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Coronavirus infections surpass 82,000

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) reported 1,657 new coronavirus infections on July 27, bringing the country’s total to 82,040.

Recoveries are at 26,446 with 359 additional patients who have gotten well.

The death toll is at 1,945 with 16 more deaths, according to Monday’s bulletin.

Of the total, 53,649 are active cases. Of which, 90% are mild, 9.1% asymptomatic, 0.5% severe, and 0.4% are critical.

The DoH said more than 1.2 million individuals have been tested as of July 27.

The department said the case fatality rate is at 2.37%, which indicates the Philippines is “faring better” as this is lower that the 3.91% rate globally.

Positivity rate, however, was at 8.92%, higher than the benchmark set by the World Health Organization at less than 5%.

The reproduction number of the disease is at 1.044 as of July 5, meaning one person can infect around one more person. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Nationwide round-up

Sotto reassures: Charter change will not be priority in Senate

SENATE PRESIDENT Vicente C. Sotto III reiterated during Monday’s reopening of Congress that the Senate will not prioritize change in the Constitution. He cited in particular the charter change as recommended by some 1,500 town mayors to institutionalize a higher share  in national taxes for local governments, meant as additional fund source for the coronavirus response.  He said the proposed changes in the 1987 Constitution to strengthen local response to the coronavirus pandemic may be addressed through the Local Government Code. “Ano ba ang kulang sa (What is lacking in the) Local Government Code? Ang pagkukulang ba kailangan Constitution ang galawin (Will addressing the limitation require changing the Constitution),” he said at an online briefing after the session opened. Mr. Sotto said improvement of the digital landscape and distance learning system amid the coronavirus pandemic are among the main concerns that the Senate aims to tackle. The establishment of safe and efficient public transport system in the new normal will also be pushed in the chamber along with measures that will encourage entry of new businesses and support creatives. “There is no question that the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic will leave all of us changed. In this cusp of transformation, we are all challenged to take part in building a new world,” he said.

HOUSE
House Speaker Alan Peter S. Cayetano, meanwhile, proposed to strengthen the agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing sectors through investment in infrastructure. He likewise pushed to support the creative industry as he committed to file a bill creating the Department of Arts and Culture. On top of this, Mr. Cayetano called on displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as well as urban planners, engineers, and architects to help in rebuilding the country and decongesting highly-urbanized areas. “Properly supported and given the right opportunities, these returning OFWs will form the first wave of our offensive in the countryside,” Mr. Cayetano said in his opening statement. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Slow cash subsidy distribution due to low digital payment registration — DSWD

PHILSTAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

ONLY FIVE million out of the 17 million target beneficiaries of the government’s second round of cash subsidy program have so far received aid due to low registration in the digital payment platform set up for distribution, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). In a briefing on Monday, DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen O. Paje said P32.05 billion has been distributed as of Sunday, including for those already registered under the government conditional cash transfer program known as 4Ps. He said only 4.3 million have registered on the electronic platform ReliefAgad, which the DSWD launched to make distribution faster and safer for both beneficiaries and government workers. Twelve million out of the 18 million beneficiaries under the first tranche are entitled to the second round, plus five million more who were previously waitlisted. — Gillian M. Cortez

BSP sees benign inflation until early 2021

INFLATION will likely stay benign as the economy recovers over the remainder of the year and into the first quarter of 2021, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“We continue to see inflation to be benign until the first quarter of 2021 as the economy recovers from the pandemic. But we see slight adjustments or increases in the inflation outlook once the economy recovers,” Assistant Governor Iluminada T. Sicat said in an online briefing Monday.

Central bank officials said factors that could lead to higher inflation include adjustments to utility rates and rising global rice prices.

Ms. Sicat said the outlook also factors in an uptick in global oil prices in recent months.

“The price of global oil is hovering around $40 to $43 (per barrel) which is still lower compared to price levels in 2019,” Ms. Sicat said.

The potential impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on economic growth prospects continues to be a factor in slowing the growth of commodity prices, she added.

“We don’t see much pressure on inflation given the fact that domestic demand remains weak as a result of uncertainties arising from the pandemic,” Ms. Sicat said.

The BSP expects inflation to average 2.3% and 2.6% for 2020 and 2021, respectively, which are well within the 2-4% target. It has a 3% average inflation forecast for 2022.

The inflation outlook supports the BSP’s intent to maintain an accommodative stance “to boost market confidence.”

“Looking ahead, the BSP believes that keeping monetary policy sufficiently accommodative amid a benign inflation environment will continue to mitigate strong downside risk to growth and boost market confidence,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said.

Mr. Diokno said the gradual easing of restriction measures since May will allow the central bank’s monetary policy actions and relief measures to gain traction and support the slow but sustainable recovery of the domestic economy.

Citing the benign inflation environment, the BSP slashed rates by a total of 175 basis points this year. This reduced the overnight reverse repurchase, lending, and deposit facilities to 2.25%, 2.75%, and 1.75%, respectively.

Mr. Diokno has said the monetary authorities are pausing to gauge how their monetary actions have so far impacted the economy and the financial markets. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Philippine food supply sufficient until first quarter

THE Philippines has enough food on hand to last until the first quarter, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said, even though agricultural logistics remain under strain because of quarantines.   

“We assure fellow Filipinos that we will have enough food on our table by the end of the year and into the first quarter of 2021,” Mr. Dar said in a statement.

Mr. Dar said that based on estimates made by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in mid-July, the food supply and outlook are adequate, with rice stocks expected to end 2020 with enough supply for 89 days.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the DA said that production of palay, or unmilled rice, during the second quarter of the year rose 6.85% year on year due to increased harvest area.

The supply outlook for other agricultural commodities at the end of the year is “favorable,” according to the DA, with corn stocks estimated to be good for 237 days by the end of 2020; chicken sufficient for 182 days; and vegetables enough for 20 days.

“Given this favorable outlook, we will continue to implement our umbrella program, ‘Plant, Plant,  Plant,’ to further boost the production of major food commodities, led by rice and other major crops, aquaculture and fish, poultry and livestock animals,” Mr. Dar said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dar said that moving forward, domestic production must be geared towards feeding the population in the post-lockdown period.

To raise agricultural output, Mr. Dar said the focus should be on improving the production-to-consumption value chain and logistics, empowering the marginalized, and boost biosecurity measures against imported pests and diseases.

“We are elevating our game guided by the policy shifts in our food security framework to reboot and grow the country’s agriculture and fishery sector onto the new normal,” Mr. Dar said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Palay farmgate price falls 0.5%

THE average farmgate price of palay, or unmilled rice, fell 0.5% week on week to P18.86 per kilogram in the third week of June, with the year-on-year increase at 5.7%, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

In its weekly update on palay, rice, and corn prices, the PSA said the average wholesale price of well-milled rice fell 0.4% to P39.36 while the average retail price fell 0.3% to P42.61.

The average wholesale price of regular-milled rice fell 0.4% to P35.71 while the retail price fell 0.1% to P38.47.

The farmgate price of yellow corn grain rose 1.1% to P12.78.

The average wholesale price of yellow corn grain fell 0.7% to P20.88 while the average retail price rose 0.2% to P25.72.

The farmgate price of white corn grain rose 0.4% to P14.02.

The average wholesale price of white corn grain fell 2.9% to P16.88 while the retail price rose 2.2% to P28.10. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

World Bank board expects act on fisheries loan by July 2021

THE World Bank estimated that its board will decide by July 2021 on a $200-million  loan sought by the Philippine government to develop the fisheries sector.

According to a World Bank document obtained by BusinessWorld, the government applied for the loan to support the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ fisheries and coastal resiliency project.

“The proposed development objective of the project is to improve management of coastal fishery resources, enhance the value of fisheries production and increase fisheries-derived incomes within coastal communities, in selected fishery management areas,” according to the document.

Last month, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the government tapped the World Bank for a loan to support the modernization of the fisheries industry. The agency hopes to roll out the project by October 2021.

The World Bank said Philipine natural capital is about 18% of its total capital, excluding coastal and marine natural resources, which is higher than the average for developing economies in East Asia and the Pacific.

“Natural capital makes a significant contribution to the Philippines’ wealth, but underperformance of related sectors leaves considerable unrealized potential for increasing its economic contribution… Fisheries and tourism have lost market share in comparison to regional competitors,” the bank said.

It said the Philippines remains among the most affected by natural hazards, suffering P233 billion in annual asset losses from typhoons and earthquakes.

“Projections suggest a potential reduction of coastal GDP (gross domestic product) of up to 52.3% due to intensified storm surges by 2100 and 45% of wetlands will be at risk,” it added.

It said the Philippines also has a “large infrastructure deficit” especially in coastal areas, ranking 96th in quality of infrastructure out of 141 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Global Competitiveness Index.

It said “grey infrastructure is prevalent” on the coastlines of the country with seawalls used as protection from erosion, storm surges and coastal flooding.

“However, efficacy and effectiveness of the coastal protection measures currently used is uncertain as many of the observed investments are of small scale and lack continuity along the coastline,” the bank said.

Modernizing the fisheries sector will require “the establishment of science-based and ecologically sound stock management systems,” expanding sustainable aquaculture production, and improving value retention in the sector, according to the bank.

It said around 20-40% of total fish caught and farmed in the country is lost yearly, on top of the loss in quality and value due to poor post-harvest practices.

It said the comprehensive plan for post-harvest, marketing and ancillary industries that covers 2018-2022 suggests adoption of “fish processing and handling infrastructure; competitive and modern support for inputs to fisheries production; harmonization of market information systems; enhancement of access to credit and insurance; and branding and promotion of Philippines’ seafood.”

“Global demand for high-quality and sustainable seafood continues to grow, but given the exhaustion of fish stocks, the Philippines will need to capture more value from its existing production to benefit,” it added. — Beatrice M. Laforga

PHL signs convention on tax-exempt trade show goods

THE Philippines has signed on to an international system that will allow temporary and tax-free imports of goods for use in trade shows and exhibitions.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on June 23 signed the Instrument of Accession for the Customs Convention on the ATA Carnet for Temporary Admission of Goods, allowing the export and import of commercial samples, professional equipment, and articles for presentation at trade fairs, shows, and exhibitions.

The ATA Carnet, known as the “passport for goods,” is a single document that allows passage through customs territories. The document is valid for up to a year.

The Trade department in a statement Monday said the system will reduce time spent on customs controls.

“It would also contribute to the promotion of trade and open up new and bigger market opportunities overseas once we are ready to host and attend trade fairs again,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said. “It will also enhance faster flow of product innovations.”

Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said that the signing is a positive development for exporters.

“With the ATA Carnet, there will be savings in terms of time and money in the temporary movement of goods consistent with our thrust to ease doing business in the country,” he said.

The DTI said that the ATA Carnet system supports the Office of the President’s Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 27 which directs “all concerned agencies to strengthen the implementation of the Philippine Export Development Plan and involving other agencies in the development of the export sector.”

Singing the convention was supported by the Export Development Council and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Philexport.

More than 80 countries are part of the ATA Carnet system.

Many international trade shows have either been canceled or moved online this year due to travel restrictions and lockdowns declared to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). — Jenina P. Ibañez

Are you prepared for BIR Form No. 1709?

Nearly a month ago, many taxpayers finally put an end to the longest tax season when they finally submitted their annual income tax returns (ITRs). Others, however, have to brace for the submission of a new set of attachments to the ITR. These refer to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Form No. 1709 or the Information Return on Related Party Transactions (Domestic and/or Foreign) and its related attachments, as prescribed by Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 19-2020. RR No. 19-2020 requires not only the proper disclosure of related-party transactions, but also the documents that would support that these transactions have been conducted at arm’s length.

Now, on BIR Form No. 1709 and its related attachments, have you already tried to go over them? Below are some of the observations and related thoughts.

RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In BIR Form No. 1709, foreign and domestic transactions have separate sections, and there are portions categorizing the transactions with the parent company, subsidiaries, associates, and others.

The different sections in BIR Form No. 1709 make it easy for the Bureau to recompute the tax implications based on its evaluation and appreciation of the nature of the transactions. Thus, it is an important notice to taxpayers to revisit their compliance with withholding tax rules.

Normally, income payments to foreign related parties include interest, royalties, and dividends. For services rendered by foreign related parties outside the Philippines, it might be helpful to include in the description in the form that such services are rendered outside the Philippines if they are so, so that they are not automatically subject to withholding taxes in case of a BIR audit.

AVAILMENT OF TREATY BENEFITS
This portion of BIR Form No. 1709 reminds taxpayers that if they are investigated for their support for the availment, they should be able to present their documents.

For preferential treaty rates on transactions with nonresidents for interest, dividends, and royalties, it would be prudent for taxpayers to comply with the prescribed application for tax treaty relief or the Certificate of Residence for Tax Treaty Relief (CORTT) Form. The submission of the CORTT Form is within 30 days after paying the corresponding withholding taxes.

RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS SUPPORTED WITH TRANSFER PRICING DOCUMENTATION
One of the attachments to BIR Form No. 1709 is TP documentation. In RR No. 2-2013, there are prescribed TP documentation details, such as, but are not limited to: (a) Organizational structure; (b) Nature of business/industry and market conditions; (c) Controlled transactions; (d) Assumption, strategies, policies; (e) Comparability and functional and risk analysis; and (f) Selection and application of the transfer pricing method, among others.

RR No. 2-2013 provides guidelines for applying the arm’s-length principle to cross-border and domestic transactions between associated enterprises to ensure that taxpayers clearly reflect income attributable to controlled transactions and to prevent the avoidance of taxes with respect to such transactions. The guidelines help taxpayers in preparing their TP documentation.

FREQUENCY OF PREPARING TP DOCUMENTATION
How soon do taxpayers prepare TP documentation? Is it on a one-time basis, or is it on a yearly basis or every three years? In RR No. 2-2013, TP documentation should exist or is brought into existence at the time the associated enterprises develop or implement any arrangement that might raise transfer pricing issues or at the time the associated enterprises review these arrangements when preparing tax returns.

Now, as RR No. 19-2020 requires the annual submission of TP documentation as an attachment to BIR Form No. 1709, it would be prudent for taxpayers to revisit their TP documentation every year.

THRESHOLD OR MATERIALITY OF AMOUNTS TO BE DISCLOSED
In filling out BIR Form No. 1709, there could be questions about thresholds or a minimum transaction volume before these are required to be disclosed. There appears to be no specific threshold indicated in RR No. 19-2020, so this could mean that all transactions, without regard to the amount, are disclosed in the Form, unless a regulation or BIR issuance clarifies this.

These are just some of the observations and related thoughts while we look at BIR Form No. 1709 and attachments. In line with this development, we received informal feedback during our recent transfer pricing webinar that the BIR will issue very soon a related Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) to cover pertinent questions and details. It was said that the RMC will also clarify the covered taxpayers who should be complying with the submission of BIR Form No. 1709, which could include taxpayers with fiscal years ending March 31, 2020. Out of caution, such taxpayers should begin to prepare and comply with the requirements of BIR Form No. 1709. Needless to say, all taxpayers covered by RR No. 19-2020 should be ready.

Many taxpayers hope that the BIR will not only focus on thoroughly examining related-party transactions, but will also help taxpayers comply with BIR Form No. 1709 and its related attachments through clarifications in the forthcoming RMC.

Let’s Talk Tax is a weekly newspaper column of P&A Grant Thornton that aims to keep the public informed of various developments in taxation. This article is not intended to be a substitute for competent professional advice.

 

Marie Fe F. Dangiwan is a senior manager of Tax Advisory & Compliance division of P&A Grant Thornton, the Philippine member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.

pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com

Flexible work is gender-neutral

The lockdown and containment measures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic was the “tipping point” for companies, small enterprises or conglomerates, to integrate flexible work arrangements (FWA), whether fully or partially, in their day-to-day operations. We can confidently say that the world is seeing the largest experiment on flexible work anywhere and at any time as an imperative and compelling business solution.

While we are still experiencing the vicious effects of the pandemic, it has influenced and changed our perception that work-from-home, a variation of flexible work, is in fact gender-neutral and gender-agnostic.

FROM FEMALES WORKING REMOTELY TO FLEXIBLE WORK FOR ALL
The 2018 Labor Force Survey (LFS) reveals that opportunities for women and men to participate in economic activities remain unequal because of the disproportionate share of unpaid care work — mostly carried by women. The emerging trend of flexible work has been largely associated with women who wanted to become economically and financially empowered while fulfilling their duties as mothers, wives, and homemakers.

However, research has shown that FWA offers great value propositions for both employers and employees of all genders. Flexible work is one of the main foundations for achieving diverse and inclusive workplaces. It also serves as a great approach in boosting work morale, increasing retention, and retaining the best talent.

In 2018, the McKinsey Global Institute said that increasing flexible work options for all workers provides a good baseline in promoting and harnessing women’s contributions in business. Thus, flexible work enables women to balance family and career, and helps people meet their priorities.

CHALLENGES TURNED OPPORTUNITIES
On June 5, the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) and the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN), with the support of Investing in Women (IW), an initiative of the Australian Government, conducted a webinar entitled “#FlexForward: Moving Towards the New Ways of Work.” Let me share with you why flexible work is the future of work and is here to stay.

Admittedly, the merit of “presenteeism” still stirs debates and reactions from companies who favor “face time.” As organizations continue and adapt better policies, it is safe to say that “face time” is not a vital ingredient for business success and employee productivity, especially at the present. The common misconception is that work-from-home is the only type of flexible work option available. In fact, there are other variations of FWA that companies can consider, like telecommuting, reduced or part-time work, compressed work week schedule, and job sharing. To know more about these options, PBCWE is pilot offering the Flexible Working Arrangement Toolkit that can help you determine the right and effective FWA for your company.

Furthermore, flexible work is a practice that enables employees, their colleagues and leaders to proactively design ways of working that combine time (when the work outcomes are achieved), place (where work can be done), and technique (how outcomes will be shared) for high performance.

In the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment has set out policies and practices to guide companies in implementing Republic Act 11165, otherwise known as the Telecommuting Act of 2019.

In carefully choosing the type of flexible work, organizations should also consider looking in detail at the human interaction requirements and system readiness factors that apply to different roles.

When considering time and technique, factors, such as client demand, ability to remain in contact with colleagues, availability of technology, and service level agreements, will influence what flexible work options are fit for a certain industry. The crisis has become a springboard for business leaders to rise above the challenge.

THE FUTURE OF WORK IS HERE
Flexible work is about embracing the “new normal” of technological change. Emphasizing the benefits of flexible work is just one way; investing heavily on it enables organizations to maximize their talent pipeline by keeping a happy, healthy, and productive workforce.

In this time and age, running a successful business requires more than achieving profitability and generating revenue. The outdated approach of traditional work no longer fits the narrative in today’s corporate setting which now recognizes the value and benefits of gender equality and women empowerment.

Leaders, especially HR practitioners, should make the “people first” battle cry as the topmost priority to protect lives and maintain safe workplaces. Thus, articulating and putting in place written and documented policies on flexible work arrangements enables employees to access this option.

Let us flip the default. Flexible work is here to stay. It is the future of work.

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

 

Ma. Aurora “Boots” D. Geotina-Garcia is a member of the MAP Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is the President of Mageo Consulting Inc., Chair of PhilWEN and Co-Chair of PBCWE.

map@map.org.ph

magg@mageo.net

http://map.org.ph

Poor countries are running out of time to get rich

By Mihir Sharma

THE United Nations currently predicts that by 2027, India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country. Estimates suggest India and Nigeria will together add 470 million people in the next three decades — almost a quarter of the world’s population increase to 2050. According to a new study from the University of Washington (UW), however, several developing nations may find their so-called demographic dividend much less of a boon than anticipated.

Published in the Lancet, the UW study has improved on the UN’s model by modelling fertility differently and making its decline more sensitive to the availability of contraception and the spread of education. In many parts of India, for instance, the total fertility rate — the expected average number of children born to each woman — is already well below the replacement rate of 2.1 and dropping faster than expected. The study, which also tries to account for the feedback loops between education, mortality, and migration, concludes that populations around the world are going to start shrinking sooner and faster than projected.

South Asia, for example, would have 600 million fewer people in 2100 than previously predicted thanks to lower-than-expected levels of fertility. Instead of growing throughout, India’s population would peak in 2050 and then decline to 70% of that number by the end of the century. By that point, China’s population would be about half its current size. On the other hand, sub-Saharan Africa would continue to grow, with Nigeria entering the 22nd century as the world’s second-largest country, behind India and just ahead of China and Pakistan.

For policymakers in India and several other developing nations, this isn’t good news. As the authors of the UW study point out, a shrinking global population has “positive implications for the environment, climate change, and food production.” But it also means time is running out — indeed, may already have run out — on those nations’ development clocks.

China has been truly fortunate in its demographics; it peaked at the right time. Working-age Chinese people, both in total numbers and as a share of the population, crested just when world trade was most open. This made the possibilities for manufacturing-led growth easier to seize than they had been for centuries.

Those countries that come next — India and Pakistan in particular — will confront a more closed world. And, worse, they now know that it is people currently in the workforce, or children in school, who over their lifetimes will have to lift the country to prosperity. For countries whose populations will begin to decline in the 2040s, this generation of workers and the next is all there is: They must, like their Chinese counterparts in the last two decades, push their countries from farm to factory and beyond.

Right now, India’s boosters tout the fact that its working-age population swells by a million people a month, propelling economic growth. If that demographic push runs out sooner than expected, growth will depend on individual productivity, not sheer numbers. That means education and healthcare and similar “soft” infrastructure no longer look like rich-country luxuries. Unless they are put into place within the next decade, indeed within the next few years, countries such as India, Indonesia, and Brazil may never become rich.

There are other dangers, some of which the Lancet article gestures at in passing. It is the spread of women’s education and women’s reproductive rights that are causing these declines in fertility. Unless women gain political clout to match, they might well end up being “blamed” for the loss in national power caused by a greying population. Those hard-won rights might begin to be curtailed. In places with particularly patriarchal societies, like much of South and West Asia, this is even more of a danger than elsewhere.

Even the most fortunate countries will need to be careful. By 2050, as expected, China will be the world’s largest economy. But the study authors predict that, as the Chinese population declines, immigration should in theory continue to bolster America’s workforce. The US could again become the world’s largest economy in 2098 — if the country lives up to its ideals and continues to welcome the world’s migrants. There’s no better way to ensure America becomes great again.

BLOOMBERG

Maging BUYani – Tatak Pilipino, Tatak Asenso

I WOKE UP one Tuesday morning to the aroma of my breakfast. Hmmm… corned beef. Could it be Palm or Hereford?

After my sumptuous breakfast of Palm corned beef, Skippy peanut butter, eggs and bread, I took a shower using Clear shampoo. Then I gargled with Listerine after brushing my teeth with Aquafresh. I normally don’t stay long in the john.

I dress up quickly, too. I have a very simple routine. I remember that Tuesday morning long before COVID-19, I simply wore my Hanes briefs and undershirt, Calvin Klein socks, pulled up my Dockers khakis and buckled my Burberry belt. I chose among my Cole Haans but finally decided to slip on my pair of Coach shoes. I donned a white Lacoste long-sleeved shirt and tied on my Ralph Lauren necktie.

Jewelry is not my fashion — no wristwatch, no bracelet, no necklace, just my wedding ring. My toiletries and perfumery are very few. That Tuesday, I sprayed Ferragamo scent (because I cannot afford a pair of its shoes) after I applied my Schzwarzkopf styling gel. Then, I was off to work with my old reliable Isuzu Crosswind I call “Sweetheart.”

I was to deliver a presentation that day on well-known trademarks, but after my lecture came the realization — I was not helping our local industries much except Jollibee, Datu Puti, RFM and San Miguel, among a few.

Would you believe there are a large number of Filipino products with world-class quality which, more often than not, are available for cheaper prices?

Did you ever think Figaro was a European café? Think again. Ala ey, Pilipino ata ya-an! (It is Filipino!) Established in 1993 by a group of seven friends, Figaro Coffee now has over 90 cafes worldwide. Inspired by their “Grow Local, Go Global” policy, Figaro aimed to establish 100 stores back in 2006. That is not impossible considering its quality products and services. There are millions of coffee drinkers and still hundreds of territories to conquer. Who says our Arabica and Barako (Liberica) are not competitive?

And if you thought Yellow Cab is from New York, you are definitely wrong. It is owned and operated by a Filipino corporation established in 2001 with only 15 employees. It now has around 130 outlets nationwide, providing employment to more than a thousand Filipinos and serving thousands of customers daily.

A Filipino once envisioned: “To be recognized as a world brand among the best world brands.” Ambitious? I say, certainly not. This company is guided by mantras… words from Confucius-inspired founder, Ben Chan. Bench started out selling shirts in 1987 from a corner of a mall in Makati. Since then, it has diversified its business and penetrated a wider market by setting up stores in the United States, the Middle East and China.

A lot more Filipino business success stories can be told.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has many programs that advance the interests of our micro-, small- and medium-enterprises (MSMEs). They provide the avenues to develop, showcase, and market our local products here and abroad. Among them are Buy Local, Go Lokal, Mentor Me, InnoVex, and Bagsakan to name a few. These programs are supported by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) where we offer various programs for MSMEs, like the Juana Make a Mark which waives trademark application fees for women entrepreneurs.

Trademarks, service marks and collective marks play an important role in making these products known not only domestically, but internationally, as well. Making them known to the consumers is not the bottomline, but rather, the contribution they bring to the society and the economy.

Figaro, Yellow Cab, and Bench are among those Filipino marks which have shown that we can penetrate and compete in the international market. Their advancement also contributes to the development of our nation. They generate jobs for our people; they earn income for our country; they create a reputation for our domestic products; they showcase our culture to the world, and so on.

This morning, I was again awakened by Ate’s rhythmic ladle and frying pan. Seconds later, I smelled the aroma of our very own Kaykay’s longganisa (sausage)and Jimmy’s corned beef straight from the cattle country of Masbate. I rose up and went to the kitchen, sipped my Kalinga Brew from the mountains of Cordillera, broke my Julie’s pan de sal (a salty bread roll) and spread Lily’s peanut butter.

As is my Monday routine, after breakfast, I took a quick shower and enjoyed the lather of Ardent’s Malunggay soap. I hurriedly put on my Hanford undies and Darlington socks, pulled on my Peter Piper pants tailored by my former neighbor, tightened my McJim belt, slipped on my Gibi shoes and donned my Narda’s barong from Baguio City. I almost forgot to apply my StyleX hair styling gel from Splash.

Monday rush… I needed more adrenalin. So, I took my Enervon before I headed to work.

During the virtual flag-raising ceremony, I wore a very proud and confident smile looking at our tri-colored banner. Yes, I was happy. I am happy… more so with my Hapee toothpaste smile.

 

Jesus Antonio Z. Ros is Director III of the Bureau of Trademarks, IPOPHL. He is a proud Pinoy and father of two beautiful children, a boy and a girl.

Duterte says govt prevented 1.3-3.5 million coronavirus cases

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday said his government’s intervention policy after the country’s first domestic transmissions of the coronavirus in March prevented as many as 1.3 million to 3.5 million infections.

Speaking during his annual address to the nation, Mr. Duterte said the country’s lockdown, which was one of the world’s longest and strictest, had kept infections in check but acknowledged the government was slow in getting its COVID-19 testing program moving.

“To me, even if the numbers were much lower, it would still be and would have been worth the sacrifice we made. Life first before everything,” he said, adding “we initially encountered difficulties ramping up our testing capacity.”

The Philippines has recorded 82,040 infections and 1,945 deaths. — Reuters

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