SHANGHAI, May 14 (Reuters) – China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) said on Friday that demand for chips exceeds supply, and raised its expectations for sales for the first half of the year.
“Our current capacity could not fulfill customer needs, and products in every market segment faced shortages,” Zhao Haijun, co-chief executive of SMIC, said in a company earnings call.
SMIC reported sales of $1.1 billion in Q1 2021, a year-on-year increase of 22%, and gross profit reached $250 million, a 7.1% increase.
The company said it expected revenue of $2.4 billion for the first half of the year, which it called “higher than expected.”
Shares in the company rose as much as 4.4% in Hong Kong.
Speaking with investors and analysts, Zhao said the company was working to rapidly expand capacity, with some facilities moving ahead of schedule.
He added that demand for internet-of-things related chips, such as WiFi modules and micro-controller units, remained in tight supply across the industry.
Backed in part by state funding, SMIC is a key player in China’s efforts to boost its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
In March, the company announced it would invest $2.35 billion with the government of Shenzhen to build a new fabrication plant capable of producing 40,000 wafers per month.
Last year, the Trump administration placed sanctions on the company that curbed U.S. equipment makers from supplying it.
In an earnings call, Zhao said these restrictions have created uncertainties for its capacity expansion plans. However, Zhao added, the company remains in communication with relevant governments and has seen “lots of progress.’ – Reuters
Pacific Cross Insurance, Inc. (PCII) received recognition at the recent Golden Arrow Awards. Organized by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), the awards seek to uplift corporate governance standards and practices as well as recognize well-governed publicly listed companies across the ASEAN.
Leading medical and travel insurance provider Pacific Cross Insurance, Inc. (PCII) has received a second consecutive Golden Arrow award from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) in recognition for its exemplary commitment to good corporate governance.
International benchmarks for corporate governance, most notably the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS), are used to assess companies vying for a Golden Arrow Award. Pacific Cross received ACGS credit scores of above 80 points in both 2018 and 2019. With these back-to-back milestone wins, PCII joins the ranks of the top performing companies in the Philippines under the ASEAN corporate governance principles.
The ACGS looks into areas such as rights and equitable treatment of shareholders, role of stakeholders, disclosure and transparency and responsibilities of the Board as basis for earning the award.
“This recognition is proof of our commitment to good corporate governance, compliance, and effective risk management. It is our aim to constantly be deserving of the trust placed in us by our clients and stakeholders.”, Pacific Cross President and CEO Mr. Daniel Daly said.
Aside from receiving a Golden Arrow Award, PCII has continuously eyed greater heights with its 2018 and 2019 PRS A ratings from the Philippine Rating Services Corporation for the Company’s financial strength. In recent years, PCII has also been a consistent top performer among non-life insurance companies based on Net Income and Net Premiums Written according to Insurance Commission rankings.
Pacific Cross is a leading medical and travel insurance provider in the Philippines. For more details on Pacific Cross products and services, please visit www.pacificcross.com.ph, e-mail info@pacificcross.com.ph, call +63 2 8230-8511 or follow PacificCrossPH on Facebook.
Powered by the common mission of ensuring public safety and the continuous conveyance of electricity, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Meralco’s Chief Legal Counsel Atty. William S. Pamintuan and Chief Commercial Officer Engr. Ferdinand O. Geluz, Secretary Eduardo M. Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), then Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Debold M. Sinas, and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Chief Jose S. Embang, Jr.
Under the MOU, the Parties agree to support each another in implementing relevant laws and government issuances such as the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act, Ease of Doing Business Act, Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act, National Building Code, Philippine Electrical Code, Revised Fire Code, Revised Penal Code, and the DILG Memorandum Circulars (MC) on Road Clearing.
The MOU was officially signed on December 21, 2020, followed by a DILG MC dated January 25, 2021, directing all local government units (LGUs), PNP, and BFP to perform their respective roles under the MOU to achieve its objectives.
Relocations activities
“We are pleased to see this MOU adopted by all Parties as a testament that we are altogether focused on championing the best interests of the public,” Meralco’s Chief Legal Counsel Atty. William S. Pamintuan said.
Meralco Chief Commercial Officer Engr. Ferdinand O. Geluz stated that the discussions among the Parties, which eventually led to the signing of the MOU have been insightful and constructive, saying, “Each Party not only shared a uniquely significant perspective but also extended the extremely indispensable willingness to recognize and respond to such perspective in a manner that will address the challenges we all face together in such an unprecedented time.”
The Parties will officially form an Executive Committee (EXECOM) composed of members from DILG, PNP, BFP, and Meralco, which will be co-chaired by DILG and MERALCO. With the guidance of DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año, BFP Chief Jose S. Embang, Jr., and the new PNP Chief Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, the EXECOM will regularly meet to operationalize and converge efforts among Meralco, DILG, BFP, PNP and LGUs for proper implementation of the MOU.
On March 1, 2021, the MERALCO Board of Directors passed a Resolution appointing Atty. Oscar P. Moreno, Jr. and Engr. Sante C. Buella as the representatives of MERALCO to the EXECOM as Co-Chairman and as Member, respectively, to lead and oversee the execution of the MOU.
One of the foremost wins for the public within the new MOU, is a provision requiring the creation of Committees and Technical Working Groups that will take charge of supporting the EXECOM and will enact implementing guidelines in line with the four (4) pillars of the MOU: i) Public Order and Safety; ii) Regulatory Compliance and Legal Matters; iii) Strategic Operations and Communications, and iv) Corporate Social Responsibility.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año is hopeful that the MOU, the MC, and the ensuing implementing guidelines will send a positive message to the public. “With a strong partnership between the public and the private sectors, we can achieve great results by acting upon the best interests of the public – uninterrupted delivery of electric service and public safety.”
Insular Life (InLife) launched Prime Secure Lite, a term life insurance that gives extra benefits in case of diagnosis of certain critical illnesses and death due to COVID-19.
Prime Secure Lite gives protection for up to P750,000 for a one-time premium as low as P2500.
“Prime Secure Lite is practical as it gives one peace of mind should anything untoward happen. For instance, if one is diagnosed with cancer, heart attack or stroke (CHAS), Prime Secure Lite will make funds equivalent to 40% to 50% of the sum insured available for treatment. This pandemic has also made many realize the importance of being covered so that the family one leaves if one passes away will not have a hard time bearing the consequences of an unexpected death in the family,” said Rosalyn L. Martinez, InLife’s Chief Marketing Officer.
“Prime Secure Lite is payable only once, but will give a one-year coverage. And it is affordable. For those between the ages of 18 to 47, the premium is P2500. Those between 48 to 60 years old have to pay only P3,000,” Martinez added.
Prime Secure Lite also gives additional coverage for the first six months in case of death due to COVID-19, and extended coverage for the spouse equal to the sum insured in case of accidental death of both insured and spouse.
To illustrate, customers, between ages 18 to 47 years old who will avail of Prime Secure Lite will only have to pay P2,500 for a one-year coverage of P300,000 (for 18 to 39 years old) and P200,000 (for 40 to 47 years old.) Those whose ages are between 48 to 60 years old will pay P3,000 for coverage that range from P80,000 to P200,000. Additional coverage for CHAS and COVID-19, as well as in case of accidental death to both insured and spouse, provides more protection not just for the insured, but the family as well.
Prime Secure Lite is light on accessibility as it is light on the pocket. There are no medical examinations required and it is fully available online. To get Prime Secure Lite, customers should simply go to the InLife Store, https://www.inlifestore.com.ph/prime-secure-lite and complete the 3-step application process.
The National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces will be placed under a less stringent quarantine status starting Saturday, according to the presidential palace.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the recommendation of an inter-agency task force to place NCR and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal under a general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions from May 15 to 31, presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said in a statement on Thursday night.
Mr. Roque said Baguio City and the provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Abra in the Cordillera Administrative Region will also be placed under a general lockdown.
The provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya in Cagayan Valley will also be under GCQ.
Restrictions in Batangas and Quezon in Southern Tagalog and Puerto Princesa in Region 4-B will be eased.
Several areas in Southern Philippines such as Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao Del Sur will revert to GCQ.
“All other areas shall be placed under Modified General Community Quarantine until month’s end,” Mr. Roque said.
Meanwhile, the Palace official said only essential travel into and out of the NCR Plus shall be allowed.
Public transportation shall remain operational “at such capacities and protocols” to be set by the Transportation department.
Mr. Roque said indoor dine-in services in the greater Metro Manila area shall be allowed at 20% seating capacity, while outdoor dining shall be at 50% venue capacity.
Outdoor tourist attractions in the area may be opened at 30% “with strict adherence to minimum public health standards,” he said.
He added that specialized markets of the Tourism department will be allowed to operate “following the minimum public health standards and implementation of protocols and restrictions.”
Religious gatherings will be allowed up to 10% of a venue’s capacity.
Non-contact sports, games, scrimmages and personal care services such as salons, parlors, beauty clinics, among others, shall be allowed at 30% capacity, Mr. Roque said.
He said unauthorized interzonal travel from the greater Manila area shall remain prohibited.
Mr. Roque said persons aged 18 to 65 will be allowed outdoors.
Every year, an estimated 1.35 million people worldwide die as a result of a road traffic crash. That is according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury.
The organization noted that more than half of all road traffic deaths and injuries involve vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and their passengers, with the young particularly vulnerable on the world’s roads.
In fact, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged five to 29. According to data, young males under 25 years are more likely to be involved in road traffic crashes than females, with 73% of all road traffic deaths occurring among young males in that age. Developing economies, such as the Philippines, record higher rates of road traffic injuries, with 93% of fatalities coming from low- and middle- income countries.
The loss of life and human suffering caused by road traffic injuries also bears another cost; road traffic accidents also incur a heavy economic burden on victims and their families, both through treatment costs for the injured and through loss of productivity of those killed or disabled. More broadly, road traffic injuries have a serious impact on national economies, costing countries 3% of their annual gross domestic product.
In the Philippines, the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) recorded a total of 65,032 accidents in the country’s main metropolitan area in 2020, resulting in the death of 337 people. Broken down, Metro Manila averaged 178 road-crash incidents per day, with 50,230 cases resulting to damage to property, and 14,465 resulting in non-fatal injury.
While this number is far lower than the 121,771 total recorded accidents in 2019 (a drop of 46.6%), it bears noting the nationwide lockdown measures implemented throughout 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reducing the number of cars on the roads. Moreover, public transportation also saw a temporary ban during the lockdown.
This is partly the reason why the top month in terms of accidents in 2020 is February, with a total of 9,315 incidents. This is followed by January and October with 7,283 and 6,285 cases, respectively. Meanwhile, the lowest accident total was recorded in April 2020 during the height of the quarantine, with only 1,535 incidents recorded during the month.
Reflecting the WHO finding about vulnerable road users, the country also saw the number of motorcycle-related fatalities in Metro Manila rise slightly in 2020 in spite of the lockdowns. With the limited availability of public transport and physical distancing requirements, more people have shifted to two-wheelers as a method of mobility.
The 2020 MMARAS data showed that the number of fatal accidents involving motorcycles reached 229 last year, compared with 221 in 2019 or a 3.5% increase. However, the total number of motorcycle-related road crashes were recorded at 22,080 in 2020, versus 31,279 in 2019, still representing a 29.4% decrease overall. Accidents that caused non-fatal injuries similarly fell by 24.9%, 11,032 in 2020 versus 14,691 in 2019.
About 13,004 people were involved in these accidents, or an average of 36 people per day. The corresponding figures for 2019 are 14,553 people in total and an average of 40 per day.
According to the data, the highest number of deaths from motorcycle accidents occurred at night from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., during which 17 fatalities were recorded. Sideswipes caused the most damage to property in 3,420 cases, and injuries in 2,842 cases. Meanwhile, collisions with objects resulted in the most fatalities or 41 cases.
Overall, the massive Quezon City logs the most road crashes in 2020 with 22,494 cases, with Manila following in at a distant second with a total of 6,655 incidents, and Makati City with 4,508 incidents. Pateros recorded the fewest number of accidents last year with just 115.
Towards safer roads
To reduce the number of road accidents is the reason why the country committed to adopt the Stockholm Declaration, which outlines the global road safety goals from 2020 to 2030, aiming to halve road crash fatalities around the world by the end of the decade.
“Road safety is one of the priorities of the current administration… [The Department of Transportation] will take part in the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” the department had stated in reports.
The Stockholm Declaration calls for a new global target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030. In addition, it invites strengthened efforts on activities in all five pillars of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action: better road safety management; safer roads, vehicles and people; and enhanced post-crash care. It also calls for speeding up the shift to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable modes of transport like walking, cycling and public transport.
“Political will is needed at the highest level of government to achieve this, both by investing in evidence-based interventions to make roads safe and considering ways to shift to modes of transport that are better for health and the environment and the overall livability of cities,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a speech.
“With the right leadership, transport systems can be configured or reconfigured in such a way as to reduce reliance on cars. However, it is only when countries build in the safeguards and implement the best practices to enhance road safety, that we can offer walking, cycling and using public transport as viable options for most trips. When we are able to ensure this, we help our societies move towards a vision of not only safe, but also accessible, affordable and sustainable mobility,” he added.
Recently, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, which mandates the use of child restraint systems (CRS) for children 12 years old and below with a height of 4 feet 11 inches and below.
This puts the country a step further towards the 2030 goal. However, implementation of the law had been deferred following the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic taking a harsh toll on Filipinos. It remains to be seen when the law will be implemented, and how significant the effect it will have on the safety of the country’s roads. — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran
Excellent driving skills are fundamental to complete a journey on the road. But to reach the destination should not be the only target of drivers. Every road to take certainly has rules for drivers to follow. And most importantly, drivers should ensure safe travel for themselves and other road users too.
“The behavior of road users is, in fact, the main cause of road crashes and road crash injury and death,” the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on its Practical Guide on Road Safety.
“Among the many risk factors involved in causing road crashes or increasing injury severity, the four most common are: the failure to wear seat belts; the failure to wear crash helmets: driving at excessive or unsuitable speeds; and driving under the influence of alcohol,” it added.
So as drivers sharpen their performance on moving vehicles, they should learn to improve their behavior as well. In a Telegraph report, various driving experts shared good habits to implement when pushing to be a brilliant motorist.
“The first, and perhaps most obvious, thing to say about good drivers is that they know what speed they should be driving at,” the report said.
It observed that although some drivers know their limits, they choose to ignore them. This would plainly result to danger due to a decreased time for the driver to react and less control over his car when unanticipated events occurred in front of him.
“[People who drive too fast] are playing with their own lives and others,” said Sarah Sillars, chief executive officer of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, in the Telegraph report. “They are accidents waiting to happen, and [we need] a major shift in [their] attitudes to think about safety.”
Drivers, therefore, must remember to stick to the limit to minimize the chances of causing an accident. They also need to focus on the road and avoid any distractions.
According to Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), drivers need to resist the urge to respond whenever notified by a text message, email, or call while behind the wheel.
“Research shows that using any type of mobile phone while driving is distracting and dangerous and increases the risk of crashing,” he stated in the report. He stressed on the failure to look properly on the road has caused thousands of accidents in the United Kingdom (UK).
Furthermore, the Telegraph mentioned that using phones is not the only one that could interfere in driving. “The best drivers avoid fiddling with stereos or satnavs or allowing their minds to wander. They keep their focus firmly on the road, and they’re all the safer for it,” it added.
With this guidance concerning speed and view, attentiveness is thus a vital behavior that motorists should consider. However, in some instances, they could lose their concentration on the road during a feeling of exhaustion. Hence, experts told the Telegraph the importance of taking regular breaks, especially when traveling long distances.
“Since driver fatigue is a major factor in road accidents, causing as many as 3,000 a year in the UK alone, it ought to go without saying that the best drivers stop regularly to recharge their batteries and stay alert,” the report said.
Citing motoring association the AA, Telegraph informed that 63% of British motorists do not take effective breaks while in a long-distance trip. And 28% said that they kept driving even when tired because they want to press on to their destination. But the report warned that such actions are inherently risky.
“If you feel tired, stop, drink a strong cup of coffee or energy drink and take a 20-minute nap. You should then find it easier to concentrate for the remainder of your journey,” it advised.
Aside from driving when tired, attentiveness on the road would lose if a driver journeyed under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Around 250 people are killed in drink-drive accidents every year,” stated RoSPA’s Mr. Clinton. “It is not just the drivers who suffer, but often their passengers, people in other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists, and the families of everyone involved.”
Thus, it emphasized to follow the rule of not touching any alcohol or drugs when a person knows that he is driving.
While motorists understand the need for alertness and proficiency on the road, they should also turn away from being excessively self-assured when driving.
“The key to safety on the roads is not to be over-confident,” remarked Philip Gomm of transport policy and motoring research organization the RAC Foundation in the Telegraph report. “Few people believe they are bad drivers, but thousands of us still have accidents each year. Driver error is a factor in almost three-quarters of all crashes.”
“Complacency is obviously an issue here,” the report added. “Drivers who feel they’ve got it sorted behind the wheel are much more likely to make mistakes than those who are ever-vigilant for danger.”
To avoid any of these issues on driving behaviors, therefore, the previous guide by IFRC recommended short-term measures relating to large-scale information campaigns about road safety, and long-term measures like evaluation and improvement of quality driving teaching when necessary. — Chelsey Keith P. Ignacio
As technology progressed through time, innovations have been improving safety on the road. From the three-point seatbelt that car safety pioneer Volvo innovated in 1959, safety features in cars have come a long way as automakers continue to harness the latest technologies to improve how their vehicles protect drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians.
These features can be classified into crash avoidance and occupant protection technologies, according to the US-based Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
Through software that interprets data from sensors, cameras, and radar-based technologies, the organization explained, crash avoidance technologies or “advanced driver assistance systems” (ADAS) allow vehicles to sense the environment around them and to assist drivers by alerting them to impending dangers.
These systems include adaptive cruise control, which keeps vehicles at a set speed but slows down or accelerates to keep a safe distance from the car in front; lane departure warning, which alerts a car when it is drifting into another lane; lane-keep assist, which uses steering to keep the car in the lane; blind-spot alert to alert drivers of vehicles in their blind spots; cross-traffic alert for safer backing out of parking spaces or driveways; and reverse brake assist for avoiding hitting objects behind the car while backing up.
These well-known features are often bundled by car manufacturers. Ford has its Co-Pilot360, while Subaru has EyeSight. Toyota’s safety features are under its Safety Sense brand, Honda’s assistive features are collectively called Honda Sensing, while Nissan’s safety technologies are included in its Intelligent Mobility suite.
Another recent technology in crash avoidance is automatic emergency braking, or AEB, which activates a car’s brakes when it senses an imminent collision — either with another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a cyclist — in order to avoid or minimize an accident.
As vehicle valuation and automotive research company Kelley Blue Book explained, AEB can react faster than a driver can, and it can start working before one hits the brakes. AEB can also brake harder than the pressure a driver applies if it senses the car must stop sooner.
Further guiding motorists against blind spots, the video-based blind spot rearview monitor can be helpful when preparing to change lanes. “These warnings can help prevent you from hitting another car or a person on a bicycle or motorcycle,” Kelly Blue Book’s article read, adding that cars from Genesis, Kia, and Hyundai offer convenient types of these displays within the gauge cluster.
These ADAS are very much regarded to spare drivers and passengers from accidents. Research from global data and analytics company LexisNexis Risk Solutions last year revealed that cars equipped with ADAS showed a 27% reduction in bodily injury claim frequency and a 19% reduction in property damage frequency. In addition, data compiled from US’ Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and manufacturers by CCC Information Services suggests ADAS-equipped cars have anywhere from a 20% to 50% reduction in crashes.
Also, an analysis on the benefits of crash avoidance technologies, published in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention in 2019, suggests that the combination of vehicle crash avoidance technologies reduces crash frequency by about 3.5%.
“If vehicle crash avoidance technologies were deployed throughout the light-duty vehicle fleet, we could see crash prevention cost savings of up to $264 billion, assuming all relevant crashes are prevented,” Carnegie Mellon University researcher Corey Harper, one of the authors of the study, explained in an article from Forbes.com.
Crash avoidance systems, nonetheless, are coupled with technologies that protect vehicle occupants.
One of the well-known technologies in this category is the airbag, which has been observed to be much safer and less likely to cause injuries. The basic airbag has upgraded into a ‘smart’ one that uses an array of sensors to determine when it is not safe to deploy the airbag. Joining this advancement are side curtains and rollover airbags that aim to bring further protection for occupants in case of accidents.
More recently, Honda has integrated its Next-Generation Front Passenger Airbag into the MDX crossover and TLX sport sedans from the automaker’s Acura luxury division. The new airbag design, resembling a catcher’s mitt in baseball, was created to offer better protection in frontal collisions.
The airbag deploys into three chambers. Two of these chambers, projecting outwards but remaining connected via a mesh panel, extend out to wrap around the rider and help guide the occupant’s head and upper torso gently into the center of the airbag.
This safety innovation has gained favorable reception. Popular Science, for instance, regards the Acura airbag as the best automotive technology of 2020. “[T]he design promises to reduce the profound rotational forces that slam brain tissue into the skull during a wreck,” the magazine’s article read.
Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, meanwhile, awards Honda’s uniquely-shaped airbag as the Best Safety Innovation this year. In a statement, the association regards the new airbag design as “an important advancement” in airbag development.
Aside from Honda, Mercedes Benz is also stepping up in airbag development as its next-generation S-Class will be the first car to offer frontal airbags for rear occupants. Accompanied by inflatable seat belts, the rear frontal airbags are also designed to adapt to child seats in order to protect both children and adults.
“The frontal airbag for the rear seat deploys particularly gently thanks to its innovative construction using a tubular structure,” the automaker explained in a statement last year. “During severe frontal collisions, the rear airbag can considerably reduce the impact on the heads and necks of occupants on the outer rear seats.”
Cars have definitely upgraded in terms of safety, but the pace of development is expected to continue. According to Research and Markets, the global ADAS market size will increase from $27 billion this year to $83 billion by 2030, growing annually by nearly 12%.
Also, Stuart Mason, editorial director of The Car Expert, sees the possibility for driver monitoring technology to go beyond assessing whether a driver is concentrating enough. “[I]t’s likely that it won’t be too long before your car will be able to detect whether you’ve had too much to drink… and prevent you from starting the car,” he said. — Adrian Paul B. Conoza
For responsible and environmentally conscious drivers, there is finally a better option when gassing up.
Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. offers a complete line of Euro5 standard fuels–from gasoline variants to its diesel–all of which significantly decrease emissions up to 77 percent. This makes Unioil’s specially formulated fuels the country’s cleanest range since 2017.
With its latest ad campaign, Unioil asks every Filipino to rethink their choice of fuels. Entitled ‘You Drive Change’ and created with ideas agency GIGIL, its message is simple: reducing environmental impact doesn’t call for grand gestures. Sometimes it’s as simple as choosing the right fuel.
The quirky commercial quickly went viral. It features a mockumentary about a man who collects his farts as a way to protect the environment.
The moral of the story: let go of weird habits. With Unioil’s Euro5 certified range of fuels, every vehicle in the Philippines gets a cleaner engine, that gives out cleaner emissions, for a cleaner environment.
Unioil has been working for a greener Philippines for years now. In 2018, Unioil was the first-ever Philippine fuel brand to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in select stations.
Unioil also does air-quality monitoring services in their busiest stations and has been working to provide their daytime power with renewable energy.
With Unioil and the help of every Filipino who drives change, the Philippines can be on its way to a greener future.
The Toyota Vios has an extensive variant lineup to suit the needs of every Filipino including first-time car owners.
Learning to differentiate needs from wants and making big-ticket decisions
The global pandemic has caught everyone off-guard. While health and safety remain top priority, staying afloat may be the biggest challenge of millennials and Gen Zs young lives thus far. With many getting pay cuts or losing jobs, learning to manage personal finances as soon as possible is a large part of adulthood.
Here are a few things young adults should ponder on and start doing even while in quarantine:
Learn budgeting
Now is a good time to start a budget. Apply the 50-30-20 rule. Allocate 50% of income towards basic necessities, 30% for leisure and 20% towards financial goals. Take note of billing due dates and pay on time. Use an Excel spreadsheet, an app or even a pen and paper to keep track of expenses.
Look for ways to reduce monthly expenses. Whether that’s subscribing to only one streaming service, downgrading mobile postpaid plan or switching to prepaid or unplugging devices when not in use, the savings from these can go a long way towards improving one’s overall personal financial health.
Financing options such as Toyota Financial Services’ Balloon Payment Plus makes car ownership easier with lower down payment and monthly terms, already inclusive of periodic maintenance services. Such packages make spending lighter on the monthly budget, with guaranteed great resale value options by the end of the term.
Spend wisely
The pandemic has made everyone’s future a little uncertain so it’s best to be cautious with spending. Distinguish between wants and needs. This applies to the 100 items in one’s online shopping cart. Think long and hard before hitting that checkout button.
When grocery shopping, assess the household’s current supplies and buy only enough for the whole family. Have a shopping list and stick to it as well.
Take advantage of cashbacks and rewards program. Plenty of companies nowadays offer cashback and rewards incentives for every purchase or for paying bills on time.
For big purchases, always go for value for money and explore available installment plans to make payments lighter on the pocket. One is sure to get their money’s worth with Toyota Vios not only for being a quality and durable car, but also for its added value benefits such as free periodic maintenance service (PMS), extended warranty, or free car insurance. Worried about shelling out a lot money? With Toyota’s myriad of available financing solutions from low down payment schemes to discounts, owning the Vios is made as affordable as possible.
Start or keep investing
There are many forms of investment one can do even while in quarantine.
Building and diversifying financial investment portfolios is a good idea for young adults. With retirement decades away, not only is there more time to learn and recover from possible losses, investing can also help one achieve financial freedom earlier.
With work from home and less socializing still the norm, another investment worth considering is learning. Take up a new language. Read more books. Enroll in an online certification course. Investing in education is a great way to help increase one’s personal development and professional value.
Some big-ticket items are also worth investing on during this period. With persisting limited transportations due to quarantine restrictions, having a car can provide more flexible mobility when traveling to work, the grocery store or running errands since there’s no need to queue in line, waiting for a ride. More importantly, Gen Zs and millennials can reduce their exposure to the virus by driving their own car. Experts advise to be at least 6 feet away from people but with public transportation, this may be more challenging to follow.
The Toyota Vios is a reliable and durable vehicle that can address the mobility needs of every millennial and Gen Z.
An excellent investment for first-time car owners looking for a safe and reliable mode of transportation, the Toyota Vios delivers performance that levels up the lifestyle. Recently named as the Most Reliable Car Brand for 2020, Toyota offers more than what meets the eye. With an array of variants to choose from, the Toyota Vios is easy to maintain, has a spacious interior, and boasts an impressive engine performance that provides a driving experience that can withstand the knocks of daily errands. Depending on one’s goals, one can avail of the XE variant for that everyday practical car or grab the recently launched Toyota Vios GR-S that comes with a track-ready aesthetic — both in its interior and exterior. And if along the line one is considering to upgrade, a Toyota vehicle has an impressive resale value — truly a bang for one’s buck.
The Toyota Vios is proudly assembled by Filipino automotive makers in the Philippines. By choosing the Toyota Vios, one not only enjoy the perks of having a dependable car, but also help support the livelihood of fellow Filipinos working in the local automotive industry.
With enough patience and determination, one will get the hang of adulting with money and build a better, more secure future.
The Philippines is looking to ramp up its coronavirus vaccination drive in the next few months, as vaccine supplies arrive. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS
THE government might need to spend P75 billion more until next year to fund its expanded coronavirus vaccination program, the Finance chief said on Thursday.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said government agencies might have to realign their budgets again to get funds for the program without widening the budget deficit too much.
“With the announcement that some countries will inoculate teenagers and the expectation that we eventually will follow suit, we are anticipating an additional expenditure of about P20 billion to vaccinate approximately 15 million kids aged 12 to 17,” he told reporters via Viber.
Mr. Dominguez said the government must raise P55 billion to acquire coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) booster shots to cover 85 million Filipinos, including adults and teenagers, next year.
While it is still unclear if booster shots will be needed to protect against future COVID-19 variants, countries such as the United States are already preparing.
Drug manufacturers such as Moderna, Inc., Pfizer, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson are developing booster shots to help boost protection against COVID-19.
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of the vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech SE for children aged 12 to 15 years.
Mr. Dominguez said the inoculation program for children might start this year, although the Health department has yet to finalize it.
The estimated P75-billion budget for the expanded vaccination drive will be added to the P72.5 billion earlier earmarked for the inoculation of at least 60 million Filipino adults this year. The mass vaccination program has been initially funded by loans from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed on Wednesday Administrative Order No. 41 ordering all state offices to identify portions of their 2020 budgets that may be considered as savings. The validity of the 2020 budget was extended until Dec. 31.
While agencies were ordered to report their identified savings by the end of May, Mr. Dominguez said they have not determined the amount that could be raised from budget realignments.
Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado earlier said they were looking into tapping various sources to possibly support a third stimulus package, including realignment of funds of state agencies and subsidies from state-run companies.
The government slashed the budgets of several agencies last year to redirect the funds for pandemic relief programs. Agencies with the biggest budget cuts were the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Department of Education.
Mr. Avisado said the 2021 budget for infrastructure projects worth P1.2 trillion, would not be touched because the program is expected to drive the economic recovery.
The Budget department had released P3.613 trillion or 80.2% of this year’s P4.5-trillion spending plan as of April.
Latest official data showed the Philippine government had released P646.97 billion for pandemic-related programs as of mid-April.
Foreign loans secured for its pandemic response had reached $18.4 billion as of last month, after the state increased borrowings to plug its ballooning deficit that is 8.9% of gross domestic product this year. — Beatrice M.Laforga
A box of tocilizumab, a drug used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, is displayed at the pharmacy of Cambrai hospital, France, April 28, 2020. — REUTERS
By Jenina P. Ibañez and Beatrice M. Laforga, Reporters
IT TOOK Nikko Lae D. Abdon, 30, nearly a week to find medicines for her 66-year-old uncle, who got admitted in an intensive care unit room at the San Lazaro Hospital in the Philippine capital.
The drug tocilizumab, which is mainly used to treat arthritis, worked wonders to alleviate his pain after he was diagnosed with a severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Doctors also gave him remdesivir, an anti-viral drug originally made to treat hepatitis C.
“We were grateful that the doctors were able to save him,” Ms. Abdon, who works as a nurse at the hospital, said in mixed English and Filipino by telephone. “I didn’t like how we really struggled to find the medicines.”
“I can only imagine how hard it might be for others to see their relatives suffer because they can’t afford the medicines,” she added.
Ms. Abdon said they spent P20,000 for a vial of tocilizumab and P52,000 for six vials of remdesivir at senior citizen discount rates.
Many coronavirus patients in the Philippines have had to pay for expensive medicines to ease their pain as drugs in public hospitals are depleted and given insufficient healthcare insurance coverage from the state.
San Lazaro Hospital — a 500-bed capacity state hospital for infectious diseases — receives only 50-100 vials of remdesivir a week.
These are just enough to treat 16 patients at most, compared with as many as 150 coronavirus patients that the hospital was treating last month, said Rontgene M. Solante, head of the hospital’s Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Department.
“More than 80% will buy remdesivir outside,” he said by telephone. “They have to spend out of pocket since we can’t just let them be without the medicines.”
Local drug companies are trying to order more COVID-19 drugs, which easily run out because of high demand, Beaver Tamesis, president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, said by telephone.
“Patients die before the drug becomes available,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. “Supply is slightly behind the demand.”
Demand was particularly high in the past months amid a fresh surge in coronavirus infections — a daily peak of 15,310 on April 2 — that threatened to put the country’s health system on the brink of collapse.
COVID-19 infections in the Philippines were now decreasing, with 6,400 new infections reported on average each day, according to Reuters’ COVID-19 tracker. That’s 59% of the peak — the highest daily average reported on April 15.
About 1.12 million people have been infected with the coronavirus since the pandemic started last year, with almost 19,000 deaths.
INDIAN BAN Biocare Lifesciences, Inc. a local drug supplier, was caught off guard after India banned remdesivir exports last month after a record spike in cases there. Seven Indian companies have licensed the drug from US-based Gilead Sciences to produce 3.9 million units each month.
The company halted orders from India and continues to import the drug from Egypt and Bangladesh, while other local distributors that mainly import from India could no longer do so.
“We were surprised,” Ronald C. Palacio, Biocare Business Unit head, said in Filipino, referring to the Indian export ban.
He noted that while Biocare could meet the demand from about 250 hospitals, the company started getting more orders from state hospitals that were also affected by the ban. Some hospitals have been trying to stock for their yearly requirements, he said.
“We don’t have a problem with the stocks of remdesivir because shipments were continuously arriving,” he said. But they were caught off guard by sudden orders from government hospitals, which were not part of their plan, he added.
Hospitals can only order remdesivir through a compassionate special permit, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers it an “investigational” drug. Instead of ordering in bulk based on market demand forecasts, the distributor through each permit can only import the specific quantity ordered by hospitals.
Mr. Palacio said some hospitals had also failed to anticipate the recent surge in cases, which meant that they did not order as much before the Indian ban.
“The hospitals ran out of permits,” he said, noting that orders are limited by the quantities stated in their FDA permits.
Drug makers from other countries have also limited their exports to ensure enough supply in their home countries that have had to deal with the infection spike.
Biocare started importing tocilizumab last month, but its first two shipments have not been enough to meet local demand. The company would try to equally allot supply for a number of hospitals, he said.
The government should consider allowing the emergency use of the drugs so local suppliers could import more, Mr. Palacio said. But products should be screened to ensure quality and consumer safety, he added.
Mr. Tamesis from the pharmaceutical group said supply chain professionals should be able to forecast demand better, perhaps using infection projections.
The supply problem extends to medications for anxiety disorders, he said.
“It’s a very common feedback from those under my care,” Joan Mae Perez-Rifareal, a psychiatrist who works in Quezon City, said in mixed English and Filipino.
“They say ‘Doc, we looked through every drugstore near our residence and it has run out,’” she said by telephone, noting that patients looking for psychiatric services have increased during the pandemic.
Ms. Rifareal said some people are stressed about their transition to work from home or distance learning, while others are just anxious about the uncertainties from the health crisis.
There’s also been a dearth in high-tech machines needed by patients with severe coronavirus to boost their oxygen levels and help them survive, San Lazaro Hospital’s Mr. Solante said.
The hospital only has 30 high-flow nasal cannula devices and 20 ventilators, compared with as many as 100 patients needing them. Patients who are forced to rely on regular nasal machines are more likely to die.
“We use the high-flow nasal devices on a first come, first served basis because it is unethical if we choose who will get the machines and those who don’t,” Mr. Solante said.
The problem can be traced back to the country’s reliance on imports, making the machines difficult to get and expensive for both public and private hospitals to stock up on.
The prices of these devices have gone up by 67% to P500,000 each from last year because of high demand and tight supply, Mr. Solante said.
Ms. Abdon is thankful that her uncle survived without the machine. As a nurse, she’s worried about other patients who may not be as fortunate.
“This May, we’re hoping the daily cases will continue to go down,” she said. “Nurses, doctors and other medical staff here are getting exhausted.”
“I can only imagine how hard it might be for others to see their relatives suffer because they can’t afford the medicines,” she added.