Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 7562

Tech experts voice concerns of gig worker surveillance in pandemic

LONDON – Growing armies of gig workers have little to no say in how they are being monitored during the coronavirus pandemic, researchers and advocates told a conference on Wednesday, calling for better oversight in how tracking tools are deployed.

From Singapore to Estonia, business is turning to technology to help people resume work and travel, with apps, scanners, and so-called immunity passports, but digital rights experts warn against privacy and increased surveillance.

Gig workers – independent contractors such as drivers who perform on-demand services – are most vulnerable to surveillance as they have no safeguards like minimum wage or health cover, researchers told the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s annual Trust Conference that was held online.

“Tools to monitor gig workers were at play before the pandemic when it was a harder sell, but when introduced during COVID you have public health as a legitimate reason,” said Urvashi Aneja of policy and advocacy collective Tandem Research in India.

In India, contact-tracing mobile app Aarogya Setu is mandatory for food-delivery workers, government and some private sector employees.

Such tools can track gig workers’ location at all times, regardless of whether they are at work or not, said Aneja, whose organisation has been reviewing tech tools used during the pandemic.

“One of the things that gig work does it that it fragments the labour force, so the ability and the spaces to collectively bargain, for workers to come together, is also decreasing,” she added.

Workers’ increased engagement with tech platforms fuels a model where “we are turned into monetised bits that are bought, sold and traded”, said Safiya Noble, a leading technology scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Monitoring technologies like facial recognition tends to single out minorities for unfair treatment, and provide little recourse for them to seek redress, said Noble.

Aneja agreed, saying “not only is tech created in the Global North, it’s critiqued in the Global North”.

“We need to build up civil society so that the critique doesn’t replicate the same power imbalances as the product.”

Alice Munyua, director of innovation and public policy for Africa at Firefox browser maker Mozilla, called for more tools to help create a “healthy internet”.

The company developed Facebook Container, a Firefox extension that allows users to isolate their web activity from Facebook sites like Instagram and Messenger.

“This prevents Facebook from following you around the web … the less data they have on you the less they can give away,” she said. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

Typhoon Vamco lashes main Philippine island, kills one

MANILA – Typhoon Vamco soaked and lashed provinces in the Philippines’ main Luzon island overnight, killing one person while three more are missing, the local disaster agency said on Thursday.

Vamco, with maximum sustained winds of 155 km per hour (96 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 mph), made landfall three times starting on Wednesday night in Quezon province, south of the capital Manila.
The local disaster agency reported a 68-year-old man was found dead on the roof of his house in a coastal community in Camarines Norte province, where three more people are missing.

Vamco, the 21st cyclone to hit the country this year, battered the Philippines still reeling from Molave, the world’s most powerful typhoon this year that killed 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes early in November.
It will leave land on Thursday afternoon, but not before bringing torrential rains and strong winds as it passes through rice-producing provinces in the world’s largest rice importer.

In the capital, residents were mopping up after heavy downpours that flooded roads and homes, said Marcelino Teodoro, mayor of Marikina City, a suburb of metropolitan Manila.

“Many of our residents were soaked overnight. In some areas, floods have reached the second floor and roofs,” Teodoro told DZBB radio station.

Nearby dams are close to spilling, which could aggravate flooding, the disaster agency said.

Airline flights and mass transit in the capital were suspended while the coast guard stopped port operations. Government work was suspended and financial markets were shut.

The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, experiences around 20 tropical storms annually.
Vamco is forecast to head towards Vietnam next, with the weather agency there expecting the storm to hit the central region on Sunday, bringing intense rains.

Floods and mudslides over the past month have killed at least 160 people in central Vietnam, left dozens missing and damaged 390,000 houses. – Reuters

BusinessWorld Insights: What’s Next for Renewable Energy

The Philippine government laid out several legislations and policies pushing industries to consume renewable energy.

Join the final session of BusinessWorld Insights’ Sustaining Sustainability series and know more about the latest developments and the needed actions to take in relation to the use of renewable energy sources.

Take part in this discussion with the theme: “What’s Next for Renewable Energy” with speakers Senator Win Gatchalian, National Renewable Energy Board Chair Monalisa Dimalanta, Energy Development Corporation President and COO Richard Tantoco, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director NaderevSaño, WWF Philippines Climate and Energy Programme Head Atty. Angela Ibay; and moderator BusinessWorld Editor Victor Saulon LIVE and FREE on BusinessWorld’s and The Philippine STAR’s Facebook pages!

#BUSINESSWORLDINSIGHTS​ Sustainability Series is made possible by Globe, Energy Development Corporation, First Gen Corporation, Meralco, The Philippine STAR, and Olern; with the support of the Management Association of the Philippines, Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

FDI inflows up for 4th straight month

Foreign direct investments to the Philippines grew for a fourth month in a row in August. — REUTERS

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS to the Philippines grew for a fourth straight month in August due to renewed investor confidence despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the central bank said.   

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed net inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) climbed by 46.9% to $637 million in August, from the $434 million logged in August 2019. However, this was 20% lower than the $797 million in July.

“The FDI net inflows increased for the fourth consecutive month, owing to investors’ renewed confidence as the National Government’s fiscal stimulus and BSP’s accommodative monetary policy stance to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic gained traction along with the easing of quarantine measures in the country,” the central bank said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

For the first eight months, FDI inflows dropped 5.6% to $4.432 billion from $4.693 billion a year ago.

“The four consecutive months of growth since May resulted in the considerable narrowing of the cumulative net FDI contraction of 27.9% in April 2020,” the BSP said.

The central bank slashed its projection for total FDI inflows this year to $4.1 billion due to the impact of the pandemic, less than half of its earlier projection of $8.8 billion.

The higher FDI net inflows were mainly due to the 72.2% surge in net investments in debt instruments to $459 billion.

Equity other than reinvestment of earnings rose by 32.9% to $107 million, as placements jumped 30% to $118 million. Withdrawals went up by 7.1% to $10 million.

During the month, most of the equity capital placements came from Japan, the United States, and the British Virgin Islands.

“Investments were channeled largely to manufacturing, real estate, financial and insurance, administrative and support service, and wholesale and retail trade industries,” the central bank said.

Meanwhile, reinvestment of earnings declined by 17.9% to $71 million.

Analysts said the continued improvement in FDI inflows may suggest investor confidence is returning, as restriction measures have been eased to boost economic activity.

“As the Philippines is relatively stable politically compared to neighboring countries, it boosted investor confidence allowing certain growth momentum to recover — one of which are FDIs,” Asian Institute of Management economist John Paolo R. Rivera said in an e-mail.

Inflows of FDI are likely to continue rising in the next months as investors await developments in the search for a COVID-19 cure and vaccine.

“I expect that FDI will remain in its bullish status in the coming months owing to the possible solution to the pandemic and the steady improvement in the economic activity of the local economy,” Colegio de San Juan de Letran Graduate School Dean Emmanuel J. Lopez said. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Think tanks cut PHL outlook after weak Q3

By Beatrice M. Laforga, Reporter

TWO THINK TANKS lowered their growth forecast for the Philippines this year, after latest data showed a steeper-than-expected contraction in the previous two quarters that signaled a shaky recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Fitch Solutions Country Risk & Industry Research trimmed its gross domestic product (GDP) for the Philippines to -9.6% from its earlier forecast of -9.1%. It raised its GDP outlook for next year to 7.6% from 6.2% previously, mainly due to base effects.

“We at Fitch Solutions believe the Philippine economy will struggle to maintain its recovery momentum in Q4 2020 as domestic containment measures weigh on activity and demand. In 2021, base effects and supportive fiscal and monetary policy stances should drive a rebound, with the economy returning to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2022,” Fitch Solutions said in a note released on Wednesday.

The economy contracted by 11.5% in the third quarter after the 16.9% plunge in the second quarter. A BusinessWorld poll of 19 economists last week showed a median forecast of a 9.2% decline in the third quarter.

Coronavirus curbs around the country have gradually been eased since June, but slow state spending and a two-week lockdown in August put a damper on economic recovery.

Fitch Solutions said ongoing mobility restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) weighed on household spending and investments.

Household spending contracted by 9.3% year on year in the third quarter, although this was slower than the 15.3% fall in the second quarter.

Despite a drop in the number of new COVID-19 cases, the think tank said there is a risk that a virus resurgence could slow the pace of economic recovery through the first half of 2021.

Potential investments will likely be postponed while households will remain conservative on spending amid an uncertain environment, Fitch Solutions said. It expects private consumption to contract by 7.8% this year, shaving 5.3 percentage points off the country’s consumption-driven GDP.

“Consumer sentiment for the next three months also indicates a sharp decline in Q3 2020 relative Q1 2020. The subdued outlook dims our view on a strong service sector recovery, which accounts for around 62% of output,” it said.

The economy’s struggle can be seen in the latest manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data, which showed a contraction in October.

Fitch Solutions said the economy can only expect limited foreign support to fuel recovery as foreign direct investments (FDIs) remained dampened.

“Fixed capital investment growth is set to remain challenged, eroding headline growth by 10.1 percentage points in 2020,” it said.

On the other hand, Fitch Solutions said economic recovery will be supported by the projected V-shaped rebound in China and better demand in the United States and in Asia-Pacific region, but the return to lockdown in several European countries poses downside risks.

Meanwhile, Capital Economics’ Asia Economist Alex Holmes said in a note on Tuesday that they also slashed the outlook for the Philippines this year to -9.5% from -8% previously.

“The Philippines saw a lackluster rebound in GDP in Q3 and improvements are likely to be harder to come by in the quarters ahead. Output is unlikely to regain its pre-crisis level until late next year,” the note read.

Mr. Holmes said the country’s recovery will be slow as domestic demand loses its momentum with mobility restrictions still in place.

With the sharp contractions in the previous two quarters that put the country in a recession, the government’s projection of up to -6.6% GDP for 2020 is no longer possible, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said.

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) will revise its macroeconomic projections given the latest data.

The economic team expects a 6.5-7.5% growth in 2021 and 2022.

Mr. Chua said GDP is expected to be better in the fourth quarter as restrictions were further loosened.

For next year, both think tanks expect growth will be largely due to a low base in 2020. Economic output will only go back to its pre-pandemic level in late-2021 for Capital Economics, or by mid-2022 for Fitch Solutions.

“While growth will look strong next year, this is due to a favorable base. More instructive is that output is unlikely to regain its pre-crisis level until late-2021 and we estimate that by the end of the next year the economy will still be over 10% smaller than if the pandemic had not happened,” Mr. Holmes said.

To support next year’s rebound, Fitch Solutions said the central bank should keep its policy rates steady until the end of the year so loan growth will have more time to recover, while the government should ramp up its spending on infrastructure to create jobs.

“Improving orders and global sentiment will also aid investment plans which have lagged in 2021 and could provide upside to the recovery in fixed capital investment,” Fitch Solutions said.

“The pandemic remains a major uncertainty and headwind to the Philippines economic recovery. Indeed, another upsurge in cases domestically could force the reimplementation of local lockdowns, hampering activity,” it added.

Senate approves FIST bill

By Charmaine A. Tadalan, Reporter

THE SENATE on Tuesday approved a measure allowing financial institutions to offload bad loans to asset management companies in order to cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their finances.

With 18 affirmative votes, no negative and abstention, the chamber passed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1849, the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act,” in anticipation of an increase in nonperforming assets (NPAs).

“This is a proactive response to the pandemic that should free up P1.19 trillion worth of loans and allow banks to lend to some 600,000 MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) and save over 3.5 million jobs,” Senator Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

The measure was approved by the Senate on second and third reading on the same day, as President Rodrigo R. Duterte certified the bill as an urgent measure.

Ms. Poe-Llamanzares, who chairs the Senate Banks and Financial Intermediaries Committee, previously said the industry’s NPAs are projected to reach P635 billion by the end of the year.

As of end-September, bad loans stood at P364.672 billion, up from P227.660 billion last year and P304.997 billion as of end-August. Gross nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio reached 3.4% as of September, the highest since May 2013.

SB 1849 provides for the creation of FIST corporations that will be allowed to invest in or acquire NPAs and engage third parties for its management, operation, collection and disposal.

“This is a much-improved version of the SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle). The FIST does away with the requirements that delayed the transfer of assets without diminishing the rights of borrowers under existing laws,” she said.

Ms. Poe-Llamanzares was referring to Republic Act No. 9182, the SPV Law of 2002, that was enacted to help banks recover in the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis.

The FIST bill expanded covered institutions to include lending companies and other credit-granting companies, licensed by the BSP, which were under the SPV law. It also prohibits government financial institutions from setting up their own FIST corporations.

Under the bill, FIST corporations are allowed to transfer or purchase assets that became nonperforming before Dec. 31, 2022.

The counterpart measure, House Bill No. 6816 was approved on third reading in the House of Representatives in June.

House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries Chairman and Quirino Rep. Junie E. Cua said he expects the Bicameral Conference Committee to approve the measure within the month, in time for its signing by the end of the year.

“I hope we can finish it within the month because we are rushing it,” Mr. Cua said in a phone interview on Wednesday. “Para by January, naka-ready na ’yung batas. Gagawin pa ’yung IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulation).”

Ms. Poe-Llamanzares had said the bill, as approved by Senate, can be implemented without an IRR.

The FIST bill was among the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response measures the Senate wants to pass by yearend. This is on top of the P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises bill that will lower corporate income tax to 25% immediately and streamline fiscal incentives.

‘Premyo bonds’ launched

THE BUREAU of the Treasury (BTr) on Wednesday launched one-year peso-denominated “Premyo bonds” with an interest rate of 1.25% per annum, as it seeks to attract more small investors to government securities.

The Treasury is seeking to raise P3 billion from the issuance. The offer period runs until Dec. 11.

During the bond’s launch, National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said they have increased the number of winners in the quarterly draws. The Treasury will award P50,000 each to 20 winners from participants who invest P20,000 or below.

“As more Filipinos get familiar with government securities, they will get into the habit of investing and at the same time help the government expand its financing footprint in the retail sector,” Ms. De Leon said.

Similar to those issued in 2019, Premyo bonds require a minimum investment of P500. The interest is payable quarterly, and subject to a 20% final tax.

The Premyo bonds will be available through the mobile applications of Bonds.PH and Overseas Filipino Bank, and the BTr’s online selling platform.

Selling agents are Development Bank of the Philippines, BDO Capital and Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., Philippine National Bank Capital, UnionBank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines.

Domestic debt reached P6.44 trillion as of end-September, declining by 4% from end-August. This was 22% higher than the P5.26 trillion recorded in September 2019 due to an increase in the issuance of government securities to raise funds for the pandemic response. — KKTJ

Gov’t to forge new contract with water firms

THE Department of Justice will negotiate with two water concessionaires in Metro Manila on the proposed new contract after the President ordered their review due to alleged onerous provisions.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said President Rodrigo R. Duterte last night approved the proposed contract for Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Manila Water Co., Inc.

The new contract removed the “onerous” provisions in the previous deal, Mr. Guevarra said.

“New provisions that will be incorporated, that will somehow, that will make the water concession agreements more equitable, more transparent and will lessen contingent liabilities on the part of the government plus improving its governance system,” he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

“In principle, the President has approved our recommendation so the next step will be to sit down with the two water concessionaires in Metro Manila to discuss the specific terms and conditions of a proposed new water concession agreement with each of them,” he added.

Mr. Guevarra told reporters via Viber message that the President did not give a deadline, but the review panel intends to meet them as soon as possible.

The Justice department in December last year said it found a dozen of onerous provisions on the contracts of the water concessionaires.

This includes the provision on the non-interference of the government in rate-setting and the liability of the government if the companies suffer losses. It also found as irregular the extension of their contracts until 2037, years before the original expiration in 2022.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte in June said that he was fine with the contracts of the water suppliers as long as they “pay back” to the consumers. He also said that he would  file cases against them if they do not approve the proposed contracts.

The concessionaires previously won an arbitration case, which ordered the government to pay them indemnity for the losses they suffered. Both the companies said they would not pursue the awards. — Vann Marlo V. Villegas

SM to open new mall in Agusan del Norte this week

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is opening a new mall in Mindanao this week as it remains bullish in the island’s business prospects amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Sy-led property developer said it will open SM City Butuan in Agusan del Norte on Friday, which would expand its mall network to six malls in Mindanao.

“The steady economic growth demonstrated by Mindanao over the past years has driven SM Prime to pursue its expansion in the region delivering integrated property developments in various key areas in Mindanao,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said.

The development will have 48,000 square meters of gross floor area spread across three levels. It will feature local and international stores, SM-owned brands, dining areas, four cinema facilities, and an open parking with a helipad. SM Prime noted more than 80% of SM City Butuan’s leased space has already been awarded.

“We hope that the opening of SM City Butuan will further contribute to (Mindanao’s) advancement while providing essential needs and services, as well as entertainment in the region,” Mr. Lim added.

The new mall is targeted to customers in Northeastern Mindanao, particularly those from Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

Unlike in Metro Manila where restrictions remain tighter, Agusan del Norte has been under a “modified general community quarantine” since June, the most relaxed lockdown in the government’s four-tiered community quarantine.

In the first nine months of the year, SM Prime said it generated P18.3 billion from its operation of Philippine malls, down 57% from last year due to the coronavirus-related lockdown. Its attributable net income stood at P14.37 billion, lower by 48% from year-ago levels.

Shares in SM Prime closed flat on Wednesday at P38.30 apiece. — Denise A. Valdez

Villar makes Forbes Asia’s list of top altruists in 2020

THE Philippines’ richest individual Manuel B. Villar, Jr. is the sole Filipino included in Forbes Asia’s list of top philanthropists in the Asia-Pacific region for 2020.

In its “Heroes of Philanthropy” list published on Wednesday, the business magazine identified 15 altruists for their contributions in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and other causes.

Mr. Villar is ninth on the list, primarily for his donation of more than two hectares of land to Saint Jude Catholic School and five hectares of land to the University of the Philippines. The magazine said the two properties have a combined value of P8 billion.

Forbes also cited contributions by Mr. Villar to four other schools, churches, and initiatives to combat poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The magazine noted it awards candidates based on donations made from personal fortunes. It excludes those made by companies unless the tycoon is the majority owner of the privately held company.

Mr. Villar is a former senator and chairman of several listed companies, namely real estate firm Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc.; mall operator Vistamalls, Inc.; death-care service provider Golden Bria Holdings, Inc.; and home improvement retailer AllHome Corp.

In September, Forbes said Mr. Villar’s net worth was $5 billion, down by $1.6 billion due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to his businesses.

Other names in this year’s Philanthropy List are Vietnam’s Pham Nhat Vuong, India’s Pramod Bhasin, Singapore’s Robert and Philip Ng, Hong Kong’s Li Ka-shing, and Japan’s Tadashi Yanai.

Last year, two Filipinos made Forbes’ Philanthropy List: Hans T. Sy of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and actress Angel Locsin. — Denise A. Valdez

Japan firm to build P15-B cement plant – DTI

JAPANESE company Taiheiyo Cement Group will build a new P15-billion production line in Cebu to expand its local output capacity.

Its local subsidiary Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc. will build the new production line and expand shipping bases to Luzon, Iloilo, and Davao, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in a press release on Wednesday.

Taiheiyo will also install a two-kilometer marine belt conveyor and expand its Cebu port.

The company’s infrastructure expansion project was part of a letter of intent signed with the Trade department during President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s 2017 Tokyo visit.

The expansion will increase the company’s cement production capacity by 50% in the short term, and 150% in the medium term, the DTI said. The company plans to increase its Philippine market share to 10% from seven percent.

According to DTI, Taiheiyo’s executives based in Japan have reported that the expansion is underway.

“The project promises to adhere to green economy requirements via the introduction of energy-efficient operations, which will bring about a reduction by 10% of carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in clinker production from the old line’s energy efficiency rates,” DTI said.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo said that the Board of Investments is reviewing the project’s new technologies, in case they are eligible for incentives.

The Philippines is the third-largest cement importer in the world, after the US and China, as it imported $543.9 million of the product in 2019. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Shakey’s posts P172-M loss, sees profit in Q4

SHAKEY’S Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. (SPAVI) is hopeful to return to profitability in the fourth quarter of the year despite posting continuing losses in the third quarter.

In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, SPAVI said it recorded a net loss of P171.95 million in the July-to-September period, reversing last year’s profits of P161.81 million.

Its revenues were down 48% to P1.06 billion, as dine-in services at its stores remain limited due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

However, SPAVI said it started to post a net income in the month of September, ending consecutive months of losses since the coronavirus pandemic started.

“Though there remain challenges in the overall environment, we are nevertheless pleased to see a gradual improvement in demand. Our recovery rate in the third quarter has been better than expected, mainly driven by the sustained healthy growth of our off-premise business and a marked improvement in dine-in sales,” SPAVI President and CEO Vicente L. Gregorio said in a statement.

“We look forward to seeing continued improvement, most especially with the arrival of ‘–ber’ months, traditional periods of celebration in the Philippines,” he added.

On a year-to-date basis, SPAVI recorded a net loss of P461.91 million, a turnaround of last year’s net income of P550.43 million.

It generated 35% lower revenues at P3.83 billion, largely due to temporary store closures in the early months of the pandemic.

“With the worst of this crisis hopefully now behind us, we are setting our medium and long-term priorities… We are energized by the positive reception to our recent initiatives and we will continue to strive to not only meet, but exceed our guests’ evolving needs and expectations in this new normal,” Mr. Gregorio said.

SPAVI is the listed operator of Shakey’s Pizza and Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken in the Philippines.

On Wednesday, shares in SPAVI at the stock exchange grew 68 centavos or 8.76% to P8.44 each. — Denise A. Valdez

1...7,5617,5627,563...12,970Page 7,562 of 12,970
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube