MANILA — Filipino-Chinese businessmen on Thursday condemned the spread of anti-Chinese sentiment due to the novel coronavirus, and said that stricter travel checks could affect trade.

China needs “support and moral encouragement” and the spread of misinformation “can be more dangerous than the virus itself due to their negative effects of causing confusion, fears, rancor and instability,” Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc President Henry Lim Bong Liong said.
 
“We just want everybody not to panic and we just want everybody to get our acts together to weather this crisis,” he said. 
 
Deaths due to the new coronavirus strain from Wuhan has topped 500, mostly in China, as many countries, including the Philippines, temporarily banned inbound travel from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. 

The Philippines has 3 confirmed cases, 1 of whom died. All of the confirmed cases were Chinese.

With flights and cruises canceled, and a decline in Chinese arrivals, the tourism industry could be losing as much as $1 billion due to the outbreak, Lim said citing estimates.

The travel ban has resulted in the deferment of conferences, Lim said, as he led the distribution of 20,000 face masks in Chinatown. 
 
“Sa totooo lang talaga apektado. (We are affected) I think it will get worse before it will get better. Right now everybody is on a wait and see attitude. There is really a dislocation right now,” he said.

“Hopefully it shouldn’t last long pero kung matagal na it would really affect mga produkto ng China coming here and exports to China,” Lim said.

Filipino-Chinese businessmen are seeking clarity on quarantine rules imposed on those coming from China including cargo vessels, he said. A 14-day quarantine on vessels containing goods could result in losses especially for those who import perishable items, he said.

Travelers from China are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period or enough time for the new coronavirus symptoms to appear on exposed individuals. 

“Yung mga Chinese vessel hindi pa namin alam kung ano ang protocol dyan. Yung mga tao supposedly sa port lang ‘yung kargamento, pwede ba ibaba?” Lim said. 

(We don’t know the protocol on Chinese vessels yet. The people are supposed to stay in the port, but how about the cargo, can we unload them?)

“That is also one thing we want to clarify with our port authority kung ano ba talaga mangyayari (What will really happen). Halos lahat ng gamit natin made in China na ngayon (Almost everything is made in China),” he said.

Filipino-Chinese businessmen “have faith in the vast potential and resilience of the Philippine economy and we shall continue to invest and reinvest due to the country’s good long-term potentials, regardless of this hopefully short-term coronavirus problem,” Lim said. 

But if restrictions due to the virus drag for 4 to 5 months, the group will have to reevaluate its estimates, he said.

Source : ABS-CBN News

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CLARK FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has started checking body temperatures of people, including workers, residents and transients going to and from Subic Freeport, in line with its precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus.

“SBMA issued memorandum for locators, employees, residents and other stakeholders of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in the agency’s precautionary measures and other safety programs to combat nCoV,” SBMA Chair and Administrator Wilma Eisma said.

She said body temperature check is conducted in designated sentries and pedestrian gates.

According to Eisma, this is in view of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The general guidelines include mandatory temperature scan for all foreign nationals, the SBMA head said.

“All foreign nationals, whether a pedestrian or aboard a vehicle (including companion) going to Subic Bay Freeport, either by land, sea or air, will be scanned for body temperature,” Eisma added.

Individuals with body temperatures of 38 degrees and up will be denied entry and advised to seek medical attention, she said.

The SBMA issued a temporary banning of Chinese and Filipinos who travelled from China and its administrative regions.

The agency has also ordered a 14-day mandatory quarantine for persons coming from any place in China.

Reference : Sunstar

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma received recognition for excellence in governance during the Asia Leaders Awards 2019, which acknowledge leaders who promote the Philippines as the premier business hub in Asia and beyond.

Eisma was bestowed the “Woman of the Year” award, along with five other women executives who excelled in their respective fields during a ceremony at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City on Tuesday night.

The American Association of the Philippines (AAP), a nonprofit organization which helped organize this year’s awards, presented the award to the SBMA chief.

The other “Woman of the Year” awardees were Fila President and CEO Cris Albert; Ayala Land Inc. Senior Manager Mariana Zobel de Ayala; GRBank Senior Executive Vice President and COO Elizabeth Timbol; Richprime Global Inc. President and CEO Myrna Yao; and Asian Tigers Mobility VP and CEO Virginia Lane.

In the same ceremony, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno received the “Man of the Year” award, which was also given to former Senator Manny Villar, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo , Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Dito Telecommunity Corp. CEO Dennis Uy and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.

In receiving the award for governance, Eisma expressed gratitude for having been recognized for her role as head of the SBMA, which manages the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“It is certainly humbling to know that the movers and shakers in the Asian and Philippine business circles view the SBMA as one of the premier institutions significantly contributing to the country’s economic growth and stability,” Eisma said. “I am deeply honored and grateful.”

The award was the latest recognition that Eisma has received since becoming SBMA chairman and administrator in late 2017.

According to Engr. Grace Bondad-Nicolas, cofounder of the TAG Media Group that organized the event, the Asia Leaders Awards recognizes individuals “who not only exemplify great leadership among their peers, but also offer solutions to the problems of the country and our nation.”

“Above all, we award individuals who go beyond to demonstrate an outstanding achievement for the welfare of others,” she added.

AAP Chairman Rick Sobreviñas, a member of the awards committee this year, also said that it was “important to recognize the contributions of outstanding leaders who move society forward and find better ways to deliver value to their customers or stakeholders, as well as advance the economic development of our country.”

Aside from the “Woman of the year” and “Man of the Year” awards, the major citations during the Asia Leaders Awards 2019 included “Young CEO of the Year,” sponsored by the Embassy of Malaysia; “CEO of the Year,” given by the Embassy of Korea; “Businessman of the Year,” from the Philippine Korean Council; and “Entrepreneur of the Year,” which was handed out by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.

Among those who sat in the ALA awards committee this year were: Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines Han Dong-man; Sobreviñas; Deputy Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines Rizany Irwan Muhamad Mazlan; Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice Chairman Eric Yam; and Commission on Elections Spokesman James Jimenez.

Source : Business Mirror

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MAYNARD Pecson of Go for Gold Baguio took the overall plum in the recent Go for Gold Sprint held in Subic recently.

The 24–year–old Pecson finished the course with a time of one hour and 10 minutes swimmming 750 meters, biking 20 kilometers (km), and running an uphill five km.

Pecson was joined by fellow teammates Grade 9 Baguio City National High School student Daniel Nazarro who topped the 15-19 male age category while Angelo Quitlong, a grade 10 athletics scholar of the BCNHS special program for sports landed 3rd place in the same category.

Cyclist George Alcido earned the third spot in the 20-24 age category.

This will be Alcido’s first try in an open water triathlon race.

On the distaff side, Erica Bulatao bagged first place in the 15-19 female age category.

The Sunrise Sprint is the shorter distance race of the Black Arrow 5i50 event.

The Black Arrow 5i50 follows the standard or Olympic distance triathlon event.

Eliz Vin Quintela joined the BAE 5i50 race and finished 1st place in the 15-19 male category. He finished the race in two hours and 23 minutes.

The grassroots youth athletes of Baguio Benguet Triathlon are coached and handled by spouses Jet and Lou Ramos aiming to help the youth mold their future thru the sport of triathlon.

Reference : SunStar

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