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Keeping an eye on the prize at a cost

NETFLIX

By Michelle Anne P. Soliman, Reporter

TV Review
Squid Game
Director/Writer Hwang Dong-hyuk
Netflix

IF AN ANONYMOUS person invited you to play for a substantial amount of money, would you trust the stranger or any of your teammates? What strengths do you possess that give you confidence of succeeding?

The Netflix series Squid Game follows adult participants who risk their lives playing mysterious twists to familiar childhood games to win the 45.6 billion Won cash prize. But only one will be proclaimed victor.

After a man he meets at the train station gives him a business card with a circle, a triangle, and a square drawn on it, chauffeur Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) calls the number on it and later wakes up in an unfamiliar place. Wearing identical green and white outfits, the 456 participants gathered in the room are all caught in desperate situations in their personal lives.

Despite being given the option to quit the game, they are enticed to continue by the prize money. The games venue, designed and painted like a children’s playground, transforms into an arena of violence and the fight for survival.

The nine-episode series is written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk who described Squid Game as “one giant allegory that expresses the capitalist society of contemporary times.”

A first for a Korean series, Squid Game is currently the No. 1 trending Netflix show in 76 countries.

The first game, “Green Light, Red Light,” sets the mood:  the participants must accomplish the task and adhere to all instructions within a given time limit; they can get killed during the game or, if they fail to comply with the rules, get shot. After the first game, the participants —  and audience —  fear that things might get even worse.

The succeeding games alternate from teamwork driven games which are adrenaline stimulating and gory; and intimate games that are more emotional and are used to establish the relationships among characters.

All the actors are convincing and portrayed their roles well — some had character backgrounds the audience can relate to, and some are simply so arrogant that the viewer wishes they were eliminated earlier. There is sympathy for Gi-hun and those he makes alliances with and one roots for them to survive.

While the theme of a competition for survival is nothing new —  comparisons can be made with Battle Royal and The Hunger Games — writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk succeeds in presenting his allegory on the flawed equality in a capitalist society and survival. The participants represent the working class, who are expected to be productive and ensure mobility. On the way to the finish line, they are killed or destroy each other —  and themselves —  in the process. The VIPs in the story are the rich who are spectators and unaffected by the hardships and horrors afflicted on the participants.

Overall, the series was an exciting and emotional experience. The ending hints at a possible sequel. By then, I hope Gi-hun gets to prove that he, along with the other participants, is not a horse that anyone can bet on, but a human.

Quasi-banks post lower net profit in the 2nd quarter

THE QUASI-BANKING sector’s net profit dropped to P278 million in the second quarter amid lower interest and leasing income.

The second quarter figure is 55.5% lower compared with the P625 million logged a year prior, based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

For the first half of the year, the cumulative net income of quasi-lenders reached P330 million. This is lower by 23% compared with the P430-million net profit logged in the same period of 2020.

By type of nonbanks with quasi-banking functions (NBQBs), investment houses swung to a net profit of P189 million in the second quarter from a net loss of P145 million in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the net income of BSP-supervised financing companies plunged by 88% to P89 million that quarter from P770 million.

The net interest income of the quasi-banking industry inched down 8.5% to P3.133 billion from P3.425 billion.

The quarter saw these firms’ interest earnings drop by 52% to P219 million, with leasing income also going down by 2.9% to P6.072 billion. On the other hand, interest expenses increased 3.9% to P3.158 billion from a year earlier.

Broken down, the net interest income of investment houses slumped 80% to P32 million in the second quarter from P168 million in the same period of 2020.

Meanwhile, net interest income of financing companies dropped 4.8% to P3.102 billion from P3.258 billion.

In the second quarter, the non-interest income of NBQBs surged by 83% to P891 million from P488 million a year earlier. This was supported by their fee-based income, which climbed 126% to P738 million from P326 million.

Quasi-lenders also recorded trading income worth P5 million in the three-month period, turning around from the P5 million trading loss a year earlier.

Meanwhile, operating expenses of quasi-banks rose 23.4% to P3.675 billion in the second quarter from P2.979 billion the year prior.

Bad debts written off by financing companies stood at P187 million in the second quarter, down by 9.2% from the P206 million recorded in the comparable year-ago period. Meanwhile, provisions surged by 177% to P1.345 billion from P485 million. — L.W.T. Noble

White House backs workplace rights bill for nursing mothers

REUTERS

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said it is backing a bill that could give millions of new mothers more workplace rights when they pump breast milk.

A US House of Representatives bill co-sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans would, if passed and signed into law, require employers with 25 or more workers to provide time and private space for nursing mothers.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, extended those rights to only to smaller group of US workers, leaving out some 9 million people including many teachers and farmworkers, according to lawmakers pushing for the bill.

The new bill would also allow mothers concerned that their rights are being violated to pursue legal action against their bosses.

Employers would not have to pay workers for time spent on those breaks.

“No new mother should face unfair treatment in the workplace because their employer refuses to provide them with reasonable break time and private, clean space needed to adequately express breast milk while at work, forcing them to choose between their health and the health of her child, and earning a paycheck,” the White House’s Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

“Without these protections, nursing mothers face serious health consequences, including risk of painful illness and infection, diminished milk supply, or inability to continue breastfeeding.” — Reuters

Grab PHL, MOVE IT partnership ordered suspended

THE Transportation department on Thursday told a Senate committee that the technical working group (TWG) overseeing the operations of motorcycle taxis has ordered the suspension of the implementation of the Grab Philippines-MOVE IT partnership.

“Nag-issue po ang technical working group… na ihinto po muna ang pag-implement ng partnership nitong MOVE IT at Grab (The technical working group issued an order suspending the implementation of the partnership of MOVE IT and Grab),” Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven C. Pastor said during a Senate committee budget hearing.

“Ito po ay (This is) subject to further study pa ng (of the) technical working group,” he added.

Grab Philippines confirmed this in a statement, saying that its partner was notified to “suspend the MOVE IT with Grab service effective Thursday, Sept. 30, 12:01 a.m.”

“Together with MOVE IT, we are currently engaging with our regulators, and we look forward to resuming our partnership soon,” it added.

Grab Philippines has said that the partnership aims to help enhance mobility conditions in Metro Manila by providing MOVE IT motorcycle taxi services on the Grab app.

The partnership is also seen to enable both companies to provide the government’s technical working group with more safety statistics and insights on motorcycle taxi safety.

But transport group Lawyers for Commuters’ Safety and Protection said the partnership is “dubious.”

“The ride-hailing company’s dubious partnership with MOVE IT is clearly a circumvention of the program’s guidelines as the Singapore-based company is not part of the pilot study of the government,” Noel Valerio, spokesman of the Lawyers for Commuters’ Safety and Protection, said in a statement e-mailed to reporters on Sept. 25.

Grab Philippines said: “As a community partner, Grab Philippines will continue to do right by our consumers and partners, encourage constructive dialogue using facts and objective information, and help contribute to the recovery of our transportation industry.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Entertainment News (10/01/21)

The Harder they Fall

ABS-CBN shows and movies on YouTube

ABS-CBN is streaming more of its classic shows, all-time favorite teleseryes, and blockbuster movies for free on its various YouTube channels via ABS-CBN Superview. On the Black Sheep YouTube channel, viewers can watch the English-subtitled reunion movie of Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino, Exes Baggage. Star Cinema offers the family movie Seven Sundays with an ensemble cast led by Dingdong Dantes, Aga Muhlach, Enrique Gil, Cristine Reyes, and Ronaldo Valdez. John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, prove timing in love is everything in their 2010 romance Miss You Like Crazy. For children there is the fantasy adventure series Wansapanataym, while for drama and nostalgia there is MMK, as well as The Maricel Drama Special. ABS-CBN also adds to its growing list of full movies and series that are dubbed in foreign languages and subtitled in English for global viewers. These include the Spanish dubbed romantic comedies You’re My Boss and The Third Party, the horror film Feng Shui 2, episodes of the Pangako Sa ‘Yo remake (La Promesa) and Barcelona: A Love Untold. 

Bretman Rock joins Digicon Pop Youth 2021

SOCIAL media star Bretman Rock is set to join Digicon Pop 2021, as confirmed by the Internet & Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP). This year’s “pop” theme will revolve on the continuous disruption of digital innovations and trends that can now be easily accessed by almost everyone — be it in the fields of business, communications, and entertainment. The 2021 MTV Breakthrough Social Star awardee will share his insights about the journey to global stardom for Digicon Pop Youth, happening on Oct. 13. Mr. Bretman’s story is one of disruption, and a testament to the power of digital content platforms in carving a space for Asian-American and LGBTQIA+ communities. DigiCon Pop 2021 also marks the return of the Boomerang Awards, which will culminate the week-long event on Oct. 15. Digicon Pop will have over 50 keynote speakers from all over the world as well as four DEEP tracks — Disruption, Expansion, Emerging, and Possibilities. Digicon Pop will be held virtually from Oct. 11-15. For details and schedules, visit the official website at www.digicon.com.ph.

GMA Entertainment brings eminent writers on board

GMA Network welcomes award-winning writer  Ricky Lee, Maria Regina “Reggie” Amigo, Jimuel Dela Cruz, Benjamin Benson Logronio,  and Aris “Ays” De Guzman to its creative and production teams. A screenwriter, journalist, novelist, and playwright, Ricky Lee has been involved in some of the most iconic films in the country including Himala (1982), Muro-Ami (1999), Death Row (2000), and Jose Rizal (1998). Mr. Lee as Creative Consultant for the network is set to provide basic and advance workshops for new and existing writers of the network. He will also conduct script appreciation workshop for the cast members of the program/s that will be assigned to him as well as the creative and production people. Also joining the creative team of the GMA Entertainment Group is writer Maria Regina “Reggie” Amigo who is notable for her works in Philippine dramas.  Senior writers Mark Angos will join upcoming family drama series I Left My Heart in Sorsogon; Jimuel Dela Cruz joins the romantic drama series Heartful Café, plus Stories from the Heart: Never Say Goodbye, Love On Air, Widows’ Web, and I Can See You: Alternate; Benjamin Benson Logronio joins the team of Stories from the Heart: Never Say Goodbye, Artikulo 247, and drama anthology Magpakailanman; and Aris De Guzman joins fantasy drama series Agimat ng Agila.

The Harder they Fall on Netflix

THE NEW school American Western The Harder they Fall follows outlaw Nat Love (played by Jonathan Majors) who discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison. He rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge, but Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew. The film also stars  Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyle, and Damon Wayans, Jr. It is directed by Jeymes Samuel. The Harder they Fall premieres on Netflix on Nov. 3.

GMA launches new music podcast, Behind the Song

GMA Network launched the Behind the Song podcast on Sept. 28. The podcast features The Clash Season 2 finalist Thea Astley discussing music with various international and local singers, composers, and producers as the host of the weekly podcast. Each episode features artists talking about the music production process, from concept to publishing, and their inspiration in crafting their masterpiece. The podcast guests also participate in trivia games. Some of the online show’s upcoming guests are music artists BTOB, mxmtoon, Happy Fits, Pablo of SB19, Julie Anne San Jose, Mikee Quintos, and Bianca Umali. Behind the Song will be available every Tuesday for streaming on Spotify for free. The full video of each podcast episode will also be released on GMA Network’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Action thriller Reminiscence to premiere on HBO GO

STARRING Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, and Thandie Newton, Reminiscence, an action thriller written, directed, and produced by Lisa Joy (Westworld) premieres exclusively in the Philippines on HBO GO on Oct. 4. Nick Bannister (Mr. Jackman), a private investigator of the mind, helps his clients access lost memories. His life is changed when he takes on a new client, Mae (Ms. Ferguson) and a simple matter of lost and found becomes a dangerous obsession as he uncovers a violent conspiracy, and must ultimately answer the question: how far would you go to hold on to the ones you love? Stream or download Reminiscence on HBO GO. Download the app at the App Store or Play Store, or access HBO GO via Cignal or at https://www.hbogoasia.ph/.

P1 million up for grabs in TV5 promo

TV5 HAS OFFICIALLY launched its Himig ng Ating Pasko: Guess the Lyrics Promo where participants can win cash prizes of up to P1 million. Running from Oct. 4 until Dec. 12, lucky viewers can win P20,000 in the weekly draws and P100,000 up to P1 million in the Grand Draw. Throughout the promo duration, TV5 will be airing weekly Christmas promo plugs which viewers can catch during the Network’s program gaps. To join the promo, participants simply need to complete the missing lyrics of the featured Christmas song of the week and indicate the telecast date of the specific promo plug. Valid entries must include the missing lyric and the specific Christmas promo plug’s telecast date; the participant’s name, address, mobile number, e-mail, signature, birthdate, and age; and a proof of purchase of any of the participating Lady’s Choice & Best Foods products. Entries can be written on any piece of paper, in clear handwriting, submitted in a white envelope, and physically dropped at any of the drop boxes in participating LBC branches nationwide. One correct answer and telecast date is equivalent to one entry. Multiple entries are allowed. The promo is in line with TV5’s “Atin Ang Paskong Ito, Kapatid” campaign, with Lady’s Choice as their Kaisa sa Pagbibigay Saya partner. Nine weekly winners (three each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) will be randomly selected from the correct entries to win P20,000 each. All entries for the entire duration of the promo will be eligible for the Grand Draw where three lucky winners (one each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) will win P100,000 each. From all the entries nationwide, one lucky winner will win the jackpot prize of P1 million. Winners’ names will be posted on TV5’s Facebook Page (https://facebook.com/TV5manila) and will be announced via plugs on TV5. All winners will also be notified by way of e-mail, registered mail and a phone call from a TV5 representative. For the detailed mechanics of the Himig ng Ating Pasko: Guess the Lyrics Promo and other upcoming events from TV5’s “longest Christmas celebration on Philippine TV,” visit the website www.tv5.com.ph.

Security guard hosts Flash Patrol radio program

A YOUNG security guard at a Dipolog City-based radio station was given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to give a long-running local radio show a fresh take on the news. In March 2020, Nash Joaquino, 23, had been working as the night-shift security guard for about two years when the host of the radio station’s morning news show, Mike “Tito Mike” Reyes, informed the station that he would be going into COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) isolation. Show producer and station co-owner Marivic Arnas came up with an unprecedented solution to save the show: why not have their security guard, Kuya Nash, host it? Joaquino was already known around the broadcasting station for his sense of humor and nowhere was it more evident than when he himself jokingly suggested he take over for the beloved “Tito Mike.” What was meant to be just an off-the-cuff remark proved to be the trigger for both the birth of Flash Patrol. According to Executive and Co-Producer Victoria Billones, Kuya Nash’s lack of formal training proved to be his strength. “With Kuya Nash, we had a newscaster who understood the news how ordinary people understood it, who spoke like our audience, and wasn’t afraid to be candid,” Ms. Billones explained. Flash Patrol has a format familiar to many news radio shows: one host reads the headlines of the day, with occasional guests to better dive into hot issues. Flash Patrol airs Monday to Thursday mornings on Magik FM stations in Vigan, Laoag, Tacloban, Dipolog, Mandalupa, Lucena, and Tuguegarao. It is also a podcast on Spotify.

GMA Regional TV adds sports to newscasts

GMA Regional TV (RTV) this month launched its original sports segment “Sports Synergy” — which can be seen in all its afternoon regional newscasts. “Sports Synergy” is hosted by sportsman Martin Javier who was the main host of the NCAA Season 96 primer Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96 and the recently concluded Rise Up Stronger: NCAA Season 96 together with fellow GMA Artist Center star Sophia Senoron. In “Sports Synergy,” Mr. Javier gets to talk to various sports personalities, from legends sharing their inspiring sports journeys to athletes showing their preparations for their upcoming competitions. “Sports Synergy” segment will be broadcast as part of the newscasts GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan (North Central Luzon), GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak (Central and Eastern Visayas), GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas (Western Visayas), GMA Regional TV One Mindanao (North, Central, South Central, Western, and Southern Mindanao) and GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia (Bicol Region), airing Mondays to Fridays at 5 p.m. on GMA Regional TV channels nationwide. The segment will also be part of the Regional TV News airing Mondays to Fridays at 9 a.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. on GTV.

Song writing, photo contest winners announced

THE CIVIL Service Commission (CSC) announced the winners of the CSC National Song Writing Contest and Online Photography Contest held during the 121st Philippine Civil Service Anniversary celebration. The virtual awards ceremonies were streamed live on the CSC Facebook Page on Sept. 23 and 24, respectively. From 11 regional entries, Donalyn N. Onilongo of the Department of Justice, Rizal emerged as 2nd Runner Up, Jackson Ray S. Sevillo of Iloilo National High School as 1st Runner Up, and Jerome Vincent B. Cruz of Social Security System, Angeles City as Grand Champion of the CSC National Song Writing Contest. The winners received P30,000, P40,000, and P50,000 respectively. Regional winners also received cash consolation prizes. Meanwhile, the 2021 Online Photography Contest — aimed to highlight through images the various ways civil servants have risen to the challenges brought about by the pandemic — received 423 entries nationwide, and 48 photos advanced to the national finals. From these entries, Marianne D. Soriano from Pangasinan National High School bagged 1st prize with her photo entitled Beyond the Four Corners, featuring a teacher facilitating his synchronous online class with two black boxes as a makeshift table for his laptop and other learning materials outside a classroom. Ms. Soriano received P15,000. Evelyn P. Pidut from Muta Elementary School (Region II) came in 2nd place with Bridging Future Through the New Normal Education, while Ryan Rogon Poliran from the Department of Education (Region XI) came in 3rd place, receiving P12,000 and P10,000 respectively.

Torn by a competitor’s lucrative job offer

I’ve been offered a job by an industry competitor that proposes to triple my pay and perks package. My current pay has remained fixed since 2018 and I’ve not been given any merit increase as I was told by the Human Resources (HR) department that I’m already receiving the maximum level of our salary scale. I’m still motivated by material needs but I can’t decide on the new job offer. Could you please help me explore my options? — Rising Tide.

You need to make a decision based on your understanding of your own situation, status at your current job, and possible issues that may crop up with a new employer should you accept the new job offer. Let’s focus on the last two — your current employer and what a new employer could give you.

What are the prospects that you can achieve your career and pay package goals with the current employer? Would it be possible in one to three years? What are the factors that could hasten the actualization of your dreams? How would you describe your work performance and can it somehow fast-track your promotion? How old is your boss, how long has your boss been in the company, and what are the chances you might someday step in as a replacement?

Have you received a written offer that spells out all details of your compensation package with the new employer? Why or why not? What’s the reason for the vacant position being offered to you? Did the former executive retire or accept another job elsewhere? Was your predecessor forced out? The answer could give you a good idea of what’s in store for you.

Furthermore, why are they hiring from outside? Why don’t they promote from within? Do they have a robust succession plan? Why or why not? Have you carried out a background check of your potential boss? What is the new boss’s management style? How would former employees describe that employer? These days, it has become easy to pick up clues from social media and from the pages of job hunting sites.

HR INTERVENTION
You have to understand the situation very clearly. First of all, your current company has a salary system with a maximum level for each job. This is not the fault of your current employer unless it is remiss in updating pay levels to make it competitive with the standards of your industry or other companies in your geographical area.

Therefore, a good question to explore with your HR department is to find out how updated the pay structure of the company is. One caveat though. You need to be diplomatic with HR as it may misinterpret your “investigation” and word could reach your boss. You know them better than I do.

In knowing the industry trends in pay and perks, major organizations rely on input from objective sources, like the annual industry survey of Willis Towers Watson and other similarly consulting firms that sell it for an average of one million pesos.

If buying a survey report is impossible, the other option is for your HR department to conduct a friendly benchmarking event with three or four companies within your industry or other major companies of comparable size that are located in your geographical area.

The benchmarking event could be a “kaliwaan” exercise — an on-the-spot exchange of salary information at a face-to-face meeting among HR professionals from other companies. Your company may even offer to host a lunch meeting to establish rapport and explore other opportunities.

To make it easy for other HR people to join the benchmarking event, limit it to key officers in your company and be prepared to discuss annual salary in terms of minimum, average, and maximum levels. You can also include other benefits like a car plan, housing, medical and insurance coverage, among other “golden handcuff” provisions.

This is an economical approach, although it is difficult to do given that most companies are secretive about their pay packages.

INTELLIGENT DECISION
There’s always something you can work on. Who knows? Depending on your relationship with the boss, you may opt to discuss your pay with your superior and the new offer being dangled to you. If the job offer is three times your current pay and perks, there’s also a chance it’s at par with the package that your boss is receiving. Be careful about this.

Your boss may hold all the cards in helping you make an intelligent decision. What your boss can do is important. The boss’s opinion carries the same weight as what you consider important insofar as your career is concerned. If you can’t wait long, then you have to make a decision based on your instincts. And if you’re still torn about the right decision, then I suggest you stay put at your current job.

That’s because you don’t want to make a mistake that could leave you empty-handed if you accept the offer. The new job could turn out to be worse than expected because of certain issues that you were not aware of.

 

Have a consulting chat with Rey Elbo on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter or you can send anonymous questions to elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.consulting

Mobile number portability service now ready

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Connectivity, Inc. (TCI) announced on Thursday that the mobile number portability service is now available to customers.

This means that customers can now keep their mobile numbers as they transfer from one mobile service provider to another.

“We wish to announce to the Filipino people that as of today, Sept. 30, the core services of mobile number portability are now ready,” TCI General Manager Melanie A. Manuel said in a statement.

“We do expect to experience some inconveniences as we start offering the service, but we are confident that with the continued cooperation and hard work of our three partner telcos, we can say that finally, forever is here,” she added.

TCI is the company put up by the country’s dominant mobile network operators to facilitate mobile number portability.

To port within networks, customers should be able to meet the following requirements: an active SIM and the requestor is the assignee of the mobile number to be ported, no remaining balance from previous bill (for postpaid), no existing court prohibitions, and no pending transfer of ownership.

Ms. Manuel said at a recent media briefing that Smart Communications, Inc., Globe Telecom, Inc., and DITO Telecommunity Corp. had invested P120 million in the project.

The telcos selected the Florida-based Syniverse to be the mobile number portability service provider. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Mobility for the vaccinated

The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) has expressed support for the proposed “bakuna bubbles” that will allow greater mobility for fully vaccinated people while protecting the unvaccinated.

FINEX President Francis Lim revealed that pockets of the economy will be allowed to open up and operate at a limited capacity in order to breathe life into the country’s battered economic system. Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion has been the main advocate for the use of these so-called bubbles, which he believes is the safest way to reopen the economy.

According to Concepcion, vaccination in the private sector has already reached 90% due to the business bubbles. Based on their experiences, corporate entities and government agencies such as Republic Gas Corp. (Regasco), South Pacific, Inc. (SPI), and the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) have validated Concepcion’s observation.

In the case of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) companies Regasco and SPI, they have inoculated 70% and 99% of their respective workforces. SPI’s Human Resources Administration Department (HRAD) made this announcement on its social media platforms: “In the face of uncertainty, we have learned valuable lessons. As we continue to battle with the unseen enemies, we are encouraging everyone to get COVID-19 vaccines to protect our loved ones. Herd immunity is our best weapon against the dangers brought by the existing viruses.”

HRAD has also disseminated a series of posters reminding employees and contractual workers that they should make it a habit to wash and sanitize hands regularly; wear face masks and shields; maintain social distancing; accomplish SPI’s daily health checklist; and report any symptoms to HRAD and the Safety Department immediately.

For its part, AFAB disclosed that more than 10,000 workers in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) are already fully vaccinated while some 6,000 others are waiting for their second dose to be administered at the FABakuna Center in Mariveles, Bataan.

Recently, AFAB launched the COVID Safety-Assured FAB Enterprise (SAFE) Shield to continue encouraging companies in improving their response to the challenges posed by the pandemic. The COVID SAFE Shield will be issued to companies that regularly conduct free monthly testing for workers and have at least 90% fully vaccinated workers at all times. Qualified companies may be allowed to continue their operations even during the declaration of ECQ or MECQ protocols in the freeport zone.

Dr. Noel Bernardo, AFAB’s public health consultant, shared the facts about COVID-19 vaccines and other related topics during the recent FAB Speaks webinar. “We know that vaccination is the most evidence-based and has the highest effectiveness in ending a pandemic. One of my advocacies as a doctor is to encourage people to get vaccinated. I would like vaccinated people to be our partners in encouraging other Filipinos to get vaccinated as well so we can achieve herd immunity,” he said.

During the recent FINEX general membership meeting, Lim made another pitch for mass inoculation: “In order to adapt to this new normal, it is very important that all qualified individuals get vaccinated. Although supply is still an issue, there are still many of our countrymen who resist being vaccinated. Let us help and educate each other in order for us to reach the government’s target to achieve herd immunity. As a citizen of this nation, let us do our share.”

After all, he thinks that allowing the vaccinated to assist in reviving the country’s economy also helps the hard-hit sectors get back on their feet.

INCLUSIVE DISRUPTION
The 53rd annual conference of FINEX will be held via Zoom on Oct. 4-8, 2021 with the theme of “Inclusive Disruption: Achieving A Sustainable Future in the New Frontier.”

Just like in the 2020 edition, there will be 10 virtual sessions spread over five days next week. Featured this year are leaders and experts who will discuss how they direct the disruptions in their respective fields to help push the agenda related to inclusivity, sustainability, and cohesiveness in their respective organizations as well as the ecosystem in which they operate.

Among the confirmed speakers are former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno, Ayala Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Warburg Pincus Managing Director Saurabh Agarwal, UnionBank CEO Edwin Bautista, Google Philippines Industry Manager Karissa Herrera, Royal Dutch Shell Chief Economist Mallika Ishwaran, BPI CFO Maria Theresa Marcial, IBM Institute for Business Value Director Anthony Marshall, and ADB Vice-President Bambang Susantono.

 

J. Albert Gamboa is the chief finance officer of Asian Center for Legal Excellence and co-chairman of the FINEX Week Committee. The opinion expressed herein does not necessarily reflect the views of these institutions and BusinessWorld.

Philippine labor force situation (as of August 2021)

MORE FILIPINOS went jobless in August even as people forced to work in low-paying or low-skill jobs declined, according to the local statistics agency. Read the full story.

Philippine labor force situation (as of August 2021)

How PSEi member stocks performed — September 30, 2021

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, September 30, 2021.

DTI backs opening nearly all firms regardless of alert level

REUTERS

TRADE SECRETARY Ramon M. Lopez said he supports allowing most businesses to open regardless of alert level, restricting only their capacity levels when infections surge.

Speaking on ANC News Thursday, he said his proposed lockdown rule change would promote business continuity and avoid an “open-close-open” cycle of operations.

“The idea is really just to reduce operating capacity every time we reach alert level 4,” he said.

The alert level system determines the lockdown restrictions implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with level 1 being the least strict.

Alert level 4 implemented in Metro Manila since Sept. 16 bans indoor sports events, gyms, amusement parks, and indoor entertainment venues from operating.

“Since it may be too early to change these percentages, what can be done is to recognize the Safety Seal system also in (alert level) 4, so we can add 10 percentage points,” Mr. Lopez told reporters in a Viber message.

This means that he is proposing that businesses that obtain government safety seals — stickers displayed at establishment entry points if they comply with health and safety protocols — be allowed to increase capacity by 10%.

“So the good approach is to have continuity in operations and jobs, regardless of (alert) level.  Changes only in operating capacity,” he said.

He added that there could still be a list of businesses excluded from being allowed to open, although this would be a shorter list consisting of “high risk non-essentials.”

Mr. Lopez has been supporting the resumption of some gym operations when alert level 4 is raised.

“We’ve been arguing that exercise is really one vital activity for anyone to increase immunity levels,” he told ANC. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Palace studying request to defer SSS contribution hike

The Palace said Thursday that it will look into postponing a scheduled social security contribution hike, as requested by businesses and labor leaders.

“The proposal is now being studied by the Office of the President,” the President’s spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said at a televised news briefing.

“We are looking into the financial viability of the SSS (Social Security System) and the weaknesses of businesses and livelihoods amid the pandemic,” he added. “So, expect the decision to come out as soon as possible.”

Leaders of at least 10 business and labor organizations earlier signed a letter urging President Rodrigo R. Duterte to order a postponement of the SSS contribution hike.

They said that months after Mr. Duterte signed a law granting him power to defer contribution hikes for the duration of a state of calamity, “the Executive Order (EO) implementing it has yet to be issued, even as the higher SSS premium took effect in January 2021.”

“We were informed by the SSS that it is still waiting for this,” according to the groups, which include the Management Association of the Philippines, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Partido Manggagawa, the Federation of Free Workers. 

“Postponing the implementation of the higher SSS premium will be a critical recovery measure by helping sustain the cash flow especially of the very vulnerable MSMEs,” they said. “It will also serve as a very concrete government contribution to the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) program that is implementing with the private sector.”

The letter was also signed by leaders of the Makati Business Club, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport), the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. – Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

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