especially hospitals, because in the late stages of these diseases they will also require the services of the hospital,” said Dr. De La Peña.

WHITE ELEPHANTS
In Rwanda, health workers who bridge the gap between community health centers and hospitals remove the unnecessary strain on hospitals, since people receive care before reaching the point of requiring hospitalization.

“As a global health fighter, I still have a macro view on what the hospital should be. Your health system has to be taken as a whole. There are so many other components aside from the hospital that are neglected,” said Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, vice-chancellor of University of Global Health Equity and Former Minister of Health in Rwanda.

“If I had all the money now, I will not base it on hospitals. I will base it on community. The whole world is going for the idea that care is in the hospital, but it should be the idea that care is where I am on my own two feet,” she added.

The value of the patient’s voice and experience is still underrated, added panelists. “In all policy documents, you always see a pyramid and at the top you have hospitals. That’s completely false. We need to change that paradigm and reverse the pyramid to see an emphasis on patients,” said Valéry Ridde, director of health research at the Population and Development Research Center (CEPED), a joint unit of the University of Paris Descartes and the Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) in France.

Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, board member of the Philippine Alliance of Patients Organization (PAPO) and vice-president of the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, called on hospitals to include patients at the decision-making table: “Though the patient movement around the world has evolved quickly and we patients have active participation in our own treatment, public and private hospitals have to take it to the next level.”

Hospitals should be integrated into communities, said Dr. Aileen R. Espina, member of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) and former chief of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, whose experience with hospitals operating during disasters like Typhoon Yolanda taught her that surge capacity should be viewed in terms of functionality and not just beds.

“The real frontline is not the hospital, but the community. It’s an ecosystem that’s only as strong as its weakest link,” she said. “We don’t want white elephants. We want the capacity to expand services if there’s a call or need for it.

Sonia Roschnik, international climate policy director of Health Care Without Harm, pointed out that hospitals should shift to being paid by results and not by activity. “If the purpose of the hospital is to provide good health and support to communities, then that’s what we should be paying them for, not operations, pills, and medications. This requires leadership from everyone — to develop healing places,” she said. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Cebu Pacific increases flights to Boracay, Bohol ‘to support recovery’

BW FILE PHOTO

BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific said Monday its flights between Manila and Boracay will now be five times daily, while flights to Bohol will also operate daily.

The additional flights to Boracay and Bohol, which started on Monday, should “support recovery efforts,” the budget carrier said in an e-mailed statement.

In a statement to BusinessWorld on Tuesday, the airline said: “We gradually increased our flights to Boracay weekly — from only two times daily on June 4, three times daily on June 7, four times daily on June 11, and now five times daily beginning yesterday, June 21.”

“Bohol was at four times weekly in the second week of June and now it’s already one time daily,” it added.

Cebu Pacific said it currently operates the “widest network” in the country covering 32 destinations, on top of its six international destinations.

Candice A. Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing and customer service, said: “With the arrival of more vaccines and the pace at which vaccines are being rolled out, we are hopeful that in due time, our networks will recover to pre-pandemic levels.”

“We remain cautiously optimistic as we prepare for the bounce back and will do everything that is within our control to support and aid that,” she added.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said recently that “over the last months, the recovery of air passenger demand has been mainly driven by domestic markets that have mostly remained unaffected by travel restrictions.”

“In the meantime, international travel was restricted by most countries and governments are only starting to relax those restrictions as they vaccinate their populations and stabilize the epidemiological situation,” it added.

Cebu Pacific, operated by Cebu Air, Inc., said it had flown six million coronavirus vaccine doses from China as of June 17, “on top of more than 1.4 million doses carried to 15 Philippine provinces.”

The number of flights Cebu Pacific had in 2020 was 71% lower at 41,804. The number of passengers it carried last year also dropped 78% to five million.

Cebu Air shares closed 2.90% higher at P53.20 apiece on Tuesday. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Jollibee-Yoshinoya joint venture firm set up

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp. (JFC) on Tuesday said it received the formal incorporation of its 50/50 joint venture with Yoshinoya International Philippines, Inc. (YIPI) from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“The parties completed the incorporation of the joint venture company, Yoshinoya Jollibee Foods, Inc. on June 18, 2021. The company received the official Certificate of Incorporation from the SEC on June 21,” JFC said in a disclosure to the exchange.

The joint venture company will have an initial authorized capital stock equivalent to P130 million. It will also have its own management, which will be supported by JFC.

The Philippine Board of Investments also gave YIPI approval as a foreign retailer. YIPI is the Philippine subsidiary of Asia Yoshinoya International SDN BHD and Yoshinoya Holdings Co. Ltd., which owns the trademark of the Yoshinoya system.

The venture aims to expand the Yoshinoya brand in the country, with a long-term plan of opening 50 stores.

Yoshinoya is the first Japanese food chain of JFC. The company said that it will be a “strong addition to the foreign franchised brands currently being operated by JFC in the Philippines.”

On Tuesday, shares of JFC at the stock market went up by 2.08% or P4.20 to close at P206.40 each. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Arts & Culture (06/23/21)

CCP LIGHTS UP WITH PRIDE

A STRONG advocate of gender equality and inclusivity, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) supports the LGBTQIA+ and celebrates Pride Month with a light show on June 23 to 30. The CCP Main Building will light up with rainbow colors from 7 to 10 p.m. daily, except Monday and during inclement weather.

Japanese ink painting workshop

DISCOVER the beauty of Sumi-e, the art of transforming brush strokes into graceful monochromatic Japanese ink paintings, in The Way of the Brush, a free two-part public lecture-workshop. The first session will discuss the history and philosophy behind the art form, and equip the students with the fundamental tips in preparation for the main paintings. The second class will guide students through the actual process, from the materials to the proper holding of the brush. It will likewise demonstrate essential techniques as the participants try their hand on painting orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, cherry blossoms, mountains and rocks. The Way of the Brush will be facilitated by artist and art educator Chloe Dellosa. Hosted by the college’s Arts and Culture Cluster, The Way of the Brush will be conducted via Zoom. The first part is scheduled on June 23 while the second will be on June 30. It will run from 3 to 5 p.m. Interested participants may register through https://forms.gle/Visugnf7BLKZPGRR9. For more information, visit the official Facebook page of Benilde’s Arts and Culture Cluster (https://www.facebook.com/benildearts/).

The National Museum of the Philippines re-opens

AFTER having been closed for most of the pandemic (except for a short-lived opening this year), the National Museum of the Philippines at Rizal Park re-opened on June 19 in commemoration of the Jose Rizal’s 160th birthday. The National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, and National Museum of Natural History are now welcoming visitors. Make arrangements by visiting https://reservation.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/. Because of ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions, only 100 guests will be welcomed in the morning and in the afternoon visits. Groups and group reservations are limited to a maximum of five persons. Walk-in visitors without prior reservations shall not be granted admission. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

BP presents ‘Ang Tatlong Pag-Ibig ni Jose’

ON THE occasion of the National Hero of the Philippines, Dr. José Rizal’s 160th Birthday, Ballet Philippines (BP) and the Yuchengco Museum at Y Space at the Yuchengco Museum present the world premiere of the dance “Ang Tatlong Pag-ibig ni Jose.” This version of Rizal’s life is a fresh take on his last thoughts before his life was taken by firing squad in Bagumbayan. Rizal’s wife, Marie Josephine Leopoldine Bracken; his great love, Leonor Rivera y Bauzon, and his last and dearest love, The Philippines, are the three loves of Rizal in this performance. The ballet features portraits of the three loves by Fr. Armand Tangi, SSP, courtesy of the Yuchengco Museum.The ballet film can be seen at ballet.ph.

Penguin Random House SEA releases debut novel

PENGUIN Random House SEA has released The Hunter’s Walk, Nabeel Ismeer’s debut novel. The author tackles climate change and discrimination in a novel set in the Ice Age which follows the travails of two brothers, one dark skinned and the other fair. Mr. Ismeer writes articles on climate change as part of his activism, but also to create a base of readers. His articles have appeared in various online and print magazine in the region. This is his first novel.

Murals are transformed into songs

THREE murals by a trio of artists from the 2018 Thirteen Artist Awardees (TAA) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) have been reinterpreted into musical compositions by students in a project entitled ART + MUSIC by CCA. Headlined by the Music Production students of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, they aimed to encapsulate the emotions brought about by the artworks around the college’s School of Design and Arts campus. The three pieces are: Bakwit by street artist Archie Oclos, a 70-meter mural on the plight of Lumad students forced to leave their schools and communities, which has been turned into music by Ben Ayes; Hindi Totoo by multimedia artist Rasel Trinidad (Doktor Karayom), which explores characters and Filipino mythological creatures, has been given a dark melody by Dwight Ian Perez; and Dead Masks by multidisciplinary artist Zeus Bascon, made up of four writhing serpents made of lined emotionless masks, has been turned into music by Daniel Carlos. The compositions will serve as the score for the ART + MUSIC by CCA music video, directed by CCA Associate and Multimedia Artist Raine Sanciangco, which will be available on view this July. For updates, visit the official page of CCA https://www.facebook.com/BenildeCampusArt.

Sculptor’s work on view at RWM

RESORTS World Manila (RWM) showcases works by award-winning sculptor Glenn Cagandahan for June’s “Art by the Garden” exhibit. Cagandahan uses synthetic resin on steel armatures for his works. The exhibit is on view at 2F Newport Garden Wing until June 27. Selected pieces are available for purchase through www.rwmexclusives.com using cash, credit, RWM membership points. For more information on the exhibit and upcoming events, visit www.rwmanila.com.

Group show at Robinsons’ ARTablado

A GROUP of young artists have banded together to be part of Robinsons Land ARTablado’s newest exhibit entitled “Figment Beyond Pigments,” featuring the artworks of 18 artists from Vice Versa. They are Dhennis Abando, Joseph Abao, William Abao, Vicson Apostol, Carlos Alferez Castro, Edward De Castro, MJ Palma-Duquiatan, Jonathan Enad, Anthony Escueta, Jonathan Jalac, Anna Lumpas, William Macatangay, Cheyzer Manalo, Alexandra Monserrat, Medardo Olaco, Bernardo Oronos Jr., Ada Panopio, and Gab Villalobos. The exhibit’s theme is “Pagsibol,” a Filipino term which means sprout, growth, spring, and connotes hope. Vice Versa is a newly founded group of artists from Batangas. The exhibit is ongoing until June 30 at ARTablado Level 3 of Robinsons Galleria. For more updates, visit www.robinsonsmalls.com or like and follow ARTablado on Facebook and @artablado on Instagram.

Batch 4 of the Sing Philippines Youth Choir chosen

THE CULTURAL Center of the Philippines (CCP) through its Cultural Exchange Department and the Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Foundation welcome the members of Batch 4 of the Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SPYC). Out of the 103 applications received from all over the country, 59 aspirants made it to the final list — 25 are from Luzon, nine from Visayas, 14 from Mindanao, and 11 from the National Capital Region (NCR). A month-long virtual music camp is slated for from July 6 to 30, culminating on July 31 with a special online performance which will also feature Batches 1 to 3 in the SPYC mission song.  To date, 210 choristers from communities nationwide have participated in the SPYC.

Instituto Cervantes film series honors Berlanga

TO CELEBRATE the birth centenary of Spanish filmmaker Luis García Berlanga (1921-2010) this June, Instituto Cervantes is presenting the online film series Berlanga Turns 100. The films are shown on the Instituto Cervantes channel on the Vimeo platform (vimeo.com/institutocervantes) and are freely accessible for 48 hours from their start date and time. The film series will close on June 26 and 27 with Berlanga’s black comedy Patrimonio nacional (1981). In the last period of his career, with Spain having already transitioned to a democracy, Berlanga filmed three works to criticize the opportunism of the Spanish upper classes, which had enjoyed the perks of Francoism. Patrimonio nacional is the second instalment of this trilogy. Catch the film on this link: https://vimeo.com/548773798. The film will be in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is free.

K-drama scriptwriting workshop

K-DRAMA enthusiasts, aspiring screenwriters, production students, industry professionals, and general K-Culture followers can join a free webinar conducted by experts brought together by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Cultural Center (KCC). Following the success of last year’s K-Drama webinar, this year is all about diving deeper into how to write an actual K-Drama script and learning how dramas are brought out into the global stage through “Rediscover the Korean Creative Industry: A webinar on K-Drama Scriptwriting and Marketing.” It will be available for free viewing on June 30, 1 p.m., via KCC’s YouTube Channel. For updates follow  https://www.facebook.com/KoreanCulturalCenterPH/ and @kccphil on Instagram and Twitter.

Keppel sells Batangas property in legal case

KEPPEL Philippines Holdings, Inc. (KPH) has decided to sell its interest in a property located in Batangas to a buyer, following an 18-year legal dispute with the state-run Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) involving the firm’s qualifications to own land in the Philippines.

“Considering the case has been ongoing for the past 18 years (since 2003), KPH decided to monetize its interest,” the listed firm said in a disclosure on Tuesday.

In 1976, KPH entered into a 25-year lease agreement with Luzon Stevedoring Corp. (Lusteveco) for 11 hectares in Bauan, Batangas. At the end of the agreement, it had the option to buy the land for P4.09 million as long as it had the qualifications to own land under Philippine laws.

When the lease agreement was exercised, less than 60% of KPH’s shareholding was owned by Filipinos, which meant that the firm was not eligible to buy private lands in the country.

PNOC soon acquired the land from Lusteveco and took over the rights and obligations under the agreement, which KPH did not object to.

In 2003, KPH filed a “complaint for specific performance” against PNOC with the Regional Trial Court in Batangas for not allowing it to buy the land in Bauan, since the company was already 60% owned by Filipinos as of 2000.

KPH filed several motions with the court, including one in 2019 against PNOC Renewable Corp. since the property was subsequently transferred to the latter.

“On 2 June 2021, KPH signed agreements selling its interest. As a condition of the sale, necessary motions for substitution as party in said case were made to replace KPH as a party. On 7 June 2021, KPH received a copy of the buyer’s entry of appearance,” it added.

KPH clarified that the case is still ongoing, following the recent filing of the motion for substitution.

Shares in KPH at the local bourse remained unchanged at P4.31 apiece since May 4. — Angelica Y. Yang

URC to automate ordering system on Facebook

UNIVERSAL Robina Corp. (URC) plans to further develop its social e-commerce system, following its successful use of Facebook as a stock-replenishing platform for neighborhood store owners.

“URC is now planning for its next phase of growth. It will soon automate community management and its ordering system,” Oscar Villamora, vice president for customer development in Southeast Asia of URC, said in a statement on Tuesday.

In October last year, the company launched a program allowing sari-sari store owners, or mom-and-pop shops, to order URC products from distributors using Facebook. The social media platform also allows the company to “tailor-fit content to drive community engagement and to allow a seamless ordering process.”

The program has an “Ate Chat” feature, which acts as a digital concierge attending to queries and concerns of store owners.

“She also provides products and price lists and promos, and then directs those with queries to where they can order what they need online from distributors nearest them,” Mr. Villamora said.

The URC distributor page received thousands of messages within two weeks from its launch, with sales exceeding targets six times by November. URC now aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for the company’s social commerce.

URC shares at the local bourse rose by 0.07% or 10 centavos on Tuesday, closing at P139.10 apiece. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

San Miguel, Bantay Dagat aid Calatagan fishers

SAN MIGUEL Corp. (SMC) has partnered with the local “Bantay Dagat” task force to help small fishing communities in Calatagan, Batangas.

SMC said in a statement on Tuesday that patrol boats were donated to the community task force in Calatagan that enforces coastal and fisheries laws with the help of coastal villages.

The company added that the town and the Philippine Air Force assigned in Batangas were also given a boat each to increase surveillance in the area, while 19 motorized boats were distributed to local fisherfolk groups for their livelihood.

SMC President Ramon S. Ang said the donation aims to help address illegal fishing activities and other methods that damage marine ecosystems in the area.

“Our goal is to help preserve and protect marine resources, so that local fishermen can sustain and even improve their livelihoods for the long-term. The sea is their primary source of food and income,” he said.

Mr. Ang said the company formed the fishermen into groups that will share the ownership and maintenance of the donated boats.

“Some 57 fishermen will co-own the boats and benefit from the donation. The fishermen, who have never owned their own fishing boats, are mostly relocatees from the towns of Calatagan and Balayan,” he said.

“We want to help where we can make the biggest difference — in this case, empowering locals to better protect the seas and their livelihoods — and bring tangible, sustainable benefits in communities where we operate,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

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