Author Archives: Ingming Aberia, ingmingaberia.com

About Ingming Aberia, ingmingaberia.com

Ingming Aberia is a student of baby talk.

Negros launches water security program

BACOLOD CITY: The Negros Occidental provincial government, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched on Tuesday the Provincial Integrated Water Security Program (PIWSP) that aims to increase access to resilient water supply, improve water resource management, and strengthen water sector governance in the province.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said 25 percent of the total population of Negros Occidental have no access to water supply and 18 percent have no access to sanitation services.

“We all know water is a basic need but such has become scarce. This concern is pressing as it is further aggravated by water pollution, water-borne disease, climate change and deforestation,” the governor said.

The PIWSP will formulate a local water security roadmap that espouses the development principles and strategies of the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan.

A memorandum of understanding between the province and USAID was signed last year with the primary aim to achieve water security.

One of the basis for the water security program is the result of the Climate Risk Assessment conducted by USAID Safe Water Group that showed Bago River Watershed is vulnerable to drought and Malogo River Watershed is vulnerable to flooding and landslide.

Negros Occidental provincial administrator lawyer Rayfrando Diaz presented the PIWSP at the launching activity. The PIWSP can also be accessed by the public in the provincial government’s official website.

Diaz said the hydrologic study conducted by Safe Water will help make informed decisions in the implementation of strategic projects in the province’s watersheds.

Lacson said “skillful and educated collaborations are needed to have real, effective, powerful, and sustainable solutions, and the government and other concerned stakeholders must collaborate.”

“Today is a significant step towards a serious, science and evidence-based approach, and in-depth water governance for a more inclusive and sustainable development in the province of Negros Occidental,” he said.

Energy crunch presents a difficult paradox

THE arrival of the month of June has brought with it a problem that is sadly all too reliable here in the Philippines: summer electricity shortages caused by increased demand due to hot weather. For several days last week, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and electricity distributors were forced to resort to “rolling brownouts” in and around Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, cutting power to some areas for periods of time to avoid overloading the grid, as electricity demand exceeded available supply.

On the one hand, we might view the return of the annual power shortages as a small sign of a return to normalcy amid the Covid-19 pandemic; last year was a rare break from the problem but only because there were still heavy restrictions on movement and economic activity. However, just as traffic congestion is a dubious indicator of economic vitality, our chronic energy shortage is a problem that requires solutions rather than salutations.

What is distressing about the most recent round of power alerts is that despite there being absolutely nothing different about them than in any other year, the approach to addressing them has not changed in the slightest. The Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission have sternly demanded that power producers explain the “planned and unplanned plant shutdowns” that resulted in short electricity supply at a time when demand was highest. Members of both houses of Congress have also called for a “probe” into the power crisis.

Neither of these responses have ever resulted in substantial improvements in the past, and there is no reason to expect that they will now.

The reason that the energy crunch is so difficult to solve is that it presents policymakers and stakeholders with a paradox: the manifestation of the problem of insufficient electricity supply is immediate, but the only rational solution to it, creating more electricity, cannot be immediately applied. We need more energy today, but under the most ideal circumstances, the soonest any new power source could be available would be in a year or two. By that time, it is quite likely that demand will have increased again; supply, then, will constantly be “playing catch-up,” and the energy deficit will never quite be resolved.

That has been the pattern for the Philippines for 20 years or more, and even though it is well understood, efforts to break it have obviously been unsuccessful.

Given that it inevitably takes some time to create new sources of power, the only real opportunity the country has to work toward eventually overcoming the chronic energy supply problem is to remove as many obstacles to energy development as possible, and thus shorten the amount of time the problem will persist from “indefinitely” to “some tolerably small number of years.”

We have a few ideas about how more investment in the energy sector might be encouraged to accomplish that.

First, market reforms that have either been proposed or are in development should be accelerated to give the demand side as much latitude as possible in sourcing power supplies. This includes the implementation of an electricity forwards market, immediately expanding the Retail Competition Open Access to every electricity consumer, regardless of size, and streamlining procedures to encourage consumers who are able to provide their own electricity and participate in net metering programs. Likewise, the government should give greater emphasis and incentives to energy conservation practices.

Second, obstacles to investment such as slow and inefficient regulatory processes and banks’ credit restrictions need to be assessed and reduced as much as possible. For example, one common complaint of energy sector investors is that banks are unwilling to offer financing for power generation projects unless there is already a guaranteed take-off in the form of a power supply agreement. This arcane and unreasonably risk-averse policy effectively kills any opportunity to create the stable power surplus necessary to prevent seasonal shortages, or to backstop the supply from sustainable but intermittent renewable energy sources.

Finally, nothing should be off the table in terms of what types of energy could be developed. Certainly, we should prefer clean, sustainable sources of energy, but the availability of energy itself, and not its type, should be the priority.

The one-off Mazda made famous by Matchbox

 The RX 500 was sold by British Toymaker Matchbox 10 times over

The RX 500 was sold by British Toymaker Matchbox 10 times over

In October 1970 Mazda unveiled the radically angular and streamlined RX500 concept car at the 17th Tokyo Motor Show. The start of the new decade also marked the company’s 50th Anniversary and the RX500 was a bold statement of Mazda’s engineering and design ambition. It quickly became a crowd favorite, captivating the public with its futuristic design and technology.

It looked like a car from a different planet to the Cosmo, Luce and R100 rotary production cars on sale at the time – the wedge shaped supercar had forward opening butterfly swing doors, while its 250ps 10A rotary engine was accessed by gullwing opening engine covers. It was also a road safety test bed that had multicolored rear strip lights that indicated whether the car was speeding up, cruising or slowing down by changing color.

This matchbox version was a hit in the diecast world

This matchbox version was a hit in the diecast world

Given its head-turning design it was hardly surprising that the space-age RX500 generated strong media interest worldwide. This exposure no doubt created the inspiration for turning this spectacular vehicle into a model car. Famous British toy car makers Matchbox recognized the potential of the RX500 and included it in its ‘Superfast program’ – a response to the 1968 introduction of Hot Wheels by Mattel, which featured thin axles and new wheels that made them faster and more fun to play with.

Why did Matchbox decide to include this one-off Japanese supercar concept in its portfolio? Matchbox’s largest sales market at the time was the United States and Matchbox was looking for futuristic fantasy and concept cars that would appeal to children in America. The RX500 perfectly matched these requirements, and with a lot of interest in Mazda and the rotary engine in Europe as well, it was no wonder that the orange Matchbox RX500, introduced in 1971 as the MB66, immediately became a global bestseller.

But back in the full size world how did Mazda come up with such a radical vehicle in the first place? The development of a prototype designed to research the behavior of plastic vehicle bodies and driving dynamics at speeds of over 125mph had been initiated as early as 1968 under the codename X810. An experimental vehicle was required – one with a mid-engine, low air resistance and high downforce and, at the same time, the smoothness of a rotary engine. The RX500 was also considered as a potential successor to the Cosmo Sport 110 S, Mazda’s flagship car at the time.

A carefully selected team produced various models and studied their aerodynamic drag in the wind tunnel. Contrary to the original plan of building a coupe, designer Shigenori Fukuda’s streamlined Shooting Brake model, which offered the lowest aerodynamic drag, was chosen. Fukuda-san drew inspiration for the RX500’s design from the film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, among other things. The vehicle was to resemble a classic car as little as possible, so a wide variety of design elements from racing and aviation found their way into the RX500. The rear stands out in particular, with its unusual appearance, evoking a mix between a spaceship and a jet fighter. Inspiration also came from Fukuda’s association with Italian car body manufacturer Carrozzeria Bertone. Thus, Fukuda-san added soft curves and contours to the RX500 to avoid creating monotonous lines.

Another distinctive design feature is the wrap-around windscreen. With the A-pillar fully concealed, the vehicle’s glass surfaces appear to be cast in one piece, giving the cabin a dome-like appearance. Entry to the RX500 is gained through a pair of butterfly doors. Even when stationary, the door concept, familiar from motorsport, creates a dynamic impression. Behind these front doors, a pair of gullwing doors, which serve as a longitudinally split cover for the engine compartment, house the spinning heart of the supercar. A detail that escaped Matchbox when designing the speedster for children – here, the engine compartment is concealed under a large rear-opening hatch.

Inside the car, passengers sit in two bucket seats. The eye is drawn to the three semi-circular instruments behind the four-spoke leather steering wheel, which are arranged in a wrap-around dashboard. Entertainment is also provided for in the RX500: The center console houses an AM/FM radio behind the four-speed transmission taken from the Mazda Luce R130 coupé. The RX500 was equipped with a futuristic tail light concept intended to provide additional information to other road users, thereby making traffic safer.

It was also the RX500’s rotary engine that cemented its supercar concept status. Powered by an upgraded two-rotor 10A engine located centrally for perfect weight distribution, the tiny 982cc rotary produced 250ps and revved to 15,000rpm – higher than the grand prix cars of the period. With a fiber glass-reinforced plastic body on a tube frame, the RX500 weighs just 850kg resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 3.4kg per horsepower. It was also just 1.065 meters tall as well – light, fast, low and futuristic it’s no wonder it was a dream car in the real and the toy car world.

A dip into the Mazda archive reveals pictures of the car in different colors, which caused speculation that several versions of the RX500 been built. In fact just one RX500 was built, originally green it was repainted yellow for the Tokyo Show, as all Mazda vehicles on display that year were presented in the same bright yellow with red interiors.

After the Tokyo show, the RX500 continued to make a splash at various shows around the world and was painted silver and a restoration in 2008 revealed traces of the previous green and yellow colors underneath. Today the sole Mazda RX500 can be seen at the Numaji Transportation Museum in Hiroshima.

While the oil price crisis of 1973 dashed any hopes of production RX500s, unsurprisingly the crisis did not affect the miniature edition of the RX500. After its launch, the Matchbox model remained on sale for over four years until it was reissued as a red Streaker model in 1975. Production was discontinued in 1976. Thus, the small, successful homage to the RX500 remained on toy shelves for a total of over a decade and has been sold countless times around the world.

Those hoping to display their own small tribute to the rotary sports car in their living rooms should take a look inside their old toy box – perhaps a small 1:59 scale Matchbox RX500 awaits them there. It’s well worth checking out – these days, the small model is a popular collector’s item, while for more serious collectors, Spark models now offer a detailed RX500 diecast model. A one off radical concept car, the bold Mazda designers behind the RX500 could never have imaged how this one-of-a-kind Mazda would become a toy car sales success around the world.

Shiga postpones introductory presscon for Kiefer Ravena

The Shiga Lakestars of Japan B.League on Sunday has decided to postpone the introductory press conference for Kiefer Ravena set on Monday.

“We have decided to postpone the press conference for Kiefer Ravena, which was scheduled to be held on Monday, June 7, on the club’s official Youtube channel,” the Lakestars said in a statement.

The postponement came less than 24 hours after the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) board disapproved Ravena’s intent to sign and play with Shiga, as the league insisted the 6-foot guard has to honor his contract with the NLEX Road Warriors.

Kiefer Ravena FIBA PHOTO

Kiefer Ravena FIBA PHOTO

“Kiefer has to honor his contract with NLEX and the PBA,” said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas in a press conference on Saturday afternoon.

Ravena just signed a three-year extension with NLEX in September last year. There is no buyout or exit clause in Ravena’s contract known as the Uniform Players’ Contract just like all the PBA players with live pacts with their mother ball clubs.

“On June second we had an official announcement of signing Kiefer Ravena for the 2021-2022 season. However, after the announcement, it was reported in the Philippines there are issues in his current contract,” said Shiga.

“We have decided to postpone the press conference until a more appropriate time, as holding a press conference with Ravena and us at this time may add more confusion to the situation. We will continue discussions to resolve these issues. We apologize for having worried you all, and we would like to ask you all for your patience and support. Thank you,” closed Shiga.

FB bans Trump for 2 years

(UPDATED)

AN FRANCISCO: Facebook on Friday (Saturday in Manila) suspended US former president Donald Trump for two years, the maximum penalty under a newly revealed set of rules for suspending public figures, from its former indefinite ban set on Jan. 7, 2021.

“We are today announcing new enforcement protocols to be applied in exceptional cases such as this, and we are confirming the time-bound penalty consistent with those protocols which we are applying to Mr. Trump’s accounts…

“We believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols,” FB said.

In related development, Trump said his two-year ban by Facebook was an “insult” to voters, as he signaled he sees himself making a return to the White House.

“Facebook’s ruling is an insult to the record-setting 75M people, plus many others, who voted for us in the 2020 Rigged Presidential Election,” Trump said in a brief statement, renewing his false claims that last November’s race was stolen from him.

“They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing, and ultimately, we will win. Our Country can’t take this abuse anymore!”

Trump was kicked off the world’s largest social media platform in January, when Facebook accused the Republican leader of stoking a deadly riot that month at the US Capitol.

Other media websites like Twitter also blocked him, but Facebook’s two-year ban means the brash billionaire could be back on the platform by January 2023, early in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.

Trump, 74, has repeatedly teased the prospect of another White House bid, despite being impeached by the House of Representatives – and acquitted by the Senate – for inciting the January 6 insurrection.

But in his Friday statement he directly portrayed himself as returning to the presidential mansion – one of the clearest signs yet of his ambition to return to power.

“Next time I’m in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife,” Trump said of Facebook’s chief executive. “It will be all business!”

While Trump has flirted with a fresh election bid, New York Times political reporter Maggie Haberman tweeted Tuesday that Trump has been telling confidants that he expects to be “reinstated” by August following a series of election audits in states like Arizona and Georgia.

There is no provision in the US Constitution that allows a defeated president to be reinstated after a certified election. AFP/Xinhua

FB bans Trump for 2 years

(UPDATED)

AN FRANCISCO: Facebook on Friday (Saturday in Manila) suspended US former president Donald Trump for two years, the maximum penalty under a newly revealed set of rules for suspending public figures, from its former indefinite ban set on Jan. 7, 2021.

“We are today announcing new enforcement protocols to be applied in exceptional cases such as this, and we are confirming the time-bound penalty consistent with those protocols which we are applying to Mr. Trump’s accounts…

“We believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols,” FB said.

In related development, Trump said his two-year ban by Facebook was an “insult” to voters, as he signaled he sees himself making a return to the White House.

“Facebook’s ruling is an insult to the record-setting 75M people, plus many others, who voted for us in the 2020 Rigged Presidential Election,” Trump said in a brief statement, renewing his false claims that last November’s race was stolen from him.

“They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing, and ultimately, we will win. Our Country can’t take this abuse anymore!”

Trump was kicked off the world’s largest social media platform in January, when Facebook accused the Republican leader of stoking a deadly riot that month at the US Capitol.

Other media websites like Twitter also blocked him, but Facebook’s two-year ban means the brash billionaire could be back on the platform by January 2023, early in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.

Trump, 74, has repeatedly teased the prospect of another White House bid, despite being impeached by the House of Representatives – and acquitted by the Senate – for inciting the January 6 insurrection.

But in his Friday statement he directly portrayed himself as returning to the presidential mansion – one of the clearest signs yet of his ambition to return to power.

“Next time I’m in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife,” Trump said of Facebook’s chief executive. “It will be all business!”

While Trump has flirted with a fresh election bid, New York Times political reporter Maggie Haberman tweeted Tuesday that Trump has been telling confidants that he expects to be “reinstated” by August following a series of election audits in states like Arizona and Georgia.

There is no provision in the US Constitution that allows a defeated president to be reinstated after a certified election. AFP/Xinhua

Willie Revillame’s new firsts

Veteran game show host returns to TVCs, the Big Dome; and ushers John Lloyd Cruz’s major comeback

Willie Revillame is all set to lead e-commerce platform Shopee’s mid-year celebration from The Big Dome. INSTAGRAM PHOTOS/SHOPEE_PH

Willie Revillame is all set to lead e-commerce platform Shopee’s mid-year celebration from The Big Dome. INSTAGRAM PHOTOS/SHOPEE_PH

It’s been a while since Willie Revillame was last seen in a TV commercial or on the big stage. But even with the pandemic still here, his thriving partnership with leading e-commerce platform Shopee has made both projects possible for the charismatic celebrity all in time for the brand’s much awaited mid-year sale.

By now, everyone must have seen the ever-popular “Kuya Wil” featured in a touching TVC series for Shopee, practically on loop over primetime and daylong TV. Popping up all across the internet too, fans say Revillame’s familiar voice and sheer presence on screen never fails to comfort them as challenges and limitations continue to loom.

“Yung idea is kahit nasaan ka man sa Pilipinas, nandyan ang Shopee, iaabot kung ano yung pangangailangan mo – with free shipping vouchers, discounts and the best service. Actually, konting konti lang yung time nung mga TVC; it’s only about 30 to 45 seconds [per clip], pero mapuso ang mga commercials na ito,” the 60-year-old said this week at digital media conference to herald the grand Shopee 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale.

“To be honest with you, I am so thankful to Shopee because [of the] trust nila sa akin – the idea na ito ang gawin natin, yung spiel na ginawa ko – ‘Sino ka man, nasaan ka man, nandyan ang Shopee para sa iyo’ – these are my own words na hindi nila kinokontra. Very supportive ang Shopee.”

With sales soaring higher than ever, the e-commerce platform is clearly convinced they picked the right man for the job of brand ambassador, so from TVCs, they’re also taking Revillame to no less than The Big Dome to lead Shopee’s midyear celebration.

 The Shopee 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale TV Special will also see the much-awaited return of John Lloyd Cruz on television.

The Shopee 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale TV Special will also see the much-awaited return of John Lloyd Cruz on television.

On D-Day, Sunday, June 6, Shopee’s massive user base can look forward to “The Shopee 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale TV Special” via live broadcast on GMA Network and Shopee Live online.

“Imagine, may pandemic mag a-Araneta tayo, kahit walang audience, why? Para mabigay ang ganda ng programa – the LED, the staging, the lights, hindi ba? So makikita mo hindi nagtitipid ang Shopee kasi I am sure hindi rin naman tayo titipirin ng ating mga kababayan.”

Confirming the major announcements, Shopee Philippines Director Martin Yu was also present at the media conference and just as excited as their brand ambassador.

“We’re proud of all the milestones we’ve achieved in the first half of the year, and starting with this campaign, we look forward to reaching new ones. With our supersized 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale and TV Special, Shopee aims to spread joy to Filipinos, cater to their needs and remain a valued partner to our brands and sellers,” he enthused.

Shopee’s “main men” then went to line up what’s in store for audience at the simultaneous broadcast and livestream, starting off with P15 million worth of prizes to be given away. To win, viewers should watch out for the three Shopee Shake sessions throughout the TV special, where they can win P300,000 and a Chery Tiggo 2; P500,000 and a Chery Tiggo 2; or a BMW X3. One lucky Shopee Milyonaryo winner will also be drawn for the P1 million jackpot prize, plus a house and lot sponsored by Frontrow.

“Besides all these, there will also be P7 million worth Shopee vouchers to be had,” Yu added.

As for the special’s topnotch entertainment, performances will be led by Korea’s whose rising boy group, Treasure, who members are behind the hits “I Love You,” “MMM,” and “My Treasure.”

The roster of local artists who will join Revillame on The Big Dome stage are Jennylyn Mercado, Rhian Ramos, Michele Gumabao, Glaiza de Castro, Mikael Daez, Mark Herras, Gloc-9, Sef Cadayona, Skusta Clee, Flow G and Mark Maglasang.

Last but definitely not the least, the Shopee TV special will witness the much-awaited showbiz comeback of top actor John Lloyd Cruz, and will officially mark his first public engagement since taking a hiatus in 2017. This coup is made possible by no less than the star of the show.

Shared Revillame, “I talked to John Lloyd personally nung nandun kami sa Puerto Galera, sabi ko mag guest ka sa Shopee kasi ang ganda nito sa comeback mo. So now we have him. Isipin mo ayaw niyang lumabas pero na-convince siya para lang sa Shopee 6.6. You have to watch out kung anong gagawin niya sa Sunday.”

With all these lined up to kick off not just the daylong 6.6. Shopee Midyear Sale, but a monthlong shopping event through to July 7, shoppers should likewise remember that exclusive flash deals from go-to household, food and tech brands, among others will pop up all through the show, and of course on the Shopee app until 7.7. Add to these free shipping vouchers with no minimum spend, daily P1 deals and 20-percent cashback on various categories all at the same time, even this jampacked midyear offer is a first for any ecommerce platform to date.

Korea’s hottest rising boy group Treasure will provide topnotch entertainment on Sunday, along with some of the biggest names in local showbiz.

Korea’s hottest rising boy group Treasure will provide topnotch entertainment on Sunday, along with some of the biggest names in local showbiz.

“So ano pang hinihintay n’yo,” Revillame finally said as he extends once more his and Shopee’s invitation on June 6 at 2 p.m. for a star-studded and prize-filled midyear celebration with The Shopee 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale TV Special.

Govt debt surges to new all-time high

(UPDATED)

The government’s outstanding debt reached a new record high of P10.99 trillion at the end of April due to increased domestic and external obligations, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

Treasury data showed on Thursday that the figure was up 2 percent, or P217.48 billion, from P10.77 trillion at the end of March.

Of the amount, 28.9 percent was raised from foreign creditors and 71.1 percent from local ones.

Domestic debt increased by 0.9 percent to P7.81 trillion, up from P7.74 trillion at the end of March, while external debt jumped by 4.9 percent to P3.17 trillion.

A year earlier, there were P8.60 trillion in outstanding obligations, including P5.86 trillion in local debt and P2.73 trillion in foreign obligations.

The “net issuance of government securities,” according to the Treasury, is to blame for the increased domestic debt.

The larger external obligations were attributed to the “net availment of foreign loans amounting to P163.01 billion, including P146.16 billion from the issuance of global bonds.”

“Further adjustments include the impact of third-currency appreciation against the US dollar which added P10.91 billion while local-currency appreciation trimmed P24.21 billion,” the Treasury added.

A foreign-exchange rate of P48.15 to the dollar was used for the latest data, compared to P48.54 to the dollar at the end of March. A year ago, the exchange rate was P50.44:$1.

Government-guaranteed debt, meanwhile, had fallen by 0.2 percent, or P1.07 billion, to P434.74 billion.

“The lower level of guaranteed debt was due to the net redemption of both local and foreign guaranteed obligations amounting to P0.75 billion and P0.08 billion, respectively,” the BTr explained.

It further said the exchange rate fluctuations in the Philippines reduced the peso value of external guaranteed obligations by P1.57 billion, while third-currency appreciation raised the peso value of guarantees by P1.33 billion.

The government’s outstanding debt, according to the Budget department, might hit P11.98 trillion this year.

In a comment, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the recent growth in outstanding national government obligations was mostly caused by ongoing monthly budget deficits, which, while narrowing recently, nonetheless indicated the necessity for more government borrowings.

“Reduced government tax revenues in recent months largely due to the adverse economic effects of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic/lockdowns also prompted the need for more government borrowings/debt,” he added.

Going forward, Ricafort said government debt could still rise in the coming months in light of recent government borrowings, both in commercial and multilateral/official development assistance, partly to finance the relatively larger budget deficit and various Covid-19 response programs.

He, nevertheless, added that the country’s debt-to-gross domestic product ratio is still projected to be within/around the international acceptable level of 60 percent in the future, providing the government more freedom to expand expenditure, budget deficits, and overall debt to pump-prime the economy.

Baguio refines Covid-19 vaccination process

BAGUIO CITY: The city government is working to improve its Covid-19 vaccination process in the Summer Capital to address problems that had cropped up since its rollout last February.

At the same time, Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the adoption of contingency plans to ensure a smooth and convenient vaccination schedule during the rainy season.

The mayor led the Management Committee in an observation tour of the four main vaccination sites at the University of Baguio (UB), St. Louis University, St. Vincent Central Triage and SM Baguio last May 25 to assess the procedures and situations first hand.

The team convened afterwards to discuss and recommend solutions to the problems identified.

They agreed to streamline the process by adopting a unified and paperless system to improve the speed and to provide more support systems like putting up more directional signs, public address systems, music and sound systems to ensure convenience for the vaccines.

For the UB venue where limited space and influx of people often caused discomfort, the officials agreed to re-strategize by reducing the number of barangay (village) and residents assigned and request the use of more available buildings to control the inflow of people and eliminate queues outside.

The City Health Services Office and the Management Information Technical Division of the City Mayor’s Office will roll out the optimized vaccination process which will reduce the steps from five to just three along with the improved system of preregistration listing.

The mayor said the city will enhance the involvement of the barangay in the preregistration aspect to avoid walk-in online registration that slows down the process.

He said onsite inspections will be done regularly to continually fine tune the procedures based on the needs and developments that will arise.

“This is needed to help our City Health Services Office which despite the odds and the overwhelming tasks, continues to do a great job considering their limited resources and manpower,” the mayor said.

Belle Corp announces virtual / online stockholders’ meeting in June

Premium tourism and leisure properties and destinations developer Belle Corporation will hold its annual stockholders’ meeting virtually / online on June 25, 2021.

Please see the notice of the annual stockholders’ meeting below:

TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS:

The annual meeting of the stockholders of Belle Corporation (the “Company“) will be held on June 25, 2021, Friday, at 2 p.m. Given the current circumstances, the meeting will be conducted virtually and voting conducted in absentia through the Company’s secure online voting facility.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Proof of Notice of Meeting and Quorum

3. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 22, 2020

4. Approval of 2020 Operations and Results

5. Ratification of all Acts of the Board of Directors and Management during their term of office

6. Amendment of the Articles on Incorporation

a. to adopt the perpetual corporate term for the Company

b. to reduce the membership of the Board of Directors from eleven (11) to nine (9)

7. Election of Directors for 2021-2022

8. Appointment of External Auditors

9. Other Matters

10. Adjournment

The Board of Directors has fixed the end of trading hours of the Philippine Stock Exchange on May 27, 2021 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to the notice of, participation via remote communication, and voting in absentia at such meeting, and any adjournment thereof.

The conduct of the meeting will be streamed live, and stockholders may attend the meeting by registering via asmregister.bellecorp.com and submitting the supporting documents listed there until June 22, 2021. All information submitted shall be verified and validated by the Corporate Secretary.

Stockholders who wish to cast votes through a proxy may accomplish the corresponding proxy form (which need not be notarized) and submit the same on or before June 16, 2021. In view of the community quarantine, scanned forms will be accepted. Paper copies shall be sent to the office of the Corporate Secretary at 2704 East Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange Centre, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City once the community quarantine is lifted.

Stockholders who successfully registered can cast their votes in absentia through the Company’s secure online voting facility for this meeting. In order to participate remotely, they will also be provided with access to the meeting that will be held virtually. The “Guidelines for Participation via Remote Communication and Voting in Absentia as appended to the Definitive Information Statement labeled as Schedule A will be posted in the Company’s website: (bellecorp.com/ASM2021) and PSE Edge.

Thank you.

Pasig City, May 12, 2021.

(Sgd.)

Jason C. Nalupta

Corporate Secretary