Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 9375

Gov’t, consortium at an impasse over NAIA project

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter

THE P102.12-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) rehabilitation project appears to be on the rocks, as the government is unlikely to accept changes proposed by the “super consortium” composed of some of the country’s largest companies.

The so-called “NAIA super consortium” released a statement on Tuesday saying the “far-reaching and long-lasting consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on airline travel, airline operations and airport passenger traffic necessitated a review of the assumptions and plans to ensure that the NAIA project will be viable in the new normal.”

The consortium said it had submitted changes to update the NAIA rehabilitation project’s framework to ensure its bankability.

“Unfortunately, the government indicated that it is not willing to accept most of the consortium’s proposed options and the consortium can only move forward with the NAIA project under the options it had proposed,” it said.

The consortium is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp.; Filinvest Development Corp.; and JG Summit Holdings, Inc.

The group said it submitted a letter to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on July 6, saying they can only move forward with the NAIA project under the options that it had proposed.

“The consortium remains committed to support the government’s pursuit to implement its strategic infrastructure projects through public-private partnership to jumpstart the recovery of the economy, including the building of an international gateway that will reflect the growing and modernizing economy of the country,” the consortium said, without providing details of its proposed changes.

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the tourism industry worldwide, as international travel has been mostly suspended and domestic tourism affected by quarantine measures.

A recent study by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) showed global tourism revenues are expected to decline by up to $3.3 trillion due to the pandemic.

Ruben S. Reinoso, Jr., Transportation undersecretary for planning and project development, said in a phone interview he was unaware of the proposed changes by the consortium.

“I don’t know. Hindi naman sila sa amin nakikipag-communicate. Na-approve na ng NEDA Board ’yan eh. Now, if they want to change that, wala kaming official communication to that effect. But I understand they are sending communications to NEDA,” Mr. Reinoso said.

He said the negotiation period between the consortium and MIAA had ended.

“Natapos na ’yung period of negotiation, na-stall na because ayaw nila ’yung terms and conditions na inapprove ng NEDA Board, and they want to change it,” he said.

Mr. Reinoso has said there was an 80-day negotiation period after the NEDA Board’s approval of the project in November last year.

BusinessWorld reached out to NEDA officials but they declined to comment.

In February, Mr. Reinoso said the government and NAIA consortium would have to renegotiate certain parts of the draft concession agreement. These include the plan to lay off airport workers, the use of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system to transport passengers within the airport complex and real property tax payments.

Mr. Reinoso said the consortium had suggested that the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which is the primary grantor, shoulder part of the tax payments.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. was originally part of the consortium, but it withdrew from the project in March due in part to the unresolved issue of tax payments.

The rehabilitation of the NAIA, whose main terminal opened in 1981, is expected to increase its capacity to 47 million passengers a year in the first two years and further expand this to 65 million passengers after four years.

The NAIA, which has four terminals, has been operating beyond its 30.5 million annual passenger capacity. It recorded 45.3 million passengers in 2018.

DoF warns vs incurring ‘unmanageable debt’

FINANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III on Tuesday said the government is keen on capping its budget deficit at 9% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, warning against “spending too much above our means.”

“While the government is borrowing more than usual this year in order to fund healthcare, social protection and other essential programs while our revenues are down, we have to be careful about spending too much above our means,” Mr. Dominguez said in a statement.

State borrowings reached P1.22 trillion in January to April, based on data from the Treasury, with P982 billion coming from domestic lenders and P237 billion from external sources.

The government borrowed P1.06 trillion in 2019.

The Department of Finance (DoF) chief said the government is “careful not to borrow beyond sustainable levels, lest we fall into a vicious cycle of accumulating unmanageable debt, which might drastically increase our financing costs, and plunge us deeper into debt.”

“Loans are not free money. They are advances that we, or even our children and their children, will have to pay for in some way in the future… Hence, it is an imperative that we limit state spending to a manageable and sustainable level equivalent to a 9% budget deficit,” Mr. Dominguez added.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) in May projected the budget deficit to widen to 8.4% of GDP this year.

Mr. Dominguez said “fiscal space should be saved” in case the pandemic worsens and forces the government to spend more on healthcare, subsidies and stimulus measures.

On Tuesday, the Health department reported 1,540 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total to 47,873.

The economic team is pushing for a P180-billion recovery plan, which includes P140 billion in new spending under Bayanihan II bill and the proposal to cut corporate income tax to 25% this year.

Meanwhile, the government’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Cabinet clusters will hold a forum on Wednesday to discuss the country’s recovery plan ahead of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27.

“The audience can expect Secretary Dominguez to delve deeper into the challenges we’re facing right now, the accomplishments in the previous year that we can build on, and the legislative proposals that the economic team submitted for Congress to consider,” Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio G. Lambino II said in a statement. — B.M.Laforga

AirAsia Group’s PHL unit corners bigger share of domestic market

MALAYSIA-BASED AirAsia Group Berhad said the domestic market share of its Philippine unit had increased by 4 percentage points to 22% in the first quarter despite the pandemic.

In a statement e-mailed to reporters late Monday, AirAsia Group President Bo Lingam said the airline group’s market position “remained strong” in the first quarter of the year “despite the challenges faced.”

“We are pleased to see domestic market share gain in three of our Air Operator Certificates (AOC)s, the highest being AirAsia Philippines which was up 4 percentage points” to 22%, he added.

He said Malaysia remains the strongest domestic market at 61% market share.

The revenue per available seat-kilometer (RASK) of AirAsia Malaysia also grew 2%, Mr. Lingam noted, attributing it to the airline’s improved pricing strategy.

“AirAsia Indonesia’s RASK increased by 3%. Though AirAsia Philippines saw a dip in passengers carried by 9%, load factor remained healthy at 84%,” he said further.

To recall, Philippines AirAsia’s market dominance grew by 4 percentage points to 23% in the last quarter of 2019. The increase was driven by a strong 21% growth in passengers carried, according to Mr. Lingam.

AirAsia restarted its operations in phases after strict lockdowns. “We are focusing domestically for now, before opening up to ASEAN and then the rest of Asia when border restrictions are lifted,” Mr. Lingam said.

For his part, AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Anthony Francis “Tony” Fernandes said they have applied for bank loans in their operating countries to shore up the group’s liquidity.

“We have also been presented with proposals to raise capital to strengthen our equity base and/or liquidity from a number of investment bankers, lenders as well as potential investors to help the company weather the storm caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic,” he added.

He also disclosed that AirAsia has ongoing deliberations with “a number of parties for joint-ventures and collaborations that may result in additional investments in specific segments of the group’s business.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Approval of Ayala Land’s P15-B REIT ‘soon’ — SEC

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may soon approve the application of Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) to launch a P15-billion real estate investment trust (REIT) offering.

In a phone call with BusinessWorld on Tuesday, SEC Commissioner Ephyro Luis B. Amatong said the regulator is targeting to greenlight ALI’s registration statement “very soon,” adding it may be within the third quarter.

“We hope to finish the process for the ALI REIT soon,” he said. “Target is very soon.”

Aside from ALI, Mr. Amatong said several others are also looking to launch their REITs, but none have submitted a registration statement so far.

ALI submitted its registration statement for a REIT offering to the SEC in February. The company’s plan is to do a primary offer of up to 47.86 million shares and a secondary offer of up to 430.78 million shares, with an over-allotment option of up to 23.93 million shares, each priced at P30.05, which would raise up to P15.1 billion in net proceeds.

The plan involves three office buildings of ALI in Makati City: the 24-storey Solaris One, the mixed-use development Ayala North Exchange, and the five-storey McKinley Exchange.

ALI said in April it was still pursuing its REIT plan despite the coronavirus pandemic, but noted the timing of the offering will depend on market conditions. The company did not provide an updated timetable on Tuesday.

Should it proceed, ALI’s REIT offering would be the country’s first REIT offering, after over 10 years since the REIT law was passed. The SEC launched adjusted REIT guidelines in January to attract property developers to tap the financing scheme.

Aside from ALI, DoubleDragon Properties Corp. had previously announced a plan to do an P11-billion REIT offering in the fourth quarter involving 200,000 square meters of leasing assets.

ALI said in its prospectus that the proceeds from its REIT offering will be allocated to future investments, such as buying Teleperformance Cebu from its subsidiary ALO Prime Realty Corp., and other real estate properties in Metro Manila and key regions.

Meanwhile, ALI said in a statement it remains optimistic in the property sector as investors trust in the attractive returns of having a beefed up property portfolio.

“We have seen in past crises how the property sector has constantly been able to recover after a downturn with values appreciating over time. Given our country’s stable economy, it remains one of the best options for investment today,” Ayala Land Estates, Inc. Assistant Vice-President Cris Zuluaga was quoted as saying.

Earnings of ALI in the first quarter dropped 41% to P4.3 billion due to lower bookings and project completions because of the Taal Volcano eruption and the coronavirus pandemic.

Shares in the company at the stock exchange fell 40 centavos or 1.14% to P34.70 each on Tuesday.

Betsy’s flowers

IN times of great uncertainty such as these, flowers provide a welcome respite, and one of the Philippine art world’s most respected names, Betsy Westendorp, provides just that in an exhibition by Salcedo Private View, the gallery and private sale arm of Salcedo Auctions.

Called Intimacies, the exhibit features 16 floral paintings in oil, mostly in small-scale. According to a release, the paintings span the 1970s to the present day. The same release provides a reason for the exhibit’s title: “The works featured in Intimacies present a different side to the decorated artist. Smaller than Westendorp’s usual mural-sized works, the oil paintings are quieter and possess an almost meditative quality — hence the title of the show.”

The exhibit, which opened on the fourth of July, is part of the 10th anniversary celebration of Salcedo Auctions. It will run until Aug. 4, and can be viewed both online and in real life at Salcedo’s galleries. Richie Lerma, director of Salcedo Auctions said during the opening (held via Zoom), “Given the social climate nowadays, we seek to continue to commemorate our 10th anniversary with the appropriate programs. Instead of doing one event that seeks to commemorate the 10th anniversary, we would like to do it more — and I suppose this alludes to the exhibition — intimately, in keeping with the spirit of the times.”

“Many of course will ask why,” he said. “Besides of course her obvious renown, I would always like to think that especially this year, and it’s particularly significant — we seek to exhibit… works that we believe exhibit authenticity and sincerity.”

Alluding to the importance of art in such uncertain times, he continued: “One theme that I would like to bring to the fore is the idea of art being able to bring us together. What I like about the works that we are seeing here, all together… are the different narratives that the paintings show.”

He quoted Kahlil Gibran: ‘Be like the flower. Turn your face towards the sun.”

“These works, much like the flowers, will inspire us to look towards the sun, and hope for brighter days ahead,” he said.

It is appropriate then that aside from Ms. Westendorp’s flowers, two other paintings by her (not for sale) are on loan from the Rocha family to accompany the flowers: two scenes of the sun breaking through clouds at different times of the day.

Ms. Westendorp has had an international career spanning decades. Primarily known for large-scale works and her portraits, Ms. Westendorp has had the distinction of painting the Spanish Royal Family. She is recognized accordingly: Westendorp was bestowed the honor of the Presidential Medal of Merit for Art and Culture by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as well as the Lazo de Dama de la Orden de Isabel la Catolica by the former King of Spain Juan Carlos de Borbon. Pictures flashed during the exhibit’s vernissage showed the artist with the likes of the Spanish royal family while she painted the Infantas, while another showed her meeting Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The convergence of her two worlds are seen in the paintings on exhibit: while a number of them are of tropical flowers and orchids, poppies from her native Spain also make an appearance.

The intimacy of the setting — an online exhibit viewed through a computer screen at one’s home, while classical music plays in the background — opens up new avenues for appreciation. A normal physical opening would have had an evening of wine, while everybody waited their turn to speak to either one of the gallerists or the artist. In the online setting, Mr. Lerma was able to explain the significance of the works in depth, as well as give people not normally given access to Ms. Westendorp the chance to hear her speak. For example, Mr. Lerma pointed to the flowers not just for their aesthetic value, but also for their connection to the historical tradition of Flemish floral paintings in the 17th century. “The root of these still-lifes were commentary regarding the transitory nature of life, and how things that will decay or that will eventually disappear are made everlasting.”

Ms. Westendorp was asked about when she started painting, and answered that she was about 14 when she began to paint portraits of her family, beginning with her brother. She also noted that, “People don’t like to sit. Whenever I was going to paint them, they would always find something important that they have to do.”

Asked about continuing the format of the virtual opening, Mr. Lerma said, “It’s a possibility. I think we’re making the online format and these gatherings more and more regular. If this is a way for us to be able to speak with more people and to talk about the works, I’m certainly happy to do more of it.”

Ms. Westendorp, for her part, said, “From here, I say hello, to all those people who had the time to spend sitting for me.”

Intimacies by Betsy Westendorp is co-presented by Prestige Real Estate Purveyor List | Sotheby’s International Realty and Salcedo’s 10th Anniversary Partner HSBC Premier. One can access the exhibit through salcedoauctions.com/private-view. — Joseph L. Garcia

Lazada says existing policies protect minors

E-COMMERCE platform Lazada Philippines said it requires sellers to comply with policies to ensure that so-called “sin” products are sold only to customers above the age of 18.

Online sellers of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages are required to “strictly comply with the Lazada Seller Agreement” mandating them to observe local laws and secure necessary documents and clearances, it said in a statement on Monday evening.

Lazada was responding to reports about the proposal of the Finance and Trade departments to ban the online sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and liquor if their sellers and resellers are not registered with the government, do not check the buyer’s age, and if the products did not meet the standards.

“We will continue to take strong action against sellers found breaching their commitments under our relevant agreements and policies,” Lazada said.

It said alcohol and tobacco products being sold through its e-commerce website are subject to a pop-up warning that asks for a customer’s age before viewing the products.

It said “+18 or +21” notes are printed on airway bills of products under cigarettes and alcohol categories, which will alert the deliveryman to ask and check the recipient’s ID upon delivery.

“During the ID check our delivery partner checks on the age/birthday reflected in the ID presented. If the recipient is above allowable legal age, then the delivery partner can hand over the products ordered,” Lazada said.

It also said that its business risk team “regularly audits” all deliveries to monitor proper implementation of the protocols.

The government is studying how it can set up a system where online sellers can register. Such a system will ensure the business’ legitimacy and tax compliance. It will also monitor if the seller conducts a customer check from point of sale up to the receipt of goods.

Meanwhile, PMFTC, Inc. Communications Director Dave M. Gomez said that the company is implementing an “age-gating” rule for online resellers of cigarettes to prevent minors from accessing these. He said customers are also required to present documents upon delivery.

Philippine laws prohibit the sale of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages to minors.

In June, the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 60-2020 giving online sellers until July 31 to register their business with the agency or update their registration. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Froilan, Del Mundo, Bautista, and Cobonpue among this year’s Gawad CCP recipients

PROLIFIC dancer/choreographer Rafael Catalino “Nonoy” Froilan, filmmaker Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, author Lualhati Bautista, and furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue are among this year’s Gawad CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) Para sa Sining awardees, an award given to an individual or group for their outstanding achievements and contributions to Philippine arts and culture.

This is the highest award given by the CCP and though normally it is given every three years, the last time the center gave the award was in 2015. The 2015 awardees included Nora “Nora Aunor” Villamayor and Tony Mabesa for acting, Denisa Reyes for dance, and architect Paolo Alcazaren.

The award is given to artists or a group of artists who have “consistently produced outstanding works, enriched the development of their art form,” according to a release. It is also given to cultural workers whose works helped develop and enrich Philippine art. A separate award called the Tanging Parangal is given to individuals or organizations to honor their outstanding contributions to the development of the arts in the country.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the awarding ceremonies for Gawad CCP have been pushed to 2021 with no specific date announced as yet.

This year, the award is being given to 12 individuals, a publication, and a performance group.

The awardees are: Rafael Catalino “Nonoy” Froilan for dance, Raul M. Sunico for music, Felix “Nonon” Padilla for theater, Luis “Junyee” Yee, Jr. for visual arts, Lualhati Bautista for literature, Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Jr. for film and broadcast arts, Cristina Turalba for architecture, Kenneth Cobonpue for design, the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) for culture of its region, Nestor Horfilla for cultural work and research, Liwayway Magazine for development of Philippine culture, Antonio Fabella for dance (Posthumous), and Alice Guillermo for Cultural Research (Posthumous). Danilo Dolor will receive the Tanging Parangal for the development and support of the arts.

Mr. Froilan is being honored for his contributions to the body of Filipino dance including Danzas (1986), One Afternoon (1987), Iba’t Ibang Salita (1988), and Amparo (1990). Considered the Premiere Danseur of the country, Mr. Froilan is also one of the pioneers of Ballet Philippines.

Filipino pianist and composer Raul M. Sunico is being honored for championing music education after authoring a textbook series for Grades 3 to 6 in public schools. With a career spanning decades and a large discography that includes Filipino folk songs and kundimans (classic Filipino love songs), Mr. Sunico is also known as the only Filipino pianist to perform four Rachmaninoff concertos in one concert and three Tchaikovsky concertos in another. He also served as the president of the CCP from 2010 to 2017.

Author Lualhati Bautista is one of the foremost Filipino female novelists in the history of Philippine literature. Her works include Dekada ‘70, Bulaklak sa City Jail, and Bata, Bata, Pa’no Ka Ginawa among others. She won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards four times (1980, 1982, 1983, and 1984) and also served as the vice-president of the Screenwriters Guild of the Philippines.

Filmmaker and writer Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Jr. is being honored for writing classic gems of Philippine cinema including Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975), Kisapmata (1981), and Bayaning 3rd World (1999), to name a few. He has also written books about Philippine cinema and started the Communication Arts program of De La Salle University Manila where he still teaches to this day.

Furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue, known for using natural materials found in the Philippines for his designs, was awarded for putting “Philippine modern design on the map of the world,” according to a CCP release as he uses locally sourced organic materials with “innovative hand-made production techniques offering an alternative to the Western definition of modern design.”

IPAG is a performing arts group that promoted and established an active theater in the southern Philippines. Its productions are “built from local creative expressions in dance, music, literature, the visual arts, and indigenous lore,” with the Pangalay dance form of the Sulu archipelago as its signature.

Nestor Horfilla established the first Mindanao community theater network in the 1980s along with development and social worker Karl Gaspar. The network organized “hundreds of community and church-based cultural organizations in the regions.”

Theater performer Felix “Nonon” Padilla, with a career spanning more than 50 plays, is one of the most accomplished figures in Philippine theater. He served as the artistic director of the Philippine Educational Theater Association in the early 1970s, and Tanghalang Pilipino which he founded in 1987.

Visual artist Luis “Junyee” Yee, Jr. has made a name for himself for his use of both indigenous and organic materials for his art. “Whether exhibited in a gallery or in an urban context, his installations are a reclaiming space for nature,” the release explained. His expansive work, Angud, A Forest Once, was exhibited on the front lawn of the CCP in 2007.

Cristina Turalba is an advocate of heritage conservation and was part of several heritage-related activities of the United Architects of the Philippines. She implemented the NCCA-UAP Documentation of Philippine Heritage Structures and Cultural Sites, and other projects meant to develop socialized housing and sustainable and living communities for Filipinos, among others.

Liwayway is a Filipino magazine established in the Philippines in 1922 that published significant works of literature including works by National Artists for Literature Amado V. Fernandez, Lazaro Francisco, Virgilio Almario, and Cirilo Bautista and National Artist for Visual Arts Francisco V. Coching. It was home of well-known comic series such as Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (1925) and Kenkoy (1929).

Antonio L. Fabella was one of the country’s most talented and most prolific choreographers. His works include Tambol at Padyak, Araw at Buwan (1976) and Kristo (1977). He is said to have popularized the fusion of classical and contemporary ballet, which evolved into a distinct form and style.

Art critic and scholar Dr. Alice Guerrero-Guillermo was a “giant in the field of art criticism and art history,” according to the release as her legacy includes multiple books and essays on art history, art criticism and cultural studies that served as foundation for Art Studies in the Philippines.

Danilo Dolor is a patron of Philippine culture and arts. He founded The Tribung Pilipino Foundation in 1978 that focuses on promoting, preserving, and disseminating traditional Filipino music. It has produced more than 400 concerts. He also mounted an exhibit called The Golden Years: Memorable Tagalog Movie Ads 1946-1956 featuring prominent postwar movie ads. He also presented Alitaptap Kikilap-Kilap at the opening of the 2012 Cinemalaya, featuring pre-war movie advertisements from 1936-1941. — Zsarlene B. Chua

GT Capital ventures into used car inspection

GT CAPITAL Holdings, Inc. is teaming up with Japan’s Premium Group Co. Ltd. to establish a used car inspection and warranty business.

In a disclosure to the exchange on Tuesday, GT Capital said the planned investment with the Japanese firm will be made through its subsidiary GT Capital Auto Dealership Holdings, Inc. (GTCAD).

The business will be established through GT Mobility Ventures, Inc., a joint venture of GTCAD and Mitsui & Co. Ltd. After the transaction, GT Capital will have an effective ownership stake of 47% in the company.

Premium Group is a Tokyo-based company that deals with automotive sales, repairs, bodywork, paintwork and credit financing. Outside Japan, it currently has presence in Thailand and Indonesia.

GTCAD is the automotive arm of GT Capital, whose principal business interest is in investing in any auto dealership or other corporations in the same business. GT Capital also owns Toyota Motor Philippines Corp.

In 2019, GTCAD invested in a used car auction business through GT Mobility Ventures. It teamed up with auction house operator Japan Bike Auction Co. Ltd. to form JBA Philippines, where GT Mobility Ventures owns a 60% controlling stake.

In the first quarter, GT Capital reported a 26% earnings decline to P2.5 billion due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which weighed on its banking, automotive and insurance segments. Its revenues fell 13% to P39 billion.

Shares in GT Capital at the stock exchange gave up P4.60 or 1% to P455 each on Tuesday. — Denise A. Valdez

CCP honors artists from Mindanao through the Gador Awards

ARTISTS from around Mindanao are being honored with the 1st Gador Awards, presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Kaisa Sa Sining Mindanao.

The Gador Award recognizes deserving Mindanao individuals and organizations who have exemplified commendable work and services in cultural and artistic endeavors, and have been in the forefront of research, development, preservation, education and promotion of arts and culture in Mindanao for at least 10 years.

The honorees are Joey Ayala (Davao City), Dr. Steven P.C. Fernandez (Iligan City), Nestor Horfilla (Davao City), Agnes Locsin (Davao City), Sunnie Noel (Marawi Cityand Dipolog City), Maria Wanan Todi (Lake Sebu), the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (MSU-IIT Iligan City), and Sining Kambayoka Ensemble (MSU Marawi City).

Due to the present quarantine and travel restrictions, the Gador Awards Ceremony is being held virtually. It began on July 2 and is ongoing up to July 16 from the home base of the awardees.

The Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) Regional Arts Centers is a partnership program of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) through its Cultural Exchange Department. Launched in 2014, the program is aimed at strengthening the CCP’s linkages and cooperation with regional educational institutions, non-government organizations and local government units in order to broaden public participation in the arts, promote and showcase artistic excellence, and facilitate the collaboration between communities. To date, the KSS network has grown to 50 organizations in 46 areas/communities in the regions: 19 in Luzon, 14 in Visayas, and 17 in Mindanao.

Felimon Blanco, Artistic Director of Teatro Guindengan of La Salle University Ozamiz City, which is one of the KSS Mindanao, noted that “Mindanao is always celebrated through the ingenious works of its highly artistic and creative people. But, rarely has it been given national prominence due to its ‘distance’ to the ‘center.’ The Mindanao experiences are very distinct as these celebrate the rich cultural heritage and vibrant artistic practices of the region. Recognizing the people behind these initiatives in Mindanao means elevating these for the rest of the world to take notice of the artistic excellence and cultural integrity of grounded artists and cultural workers.”

For more information, contact the CCP CED at 832-3674 and 832-1125 locals 1708-1709 or e-mail ccp.ced2014@gmail.com.

Palace ‘neutral’ on fate of ABS-CBN’s franchise

VARIOUS issues against the media network were scrutinized by House lawmakers in recent hearings. — BW FILE PHOTO

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will not interfere with the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Corp. and will leave it to lawmakers to decide the fate of the media network through their conscience, his spokesman said.

In a briefing on Tuesday, Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said the President is “neutral” about the recent issues raised against the TV network during the hearings on its franchise renewal at the House of Representatives.

“Ang Presidente naman po sinabi niya, the members of Congress can vote according to their conscience dahil siya po ay neutral (The President already said the members of Congress can vote according to their conscience because he is neutral),” Mr. Roque said.

Mr. Duterte in the past launched tirades against the TV network for not airing his ad during the presidential campaign in 2016. In a speech in December, he said: “I’ll see to it that you’re out.”

Early this year, he had a change of heart when he accepted ABS-CBN’s apology and told the company to donate to charity the refund money for the unaired ad.

On May 5, the National Telecommunications Commission shut down ABS-CBN’s free services despite its initial promise to allow the network to stay on air while the Congress hears its 25-year franchise renewal. ABS-CBN’s franchise expired on May 4.

Various issues against ABS-CBN were scrutinized by House lawmakers in recent hearings: from its tax payment to the shows aired by the Lopez-led network. The lawmakers are set to finish their hearings on the company this week. — Gillian M. Cortez

Taking an e-pilgrimage to Lourdes

LOURDES, an international pilgrimage center, mobilizes nearly 100,000 volunteers to welcome 3 million pilgrims and visitors from all over the world each year, including more than 50,000 sick and disabled people. But with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the pilgrimage is going virtual.

The Shrine has been closed for more than two months, and for the first time in its 162-year history, it has had to cancel all pilgrimages. In spite of its partial reopening, the Shrine can only welcome a limited number of pilgrims in order to follow strict sanitary protocols.

So on July 16, the anniversary of the 18th and last apparition of the Virgin Mary, the Shrine of Lourdes will host an e-pilgrimage which will take place live at the Grotto of the Apparitions. Millions of people from all continents are expected to participate through television, radio and social networks.

The program will run for 15 hours and will be available in 10 languages. To join, participants have to visit this link: www.lourdes-france.org.

The day will feature celebrations, processions, rosaries, prayers. A TV program will take place live from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Grotto. Religious and civil personalities will follow one another on the set, testifying on the role of Lourdes in their lives. The cameras will go behind the scenes of this unique place to better explain its mission. There will also be discussions on the themes of solidarity, fraternity, commitment, hope and the search for meaning, as well as reports, archival video, live music, among others.

Lourdes will also be asking for donations during the e-pilgrimage. Without the pilgrims, Lourdes does not have enough resources to carry out its mission, to maintain the site and its 320 employees. In addition, the whole of the Lourdes catchment area is in immense difficulty. The Sanctuary is expecting a historic loss of 8 million euros.

For more details, visit www.lourdes-france.org.

Metro Pacific Hospitals to introduce telemedicine

METRO Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (MPHHI) will start offering its services through digital platforms as a way to cope with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement Tuesday, the hospital unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) said it is currently exploring telemedicine, or the use of virtual consultations, e-pharmacy, mobile laboratories and remote patient monitoring as part of its operations.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the distancing restrictions that come with it, MPHHI said it wants to tap telemedicine to continue serving patients without having to visit their physical hospitals.

“Telemedicine may be our new normal,” MPHHI Chief Information Officer Eriene C. Lao said in the statement. “It augments the delivery of primary health care most especially in our country, where the doctor-to-patient ratio is a challenge.”

Some hospitals in MPHHI’s 16-hospital network already offer telemedicine solutions that were developed in-house, but the group said its plan is to have a common platform for all MPHHI hospitals.

“We feel there are also operational benefits here. Hospitals can optimize the utilization of their bed capacity, improve the efficiency of healthcare workers, allow collaboration of medical teams from across different hospitals, and give remote hospitals access to more experienced medical practitioners in the bigger hospitals,” Ms. Lao said.

MPIC is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Denise A. Valdez

1...9,3749,3759,376...14,266Page 9,375 of 14,266
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube