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Gandamra: Kawiyagan a livelihood opportunity for citizenry

Rolando Sudaria

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February 5, 2022

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–As the livelihood fair here resumed after its hiatus for years due to the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic, City Mayor Majul Gandamra underscored that such is a wonderful opportunity for residents to hunt for their own livelihood.

Implemented by various government line agencies and non-government organizations, this year’s fair dubbed as Kawiyagan 2022: Trade, Techno and Job Fair runs for two days beginning Wednesday, January 26 until Thursday, January 27, showcasing various services, programs and Meranao products, including job fair, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and government internship program enrollment, Business One-Stop Shop, orientation on civil documentation, free haircut, manicure and pedicure, and science and technology promotion.

“Napakaganda na naman na nagsimula ito ngayong 2022 at ito ay makakapagbigay ng oportunidad sa ating mga kababayan na nawalan ng hanapbuhay because of the siege and itong nangyayaring pandemic,” said Gandamra.

[It’s to have started this [fair] this 2022 as this can give an opportunity to our fellow men who lost their livelihood because of the siege and this ongoing pandemic.]

The mayor has openly expressed his desire for a sustainable livelihood program in his city as he believes that this will significantly aid citizens in the future whose means of income will be disrupted by inevitable circumstances such as the transpired firefight, disaster, and health crisis, among others.

He shared that they are on the move of institutionalizing the continuance of this idea which started with the deliberation of the annual investment of the local government here to support the livelihood program of the constituents.

Gandamra said that while they are employing all necessary procedures to mitigate and contain the virus transmission now that the COVID-19 challenge continues to take a toll, they cannot possibly impose full restriction in conducting programs such as the Kawiyagan 2022 as this is equally important to be served to the public.

He also emphasized that there is just a need to balance everything wherein suspension will be enforced to unnecessary agenda and gatherings, and those that are essential will be allowed to kick off.

“Kailangan natin magbigay ng opportunity sa ating mga kababayan dahil while we are trying to prevent the escalation of this problem, itong coronavirus, ay kailangan din nating mabuhay kaya binibigyan natin ng opportunity ang ating mga kababayan na makahanap ng mga trabaho through this program,” said Gandamra.

[We need to give an opportunity to our fellow men because while we are trying to prevent the escalation of this problem, the coronavirus, we also need to live, that is why we are giving the opportunity to our fellow men to look for jobs through this program.]

To recall, the Kawiyagan program was first held in 2018 as a response to the siege and only had its temporary stop in 2020 due to the presence of COVID-19. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)

Photo captions:

Photo 1: Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra sees Kawiyagan 2022: Trade, Techno and Job Fair as an opportunity for the residents of the city to find a livelihood for themselves after being affected by the siege four years ago and today’s pandemic. (PIA-Lanao del Sur)

Photo 2: Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra signifies his desire to sustain Kawiyagan or livelihood fair, believing that this will help in future circumstances. (PIA-Lanao del Sur)

Camiguin LGU intensifies health protocols for tourists, establishments

Press Release

Rolando Sudaria

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February 5, 2022

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Camiguin LGU intensifies health protocols for tourists, establishments

CAMIGUIN (PIA)–To prevent a rise in cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 in Camiguin, the provincial government will implement heightened health and entry protocols for tourists and travelers bound for the province.

A negative RT-PCR swab test result, confirmed hotel reservation, and vaccination certificate are now required for tourists traveling to Camiguin, Nykolsha Mae Rayos of the Provincial Government of Camiguin said in ‘Come Again Sa Camiguin’ radio program, January 20.

Inbound travelers staying with relatives will need to obtain certification from the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) that all members of the host family are fully vaccinated.

Both tourist types must also sign up for a CleanCamiguin QR account and accomplish the Health Declaration Form before or upon entry to the island.

The local government unit (LGU) also calls on lodging establishments and hotels to secure necessary permits to conduct business and take in guests.

“Kailangan kung mag-operate mo, mag-dawat mo’g tourists, naa mo’y license to operate gikan sa LGU (You must obtain a license from the LGU to operate and take in guests),” Rayos said.

Hotels and similar establishments in Camiguin must meet certain criteria to be granted a license such as having fully vaccinated staff, handwashing facilities, and isolation quarters for emergency cases.

Rayos said not only will this license make it easier for the LGU to conduct contact tracing, it will also serve as assurance for the people of Camiguin that these establishments are safe, clean, and are in compliance with minimum public health standards.

“At the end of the day, ang giprotektahan ani sa Provincial Government of Camiguin is atong constituents, atong mga turista, especially katong mga bata nga dili pa mga fully vaccinated,” Rayos said.

(At the end of the day, the Provincial Government of Camiguin only aims to protect its constituents, tourists, especially those children who are not yet fully vaccinated)

Other preventive measures against COVID-19 have been implemented in Camiguin following the high alert level classifications of its neighboring provinces, including an order to regulate the movement of unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons against COVID-19 signed by Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, January 24. (GDA/PIA-10/Camiguin)

Photo release:

Nykolsha Mae Rayos of the Provincial Government of Camiguin says a negative RT-PCR swab test result, confirmed hotel reservation, and vaccination certificate are now required for tourists traveling to Camiguin, during the ‘Come Again Sa Camiguin’ radio program, January 20. (FMR)

Address challenges in PH FinTech industry to sustain growth, PIDS study says

Rolando Sudaria

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February 5, 2022

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The Philippines has a “strong” financial technology (FinTech) industry, as indicated by the increasing number of FinTechs in the country. However, challenges affecting the industry need to be addressed to sustain its growth.

This was according to a recent study of state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) authored by PIDS Senior Research Fellow Francis Mark A. Quimba, PIDS Supervising Research Specialist Mark Anthony A. Barral, and PIDS Project Evaluation Officer Jean Clarisse T. Carlos. The study looked into the country’s FinTech industry landscape and explored possible ways to further develop its ecosystem.

The Financial Sector Forum defines FinTech as “any software, service, or business that provides technologically-advanced ways to make financial processes and transactions more efficient than traditional methods”.

According to the authors, the country’s FinTech industry is “very promising” given that the Philippines has been identified as one of the fastest-growing FinTech destinations, based on the Global Fintech Index 2020.

“[The report] identified the Philippines and Viet Nam as among the countries to watch out for because of their rapidly increasing FinTech scores. Findexable also found the Philippines excelling in the following FinTech categories: payments, enabling processes and technology, and banking and lending,” the authors explained.

In addition, the study estimated the growth of digital payments in the Philippines at 27 to 30 percent, compared to 25 percent in emerging Asian neighbors. In 2021, Findexable listed 183 FinTechs in the country, most of which are in the National Capital Region, while the remaining ones are in Cebu.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the growth in demand for FinTech, as demonstrated by the increased use of digital payment platforms.

“The [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] reports that the number of transactions using the PESONet and Instapay has continued to rise and even grew during the pandemic. The value of the transactions [has] consequently risen during this time as well,” the study said.

Despite the industry’s growth, the authors noted that the FinTech ecosystem “needs to be strengthened for the sector to flourish”.

Among the weaknesses they identified include issues arising from access points and the distrust from using technologies. Poor connectivity and the high cost of internet in the country also affect the industry’s growth.

Another significant weakness the authors noted is the “existence of archaic policies imposed on the new sector”.

As a way forward, the authors underscored the need for a FinTech policy that would define and monitor the sector’s progress. They pointed out that “the lack of statistics on the sector prevents a thorough assessment of its progress”.

To further support the industry, the study emphasized the importance of supporting venture capitalists, which are an important source of funding for FinTechs.

It also highlighted the role of the academe in developing the FinTech industry and urged the government to update the current curriculum of FinTech-related disciplines “to better prepare graduates and make them more competent, particularly those considering careers in FinTech”.

The authors also called on the government to empower Filipinos across all socioeconomic strata in using FinTech services.

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Ford Philippines Achieves 35 Percent Growth in Retail Performance in 2021

Rolando Sudaria

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February 5, 2022

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Ford Ranger retains leadership in 4×4 pickup segment, Ford Territory tops small SUV segment for second year in a row

● Full-year 2021 retail sales rise 35 percent from a year ago to 20,008 vehicles

● Ford Ranger continues to be the country’s best selling 4×4 pickup with 36 percent share

● Ford Territory remains best-selling small SUV for the second year in a row with 55 percent share

MANILA, Philippines –Ford Philippines delivered a strong retail performance in 2021, with sales growing by 35 percent from last year to 20,008 vehicles led by the Ford Ranger pick-up and Ford Territory SUV.

The Ford Ranger was the top-selling Ford vehicle last year, with full-year retail sales reaching 9,184 vehicles. The Ranger remained the best-selling 4×4 pickup truck last year with 5,490 vehicles sold led by the Ranger Raptor, cornering a market share of 36 percent in the 4×4 pickup segment.

Ford expanded its pickup portfolio last year with the launches of the new Ranger lineup, the performance-ready FX4 MAX, and the limited-edition Raptor X, complementing the diverse needs and lifestyles of customers.

“The Ford Ranger drove our strong retail performance last year as we continue to offer a pickup truck that is tough, capable, and versatile. We also strengthened our connection with our customers through ‘Live the Ranger Life’, which showcased how the Ford Ranger enables their needs, passions, and goals in life,” says Michael Breen, managing director, Ford Philippines.

For the second year in a row, the Ford Territory was the country’s best-selling small SUV in 2021, with full-year retail sales reaching 6,881 vehicles and a market share of 55 percent. The Ford Territory achieved a number of sales milestones last year, reaching its 5,000^th customer milestone in June and 8,000^th customer milestone in November.

The Ford Everest mid-size SUV and Ford EcoSport mini-SUV also contributed to overall retail sales, with 1,772 vehicles and 1,500 vehicles sold in 2021, respectively.

In 2021, Ford also widened its North American vehicle portfolio with the launches of the Mustang Shelby® GT500®, All-New F-150 Lariat, and All-New Explorer.

Ford also continued the expansion of its dealer network last year with the opening of Ford Talisay in Cebu to serve the growing number of customers in the province and nearby areas.

With consumer demand for vehicles on an upswing towards the end of last year, fourth quarter sales grew 9 percent from the previous quarter to 5,301 vehicles. Ford achieved its second best retail month in December with sales reaching 1,851 vehicles.

“We are optimistic that we will be able sustain the momentum in 2022 as we continue to partner with our dealers, partners, and employees in bringing our segment-leading vehicles to more Filipino customers and enhancing the Ford ownership experience,” adds Breen.

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