World Vision to hold virtual run for children

June 1, 2020 | 5:47 pm

LIMITED it may be by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, World Vision in the Philippines is not being deterred by it as it continues to look for ways to push for its mission.

Later this month, World Vision is set to hold the 1^st Virtual Run for Children, the goal which is to promote fitness and health during the community quarantine in the country while raising funds for the benefit of the organization’s most vulnerable children and communities.

As the entire country deals with COVID-19, World Vision recognizes that children are among those impacted greatly by the pandemic, with their access to basic needs like food, education and hygiene compromised.

But since outside movement is still limited as restrictions are still up as part of mitigating measures of the government against COVID-19, World Vision is instead encouraging people to run for a cause but with them not having to leave their homes through the virtual run.

“World Vision is excited for its first-ever virtual run for children. It is our prayer that friends and families will be refreshed as they continue supporting the most vulnerable children. In these trying times, we hope that this will also provide them with an enjoyable, safe and healthy way to somehow reconnect in a virtual manner,” World Vision National Director Rommel Fuerte said of their upcoming event.

Lending support to World Vision’s virtual run for children are celebrity ambassadors Enzo Pineda, Gelli Victor and Gretchen Ho.

Those interested to participate in the virtual run just have to sign up by selecting the advocacy they wish to support, whether Education or Health & Nutrition, and their preferred mileage, either 21K, 50K, 100K, or 200K.

Then, run anytime and anywhere between June 15 and July 31.

Once they have reached the goal, they can get a limited-edition World Vision Virtual Run for Children Finisher Shirt and a Finisher Medal.

The participants can walk or run whether indoors or outdoors and use a running or steps app to monitor the distance while making sure that they follow the community quarantine regulations in their area.

To make the virtual run more interesting, World Vision is challenging participants to step up their game by inviting family and friends to donate to their chosen advocacy.

The fees range from P1,050 to P1,650 and it is inclusive of a shirt, medal, and an e-certificate. A portion of the proceeds will contribute to World Vision’s projects for Education and Health & Nutrition.

To register for the World Vision Virtual Run for Children, visit www.takbo.ph/vr/worldvisionrun2020.

For more updates on the event, like and follow World Vision Run on Facebook, www.facebook.com/worldvisionrun. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

TRUST: The most stable ‘currency’ in the COVID-19 crisis and recovery

June 1, 2020 | 5:04 pm

The rise of COVID-19 from a “crisis-to-watch” back in late December 2019 to a global pandemic that saw every country go into virtual lockdown, is nothing short of meteoric. The world’s economy fell into the doldrums with businesses (except for a handful) struggling with almost non-existent operations, disrupted supply chains, and an unprecedented surge or drop in demand that were not even in any planning scenario. We are all caught flat-footed by this continuously evolving threat, at a loss as to what will come next, not knowing where to start our business continuity and recovery efforts.

The COVID-19 pandemic is redefining many aspects of society, the environment and the world. It is revealing vulnerabilities of both public and private institutions, and in sharp contrast, showing the strengths of communities, families, and individuals to come together and “save the day.” We see heightened activities in social media that have become a potent “microphone” for the people to say what they think and feel; and how this is being used to amplify the message that the governed should have influence over the decisions and actions of those who govern. Trust has become the most stable “currency” that institutions must have in huge reserves to engage stakeholders.

The acceptance or rejection of the behavior, actions, and policies adopted by the government and business organizations depend on how well they are trusted to deliver what was promised.

People are looking closely not at just the plans, but how well these are implemented; not just at the pronouncements or press releases but what their networks’ — families, friends, co-employees, communities — testimonials are. The talk must be the walk.

Therein lies the challenge. Because trust is a critical factor in crisis, its presence constitutes major capital for organizations and leaders, one that can be leveraged on to bounce back and recover faster in the aftermath. Conversely, its absence will dictate how long a time they will need to regain lost ground, if they survive at all.

How are their actions increasing or decreasing their trust reserves? The most successful brands use their power and capabilities to be at least one of these qualities to their stakeholders: helpful, useful, or uplifting.

For instance, insurance company Pru Life UK offered free COVID-19 insurance for 500,000 Filipinos through its healthcare management app, Pulse. HP Philippines provides free printable templates to engage parents looking for activities to do with their children while stuck at home during the lockdown. Total Philippines showed its support for medical frontliners by letting them gas up for free at key Total stations around Manila.

Companies who are showing compassion to their employees by coming to their assistance at this time of need are perceived more favorably than those who are announcing plans to lay off workers. Airlines are winning and losing by the policies they adopt on cancellations and refunds.

There are LGUs that are stepping up and providing creative solutions to provide access to food and transportation; and the people responded by coming to the rescue of these trusted leaders, protecting them from political repercussions. In contrast, we also witness how the political shine of other local leaders dimmed because of the lack of trust that they can deliver.

Communication with stakeholders has become a critical component in trust-building. Credible, transparent, and reliable information is the best defense against lies, fear, anxiety, and wrong perceptions. Because the medium is the message, it is vital that leaders and organizations pay equal importance to both content and the one tasked to deliver this, to ensure that the narrative covers all the touchpoints — not just with data and numbers, but also with emotions. Proper communication cannot be left to chance; it requires insights, empathy, critical thinking, and discipline to strike a note that will swing the trust meter in the right direction.

Finally, we must not be afraid to say that we do not have all the answers and that we can commit mistakes. Transparency is a must if we are to build a trust-based relationship with our stakeholders.

Gaining the trust of our stakeholders takes time. It adds up with every action that shows how we put the customer first by giving them their money’s worth; by how we improve their experience with every complaint they report; by how well we treat our employees; by the importance we place on purpose, not just profit; and by our concern for the environment, sustainability and governance.

Communication is the bridge that connects what we do to build this trust, the stakeholders we need to build relationships with, and with society in general.

This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or the MAP)

Junie del Mundo is Vice-Chair of the MAP CEO Conference Committee and the Chair and CEO of The EON Group, a fully integrated communications consultancy with expertise in consumer and corporate PR, reputation management and public affairs, digital marketing and creative technology, and experiential marketing.

junie.delmundo@eon.com.ph

map@map.org.ph

http://map.org.ph

The challenge of policing riots

June 1, 2020 | 5:04 pm

As I write this, the worrisome images of riots in Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Washington, DC, and 20 other US cities flash over cable news — replacing the reportage on COVID-19 that had been the standard preoccupation of news media for two months. A week has passed since white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was captured on a viral video pressing his knee onto the neck of George Floyd (who is black) for more than eight minutes. In the video, Floyd is heard saying “Please,” “I can’t breathe,” and “Don’t kill me.” Floyd reportedly died during the incident, and Chauvin, along with other police officers present, was fired. Chauvin was later on charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death.

The riots, which started out as a peaceful demonstration in Minneapolis seeking justice for Floyd’s death as well those of other African-Americans under police custody, have resulted in the burning of cars, business establishments, and even a police station. News reports have shown rampant looting of stores in many of the cities. Hundreds have been arrested during clashes with police. This wave of social unrest and outright anarchy couldn’t be happening at a worse time in the US, which has been reporting the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world.

The Minneapolis police have been under a cloud of mistrust since Floyd’s death. The University of Minnesota has cut ties with the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minneapolis School Board plans to do the same. The police in Minneapolis (and the other cities) are in a bind because their credibility has hit rock bottom even as they are expected to restore order and to save properties from further damage. In fact, news coverage in several of the cities shows scenes of continuing destruction of property and looting without any visible presence of law enforcers.

How can the police fulfill their role of maintaining order and apprehending law-breakers when their attempts to control crowds have resulted in further violent clashes? Steve Reicher, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of St Andrews, has analyzed the effective policing of riots and recommends key principles — Do’s and Don’ts — the police need to bear in mind.

The first Don’t is the most obvious since it applies to the incident that triggered the whole tragic situation we are seeing: The police should avoid indiscriminate use of force. Police brutality, particularly during crowd dispersal, is guaranteed to trigger even more public outrage, especially if experienced by traditionally marginalized groups such as African-Americans, who, in this case, consider themselves horribly aggrieved. Needless to say, in today’s smartphone era, bystanders often instinctively record police encounters that they witness — to be instantly shared via the Internet. This fans the flames of riots in the way gasoline works on real flames.

The second Don’t is less obvious but probably has the most powerful effect on prolonging riots. The biggest danger for police is to treat all members of a crowd in the same way and at the least, as potentially dangerous. The actions of the police should be subtle enough to differentiate between groups and individuals in the crowd. Omar Jimenez, a black CNN reporter, was arrested on live TV while covering the Minneapolis riot. It wasn’t helpful either for President Donald Trump to exclaim, “These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen.” Although organized agitators were likely mixed in with the peaceful but indignant protesters, this kind of generalization sends the message to the latter that they are not worth listening to.

The first Do is Communication. The police should be capable of communicating their intentions to the members of the crowd in order to avoid escalation of conflicts. Naturally, how they communicate and with whom needs to be considered. The protesters use social media to communicate with each other. The police have to use these, too, among other channels.

The second Do is probably the most important to constructively managing riots, assuming that the earlier principles have been observed. The police should facilitate the things that the protesters legally want to do. The police need to understand the legitimate aims of members of a crowd in order to consider how to best organize policing so that the aims may be met. Police are, after all, public servants. Since the people have the right to express their anger in peaceful assemblies, the police should be seen as promoting the exercise of this right.

In summary, policing riots requires boldness in serving protesters with legitimate grievances while separating those with clearly criminal intent. This will save lives and communities.

Dr. Benito L. Teehankee is the Jose E. Cuisia Professor of Business Ethics and Head of the Business for Human Development Network at De La Salle University.

benito.teehankee@dlsu.edu.ph

Someone from the Philippines could win $356M jackpot this Tuesday night

June 1, 2020 | 2:00 pm

Mega Millions, the huge multi-state American lottery, offers a huge jackpot prize of $356 million USD in its upcoming draw on the night of June 2. Someone could win this incredible jackpot this week so why shouldn’t it be you?

“There’s no need to travel to the United States to take a chance on winning this incredible jackpot prize,” states Adrian Cooremans, spokesman for theLotter.com. “We are the world’s leading online lottery ticket purchasing service and we give people from across the globe the opportunity to play the Mega Millions lottery. Our services are now available to customers from the Philippines as well.”

You can play Mega Millions online without leaving the Philippines and that amazing jackpot prize could be just a few clicks away. Here’s how it’s done.

Sign up at theLotter.com.
Select the Mega Millions lottery from over 50 lotteries from around the globe available on the site.
Fill out your ticket with your favorite numbers in the same manner as if you were buying a lottery ticket in person.
Indicate how many lines you want to play or choose to play with a lottery syndicate to increase your chances of winning.
Confirm your ticket purchase and you’re eligible to win prizes in the upcoming draw.

“It works like this,” Mr. Cooremans explains. “theLotter’s local agents in the US will buy tickets on your behalf. In return, the website charges a transaction fee and you will get a scan of your tickets before the draw. When you win a prize, it’s entirely yours as commissions aren’t taken from winning tickets.”

By purchasing their tickets online at theLotter, more than 5.5 million lucky players from all over the world have won $100 million in prizes without setting foot in the US! The site’s biggest winner to date is Aura D. from Panama, a retired woman still working to support her kids. Aura was the sole jackpot winner in a July 2017 Florida Lotto draw, entitling her to the entire $30 million prize.

If someone from Panama can play American lotteries by purchasing official tickets online at theLotter, so can players from the Philippines.

Playing the world’s biggest lotteries at theLotter is safe and secure and players everywhere are impressed by how easy it is to purchase official lottery tickets online. For more information on how to play Mega Millions online from the comfort of your home in the Philippines, please visit thelotter.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

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Four things every employer should have on their workplace safety checklist

June 1, 2020 | 1:17 pm

As the ongoing pandemic forced countless employees to work remotely, the strain and anxieties these new arrangements have had on firms forced many SMEs to question just how long they could survive under these conditions.

In a recent report by PwC Philippines, 36% of surveyed startup founders were concerned about reduced workforce productivity. With new quarantine guidelines slowly easing on-site restrictions for businesses, it’s no surprise that employers are raring for a return to the office.

With more and more employees coming out of their homes, what can employers do to make their facilities as safe as possible? KC Gamboa, AVP – Enterprise Solutions at KMC Solutions, shared a checklist during their webinar Work: To Return or Not to Return held last May 14.

1. Ensure cleanliness in your facilities.

Since COVID-19 can be indirectly transmitted through droplets on surfaces, it’s necessary for your office to be regularly sanitized. Make sure that your methods are approved by a reliable health authority, such as these guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Also, minimize points of contact as much as possible. One mode to explore is an RFID system for clock-in in lieu of the usual biometric access.

2. Reinforce best practices.

The cleanliness of your building is one thing; the sanitation of its occupants is another. While many best practices have been ingrained in our minds since the start of the pandemic, it’s wise to create tangible guides to reinforce these.

For example, marked pathways indicating traffic flow and proper positions can help your employees observe proper social distancing. You may also indicate the number of people allowed at a time in closed areas such as meeting rooms, and rearrange workstations so that the recommended one-meter distancing is followed.

You may also want to send out constant reminders on essential knowledge such as the proper way of washing hands and the right kinds of masks to wear. This can be done virtually such as through group emails, or through tangible materials such as posters.

3. Remind your employees to regularly monitor themselves.

“First and foremost, you have to check: are you healthy enough to go outside again?” said Gamboa. “Because we are not 100% sure [that you’ll be safe from infection], even though all sanitation exercises are being done.”

Encourage your employees to take care of their bodies by following a healthy diet, taking vitamins, exercising, and getting enough sleep. To avoid transmission, ask them to bring and regularly clean their own face masks and eating utensils. Provide disinfectants like rubbing alcohol, if possible. And if they’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, strictly enforce the recommended 14-day self-quarantine.

4. Keep work arrangement options open for your employees.

While you may have some employees reporting back to the office, it doesn’t mean that all of them have to. If you have certain employees who are performing well working outside the office, or are working on tasks that don’t require them to be on-site, then by all means allow them to work from home, satellite offices, or coworking spaces.

This kind of system is what Gamboa explains to be the hub-and-spoke model, wherein several facilities or “spokes” in different locations are all connected to a centralized “hub”. This could be your company’s HQ. Through this model, your company can continue operating efficiently while lessening the risk of transmission.

Pre- and post-lockdown public transport concerns

June 1, 2020 | 1:05 pm

While the national government has downgraded the capital region’s lockdown category from ECQ to MECQ to GCQ, a number of challenges—such as limited public transport—still stand as bumps on the road to recovery. Last week, SparkUp interviewed four business owners on what they had to say about this topic:

Joma Ablay, WaveDigital

Digital Marketing Firm

No.of employees: 13

“The worker’s point-of-view has to be considered when drafting guidelines. Not everyone has cars and some areas have no access to shuttles.”

“Prior to the ECQ, we worked in our office in Paranaque with flexible working hours and a work-from-home (WFH) scheme twice a week. Nowadays we WFH entirely, with team huddles and client meetings through Zoom. We plan to continue working from home and carpool when it’s necessary to report at the office.”

“I hope bus lines that provide P2P services can be helped in adjusting to the new normal so they can resume operations. We are gradually building new commuter behaviors. The authorities must ensure health and safety measures are well-implemented in public places. This is an opportunity for the government to implement progressive programs and policies on public transport.”

Karla Singson, Scalewind Corporation

Full-House Creative Production Agency

No.of employees: 30

“We [have] divisions in tech and support with 30 employees. Our creative team does the day shift; our call center does the night shift; our tech team reports as needed. All our business operations have had to shift to remote work due to the pandemic. We are considering carpooling services as we have a transport allowance for teammates and we can use that to subsidize transport. We hire within the vicinity so most will just bike to work.”

“My suggestion is for NCR to have more bike lanes and better guidelines for mass transport. Most of our teammates can’t afford taxis and cars, and we’d rather put our transport budget towards better forms of employee engagement such as bonuses and perks. Though, if safe bike lanes existed, I’d personally support giving our employees a bike subsidy.”

Michael Galang, Intego Insurance Company

General Insurance Agency

No. of employees: 10 (full-time)

“We’ve been conducting our business nowadays purely via emails and voice calls with weekly Zoom meetings.”

“As long as public transport is suspended, most employees can’t physically report to work. A shuttle is impractical for us as they come from all over the metro; so is biking. Some are from Rizal and Novaliches. A practical solution is to allow back riding because I noted that most of our staff have relatives with motorbikes.”

Tina Khoe Ang, Platino 950 Inc.

Retail Jewelry

No. of Employees: 45

“Our staff are mostly women with an average age of 30 years and above. It would be impractical for them to walk, bike, or ride a motorcycle. That’s punishing them. Pinipilit lang.

“We really need public transport to operate… Jewelry is a brick-and-mortar business. Customers need to try on the goods first before making a purchase. For basic operations, we need to have a few critical personnel come in.”

“Under the GCQ, public transport will open albeit at a limited capacity. As of today (May 29), buses and jeeps are still not allowed to operate. This means unless the government changes its policy, the first few days of GCQ will be a total shit show for one plain reason—bottlenecks. Everyone will be crowding to find public transport to get to where they want to be. Given the limited number of public transport available, it’s going to be a mess of epic proportions.”

“The best way is to do GCQ and allow buses and jeeps to operate, albeit in an organized manner, following strict social distancing protocol. Help the buses and jeeps practice social distancing by placing “No Sitting” stickers on the seats. Stick them on the seats you want unoccupied. Then ensure that the MMDA checks that these seats with stickers remain unoccupied. Problem solved.”

Limiting transmission vectors of the disease

According to Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Hope Libiran, it is the responsibility of employers and business owners to provide shuttle services or accommodations for their employees.

“Ang guidance ng IATF, kung walang kapasidad ang employer or business owner na mag-provide ng shuttle service o mag-arrange ng pansamantalang accommodation para sa kanilang mga empleyado, ‘wag na munang mag-bukas o mag-operate,” she said.

“We are limiting the movement of people, and one way of ensuring that is to limit the number of transport modes available. Primary consideration is health and safety. We do not want public transport to become transmission vectors of the disease.”

SparkUp also reached out to representatives from the DILG and DTI for comment, but neither department has responded as of publishing.

Moving forward, stringent sanitary measures have been set, and will be strictly enforced, for public transportation in areas under GCQ. The complete and updated Public Transport Guidelines and Protocols for the road transport sector may be perused here.

BUSINESSWORLD INSIGHTS: Recovery despite post-COVID uncertainties

June 1, 2020 | 12:30 pm

By Adrian Paul B. Conoza
Special Features Writer

Charting the path to recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis involves planning ahead for underlying uncertainties and opportunities, the panelists of the recent session of BUSINESSWORLD INSIGHTS have concurred.

Starting off its second phase titled “Winning The Fight: COVID-19 Lessons”, BUSINESSWORLD INSIGHTS returned with the first of three sessions, discussing with industry experts across various sectors how working towards recovery from the pandemic should go beyond merely surviving.

The online forum was moderated by BusinessWorld‘s editor-in-chief Wilfredo Reyes, and was participated by Simon Wintels, partner at McKinsey and Company Singapore; Gary De Ocampo, president of Kantar Philippines, Inc.; Carl Winn Everhart, president and general manager of Coca-Cola Philippines; Nicky Gozon, director of Entrego Express Corporation; and Vincent Tempongko, vice president for site acquisition and management at Globe Telecom.

Reimagining in an uncertain future

McKinsey’s Mr. Wintels, who leads its COVID-19 business team response for consumer goods companies across Asia, started off by noting that the crisis brings a due imperative of saving both lives and livelihoods.

In managing the crisis, he added, most companies have managed to resolve and to be resilient, so the next steps they should take involve returning and reimagining what the new normal looks like.

Their research across Asia have shown significant changes across how consumers behave, according to the researcher.

These changes include the shift to at-home consumption; a shift to online shopping and food delivery; more emphasis on affordability; a drop in discretionary spending; choosing safe, healthy, and fresh items and shopping environments; and a shock to loyalty.

“Because of lockdowns, people have changed their primary stores for shopping, as well as changed their brands,” Mr. Wintels observed about the loyalty shift, which he finds to be temporary. “Filipinos have proven to be brand loyal, and most of them are going back to their primary brands after the lockdown ends.”

When asked how fast will consumers’ confidence bounce back, Mr. Wintels finds it will depend on two main drivers of gross domestic product growth or decline, namely the effectiveness of getting the virus under control and the impact of economic policy.

“If we look at the last 100 years of crisis, consumer uncertainty about what’s next is the real driver of consumer sentiment, and consumer sentiment is the real driver of consumption,” he added. “The faster an economy, a market, or a government is able to settle the uncertainty about what’s going to come…the quicker we can come back.”

The McKinsey partner also laid out a checklist that could guide businesses in planning ahead: re-engaging their customers, shoppers, consumers in a more digital facet; reimagining their offers and making them safer, healthier, and more affordable; keeping the agility of decision-making in a new operating model; and accelerating digital across the business.

Mr. Wintels also stressed that in stepping into recovery, the future remains uncertain, even with observed behavioral shifts that will either become permanent or will revert to what they were before.

“You do need to think more dynamically. You need to plan under uncertainty,” he advised, adding that the crisis makes it necessary to develop teams that will plan ahead and echo the point that every crisis is rich in opportunity.

Sending reassuring signals

Mr. de Ocampo of Kantar Philippines shared the observations their firm has spotted from online Filipino adults during COVID-19. One of these is the heightened worry among Filipinos, which was seen to have been sustained despite getting accustomed to a certain extent to working and living from home.

“The sustained anxiety is largely coming from expected long-term economic impacts, which would be exacerbated by the dreaded second wave,” he said.

In coping with the crisis, Mr. de Ocampo continued, Filipinos are stocking up on items such as food with long shelf-life, sanitizing items, vitamins, and supplements.

Filipino adults are also claiming to be eating healthier, he added, trying out new recipes, sleeping more, exercising more, and focusing on personal development.

Kantar Philippines’ findings also spotted an overall decline in purchase across all channels, albeit a third of online Filipino adults tried out e-commerce for the first time. Many are also found to be compelled to switch to buying in groceries near their homes or preferring deliveries.

In terms of viewing consumption, the findings further revealed, TV viewing has spiked. Moreover, the Philipines has posted the highest increase in the use of radio, Facebook, Messenger, and YouTube.

Regarding their plans in the future, Mr. de Ocampo added, respondents expressed their plans to decrease travel or commutes, while they give the highest consideration to making investments and subscribing to on-demand media and home broadband Internet.

While a great majority look forward to meeting friends and relatives and going back to houses of faith, he continued, Filipinos are set to make hard decisions between wanting to step out of their homes and needing to ensure their safety.

Relating these findings to how businesses can recover, Mr. de Ocampo finds that bringing back demand from consumers is the big task they have to tackle, and delivering unmistakable signals that tell consumers it is safe to enter the marketplace again unleashes this opportunity.

“Every business in every category must remake itself, then, in order to send the signals that will reactivate demand,” he said. “And it’s not just about advertising messages, but also about every aspect of the brand’s physical, digital, societal, and retail presence. It is about signaling reassurance in every possible way.”

In sending those right signals to activate demand, Mr. de Ocampo continued, businesses should focus on hygiene and self-sufficiency.

“Hygiene will impact any form of interaction and engagement. Everything people touch will have to offer assurance that it is sanitized well, because hygiene has become a life-saving tactic,” he said, noting that consumers are anxious for signals that show a brand’s commitment to protection.

“Done properly, clear and well-executed signals of hygiene will tell everyone that it is safe to get back, that businesses are free from the virus, that brands are in control, and that people can have confidence again,” he later added.

Mr. de Ocampo also stressed that readiness is set to be the new sign of success, noting that people will want to be ready and not caught in surprise again.

The Kantar Philippines president also emphasized the need for planning for multiple scenarios, which he said is the only thing individuals have control over. This kind of planning, he added, helps individuals and organizations become flexible.

Grounded on purpose, prioritizing people

Mr. Everhart of Coca-Cola Philippines, meanwhile, shared how the company is paving their path to recovery as it intensively serves its purpose of refreshing the world and making a difference during this crisis.

“As we think about the long history that we’ve had across the world and here in the Philippines, we’ve really gone back to a simple formula of what does it mean to survive and what does it mean to succeed,” he said. “It’s really about putting people’s needs first and ensuring their safety, supporting the communities in which we operate, and starting to think about what our business will look like coming out of this pandemic.”

The CEO shared that the company has been assuring that its workforce stays healthy, whether they work from home or at their factories, distribution plants, or trucks.

Believing that Coca-Cola is only as strong and as sustainable as the communities in which we serve, Mr. Everhart continued, the company has been assuring that its partners are also well-protected and empowered. In addition, he recalled the company’s shift in spending from advertising to helping communities in the country.

Furthermore, the CEO noted a recurrence in at-home consumption, having observed that consumers are venturing out less although they buy more.

Affordability is ringing very true with our customers, he added, as seen in consumers collecting larger size items. “For sure there is going to be huge affordability component within the Philippines that we should be mindful of,” he said.

Mr. Everhart also said Coca-Cola has definitely felt the decline amid the stable position in at-home consumption, as this is was not enough to offset the traffic decline in distribution to outdoor use such as restaurants and sporting events.

The CEO, nonetheless, remains optimistic about the company’s recovery as he sees a great opportunity for the company to emerge stronger by expanding its platforms, especially digital ones, in a rapidly changing landscape.

“Our belief is we’re going to be stronger based on the strategies we have in place today,” he said.

Opening a blank page for new beginnings

Understanding the current situation with other players is essential for Entrego’s Mr. Gozon, as the present crisis leaves one with no playbook on how to cope with the new normal.

“We all have to help each other understand where we are. And, more importantly…we all have to be patient with each other,” he said. “We all have to understand that we ourselves are all trying to chart this new course in these new seas.”

“Understanding where we are will allow us to gauge and assess things we need to do to create our own reentry strategies into our own markets, [which will help] us build processes and make us more resilient after we have reentered the market and [will] allow us to transform and build our business and adapt to this new normal,” he added.

For Mr. Gozon, the logistics company is an enabler in the new normal as it serves as the ‘hands and legs’ of businesses, bringing goods to customers and allowing customers to be engaged with them even in a contact-less environment.

“We started delivering essentials even at the height of the lockdown because logistics plays a very important role in ensuring that the links of the supply chain are not broken,” he added.

Mr. Gozon also stressed that as businesses go into the new normal, they have to make sure that employees will feel confident re-entering the market. “At the end of the day, the success of any endeavor in any business will require the employees’ support,” he noted.

Citing trend forecaster Li Edelkoort, Mr. Gozon also finds the COVID-19 offering “a blank page for new beginnings”, and so he encourages businesses to become resilient, adaptive, and more prepared.

“We need to understand how consumption habits have changed and how we can adapt to that, how we now live in this contactless environment, how health and hygiene will play a very important role in all our lives moving forward, and how we as individuals react and proactively participate in that new normal,” he said.

Pressing demand for connectivity

Connectivity has become a top priority as it is essential to keep people’s lives and businesses going during the community quarantine, according to Mr. Tempongko of Globe.

With a sudden shift from physical to digital interactions and transactions evident across different sectors, he continued, pivoting to digitalization is necessary to keep companies of all sizes afloat.

“Business recovery through digitalization demands better connection, better service, and better experience,” he said.

Mr. Tempongko added that business players should be able to identify key business processes and enter reactions that can be enabled and streamlined digitally so that they can be capable to run their businesses remotely and reach out to their customers even with limited physical interaction.

Moreover, the Globe executive shared that Globe has been enhancing its customer experience through digital means, while it has been empowering the local economy by providing appropriate technologies, infrastructure, and solutions.

Globe has been aggressively investing in and expanding its network, Mr. Tempongko added. He sees a challenge, however, in the permitting processes of local government units (LGUs) which he finds are tedious and slow.

“The Philippines suffers from having low site density compared to other countries due to lack of cell sites in relation to the number of Internet users,” he noted.

He expressed optimism over some LGUs who have started working towards the digitalization of their communities which eventually allows Globe to build its infrastructure in those areas, while he also remains hopeful that other LGUs will realize the need for ICT and network facilities in this new reality.

“We also appeal to our consumers and the communities to accept and allow our facilities as we need these facilities as near as possible to the consumers, so that we can enjoy better and faster Internet,” he added.

Upcoming BUSINESSWORLD INSIGHTS sessions will discuss “Improving the Country’s Healthcare and Welfare System” on June 3; and “Focusing on the Value of the Labor Market and MSMEs” on June 10. The sessions can be viewed on the Facebook pages of BusinessWorld and The Philippine STAR

BUSINESSWORLDINSIGHTS Phase 2 is made possible by SM, Globe, Entrego, Unilab, The Philippine STAR and Olern with the support of Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Association of National Advertisers, Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines and CFA Society Philippines.

[B-SIDE Podcast] Q1 GDP: Not a pretty picture

June 1, 2020 | 11:00 am

The COVID-19 pandemic ended a 21-year growth streak in the Philippine economy as strict lockdown measures aimed at containing the coronavirus outbreak brought economic activity to a near standstill.

Shortly after Q1 GDP data was released in early May, Research Head Leo Uy asked Geoffrey Ducanes, an Associate Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics, and Sarah Lynne Salvador Daway-Ducanes, an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, to break down the data to see how the first two weeks of lockdown affected the Philippine economy.

After parsing the numbers, they also shared their outlook for the second quarter and beyond. Both agree that it’s going to be a long, tough road to recovery: Q2 is probably going to be worse than Q1, as the numbers will reflect the brunt of the lockdown.

TAKEAWAYS
Q1 GDP was bad. Q2 GDP will probably be worse.
Using the new base year of 2018, gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 0.2% in January to March, ending 84 quarters or 21 years of uninterrupted growth. The last time GDP fell into negative territory was in the fourth quarter of 1998, when the economy contracted by 3% amid the Asian financial crisis. Q2 is shaping up to be even worse as consumption, which accounts for 75% of GDP, will likely be in negative territory due to quarantine measures. “It looks pretty bleak. There’s really not a lot of room for maneuvering,” said Mr. Ducanes, who added that a contraction of more than 10% in Q2 is possible.

The government’s revised targets for the Philippine economy are “optimistic.”
The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) expects the Philippine economy to shrink by 2% to 3.4% this year. The Ducaneses believe that even the low end of this projection is optimistic. These targets, while possible, will be “very, very difficult to achieve.”

The COVID-19 pandemic makes it unlikely for the Philippines to reach its goal of reducing the poverty rate to 14% by 2022.
Post-pandemic simulations show that poverty incidence will more than double from the 2018 level, and the effect on the poverty gap and severity will triple or quadruple.

Remittances won’t save us.
Remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) acted as a lifeline for the Philippine economy during the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the financial crisis of 2007–08. That is not the case now as the pandemic has displaced thousands of OFWs (around 300,000 are expected to return home this year). According to projections, remittances may fall by as much as 30%.

Recorded remotely on May 14. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.

COVID-19 and sexual and reproductive health

June 1, 2020 | 10:37 am

By AliyyaSawadjaan
Features Writer, The Philippine STAR

The pandemic brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) created major challenges to hospitals around the world, including the Philippines. With an overwhelmed health system, most hospitals around the country are struggling to keep normal operations while still treating patients from the virus. World Health Organization (WHO) director general TedrosAdhanom emphasized that “All countries must strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimizing economic and social disruption, and respecting human rights.” This includes women’s choices and rights to sexual and reproductive health care.

The worries and stress brought by COVID-19 have affected sexual and reproductive health care, including access to contraceptive information and services during the pandemic.

COVID-19 and sex

With the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) placed in Luzon and other parts of the country from March 16 to May 31, couples are quarantined together. Studies are still being conducted on COVID-19. One of them found traces of the virus in the feces of people who are infected, while another study found the coronavirus in the semen of men who had active infections and those who recovered. However, it still isn’t clear if the disease can be sexually transmitted or not.

Experts say that sex can still be performed but with precautions. Masturbation is a safe way to go about it as this will not spread COVID-19 to another person, provided appropriate preventative measures are observed.

If two parties are healthy and are living together, had no exposure to anyone with the virus, or traveled to countries suffering from the pandemic, then physical intimacy is still considered safe. But if it’s someone outside of the household, it is still advised to avoid close contact.The use of contraceptives is also recommended to avoid unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

But if either or both partners are sick with COVID-19 — recovering or recovered — the US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared the following ways to prevent the spread of the virus: not sharing bedding and bed, and abstaining from all intimate contact until: at least seven to 14 days after symptoms first started, when other symptoms have improved, and fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of any medications.

If a person is sick, he or she should self-quarantine and observe the necessary preventative measures, including limiting the use of common spaces.

COVID-19 and family planning

With the ECQ placed in Luzon since March 16, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded people to continue practicing family planning methods. Contraceptives are still safe to use despite the COVID-19 outbreak.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that even in areas under ECQ, family planning services, devices and advice are available to the public in health centers. Barangay health workers can also hand out three-months-worth of condoms and birth control pills.

Contraception and family planning information and services are life-saving and important at all times — with or without a pandemic.

COVID-19, pregnancy and childbirth

Studies are still determining what COVID-19 does to a developing pregnancy. Giving birth is already challenging and stressful, but going through it during a global crisis heightens it. Many expecting mothers are considering giving birth at home due to the country’s strained health systems. However, home births may be difficult for high-risk pregnancies.

Research is still on-going to determine whether pregnant women can get infected with the virus, but it is important to take precautions.

A safe and positive experience for pregnant women during pregnancy and childbirth include: being treated with respect and dignity, having a companion of choice present during delivery, clear communication by maternity staff, appropriate pain relief strategies, and mobility in labor where possible and birth position of choice. For pregnant women who are suspected or confirmed to be positive for COVID-19, WHO advised that caesarian section deliveries should only be performed when medically justified.

If COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed, health workers should take all appropriate precautions, including hand hygiene and appropriate use of protective equipment, to reduce the risks of infection to themselves and others.

Close contact and breastfeeding are also supported by WHO, even for COVID-positive mothers. As such, they should be supported to breastfeed safely with good respiratory hygiene, hold their newborn skin-to-skin, and share a room with their baby. WHO also reminds mothers to keep surfaces clean and to wash their hands before and after touching their babies.

New tool to open blocked arteries without bypass operation

June 1, 2020 | 6:00 am

Recently developed procedure uses sonic waves to break up cholesterol buildup

Blocked or narrowed heart arteries is the top 3 killer disease in developed countries. The narrowing is caused by deposits of cholesterol in the walls of the arteries. These areas of cholesterol narrowing are known as ‘plaques.’ In the past, the treatment would have been a bypass operation. However, these days, the standard of care is ‘angioplasty’ commonly known as ‘stenting’ or ‘ballooning.’

This is a very low-risk procedure when a balloon is used to push aside the cholesterol and then a ‘stent’, a kind of metal tube, is placed to hold the artery opened.

This procedure may become a lot more complicated, however, for ‘hardened’ plaque, as Tan Chong Hiok, a cardiologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, observed.

“Some patients may see a doctor late, for reasons like ignoring their symptoms, or not going for regular checkups,” Dr. Tan explained.

“Over time, say, three years or more, calcium gradually gets deposited onto this cholesterol plaque, making it rock hard. This ‘hardened’ plaque does not allow the balloon to expand.”

Previously, these cases would be treated by using a tiny drill. This is like a dentist’s drill spinning at high speed. It gradually drills away the calcium deposits. But the device can be cumbersome to use. The procedure also carries other risks such as tearing the blood vessels. “Because of these issues, some doctors may be hesitant to recommend this drill procedure or to perform it,” Dr. Tan said. The patient is recommended to undergo a bypass operation instead.

Technological development paved the way for a new medical procedure that offers a safer way to treat hardened plaques for these patients.

The procedure, called intravascular lithotripsy (IVL), involves using a balloon that delivers sonic pulses to break up the hardened plaque in the arteries.

Said Dr. Tan, who is among the first doctors to apply the technique in Singapore, IVL is a simpler and much lower risk device compared to the drill.

It is similar to angioplasty in that it also delivers a balloon to the site of narrowing. Instead of balloon just expanding and squeezes the plaque aside, it also sends out shock waves that crack the calcium like eggshell. This softens the plaque and allows a stent to be expanded.

Shock waves has been utilized since the 1980s to break up kidney stones into smaller fragments so that it can pass out in urine. In this way, patient does not need to undergo an open surgery.
This is exactly the same concept for IVL. Except that the shock wave is not delivered from outside the body. It is delivered inside the arteries when the calcium deposits are deposited.

As of December 2019, Dr. Tan has used the IVL device to treat eight patients. Other public hospitals in Singapore have also started offering the procedure.

For more enquiries, please contact our Patient Assistance Centre (Manila) at manila.ph@parkwaypantai.com or +63 917 526-7576.

90 Chinese, 2 Malaysians nabbed for violating lockdown guidelines

June 1, 2020 | 1:00 am

PHILIPPINE police arrested 90 Chinese and two Malaysians for allegedly violating health and safety guidelines on the coronavirus after law enforcers raided an illegal offshore gaming operator in Bacoor City in Cavite province on Friday.

Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) raided an apartelle in the village of Mabolo 1 in the afternoon of May 29, according to police.

The operation stemmed from a tip that Chinese nationals had been seen loitering outside the apartelle, said Brigadier General Rhoderick Armamento, CIDG deputy director for administration.

The foreigners were allegedly not wearing face masks and did not observe physical distancing. Village officials thought the building was a quarantine facility, Mr. Armamento said.

“They should not be operating yet because of the quarantine,” he said by telephone.

Acting on the tip, agents of the CIDG’s Anti-Organized Crime Unit raided the building. “The workers failed to provide pertinent records such as passports and working permits that could prove the legality of their online gaming operation,” CIDG said in a report.

The agency is preparing charges against the suspects for violating a law on illegal gambling and another that requires one to report certain diseases to authorities.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 590 new infections on Saturday, bringing the total to 17,224.

The death toll rose to 950 after eight more patients died, it said in a bulletin. Eighty-eight more patients have gotten well, bringing the total recoveries to 3,808, it added.

Of the new cases, 338 had been reported late, the agency said. It said 218 came from Metro Manila, and 111 from the other regions. Nine were returning overseas Filipinos.

The presidential palace urged the public to observe health guidelines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as the lockdown in Metro Manila is eased to a general quarantine starting June 1.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte locked down Luzon island in mid-March, suspending work, classes and public transportation to contain the pandemic. People should stay home except to buy food and other basic goods, he said.

The President extended the so-called enhanced community quarantine twice for the island and thrice for the capital region where coronavirus infections are concentrated.

Metro Manila and key cities and regions were kept under a modified lockdown from May 16 to 30, while some businesses were allowed to reopen with a skeletal workforce.

More people are expected to go back to work, when most parts of the country are placed under a more relaxed lockdown.

“Let us take care of each other by wearing face masks/face shields, maintaining physical/social distancing, staying at home if/when need be and avoiding crowded places,” presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque said in a statement.

Mr. Roque said the government cannot fight the COVID-19 virus alone.

Based on an order issued by an inter-agency task force made up of Cabinet secretaries on Saturday, Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Central Visayas, and the cities of Zamboanga and Davao were placed under a general community quarantine.

Other areas will be under a modified general community quarantine, or the “transition to the new normal.”

Barbershops and salons will be allowed to reopen starting June 7 at 30% capacity. — Gillian M. Cortez and Emmanuel Tupas, Philippine Star

Inflation seen holding steady in May

June 1, 2020 | 12:33 am

RISING FOOD and oil prices were major upside risk factors for inflation in May, analysts said. — *REUTERS*

By Luz Wendy T. Noble, Reporter

INFLATION likely remained stable in May, despite an uptick in some food items and a slight recovery in pump prices, according to analysts.

A poll of 17 economists by BusinessWorld held last week yielded a median estimate of 2.2% for May headline inflation, unchanged from April and slower than the 3.2% logged in May 2019.

If realized, this would be closer to the lower end of the central bank’s forecast range of 1.9%-2.7% for the month, and slightly slower than its 2.3% point projection.

The central bank’s inflation target for this year is at 2-4%, although it gave a 1.75% to 3.75% projection as the economy is expected to slow down due to the pandemic.

In the first four months of 2020, inflation averaged 2.6%.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is set to report May inflation data on June 5.

Analysts said the rise in food and oil prices were major upside risk factors for inflation in May.

“Timely data suggest fuel prices crept back up, while rice prices rose further,” Alex Holmes, an economist at Capital Economics said.

Oil prices have slightly recovered since the nearly 20-year low in April as major oil producers committed to reduce production by 10 million barrels per day or about 10% of global supply in May.

Domestic pump prices also jumped after the government imposed an additional 10% levy on imported crude oil and petroleum products, according to UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion.

Meanwhile, PSA data showed the average farmgate price of palay or unmilled rice edged up by 0.75% week on week to P18.81 per kilogram in the first week of May, jumping by 1.95% year on year.

Average wholesale price of regular-milled rice also rose by 0.88% to P35.40 per kilo, while the retail price inched up 0.11% to P37.90. For well-milled rice, prices slightly increased by 0.64% to P39.28 per kilo, while the retail price was 0.38% higher at P42.34.

A 60-day price freeze on basic necessities that began in mid-March ended on May 15. The rule covered basic goods including rice, corn, meat, agricultural products, medical devices and drugs, among others.

Some parts of the country saw a relaxation of lockdown measures during May, which may have boosted demand and led to some price increases.

“[M]arket activities slowly emerge from hibernation with the easing of quarantine measures in some parts of the country,” Security Bank Corp. Chief Economist Robert Dan J. Roces said.

On the other hand, Jiaxin Lu, an economist from Continuum Economics, said the pickup in prices of non-basic commodities such as alcoholic drinks and tobacco, restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services was unlikely amid crimped demand during the lockdown.

As the country continues to ease quarantine restrictions, analysts said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will likely have to wait to see the resulting impact of the reopening of the economy before looking at another rate cut.

“We expect the BSP to hold its monetary policy stance in its June meeting as it pauses to see the impact of measures already taken and look at high-frequency indicators to gauge the speed of recovery in economic activity as more segments of the economy move towards less stringent quarantine measures,” Thatchinamoorthy Krshnan, an economist at Oxford Economics, said.

For Mitzie Irene P. Conchada, an economist from the De La Salle University, the transition to general community quarantine is likely to boost consumer demand as well as investor confidence.

“The BSP might have to wait to see the impact of slowly opening up the economy before adjusting policy rates,” she said.

UnionBank’s Mr. Asuncion said the presence of some inflationary pressures may push the BSP to consider the use of its liquidity tools and likely hold off rate cuts in the second quarter.

On the other hand, some analysts say the central bank’s recent signals as well as the continued benign inflation point to a possible rate cut, although reserve requirement ratio (RRR) is likely to be untouched.

“BSP is expected to cut policy rates by 25 basis points at the June meeting given [BSP Governor Benjamin E.] Diokno’s recent dovish comments,” ING Bank N.V. Manila Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said.

“Easing inflation will provide further room for the BSP to ramp up its monetary stimulus amid a weakening economy,” Continuum Economics’ Ms. Lu said.

The BSP has taken a pause in easing after aggressively slashing rates by a total of 125 basis points from February to April, which brought down the overnight reverse repurchase to a record low of 2.75% in order to provide support to the economy during the crisis. Lending and deposit rates have likewise been trimmed to 3.25% and 2.25%, respectively.

On the other hand, the RRR for big banks has been cut by 200 basis points in April to 12% to provide liquidity during the lockdown. Reserve requirements for thrift and rural banks were maintained so far at four and three percent, respectively. The Monetary Board said it can cut RRR by up to 400 bps for the whole of 2020.

The next rate-setting meeting of the Monetary Board is scheduled on June 25.

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