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COVID-19 and our plastic use

By Aliyya Sawadjaan
Features Writer, The Philippine STAR

Today, plastics play a key role in the response against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The material turned out to be both sanitary and can be used to protect against the transmission of the disease. It is used to create protective items such as masks, gloves, visors, gowns, personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as body bags.These protective items are widely used by the public and are essential in the fight against the disease.

Plastic in the fight against COVID-19

Since the first recorded COVID-19 case in the Philippines, the dependency on plastic items rose due to fears and concerns over health and hygiene. The government advised Filipinos to wear masks when stepping out of their homes and buying essential items. Some even go as far as wearing disposable gloves. Demand for cleaning products such as disposable wipes, cleaning agents, hand sanitizer, and alcohol is also at a record high. Lockdown measures have also led to an increase in the amount of packaging used for the delivery of food and groceries.

However, these items are not always disposed properly by the general public, and environmentalists fear the negative consequences for other people, wildlife, and the fight against plastic pollution. Gloves and masks cannot be recycled. Throwing these anywhere other than the trash bin puts others at risk for infection — which is why it is important to dispose these in the proper trash receptacle.

Plastic dependency in the time of corona

There is also the notion that single-use plastic bags are more hygienic compared to reusable ones, a thought that capitalizes on the threat of coronavirus contamination. But according to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 can live on surfaces including plastic and cardboard for three days or more.

Research has shown that one of the biggest challenges in promoting sustainable behavior is to break old habits and adopt new ones. In terms of plastic use, once people return to patronizing single-use plastics, the practice becomes normalized again despite efforts of using reusable ones.

Increased plastic use is inevitablegiven the current crisis, but there are some measures that can be done to try to lessen it to avoid waste. What to do to limit the use of plastic items but still be safe?

• Wash your hands. Regular hand-washing offers more protection against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves while out in public.

• Wash any surfaces that have been in contact with items from outside before putting these in your pantry or refrigerators.

• Unless you’re sick or a medical frontliner, use washable cloth masks. Washable cloth masks can also offer an acceptable level of necessary protection.

• Disinfect and clean any recyclable material before putting them into a recycle bin.

• Do not place recyclables in plastic bags. Clean these first before putting it out.

• Reusables are still safe to use. Simply wash cups, water bottles, utensils and dishes after use.

• Re-use shopping bags.

• Responsibly discard disposable products.

The ‘new normal’ and plastic use
To ensure their own safety, many business owners have put up plastic sheets to their stores or stalls as a protective barrier from customers or from the people around them. These include wet markets, bakeries and the like. With the country slowly easing lockdown restrictions, some businesses have resumed operations. Malls have opened with only hardware, clothing and accessories stores and barber shops, salons and spas resuming operations. Restaurants have been allowed but only for take-out and deliveries only, while dine-in options are still being considered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Tricycles in Soldier Hills Muntinlupa are lined with plastic sheet barriers as part of the city’s stringent sanitary protocols.

However,on May 21, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said that the government is considering re-opening restaurants for dine-in at 50% capacity, provided that physical distancing can still be practiced and barriers (like plastic sheets or fiber glass) in between tables are put in place. Even some public transportation vehicles like jeepneys and tricycles have put up plastic sheets as barriers to comply with safety measures.

Some clothing stores have allowed customers to fit their products. For example, shoes. Customers will be given plastic bags to wear over their feet to fit shoes. The said items will then be sanitized will alcohol after.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changedpeople’s lives, consumers can still reshape and rethink their overall plastic consumption. We can all lessen the pollution this behavior generates by making choices that lead to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Lockdown in Metro Manila to ease on June 1

By Gillian M. Cortez, Reporter

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday evening ordered the further easing of the lockdown in Metro Manila and nearby cities starting June 1, as the government tries to restart an economy that the coronavirus pandemic brought to a near standstill.

The announcement comes on the same day when the Health department announced 539 new infections — its highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases in over two months. This brought the nationwide tally to 15,588 cases, with 921 deaths.

In a televised speech, the President said Metro Manila will be placed under a general community quarantine after more than two months of strict quarantine that is one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world.

“You know the NCR (National Capital Region) will now be placed under the general community quarantine (GCQ) starting June 1,” Mr. Duterte said.

He said Davao City, Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 4-A (CALABARZON consisting of Cavite, Laguna, Batagas, Rizal, and Quezon), Pangasinan, and Albay will also be placed under GCQ.

“The rest of the country will be placed under modified general community quarantine (…) From time to time…(Palace Spokesperson Harry L.) Roque will give us the changes where there will be changes,” the President said.

As businesses begin resuming operations next month, Mr. Duterte urged building owners and mall operators to not force tenants to pay rent.

“If you are not earning, how are you supposed to pay? Maawa naman kayo sa mga kababayan natin (Have pity on our countrymen) … If it does not spell bankruptcy sa inyo, tiisin ninyo na lang (please endure it),” he said.

The Philippine economy contracted by 0.2% in the first quarter, after Mr. Duterte placed Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine in mid-March. The lockdown halted economic activity, prompting government officials to warn of even worse economic figures in the second quarter.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said in a briefing Thursday that Metro Manila is ready to transition into a relaxed quarantine if the doubling rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases decrease.

Mr. Roque expressed confidence the public will also practice discipline in complying with health protocols.

The government is pushing for expanded targeted testing, saying it already went over its initial goal of a 30,000 daily testing capacity last May 20.

P846-B additional stimulus needed

THE government estimates that around P846 billion in additional stimulus is needed to revive the economy, which will see around P2.2 trillion in losses so far this year due to the pandemic.

“We have also looked at the numbers, and it appears that to fully recover, the government would be needing P846 billion worth of initial stimulus,” Socioeconomic Planning Acting Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said during the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) online forum on Thursday.

Based on Mr. Chua’s presentation, the total gross value-added losses this year could hit P2.2 trillion, which includes P1.919 trillion in losses from profits and wages.

Based on these estimates by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Finance (DoF), the economy is seen to contract by as much as 3.4% this year or 2% at best.

To help the economy get back on track, Mr. Chua said the additional stimulus needed is valued at P846 billion that has a 2.27 multiplier effect, and equivalent to 4.4% of gross domestic product (GDP).

“The good news here is we don’t need to put everything in the national government’s budget,” he said.

Mr. Chua said only P173 billion, equivalent to 0.9% of GDP, will be spent by the government through its fiscal stimulus program under the proposed Philippine Program for Recovery with Equity and Solidarity. He said this could push the budget deficit to nine percent levels, higher than the earlier projected of 8.1% but is still “sustainable.”

“However, let’s not forget we can use savings, off-budget, monetary policy, financial sector regulatory relief, and also the private sector can contribute the balance of P673 billion (3.5% of GDP) so the whole idea is we work together within government and also as a whole nation,” he said.

Congress is considering the P1.3-trillion Philippine Economic Stimulus Act (PESA) Bill, which allots P568 billion worth of new programs to be rolled out within the year.

On the monetary side, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said they are currently studying additional measures to “ensure sustained soundness, stability resiliency and inclusivity” of the banking community.

Mr. Diokno said the central bank is also considering tweaks to New Central Bank Act to strengthen supervision over financial conglomerates as among the legislative measures they are eyeing post-COVID-19.

Meanwhile, restarting the “Build, Build, Build” program has been touted as one of the largest stimulus programs of the government due to its multiplier effects and ability to create jobs.

Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs Vivencio B. Dizon said they are now reprioritizing the flagship program in line with the “new normal.” He said they are assessing the available fiscal space the state has for infrastructure projects this year up to 2022, as well as the readiness of projects, and the implementation capacity of line agencies.

“We also have to ask the help of the private sector because clearly, the government cannot do this alone,” he said.

Mr. Dizon identified some major infrastructure projects that the government will still continue.

Projects that are still set for completion this year are the Metro Manila Skyway stage 3 project, the Harbor Link project, and the new terminal building at the Clark International Airport.

Also for this year’s completion are Light Rail Transit Line 2 East Extension project and the Bonifacio Global City to Ortigas Center Link Bridge project. — B.M.Laforga

$660M in ‘hot money’ exits PHL in April

By Luz Wendy T. Noble, Reporter

AROUND $660 million in foreign capital left the Philippines in April as investors pulled out due to worries over the widening economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdown.

Foreign portfolio investments — also called “hot money” due to the ease by which these funds enter and leave the economy — posted a second consecutive month of net outflow of $660.38 million in April, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released on Thursday.

This is slimmer than the $961.08-million net outflow in March but wider than the $298.83- million net outflow recorded in April 2019.

The BSP said the US-China trade negotiations, escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, and the renegotiation of local water concessionaire contracts may have impacted investor sentiment.

For the month of April, gross inflows totaled $627.02 million, lower than the $953.77 million seen in March as well as the $989.96 billion recorded in the same month of 2019.

Meanwhile, gross outflows amounted to $1.287 billion, a decline from the $1.914 billion posted in the prior month and also slightly lower than the $1.288 billion logged in April 2019.

Majority or 91.2% of the investments went into the stock market, particularly shares in holding firms, banks, property developers, food and beverage companies, tobacco manufacturers, and telecommunications providers. The remaining 8.8% were funneled into government securities.

“The United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong and Switzerland were the top five investor countries for the month, with combined share to total at 85.5%,” the central bank said.

Alvin P. Ang, an economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said the net outflow reflects the risk-off sentiment seen in the local stock market due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and the subsequent implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.

“The stock market is so thin and there is a lack of foreign players. It’s really the COVID-19 [which is the culprit],” he said in a text message.

To recall, the Philippine Stock Exchange was shut down for two days at the onset of the Luzon lockdown in March. Since its resumption, the local bourse has seen a slight recovery.

Other factors that triggered risk-off sentiment include the US-China trade war as well as the oil price fluctuations.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort also blamed the ongoing coronavirus crisis for the continued exit of hot money from the country.

“Net outflows were largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that caused reduced economic activities and increased global market volatility,” he said in a text message.

Mr. Ricafort said market sentiment may improve as economies gradually restart and businesses progressively resume operations.

“Sentiment in the local financial markets could improve as the local economy eases lockdowns and restart economic activities that could further improve valuations on various investments,” he said.

For his part, Mr. Ang said improved investor sentiment will likely be seen in the fourth quarter, when worries over the pandemic and the lockdown would have already subsided.

“The recovery is [dependent on] how good we manage the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine and GCQ (general community quarantine). Maybe it will be in the fourth quarter,” he said.

The government is expected to announce its plans regarding lockdown measures for June. Metro Manila mayors had earlier said they support the transition to GCQ for the National Capital Region.

The country saw its largest single-day increase of 539 new infections on Thursday, bringing the total to 15,588. The death toll has reached 921 while recoveries totaled 3,598, according to health officials.

In November before the outbreak occurred, the BSP initially projected foreign portfolio investments to yield a net outflow of $8.2 billion in 2020.

Bigger budget for infrastructure, health sectors eyed

By Beatrice M. Laforga, Reporter

THE government is planning to allocate more funds for infrastructure projects and the healthcare sector under next year’s budget, as the country adapts to a “new normal.”

“We will prioritize the ‘Build, Build, Build’ [program], digital infrastructure, health, housing, water and sanitation, all of these are the basic foundation of a new normal and we will put a bit more money in the budget to support all of these,” Socioeconomic Planning Acting Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said in an online forum on Thursday.

Mr. Chua said they are also eyeing “more flexibility” in next year’s national budget so agencies can respond “at any given time” to emergencies in case of a new crisis or another wave of infections.

Under the “Build, Build, Build” program, he said higher priority will be given to infrastructure projects that have a bigger impact on economic growth and “are most ready, within budget and [have] elastic impact to restore jobs.”

“We hope that the private sector is ready to support us and we hope that we are able to include more health and more digital projects,” he said.

According to Mr. Chua’s presentation, the government will prioritize projects such as health system infrastructure, production of pharma-grade medical supplies, strategic inventory of medicines and equipment, implementation of the Universal Health Care Law, research and development as well establishing a virology and pharma development center.

Mr. Chua said the government is ramping up digitalization efforts. “(We) want everything to be digitalized in the government so hopefully in the coming years, no one will need to go to a government office to transact, everything will be online,” he said.

Another recommendation is to put more funds into improving the productivity of the agriculture sector, he said.

In a directive on Wednesday, the Budget department extended the submission deadline of budget preparations for 2021 until June 1 to give government agencies more time to prepare for their budget proposals for next year

The government’s spending plan is set at P4.335 trillion for next year, higher by 5.7% than this year’s P4.1-trillion plan.

Mr. Chua said these reprioritization efforts and the push for structural reforms will not “cost too much money but they can radically make the economy much stronger and can provide new opportunities for growth.”

“All of these are what we propose to do in the next 12 months, some of them are easy to do, some of them are more difficult but we think these are the basic elements for us to be able to survive and do better in the new normal,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon said the agency is currently drafting the economic resiliency plan called “Plan for a Healthy and Resilient Philippines.”

Ms. Edillon said the plan, which will take around three months to complete, will recommend new programs and structural reforms for 2021-2022.

Other reforms that will be pushed in the next two years are a progressive idle land tax for agriculture; flexible learning options for education, and inclusion of health-related crisis in disaster and emergency response efforts.

To save jobs, the economic team is considering a new labor market policy, skills retooling, pension portability and a temporary, targeted wage reduction.

They are also eyeing digital delivery of social protection programs, an unemployment insurance program, and wider financial inclusion where a family would have at least one bank account holder.

NEDA is also proposing route rationalization and better mass transport structures such as bus stops and a bus rapid transit system. It will also support the public utility vehicle modernization program, adoption of an automated fare collection system and promote walkways and bike lanes.

For logistics, it will recommend “rationalization of freight system, establishment of strategic warehousing, cold-chain systems, and food terminals.”

The structural reforms can be implemented through legislation, according to Mr. Chua.

Task force backs easing one of world’s toughest lockdowns

MANILA — The Philippines’ coronavirus task force has recommended to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to ease one of the toughest and longest lockdowns in the world for residents in the capital Manila, who have endured nearly 11 weeks of restrictions on activity.

Manila’s lockdown will this weekend surpass the 76-day quarantine of Wuhan, the Chinese city where the first outbreak of the coronavirus was detected.

The recommendation came even as 539 new infections were announced, bringing the nationwide tally to 15,588, of which 921 have led to deaths. The numbers are expected to rise further, the health ministry said.

Health authorities have missed a target of testing 30,000 people a day, with nearly 290,000 conducted since January, equivalent to about 0.26% of the 107 million population.

Duterte will announce his decision in an address to the nation later on Thursday.

“This is really a compromise. The need to reopen the economy and the need to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said at a regular briefing.

Restrictions on commerce and movement dealt a blow to the Philippines’ consumption-driven economy, which is facing its biggest contraction in 34 years this year. The economy unexpectedly shrank 0.2% in the first quarter and is expected to fare worse in the second quarter.

Mobility data from Apple for people driving shows how sharply activity slowed in the Philippines and how low it has remained compared to countries which also imposed tough lockdowns such as Italy and India.

Under the more relaxed rules that will be in place from June 1 to 15, if approved, local officials can still place communities deemed as high risk under lockdown.

Under the recommendations, gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed, workplaces, shops and some public transportation will reopen and movement in and out of Manila will be permitted.

Schools, universities, tourist destinations, dine-in restaurants will stay closed, however, while stay-at-home orders will remain for the elderly and children. — Reuters

Jollibee posts P1.8-B loss, blames lockdown

A CLOSED Jollibee store in Manila’s Sta. Cruz area during the quarantine period. — VICTOR V. SAULON

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

JOLLIBEE FOODS Corp. (JFC) swung to a net loss in the first quarter as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to temporary closure of its stores worldwide.

The fast food chain operator reported an attributable net loss of P1.79 billion in the January-to-March period, a turnaround from profits of P1.46 billion the same period last year.

System-wide retail sales improved 1.6% to P55.15 billion, but revenues slid 2.3% to P39.43 billion as a “high number” of its stores suspended operations to follow lockdown measures caused by the pandemic.

JFC noted the improvement in system-wide sales is due to the consolidation of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL), a coffee shop operator it bought in 2019. Excluding this, JFC’s system-wide sales would have fallen 10%.

The company said its system-wide sales were performing well in January, reaching a growth of 24.9% including CBTL. But a slowdown started in February when growth eased to 15.7%, then it turned around to a 32.5% decline in March when lockdown rules were put in place in China, the Philippines, United States and other countries.

“JFC’s financial performance in 2020 will not be a good one. It will incur even higher losses in the second quarter when the full impact of the lockdowns on the business will be felt,” JFC Chief Financial Officer Ysmael V. Baysa said in a statement.

He noted while recovery may begin in the second half of the year, JFC expects it to be slow, thus it holds on to its balance sheet to survive.

“[W]e have to rationalize and re-design our business structure to adapt to the new economic conditions and changed consumer behavior… We are setting up a provision of P7 billion for this purpose in the second quarter of 2020,” Mr. Baysa said.

The company announced on May 22 a plan to rationalize the number of restaurants per area and of the resources deployed in each store, to invest in digital technology, to increase capacity for delivery services, to establish delivery outlets with no dine-in facility, and to rationalize production and distribution facilities.

These plans will be implemented across JFC’s global network which includes CTBL and Smashburger. “We will continue to invest in new stores in very selective locations particularly in North America and parts of Asia where JFC’s return on invested capital on new stores are now the highest,” Mr. Baysa said.

The company has already cut its 2020 capital expenditure budget by 63% to P5.2 billion as it adjusts to the changing environment. But this will still cover the establishment of 171 new company-owned stores and renovation of 96 existing stores.

JFC currently has 5,945 stores, of which 3,317 are in the Philippines and the rest are spread across China, Vietnam, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, Indonesia, United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Italy, United Kingdom and Guam.

Among the brands it controls are Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Burger King, PHO24, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Dunkin’ Donuts, Highlands Coffee, Hard Rock Cafe, Smashburger and CBTL.

PNB Securities, Inc. President Manuel Antonio G. Lisbona said most investors were hoping that JFC would be more resilient amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“[B]ut if you really think about it, the Coffee Bean acquisition was already starting to drag on JFC. The lockdowns certainly made it worse,” he said in a text message.

As the company’s losses are expected to widen in the second quarter, Mr. Lisbona said JFC stocks may likewise fall further. But this may be good for investors.

“These losses are not fatal and [I] am sure management has the experience and wisdom to weather the storm. So expect opportunities for long-term investors to pick up the stock at good prices,” he said.

Shares in JFC at the stock exchange gave up P5.90 or 4.84% to close at P116.10 each on Thursday.

San Miguel readies issuance of $1-billion perpetual securities

SAN MIGUEL Corp. (SMC) is planning to issue perpetual securities worth up to $1 billion or about P50.72 billion, which it will not offer to the public.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday, the conglomerate said its board of directors had approved the issuance of the securities either in US dollars or its equivalent in Philippine pesos.

The securities will have a fixed rate, cumulative, and payable on a quarterly basis, and will not be offered to the public.

“The board of directors approved and confirmed the delegation to management of the authority to determine the date/s of issuance, extent of the amount of the issuance, and terms and conditions of the issuances of the perpetual securities,” it said.

SMC did not disclose the purpose of the issuance.

Compared to other bonds, a perpetual bond is a fixed-income security that has no maturity date, therefore its investors may not redeem their investments but are instead paid through a steady stream of interest payments.

In a separate disclosure, SMC said its board had approved reactivating its shelf registration for P60-billion short-term commercial papers, and to change the use of proceeds from its proposed initial issuance of up to P25-billion commercial papers.

To recall, SMC applied with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register P60-billion short-term commercial papers, from which it will issue an initial tranche of P20 billion with an oversubscription option of P5 billion.

Originally, proceeds from the first tranche were to be used to partially finance the redemption of SMC’s preferred shares, the costs of the shelf registration and issuance, and for other general corporate purposes.

On March 20, a few days after the Luzon lockdown began, the company decided to defer the processing of its registration “until such time that conditions stabilize.”

Now, the SMC board has approved delegating its management to “reactivate the registration statement, determination of the offer size, pricing, issuance date and negotiation of fees.”

Proceeds from the initial issuance will be used to pay off short-term loans for working capital and payment of related transaction fees, costs and expenses of the issuance.

Earnings of SMC dropped 91% to P1.09 billion in the first quarter as an impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Shares in the company at the stock exchange shed 10 centavos or 0.10% to close at P95.90 each on Thursday. — Denise A. Valdez

Philippine Wrestling Revolution offers first pay-per-view fight

BEING stuck at home under quarantine doesn’t have to be boring — not when there is access to some testosterone-filled pro wrestling. Late last year, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) inaugural Cruiserweight Champion TJ Perkins went head to head with Jake de Leon of the Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR) in an event called PWR Special: Homecoming. Now, one can watch the fight in the comfort of home, when Homecoming becomes available on pay-per-view on May 31.

“PWR Homecoming was built on the dream of being the best possible locally produced pro wrestling show, specifically for the Filipino wrestling fan. We captured that magic back on Oct. 12, 2019 with the biggest show PWR has ever mounted. Homecoming was our biggest show ever in terms of attendance (over 1,000 audience members), and in terms of star power (local and foreign),” said the company through PWR President Red Ollero and Vice-President Jan Lynch Imbat in an e-mail.

The pay-per-view stream will be available on digital release on May 31 via http://streamsessions.live for P500.

As well as the touted match between Perkins and De Leon, other highlights of PWR Special: Homecoming include a three-way dance for the PWR title, with defending champion Quatro fighting his rival Chris Panzer and Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling star Jeff Cobb.

“We know that not everyone got the chance to witness Homecoming in person, and not everyone is as familiar with PWR talents — their individual stories. We as a company want people who are fans of wrestling, but not yet of PWR, to see us at the top of our game. The broadcast we’re releasing gives non-Manila based wrestling fans the chance to see the PWR product with all the bells and whistles. We want to reach out specifically to newly acquainted casual fans, as well as followers who couldn’t be there in person (outside of Manila/NCR, inside Southeast Asia),” said the company.

“For our fans who were there that night, the perspective we present through the pay-per-view material is a fully produced wrestling program for digital viewing. This is PWRs first venture into this territory wherein we’re showing what locally produced wrestling can be, with all the dressings of a full-fledged broadcast.” This includes running commentary on the matches by Mr. Ollero; radio DJ, host, and PWR “managerial figure” (managers play a role in pro wrestling too) Stan Sy; ESPN5 talent, E-Sports caster, and current General Manager of PWR, Poch Estrada; and Fil-Canadian wrestler and former PWR champion, The “Beautiful” Billy Suede.

Pro wrestling, as a contact sport and performance in a live audience, will have to take a backseat for now during the pandemic. WWE tried performing to empty seats during the early days of the lockdowns in US cities (and without audience participation, it looked like avant-garde theater), until their own wrestlers started testing positive for the coronavirus.

Asked how the Philippine pro wrestling scene can keep going despite bans on mass gatherings and contact sports, the company said, “PWR is and has always found that taking things to social media to build on the experience of seeing a live wrestling show. Our presence on social media has been our calling card, a large part of how PWR has thrived over the past five years. We’ve used that traction we have in corners of the internet to bring eyes to PWR not just here in the Philippines, but also in places with strong wrestling fan bases like the UK, USA, Japan, and even neighboring SEA countries.” Using the power and reach of the internet in times when people can’t leave their homes, Mssrs. Ollero and Imbat said, “Content production has always been a priority for us — whether through show highlights, wrestler features, user-generated content, and other engagement-driven material as we strive to remain in the hearts and minds of our fans. This is also primarily the reason why we are releasing PWR Special: Homecoming as a way to keep our fanbase interested, even with the lack of shows at this moment.”

“This is the best PWR has looked to date visually, with a professional coverage team backing us in S&S. For fans that want to see what the best of PWR looks like, they have the opportunity to see us in all our glory, streaming online for the first time. It is also the first time we are selling a complete show, top to bottom, on any platform. We are evolving to the point that we can explore the option of having our performances streamed for pay in a time when we cannot perform live.”

PWR acknowledges the urgency during these times, and even though the shows may have stopped, the wrestlers haven’t stopped working). “PWR understands that although the pandemic has put wrestling on hold, there are much more important issues that need to be addressed. The organization and individual roster members have various initiatives to help COVID-19 frontliners in various capacities. With our Mabuhay Ang Wrestling shirt campaign, art commissions, gear auctions, or meal prep for hospitals, 3D printing PPE, there has been a conscious effort from PWR and PWR wrestlers to do our part,” said the company.

PWR Special: Homecoming will be available on digital release this May 31 via http://streamsessions.live for P500. Once payment has been confirmed, a unique video link and access password will be sent via an e-mailed e-ticket for May 31, 10 a.m., Philippine Standard Time. The purchase gives the user all-access viewing of the full PWR Special: Homecoming, of every match that was put on that night. Repeat viewing will also be available for a limited time after May 31. — Joseph L. Garcia

2GO net loss shrinks as it reduces expenses

2GO Group, Inc. cut its net loss attributable to equity holders by 70.5% in the first quarter after it managed to reduce its expenses.

In a regulatory filing, the listed shipping and logistics provider posted an attributable net loss of P108.92 million as of March, from the net loss of P369.03 million in the same period last year.

The company attributed its net loss in the three-month period to reduced travel revenues, especially during the last two weeks of March when the government placed the entire island of Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine to contain the coronavirus disease.

As for the decline in its attributable net loss, 2GO Group said: “Total cost and expenses were lower in the first quarter of 2020 compared to 2019, despite rising transport costs for the logistics business and increased sales of inventory from the distribution business.”

It said fuel prices also decreased by 32% where the listed company had a favorable price variance of P191 million for the quarter.

“All other costs and expenses were generally maintained or reduced due to improvements in efficiencies and focus on controlling cost,” 2GO Group said.

2GO Group reported a decline in revenues by 6% to P5.16 billion during the three-month period. Broken down, the company saw a slight improvement of 0.3% in its shipping business. Sales of goods also grew by 15%, but revenues from logistics and other services went down by 33%.

2GO has three core business units, namely, 2GO Freight, 2GO Travel, and 2GO Supply Chain.

For the first quarter, shipping accounted for 34% and non-shipping accounted for 66% of the group’s total revenue, compared to 32% and 68%, respectively, in the same period in the previous year.

The group said it expects a decline in sales or revenue volumes during the subsequent months beyond the lifting of the modified enhanced community quarantine.

It also said that it has already activated its business continuity plan and “has taken steps to manage the risk of disruption in the value chain both inbound and outbound, including the potential overall economic impact and the effects of the business disruptions in other business entities, some of which are integral to the value-chain of the group.”

Shares in 2GO Group went up 0.54% on Thursday to close at P9.25 apiece.

VLF 2020: Mayang Bubot sa Tag-araw

NORMAN Boquiren’s Mayang Bubot sa Tag-araw — one of the main plays in this year’s Virgin Labfest (VLF) theater festival — tackles the problems encountered in an Ayta community, focusing on how the Indigenous People’s community values ancestral land and livelihood.

It follows two Ayta children whose friendship is tested as they choose different paths. One follows her mother as she seeks the American dream, while the other remains with the community, working against oppression.

The story draws inspiration from the playwright’s experience during immersion activities with community advocates for Indigenous People (IP).

“Ito ay sinulat ko para ibigay sa [IP community] (I wrote it as an offering for the IP community),” Mr. Boquiren told BusinessWorld in a Zoom interview on May 27. He noted that the script went through various changes over three years of visits to the Ayta community.

“‘Yung lupaing ninuno provides para sa kanila. Sila, bilang katutubong Ayta, alam nila na sila ay parang mga isda na inalis mo sa tubig kapag inalis mo kami sa lupang ninuno (The ancestral land provides for them. They, as native Aytas, know that they are like a fish out of water if they are removed from their ancestral land),” Mr. Boquiren said.

“[In the story], may pagta-traydor (there is a betrayal) that happened within the community,” he added, which involves issues that arise when the rich buy ancestral land.

The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) states that native title to domain and rights shall be recognized and respected. Section 4 of RA 8371 states that: “All areas within ancestral domains, whether delineated or not, are presumed to be communally owned and, pursuant to the indigenous concept of ownership, could not be sold, disposed nor destroyed.”

ADJUSTING TO VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Virgin Labfest, the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ festival of new, unstaged one-act plays, is going online this year, with live streamed performances and readings, among others. This has meant that the productions behind the various plays have had to adapt to an unfamiliar digital environment.

This has been a daily challenge for the artists behind Mayang Bubot sa Tag-araw, who have had to figure out how to block scenes and help actors connect with co-actors in the virtual world.

“Isa siyang malawakang at matagal na pangangapa,” the play’s director Mark Mirando said. (It is a long process that we are still groping through.)

Mr. Mirando noted that as a director for documentary theater, part of his job is visiting the communities and talking to people for dramaturgical data, but the quarantine has made this impossible. Instead he turned to Mr. Boquiren and fellow advocates who shared their experiences and insights with the production team.

Mr. Mirando said that the experience with this play has made the production team realize the value of physical connection. “Sobrang halaga niya sa proseso ng pagtutulay ng kwento sa teatro (It is very important in the process of bringing a story to the theater).”

As outsiders, Mssrs. Boquiren and Mirando hope to tell the story of these IPs without romanticising and get the audience to understand the struggles of the IP communities

“No to developmental aggression, protect the IP [community],” Mr. Mirando said.

Opaline Santos, Ji-Ann Lachica, Janna Cortes, and Irish Shane Legaspi make up the play’s cast.

Mayang Bubot sa Tag-araw will stream live on June 12, 5 p.m., and June 23, 2 p.m.

Aside from the plays and staged readings, viewers can also catch the VLF Playwright’s Fair online, with this year’s playwrights talking about their work on June 11-14, 17-20, 25-27 at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, the Virgin Labfest 2020 Writing Fellowship Program will culminate in an online staged reading of the fellows’ works on June 28 at 2 and 5 p.m.

For more details and show schedules, visit https://www.facebook.com/culturalcenterofthephilippines/ and https://www.facebook.com/thevirginlabfest/, or join https://www.facebook.com/groups/VLFTambayan/. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Bo’s Coffee says sales rise in some market segments

LOCAL CAFÉ chain Bo’s Coffee saw higher sales in two of its stores during the lockdown even as majority of its stores operated at 30% of their pre-lockdown sales.

“There will be two outliers, two stores that went beyond 100% and 120% from pre-COVID,” Bo’s Coffee Chief Executive Officer Steve D. Benitez said in a webinar with the Philippine Franchise Association on Thursday.

“That was a big surprise to me and my team as well. But I think the most common reason behind that is what class of market does that mall cater to,” he added.

He said the A and B markets would stay home and avoid the malls while the other markets would continue to go out “and that’s because of the circumstances.”

Bo’s Coffee began to gradually reopen its shops for delivery ad pickup in early May. The company has more than 100 branches.

Mr. Benitez said the company plans to “reimagine” its brand to make it more available to more people despite the closed shops, including delivery services.

“Now, you can find Bo’s Coffee in Mini Stops, soon hopefully in 7-Elevens because we now bottle our coffee,” he said.

The company has been reorganizing its employment structure, placing its audit team in the procurement team while there are fewer stores to audit. Some baristas have been moved to delivery services.

Bo’s Coffee gave out full salaries for March and April as well as allowances, but eventually cut some jobs.

Mr. Benitez added that the company has been managing its resources by controlling its cash outflow.

“We also had to preserve out assets because we’re looking forward to reopening as soon as possible and we have to make sure that our assets are in order. First, we decided not to have any capex (capital expenditure) spend. All capex expansion this year has been suspended. And we also had to manage our inventory,” he said.

“One of the things we did is we donated most of these food to the frontliners,” he added. — Jenina P. Ibañez

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