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Mindanao power firms weigh in as NGCP transmission project faces delay

By Angelica Y. Yang

THE delay in critical transmission projects brought about by the latest travel ban will affect the operations of power generation companies in Mindanao, a power plant developer said.

This comes after privately owned National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) earlier raised concerns that delays caused by the newest travel ban would hamper critical power transmission projects that had yet to be completed.

In a press release on Dec. 31, the firm said that the travel restrictions would slow down the vessels carrying transmission equipment for the submarine cable laying activity of NGCP’s Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP). The project aims to unify the three grids across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Global Business Power Corp. (GBP) Commercial and Sales Head Philip D. Dasalla said that MVIP’s completion would allow Mindanao firms to sell excess power to retail markets in Luzon and Visayas.

“The timely completion of MVIP is critical to the power industry as it will enable power generators in Mindanao such as our affiliate company, Alsons Thermal Energy Corp., which owns Sarangani Energy Corp., to sell excess capacities to wholesale and retail markets in Visayas and Luzon,” Mr. Dasalla told BusinessWorld in an e-mail on Thursday.

Asked whether the projected delay would impact GBP’s operations in selling excess power, he said that it would.

“Yes, as well as other power generation companies in Mindanao. Kindly note that the Mindanao grid has the highest reserve margin among the [three] grids,” Mr. Dasalla said.

Meanwhile, Aboitiz Power Corp., which operates the 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired plant under Therma South, Inc. in Mindanao, said that it would not be affected by the reported delay of the MVIP.

“Specific to AboitizPower, we don’t expect our Therma South, Inc. (TSI) coal facility to be affected by the reported delay of the interconnection as our supply is transmitted only within the Mindanao grid and it is already fully contracted to distribution utilities in the region,” Aboitiz Power Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel V. Rubio told BusinessWorld in an e-mailed response on Thursday.

He added that NGCP needed the full support of the government to ensure that critical transmission projects in all three major islands, particularly those entering load centers in major cities, should get implemented on time to “sustain a stable and reliable energy supply and service for the country.”

For Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. Chairman and President Tomas I. Alcantara, the long-awaited interconnection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids through the MVIP would “greatly benefit” power consumers.

“While we fully support the national government’s efforts to protect the country from the new COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) variant, we at Alsons share NGCP’s concern about possible further delays to the completion of the interconnection project as a result of the latest travel ban,” Mr. Alcantara said in an e-mailed response to BusinessWorld on Friday.

“We simply cannot have any further delays to this project as access to power is imperative to our country’s economic recovery,” he added.

AC Energy Corp. President and Chief Executive John Eric T. Francia said that the Mindanao-Visayas link was crucial in balancing power supply and demand in the country.

“Hopefully, the project will be completed in time for the expected economic recovery and resurgence in power demand,” Mr. Francia told BusinessWorld in a Viber response on Wednesday.

He further explained that Mindanao is in a position to provide power to Luzon and Visayas once the demand resurges, since it is “expected to be in an over-supply situation in the coming years.”

AC Energy is the majority stakeholder of the 552-MW thermal coal plant GNPower Kauswagan Ltd. Co. in Mindanao.

Last month, NGCP said that it understood the need to control the virus and protect the people. However, there must be “creative ways” to balance health concerns with keeping the economy afloat.

“NGCP’s critical projects cannot face any further delays as this may have an implication on the stability and reliability of power transmission services, especially with the growing demand for power,” the power grid operator said in a statement.

BusinessWorld reached out to NGCP for a comment on how long the projected delay for the MVIP would be, but has yet to receive a reply as of press time.

Moving in place

Year 2020 may have put a stop to travel, but dreams still took flight

A journey in time: The author negotiates a glacier at Skaftafell National Park in Iceland. — PHOTO BY JAKOB KURC

WHAT AN IRONY it was, that when I started focusing on travel stories for “Velocity” early in 2020, the pandemic was soon declared and all forms of leisure travel were brought to an abrupt halt.

I also remember writing a magazine column exactly a year ago, talking about what were then the latest forecasts and trends in the fields of transportation and tourism. I mentioned that there had been a documented rise in the demand for eco-tourism and, with it, some stronger consumer influence over the sustainability index of the latest vehicles.

I pointed out that even the mobility needs of global events, such as those of the originally-scheduled-for-2020 Tokyo Olympics, had become strongly driven by environmental sensitivity. The futuristic Japanese capital had aimed to become a glorious example of how civilization could choose to do things right; and even committed to showcase their latest in transportation technology, sustainability, and even accessibility for the disabled. Robots have been designed to greet visitors and to help give directions, while as much as 90% of their vehicles meant to service people around was slated to be electric — with even some of them driverless. As a matter of fact, the country’s goal was to achieve a level of emissions that would be the lowest ever recorded of all the Olympic games in the past: A massively challenging, but unsurprisingly Japanese gesture of respect for the planet.

But the Tokyo Olympics didn’t happen last year. And many factory production lines in factories were temporarily disrupted with the advent of the pandemic. Hopefully, this is merely a delay in schedule of things that are still bound to happen.

While the rise in the availability of electric and hybrid vehicles still holds true in our country, the transition may have partially slowed down due to the economic toll of the ongoing pandemic. We have instead seen a spike in the purchase of second-hand vehicles, and also an even larger demand for more affordable motorcycles. It appears that in the absence of any safe and reliable form of mass transportation, people have begun to better appreciate the value of independent mobility, no matter how basic.

Moreover, with several provinces slowly reopening their tourism industry (in an effort to help keep their hotels and merchants afloat), it appears that land travel has become one of the more popular and trusted ways to go for a quick and safe holiday — even if only to help keep people’s mental health stable.

Happily, the introduction of new vehicle models went on in 2020, as car manufacturers seemingly rolled with the economic punches from the crisis by adapting their business models to the times and offer ever-more affordable vehicles with even more bells and whistles to entice even the most cost-particular consumers. Case in point: We now have a vast plethora of Chinese-made, extremely affordable and feature-packed vehicles. The models that have been brought in are so carefully selected, and the majority of them lean towards crossovers and SUV variants. Meanwhile, other manufacturers are bringing in products built in Malaysia to likewise decrease production cost, increase product value, and compete in the Philippine motoring market.

What does 2021 hold for us? To be honest, it’s hard to say — but we certainly must ready ourselves for even more surprises.

Damn the pandemic! Fashion Week must go on!

WHILE a new coronavirus strain threatens to ravage Europe anew, for now, fashion councils in fashion capitals have released provisional schedules for their shows. Last year saw alternative online presentations due to lockdowns and health concerns (Moschino, for example, presented its collections through a puppet show), and there is an expectation that most shows this year will still present on digital platforms.

The Fédération de la haute couture et de la mode (FHCM) released a calendar for its shows for 2021:

• Men (Fall/Winter 2021-2022) from Jan. 19 to 24;

• Haute Couture from Jan. 25 to 28;

• Women from March 1 to 9;

• Men from June 22 to 27;

• Haute Couture from July 4 to July 8;

• Women from Sept. 27 to Oct. 5.

The same group already released a calendar for the Paris Men’s Fashion Week. Names and brands presenting this year include Issey Miyake, Louis Vuitton, Celine, Yohji Yamamoto, Dries van Noten, Dior, Loewe, Hermes, Lemaire, Jil Sander, and Emmanuel Ungaro.

Meanwhile, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has announced that New York Fashion Week Fall Winter 2021 will fall between Feb. 15-17.

The National Chamber of Italian Fashion (Camera nazionale della moda italiana) announced their Men’s Fall-Winter 2021-2022 will fall from Jan. 15-19. Names to expect include Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Etro, Prada, and Tod’s. Etro, Kway, Fendi will present their collections live, as indicated in the Milan Fashion Week calendar.

London Fashion Week, meanwhile, will present on Feb. 19 to 23, with a digital-first thrust. — JLG

Court of Tax Appeals cancels P172-M tax assessment on Red Ribbon

THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) cancelled the tax assessment against Red Ribbon Bakeshop, Inc. of P172.2 million for being audited by unauthorized officers.

In a 17-page ruling dated Jan. 7, the court’s Third Division granted the petition of Red Ribbon seeking to cancel its tax assessment for 2009.

The court noted that the revenue officers who conducted the audit investigation were not authorized through a Letter of Authority (LoA), as required by the Tax Code and Revenue Memorandum Order No. 43-90.

Citing a Supreme Court ruling, the court said that as the revenue officers who conducted the audit had no authority to do so, “the resulting assessment is void.”

“Having found the assessment void, the Court will no longer discuss the other issues raised in the present petition,” the court ruled.

“Consequently, respondent is enjoined and prohibited from collecting the said amount against petitioner,” it ruled.

Section 6 of the Tax Code states that the commissioner or his duly authorized representative may authorize the examination of a taxpayer, while Section 13 says that a revenue officer may perform assessment pursuant to an LoA issued by the revenue regional director.

RMO 43-90 requires a new LoA for the re-assignment of cases.

An LoA was initially issued to revenue officers to assess the company, but the officers, who were authorized through a memorandum of assignment (MoA), conducted the audit and recommended the issuance of the assessment.

The court noted a ruling of the CTA en banc, which stated that a document may be treated as an equivalent of a new LoA, but it should contain all elements of an LoA and issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner or his representatives either, the revenue regional director or the assistant commissioner/head revenue executive assistants in case of taxpayers falling under the large taxpayers division.

The court noted that the three MoAs were signed by the chief of the BIR’s Regular Large Taxpayers Audit Division 1, who is not one of the authorized representatives of the commissioner to issue an LoA.

Red Ribbon is being assessed for alleged deficiency income tax and value-added tax of P172.2 million arising from alleged undeclared purchases.

The court said the BIR compared the firms summary list of purchases (SLP) to the monthly alphalist of payees (MAP) and the reconciliation of listings for enforcement (RELIEF) and allegedly showed that the purchases in the MAP/RELIEF were higher than the declared SLP. The BIR said that the difference should be subject to both income tax and VAT.

Red Ribbon claimed that the assessment is null and void for being issued beyond the three-year prescriptive period and the waivers for the extension of the assessment period as it had defects.

It also claimed that the assessment lacked factual and legal bases, claiming the BIR failed to verify the correctness of the tax base used in coming up with the assessment and it erred in imposing VAT on its supposed under-declared purchases without showing proof that it had sales or income from clients.

The BIR on the other hand said that the assessment had a factual and legal basis, saying the assessment was derived from one of the audit methods prescribed by the law.

It said the defects such as the failure to indicate the type and amount of the tax noted in the waivers, did not affect the validity as the information was not yet determinable when it was issued. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

T-bill rates may move sideways on strong demand and liquidity

YIELDS ON short-term government securities to be offered by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Monday may remain steady on the back of continued strong demand and high liquidity in the market.

The BTr will auction off P20 billion worth of Treasury bills (T-bills) today: P5 billion each in 91- and 182-day securities and another P10 billion in 363-day debt papers.

T-bill rates are likely to move within the same levels as last week, with strong demand expected to be sustained, ATRAM Trust Corp. Head of Fixed Income Jose Miguel B. Liboro said.

“The higher adjustment in yields that we have been seeing over the last few days are largely due to the sharp spike in US Treasury yields on the back of the Democratic party’s victory in the US Senate,” Mr. Liboro said in an e-mail.

A trader, meanwhile, said liquidity will be the main factor for yield movements this week.

“The upward trajectory of the US Treasury yields may come into mind but this one is so short that it will most likely depend on liquidity only,” the trader said in a Viber message.

The electoral win of Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossof in Georgia on Wednesday sealed the Democrat’s narrow control of both chambers of the US Congress, Reuters reported. This is seen to boost the prospects for the legislative agenda of President-elect Joseph R. Biden.

Meanwhile, the pickup in US Treasury yields last week was backed by market sentiment of a Democrat-controlled government that could likely boost stimulus spending.

At the secondary market on Friday, rates on the three-month, six-month and one-year T-bills were quoted at 1.133%, 1.404% and 1.626%, respectively.

The BTr last week hiked its award of T-bills and even opened its tap facility as yields went down across the board on expectations of slower inflation data.

The Treasury borrowed P24 billion via T-bills on Monday, higher than its P20-billion program as it accepted more bids from non-competitive investors for the three-month and six-month tenors.

The offering was over four times oversubscribed, with tenders reaching P83.638 billion.

The Treasury also opened its tap facility to offer another P10 billion in one-year securities.

Broken down, the BTr raised P7 billion via the 91-day debt papers, exceeding the P5-billion program as bids reached P19.413 billion. The average rate of the three-month T-bills stood at 0.987%, down by 3.5 basis points (bps) from the 1.022% fetched in the Dec. 14 auction.

The Treasury also accepted P7 billion in 182-day papers, more than the P5-billion plan, as tenders amounted to P21.17 billion. The six-month tenor saw its average rate go down by 3.1 bps to 1.369% from 1.4% previously.

For the 364-day securities, the government raised P10 billion as planned out of bids worth P43.055 billion. The one-year T-bills were quoted at 1.614%, down 7.2 bps from the previous average rate of 1.686%.

The BTr plans to borrow P140 billion from the local market this month: P80 billion via weekly auctions of T-bills and P60 billion from fortnightly Treasury bond offerings.

The government is looking to raise P3 trillion this year from domestic and external lenders to help fund its budget deficit seen to hit 8.9% of gross domestic product. — L.W.T. Noble

Senate bill firms up agriculture lending requirements for banks

A MEASURE that will establish a system for financing agriculture, fisheries and rural development has been filed in the Senate, signalling progress for a proposed law already passed in the House.

Senate Bill No. 1924, the proposed “Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Financing Enhancement System” act, seeks to institutionalize the financing of farm modernization and programs to raise productivity.

If passed, the measure will require financial institutions to set aside at least 25% of their total loanable funds, while expanding banking activities that qualify as agricultural and fisheries financing.

These include mechanization, agri-tourism, green finance projects, land acquisition, marketing, processing, distribution and storage, and public rural infrastructure.

The Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009, or Republic Act No. 10000, also sets a quota for banks to lend to the agriculture sector, which has led to undercompliance with financial institutions typically preferring to absorb the penalties for failing to meet the minimum lending levels.

The bill will allow banks to comply with the credit quota by investing in debt securities and opening deposit accounts with and investing directly in shares of rural financial institutions.

It also considers as eligible loans those supporting the construction and upgrading of infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads in rural areas.

The bill seeks to create the Agribusiness Management Capacity and Institution-building fund and program, which will be allocated P10 billion. Funding will come from penalties collected for the non-compliance and under compliance with the credit quota set by the Agri-Agra law.

The fund, which will be managed by Agricultural and Fisheries Finance and Capacity Building Council, will also support capacity-building by rural agricultural and fisheries organizations.

Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. said the measure will complement current lending requirements and support initiatives to provide financing, investment, and infrastructure related to the agriculture sector.

“For the countryside, (the bill will help) ensure sustainable and more inclusive economic development and growth over the long term, as part of the effort to alleviate poverty incidence as well,” he said in an e-mail Sunday.

The measure is among the bills being pushed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Its counterpart, House Bill No. 6134, has secured final approval in the chamber. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Toyota Balloon Payment Plus makes car ownership easy

TOYOTA levels up on making its vehicles more easily accessible. The Balloon Payment Plus, offered by the Toyota Financial Services Philippines Corp., enables low monthly payments and comes with built-in periodic maintenance throughout the finance term, and with convenient end-of-term options.

Supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the finance lease product allows customers to repurchase a new vehicle as they trade-in their current car in the program. “Picture this: You’re at the tail end of your payment term. You’ve been using the car for quite some time now, but let’s also say that there’s a latest Toyota model that has caught your eye. Well, you can make that transition easily thanks to the guaranteed future value of your current car that the Balloon Payment Plus has afforded you. You can use the guaranteed future value as lump-sum payment. Should there be an amount remaining, you can use said portion to apply for your next brand-new car,” said the company in a release.

The Toyota Vios is given as an example. “Down payment is between 20% to 30% of the vehicle price. Say, you go for a 24-month finance term, you’ll be looking at 45% lump-sum amount of the vehicle price and a guaranteed resale value at 55%. Your assured resale price and flexible financing options can be realized in one of two routes: Option A is paying off the lump-sum amount together with the monthly installment indicated on your last due date official receipt. Or go for Option B, which is trading in your vehicle and effectively purchasing a new Toyota vehicle,” continued the release. Balloon Payment Plus thus enables customers to update their car every few years.

Available for the Balloon Payment Plus are all Toyota Vios variants; Corolla Cross 1.8V Hybrid; Toyota Hilux (MC) Conquest, G, E, and J variants; and all Toyota Fortuner (MC) trims.

For more information, go to www.toyota.com.ph/balloon-payment-plus. For final quotation, contacting any Toyota dealer or inquiring with Toyota Financial Services Customer Care Hotline 02-7757-8500, e-mail at feedback@toyotafinancial.ph is advised. Visit their website at www.toyotafinancial.ph. Drop by Toyota’s authorized TCUV dealerships (list is provided at www.toyota.com.ph/tcuv).

How to care for senior pets

WHEN people grow older, they have to adjust their diets (less ice cream, more vegetables), their lifestyle (no more late nights, cutting down on drinking), and exercise (slowing metabolisms means keeping an incipient potbelly in check takes more work). People are not the only ones who have to adjust to aging, pets do too.

As pets grow older, their routine, lifestyle, and nutritional requirements change and pet owners must make adjustments otherwise these pets are at risk of developing serious health issues such as obesity, diabetes, liver disease, and heart disease.

The Pet Food Institute (PFI) shares suggestions on how pet owners can take care of their senior pets.

NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF SENIOR PETS
Every pet requires a well-balanced diet regardless of their age, but there is no such thing as a one-size fits all diet. Puppies and kittens have different nutritional needs than adult dogs and cats, and seniors have different needs too.

As pets age, they typically become more sedentary and a well-balanced diet is a must for senior pets. Some pet owners avoid protein, however this nutrient is important to help fuel their pets’ muscles and avoid muscle loss, another common problem among senior pets. Some pet owners may also see food specifically formulated for senior pets, which often is lower in fat and contains fewer calories.

Much like younger pets, senior dogs and cats must avoid toxic treats which include grapes, raisins, onions, chocolates, or anything with caffeine in it. Pet owners are also discouraged from giving their older pets hard food such as bones and hooves.

To better understand the needs of an aging pets’ diet, pet owners are encouraged to consult their local veterinarian.

EVERYDAY EXERCISE
Another common sign of aging in pets is a drop in their energy level. Many pet owners may find them becoming lethargic compared to when they were younger. This adjustment in their pet’s lifestyle may lead to obesity and other health issues. To avoid this, pet owners must provide their four-legged companions the opportunity to exercise every day.

Running with older pets may not be suitable, however pet owners may opt to take longer walks and light jogs around the neighborhood as an alternative to ensure their senior pets continue to get their daily dose of exercise.

Aging pets may also begin to experience sore and stiff joints. In consultation with a veterinarian, pet owners can develop mobility exercises to help keep their pet safely moving if he or she is experiencing joint pain.

VETERINARY VISITS
Regardless of a pets’ age, pet owners must regularly check in with their veterinarians to make sure that their pets are in tiptop condition. These visits can help pet owners establish the proper diet and exercise regimen, as well as acquire vaccinations to protect their pets from fleas, ticks, worms, and other parasites.

These visits should happen on a regular basis and not just when a pet is sick. For pets with underlying illnesses, a regular trip to the vet will ensure that they are receiving proper treatment to secure their quality of life.

PSE adds 8 to list of Shari’ah-compliant firms

THE PHILIPPINE Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) has included eight new securities that are compliant with Islamic principles of finance based on its latest review.

In a Jan. 8 memorandum released on its website, the PSE announced 57 Shari’ah compliant securities that passed its quarterly screening that ended on Dec. 25 last year.

The additions to the list are ATN Holdings, Inc. “A”; ATN Holdings, Inc. “B”; Berjaya Philippines, Inc.; Eagle Cement Corp.; Euro-Med Laboratories Phil., Inc.; Keppel Philippines Properties, Inc.; Macay Holdings, Inc.; and Philippine Infradev Holdings, Inc.

Meanwhile, companies that were removed from the last quarter’s list were Basic Energy Corp.; Century Peak Holdings Corp.; Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc.; SPC Power Corp.; and Vulcan Industrial and Mining Corp.

The PSE conducts a review of listed securities every three months. It screens the companies that comply with Islamic standards of finance, which allows Muslim investors to participate in the local bourse.

To be compliant, companies must not be involved in, or get more than 5% of its revenues, from adult entertainment, alcohol, cinema, defense and weapons, financial services, gambling, gold and silver hedging, interest-bearing investments, music, pork, and tobacco.

They are also subjected to a financial screening, which requires that their interest-bearing debt and total interest-bearing deposits or investment do not exceed 30% of their 12-month trailing average market capitalization.

The PSE chose the services of IdealRatings, Inc. for the screening of securities for this period. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

BSP studying climate change impact

THE CENTRAL BANK is looking into the effects of climate change on its operations as it develops a roadmap for sustainability in the financial system, an official said.

“The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is currently conducting a study on the assessment on the impact of climate change and environment related factors to BSP offices and operations,” BSP Managing Director for Policy and Specialized Supervision Lyn I. Javier said in an e-mail.

“The results of these studies will feed into the development of the BSP’s Roadmap for Sustainable Central Banking that will foster environmentally responsible and sustainable policies and work practices,” she added.

The BSP in April unveiled its sustainability framework for financial players and gave firms a three-year leeway to adopt its provisions.

Since the framework was released, the central bank has carried out capacity-building activities for banks as they could be in different stages of implementing its provisions.

“While some banks are in more advanced stages in terms of integrating sustainability principles in their strategic direction and business operations, some are still at the initial stages in this space,” Ms. Javier said.

Potential regulatory incentives for banks engaging in sustainable financing are still being studied by the BSP, she added.

“These incentives, if any, will take into account international best practices and standards as well as relevant domestic developments,” Ms. Javier said.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno last year said they are considering counting lending for green projects as compliance with Republic Act 10000 or the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act, under which banks must allocate 25% of their loanable funds for the development of the agriculture and agrarian reform sector.

International nonprofit Climate Bonds Initiative in November cited the Philippines as a regional leader for sustainable finance on the back of efforts from the government, banks and businesses. — L.W.T. Noble

Palay farmgate price rises 1.1% in late December

THE average farmgate price of palay, or unmilled rice, rose 1.1% week-on-week to P16.43 per kilogram in the last week of December, with the price increasing 3.8% from a year earlier, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its weekly update on palay, rice, and corn prices, the PSA said the average wholesale price of well-milled rice rose 0.3% to P37.49 while the retail price rose 0.2% to P41.04.

The average wholesale price of regular-milled rice rose 0.2% to P33.36 while the retail price was flat at P36.17.

The farmgate price of yellow corn grain rose 0.8% week-on-week to P12.23.

The average wholesale price of yellow corn grain fell 0.2% to P19.67 while the retail price fell 0.04% to P24.56.

The farmgate price of white corn grain rose 1% week-on-week to P13.31.

The average wholesale price of white corn grain fell 1.2% to P16.49 while the retail price rose 0.2% to P25.54. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Miss Universe PHL 2020 drives home new MG ZS Alpha SUV

THE WINNER of the inaugural Miss Universe Philippines 2020, Rabiya Mateo, was recently given the key to her very own red MG ZS Alpha Crossover SUV. Now outside the pageant bubble, Ms. Mateo will carry out queenly duties using her very own MG ZS, which she fondly named “Abegail.”

“My new MG ZS will be with me on all my mega getaways,” she said. “As Miss Universe Philippines I travel almost every day, and I’m very happy to do so now in my comfortable and stylish ZS. I’m excited for all the extraordinary trips my ZS and I will take together, and all the possibilities to see even more of our beautiful country.” As a new MG owner, Ms. Mateo will receive the signature MG service and client care that has endeared the British heritage brand to owners all over the Philippines.

“It is our absolute honor to turn over this MG ZS Alpha Crossover to our Miss Universe Philippines, Ms. Rabiya Mateo. We hope this new automobile will be able to assist her in her daily activities and busy schedule. I am certain Rabiya will enjoy owning this MG ZS as it complements her dynamic and warm personality. MG Philippines will ensure that her ownership experience will be as impeccable as her work with her advocacies and performance in representing our country,” said Atty. Albert Arcilla, president and CEO of MG Philippines. “As a new MG owner, Rabiya will have access to all of MG Philippines signature aftersales services including speedy periodic vehicle maintenance (PMS), 24/7 emergency roadside support, responsive customer assistance services, and easy access to MG service consultants via online and offline channels, just to name a few.”

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