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POGO office vacancies expected to enable expansion by BPOs

OFFICE VACANCIES following the departure of online gaming firms could be filled by expanding IT-Business Processing Manufacturing (IT-BPM) companies, making the industry a key barometer for a real estate recovery, Leechiu Property Consultants said in a report.

At a virtual briefing Tuesday, Leechiu Property Chief Executive Officer David T. Leechiu said companies involved in IT-BPM, an umbrella term for an activity also known as business process outsourcing (BPO), are expected to take up as much as 56% of the office vacancies, making BPOs once more the main market driver.

The industry’s expansion is expected to be fueled by global businesses restructuring their office arrangements during the pandemic and assigning more work to the outsourcing industry.   

“By the fourth quarter, vacated spaces registered at 540,000 square meters (sq.m.), with 51% or 277,000 sq.m. attributable to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and 33% or 179,000 sq.m. (to) other players struggling to recover from COVID losses,” the company said in its report.

“Pipeline demand for 2021 or total live requirements is estimated at 300,000 sq.m.,” it added.

Overall, it said Philippine prime office demand was 381,000 sq.m. in 2020, with 69% of the total demand in Metro Manila. The remainder was in Iloilo and Cebu.

Of this total Mr. Leechiu said the IT-BPM industry accounted for 182,000 sq.m., marking the industry as one of the few viable markets for property developers.

According to the report, POGO-related vacancies led to foregone revenue of about P1.4 billion in markets like Makati, Quezon City, Ortigas, and Mandaluyong.

He said 82% of the vacant space is in Metro Manila, the preferred location for BPO firms.

“Developments in the last two quarters have created compelling opportunities for IT-BPM players. We are thus confident that they will continue expanding in the country which remains a leading outsourcing arena for global businesses now seeking to cut costs and recover from COVID losses,” Mr. Leechiu said.

Mr. Leechiu said Iloilo City has been attracting many IT-BPM firms, adding that it accounted for the largest share of new office transactions outside of Metro Manila in 2020, at 50,000 sq.m.

Meanwhile, the study also found signs of a recovery in the retail market.

It said 76% of ground-floor retail space to be occupied in the food and services industry.

The firm found that condominium units in Metro Manila are still in demand despite the pandemic.

“In 2020, 42,500 units were sold and another 12,000 units launched. With the news of the vaccine and a sustainable low-interest rate environment, developers look forward to more launches and a more active residential market,” it said.

The study also found that prices of lots in Tali Beach, Kawayan Cove, and Peninsula de Punta Fuego, all in Batangas, have increased between 20% and 71% since the pandemic, while demand for Tagaytay homes has also risen.

It projected the tourism recovery to be gradual, starting in destinations that are accessible by road from major markets, followed by those reachable by domestic air travel, and then those heavily patronized by international tourists.

“We have every confidence that the rollout of the vaccine in 2021 will create unprecedented market euphoria that will dramatically benefit the real estate industry,” Mr. Leechiu said.

“A confluence of factors — from record-low, long-term interest rates, to the country’s fantastic fiscal fundamentals that have resulted in good credit ratings, to newfound mobility and tourism opportunities from a massive injection of infrastructure projects — will ensure that,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Market for caregivers growing in Europe with ‘thousands’ of openings

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said caregiver job opportunities are opening up in central and eastern Europe, while markets like Israel and Japan have indicated a preference for workers from the Philippines.

In a briefing Tuesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said thousands of openings are available to workers seeking jobs in healthcare and caregiving.

“The countries with the demand now… are the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, and Germany. Especially Germany; they have been demanding and writing to me through their Ambassador,” Mr. Bello said in Filipino.

He added the UK is also seeking guest workers but DoLE has been cautious about deploying workers there because of its return to lockdown. — Gillian M. Cortez

House approves magna carta for seafarers on second reading

THE House of Representatives approved on second reading Tuesday a measure seeking to define the basic rights of seafarers.

In a voice vote, the chamber approved House Bill No. 8057, which lays down acceptable work conditions and terms of employment for seafarers.

The bill recognizes the right to engage in collective bargaining; to access educational advancement and training opportunities; and to be provided clear terms and conditions of employment and company policies.

It provides for free legal representation for seafarers who cannot afford it.

The bill tasks the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, the Small Business Corp., other government financial institutions, as well as private banks, to set up a special credit window with preferential or subsidized interest rates “that will serve the financial needs” of seafarers for alternative livelihood, personal advancement, and education.”

The bill also encourages local government units to reduce local taxes, fees and charges imposed on transactions entered into by seafarers in connection with their profession.

The Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Maritime Industry Authority have been designated as drafters of the proposed law’s implementing rules and regulations. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

SEC seeks nominations for microfinance NGO council

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Tuesday that it is soliciting nominations from the private sector for individuals to serve on the Microfinance NGO Regulatory Council (MNRC), following a recent vacancy due to resignation.

The MNRC is an accrediting body made up of four permanent members and three members from the microfinance sector. These three representatives must be endorsed by a majority of the council’s permanent members, with a term of three years, according to the Microfinance NGOs Act.

In a notice posted on its website, the SEC said that organizations, associations and alliances of microfinance NGOs (non-government organizations) registered with the SEC can propose nominees to serve on the MNRC for a term starting Jan. 1, 2021 and ending on Jan. 27, 2023.

The nomination process is outlined in the implementing rules and regulations of the Microfinance NGOs Act, the SEC said.

“[T]he procedure for nomination and appointment of a representative from the private sector shall be the same in case of vacancy. The appointment shall only be for the unexpired term of the predecessor but the appointed representative may be eligible for reappointment, subject to the prescribed qualification and nomination procedures,” the SEC said.

As of May 12, 2020, 30 microfinance NGOs accredited with the MNRC. — Angelica Y. Yang

BIR collects P582M in back taxes from firms shut down temporarily

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it collected P582.5 million in the 11 months to November worth of taxes and fees owed by establishments it ordered temporarily closed.

In a statement Tuesday, the BIR the collections were generated by 196 establishments and represented taxes and fees in arrears, BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel S.D. Guballa said.

He added that 103 complaints involving P4.96 billion worth of taxes are currently in the preliminary investigation stage.

The program shutting down businesses that owe taxes and fees is known as Oplan Kandado (padlock), run by the Department of Finance.

In 2019, the program generated P1.92 billion from 743 establishments.

Tax collections hit P2.059 trillion in the first 10 months. Revenue generated by the BIR dropped 10.4% to P1.596 trillion while Customs fell 15% to P448.6 billion. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Drip irrigation emerges to solve rice paddy problem

JERUSALEM — An Israeli company has developed a drip irrigation system for growing rice to replace the flooded paddies that have supplied the world with rice for generations but cause a surprising level of damage to the environment.

Rice is the staple food for more than half the global population, but its cultivation uses 30-40% of the world’s freshwater and is responsible for 10% of man-made emissions of greenhouse gas methane, according to the UN-backed Sustainable Rice Platform.

Netafim, a company that pioneered drip irrigation decades ago to grow produce like potatoes and melons across Israel’s challenging arid landscape, has just finished a pilot scheme using its technology on 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) of rice fields in locations from Europe to southern Asia.

At one such location, at La Fagiana farm in northeast Italy, two fields, side-by-side, grow a high quality rice for risotto. One is flooded, covered entirely by up to 15 cm of water to maintain temperatures and keep away weeds.

The other is criss-crossed with perforated pipes delivering to the roots precise amounts of water amounting to less than half the quantity used on the flooded field.

“We want to increase the production without increasing water use or lowering quality,” said Michele Conte, whose family has managed La Fagiana for decades and who has adopted the Netafim system on some of his land.

For three years the drip irrigation has yielded rice on par and at times even better quality than the flooded paddies, he said. It also allows them to rotate crops throughout the year.

Netafim said it had to learn from scratch how to achieve the same yield as flooding and it took a decade to create a new protocol for watering, fertilizing and planting rice with drip irrigation.

The growing conditions switch to aerobic from anaerobic, which means methane emission “goes to zero,” said CEO Gaby Miodownik.

Conte said the schedule for treating the rice still needs some fine tuning but that it has become a selling point for environmentally-concerned customers.

The initial investment in pipes, pumps and filters could be expensive for farmers whose profit margins are, for the most part, already thin.

But the shift away from flooding is expected to gain traction and companies like India’s Jan Irrigation are developing drip irrigation packages for rice as well.

Demand for rice is expected to rise 25% by 2050 and rice paddies leave too big a footprint, said Wyn Ellis, executive director at the Sustainable Rice Platform.

Drip irrigation was producing impressive results, doubling water productivity, and “getting more grain for every drop.”

Experts agree rice cultivation needs to become more sustainable.

“The sector needs a transformation,” Ellis said. — Reuters

Stronger collaboration for relief and recovery

After nine months of living in lockdown, Filipinos have experienced all kinds of hardships that have significantly impacted their lives.

The Philippine government’s imposition of a lockdown in mid-March led to severe economic repercussions as many businesses were forced to shut down, resulting in massive unemployment. Ultimately, the Philippine economy entered a technical recession in the second quarter, contracting by a record-low of 16.9%. On top of these, strong typhoons ravaged different parts of the country. All in, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts the Philippine economy to fall by an average of 8.3% this year.

Perhaps one bright spot is the string of quiet achievements undertaken by the private sector to mitigate the impact of the pandemic despite their business losses. Private companies extended unsolicited and collective assistance, which eased the pressure on the government. Conglomerates poured resources to build quarantine and healthcare facilities, manufacturers repurposed their factories to produce food or medical supplies, and private groups shared their time and resources to provide food and other needs for frontliners and other vulnerable groups. Now, the private sector is actively partaking in the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines for Filipinos.

As manifested in their efforts in cushioning the socioeconomic impacts of this crisis, businesses proved that they can be strong drivers of economic recovery post-pandemic.

A Pulse Asia survey revealed that 85% of Filipinos agree that to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, the government should partner with private enterprises, especially in building and operating key development public utilities and social service projects such as healthcare systems, electricity, water, roads, and mass transport. The survey also found that the top issues that private investors can help address are job creation, expansion of livelihood opportunities, and poverty alleviation.

During the virtual Pilipinas Conference 2020 organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute last November, the speakers resonated with the same message. Ayala Corp. Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said that the investment-led component of the Philippines’ economic equation must be pushed to jumpstart the economy, create more jobs, and begin our recovery.

The second point emphasized in the conference is urgency to build up our digital infrastructure to support economic recovery.

Mr. Zobel, whose companies under the Ayala Group are involved in laying out the country’s digital infrastructures, elaborated that customers are more focused on keeping themselves safe and accessing services and products in completely different ways. The pandemic left everyone with no choice but to shift to digitalization, and, with this, “transformation just moved up to a whole other degree.”

Fortunately, local internet service has become faster now due in part to the government’s initiatives in cutting red tape, according to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). But telcos Smart and Globe also deserve credit for aggressively accelerating their infrastructure spending to expand and upgrade services.

Recently, an Ookla report showing that internet speeds are now faster by 100% compared to past years. OpenSignal, an independent mobile analytics firm, also reported significant improvements in the experience of Philippine subscribers in its latest Mobile Network Experience Report. The report showed that the country’s average data download speeds have improved by 80.9% from 4.7 Mbps to 8.5 Mbps since 2018. It also showed that 4G availability is on the rise, with Globe Telecom’s coverage, for instance, increasing by 19.5 percentage points from 63.7% to 83.3% over the last 10 consecutive quarters.

All this has led to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque even thanking the telcos for their efforts during a recent public briefing. This just demonstrates how responsive policy is good policy and that it stimulates investments and tangible improvements on the ground.

There is a strong need to uphold the whole-of-society approach with all sectors working together towards a common goal, which is “shared prosperity” for collective and sustainable recovery, as Mr. Zobel emphasized. For the whole system to jumpstart again, there must be collective action.

He also stressed the need to take care of the ecosystem around us if we want this ecosystem to succeed. “We cannot succeed if the rest cannot succeed as well,” Mr. Zobel concluded.

Rizalina Mantaring of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said, “If the community around you suffers, you will not be sustainable.” Amb. Benedicto Yujuico, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), emphasized the need for the bayanihan spirit in developing recovery strategies to heal as one.

Indeed, it is time for companies to embrace the concept of “stakeholder capitalism” over the orthodox “shareholder capitalism.” Enterprises must consider the interests of their stakeholders — from their suppliers to customers — in their long-term vision and plans, and not just the interests of their shareholders.

The government cannot bear the weight of this pandemic alone. With public resources strained by the pandemic and natural disasters, the support of the private sector is critical in re-energizing and sustaining the country’s economic recovery. Through collaboration between the government and the private sector, this crisis can be an opportunity towards change that is positive, inclusive, and sustainable.

One lesson from our recent challenges is the importance of collaboration for relief and recovery. Without the business community, the government might not have been able to address this predicament quickly. Indeed, uniting both the government and the private sector is crucial in countering the ongoing crisis and in paving the way for economic recovery and sustained growth. 

 

Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit is the President of the Stratbase ADR Institute.

Domestic tourism in Southeast Asia: Opportunities and pathways

SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES have been particularly cautious in opening their borders to international travelers amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and international tourism has collapsed as a result. The economic and social consequences have been severe. In Thailand, for example — where tourism contributed close to 18% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 — the Tourism Authority of Thailand predicts just 6.7 million tourists in 2020 and 8 million in 2021. Similar figures abound in other countries.

To provide relief for the battered sector, Southeast Asian countries have tried to promote domestic tourism with support programs, travel deals, and marketing support until international tourists return. In May, for example, the government of Vietnam launched the “Vietnamese people travel in Vietnam” campaign, encouraging locals to explore their own country with discounted fares and increased domestic flights. Promoting domestic tourism builds on an existing trend. It has grown steadily in Southeast Asia over the past decade as the middle classes expanded and showed greater interest in leisure travel. In Vietnam, for example, domestic tourists reached 80 million in 2019, compared to 15 million foreign tourists in the same year.

What are some of the most promising pathways for domestic tourism?

REORIENTING SERVICES
Many tourist businesses that traditionally focused on foreign travelers have had to reorient their offers to cater to the domestic market. This has often entailed investing in new products and services, targeting existing domestic segments, or discovering and even developing new ones. In Cambodia, for example, demand for adventure travel among the young population has sharply increased, amplified by social media. Similarly, in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the “Lao Thiao Lao” campaign targets young Laotians and promotes nature-based sites for adventure. These investments can also become beneficial when international travelers return with changed habits and preferences post-COVID-19.

IDENTIFYING NEW NICHE MARKETS
Another interesting group often neglected are expatriates. As a large population in many countries, with disposable income and interest in their host cultures, expatriates are a lucrative niche market. However, any offers and packages should meet their preferences, lifestyles, and values based on research. Rather than replicating domestic tourism packages, it might include elements such as exploring authentic street foods, spas, and wellness. For example, the Tourism Authority of Thailand actively targets its many expatriates with deals and discounts.

DEVELOPING TOURISM IN RURAL AREAS
The pandemic has also accelerated demand for rural and nature-based tourism, as people seek to recover psychologically and physically from the pandemic, restrictions, and lockdowns. A recent ADB study found that domestic tourists in the Republic of Korea and Thailand discover less densely populated areas instead of cities. In many countries, rural tourism can be further developed especially around agritourism, gastronomy tourism, and wellness tourism. Rural tourism can also contribute to destination diversification strategies and holds substantial potential for poverty alleviation and to help protect natural resources and cultural heritage. Recognizing the significant opportunity for rural tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand recently launched rural tourism awards, with a large investment fund to support diverse local communities that preserve arts, culture, heritage, and cuisine.

SUPPORTING SMES AND STARTUPS
As tourists will demand more small-scale and community-based destinations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will become more significant in building longer term resilience and sustainability in tourism. Governments and authorities should support SMEs to survive in these difficult times and assist in this transition. Government interventions can include tax relief and cash transfers, which can become essential for SMEs to stay in business. This requires support for the digital transformation of their online business and domestic platforms that can become new sources for foreign revenues.

The pandemic brought forward great creativity in the travel and leisure sectors. Startup businesses have been booming in the region catering to the demand for people longing to travel. For example, in Thailand, cafés started offering an in-flight dining experience in an old aircraft for people who miss flying. Supporting these efforts could be crucial for boosting and revitalizing the domestic economy.

BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF DOMESTIC TOURISM
Domestic tourism is often very under-investigated. The United Nations World Tourism Organization has reliable numbers on the volume of domestic tourism for less than a quarter of its member countries. To optimize the full potential of domestic tourism, more data and research is needed on domestic tourists’ behavior and preferences. While governments and academic research have focused on international tourists, multiple segments within domestic tourist markets need to be better understood. The pandemic provides an opportunity to better understand the differences between international and domestic tourists’ travel behavior, consumption habits, preferences, and activities.

It is time to use COVID-19 as a reset and seek a better balance between domestic and international tourism, so they complement each other and lead to a robust and sustainable tourism industry. For inbound tourism to be successful and sustainable in the long-run, domestic tourism needs to thrive as well. Domestic tourism helps to increase the respect for the environment, attract young people to work in the sector, and attract entrepreneurs and investors. While recognizing that domestic tourism cannot fill the gap from the absence of foreign currency earnings, it is crucial to explore the full potential of domestic tourism for economic livelihoods, while providing locals confidence in investing in the sector. Countries can also use this pause for improving infrastructure, such as airports, road systems, and tourism facilities, as well as implementing more sustainable features and measures. Historically, crises have shaken up existing institutions and prevailing structures. It is hoped this pandemic can lead to a more sustainable tourism sector, both internationally and domestically.

 

Matthias Helble is an Asian Development Bank (ADB) Economist, and Jaeyeon Choe is a Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University.

House Bill No. 7036: Another attempt to end ENDO

Undeniably, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of everyone. Yet, among those who have been affected to a much greater degree are contractual workers, who, during these uncertain times, earnestly hope for the regularization of their jobs. Amid the crisis, the issue of the security of one’s tenure becomes more relevant.

To recall, the 17th Congress passed Senate Bill No. 1826 which endeavored to end contractualization in May 2019 after President Rodrigo Duterte certified the bill as urgent. Senate Bill No. 1826 provides that there is labor-only contracting when either:

1. The contractor does not have substantial capital or investment OR the contractor’s employees recruited and placed are performing activities which are directly related to the main business operation of the principal; or,

2. The contractor does not exercise control over the performance of the work of the employee recruited and placed.

By amending the conjunction to “or,” the insufficiency of capitalization by a contractor and the employees’ performance of activities which are directly related to the main business of the principal each became sufficient for the contractor to be classified as engaged in labor-only contracting under the proposed law. Senate Bill No. 1826, however, was vetoed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his veto message, President Rodrigo Duterte declared that the proposed law, “unduly broadens the scope and definition of prohibited labor-only contracting, effectively proscribing forms of contractualization that are not particularly unfavorable to employees involved.”;

President Duterte’s vetoing of the much anticipated measure received criticism from workers and labor unions, yet said act was lauded by various groups of employers.

In view of the denial of Senate Bill No. 1826, various lawmakers refiled their respective versions seeking to finally put a stop to the abusive forms of contractualization. Hope seemed to reveal itself in the form of House Bill No. 7036, or the Security of Tenure Act.

On Dec. 1 this year, the House of Representatives approved in its third and final reading the House Bill No. 7036. The House Bill was supported by 204 lawmakers, while seven voted against it, and three abstained from voting.

Under House Bill No. 7036, labor-only contracting exists when the person supplying workers to an employer does not have substantial capital or investment in the form of tools, equipment, machinery, work premises, among others, OR has no control over the workers’ methods and means of accomplishing their work; OR the workers recruited and placed by such person are performing activities which are directly related and necessary to the principal business of such employer.

As such, the presence of any of the three indicators is sufficient for a contractor to be deemed to be engaged in labor-only contracting. Under the Labor Code, these contractors shall be treated as mere agents of the employer who shall be responsible to the workers as if the latter were directly employed by him. Moreover, employers are made jointly and severally liable with the contractor should the latter fail to pay the wages, allowances, and benefits of the employees.

Aside from the foregoing, House Bill No. 7036 seeks to prohibit fixed-term employments, except in cases of: (i) overseas Filipino workers; (ii) workers on probation; (iii) relievers who are temporary replacements of absent regular employees whose engagement shall not exceed six months; (iv) project employees; and, (v) seasonal employees.

The House Bill further introduced amendments in the Labor Code to expound on the employment and rights of reliever, project, and seasonal employees. Accordingly, reliever, project, and seasonal employees are given the right of first refusal to the task, work, or project which is the subject matter of their employment and as well as in the hiring for open regular positions.

Notably, the proposed law is categorical in stating that clauses in employment contracts providing for a fixed term or definite period of employment are void, and that workers under these arrangements are deemed regular employees reckoned from the first day of their employment.

Whether the said bill will be passed into law, and whether the same may adequately answer the clamor of employees and labor unions, while at the same time safeguard the rights of the employers to legitimate contractualization, still remain to be seen.

The law is fair and just to both labor and management. Hence, while the Philippine Constitution is inexorably committed towards the protection of the working class from exploitation and unfair treatment, it nevertheless mandates the policy of social justice so as to strike a balance between an avowed predilection for labor, on the one hand, and the maintenance of the legal rights of capital, the proverbial hen that lays the golden egg, on the other (Homeowners Savings and Loan Association, Inc. v. NLRC, G.R. No. 97067, Sept. 26, 1996).

We could only long and hope for that time when the government can finally find and strike the balance.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not offered as and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.

 

Shiela Vae A. Hoylar is an Associate of the Cebu Branch of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).

sahoylar@accralaw.com

Healthtech company led by Filipino entrepreneur is rolling out a blood test that uses AI to detect ovarian cancer early and accurately

By Patricia B. Mirasol

InterVenn BioSciences recently raised US$34 million for the commercialization of a minimally invasive blood test for the early detection of ovarian cancer. The San Francisco-based healthtech company innovating on early cancer detection was co-founded by Filipino Aldo Carrascoso (pictured). Image via InterVenn BioSciences

InterVenn Biosciences, a San Francisco-based healthtech company innovating on early cancer detection, was co-founded by Filipino Aldo Carrascoso, who previously founded digital media platform Jukin Media and blockchain payment system Veem. 

InterVenn recently raised US$34 million in Series B funding, led by Anzu Partners and participated in by Genoa Ventures, Amplify Partners, True Ventures, Xeraya Capital, and the Ojjeh family (of McLaren Group fame).  

This funding will go toward commercializing the company’s minimally invasive blood test for the early detection of ovarian cancer. The test is undergoing analytical and clinical validation through the InterVenn Ovarian CAncer Liquid (V.O.C.A.L.) trial. Initial results show a more than 90% accuracy rate. 

“People always call me a serial entrepreneur because I started four companies in the past twenty years. I’m actually not a serial entrepreneur. I am a serial problem target. Problems keep finding me and I keep getting super frustrated. I just happen to find the best teammates to join me in solving very hard endeavors,” said Mr. Carrascoso.

InterVenn has one mission: to create a world where no one is blindsided by disease. 

“Whenever I start a company, it’s always five to seven years before they become mainstream,” Mr. Carrascoso told BusinessWorld. 

His track record bears this out: Jukin, founded in 2009, licensed viral videos before “influencers” invaded social media. Veem, meanwhile, was an early proponent of the bitcoin blockchain. “So I hope we are the first of many companies doing many wonderful things with this new science,” he said, referring to his healthtech venture.

DETECTING CANCER EARLY AND ACCURATELY
There is no minimally invasive test at present that can accurately detect ovarian cancer in its early stages, when it is most curable. 

InterVenn’s blood test could change that with next-generation glycobiology (or the study of the structure, biosynthesis, and biology of glycans or carbohydrates), instrumentation, and deep machine learning to change the way people diagnose cancer, all with the aim of furthering research towards curing it.

Early detection generally results in a better outlook. When diagnosed and treated in stage 1, the five-year relative survival rate is 92%—yet only about 15% of ovarian cancers are diagnosed in stage 1. 

Most ovarian cancer cases now are diagnosed at stage 4, where the survival rate is less than 20%. Adding to the difficulty of the early diagnosis is that the disease’s most common signs and symptoms—bloating and back pain—could also indicate a myriad of other health conditions.

The clinical trial for InterVenn’s ovarian cancer–detecting blood test, which will be available early next year in the US, is ongoing with participants from the US, Australia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The clinical validation of the V.O.C.A.L. biopsy is modeled after an early model built on a Caucasian population sample. 

“Everyone thought I was crazy… because we’re different genetically,” Mr. Carrascoso said. “When we tested the Caucasian-framed algorithm on Filipinos and Malaysians, the performance increased. The conclusion is: we’re not all that different. We’re all just the same in the eyes of disease.”

‘THE TINDER OF DRUGS’
Immuno-oncology, or the study and development of treatments that take advantage of the body’s immune system to fight cancer, is next in the pipeline for InterVenn. 

The biosciences company envisions a world where individuals can be triaged and routed to the right drug, where the right therapy selection tool has the ability to have a nearly 100% predictive value for people who are going to respond to certain drugs. 

“We want to be the Tinder of drugs,” said Mr. Carrascoso. “We can match your phenotype to the right drug and technically direct you to the cure.”

This endeavor is a personal one for Mr. Carrascoso, whose mother died of breast cancer in the 1990s. Another close relative was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2016; a cousin died from triple-negative breast cancer from the wrong immunotherapy regimen this year.

“When people ask me, what is InterVenn for you? It is not a business,” he said.

When Mr. Carrascoso had a related diagnostic test done at the laboratory of his co-founder and fellow Filipino Carlito Lebrilla, a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Davis, and a fellow at the  American Association for the Advancement of Science, Mr. Carrascoso discovered it took 12 months and a roomful of people with PhDs to check one person’s blood sample. 

With his experience in software and neural networks, Mr. Carrascoso created a technology for InterVenn that marries mass spectrometry, the only tool precise enough to measure the composition and location of post-translational modifications (or the alteration in the amino acid sequence of the protein after its synthesis), with artificial intelligence powered by large, human-curated datasets.  

“Literally, this is a blue-sky opportunity,” said Mr. Carrascoso of the AI that scaled the workflow and data interpretation of mass spectrometry from 12 months to 12 minutes—a 10,000% increase in throughput. 

With this technology, a blood test will be able to tell patients—early and accurately—if they will develop a certain type of cancer. 

SAVING MILLIONS OF LIVES
The same technology and science used for the ovarian cancer detection test was applied to nearly two other dozen indications—including renal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma—with reportedly similarly promising detection results. 

If the test lives up to its expectations, Mr. Carrascoso said that cancer may eventually become “like a headache.” That’s the dream.

InterVenn has teams in Silicon Valley, California, and Ortigas Center, Pasig, dedicated to its mission of creating a world where no one is blindsided by disease. 

The Ortigas-based group is in charge of information technology-related tasks such as engineering, information security, development and operations, and server system administration. 

“When someone tells you they’d rather work than sleep because they don’t want to add another moment of misery into another person’s life and family, you know you’ve got a really good team,” said Mr. Carrascoso 

“I need this to be successful,” he continued. “I couldn’t help my mom. I wanted to become a doctor. But then someone told me, tumulong ka na lang ng duktor [why not just help doctors]. People need to know what InterVenn is doing because when we become successful, the amount of lives we are going to save will be in the millions of people. I don’t say that lightly.”

Singapore to open for business travelers

SINGAPORE will start a new travel lane for “business, official and high economic value travelers” that will allow people to come to the city-state without quarantine for short-term stays and reside in a dedicated “bubble” facility near the airport.

The segregated travel lane, announced by Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday, builds on Singapore’s efforts to reopen its borders in a controlled manner. The Southeast Asian nation, which has largely beaten back the coronavirus, announced Monday that it will progress to the third and final phase of its national COVID-19 response strategy on Dec. 28.

Singapore’s small and open economy is largely dependent upon the tourist and service sectors for growth. To that end, it’s been trying to reopen its borders by establishing green lanes and special travel arrangements with countries where the virus is also under control, like New Zealand and Australia.

Authorities are also keen to position Singapore as a prime spot for meetings, events, conferences and exhibitions and the new dedicated “bubble” faciliity near Changi Airport will be a big part of that. Earlier this month it was revealed that the World Economic Forum has held preliminary talks with officials in Singapore about relocating its high-profile Davos annual meeting to the city-state.

Applications for the segregated travel lane will open next month. People from all countries can apply but must adhere to the travel lane’s strict health and testing protocols.

For the duration of their up to 14-day stay, visitors will be housed in a “bubble” within a dedicated facility, undergo testing upon arrival and on days three, five, seven and 11, and must observe all prevailing safe management measures. They will be able to conduct meetings with local visitors and with other segregated travel lane groups at the facility, however if they’re meeting with locals, travelers will need to remain behind floor-to-ceiling dividers.

To that end, Singapore’s state investment firm Temasek Holdings Pte. on Tuesday outlined the short-stay facility that will support such safe business exchanges. Called Connect@Changi, the initiative also involves Ascott Ltd. and will be located at the Singapore EXPO, about a five-minute drive from the airport.

Connect@Changi will have more than 670 guestrooms and almost 170 meeting rooms that each can accommodate from four to 22 attendees. When fully constructed in mid-2021, the facility will include more than 1,300 guest rooms and about 340 meeting rooms.

“Guests can meet their local counterparts or other guests from the region safely in specially designed meeting rooms outfitted with air-tight glass panels, reducing the risk of transmission,” Temasek said in a statement Tuesday. “Entrances, exits and ventilation systems for both guests and Singapore-based visitors are separated” and there will be “a rigorous Covid-19 testing regime for guest travelers before and throughout their stay, as well as prior to departing the facility for their home countries.”

Meals will be delivered to pre-installed shelves outside guest rooms, and guests can also opt for additional food and beverage options via vending machines.

“As a living laboratory, Connect@Changi will feature an array of novel Covid management strategies, such as wastewater testing for early detection, latest rapid point-of-care tests to complement established lab-based polymerase chain reaction tests, and automated contact tracing within the facility to enable rapid and precise identification of individuals,” Temasek said. “If successful, these strategies can be deployed at existing facilities elsewhere, such as hotels, to strengthen and boost Singapore’s pandemic response.” — Bloomberg

‘Race against time’: First Americans vaccinated as US death toll passes 300,000

NEW YORK — A New York City intensive care unit nurse on Monday became the first person in the United States to receive a coronavirus vaccine, saying she felt “healing is coming,” as the nation’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) death toll crossed a staggering 300,000 lives lost.

Sandra Lindsay, who has treated some of the sickest COVID-19 patients for months, was inoculated at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in the New York City borough of Queens, an early epicenter of the country’s coronavirus outbreak, receiving applause on a livestream with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“It didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine,” Ms. Lindsay said. “I feel hopeful today, relieved. I feel like healing is coming. I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time in our history.”

“I want to instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe,” she added.

“This is what heroes look like,” Mr. Cuomo wrote in the caption of a photo of Ms. Lindsay, wearing a mask and staring resolutely ahead, that he posted on Twitter.

Similar scenes played out at select hospitals in other cities, including Los Angeles, where California Governor Gavin Newsom applauded as a Kaiser Permanente emergency room nurse rolled up her sleeve for a needle jab on live television.

“It’s been an incredible morning. It’s historic,” said Dr. Leonardo Seoane after he received a shot at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, where he led some of the clinical trials that found the vaccine 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 illness.

The made-for-TV events — the first US coronavirus immunizations outside of clinical trials — were part of a broad campaign by public health authorities and political leaders to reassure Americans of the vaccine’s safety as they launched a national immunization program of unprecedented scope.

Developed by Pfizer, Inc and German partner BioNTech SE, the vaccine, given as two doses three weeks apart, won US emergency-use authorization on Friday.

By day’s end on Monday, vaccine shipments had made it to nearly all of the 145 US distribution sites pre-selected to receive the initial batch of doses, with a number of major hospital systems launching immunizations immediately.

“This is a race against time,” said Greg Adams, chairman and CEO of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.

US officials said no major hiccups were reported. US Army General Gustave Perna said on a call with reporters that severe storms forecast this week could potentially hamper rounds of shipments to another 491 locations.

The vaccine’s arrival provided hope as the country passed 300,000 lives lost. Mounting COVID-19 hospitalizations — a record 109,000 patients reported on Monday alone – have strained healthcare systems to the breaking point, and more than 16 million US coronavirus cases have been recorded to date.

Over the past seven days, the United States has averaged 2,462 deaths a day, the highest since the pandemic started, according to a Reuters count.

LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE
The process of shipping the first 2.9 million doses of vaccine began on Sunday, 11 months after the United States documented its first case of COVID-19.

The initial doses have been earmarked for healthcare professionals and nursing home residents, with essential workers, elderly people and individuals with chronic health conditions next in line.

As part of a national security protocol aimed at ensuring continuity of government in the event of an emergency, senior leaders in the executive branch, Congress and judiciary were also being offered early vaccines.

Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller got his on Monday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington, apparently the first Cabinet-level official inoculated.

It will take months before vaccines become widely available to the public at large, and health officials have warned Americans to remain diligent about social distancing and the wearing of face masks to curb virus transmissions.

The first US vaccine shipments departed Pfizer’s facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan, packed into trucks with dry-ice to maintain the cargo at its required sub-Arctic temperature. Driven to air fields in Lansing and Grand Rapids, the shipments were then flown by UPS and FedEx planes to cargo hubs in Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis, Tennessee.

From there, they were trucked or flown to the first 145 vaccine-staging areas across the country. Second and third waves were due to go to 491 remaining sites on Tuesday and Wednesday. “This is the most difficult vaccine rollout in history,” US Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Fox News on Monday.

Governors in 26 states and territories were deploying National Guard troops to assist in the operation, the Guard said.

US top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told MSNBC on Monday that Americans with no heightened risk factors could expect to get vaccinated by late March or early April. “Maybe by the end of late spring,” Mr. Fauci said, “so that by the time we get into the fall, we can start approaching some degree of relief.”

US Operation Warp Speed top adviser Moncef Slaoui said the plan is to have about 40 million vaccine doses — enough for 20 million people — distributed by year’s end.

That would include vaccines from both Pfizer and Moderna, Inc . An outside US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel is scheduled to review the Moderna vaccine on Thursday, with emergency use expected to be granted shortly thereafter. — Reuters

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