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MAP’s top manager Lopez calls for ‘regenerative’ shift

FEDERICO R. Lopez, the chairman of First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH), has called on companies to go beyond sustainability by converting into “regenerative forces” to ensure the safety of the planet.

He made the statement during his virtual acceptance speech on Monday when he was named “Management Man of the Year 2020.” His call is in light of the accelerating climate crisis, and the recent onslaught of typhoons that battered the country in their wake.

“There is an urgency for all of us to go beyond incremental sustainability and transform into regenerative forces that align our profit engines with the need for a better, more just world and a safer planet,” Mr. Lopez said.

He said that this was already happening at FPH and its group of companies, as they lived by the company mission: “To forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future.”

He said the mission was “deliberated on and hotly debated internally for months.”

“But it goes beyond energy and anticipates dealing with the many adaptive challenges needed to redesign how we live, work, and do business in a changed world,” he said.

Mr. Lopez said FPH and its group of companies chose to do away with the word “sustainability” because this did not apply anymore in a world that sorely needed healing and renewal.

“So we took on the challenge of using the word “regenerative” instead, with all the responsibility it carries,” he said.

“We are not a full-on regenerative company today; no one is yet. But we chose it deliberately to signal to our people that they have a license to adopt this new mindset as our inherent way of doing business and that it’s okay for them to ‘bring their values to work’ every day,” he added.

During his acceptance speech, Mr. Lopez said that he was blessed to have witnessed FPH group’s notable moments. Some of these include: the birth of the Philippine natural gas industry with the Malampaya discovery, the privatization and deregularization of the country’s power industry, and the firming of the company’s “no-to-coal” declaration in 2016.

The Management Man of the Year award, conferred by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), has been awarded to 44 individuals in its five-decade history. — Angelica Y. Yang

PHL banks to face asset quality risks until next year — Fitch

Philippine banks will struggle with risks to asset quality going into the first half of 2021, Fitch Ratings said.

“We expect significant credit stress to persist into at least the first half of 2021, but the significant credit provisions that major banks have set aside in the first nine months of 2019 ill provide some buffers,” Tamma Febrian, Associate Director, Banks-APAC (Asia Pacific) and Willie Tanoto, Director, Banks-APAC at Fitch Ratings said in an email to BusinessWorld.

Fitch said in a report on Monday that risks to the rating outlook hound banks in emerging market economies due to the asset quality deterioration caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“A high 50% of emerging market bank ratings are currently on Negative Outlook, highlighting the risk of downgrades in 2021,” it said.

The debt watcher last month affirmed the ratings and assigned a stable outlook to BDO Unibank, Inc. (BBB-), BPI (BBB-), Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (BBB-) and Philippine National Bank (BB). However, it downgraded its rating outlook for China Banking Corp. (BB+) to negative.

Fitch warned that Philippine banks now need to face the consequence of the high credit growth they were seeing prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“Sustained rapid credit growth often mask asset quality issues, and some of the recently disbursed loans may not have long enough of a repayment history to be sufficiently seasoned and are likely to be tested in the current economic downturn,” Mr. Febrian and Mr. Tanoto said.

Credit growth eased to 2.8% as of September, the slowest in more 13 years or since the 2.4% logged in 2007. This, as banks tightened credit standards while borrowers’ confidence remained low due to the pandemic.

As of end-September, banks’ non-performing loan (NPL) ratio reached 3.4%, a seven-year high since the 3.42 in May 2013, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed.

Lenders prepared for a weakening in asset quality by setting aside higher allowances for credit losses, which surged 60% year on year to P334.57 billion. This took its toll on the banking system’s earnings, which inched down by 3.61% to P126.782 billion in the first nine months of the year.

The BSP expects the NPL ratio to reach 4.6% by end-2020. It reached 17.6% in the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis in 2002.

“The significant increase in NPL balances and ratio in recent quarters indicate that risks are materializing for these weaker borrowers and we think that there is more to come, especially after the debt moratoria lapsed by end of 2020,” Mr. Febrian and Mr. Tanoto said.

In Asia, growth opportunities have started to appear in countries that have better control of the pandemic, such as China and some parts of Southeast Asia.

However, banks in the region continue to suffer from weak operating environments brought about by the economic shock of the pandemic, Fitch said.

“Most banking systems have reported deteriorating asset quality and profitability since the onset of the pandemic, but policy responses have limited the impact so far,” it said.  

Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act provided for a one-time 60-day loan moratorium following the initial debt relief mandated by R.A. 11469 or Bayanihan I. — L.W.T. Noble

Ortigas Land lights up Christmas tunnel

ORTIGAS EAST’S Christmas Street Musical Light Tunnel tradition continues this year, with the theme “Light Up for Our Heroes” dedicated to the frontliners.

In a statement, Ortigas Land said it hopes the Christmas lights display will bring hope and inspiration to the community amid the pandemic.

Located on Central Avenue near Tiendesitas at Ortigas East, guests can enjoy the lights display while Christmas songs are played in the background.

Visitors should observe social distancing guidelines and other safety protocols. Ortigas Land identified areas where visitors can enjoy the best views of the Christmas Street Light Tunnel.

A recording of the lights display is available on Ortigas East’s Facebook page (@OrtigasEastOfficial).

The tunnel is open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day until Jan. 3, 2021.

Lazada’s 11.11 sale draws record numbers

E-COMMERCE platform Lazada Philippines has reported record numbers for this year’s 11.11 annual shopping festival, with more than 70,000 sellers participating — 14,000 of which joined the sale for the first time — and selling over 2 millions items in the first hour.

“Our focus has always been to support businesses and sellers to grow, and serve the evolving needs of the Filipino community. In the past few months, we saw more merchants embrace digitalization to diversify revenue streams and connect with customers amid the pandemic and lockdowns. By connecting brands and sellers to consumers through Lazada’s Biggest One-Day Sale of the year and our Shoppertainment initiatives, we also want to enable more businesses to bounce back and revive their growth through eCommerce,” Ray Alimurung, Lazada Philippines Chief Executive Officer, said in a press release.

Lazada noted that within the first hour of the Nov. 11 sale, the platform “had already set a new sales record of over 2 million items purchased by consumers in the Philippines.”

Likewise, Lazada’s parent company, Alibaba, also had record sales for its Nov. 11 or Singles’ Day sale, selling more than $56-billion worth of items within the first 30 minutes of Nov. 11 with orders peaking at 538,000 orders per second. But unlike Lazada which only had the one-day sale on Nov. 11, Alibaba this year decided to open up a new shopping window on Nov. 1, which likely contributed to the record sales. Alibaba also opened its doors to luxury brands like Prada this year.

Alibaba started holding the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in 2009.

For Lazada Philippines, the shopping festival’s top category was Home and Living followed by Fashion and Apparel, Electronics Accessories, Health and Beauty, and Home Appliances.

This, according to the company, shows a shift in consumer behavior as they prioritized essential items such as cleaning products and groceries on the app, with over 345,000 grocery items sold in 24 hours as well as over 250,000 health accessories (including face masks and face shields), and over 235,000 cleaning supplies purchased. Face shields were apparently the most popular item in Metro Manila while disposable surgical face masks were all the rage in Cebu and Davao.

One cart, the company said, had over 200 items, while over 18,000 smartphones were sold during the sale day, and car company Honda received 4,500 car reservations.

The company observed the Filipinos had been adding items to their carts as early as Oct. 15 with hopes of scoring a deal once Nov. 11 rolled around. A total of 260 million minutes were spent by consumers on the platform during the sale period, with the highest consumer traffic between noon to 1 p.m.

Over 320 million vouchers, including free shipping vouchers, were collected by Filipino shoppers to score bigger savings when shopping from an assortment of over 5 million items during the one-day sale. — ZB Chua

Meralco, US firm offer solar storage systems

THE renewable energy arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has partnered with California-based supplier Enphase Energy, Inc. in distributing the latter’s micro inverter-based solar storage systems within the country, the US firm said on Monday.

MSpectrum, Inc. is set to distribute Enphase’s seventh-generation microinverters, including IQ 7, IQ 7+™, IQ 7A™, and IQ 7X™, to residential and commercial installers in the Philippines.

According to a press statement, Enphase microinverters are subjected to a rigorous reliability and quality testing regimen, and they can operate in hot, humid and coastal conditions.

“We are proud to provide Enphase Energy seventh-generation microinverters in the Philippines,” Robert Marlon T. Pereja, chief operating officer of MSpectrum, said in a statement.

“This next-generation technology will benefit solar customers through its high performance, flexibility, reliability, and most importantly, safety, due to the rapid shutdown device (RSD) built into Enphase microinverters,” he added.

For Enphase chief commercial officer Dave Ranhoff, the country’s solar market is promising for the residential and small commercial rooftop market segments.

“We believe Enphase’s unique value proposition of high-output performance and flexible installation, as well as a safe low voltage all-AC system architecture and rapid shutdown capability, resonates well in the Philippines solar market,” he said.

Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., that has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Angelica Y. Yang

BSP lays out proposed liquidity management rules for Islamic banks

THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) has released proposed guidelines for the management of liquidity risks by Islamic banks and banking units for Shariah-compliant instruments.

In a draft circular posted on its website, the BSP said Islamic banks and banking units should not assume that Shariah-compliant instruments are identical to the characteristics of their conventional counterparts.

“Any instrument to be used in liquidity management should be acceptable to the Shariah Advisory Council and is appropriate to the context in which it is to be used,” the BSP said.

“Where the management of liquidity risk involves the possibility of raising funds in the money market, the behavior of the Islamic money market should not be assumed to be identical to that of the conventional market,” it said.

Concerned parties may send their feedback on the draft circular to the BSP  until Dec. 4.

Among the instruments under Islamic financing is the sukuk, which is similar to the structure of bonds but entails direct asset ownership interest.

“Sukuk held as liquid assets may be less liquid than conventional bonds held for the same purpose,” the draft circular said.

For regulatory requirements, the proposal is to start an observation period from the effectivity of the circular until Dec. 31, 2024. By January 2025, a minimum liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) and net stable funding ratio (NSFR) amounting to 100% will be required for both Islamic banks and banking units.

LCR refers to the proportion of highly liquid assets held by banks or banking units that serves as a gauge of its capacity to perform short-term obligations and is an assurance that the banks can withstand short-term liquidity risks. Meanwhile, the NSFR is meant to gauge banks’ ability to cover for long-term assets.

“As the domestic Islamic banking market is still in its early stage of development, the BSP shall adopt a flexible approach on regulatory compliance,” the BSP said, noting it will engage responsively with players and new entrants in the Islamic banking system regarding the implementation of the LCR and NSFR.

The central bank issued BSP Circulars 1069 and 1070 in December 2019 to lay out the guidelines for the establishment of Islamic banks and banking units as well as the Shariah Governance Framework. This move followed the legislation of Republic Act No. 11439 which allowed traditional banks to build Islamic banking operations upon seeking approval from the Monetary Board.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, BSP Managing Director Arifa A. Ala said two to three banks have expressed interest to set up Islamic banking units in the Philippines. — L.W.T. Noble

Entertainment News (11/24/20)

Korean films on hope and love

FOLLOWING the success of the first online venture of the 2020 Korean Film Festival comes another set of films that center on love, upliftment, and healing. The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines has carefully selected three heart-warming films about love and life to be part of the special event titled “Harmony: A Special Screening on Hope and Love.” The films are The Queen of Walking featuring Shim Eun-Kyung, Park Joo-Hee, Kim Sae-Byuk, Like for Likes starring Lee Mi-Yeon, Yoo Ah-In, Choi Ji-Woo, and My Love, My Bride headlined by Cho Jung-Seok, Shin Min-A. The movies are being screened for free until Nov. 27 through the KCC website http://phil.korean-culture.org/.  Viewers residing in the Philippines may catch all the films for free on their Android or iOS devices. KCC has also teamed up with Adarna House, Inc. for a special Film Pop Quiz, wherein participants can get the chance to win the locally translated version of the Korean bestselling title I Decided to Live as Me by Kim Soo-Hyun published by Woods of Mind Books straight from the publication’s Apop collection.

Jason Derulo teams up with Nuka

AFTER topping the charts and going viral with the infectious song “Savage Love,” Jason Derulo  joins forces with Nuka on brand new single “Love Not War (The Tampa Beat),” out now on Robots + Humans/Columbia Records. The siren-infused instrumental finds Derulo in his element, singing over tropical beats and pulsating rhythms. With 40 million followers across TikTok, Derulo is the biggest musician across the platform. Meanwhile, the catchy yet enigmatic instrumental from 19-year-old New Caledonian producer Nuka captured the attention of many and amassed over 200 billion impressions worldwide. “Love Not War (The Tampa Beat)” follows on from a string of anthemic singles released by Derulo over the past year, with “Savage Love” being his fifth UK No. 1 with over 550 million global streams and the latter “Take You Dancing” amassing over 205 million global streams and counting.

PhilPop’s Metro Manila entries

THE MUSIC entries from the National Capital Region to the nationwide songwriting competition PhilPop are a diverse showcase of sounds spanning R&B, contemporary pop and folk-influenced, catchy, radio-friendly songs about romance, forgiveness, and regret with precision and sensitivity. Produced by PhilPop and distributed by Warner Music Philippines, the entries include two compositions by rapper and singer-songwriter Aikee Aplacador — “Bestiny,” which has Kevin Yadao and Jr. Crown trading verses about navigating the harsh realities of dealing with unrequited love and friendship atop upbeat melodies and warm R&B beats; and “Mapa,” featuring newcomer Chloe Redondo, which is a pop/R&B ballad that serves as a tribute to parents that served as guiding light in difficult times. The other entry is Kian Dionisio’s heartfelt anthem of regrets and what ifs, “Huling Sayaw,” performed by acoustic pop balladeer Nyoy Volante. “Bestiny,” “Mapa,” and “Huling Sayaw” are now available on streaming and digital platforms worldwide via PhilPop and Warner Music Philippines.

Wovensound, Ihasamic!, and Joey Maker collaborate

HIP-HOP producer Wovensound has brought together Singapore rapper Ihasamic! and Vietnamese-Australian hip hop artist Joey Maker for his latest single, “No Road Home,” an eclectic blend of old school hip-hop beats, haunting piano chords, conscious rapping, and a guitar solo. In terms of creative inspiration, Wovensound cited Immortal Technique’s “Dance With The Devil” as the track responsible for laying the preliminary touches of his latest collaborative song. The lyrics of “No Road Home” tell a cautionary tale of flexing and lying for short-lived clout, and suffering the consequences. “No Road Home” is the second single of Wovensound’s six-track debut EP Vertigos Fulfilled, dropping in June 2021. Wovensound and Ihasamic! will also release their four-track collaborative EP REPACK in early 2021.

Space Sweepers to premiere worldwide on Netflix

NETFLIX has confirmed the exclusive global release of a new Korean sci-fi thriller film Space Sweepers, starring Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Sun-kyu and Yoo Hai-jin.  Space Sweepers, directed by Jo Sung-hee (A Werewolf Boy, Phantom Detective) and produced by Bidangil Pictures, depicts in vivid detail the crew of a cosmic waste management spacecraft who discover a humanlike robot, named Dorothy, wanted by UTS Space Guards, and decide to demand ransom in exchange.

HK Disneyland Resort unveils Castle of Magical Dreams

HONG KONG Disneyland Resort has begun the celebration of its 15th anniversary with the launch of the Castle of Magical Dreams. The re-imagined centerpiece of the theme park takes its inspiration from 13 stories of Disney princesses and queens, the architectural design embraces their unique characteristics through the interpretation of color, icons, symbols, patterns and cultural features. Brand-new experiences await guests in the castle — from meeting their favorite princesses and queens at The Royal Reception Hall, to visiting Enchanted Treasures Chow Tai Fook Jewelry which has been appointed as Royal Jeweler for all of the kingdom’s keepsakes and treasures. Guests can explore the story behind this new castle by visiting the “Building a Dream: The Magic Behind a Disney Castle” exhibit. Also available is the first-of-its-kind “Glimpse into the Magic” tour, which offers guests a new perspective of appreciating the castle. Guided by an audio narration from actress Karena Lam, guests will visit eight different checkpoints using their mobile phones and earphones, where they will learn all about ins and outs of the castle’s design. Guests visiting the park will receive a 15th anniversary themed ticket and a 15th anniversary themed button (while supplies last). They can also learn how to draw the Castle of Magical Dreams at the Animation Academy. The popular “Mickey and Friends Christmastime Ball” will be presented in front of the Castle of Magical Dreams for the first time. There are now three special 15th anniversary collections made up of more than 200 items — Grand Celebrations, Crystal Dreams, and the Black & Gold Series. A number of co-branded exclusive merchandise items will also be available to celebrate the occasion, including drinkware and tote bags by Starbucks, a silver and gold charm by Pandora, and a limited-edition watch by Citizen. Selected restaurants will feature themed dining experiences with special 15th anniversary offerings, themed décor and souvenirs. Guests can also enjoy a 15th anniversary seasonal flavor soft serve at Midtown Delights and 15th anniversary award-winning dishes at hotel dining venues. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s hotels also have 15th anniversary touches. Those who book to stay in the Deluxe Room type or above will receive limited-edition amenity boxes, themed giveaways that include magnet cards and postcards for guests who join paid DIY classes of making leather card holders and eco-bags, along with daily 15th anniversary and Christmas-themed arts and crafts activities. Guests can enjoy a limited time Black Friday hotel flash sale from now to Dec. 4. Guests can get as much as 45% off on the Standard Rooms and Sea View Rooms for staying two-nights or above at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel or Disney Explorers Lodge, travel window from Jan. 3 to Sept. 29, 2021. Because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) considerations, guests must purchase their tickets in advance and reserve a visit up to seven days in advance of their visit online via the Hong Kong Disneyland reservation website. Magic Access members must also make a reservation prior to visiting, but can enjoy the benefit of reserving eight days in advance. Make a required health declaration as part of the Hong Kong Disneyland reservation process. Undergo temperature screening procedures upon arrival. Guests with elevated temperatures cannot be admitted. Wear a mask during their visit, except when enjoying food and beverage at catering premises.

Filinvest unveils Studio N Tower

THE FILINVEST GROUP unveiled its new residential condominium project, Studio N Tower, in Filinvest City, Alabang.

Located within Filinvest City’s Northgate Cyberzone, the 25-storey residential tower only has 37 units to a floor.

The company said the tower has strict safety protocols in place for its residents — with or without the coronavirus pandemic.

“Studio N takes inspiration from the thriving Studio projects in Alabang, also offering affordable studio units, which are customizable according to the owner’s needs and without compromising the quality of its living spaces,” it said.

Amenities include a fitness room, swimming pool, kiddie pool and function rooms.

Studio N is accessible by main thoroughfares like Skyway via Filinvest City exit, Alabang-Zapote Road, and South Luzon Expressway.

Anglo to buy P12-million Shang Properties shares 

ANGLO Philippine Holdings Corp. on Monday has decided to buy P12-million shares in Shang Properties, Inc. that are owned by National Bookstore, Inc. (NBS), the firm said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

The decision to buy the shares at Monday’s closing price of P2.72 apiece was approved by the Anglo board during a special meeting on the same day. The purchase will be executed on Tuesday.

After the purchase, Shang Properties shares will make up around 0.3% of the holding firm’s total consolidated assets.

“The Corporation’s directors, who are also directors of NBS, inhibited themselves from voting,” the firm said in its regulatory filing.

In a previous disclosure, Anglo reported that its third-quarter net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company rose by 3.3% to P143.77 million. Meanwhile, its revenues jumped to P154.46 million from P13.17 million previously.

The firm, through its wholly owned subsidiary Vulcan Materials Corp., is engaged in the exploration and development of mineral and aggregated resources. It also has stakes in Tipo Valley Realty, Inc. and Anglo Philippine Power Corp.

Its stocks on Monday were unchanged at P0.71 each. — Angelica Y. Yang

UnionBank offers dual-tranche bonds

UNIONBANK of the Philippines, Inc. is offering dual-tranche bonds to raise at least P3 billion in fresh funds.

The Aboitiz-led lender will issue three-year and 5.25-year bonds with an interest rate of 2.75% and 3.375%, respectively, it said in a disclosure to the local bourse on Monday.

The offer period started on Monday and is set to run until Dec. 2, unless closed earlier.

The fixed-rate bonds will be issued, settled and listed on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on Dec. 9.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. and Standard Chartered Bank are the joint lead arrangers and bookrunners for the transaction. They will also serve as selling agents along with UnionBank.

UnionBank booked a net income of P4.2 billion in the third quarter, higher by 11% in the comparable year-ago period.

This brought its nine-month net profit to P8.5 billion, 0.9% lower from a year ago, due to higher loan loss reserves, which hit P7.5 billion in the first nine months due to the continued weakness in the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

UnionBank shares closed steady at P68.50 apiece on Monday.

How prepared is the Philippines compared with other economies in exploiting opportunities offered by emerging technologies?

How prepared is the Philippines compared with other economies in exploiting opportunities offered by emerging technologies?

How PSEi member stocks performed — November 23, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Monday, November 23, 2020.

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