Linking Systems, Integrating Success: TSI integrates the technologies you need to succeed

April 13, 2020 | 1:18 pm

Success is too broad to define; it can mean a lot of things to many different people. For entrepreneurs, success might be about growth and profitability, but for political leaders, it could be about gaining power and influence. For some, it could be having the spare time to do what they love, overcome fears, or simply enjoy what life has to offer. Though success may vary from one person to another, it hinged to one big concept — achieving desired vision.

While most successful people associate their victory to years of hard work and perseverance, there are also some who give the credit to a strong network they established over the years. Same thing goes in the business world; companies also need a strong network for them to take off and reach success.

While some companies are still on the verge of finding out what success really is, Technologies Specialist, Inc. (TSI) is rock-steadyin itsdeeply rooted values. The company’s new brand identity, visualized by a flock moving towards success, is not just about linking clients through advanced cabling and network infrastructure solutions. It is a nod towards the invaluable trust that comes from their customers’ complete satisfaction in their services.

With today’s evolving society, the demand for structured cabling is even higher. According to a recent study by market research firm Fact. MR, this is driven by the propagation of fifth-generation technology, or 5G, and the modernization of data centers.

The study said that 5G technology continues to expand at a global scale, and the trails and deployment activities for this next-generation wireless network technology are giving way for new structured cabling installations. The emergence of modular data centers has also stimulated the utilization of modularized data cabling solutions that hold superior networking capabilities.

The never-ending progress of tech brings massive disruption on how businesses are run. It is now a matter of adapting to new innovations, or else be left behind.

While the benefits of structured cabling vary from business to business, the much-prepared-for upgrade will account for cost-effective network infrastructure that will stand the test of time and address the complexities of technology resulting in increased efficiency and improved workflow for a sustainable business continuity.

With a help of the right partner like TSI, the journey to network transformation would be easy. TSI offers holistic solutions covering all processes for structured cabling system; security and surveillance system; fire alarm and detection system; voice evacuation system; card identification system; electrical distribution systems; and rack and wire-ways manufacturing. All these services and solutions are delivered by TSI’s roster of certified engineers and highly skilled project managers, trained to work professionally and competently.

TSI’s provides its clients with cost savings that they can reallocate to other business needs. Its methodology revolves around the commitment to usher business partners to success.

As a subsidiary of Trends Group, Inc. and the affiliate of Trends and Technologies, Inc., TSI shares the same pursuit of excellence and dedication to customer satisfaction.

TSI’s track record in pursuit of excellence can be traced as early as 1996 when it was established. The company was involved in epic endeavors that gave it the opportunity to implement very imposing projects over the years. It was able to work with some of the country’s biggest companies from across different industries, addressing their strict and rigorous requirements. Despite some challenges related to geographical location, and some international and security standards, among others, TSI was able to deliver its promise of excellence.

At present, TSI – aside from its established partnerships with industry leaders – continuously worked on partnering with best-of-breed technology leaders to deliver effective services and solutions.

How would you like to connect towards success? Reach out to TSI today.

DoH modifies classification of COVID-19 cases

April 13, 2020 | 1:18 pm

On January 28, the Philippines started classifying coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases as either Patients under Investigation (PUIs) or Persons under Monitoring (PUMs). However, due to apparent local or community transmission of the virus and the surge in cases, the Department of Health (DoH) has decided to shift from classifying individuals as PUIs or PUMs to using case definitions following guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO).

PUM — one who may have been exposed to the virus but shows no symptoms — is no longer included in the new classification, as residents are assumed to have been exposed due to local transmission. A PUI (mild, severe or critical) who was not tested or awaiting test results is now classified as Suspect, while a PUI (mild, severe or critical) with inconclusive test results is considered a Probable case. A COVID Positive case is now referred to as Confirmed.

SUSPECT CASE

A. Individuals with influenza-like illness (ILI). Symptoms include fever of at least 38°C and cough or sore throat, AND either of the following: (i) a history of travel to or residence in an area that reported local transmission of COVID-19 during the 14 days prior to symptom onset, OR (ii) with contact to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 during the 14 days prior to symptom onset.

B. Individuals with sudden respiratory infection and severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty of breathing or severe pneumonia with unknown cause, and requires hospitalization

C. Individuals with fever or cough or shortness of breath or other respiratory signs or symptoms and under any of the following conditions: (i) aged 60 years and above, (ii) with a comorbidity, (iii) assessed as having high-risk pregnancy, or (iv) a health worker.

PROBABLE CASE

A. Suspect case whom testing for COVID-19 is inconclusive

B. Suspect case who tested positive for COVID-19 but whose test was not conducted in a national or subnational reference laboratory, or an officially accredited laboratory

CONFIRMED CASE

A. Any individual who was laboratory-confirmed for COVID-19 through RT-PCR in a national or subnational reference laboratory, or a DoH-certified laboratory testing facility

BSP eyes ‘deeper’ policy rate cuts

April 13, 2020 | 12:33 am

THE central bank is looking at a “deeper cut” in interest rates to help cushion the economy from the impact of a “once-in-a-lifetime crisis” caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said ahead of a policy meeting next month.

He also signaled another cut in the amount of cash that banks need to hold as reserves to boost liquidity in the financial system.

“While BSP has cut the policy rate by 150 bps (basis points) since I assumed office last year, the Philippines is now faced with a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. It is now clear that reverting to where we were in 2018 — policy rate at 3.0% — is no longer an appropriate policy goal,” Mr. Diokno said in a text message to reporters on Sunday.

“A deeper cut is warranted in response to the expected sharp economic slowdown,” he said, noting that inflation is likely to settle closer to the lower end of the BSP’s 2-4% target this year.

The policy-setting Monetary Board (MB) has cut rates by a total of 150 bps since 2019, almost completely unwinding the 175 bps in hikes it implemented in 2018 amid multi-year high inflation.

Its latest move was 50-bp reduction on March 19, which brought the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate — or the key policy rate — to 3.25% and overnight lending and deposit rates to 3.75% and 2.75%, respectively, in a bid to shield the economy from the virus fallout.

Headline inflation eased to 2.5% in March coming from the 2.6% in February and the 3.3% in the same month in 2019, mainly on the back of falling oil prices amid low demand due to COVID-19. This brought the year-to-date average to 2.7%, above the 2.2% expected by the BSP for 2020.

The Monetary Board will meet to discuss policy anew on May 21.

While noting that monetary policy works with a lag and that they will remain “data dependent,” Mr. Diokno said governments worldwide need to ensure a “soft landing” for their economies in the aftermath of the pandemic.

“The monetary authorities’ job, in coordination with fiscal authorities, is to manage a ‘soft’ landing and ensure that economic takeoff begins quickly once the pandemic fades,” he said.

“These new realities call for bolder but appropriate moves on the part of the BSP. The challenge is to cushion the impact of the economic slowdown on people, firms and the financial system,” Mr. Diokno noted.

The central bank chief added that they will cut lenders’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) further following the 200-bp reduction in universal and commercial banks’ RRR earlier this month as they seek to boost liquidity to support economic activity.

The Monetary Board last month authorized Mr. Diokno to cut RRR by a maximum of 400 bps for the year, with potential cuts in the reserve requirements for other banks and nonbank financial institutions also to be explored.

“[T]he additional 200 bps cut is forthcoming based on available data, the needs of the economy, and the utilization of the additional liquidity,” he said.

Mr. Diokno earlier said the 200-bp cut freed up some P180-200 billion in liquidity.

The reserve ratios of thrift and rural banks are at four percent and three percent, respectively. However, the minimum liquidity ratio for stand-alone thrift, rural and cooperative banks was cut by 400 bps last week to 16% until end-2020 to boost their buffers amid the disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Mr. Diokno had vowed to reduce big banks’ RRR to the single-digit level by the end of his term in 2023.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Analysts said a more aggressive reduction in both benchmark interest rates and banks’ RRR will help ensure the country’s recovery after the crisis.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said further monetary easing will be in line with aggressive moves by central banks worldwide amid the pandemic.

“There is no better time than now to further cut interest rates and RRR to also complement the record programs versus COVID-19 to better deal with the economic losses especially in providing aid to vulnerable sectors as well as to prepare the economy for a rebound,” Mr. Ricafort said in a text message.

Security Bank Corp. Chief Economist Robert Dan J. Roces said Mr. Diokno’s signal is a “proactive stance” amid easing inflation that also factors in the transmission lags of monetary policy.

“[I]nflationary tendencies from cuts may be absent on the back of low oil prices which may offset any price repercussions,” Mr. Roces said in a text message. “[W]e can hit the ground running in terms of recovery after ensuring that the economy is adequately capitalized.”

UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said lower interest rates will help the economy during this crisis even as he warned that this could take a toll on the peso, noting that adjustments can wait until a “soft landing” is reached.

“The peso has been attractive because of its spread between inflation and the existing policy rate. If the RRP is further cut, the peso may not be the same as it is perceived by the market now,” Mr. Asuncion said in a text message.

“[The] BSP has the careful task of continuing to smoothen the volatility of the peso after further rate cuts,” he said. “It’s a difficult balancing act. We may win or lose, but we do not have many policy choices at this point.”

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said last week the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will likely post flat growth or even shrink by as much as one percent this year, as economic activities in Luzon remain at a standstill due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that will last until April 30.

The estimated 1% contraction in GDP is lower than -0.6% to 4.3% growth range seen by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) prior to the extension of the one-month lockdown.

NEDA last month said the low end of its growth estimate for this year, a contraction of 0.6%, is “still too high” if the ECQ is extended beyond one month “or if the spread of COVID-19 is unabated even after the ECQ.”

This compares to the 5.9% GDP expansion in 2019 and the 6.5-7.5% growth target set by the government for this year.

COVID-19 cases in the country reached 4,648 as of Sunday, with 297 casualties, according to the Department of Health. Recoveries totaled 197. — L.W.T. Noble

PCCI lists priorities for gov’t after ECQ lifting

April 13, 2020 | 12:32 am

By Jenina P. Ibañez
Reporter

THE country’s biggest business group is urging the government to focus on mass testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the resumption of some economic activity and the removal of barriers to movement of people and supplies in order to ensure a path to recovery after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) ends on April 30.

At the same time, tycoon and SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) Vice-Chairperson Teresita T. Sy-Coson said a gradual resumption of businesses will help save jobs after the lockdown, which has halted most economic activities in Luzon, is lifted.

“As discussions on possible triggers for a partial lifting of the ECQ begin, the PCCI respectfully submits its recommendations, which encapsulate key elements to recovery. These are (a) success in epidemic control, (b) resumption of economic activity, and (c) eliminating barriers to the supply chain and the movement of people — all towards rebuilding consumer confidence,” the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said in a statement on Sunday.

The PCCI expressed support for the government’s decision to extend the lockdown to April 30, saying this provides a window for mass testing.

“The results could improve data and monitoring ability that can help flatten the curve,” the group said.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said in a press briefing Sunday that the IATF is discussing government action after April 30, noting that the World Health Organization has said countries should be gradual in lifting lockdowns.

As the revival of economic activity is “critical to recovery,” the PCCI said the ECQ is an opportunity for the government to rehabilitate existing transportation infrastructure but with social distancing measures in place.

The chamber also recommended the prioritization of infrastructure projects that would improve the efficiency of agriculture and manufacturing supply chains.

The government should refocus its strategy on the domestic market, as well as develop agriculture and aquaculture sectors to achieve food security.

“Aside from infrastructure support that include farm-to-market roads, irrigation, post-harvest facilities and other related projects, the agriculture and aquaculture sectors must be provided input subsidies and access to research and development and technologies,” the PCCI said.

The business group also noted micro and small businesses should leverage on digital platforms to address supply chain gaps.

“Farmers, fisherfolks, manufacturers and entrepreneurs need end-to-end logistics platform solutions to ensure that their access to markets is unimpeded,” it said.

The PCCI also urged the Bangko Sentral, banks and other financing institutions, and the Small Business Corp. to make it easier for MSMEs to get loans.

If the government expands the list of “essential” industries, the PCCI recommended the inclusion of the public transport sector.

“Premised on the (future) decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to partially lift the Luzon ECQ, PCCI recommends the partial lifting of the public transport sector in support of the slow but steady journey towards economic normalcy while strictly enforcing social distancing policy,” it said.

The PCCI proposed the implementation of a unified public transport scheme, similar to those in Japan and Singapore where buses follow a regular trip schedule and have designated stops to make it easier to monitor social distancing of passengers.

“As the country prepares for the lifting of the ECQ and gradually resumes economic activity, the government, the private sector and other stakeholders should continue to provide a safe environment for work and for consumption,” the business group said.

SAVE JOBS
For SMIC’s Ms. Sy-Coson, allowing companies to restart operations will ease unemployment, which is expected to rise as overseas Filipino workers (OFW) return home.

“If all the industries can start operating 50% including the transport with all the medical precaution like making test kits more available and disinfecting measures and sanitation safeguards, then we can gradually increase the employment, including the returning OFWs who are adding to our number of unemployment,” Ms. Sy-Coson said in a statement on Sunday.

Aside from loans and government assistance, Ms. Sy-Coson said companies can help boost employment as long as they implement social distancing and frequent disinfection of facilities.

“Employment is also the key to the health of their family by having enough food for their own immunity and the key to the health of our economy,” she said.

The SM group, whose businesses include shopping malls, retail, banking and real estate, employs 157,288 workers as of end-2019. Most of its employees work at SM Markets, BDO Unibank and the SM Store, according to its sustainability report last year.

The Sy-led conglomerate has so far given P170 million in donations for efforts to fight COVID-19. — with Denise A. Valdez

Export firms can ‘enhance’ operations amid ECQ

April 13, 2020 | 12:31 am

THE government is allowing export-oriented companies to boost their operations as long as they provide accommodations and shuttle service for workers during the expanded Luzon-wide lockdown.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in memorandum circular 20-14 dated April 11 said export enterprises are allowed to “enhance” operations by giving workers on-site or near-site accommodations within five kilometers of the factory, or within the same municipality or city as the facility.

Employees of export enterprises that live within five kilometers of their workplace are allowed to work.

These export firms may deploy point-to-point shuttle services for employees in near-site accommodations or residences, provided that social distancing and routine disinfection of vehicles is observed.

The same DTI circular also allows outsourcing companies and their support service providers to deliver, install, and troubleshoot equipment for employees who are under a work-from-home arrangement.

They will now be allowed to provide telecommunications support, logistical support such as food and essential goods, and other support services for outsourcing personnel in temporary housing or working from home at any time during the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Outsourcing and export companies were previously given deadlines to move equipment for work-from-home arrangements. A downsized work force was allowed to continue working on-site provided that they were given temporary accommodations.

The Luzon-wide lockdown, which was initially scheduled to end on April 12, was extended up to April 30.

For these arrangements, employees of export and outsourcing companies, along with their support service providers, are allowed to travel to and from work provided that they present a company ID with the address of employer and the employee’s residence and a certificate of employment.

Export personnel must also present the company’s certificate of registration, while support service personnel must show certification from the outsourcing and export enterprise.

The certificate of registration presented by employees of export companies are those issued by the Board of Investments, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, other investment promotion agencies, or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The memorandum said that all local government units (LGU) are directed to follow DTI’s advisory, and copies of the memorandum will be presented to the Philippine National Police and LGUs at checkpoints.

There are over 900,000 workers in the outsourcing industry in Metro Manila, according to the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

As of March 20, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority said 703 companies in Luzon economic zones suspended operations due to the lockdown. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Financial secrecy: how jurisdictions compare

April 13, 2020 | 12:30 am

Make-or-break moment in virus fight could happen this week

April 13, 2020 | 12:30 am

THE world’s ability to check the coronavirus contagion and fully recover from the worst peacetime recession since the Great Depression may depend on what international economic policy makers decide this week.

With emerging markets and developing nations facing health emergencies, collapsing demand and cash crunches, the guardians of the global economy are under the gun to ease the strains at this week’s videoconferenced meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

“It’s a make-or-break moment,” said former IMF chief economist Maury Obstfeld. “This may be the greatest global crisis we’ve faced in the postwar period.”

Having all taken steps to support their individual economies, failure by the leading Group of 20 (G20) countries to act now together could consign the world to “reservoirs of disease” and trigger outward migration from poor countries on “a biblical scale,” said Mr. Obstfeld, now a professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

A lack of forceful action could set the stage for damaging debt defaults and throw a roadblock in the way of any sort of robust recovery of the world economy. The dollar’s surge has been particularly painful for countries that ran up borrowing in greenbacks and which will now struggle to cover the loans, especially as their exports tumble.

OUTFLOWS TSUNAMI
If the emerging markets lag behind, “it means more of a U-shaped or an L-shaped kind of recovery for the US and global economies,” said Nathan Sheets, a former US Treasury official who’s now chief economist for PGIM Fixed Income.

While the US, Europe and Japan have opened up the monetary and budgetary spigots to fight COVID-19 and its economic after-effects, many emerging economies lack the scope to do so.

Morgan Stanley economists predict that emerging markets, excluding China, will shrink 4.1% in the current quarter, a deeper dive than the 3.1% of the first quarter of 2009 when the world was last in crisis, though shallower than what’s expected in richer economies. They also estimated in an April 3 report that the peak rate of growth during the recovery for those economies will be 6% in the second quarter of 2021 versus 7.7% in the same period of 2010.

The problem is even more acute in the poorest nations, where many denizens can’t easily practice the social distancing and regular hand washing that has become de-rigueur in rich countries.

Such an environment leaves the IMF reckoning that emerging markets and developing countries will need trillions of dollars in external financing to fight the virus, only part of which they can cover on their own, leaving gaps of hundreds of billions of dollars. Half of the international lending organization’s 189 members are already looking to it for aid.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva is trying to rally the world into a unified display of support at the Fund’s semi-annual meeting, which starts Tuesday as a virtual gathering after the typical spring gathering in Washington was re-imagined.

“Today we are confronted with a crisis like no other,” Ms. Georgieva said in an April 9 speech. “The actions we take now will determine the speed and strength of our recovery.”

There are questions, though, about whether the Fund has enough to counter the crisis, especially if it proves protracted.

While the IMF says it has a $1-trillion war chest, Ted Truman of the Peterson Institute for International Economics calculates that the maximum amount available for new lending is $787 billion, after taking into account existing commitments and other factors. “The IMF will need more” from the US and the rest of the G20, he said.

And it’s not just the amount of resources that are at issue. It’s what kind they are.

The crisis has exposed a gaping hole at the center of the global economy. There’s no ultimate lender of last resort who can provide the liquidity that’s demanded in a financial emergency.

FUNDS PULLED
Some $62 billion was yanked out of emerging markets in the first quarter in a global dash for cash by investors, twice the size of outflows at the peak of the world financial crisis, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF).

While there are signs that pressure is easing — Indonesia, for example, sold $4.3 billion of dollar bonds last week to help finance virus relief measures — there are risks the outflows could resume as the hit to emerging market growth becomes more evident, IIF analysts said.

The Federal Reserve has moved to partly fill the void, including opening up dollar liquidity swap lines with Brazil, South Korea and Mexico. Mr. Sheets said it should do the same with India, Indonesia and Chile.

The IMF also has to step up and be willing to set aside its traditional playbook for dealing with countries in trouble, in which it demands economic reforms in return for financial assistance.

“This is much more of an exogenous shock,” said former US Treasury official Mark Sobel, now at the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, a think tank focused on economic policy and central banking. “There needs to be some recalibration by the IMF to provide far more liberal and fast liquidity to members.”

The fund seems to be trying to do just that.

It’s looking at the use of precautionary short-term loans to get cash to countries, as well as other funding options like the increased use of reserve assets called special drawing rights, steps that would require the approval of rich nations.

One problem with the IMF stepping up, said ex-IMF official Taimur Baig: Many countries don’t like turning to the organization because they fear being tarred as a nation in trouble.

REPAYMENT PAUSE
“Drawing on to IMF resources has an element of stigma and it is still seen as the last resort of a crisis-hit nation,” said Mr. Baig, who’s now chief economist at DBS Bank in Singapore.

As for the poorest countries, a plan championed by Ms. Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpass calls on wealthy governments to place a temporary pause on debt repayments. The World Bank in March estimated that $14 billion in service payments are due this year.

In the 2008-09 crisis, the G20 banded together to come up with an action plan.

That’s been more difficult this time for a group riven by rivalries — the US and China over trade, Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil, and the UK and the European Union over Brexit.

IIF President Tim Adams said the G-20 must rise to the occasion, nonetheless.

“There will be enormous attention and enormous expectations” focused on this week’s gatherings, he said. “Not meeting them could be detrimental for markets and for confidence.” — Bloomberg

Pangilinan says groups’ jobs safe

April 13, 2020 | 12:08 am

By Arjay L. Balinbin
Reporter

BUSINESSMAN Manuel V. Pangilinan on Sunday assured employees of the companies he leads under the so-called MVP Group of Companies that their jobs are safe, noting that their balance sheets are strong and cash flows are more than sufficient even during a prolonged period of pandemic.

In his Easter Sunday message, Mr. Pangilinan said that during the pandemic, the MVP Group has been focusing on protecting and supporting its employees, continuing to serve its customers, and working with all levels of government in lifting the welfare of the broader community.

“It is important that we keep our businesses going as best as we can. We must keep the lights on, people connected, water flowing, and care for those infected by the virus,” he added.

Mr. Pangilinan is at the driver’s seat of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC); PLDT, Inc.; MediaQuest Holdings, Inc.; Philex Mining Corp.; Manila Electric Co. (Meralco); and Maynilad Water Services, Inc., among others.

“A number of you have asked me if this scourge has put your jobs at risk. The answer is — No,” he said.

He added: “I am pleased to tell you that our Balance Sheets are strong and Cash Flows even under a prolonged period of the pandemic are more than sufficient to carry us through.”

Mr. Pangilinan likewise noted that the group’s profit “has temporarily taken a back seat to cash.”

“Not that it is no longer important — our marching orders are in fact to preserve as much as we have originally budgeted,” he said.

“You have steady hands on the tiller, and the ship itself is sturdy. So I assure all of you: our companies are safe, your jobs are safe, and you and your families are safe,” the businessman said further.

MPIC’s tollways unit Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. alone had about 4,000 employees as of 2019 while PLDT had 17,222 employees as of 2018.

Maynilad’s total number of employees in 2018 was 2,204 while Meralco had 5,602.

Mr. Pangilinan said it will take time for businesses to return to normal.

“It will take time for us to overcome our fear of joining social gatherings or business meetings. It will take time for malls, hotels, and restaurants to recover their trade. It will take time for our Tollways and Light Rail to regain their previous traffic. It will take time for all of us — individuals and businesses — to rebuild and heal,” he said.

The government announced on Tuesday last week the extension of the lockdown on Luzon island until the end of April, as the country has yet to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“And when we do reach that summit, hopefully by end April or early May, I am sure we will all be relieved because it is the beginning of the end. I am sorry to say this but realistically, we should not expect to see the pandemic to end as quickly as it started… This could take a few more weeks, or a few more months,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

Also on Sunday, PLDT announced that it is providing its Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers with free access to StaySafe.ph, a COVID-19 emergency-response website developed by Multisys Technologies Corp.

“StaySafe.ph is a website that allows its users to protect their loved ones and community by voluntarily answering a series of questions about their health status without disclosing their personal identity. Based on the users’ responses, the online platform classifies individuals as being in good health, or experiencing mild symptoms or severe conditions,” PLDT said.

PLDT added that data from this website will help local governments and private sector organizations to assist individuals with COVID-related concerns and guide authorities in making their decisions.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

JLL says lockdown prompting real estate companies to go digital

April 13, 2020 | 12:07 am

By Denise A. Valdez
Reporter

THE current enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and other select areas across the country is pushing the real estate sector to accelerate the digitalization of operations.

In a recent report by property services firm JLL Philippines, it said real estate players will have to adapt faster to the market’s changing demand as the quarantine poses new needs from emerging work environments.

“There could be greater impetus and increased urgency for real estate players to accelerate their digitization efforts and incorporate technology in their existing and future workflows,” it said.

“Many real estate firms have leveraged on technology and online platforms to keep their business afloat and remain connected to employees and clients during this period. These companies may be inclined to incorporate applications that prove helpful during the outbreak in their operations and may be more open to embrace new ones moving forward,” it added.

JLL noted the real estate sector — across industries — has recorded declines in the past weeks due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Since the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon mid-March, demand for office space in Metro Manila has slumped, particularly from the online gaming and information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) sectors.

The residential segment likewise saw clients pulling out of their spaces, proven by the reopening of condominium units in different residential projects. JLL said this resulted in an increased use of online platforms to seal new transactions, and in worse cases, developers planning to postpone project launches.

The retail segment is also challenged by the situation, not just by the lack of foot traffic in malls, but also by rent condonation for tenants. Shopping activity has now shifted to online stores that are using social media to support their businesses.

The pandemic also forced some players in the hospitality segment to temporarily close because of massive drops in bookings from the tourism market. JLL said occupancy levels for hotels in Metro Manila are now declining to around 20-30% so far.

The industrial segment is not immune from the pandemic either, as the disruption in the supply chain due to travel restrictions has resulted in reduced capacity of 50% or lower for some contract logistics providers.

As the landscape changes, JLL said it is important for the real estate sector to adapt to the shift in customer activity to online and study how to grow in the new environment.

“Developers and property managers may bolster their existing applications and virtual functionality by introducing new and/or expanding the roster of processes and systems migrated online… Similarly, retail players may continue to strengthen their omni-channels and increase their in-house capability and/or expand their logistics network,” it said.

The work-from-home scheme currently implemented by most companies, as forced by the lockdown, also pushes the real estate sector to evaluate how to remain relevant when the setup becomes more widely accepted.

“There may be increased reception towards adopting flexible work arrangements and explore alternative workplace strategies that may influence future space requirements and design… [T]hose that found effective setups may be more open to employ similar schemes that may affect their physical space moving forward,” JLL said.

The firm also expects there would be increased attention to health and wellness as part of real estate design, as buyers would be more conscious of these concerns due to the virus outbreak. “Building owners and property managers may also revisit their building ventilation designs and air filtration systems, as well as consider the application of new cleaning technologies to enhance health and safety measures within their buildings,” it said.

The crisis may also give birth to new opportunities for real estate in Visayas and Mindanao, as JLL said companies may consider setting up sites outside Luzon as part of their business continuity plans. It noted recent calamities and the current quarantine are all in the Luzon region, which might make Visayas and Mindanao more attractive from here forward.

“This may translate to increased demand for both traditional office and flexible workspaces in established and growing markets such as Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro City, among others” it said.

MPTC waives emergency towing fees

April 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

METRO PACIFIC Tollways Corp. (MPTC) announced over the weekend that it was waiving the fees for emergency towing services during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period.

“Aside from providing free toll to all medical frontliners, North Luzon and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressways (NLEx-SCTEx) are now waiving the fees for emergency towing services for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine,” MPTC said in a statement.

“As a vital component of the country’s supply chain, NLEx-SCTEx is committed to supporting the government’s call for the expressways to promote the unhampered flow of cargoes, essential food supplies and medical equipment during the ECQ lockdown to combat the present crisis,” it added.

MPTC said the free emergency towing services began on April 10.

MPTC recently delivered food donations, including rice, canned goods, and noodles, to at least 220 villages within its expressway network such as NLEx, SCTEx, Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx), and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAx).

The areas covered were Quezon City, Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Valenzuela City, Paranaque City, Pasay City, Las Piñas City, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, Cavite and Laguna.

MPTC President Rodrigo E. Franco was quoted as saying: “With these urgent donations, MPTC hopes to support ongoing LGU relief efforts and somewhat ease the worries of families in these barangays, especially those who reside within the immediate vicinity of our network of expressways.”

MPTC announced previously that NLEx, SCTEx, CAVITEx, and CALAx would be toll-free for medical frontliners “in recognition of their dedication and commitment to provide essential services as the country fights COVID-19.”

“We hope that through these programs, we are able to help and give back to our heroes fighting the COVID-19,” Mr. Franco said.

MPTC is the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of the three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin

A few minutes of exercise can help decrease quarantine stress

April 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

By Zsarlene B. Chua
Reporter

MUCH of Luzon has been under community quarantine for a month now and since everyone was thrust into a situation where staying at home is paramount in order to beat the virus, adjusting to living within the four walls of their homes is a challenge not only for physical fitness but also mental health. Fitness educators and trainers are suggesting that the act of moving, whether doing chores or simple workouts, for a few minutes can do wonders to help the quarantine pass easier.

“In terms of feeling less stress, I think movement on its own just makes your body… release hormones that make you feel good. So once your body moves, it feels productive, you automatically get a lightened spirit,” Rica Rodriguez, co-founder and master trainer at Dynamic Duo, Inc., told BusinessWorld in an online interview on April 6.

Dynamic Duo is a company that trains fitness trainers and was founded by Ms. Rodriguez and Diane Masinsin. Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Masinsin are in the early weeks of quarantine in Hanoi, Vietnam, and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates respectively.

In the past few weeks since much of the world has ordered to undertake some form of social distancing and quarantines, Dinah Salonga, managing director of yoga studio Yoga Plus, noted that this “[broke] down our compartmentalized life and roles and suddenly merged them into one!”

“Before we could be a corporate executive from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., a wife and/or mother when we get home. Now we have to work and take care of our kids at the same time!” Ms. Salonga told BusinessWorld in an e-mail interview on April 8.

“It is driving a lot of people crazy! It is important that we keep our minds focused so we can work when we need to… Physical activity is important to keep us healthy and strengthen our immunity. Movement is also a good way to exercise our brain and take our mind off our worries and cares for a few minutes a day,” she added.

For some, keeping focused means following a strict routine every day, but the women behind both Dynamic Duo and Yoga Plus noted that keeping a routine should only be done if a person functions better by sticking to a routine.

“Instead of an actual routine, create a checklist that can change day by day like one day you’re allowed to do this, and the next day you do something else… because if you put it on a routine it’s can be stressful if you miss an activity in your routine,” Ms. Masinsin said, before adding that making a checklist makes adjustments, depending on time and how one is feeling at a particular moment, easier.

But for those who want to be more active even after quarantine ends, setting a specific time each day to work out or meditate can help one keep the behavior long-term.

“I believe that each person has his/her own way of keeping balance. If you are a person who works best with an established routine, then it is something you also need to be able to do while working from home. Routine helps when we are trying to create a new pattern of behavior. An example could be a physical workout or a meditation practice. Doing it at the same time during the day will help in building a new habit,” Ms. Salonga said.

For those who live a more sedentary lifestyle, Ms. Masinsin noted that working or moving even just for five minutes a day can do wonders for one’s mental health.

“It doesn’t have to be 30 minutes every day. A little movement is better than none… especially for people who haven’t moved before or haven’t been in a strict exercise regimen, you want to make them see that it’s not actually hard to start,” said Ms. Rodriguez.

Yoga, for Ms. Salonga, is something she recommends people to do because she thinks it’s the “best movement practice you can do at home.”

“You can do it with just a blanket or carpet if you don’t have a mat. You can even just use the chair,” she said, and 15 minutes, preferably every day, can do “wonders for your body and for your mental and emotional state.”

The trainers also suggested that being stuck at home doesn’t mean that you have to eat unhealthy food if you have the option to eat healthier food.

“Practice healthy snacking, popping your own popcorn is a good healthy snack,” Ms. Rodriguez said. Ms. Salonga said to eat more whole foods than processed foods if it’s available.

“If they can still get fresh produce (vegetables, fruits, beans, grains), this is still the best. Fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir will help boost the immune system,” she explained.

QUARANTINE CHANGING THE FITNESS INDUSTRY
Most gyms and fitness centers have been closed during quarantine so many fitness studios and trainers have taken to live streaming their classes for clients and for those who are looking for someone to guide them through a workout session. This has changed the way trainers look at the industry.

“At first it was kind of weird because you’re used to talking to people and getting instant feedback and smelling the room, and now you’re not even seeing people’s reaction unless I look at the chat box,” Ms. Rodriguez said.

Ms. Rodriguez conducts livestream workout sessions every Wednesday and Saturday at 8 p.m. on the Dynamic Duo-Rica & Divine Facebook page.

And it’s not just them as Yoga Plus also conducts virtual yoga classes regularly via the YogaPlus Facebook page. Their last class before Holy Week was on April 8 and classes will resume after Holy Week.

“Everyone’s doing a great job trying to keep people moving in their homes and [we’re] seeing more neophytes joining the sessions,” Ms. Rodriguez said.

“It changed how people are looking at exercise because now they can do the workouts in the safety of their homes if they want to,” she added.

Dynamic Duo has also seen people from other countries joining their online workouts.

“That just means that everyone’s at home and looking for something to do, so maybe if this didn’t happen, those without gym memberships wouldn’t be able to do this, So it opened the market a lot more… it made working out more accessible,” Ms. Rodriguez said.

With the proliferation of online workouts, she mused that “even gym and fitness facilities would have a different way of approaching the market now.”

Dynamic Duo and Yoga Plus’ previous workouts can be accessed via their Facebook pages at facebook.com/pg/dynamicduoricadivine and https://www.facebook.com/yogaplusph/.

Online fitness classes can go beyond yoga. Here are some other resources for online fitness that include ballet and boxing.

Ballet may be graceful, but it also makes for a tough workout. The New York City Public Ballet released a number of fitness videos back in 2006 by PALM, and they are still available on YouTube at PALM’s channel (youtu.be/RSTQz5a_tDI). And for a touch of NYC glamor, they’re introduced by New Yorker Sarah Jessica Parker. The videos feature the ballet company’s daily fitness routine, meant to enhance muscle tone, flexibility, and improve one’s posture. They are narrated by the soothing voice of their former Ballet Master, Peter Martins. A disclaimer at the beginning of the workout notess that it’s designed for people who are in good health, and not intended as a substitute for qualified medical counselling. Volume 1 (there are two volumes) lasts a little over an hour. It’s deceptively simple, beginning with a light warmup that just has you moving your body airily and gracefully, like miming ballet. It then evolves into floor barre exercises and into pliés and dégagés, accompanied by classical music. The light soothing music ignores your gasps and urges you to do the workouts as gracefully as possible, even if your face has already gone red. After the workout, you’re left catching your breath, and with renewed respect for the work and gifts of a dancer.

A bit closer to home, Ballet Manila has released a series of videos called “Ballet Minute with Lisa Macuja” (it is now on Episode 12) in which the ballet company’s artistic director discusses and demonstrates exercises focusing on balance, stability, how to hold the neck, etc. These classes are more for intermediate and advanced students. But there is also a Ballet for Fitness video that is focused on children and adults who are beginners. The 30-minute class, and the Ballet Minute videos can be found at the Ballet Manila Facebook page.

Meanwhile, the Philippine arm of Spartan obstacle races, known for its intense outdoor activities, is releasing virtual workouts every day on its official instagram page (@spartanraceph), led by its own ambassadors. The schedule is usually announced the day before. A recent virtual workout involved burpees, squats, kicks, and tucks.

Finally, the BGC boxing gym Flyweight Boxing is also offering virtual workouts on its Instagram page (@flyweight.ph), from upper and lower body conditioning to dynamic stretching. They’re also offered on Instagram Live, but the workout instructions and some videos are also saved to the timeline. — with Joseph L. Garcia

SEC expects strong capital market rebound after pandemic

April 13, 2020 | 12:05 am

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is hopeful that the country’s capital market will have a strong comeback once the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is over.

In an embargoed statement, the corporate regulator said it anticipates a strong recovery for both the stock market and the bond market, evidenced by sustained interest from investors while the COVID-19 crisis is ongoing.

“We are optimistic that the Philippine capital market will make a strong recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said in the statement.

“We take the success of recent fundraising activities as one indication of the investing public’s continued confidence in the strength and resilience of our corporate sector, capital market and economy as a whole, especially with the reinforcements coming from the government,” he added.

The SEC cited several examples that prove continued trust from investors while the outbreak is ongoing: the successful offering of P15-billion bonds by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. on March 25; strong investor demand that pushed Bank of the Philippine Islands to announce a P33.9-billion bond issuance on March 27; and oversubscribed offering of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. to raise P7.05 billion on April 7.

It added Aboitiz Power Corp. is planning to issue within the next two quarters the fourth tranche of its P30-billion fixed-rate bonds composed of P9.55-billion bonds.

“We are hopeful that the Philippine capital market will come out stronger and even more resilient in the end. As such, it can better contribute to the promotion of financial inclusion and wealth democratization toward the fulfillment of our shared aspiration for a secure, comfortable life for Filipinos,” Mr. Aquino said.

Declining investor sentiment due to the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the stock market to enter bear territory on March 9. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) is now at 5,510.83 as of Wednesday, down 34.5% from its 52-week high of 8,419.59.

As much as P1.16 trillion have been wiped out from the market at one point, when trading resumed after two days of shutdown due to the government’s Luzon-wide lockdown to contain the virus.

But Mr. Aquino noted the decline of the PSEi is no different from what’s being observed around the world. He added it is “crucial” at such a time like this to keep the capital market operating efficiently and reliably amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The regulator has rolled out several initiatives to support the market as it operates under unique conditions. Some of these are immediately approving off-site trading protocols and relaxing disclosure requirements for listed companies.

“The SEC will continue monitoring developments in the capital market and remain proactive in supporting trading participants, issuers and investors in seeing through the uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr. Aquino said. — Denise A. Valdez

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