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BIR extends ITR filing deadline to May 30

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) logo

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has moved to May 30 the deadline for the filing of 2019 income tax returns (ITR), after the government extended the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon until end-April.

Signed on April 14, the BIR issued Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 10-2020 which extended anew the deadline for the filing and payment of ITRs, which was originally scheduled on April 15 and then extended to May 15 due to the ECQ.

“In consideration of the extension of the ECQ period until April 30, 2020, these regulations are hereby promulgated to amend certain provisions of RR No. 7-2020, particularly on the extension of deadlines to submit, file, and/or pay the necessary documents and/or taxes required under the Tax Code, as amended as well as in the existing revenue regulations,” the regulation read.

BIR said taxpayers who are able to file “can amend their tax returns at any time” before the new due date. Amendments that will result in additional tax payment will not incur penalties, including surcharge, interest and compromise penalties if it will be paid within the extended deadline, it added.

For the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, filing and payment of annual ITR can be done until June 15, extended from the original schedule of May 15.

Likewise, application for value-added tax (VAT) refund claims covering the quarter ending March 31, 2018 and April 30, 2018 can be done until May 15 and May 30, respectively, or 30 days after the lockdown is scheduled to be lifted.

Payments for donor’s and estate tax returns can be done 30 days from the date when the ECQ is lifted, BIR said.

The regulation also set new deadlines for other returns and documents, including the monthly and quarterly VAT declarations; monthly remittance of percentage tax on winnings and prizes withheld by racetrack operators.

For instance, filing of monthly VAT declarations for February and March could be filed from May 6-10 and May 21-25, respectively, while filing of quarterly VAT returns for quarter e nding Feb. 29 March 31 was extended until May 10 and May 25, respectively.

Deadline for submission of tax amnesty on delinquencies returns was also extended further to June 8 from the previous extended schedule of May 23 from April 23, originally.

Submission deadlines for various documents such as a summary list of sales and sworn statements were also moved to May 10 for the fiscal quarter ending Feb. 29, and May 25 for the quarter ending March 31.

The BIR also extended anew the deadline of submission for other returns, including the following:

• certification of compensation payment (new deadline: May 15);

• documentary stamp tax declaration (May 20);

• financial statements for the year 2019 (May 15);

• inventory lists (May 15 for quarter ending Feb. 29 and May 30 for quarter ending March 31);

• monthly e-Sales reports (May 23-25);

• withholding tax remittance return for national government agencies (May 25)

• excise tax return for mineral products (May 25);

• application for tax credits or refunds covering the period of March 17, 2018 to April 30, 2018 (May 31).

“If the ECQ period will be extended further, the filing of the returns and payment of the corresponding taxes due thereon, and submission of reports and attachments falling within the enhanced extended period shall be extended for 30 calendar days from the lifting of the ECQ,” it added. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Ayalas’ IMI sees recovery path

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

AYALA-LED Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI) is starting to see opportunities for recovery from the display solutions and medical technology markets amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In its annual stockholders’ meeting held online on Wednesday, the electronics manufacturer said it is optimistic of the company’s increased relevance despite the evolving landscape due limitations in mobility.

It also noted its facilities in China are now operating again after closing for more than a month from February to early March.

“Certainly there’s a short-term impact given the shutdown of the business that we see. But we actually see new opportunities [as well],” IMI Chief Financial Officer Jerome S. Tan said about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For instance, in China… it has started to normalize and it has recovered the lost sales that we have in that period in the areas of the medical field and the 5G (fifth generation technology) deployment. So we’re seeing, at least for the first half, our China (operations) will be back on track,” Mr. Tan said.

IMI has four facilities in China that suspended work in the first quarter as a response to the COVID-19 crisis. When the virus spread to more countries, IMI was forced to partly shut down plants in the Philippines in mid-March and close facilities in Mexico in early April.

But Mr. Tan said the company is already seeing light at the end of the tunnel, as demand for its products has started to recover.

For one, he said there is now a strong demand for visual solutions products, and IMI’s display solutions arm VIA Optronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. is only waiting to ride on the wave.

“VIA is not able yet to take advantage of the surge in demand… due to some shortages, but we do see that as China starts to open up, the shortage in the LCD supply would start to be alleviated,” Mr. Tan said.

He also said the company is taking part in a consortium in the United Kingdom, the VentilatorChallengeUK, which produces medical ventilators used to fight the spread of the coronavirus. IMI’s London-based subsidiary STI, Ltd. is in charge of this project.

“Definitely there are short-term challenges, but it also gives us new opportunities that we see opening up in the field of medical area…,” Mr. Tan said.

Moving forward, the company said it is positive that its value will remain, if not grow, as the world adapts to new habits that would require new technologies. Since the company’s focus is on mobility, connectivity and smart energy, Chief Executive Officer Arthur R. Tan said IMI’s strategies would be “very, very important in the very near future.”

“I think mobility and movement will continue to be a future driving force for the whole world. It is much more seen more so today in our current situation… I’m happy to say that in the commercial vehicle requirement, it’s where the majority of (IMI’s) forward technologies that we’re involved with are actually going to be utilized,” Mr. Tan said.

IMI operates plants in the Philippines, China, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Serbia, United Kingdom and the United States. The company swung to a net loss of $7.78 million in 2019 due to the declining electronics market environment across the world.

Shares in IMI at the stock exchange climbed 20 centavos or 4.35% to P4.80 each on Wednesday.

Jollibee reports 1.5% profit rise

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp. (JFC) recorded a 1.5% uptick in its audited 2019 bottomline to hit P6.43 billion, reversing the 14.4% drop it first reported in February.

In a statement Wednesday, the global fast food chain operator said the changes in its earnings report now reflect the effects of implementing the Philippine Financial Reporting Standard (PFRS) 16 accounting standard.

“The improvement resulted mainly from the finalization of adjustments related to the adoption of PFRS 16, which were completed during the year-end audit process,” it said.

PFRS 16 is an accounting standard required of Philippine companies starting January 2019, which requires the recognition of lease activities in their balance sheets.

The classification of lease under interest expense adjusted JFC’s audited net operating income to increase by P626.8 million or 10.7% to P6.5 billion. Interest expense grew by P518.9 million, and was partly offset by a P402.8 billion increase in other income.

The company’s revenues and sales remained intact. As reported in February, JFC’s revenues in 2019 increased 11.5% to P179.63 billion, while system-wide sales grew 14.9% to P243.79 billion.

Earlier this month, JFC announced its capital expenditures for the year has been cut 64% to P5 billion due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Operating costs are also expected to be “significantly” reduced as an effect.

JFC has 5,981 stores as of end-February, composed of 3,317 stores in the Philippines and 2,664 stores abroad. Those located overseas are in China, Vietnam, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, Indonesia, United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Italy, United Kingdom and Guam.

JFC operates fast food and restaurant chains such as Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Burger King, PHO24, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Dunkin’ Donuts, Highlands Coffee, Hard Rock Cafe, Smashburger and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

The company’s shares at the stock exchange increased P2.10 or 1.43% to P148.60 each on Wednesday. — Denise A. Valdez

ACE Enexor steps up Palawan exploration

THE Department of Energy (DoE) approved the entry of the Palawan petroleum exploration project of an Ayala-led unit into a new phase as the agency moved to classify it as a non-associated gas discovery.

In a stock exchange disclosure, ACE Enexor, Inc. said its deep-water block project led by its subsidiary Palawan55 Exploration & Production Corp. under the DoE’s Service Contract (SC) 55 is set to enter an appraisal period starting April 26.

This came upon the government’s review and evaluation of the company’s discovery report on the Hawkeye-1 deep-water well within the service contract area.

“[W]e hereby confirm that the Hawkeye-1 well did encounter a significant volume of movable natural gas and is deemed to be a Non-Associated Gas Discovery under Section 13.02 of SC 55,” the company said, citing the DoE.

The DoE defines non-associated gas as “all gaseous hydrocarbons produced from gas reservoirs, including wet gas, dry gas, and residue gas remaining after the extraction of liquid hydrocarbons from wet gas.”

Palawan 55, the project’s operator, said it would submit for approval a new work program and budget for this phase, including a commitment to drill at least one well within the first two years of the appraisal period.

The ACE Enexor unit recently raised its stake in SC 55 to 75% after a co-contractor, Singapore bourse-listed Century Red Pte. Ltd., transferred its 37.5% interest share to the company as it pulled out from the project. Pryce Gases, Inc. owns the remaining quarter of interest.

The SC 55 Consortium drilled the $23.5-million 9,580-feet Hawkeye-1 well in 2015 when it was operated by Otto Energy, Ltd., an Australia-based oil and gas exploration firm. It revealed natural gas at the crest of the target structure but it was then deemed non-commercial on a stand-alone basis.

Currently, Palawan 55 is undertaking a quantitative interpretation of over 1,000 square-kilometer of recently reprocessed 3D seismic data over the greater Hawkeye area and a large carbonate reef prospect.

On Wednesday, shares in ACE Enexor, Inc. rose by 9.59% to close at P5.94 apiece. — Adam J. Ang

JG Summit posts 63% profit surge to P31 billion

EARNINGS of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. surged 63% to P31.3 billion in 2019, driven by the growth of its airline and banking units and gains from its stake in a Singapore-listed company.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Gokongwei-led holding firm said its 2019 topline was lifted by higher passenger volumes and bigger ancillary revenues of Cebu Air, Inc.; wider net interest margins and trading gains of Robinsons Bank Corp.; and a P3-billion gain from its share in Singapore-based firm United Industrial Corp.

JG Summit’s consolidated revenues climbed 3% to P301.8 billion, while its core net income rose 13% to P25.3 billion.

By business segment, food unit Universal Robina Corp. (URC) added P134.2 billion in revenues to grow 5% from a year ago. This was driven by the expanded distribution coverage of its branded consumer foods division and the improved sales of animal feeds and pet food from its agro-industrial and commodities division. URC’s bottomline rose 6% to P9.8 billion last year.

Airline unit Cebu Air, which operates budget carrier Cebu Pacific, posted a revenue improvement of 14% to P84.8 billion. The growth was traced to a double-digit rise in passenger volume, increase in average fares and bigger ancillary revenue per passenger. Cebu Air’s net income soared 133% to P9.1 billion.

Real estate arm Robinsons Land Corp. contributed revenues of P30.2 billion last year, higher by 3% from a year ago. The growth of cinema ticket sales in existing malls, higher rent renewal in offices, increased occupancy in hotels and additional revenue streams from newly opened projects lifted the company to a single-digit topline growth. Net income increased 6% to P8.7 billion.

Its petrochemicals group, however, was an outlier in the pack of stellar performing businesses. JG Summit Petrochemicals Corp. recorded a revenue decline of 31% to P29.1 billion, dragged by the weakening global market as affected by the Sino-US trade war. Its net income stood at P960.6 million last year.

Banking unit Robinsons Bank accounted for P8.1 billion of revenues to increase 32% from a year ago. The improved performance was attributed to a 17% expansion of its gross loan portfolio and trading gains from treasury business activities. Net income of Robinsons Bank jumped 126% to P719.4 million due to wider net interest margins.

“Coming from a very challenging 2018, we saw a strong recovery as [JG Summit] posted a significant earnings expansion in 2019 driven by our core businesses in food, air transport and banking,” JG Summit President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Y. Gokongwei said in the statement.

“Our plan is to sustain this growth in the coming years as we have clearly laid out our strategic priorities… — accelerating digital transformation, embedding a customer-centric culture and adopting global best practices in enterprise sustainability,” he added.

As the whole world grapples with the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Mr. Gokongwei said JG Summit is banking on its diversified portfolio and strong balance sheet to carry it through the crisis.

Shares in JG Summit at the stock exchange gained P2 or 3.64% to P57 each on Wednesday. — Denise A. Valdez

Cebu Landmasters income up 21%

LISTED Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) posted a net income growth of 21% in 2019, driven by higher reservation sales and the expansion of its leasing and hotel portfolio.

In a statement on Wednesday, the listed Cebu-based property developer said its net income last year stood at P2.01 billion, surpassing its target of reaching P2 billion.

Consolidated revenues jumped 26% to P8.5 billion, largely coming from the opening of its hotel Citadines Cebu City in the third quarter.

Real estate sales made up P8.39 billion of the revenues, growing 25% from a year ago. Rental income increased 10% to P63.2 million and management fees jumped 185% to P36.8 million. The new revenue stream from hotels added P8.5 million.

Cost of sales rose 37% to P4.3 billion, operating expenses jumped 28% to P1.15 billion and interest expenses dropped 66% to P44.9 million.

“We are proud to report our record-setting year in 2019. Our momentum is building up very well, as evidenced not only by our strong financial results, market leadership and diversification, but also by our healthy balance sheet with our asset base more than tripling from P11.5 billion in 2017 to P38.2 billion in 2019,” CLI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jose R. Soberano III said in the statement.

The company continues to plan new projects this year to be built in Iloilo, Bohol, Ormoc and Palawan. CLI’s landbank currently stands at 1,245,485 square meters. It has 28 projects in the pipeline worth P30 billion of launches.

“We are positioned strongly in Vismin, and the growing need for residential end-user and investment options is still there. While the entire market navigates through unforeseen headwinds in Q2 2020, CLI is committed to sustain its momentum and more importantly be part of the private-sector efforts to support our frontliners, LGUs, and affected stakeholders at this time,” Mr. Soberano said.

Shares in CLI at the stock exchange climbed 16 centavos or 4.22% to P3.95 each on Wednesday. — Denise A. Valdez

Regional flights down 93% in early April

FLIGHTS operated by airlines in Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines, declined by 93% in the first week of April due to lockdowns and border closures, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) said.

“The number of flights operated by Asia-Pacific airlines in the first week of April declined by 93% compared to normal levels of traffic established at the beginning of the year,” the AAPA said in a recent statement.

AAPA is a trade association of airlines based in the Asia-Pacific region. Its member airlines include the Philippine Airlines (PAL).

Flag carrier PAL, operated by PAL Holdings, Inc., has recently announced that it will not operate any international routes for the remainder of April 2020, but will continue to consider operating ad hoc special flights to evacuate stranded passengers as well as cargo flights to keep vital supply chains intact across the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region.

AAPA noted that global demand for air cargo decreased by 19% in March compared with the same month last year, but is “holding up relatively well” despite economic uncertainty in many countries as a result of actions taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In February, airlines in the region reported a 3% year-on-year fall in international air cargo demand in freight ton kilometers (FTK) terms.

AAPA Director-General Subhas Menon noted some 50 million individuals who work in travel and tourism within the region have also been affected.

“We recognise and applaud the efforts being made by many governments to offer financial assistance and support to the aviation industry as well as the wider travel and tourism sector,” he added.

Local airlines have appealed for government help, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic threatens their survival.

PAL, Cebu Air, Inc. (Cebu Pacific), Philippines AirAsia, Inc., Air Philippines Corp. (PAL Express), and Cebgo, Inc. have temporarily shut down their passenger operations.

Over 30,000 flights were canceled, affecting nearly five million passengers, the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) said.

ACAP noted that airlines are now unable to generate revenues in the next few weeks or even months, while banks have tightened credit lines.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that without government support, up to 50% of global airlines face possible bankruptcy in the coming weeks.

IATA previously estimated revenue losses from the COVID-19 crisis to reach over $250 billion this year. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Indonesia leans on healthtech start-ups to cope with surge in coronavirus cases

JAKARTA — As coronavirus cases surge in Indonesia, doctors are working double-time treating patients both at hospitals and online through healthtech start-ups — an approach that is quickly becoming part of the national health care system.

Doctor Mohammad Risandi Priatama, 26, has treated 10 people with COVID-19 symptoms over the past month at a busy West Java hospital in a designated virus “red zone” — and provided consultation for scores more through the app Alodokter.

“Because there are limited health care facilities especially in my district, our people need more information that is easy to use without the need to go to the hospital,” he told Reuters.

With a lack of medical staff and protective gear, and under 4,000 hospital beds for seriously ill COVID-19 patients in an archipelago of 270 million people, authorities have little capacity to manage what some experts believe is an epidemic that has been hidden so far by limited testing.

To lessen the strain, the government is directing the public to so-called telehealth firms through which they can access verified medical guidance, get free doctor consultations via video, telephone or text, and even have medication prescribed and delivered.

Indonesia’s largest telehealth firms, including Alodokter, Halodoc and GrabHealth — a joint venture between Singapore ride-hailer Grab and Ping An Good Doctor from China’s Ping An Healthcare and Technology Co. Ltd. — have seen usage skyrocket over the past month.

“As hospitals are already packed, the government wants to ensure only priority patients are going to emergency rooms and that patients who don’t urgently need hospitalization can be helped online,” said Alodokter Chief Executive Nathanael Faibis.

Alodokter clocked 32 million website visitors in March and over 500,000 free coronavirus consultations since Indonesia’s first confirmed case on March 2, Faibis said. Grabhealth said daily consultations had nearly doubled to 10,000.

Indonesia has recorded 3,293 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Its death toll of 280 is Asia’s highest outside China, where the virus was first reported at the end of last year.

GOVERNMENT DEMANDThe outbreak has prompted a surge in demand for telehealth worldwide. In China, millions flocked to platforms such as those offered by Ping An Good Doctor and Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd.

US and European firms have reported similar spikes, with US leader Teladoc Health, Inc. seeing twice the usual demand, with as many as 100,000 remote consultations weekly.

But Indonesia stands out with the degree to which the government itself is leaning on healthtech firms. Its virus task force on March 27 said it would add links on its website to 20 telehealth services and create a “digital call centre” to direct traffic.

Officials said they want COVID-19 patients with only mild symptoms to be treated through telehealth, with doctors referring those whose condition worsens to hospitals.

“This is really good for patients who are self-isolating, in that they can continue communication and receive direction through these start-ups,” Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto told parliament last week.

The task force, healthtech firms and doctors have agreed to share aggregate patient data to aid efforts aimed at slowing the spread of the virus, and are discussing what other information can be shared.

In the province of West Java, where infections have reached 365 with 35 deaths, the local authority has set up its own telehealth service for its 49 million residents through which people can book COVID-19 tests.

“The app asks comprehensive questions to make sure people don’t go to hospitals for the smallest symptoms,” West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said. Some people are even afraid to visit hospitals believing they are teeming with the virus, he added.

Overall, health experts said telehealth is a partial solution to cope with the surge in patients though the quality of online consultation and security of medical data must be considered.

“Telehealth provides a place for people to ask questions,” said Jakarta-based hospital doctor Shela Putri Sundawa. “But meeting patients directly is very different than talking to them on the phone. How far can a doctor’s responsibility go?”

VIRTUAL TREATMENT
One Jakarta coronavirus patient told Reuters she had turned to Halodoc having found it difficult to get care after a CT scan revealed white patches in her lungs.

“I went home because the hospital was overloaded with people,” said the woman, who declined to be identified due to stigma surrounding coronavirus patients. “I got an appointment with a doctor on Halodoc and received the prescribed medicine” — the antibiotic azithromycin and malaria drug hyloquin.

Halodoc, which before the outbreak said it had 12 million monthly users, offers medicine delivery through partnerships with pharmacies, laboratories and ride-hailer Gojek. With Gojek, it is also offering free drive-through rapid COVID-19 testing to Jakarta residents, as based on referrals from teleconsultations.

Chief Executive Jonathan Sudharta told Reuters he knew of six COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms who were undergoing their entire coronavirus treatment through Halodoc.

Interest in the service from neighboring Philippines led Halodoc to launch a localized coronavirus information website for the country, Sudharta said. Alodokter’s Faibis said his firm had received requests to offer consultations in Thailand.

“Perhaps telehealth can be a solution in regions lacking doctors,” said Doctor Sundawa. “But don’t exclude those in areas lacking the internet.” — Reuters

Staged readings go online

C.A.S.T., a theater group that specialized in staged readings, will present a livestream reading of an abridged version of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on April 18, 4 p.m.

C.A.S.T. (Company of Actors in Streamlined Theatre) has presented staged readings — a form of theater done without sets of full costumes, with actors reading from scripts and done with minimal stage movements — annually at the Pineapple Lab in Makati City, since they launched in May 2018. The group presents four plays, one play a week, for four consecutive weeks. The group is composed of actors Nelsito Gomez, Reb Atadero, Jill Peña, Mako Alonso, Maronne Cruz, Sarah Facuri, and writer Wanggo Gallaga.

The members’ experience with staged readings inspired them to focus on presenting their own shows in the format. The Cultural Center of the Philippines’ annual Virgin Labfest — a theater festival for new one-act plays — regularly presents a series of staged readings alongside the fully staged material. The Christian theater company Trumpets also has its 4faith series of staged readings.

“We were greatly inspired by the aforementioned groups, as well as our desire to share pieces that speak to us as a collective, and to present them in a way that is accessible not only monetarily but also imaginatively,” actor, director, and co-founder of C.A.S.T. Nelsito Gomez told BusinessWorld in an e-mail.

“The staged reading format is a wonderful shared exercise for the actor and audience. It’s quite engaging when props, set, and lights are stripped away, and what you get is a streamlined experience of the play. Whatever we leave blank, the audience fills out in their mind’s eye,” he added.

OPEN HOUSE STREAMED READING
Last week, the Open House fundraising campaign, which aims to raise funds for workers in the performing arts who have been displaced by the ongoing enhanced community quarantine, auctioned off one male and one female role for the Shakespeare play livestream reading this weekend.

“This project really belongs to a dear friend, [actor and director] Jenny Jamora. She is one the people handling the fundraising events for Open House. She came up with the auction idea, which I instantly supported,” Mr. Gomez wrote.

The two highest bidders were selected to take part in the performance. The guest female will be playing the lead role of Viola, while the guest male will be playing Viola’s brother, Sebastian.

The rest of the participating cast members are Cathy Azanza-Dy, Mako Alonso, Maronne Cruz, Brian Sy, Nelsito Gomez, Jill Peña, Tarek El Tayech, Dean Daniel Rosen, Reb Atadero, and Wanggo Gallaga.

“The actors we invited are our ‘ever reliables,’ or as we fondly call them, ‘CAST-mates.’ We’ve worked with them in our past seasons, and [they] are more than capable of handling Shakespeare,” Mr. Gomez wrote.

As of April 12, the Open House fundraising campaign has distributed P238,000 to support 119 displaced workers in the performing arts industry.

As theatrical performances have adapted to the pandemic by streaming shows online, Mr. Gomez noted that the live experience is the theater’s end goal.

“I believe it (a virtual setup) is a solution for the current situation we’re all in now. But it’s not the end goal. The end goal should always be encouraging people to experience theater with other people, live,” Mr. Gomez wrote.

“The whole reason for theater is the live exchange between actor and audience. No kind of technology can ever replace the human empathy one feels at a theater. Not only the empathy you get from the story, but the empathy you give towards the people you’re experiencing the story with,” he added.

Aside from the livestream reading, C.A.S.T. is currently working on recording plays to be released soon on Spotify.

Meanwhile, C.A.S.T.’s staged reading of Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists, about four women’s lives during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, an off-season performance which was to have been presented in March at the Power Mac Center Spotlight in Circuit Makati, has been postponed. The group had earlier presented the play in January 2019 at the Pineapple Lab.

To stream Twelfth Night, visit http://theaterfansmanila.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/OpenHouseFundraiser/. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Companies increasing budget for cybersecurity

INTERNET SECURITY firm Kaspersky said companies in Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, are starting to prioritize investing in their cybersecurity capabilities, with many planning to raise their IT security budgets over the next three years.

“It is encouraging to see that local companies are starting to prioritize IT security. In fact, our research showed that, on average, businesses in the region are currently spending $14.4M (P720 million) to build their cybersecurity capabilities,” Kaspersky General Manager for Southeast Asia Yeo Siang Tiong said in a statement e-mailed to reporters on Monday.

He added that 84% of the professionals that Kaspersky surveyed last year “confirmed plans to increase the budget for this area in the next three years.”

He said the planned budget increase for IT security is important at this time when networks are becoming more advanced and complex.

“Thanks to breakthrough technologies like Internet of Things, 5G, and the rapid adoption of Industry 4.0,” he also said.

Kaspersky’s 2019 survey with nearly 300 IT business leaders in the region also showed that 34% of the companies are worried about “data loss and being exposed to a targeted attack.

The IT security firm also said 31% of them were concerned about electronic leakage of data from internal systems.

“Another 22% of the survey respondents admitted their distress towards the possibility of surveillance or espionage by competitors,” it said.

Kaspersky said two in 10 companies in the region admitted that they are also concerned about identifying and remedying vulnerabilities in IT systems they utilize.

It said improper use of IT resources by employees and incidents affecting IT infrastructure hosted by third parties are of critical concern to some 18% of companies in the region.

“The past few years have shown and proved the ugly and costly aftermaths of a successful cyberattack. From the $81M (P4.050 billion) heist against a central bank to a data breach leaking names of HIV cases, our past offers timeless lessons on cybersecurity which organizations and businesses in all shapes and sizes should definitely learn from,” Mr. Yeo noted. — Arjay L. Balinbin

PLDT, Smart offer easier payment scheme

PLDT, Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. said they will implement beginning May 1 a six-month installment payment scheme for the outstanding monthly bills of their postpaid customers.

PLDT and Smart said the objective of the six-month installment program is to ease the financial burden of their customers affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

“Under this payment program, PLDT Home customers and Smart and Sun consumer postpaid subscribers can settle their unpaid balances as of April 30 in six equal monthly payments with 0% interest and no penalties,” they said in an advisory issued on Wednesday.

PLDT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said: “We hope that through this payment program, we will help keep you connected whether you are at home, the office or elsewhere after the enhanced community quarantine period. As one community, we will get through these challenging times together.”

PLDT and Smart said all postpaid accounts will be automatically enrolled for the six-month installment scheme. Customers can also pay more than the amount due for the month if they want to complete their payment earlier. Those who do not want to avail of the deferred payment scheme can pay their bills in full.

“You may pay your outstanding balance in full. You may pay in any of our online payment channels at home,” Smart and PLDT said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

When you are tired of home cooking

UNLESS you have the good fortune of living with an incredible cook, canned goods and your own set of recipes can get old and quickly while we’re all under quarantine. Here’s a list of some of your favorite restaurants offering its menu for takeout and delivery (including fast food favorites selling ready-to-cook frozen items!) so you can get a taste of what life was before, and hope for the best for the future (but also keep you satisfied).

Nabe Japanese Izakaya and Hot Pot — You can still assemble a Japanese hot pot at home, thanks to Nabe. Place orders through their Facebook page, facebook.com/nabeizakayahotpot, and pick them up at Nabe -— Fisher Parkway. One can pay via Bank Transfer (BDO and Metrobank), or GCash. Items include fish balls, tofu, bean curd, fries, beef, pork, chicken, and seafood.

Mary Grace — Titas unite, for the ensaymadas are available again. Orders are made fresh by batch, with the first batch dropping on Saturday, April 18 (payments are expected to be fully paid by April 16, noon). One can order via their website, marygracecafe.com/marygracecafe.com/. All orders are available only for pickup, and one can make arrangements for pickup with Grab Delivery or Lalamove at their Parañaque facility. Available items include ensaymadas, cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and chocolate cake.

Nic’s — Take your pick from a menu with Steak Frites, Salmon, or Angus Beef salpicao, or baby back ribs, or view the full menu at facebook.com/nicsph/. They’re available for delivery via GrabFood (servicing the Makati area), or through Landers. One may also call 0999-993-3231 or (02) 7744-6427.

Mama Lou’s Italian Kitchen — You can order foil-packed favorites such as meatballs, beef stew, soups, pasta, and even sauce through facebook.com/mamalous/. They have free delivery for areas up to 4km from the servicing branch, but one can also have the items picked up via Grab, Angaks, or Lalamove. Servicing branches include Las Piñas, Ayala Malls the 30th, UP Town Center, Ayala Malls Solenad, and Evia Lifestyle Center.

Golden Baboy Unlimited Korean Samgyupsal — Just in case you’re craving for some Korean-style grilled pork, Golden Baboy now delivers through GrabFood and Lalamove. The complete menu is available through their Facebook page, facebook.com/goldenbaboyph/, but one can also pick up orders at the Maginhawa branch, with the phone number (02) 8294-7743.

Little India — Vegetarians rejoice! Little India’s Teachers Village branch now offers delivery and takeout for their vegan and vegetarian favorites. The full menu is available at facebook.com/LittleIndiaPH/. To order, call (02) 7238-3243, or 0932-407-3659. For deliveries, one may use the Grab delivery app or through Lalamove purchase.

Pepito’s Oven — We loved their sausages and pulled pork, and the Cubao X favorite is now offering those for delivery (hint: get the frozen pulled pork, and the beef and herb sausages). A complete menu can be found on facebook.com/pepitosoven/, and one can call 0917-846-2566 or 0925-301-1386 for inquiries and orders.

Food-To-Go by Albergus — Wedding caterers Albergus is offering up its menu for pickups. To check the menu, go to their Facebook page, facebook.com/ftgbyalbergus/. You can then order via their website, ftgbyalbergus.com, and one pays via PayMongo or bank transfer. You can pick up your orders at their Capitol Hills branch, but Albergus also works with a delivery driver who can deliver within Quezon City and Pasig.

Golden Empire Chinese Cuisine — The Banawe Chinese restaurant is offering up dimsum, appetizers, congee, soups, noodles, and even more luxurious items such as Peking Duck and live crabs for delivery. To view the full menu, check their Facebook page at facebook.com/GoldenEmpireChineseCuisineBanaweQC. For orders and inquiries, call (02) 8241-2405, or (02) 7901-2163.

Max’s — Well, everybody else’s fried chicken is always better than your own, unless you’re a really good cook. Filipino favorite Max’s is open for deliveries, but you’ll have to check through maxsgroupdelivers.com/openstores for stores open near you. One can order through GrabFood, Food Panda, or call the store directly. You can also visit the website delivery.maxschicken.com.

The Moment Group — The restaurant group behind beloved brands such as Manam, Ooma, and Mecha Uma is also offering some of their bestselling menu items, either ready-to-heat or ready-to-cook. These include Crispy House Sisig, Sugar-glazed Corned Beef, and Watermelon Sinigang. Check the menu on their Facebook page (facebook.com/TheMomentGroup/) and call 0945-146-4184 or 0919-084-5719, and set up pick-up via either Grab Express or Lalamove, or, if the option is available, one may personally pick up their order. Payments may be made via bank transfer or GCash.

McDonald’s — McDonald’s is offering its marinated chicken packs (spicy option available) and chicken nuggets until supplies last. These are available through their takeout and drive-thru facilities. You can check participating and open branches at mcdonalds.com.ph/press-center/mcdonalds-restaurant-update (restaurants open for delivery are available on this list too).

Jollibee — If you’re missing some Filipino fast food goodness, Jollibee is offering ready-to-cook versions of its treats for pickup. These include fries, spicy marinated chicken, beef tapa, and a cult favorite, the Tuna Pie. To check where you can pick these up, visit the store directory at stores.jfc.com.ph/jollibee.html. Furthermore, Chickenjoy packs are also available at some supermarkets — they come marinated, but not breaded, so you’ll need a powder mix or some flour and an egg to get the crispy goodness you miss.

Chowking — Chowking, under the Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) umbrella, is also offering ready-to-cook options, including dimsum and meat products. To check where you can pick these up, visit the store directory at stores.jfc.com.ph/chowking.html.

Mang Inasal — Another member of the JFC group, the chicken restaurant is offering ready-to-cook menu items. To check where you can pick these up, visit the store directory at stores.jfc.com.ph/manginasal.html. — Joseph L. Garcia

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