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Gov’t hikes tariffs on imported oil, refined petroleum

By Adam J. Ang

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday ordered the temporary increase in tariffs on imported crude oil and refined petroleum products, in order to fund the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relief measures.

Under Executive Order No. 113 signed on May 2, Mr. Duterte imposed 10% additional tariff on imported crude oil and refined petroleum products.

“There is an urgent need to augment the government’s resources to sufficiently finance the programs and measures to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 situation and launch the country toward recovery and rehabilitation,” the order stated.

The higher tariffs, which were recommended by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board on April 8, will be imposed on top of the existing Most Favored Nation (MFN) and preferential import duties on imported fuel products.

Proceeds from additional tariffs would “fund measures that address and respond to the effects of the COVID-19 situation, including social amelioration programs and such other forms of assistance for all those affected.”

Rino E. Abad, director of the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB), told BusinessWorld that the higher tariffs are not expected to affect volumes of oil imports this May as prices are already low.

“Mababa ang [oil] price ngayon at nasa 10% lang [ang] tariff of landed import cost… “compared sa binaba na ng (year-to-date) price at around P15 per liter (/L) to P16/L, napakaliit [ng] effect nito (The oil price is low and the tariff is only 10% of the landed import cost…The additional import duty has a minimal effect on gasoline prices, compared to the year-to-date price decrease at around P15/L-P16/L.),” he said in a text message.

The higher import duty may provide a “substantial revenue” for the government despite the low demand for petroleum products, according to Bureau of Customs (BoC) Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip C. Maronilla.

“I think there is [a] basis to expect that despite the low demand [for oil], a positive duty rate applied against the projected [oil import] volume for the succeeding months will result in substantial revenue for the government,” the BoC spokesperson said in a Viber message.

The DoE-OIMB reported that oil import volumes in the first quarter of 2020 fell by as much as 460 million liters to 3.3 billion liters, compared to 3.7 billion liters recorded in the same period in 2019.

Demand for oil, along with prices, in the world market has plunged as many countries have been placed under lockdown due to the pandemic.

The modified rates of import duty will only cease to be applied once the DoE noted a breach in the trigger price following a rise in oil prices in the world market.

Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, empowers the President to raise existing import duty rates in the interest of general welfare and national security.

Pandemic slams Asia’s factories; activity slumps to financial crisis lows

SYDNEY — Asia’s factory activity was ravaged in April, business surveys showed on Monday, and the outlook dimmed further as government restrictions on movement to contain the coronavirus outbreak froze global production and slashed demand.

A series of Purchasing Managers’ Indexes (PMIs) from IHS Markit fell deeper into contraction from March, with some diving to all-time lows and others hitting levels last seen during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

Similar gauges out of Europe due on Monday and later in the week are also expected to show industry conditions wallowing around record lows, reinforcing the International Monetary Fund’s warning that the global economy is headed for its biggest decline since the 1930s.

The PMI for South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a global manufacturing powerhouse, skidded to 41.6 in April, the lowest reading since January 2009. Japan’s PMI released last week similarly fell to an 11-year low.

“The bad news is that the hit to industry in many places is unlikely to be past the worst,” Alex Holmes, Asia Economist at Capital Economics, wrote in a note.

“Global demand has slumped and we don’t think it has bottomed out yet. The latest incoming data for the US and Western Europe point to an unprecedented slump in demand. And while China’s economy has started to recover, demand there remains very weak.”

Last week, China’s official PMI showed factory activity still growing in April, albeit more slowly than March, while the private sector Caixin PMI showed a dip into contraction, although at a much gentler pace than the rest of the world. Significantly, exporters in both surveys were jolted by steep falls in orders.

While China appears to be ahead of others in emerging from the economic paralysis inflicted by the pandemic, any recovery is expected to be gradual and unlikely to fire up an immediate resurgence in global demand.

The PMI for Taiwan, a major producer of high-end technology components, fell to 42.2, its lowest since 2009 and down from an expansionary 50.4 in March.

The declines in South Korea’s and Taiwan’s PMIs showed contractions that were less severe than those seen in other economies in the region, with indicators in India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam all reporting plunges to record lows.

In India, Asia’s third-largest economy, new orders and output shrank at the steepest pace since early 2005 and factories cut jobs at the fastest rate in the survey’s history.

Capital Economics’ Mr. Holmes said while South Korea and Taiwan held up better than other Asian peers, thanks mostly to effective government policies to contain the virus, conditions have nonetheless worsened.

Official data released last week showed the coronavirus sent South Korean exports plunging in April at their sharpest pace since the global financial crisis.

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. last week said it expected profits to decline in the current quarter due to a slump in sales.

It said that while work-from-home orders and growth in online learning would underpin demand for memory chips, the outlook for smartphones and TVs was bleak as consumers put off discretionary spending.

The production slump is of particular concern to policy makers, who are worried about the socially destabilizing effects of massive unemployment as firms in both factory and service sectors slash headcount.

A private sector survey in Australia on Monday showed job advertisements plunging a record 53.1% in April, a decline that was almost five times larger than the previous record of 11.3% in January 2009. — Reuters

Rico Blanco assures that ‘This Too Shall Pass’

FILIPINO singer Rico Blanco has returned after a four-year hiatus with the single, “This Too Shall Pass,” a song meant to “help [people] deal with the uncertainty of the times,” according to a release.

“My efforts are little in light of a pandemic like this. As big as my imagination is for this song, I also feel that it’s not enough. But it’s what I can do and contribute as a musician,” Mr. Blanco said in the release.

Rico Blanco is best known for having been the frontman of the rock band Rivermaya until 2007, when he embarked on a solo music career. His last solo single was “Wag Mong Aminin” in 2016.

The new pop tune is said to be Mr. Blanco’s most personal to date as it was written “from a place of discomfort and fear, witnessing how the much louder tremor of pandemic anxiety instantly changed our lives and left us with little time to mourn and move forward,” the release said.

The song took two weeks to finish and it was such a struggle that he admitted that he almost didn’t finish it.

“This song is real, inwards and also outwards; it’s something that I really want to tell every single person. I wasn’t able to give a message to the frontliners, and I feel very guilty about this. I needed to finish this, and I want them to hear this. I know each one of us is going through something. I wrote this song as my way to reach out,” he said, noting that that music, aside from being entertainment, also carries “the resilience of the human spirit.”

“This Too Shall Pass” combines European techno, hip-hop beats, Asian riffs, African chanting, sounds of a Pinoy fiesta, and Mr. Blanco’s nieces laughing.

“‘This Too Shall Pass’ is ambitious in scope and sound design, but its heart is for the people who need light and love,” the release said.

“Music is important — we all know this. But never more so than when we are faced with uncertainty, because it is then that the power of music becomes unquantifiable, almost limitless. Music can make you feel you’re not alone. Music can save you from despair. And so it is with a song like ‘This Too Shall Pass.’ It is so relevant to the times that it becomes a declaration, a prayer, a mantra — all rolled into one,” Roslyn Pineda, Sony Music Philippines’ general manager and vice-president for business development in Asia, said.

“This Shall Pass” is available in all digital platforms worldwide. A music video is in the works. — ZBC

DoJ, Senate back ABS-CBN operation

By Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Charmaine A. Tadalan, Reporters

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) stood by its position that ABS-CBN Corp. can still operate while the broadcasting giant’s application for franchise renewal is pending with the Congress.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said there is no law that governs the rights and obligations of an entity that has already been granted a legislative franchise and has operated for years but whose application for renewal is pending.

“In several similar situations in the past, congress allowed the status quo, without urging the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) to issue a temporary or provisional permit, in consideration of the equities of the situation,” he told reporters in a mobile-phone message.

Solicitor General Jose C. Calida on Sunday warned the NTC that it cannot grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN Corp. and its unit ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. to operate once their legislative franchises expire.

ABS-CBN Corp.’s franchise expired on May 4 while its unit’s franchise expired on March 17.

Mr. Calida said the NTC can only issue the provisional authority to a broadcasting company for its operation once it secured the Congress’ nod on its franchise and while awaiting approval of the application for a certificate of public convenience before the commission.

Mr. Guevarra also said one of the Supreme Court decisions cited by Mr. Calida — wherein the high court declared invalid the 1991 DoJ opinion which states that the NTC may issue a permit or authorization without legislative franchise — does not apply because the company in the case did not have an original franchise.

“In the present case, the subject company had already been granted a franchise and a license to operate, albeit subject to further deliberations for its renewal,” he said.

Mr. Guevarra in February said in a Senate hearing that the Congress may authorize the NTC to issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN while it awaits franchise renewal.

House Speaker Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Palawan Representative Franz E. Alvarez, chair of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, sent a letter to the NTC, asking it to grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN on May 4 until the Congress concludes the renewal proceedings.

SENATE INSISTS NTC CAN ISSUE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said the NTC can grant ABS-CBN Corp. provisional authority to continue operation as its franchise expired on Monday.

“There is already precedence wherein the NTC has issued provisional authority for franchises that have expired but pending in Congress,” Mr. Zubiri said in a virtual briefing, Monday.

“There is no reason why the NTC should not grant the temporary authority to ABS-CBN,” he added.

The Senate on March 12 turned over to the NTC a resolution, allowing the issuance of a temporary permit to the media network, while its franchise is pending in both Houses.

Mr. Zubiri said the chamber would remind the NTC to allow ABS-CBN’s operation, as discussed in the resolution.

“Definitely, we’ll remind the NTC on their commitment to issue a provisional authority,” he said, noting that the network will not need to suspend its operation as it awaits authorization.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises started tackling the franchise on February 24, the same day the Senate opened its inquiry on allegations against ABS-CBN.

Mr. Zubiri said Mr. Calida may question the granting of temporary permit to ABS-CBN in the appropriate court, but maintained his position based on his experience as former House legislative franchises committee chairman.

Further, Mr. Zubiri flagged moves to shut down ABS-CBN in the middle of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as “highly irregular” and “questionable.”

“At this point in time na (of a) pandemic, kailangan natin ng (we need) information dissemination, kailangan natin ng (we need) information gathering, we’ll shut down a major network, which, for me, is highly irregular at this point in time and questionable,” he said.

NTC MEMORANDUM ALLOWS OPERATION
The NTC has said that it will issue the provisional authority to ABS-CBN. In March, the NTC issued a memorandum allowing telecommunication companies, including ABS-CBN Convergence, whose franchise had expired, to operate during the Luzon-wide quarantine period.

Mr. Calida also warned then that NTC commissioners may face anti-graft and corrupt practices complaints if they issue the provisional authority.

The Office of the Solicitor General in February filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court for the cancellation of their legislative franchises, citing “highly abusive practices” and law violations.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque on Monday said that President Rodrigo R. Duterte would not interfere with the decision of the NTC on the operations of ABS-CBN.

“Itong bagay pong ito is a matter that must be dealt with by the NTC as a quasi-judicial body at hihintayin po natin ang sagot ng National Telecommunications Commission. At ang Presidente naman po, ipapatupad po kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng [NTC],” he said in a briefing.

(This is a matter that must be dealt with by the NTC as a quasi-judicial body and we are waiting for its answer. And the President will implement whatever will be the decision of the [NTC].)

Final Pitch gets a COVID-19 bent in new season

FOR its sixth season, business reality TV show The Final Pitch, is looking for “heroes” — non-profit organizations, start-ups, and innovators with “new solutions to address COVID-19 challenges” and need funding.

“We are hopeful as we introduce this relevant and timely format for The Final Pitch: Heroes Edition. We have seen in our past five seasons the exponential effects of matching the right ideas with the right investments. We hope that through this season, we will identify the best high-impact advocacies and solutions to help turn around the economic and social ramifications of the COVID-19 crisis for the sake of our kababayans (countrymen),” John Aguilar, the show’s host and creator, said in a press release.

Since starting the show three years ago, the show — a hybrid of The Apprentice and Shark Tank — focused on start-ups that need funding from venture capitalists or investors who also serve as judges, while mentoring start-ups on how to refine their pitches and business models.

The fifth season was a departure from the regular format in that it focused on real estate. The sixth season meanwhile, will focus on pitches “from nonprofits for donations and grants, and entrepreneurs for new normal investment proposals.”

The pitches for donations and grants should come from reputable organizations that have specific beneficiary communities like medical frontliners, farmers, indigent communities, and displaced workers.

Pitches for investments should come from entrepreneurs, inventors, and startups that provide solutions and technologies for the country’s transition to the “new normal,” according to the release.

“Sample target sectors include retail, transport, and tourism. Likewise, ideas for employment of both locals and displaced OFWs, and business solutions for MSMEs (micro-, small-, and medium enterprises) are also welcome,” it explained.

The Final Pitch is also asking interested investors and conglomerates “to play a crucial role in the selection process, refinement of proposals, and financial backing of qualified solutions and causes throughout the show.”

“The core of the show is to make a difference through entrepreneurship. We think this season is a chance for us to prove that further, and to show how businesses and innovative entrepreneurs can provide solutions and opportunities during and after a crisis,” Mr. Aguilar said.

The show is scheduled to start production by the third quarter of the year and will “observe safety protocols and social distancing” and limit direct interaction using technology. The live pitches will be aired online on the show’s social media pages and will then be re-edited and aired on CNN Philippines.

Interested organizations or companies can submit their online entries and one-minute pitch videos via TheFinalPitch.ph/application. Interested investors and companies can reach the show via submit@TheFinalPitch.ph or contact 0917-813-6684. For more information, visit www.thefinalpitch.ph and follow its social media accounts. — ZBC

NTC mum on provisional authority to media company

THE legislative franchise of ABS-CBN Corp. expired on Monday with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) silent on the House of Representatives’ instruction to grant the broadcasting company a provisional authority to operate until the Congress decides on its franchise.

But other sectors have shared their view. In a phone interview, lawyer Stanley Kristoffer V. Cabrera VI, who serves as legal counsel for the Federation of International Cable Television and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines (FICTAP), said: “Kung nakalagay doon sa legislative franchise mo that there is a certain period accorded to you at mag-expire sya at a certain period, so expired sya pag natapos ang period na ‘yun. Walang ambiguity doon.”

(If your legislative franchise says it expires at a certain period, then it is expired. There’s no ambiguity.)

He also said that the ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise does not state “it expires after 25 years unless there is a bill filed” seeking its renewal.

The lawyer said ABS-CBN can still operate its TV and radio programs being aired via Channel 2 and DZMM through Sky Cable or other platforms such as Facebook and the network’s website.

“Kung may iba silang streaming model, pwede pa rin, operational pa rin sila. Halimbawa ‘yung news nila dumaan sa Sky Cable o sa ANC, okay ‘yun walang problema doon. Pero ‘yung broadcasting, technically wala nang franchise ‘yun,” he said.

(If they have other streaming models, those can remain operational. For instance, their news via Sky Cable or ANC will not have any problem. But technically, broadcasting has no franchise.)

House Committee on Legislative Franchises Chairperson Rep. Franz E. Alvarez of the 1st District of Palawan reiterated that his committee had “enjoined” the NTC to allow the media network to operate “until such time that the House of Representatives makes a decision on its application.”

“This will give Congress sufficient time to assess the qualifications of the applicant and make a complete review of the positions of the different stakeholders,” he added.

He said Congress should “be allowed the courtesy to complete the exercise of its power.”

The lawmaker also believes that “there is no reason for ABS-CBN to discontinue or stop its operations.”

Vice-Chairperson Rep. Antonio T. Albano of the 1st District of Isabela said in a separate statement: “I see no reason for NTC to close down ABS-CBN. In fact, it is more important now than ever, for media like ABS-CBN who has a far reaching network, to be open during this pandemic. ABS-CBN provides much needed information that government has been giving to reach everyone and keep us abreast on vital information that can spell the difference in saving lives and helping our country as we speak!”

“The good Speaker and I, with the whole Congress, again reiterate our call to NTC to give a provisional authority as we will deliberate soon the merits of granting or canceling the ABS-CBN franchise,” he added.

Solicitor General Jose C. Calida said over the weekend that the NTC cannot grant a provisional authority to ABS-CBN and its unit without their legislative franchises.

He said the NTC can only issue a provisional authority to operate to a broadcasting company if it is given a franchise by the Congress and is awaiting approval of its application for a certificate of public convenience (CPC) before the NTC.

His stand is contrary to what Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said at a Senate hearing in February that the Congress may authorize the NTC to issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN pending the renewal proceedings of its franchise with lawmakers.

Mr. Calida said the letter from the House of Representatives and the Senate Resolution No. 344 only express their sentiments and do not grant power to the NTC, citing a Supreme Court decision.

The NTC has issued a memorandum order allowing ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc., whose franchise had expired on March 17, 2020, to continue to operate during the Luzon-wide quarantine period.

The NTC previously declared that it would issue a provisional authority, consistent with Senate Resolution No. 40 adopted on March 4, 2020, and a letter to the NTC dated Feb. 26, 2020 from the House Committee on Legislative Franchises. — Arjay L. Balinbin

WFH during the ECQ: JoyRide’s Noli Eala

NOLI EALA

RUNNING a business during the coronavirus lockdown requires a great deal of attention and discipline. For Jose Emmanuel “Noli” M. Eala, vice-president for corporate affairs at JoyRide (We Move Things Philippines, Inc.), a work-from-home business leader can be effective if he knows how to keep his focus on the specifics of his work amid all the distractions in his environment.

In this interview, which took place over the phone on April 25, Mr. Eala talked about the importance of shifting our minds from family mode to work mode when working from home.

He also discussed how telecommuting can be economical for people and how this setup can help ease traffic in the Philippine capital.

The interview was lightly edited for clarity.

WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED ONLINE MEETING METHOD?
What we use is Zoom. We find it more convenient. It’s also clearer, faster, and simpler, and it also allows us to have multiple parties included in the meeting. We use Zoom to meet with our executive board. We also use it, a couple of times now, to meet with some foreign consultants, and also for our general management team meetings.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR HOME OFFICE
I have an attic in my house, so I have this little corner there where I have my computer, printer, work desk, and books. Also, the Wi-Fi is a little stronger in the attic so that’s why I prefer to use it there, and it’s quieter there as well.

WHAT TIME DO YOU START YOUR WORKDAY NOW COMPARED TO BACK WHEN YOU ACTUALLY WENT TO THE OFFICE
I start a little bit later now. I suppose that people expect you to be “at home,” so you can see me not really rushing to get to meetings, unlike before when we would usually have breakfast meetings. Now, I usually begin working at around 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m., and checking e-mails usually comes first. I also do all the reading around that time. If we have a scheduled Zoom meeting, we usually conduct it before lunch, around 11. Before the lockdown, I would usually be out of the house by 7:30 a.m.

HOW CAN BUSINESS LEADERS MANAGE THEIR TIME EFFECTIVELY?
I think we have to be more conscious about our work hours now because there’s more need to be focused considering that we are just at home. I think that’s something that I have kept in mind otherwise I will lose my attention to details and a particular structure of my work life.

Because you are at home, usually you see a lot of other things that you can do in the house that are not work-related. Hence, we should be more focused, and there’s a lot more need to pay attention to details, otherwise you can be very loose in the way you treat things at work.

DO YOU STILL TAKE BREAKS?
Definitely. I think that’s where the focus has to come in because usually at work, when you go to your office, it’s all work-related; but now you’re at home and you’re in family mode all the time, there may be a tendency to attend to other things that are not work-related even during a supposedly working hour. Yes, I do take breaks and that usually means preparing meals as well as helping out in the house.

DO YOU STILL DRESS UP FOR WORK?
Unfortunately no. I don’t dress up for work, but I don’t stay in my pajamas. What I do whenever there’s a Zoom meeting is that I’d at least be in a more acceptable outfit, not necessarily shorts, so I’m still changing to either jogging pants or even a pair of jeans.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM WORKING AT HOME?
First, be adaptable. There are many things in our age already that we are very set on, like we are used to waking up at this time, having coffee, and then leaving at a particular time to be at the office, so I think there is a need to be adaptable under these circumstances. Secondly, there must be some kind of order always in your life — balance. Now that we are at home, we are forced to get to that balance because when you are not at home, you devote a lot of your time to work; but now you get to see that there are many other things that you can do and still be able to be productive.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH DISTRACTIONS AT HOME?
You can’t help it. I have kids who are still in their teens, so I can’t help it. Sometimes in my meetings, there could be some background noise. Other than that, they know that I am actually in a meeting. I in fact involve them in some of the work that I do so they can see what is being done. Sometimes, there is a delivery that happens and you have to be called, etc. So yeah, there are distractions. But most of the time, I am able to work through them.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WILL CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD?
The best thing about working from home is that there’s no traffic, so immediately you are productive. Also, it is very economical for people. You don’t have to be using up a lot of clothes, you don’t have to use up gas, and you don’t have to waste time in traffic, so it’s very economical. I think this quarantine has taught many of us that, perhaps, to ease traffic in Metro Manila, it might be acceptable to have an alteration of our work schedule, meaning there could be a part of the week when everyone just stays home and works from home because it is working, and I think it is something that should be socially and economically studied so that we can further advance this practice. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Business group calls for more farming aid

By Jenina P. Ibañez, Reporter

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is calling for more funding for the agri-fishery supply chain among the government’s proposed fiscal stimulus measures after logistics gaps during the lockdown hurt farming income.

PCCI in a statement on Monday said that it supports the proposed Philippine Economic Stimulus Act (PESA), which will inject P1.3-P1.4 trillion into the economy from 2020 to 2022 to help businesses recover from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The funding includes interest-free loans for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), compensation for paid sick leaves for COVID-19 patients, and wage subsidies. Agriculture and fisheries have a P10-billion loan allocation.

PCCI is urging the government for increased funds for agri-fishery producers to cover loans, guarantees, and grants for inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, crop protectants, feeds, irrigation and machinery, research and development and access to markets.

The group said the funding should also cover food processing, canning, packaging, marketing, and logistics to address supply chain gaps.

PCCI President Benedicto V. Yujuico said food producers lost significant income because of logistics constraints during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Highly perishable produce have found it difficult to move their way into markets such that they have to be thrown away. The downstream industries such as food processing, retailing and restaurants are similarly impacted having to operate only partially, if at all,” he said.

Mr. Yujuico said agri-fishery producers and related enterprises should be given grants equivalent to what is needed to achieve food sufficiency and security, as well as countryside development.

“The sector has been neglected in the past and it is only now, under crisis, that the sector has been put in the spotlight for its importance in feeding our people and reviving our economy,” he said.

PCCI also said that it appreciates interest-free loans from state banks, but added that implementing rules and regulations from the Finance department and the central bank should provide more flexibility for MSMEs to benefit.

Mr. Yujuico added that the public transportation sector must also be offered subsidies.

“The operation of taxis, transport network vehicle services (TNVS) and public utility vehicles (PUVs) have altogether stopped under the ECQ. Once we graduate to the GCQ (general community quarantine), they can operate but below capacity because of physical distancing and limited workforce. There must be a means to subsidize them to ensure that they will continue to operate and service those who will go back to work,” he said.

Meanwhile, business groups have also expressed support for the recent guidelines from the Trade and Labor departments for workplace health and safety measures for businesses that are allowed to operate.

The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines (JFC) Senior Adviser John D. Forbes in a mobile message on Sunday said it is in the interest of firms to self-enforce the guidelines.

He said the guidelines work as a better approach than the House Bill 6623 that implements physical distancing norms.

“Guidelines can be changed to suit the circumstances as employers adjust to the post-pandemic environment,” he said.

Makati Business Club Executive Director Francisco Alcuaz Jr. in a mobile message said the guidelines balance having enough detail and leaving room for companies “to comply within their individual conditions”

“We trust that government and private sector will refine these guidelines as the science develops and feedback is received,” he said.

He added that there might be challenges in acquiring the test kits, alcohol, and the necessary personal protective equipment, but that they trust that the government, suppliers, and companies are working to obtain the supply.

Eraserheads reunion ends Smart Music Live online concerts

AFTER eight weeks of online concerts, Smart Music Live is ending its series with a mini Eraserheads reunion featuring Buddy Zabala and Raymund Marasigan on May 11, 5 p.m., at the Smart Communication Facebook page.

The online concert series started in March to entertain the public and to raise funds for COVID-19 frontliners. The show has so far featured Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists like 6Cyclemind, Imago, Moonstar88, Pedicab, Gracenote, and Banda ni Kleggy.

On Wednesday, the show will feature Mr. Marasigan in the Soup of the Week podcast at 10 a.m. while Eunice Jorge of Gracenote will be hosting the Piano Show on Thursday, 10 p.m.

Buddy Zabala and Raymund Marasigan were both part of the Filipino rock band Eraserheads, best known for songs such as “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and “Pare Ko.” After the band’s disbandment in 2002, Mr. Zabala became the bassist for the bands Moonstar88 and Hilera while Mr. Marasigan became the frontman of Sandwich and keyboardist of Pedicab.

Those who want to help the cause by donating can do so by texting DONATE to 3456. The donations will be used to aid families of frontline health workers, checkpoint officers, emergency response teams, and communities in need during quarantine. The platform accepts donations until July 16. — ZBC

Cemex earnings slump 47% to P89M

CEMEX says an 8% increase in volumes during the first two months of the year was offset by the effects of the (ECQ) in Luzon and other quarantine measures around the country during the second half of March 2020. — WWW.CEMEXHOLDINGSPHILIPPINES.COM

PROFITS of Cemex Holdings Philippines, Inc. fell 47% in the first quarter due to the steep decline in cement volumes after the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon in mid-March.

The listed cement manufacturer reported on Monday its net income in the January-to-March period dropped to P89.12 million from P168.64 million a year ago. Its net sales also slid 10% to P5.63 billion.

“An 8% increase in volumes during the first two months of the year was offset by the effects of the (ECQ) in Luzon and other quarantine measures around the country during the second half of March 2020,” it said in a statement.

Year on year, domestic cement volumes slipped 4% and domestic cement prices fell 6%, reflecting the price drops seen in the second half of last year.

“The comparable cost base in the first quarter of 2019 was affected by the scheduled kiln maintenance of Solid Cement Plant, higher sales from cement imports, and consumption of purchased clinker in cement production, as a result of the Naga landslide,” it said.

Gross profit climbed 2% to P2.35 billion but was outweighed by a 4% increase in selling and administrative expenses to P767.46 million, a 12% rise in distribution expenses to P1.07 billion, a 21% growth in financial expenses to P279.54 million, and foreign exchange losses of P66.41 million.

“These are extraordinary times we live in. Around the world, governments, industries, and people are taking measures to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and (Cemex) is not an exception,” Cemex President and Chief Executive Officer Ignacio Alejandro Mijares Elizondo was quoted as saying.

“Our focus during these challenging times is on three priorities: first, to protect the health and safety of our employees and their families, customers, suppliers, and communities; second, to support our customers as much as possible in a responsible way; and third, to ensure the long-term business continuity of (Cemex),” he added.

When Luzon was placed under ECQ in March, Cemex said it had to put on hold production at its Solid Cement plant in Antipolo City and suspend the delivery of cement products from that plant.

The ECQ in the National Capital Region and select areas across the country is set to expire on May 15. The government is still undecided on the need to extend the quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Shares in Cemex at the stock exchange shed five centavos or 4.50% to P1.06 each yesterday. — Denise A. Valdez

Creative home decoration tips for like under ECQ

Almost two months of being cooped up at home can make almost anyone itch with cabin fever. Seeing the same thing and pacing through the same spaces every day can get tiring. Good thing there are fun and simple ways of making a space look and feel brand new.

Even if you can’t do full-blown renovations right now like host Jesse Tyler Ferguson can do for the deserving families on the TV show Extreme Makeover, you can still tweak some elements in your home to make it more welcoming during the quarantine. Check out these tips on how to redecorate with minimal effort.

1. Hang up wall art. Treating a wall as a canvas can be a creative outlet for people who want to show who they are in the space they occupy. An empty wall space can be filled with art, photos, and even plates. So, get to thinking about what your wall will communicate about you.

2. Rearrange and repurpose furniture. Rearranging furniture is the fastest and most cost-effective way of making your space feel fresh and new. It’s also a good way to make a room feel spacious, especially now that we have to spend more time indoors. Giving a piece of furniture a second life is also a cheap and resourceful way of redecorating your space. An unstable chair can become a makeshift bedside table when decorated nicely.

3. Make a statement. If you have an eye-catching piece of art, making it the centerpiece of the room can help with setting the mood. It can also act as a guide on how to design the rest of the space so it can have a cohesive theme.

4. Add greenery to the scenery. Bringing an element of the natural world indoors can be a breath of fresh air, and there’s no better remedy than a plant to help you get that much needed oxygen. This is also a great way to make your home feel welcoming. Just remember to give the plants the right amount of water and sunlight they need.

5. Mirror, mirror on the wall. Strategically placing a mirror on a wall can make a room seem bigger, especially when the mirror can bounce more natural light into the room. If you’re feeling stuffy from staying indoors, try letting more natural light in by letting it reflect off of a mirror.

Learn more tips on how to give your home a makeover with the first season of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which is premiering on Wednesday, May 6, 10 p.m., on

HGTV (Sky Cable Ch 21 / Cignal 201 / Destiny 88).

Nestlé ramps up production as supplies run low

NESTLÉ Philippines, Inc. is ramping up production as it faces thinning supplies because of a surge in demand for food products and supply chain challenges during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Despite this, the company foresees slower demand after consumers that have lost income during the ECQ lose purchasing power.

“Right now we are operating at around 80% of our normal output,” Nestlé Philippines Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kais Marzouki said in a television interview on Monday.

He said the company had increased production from 60% in recent weeks after it was impacted by a surge in demand in March and April when consumers stocked up on food products. Mr. Marzouki said shipping delays had also caused a decrease in output.

“We are really running thin on some of the products,” he said, explaining that the company has one to two weeks worth of finished product supplies and 10 days worth of raw materials like sugar.

To address supply challenges, he said that the company has safety measures in place so that employees can report for work, and that it plans ahead in ordering raw materials.

He said demand had been strong in recent weeks because of panic-buying and increased home cooking.

“Going forward, this will change a lot because we think that a lot of people right now are not getting any income. So there will be a lot of pressure on purchasing power on our consumers in the months to come,” he said.

To retain demand, he said the company is considering adding free packs in products and increasing promotional strategies.

Nestlé Philippines recently launched a P500 million program to distribute food packages to one million families. — Jenina P. Ibañez

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