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VMWare rolls out remote work, cloud solutions

By Zsarlene B. Chua, Senior Reporter

CLOUD COMPUTING and enterprise software solution company VMWare has introduced updates to their workspace and cloud portfolios to help businesses “as they adapt to a digital-first economy.”

“As our customers continue to adapt their business and operational models to the evolving situation, the very concept of work has also changed accordingly. In this new normal, customers need employees who are able to work seamlessly in a secure environment, anywhere, anytime,” Walter So, country manager of VMware Philippines, said in a statement.

The Palo Alto-based company introduced new work-from-home features to their VMWare Workspace ONE solution including providing employees a “more secure digital workspace across any devices, including mobile devices, desktops, and laptops.” The same solution is also said to help companies build a digital environment via curated notifications for corporate communications.

To help organizations go digital, VMWare Philippines has provided access to VMWare Workspace ONE work-from-home solutions for 90 days for “at least 100 establishments in the country” and “mobilized 10,000 employees” across several industries including education, retail, and commerce, said Mr. So during a digital conference in late August.

Some of the companies using VMWare solutions are Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., Globe Telecom, Inc., and Land Bank of the Philippines.

Among the new products announced during the briefing were VMWare SD-WAN by VeloCloud, a solution meant to give rapid access to cloud services and private data centers to give companies the ability to scale their networks swiftly and provide the workforce “optimized access” to resources “anytime, anywhere,” according to the release.

VMWare Cloud on Amazon Web Services (AWS) meanwhile, offers “better cloud economics” as it expands its access and lower the costs for organizations to migrate and modernize their VMWare-based enterprise applications to VMWare Cloud on AWS. Its Google Cloud VMWare engine also now delivers the full stack of VMWare software (VMware vSphere, vCenter, vSAN, NSX-T, and HCX) to allow easier cloud migration.

VMWare is also expanding accessibility for its vRealize Automation Cloud Service as while it is only available in Singapore, it is now accessible across the region. The automation platform manages IT requests for infrastructure, applications, etc., in a single place and process them in a common catalog.

For security, VMWare introduced the Carbon Black Cloud, a solution that provides next-generation anti-virus, endpoint detection and response, advanced threat hunting, and vulnerability management. It utilizes machine learning and behavioral analytics to allow security teams to detect, respond, and prevent threats in real-time.

“The VMWare solutions… we developed to help the customers in a remote-first, digital-first scenario, whether it is for work-from-home, on cloud or on security, all these solutions are relevant for all sectors,” Sanjay K. Deshmukh, VMWare managing director for Southeast Asia and Korea, said in the same briefing.

Salarium launches contact-free timekeeping tool to fight coronavirus transmission

A LOCAL technology startup is launching a device that uses contact-free monitoring of daily time record and body temperature to limit the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in workplaces.

Salarium Software Philippines Inc. (Salarium) is introducing FacePass, a device that uses facial recognition for timekeeping and scanning body temperature to limit the need for human interaction.

The company started taking orders for the product on Tuesday, which it said it hopes will help the country’s fight against COVID-19.

“As we prepare ourselves for the new normal, we want to help companies create the safest and secure environment for their staff and, at the same time, adapt to the rapidly changing working set-ups,” Salarium Founder and CEO Judah Hirsch said in the statement.

Aside from facilitating contract-less monitoring, the device also uses a technology that requires employees to wear a face mask before being registered for time-in. This is seen helping the strict enforcement of safety protocols, thus limiting any possible spread of the virus, Mr. Hirsch said.

“With the seamless integration of FacePass to Salarium, it’s the perfect timekeeping solution for any business as we move towards the new normal and beyond,” he added.

Salarium currently offers payroll and timekeeping systems that use technology such as biometrics, mobile phones, and a bundy clock. It is incorporated in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and has had clients such as franchisers of 7-Eleven convenience stores.

The FacePass device is available for a minimum 24-month subscription at P5,000 per device. — Denise A. Valdez

Grab and partners step up efforts to help small businesses 

GRAB Philippines on Wednesday announced a new initiative in partnership with Procter & Gamble (P&G), Unilever, Nestlé, Ultramega, Citibank, Agoda, and Booking.com, among others, aimed at boosting support for small enterprises amid a pandemic crisis.

Grab and its partners will have special offerings from Sept. 11 to 25, including discounts and rewards on GrabMart, GrabFood, and GrabPay.

“What sets this campaign apart from the other sale events happening this month, is the fact that this enables a longer and more meaningful support to the thousands of livelihoods, small businesses, and partners from every transaction made through the Grab app,” it said in an e-mailed statement.

Grab also said it wants to help “facilitate the recovery of local industries.”

GrabMart will offer up to P250 discount (with free delivery) on pantry and food supplies, toiletries, medicine, and special goods, among others.

GrabFood will offer up to P159 discount on orders from its participating merchants such as Wildflour Cafe + Bakery, Gino’s Brick Oven Pizza, Bad Bird, Single Origin, Marugame Udon, Wee Nam Kee, and Frankies.

Customers who pay via GrabPay will also earn 1,000 points if they complete a total cumulative spend of P2,500.

Grab said its app had been downloaded onto more than 185 million smartphones in Southeast Asia.

Grab users have access to more than 9 million drivers, merchants, and agents.

The company is engaged in on-demand transport services, food, package, grocery delivery services, mobile payments, and financial services. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Dining In/Out (09/10/20)

Ayala Malls holds BuyANI Fresh Produce Market

THE AYALA Malls, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Ayala Foundation, and the Restaurant Owners Association of the Philippines, is launching the BuyANI Fresh Produce Market. With rigid safety protocols in place, customers can enjoy safe shopping for the freshest produce and regional food favorites. Local farmers will offer organic vegetables and fruits, fresh dairy products, herbs, wines, coffee, and other locally cultivated items in stalls at DA-controlled prices. The BuyANI Market will be held from Sept. 11 to 13 at Glorietta, Sept. 18 to 20 at the Alabang Town Center, Sept. 25 to 27 at UP Town Center, Oct. 2 to 4 at Ayala Malls The 30th, Oct. 9 to 11 at TriNoma, Oct. 16 to 18 at Market! Market!, and Oct. 23 to 25 at Bonifacio High Street. All shoppers should follow health protocols such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields, also, as purchases are plastic bag-free and shoppers must bring their own ecobags. For more information about the BuyANI Market, visit and follow @iloveayalamalls on Instagram and Ayala Malls on Facebook for more information.

Ayala Malls introduces personal shopping service

AYALA Malls introduces A.N.A. or the Ayala Malls Neighborhood Assistant. Customers can now access items from their favorite stores within the mall virtually, and the Ayala Malls’ pool of personal shoppers will do the rest. Whether it’s school or office supplies, hardware essentials, fashion desires, hobby tools, tech requirements, sporting needs, home improvement musts, food cravings, or grocery shopping, A.N.A. can assist. First, find A.N.A. through your preferred mall’s Facebook page or Viber (the full list and details can be found at www.ayalamalls.com/promos-and-events/whats-on/shop-your-Ayala-malls-neighborhood-assistant-100). Order your items through the mall ordering form, then A.N.A. will reach out to process your orders. Pay for your orders, including a minimal service fee, through the mall’s cashless payment channels. The service fee for retail/food stores is P50 for one store, P100for two to three stores, and P200 for four or more stores, plus a flat rate of P200 for supermarket and/or department store purchases. Orders can be delivered or can be picked up at the mall’s DriveBuy stations.  A.N.A.is currently available in 25 Ayala Malls and will roll out across more in the coming weeks. For details bit.ly/AyalaMallsANA and follow @iloveayalamalls on Instagram and Ayala Malls on Facebook.

Kuya J reopens three more restaurants

KNOWN for its Filipino comfort food, Kuya J has reopened three additional restaurants — SM Seaside Cebu, Robinsons Galleria South, and SM BF Paranaque — for dine-in, take-out, and delivery orders. With the lifting of  ECQ, Kuya J has reopened a total of 27 stores nationwide, so customers can enjoy its signature dishes such as Crispy Pata, Lechon Baka, Beef Kare-kare, and Caldereta. Kuya J also offers pickup and delivery via www.centraldelivery.ph. For the latest news and promos, like and follow @kuyajresto on Facebook and Instagram.

Oreo has just released its seasonal flavors

THROUGH the years, Oreo has come out with a  range of Oreo Seasonals, with flavors like Coconut, Dark and White, Peanut Butter and Chocolate, Golden Oreo, and many more. This year, it decided to release not one, but two flavors inspired by iconic desserts the whole world loves. Due to insistent public demand, it is bringing back Oreo Red Velvet, a red velvet-colored Oreo cookie encasing a cheesecake flavored crème center, and Oreo Salted Caramel, a sweet, creamy caramel punctuated by a hint of saltiness from sea salt. The two limited edition Oreo Seasonal variations are available at all leading stores and e-commerce platforms nationwide until December or while supplies last. Available for P76.50 for a nine-pack multi-pack and P41.50 for a 14-piece slug.

Tourism department cooks up online food fest

THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism’s (DoT) food and travel festival, Kain Na!, is back — this time, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be held online from Sept. 15-18. After 12 successful legs in the past two years, Kain Na! 2020, The Blended Edition will continue to be a venue to create awareness and interest in food and farm tourism. The four-day virtual celebration will feature food tourism exchanges, an online selling platform, digital business training and e-learning modules. This year’s edition will feature a thematic approach highlighting the country’s distinct Filipino food culture. Philippine Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate will take the spotlight for the month of September and there are a variety of virtual talks and activities lined up. The Food Tourism Exchange will feature a webinar series and experiential sessions such as virtual tours and food demos by Malagos Chocolate, Auro Chocolates, The Chocolate Chamber, El Union Coffee, Henry & Sons, Bo’s Coffee, Gourmet Farms, Nurture Farmacy, Yamang Bukid, REFMAD Dragonfruit Farm, and the Oolong tea farmers of Gingoog City to showcase various destinations and products. The online learning modules will offer e-commerce training for food and farm tourism stakeholders and other MSMEs in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry’s CTRL+BIZ Reboot Now program. Food Tourism 101 will be top-billed by Margarita Fores, JJ Yulo, Ivan Man Dy, and Michelle Cruz of Klook who will present share-worthy food tourism experiences from food walks, market tours, bar crawls, and other inspiring food tourism experiences. The Kain Na! Trading Post, an online shop housing partner merchants, as well as the Ayala Malls foodie pop-ups will be launched on Sept. 15. Ayala Malls’ Pasyal TV will also unveil its Philippine Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate video produced in partnership with the DOT. The succeeding legs of Kain Na! will explore the different culinary treasures of the country. In October, Food Trips will be the highlight, followed by Slow Food, Slow Travel in November, and finally Christmas Cravings in December. 

Bank of Thailand head sees stronger fiscal role for recovery

THAILAND’S OUTGOING central bank governor said public debt restrictions should be eased to allow the government to spend more as monetary policy options dwindle with interest rates already at an all-time low.

Given the severity of the pandemic-driven downturn, Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said his “personal view is that the 60% public debt-to-GDP limit can be relaxed.” The limit was set up during “normal times” and the level isn’t high compared to other emerging markets, he said on Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin.

“At this point in time, the government is the only sector that can help stimulate the economy and minimize the long-term impact on the economy and the society from the pandemic,” Mr. Veerathai said. If government spending can create jobs in rural areas, which have absorbed unemployed family members returning from major cities and tourist areas, “that’s more important than the debt-ceiling limit.”

In any case, the debt limit isn’t yet close to breaching the 60% limit: The Finance Ministry’s Public Debt Management Office said last week it’s at 46% of GDP now and may take another five years to reach the limit, unless there’s a massive government borrowing program in the meantime.

Thailand’s economy is forecast to suffer one of the biggest contractions in Asia of more than 8% this year, and central bankers are running low on ammunition to deal with the fallout. The Bank of Thailand has brought its benchmark interest rate to a record low 0.5% in three interest-rate cuts this year, and has been on hold since June as it tries to preserve policy space.

Mr. Veerathai, 50, will leave the central bank at the end of this month when his five-year term ends. He’ll hand over to Sethaput Suthiwart-Narueput, a member of the monetary policy committee.

Current monetary policy is accommodative enough and further interest-rate cuts would be less effective in reviving the economy from its pandemic-driven downturn, Mr. Veerathai said. While all options, including interest-rate cuts, remain on the table, targeted policies that can get funds to sectors that need them can be more effective, he said.

“The problem now is not so much on illiquidity. I think we have to focus more on insolvency problems that will occur across different sectors and segments of the economy,” he said. “The policy rate is already quite low.”

The bank has been studying unconventional monetary policy options such as yield-curve control, but Mr. Veerathai said he doesn’t think it’s needed right now.

“We have to assess the situation on a regular basis,” he said. “If there is steepening of the yield curve to the point that it might affect the economic recovery, then yield-curve control might come in.”

YOUNGEST LEADER
A former International Monetary Fund economist with a doctorate from Harvard University, Mr. Veerathai was the Bank of Thailand’s youngest leader in four decades when he took office in 2015. During his term he dealt with a military government, US-China trade tensions, currency volatility and the pandemic.

He’ll leave the bank at a time of heightened uncertainty about fiscal policy following the sudden resignation of Finance Minister Predee Daochai less than a month into his term. After some local media reports said Mr. Veerathai would be approached to replace Predee, the governor said Tuesday that he’s “not ready to take up any position” yet when his term at the central bank ends.

“Veerathai’s legacy would be very interesting. He’s basically the first ASEAN central bank governor who has had to confront the zero-bound interest rate” with an economy experiencing weak growth and virtually no inflation, said Taimur Baig, chief economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. in Singapore.

Mr. Veerathai remained “fairly conservative” with inflation targeting, financial stability and asset price issues, he said.

“That all makes sense from the Central Bank 101 playbook, but the world is changing so dramatically that you could ask whether the Bank of Thailand could have been more proactive in cutting rates,” Baig said. — Bloomberg

How fast/slowly have prices changed over time?

How fast/slow have prices changed over time?

How PSEi member stocks performed — September 9, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Peso drops as Fitch cuts outlook for PHL economy

THE PESO weakened against the dollar on Wednesday as Fitch Ratings penciled in a deeper contraction for the Philippine economy.

The local unit closed at P48.66 against the greenback on Wednesday, losing 10 centavos from its P48.56-per-dollar finish on Tuesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso opened Wednesday’s session at P48.63 per dollar. It climbed to as high as P48.585 but succumbed to weakness, closing at its weakest showing of P48.66 versus the greenback.

Dollars traded dropped to $584.90 million on Wednesday from Tuesday’s $687.37 million.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a text message the peso slid after Fitch cut its outlook for the Philippine economy.

Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to shrink by 8% this year, the steepest projected decline among economies in Southeast Asia, Fitch said on Tuesday.

The credit rater’s latest forecast is worse than the -4% it penciled in last June and the -4.5 to -6.6% projected by the government. The economy already plunged into recession after GDP shrank by 16.5% in the second quarter.

Mr. Ricafort added there was a flight to safety as United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca Plc suspended the late-stage trial of its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine development after finding “unexplained illness” in a participant of its tests.

“AstraZeneca, which was putting on hold tests on its COVID-19 vaccine, also weighed on global market appetite for the dollar. Continued profit taking in the US stock markets partly led to the recent upward correction in the dollar,” Mr. Ricafort said.

A trader agreed, saying the dollar strengthened on safe-haven demand following Wall Street’s decline as US markets reopened on Tuesday.

“The dollar moved higher today as the sell-off in US stocks overnight drove safe demand for the foreign currency,” the trader said in an e-mail on Wednesday.

US stocks closed lower for a third straight session on Tuesday as heavyweight technology names extended their sell-off to send the Nasdaq into correction territory, while Tesla suffered its biggest daily percentage drop after the stock was passed over for inclusion in the S&P 500, Reuters reported.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 632.42 points or 2.25% to 27,500.89; the S&P 500 lost 95.12 points or 2.78% to 3,331.84; and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 465.44 points or 4.11% to 10,847.69.

For today, Mr. Ricafort sees the peso moving from P48.60 to P48.75 against the dollar while the trader sees the local currency ranging from P48.50 to P48.80. — K.K.T. Jose with Reuters

PSEi sinks to 5,900 level on Wall Street’s decline

By Denise A. Valdez, Senior Reporter

THE LOCAL MARKET surrendered to profit takers on Wednesday, pulling the main index back to the 5,900 level, following the drop in Wall Street as it reopened on Tuesday.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gave up 101.19 points or 1.67% to close at 5,932.84. The broader all shares index likewise lost 42.02 points or 1.16% to end at 3,562.56.

“The market ended lower as investors chose to take profits following the sell-off in the US markets last night,” Darren T. Pangan, a trader at Timson Securities, Inc., said in a text message on Wednesday.

US markets reopened on Tuesday after a long weekend in observance of the US Labor Day holiday on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices declined 2.25%, 2.78% and 4.11%, respectively. Nasdaq, in particular, fell into correction territory.

The decline can be attributed to sustained worries over the coronavirus outbreak and growing tensions between US and China, Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile message.

These worries were fanned further on news about issues in a coronavirus vaccine candidate on Wednesday. United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca Plc said it has suspended the late-stage trial of its vaccine development after finding “unexplained illness” in a participant of its tests, Reuters reported.

“Philippine shares fell as concerns arose regarding the progress on the development of one the vaccine candidates,” Mr. Limlingan said.

Nearly all Asian stocks were in red territory when the local market closed on Wednesday.

At home, all sectoral indices at the PSE likewise ended with losses. Property dropped 78.66 points or 2.82% to 2,709.49; financials lost 22.13 points or 1.89% to 1,149.00; mining and oil went down 77.98 points or 1.28% to 5,999.80; holding firms cut 74.12 points or 1.18% to 6,172.60; services shed 12.50 points or 0.83% to 1,478.72; and industrials dropped 62.21 points or 0.76% to 8,030.76 at the end of session.

Some 838.18 million issues valued at P5.1 billion issues switched hands on Wednesday, down from the previous day’s 1.19 billion issues worth P4.57 billion.

Decliners outpaced advancers, 118 against 73. Some 48 names ended unchanged.

Foreign investors were still sellers, but net outflows were reduced to P543.03 million from P647.32 million on Tuesday.

Timson Securities’ Mr. Pangan said the market may still move upwards for the rest of the week if the rise in local coronavirus cases would slow down. The Health Department reported 3,281 new cases on Tuesday, pushing the total to 241,987 confirmed cases.

COVID-19 infections may surge in coming days with late results

CORONAVIRUS infections could surge in the coming days as laboratories play catch-up after the Department of Health (DoH) issued stricter rules on test result submissions, according to the agency.

“We will be reporting a higher number of cases because of the complete submissions of our laboratories,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online news briefing on Wednesday.

DoH starting on Sept. 1 stopped accepting results without the complete address and phone number of the patient.

Because of this, there were confirmed cases that had not been reported and will come out once the information is complete.

“We expect that this is a one-time occurrence,” she said, adding that laboratories have improved their processes.

DoH reported 3,176 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, bringing the total to 245,143.

The death toll rose by 70 to 3,986 while recoveries increased by 376 to 185,543, it said in a bulletin.

Metro Manila had the highest number of confirmed cases with 1,327, followed by Batangas with 260, Laguna with 193, Rizal with 176 and Negros Occidental with 155.

There were 55,614 active cases, 88.3% of which were mild, 8.6% did not show symptoms, 1.3% were severe, and 1.8% were critical.

Of the new deaths, 36 came from Metro Manila, eight from the Calabarzon region, six from Central Luzon, four from Soccsksargen, and three each from Western Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula, the agency said.

Two deaths each were reported from Cagayan Valley, the Bicol region, Central Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). One death each came from the Davao and Mimaropa regions.

More than 2.7 million individuals have been tested for COVID-19, DoH said.

The government earlier said it was looking at enforcing aggressive isolation measures and prohibiting home quarantine for coronavirus patients to bring down the infection rate further.

The government has been setting up more isolation centers for patients that don’t show symptoms and those with mild cases of the virus to contain the virus.

The government on Monday said local coronavirus infections have slowed, while the country’s healthcare system has improved.

The virus reproductive rate stood at 0.94 from four in March, meaning an infected patient can infect one more person, he said.

New cases peaked on Aug. 10 at 6,958 and gradually decreased to 2,592 on Sept. 5. There was also a downtrend in Metro Manila, the Calabarzon region and Central Visayas

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the head of the national task force, on Saturday said the Philippines was seeking to flatten the curve by the end of September.

In epidemiology, the idea of slowing a virus spread so that fewer people need to seek treatment at a time is known as flattening the curve.

The curve researchers are talking about refers to the projected number of people who will get infected over time. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Manila to deport US marine whom Duterte pardoned

THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) will deport the US marine convicted in 2015 for killing a Filipino sex worker and whom President Rodrigo R. Duterte pardoned.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said he had asked the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to turn over US marine Joseph Scott Pemberton upon his release.

The deportation order against the American was issued in September 2015, he said, adding that he should be sent away as soon as he is released.

“We are awaiting instructions from Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra for guidance on how we will implement the deportation order,” Mr. Morente said.

An Olongapo trial court last week ordered Mr. Pemberton’s release for good conduct. The court found Mr. Pemberton guilty of homicide in a case that had ignited anti-American sentiment in the former US colony. The court sentenced him to six to 10 years in jail.

Pemberton could have faced a life sentence had the judge granted prosecutors’ request for a murder conviction. The court cited mitigating circumstances, saying Mr. Pemberton was drunk and got confused after discovering that the person he had hired for sex was male.

Jeffrey Laude, a 26-year-old male sex worker who identified as a woman, was found strangled in October 2014 in a motel.

Mr. Duterte pardoned him this week after the family of his victim appealed his early release. He said Mr. Duterte said he pardoned the American soldier because he had been treated unfairly.

In a televised speech on Monday night, the President said he had consulted Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra and Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea about the pardon. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Court junks lawsuit questioning change in Manila airport name

THE SUPREME Court has rejected a lawsuit questioning the validity of a law that renamed Manila International Airport to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Justices voted unanimously to dismiss the petition filed by lawyer Lorenzo G. Gadon, court spokesman Brian Keith F. Hosaka told reporters in a Viber message on Wednesday.

The plaintiff in an August 27 suit claimed the law changing the airport’s name to NAIA violated the guidelines on naming and renaming public structures.

He said the airport was named after Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. in November 1987, just four years after his death. This allegedly violated the rule that a public place should not be named after a person within 10 years of his death “except for highly exceptional reasons.”

“Aquino was never declared a hero and as such does not deserve that an airport be named after him,” he said in the lawsuit.

Mr. Aquino was assassinated at the tarmac of the airport on Aug. 21, 1983. The guidelines that Mr. Gadon cited were approved 20 years after the airport was renamed. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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