< Back ASIN - LITTLE GRAINS, MAJOR IMPACT: AN INFORMATIVE JOURNAL BY CARLOS GERARD B. SANTOS S outheast Asia's salt industry has a long and rich history dating back centuries. The Philippines in particular, with its tropical climate, numerous seawater sources, and inland saltwater reservoirs, benefits from natural conditions ideal for salt manufacturing. While manufacturing salt is an age-old process, it is multifaceted and intricate, with varying methods of production to suit different locations and market demands. Standard salt production processes include evaporation, boiling, and vacuum evaporation. Salt producers in coastal areas utilize solar evaporation to harvest salt by storing saltwater in shallow ponds and allowing it to evaporate from the sun's heat. The residual salt is then gathered and dried. Inland areas depend on brine wells and saltwater lakes to produce salt. Wells are commonly used to access these sources, and salt is collected by boiling or through vacuum evaporation methods. However, the local producer faces issues such as environmental degradation, growing competition with imported salt, changing consumer preferences and mandatory iodization, thus causing the slow, untimely decline of salt production in the country. Producers are researching strategies to improve sustainability and raise product value, including manufacturing premium salt types and expanding into specific markets. The Philippines relies on both domestic manufacturing and imports to sustain its salt needs. The Department of Agriculture (DA) reports that the country is experiencing a salt shortage, requiring imports of up to 93% just to meet current demand. WHERE THE "ASIN" HAPPENS Salt-making farms in the Philippines are primarily located in coastal regions like Pangasinan, Ilocos, Mindoro, and others. As mentioned above, traditional methods for collecting and processing seawater to produce salt include solar evaporation. However, to meet its needs, the country's production processes must adapt and improve. Various businesses, including food processing, cattle farming, and chemical manufacturing, continue to rely on imported salt for supply. Unfortunately, the Philippines' salt industry consists of small-scale manufacturers who only produce less than 10 metric tons per day. The production is a long-winded process which involves collecting, purifying, and moving seawater to evaporation ponds. Given that salt is frequently and heavily used, a constant and consistent local supply is necessary. For instance, salt serves as a food preservative, flavoring, and ingredient in processed meals. Accordingly, Philippines' population growth and increased demand for processed foods are predicted to lead to a rise in salt consumption. However, because production is mostly small-scale, and traditional methods like sun drying and hand harvesting are time-consuming, the country's salt supply continues to stay low and insufficient. PBBM SIGNS PHILIPPINE SALT INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ACT INTO LAW On March 11, 2024, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. (RA) 11985, known as the “Philippine Salt Industry Development Act,” marking a significant legislative step aimed at revitalizing the domestic salt sector and reducing dependency on imported salt, in alignment with national food security objectives. KEY PROVISIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION RA 11985 mandates the creation of a comprehensive roadmap for the salt industry, encompassing development, management, research, processing, utilization, business modernization, and commercialization of locally produced salt. It establishes a 16-member Salt Council, chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture, to ensure cohesive implementation and accelerate industry modernization. LEAD AGENCY AND OVERSIGHT The DA, specifically through its Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), assumes the lead role in executing RA 11985. To manage the implementation of the law and supervise the execution of its development plan, the BFAR Director will establish a dedicated Project Management Office (PMO). PUBLIC LAND DESIGNATION AND SALT PRODUCTION The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its appropriate bureaus and attached agency, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), and BFAR, will map and designate public lands, including municipal waters, for use as salt production areas. This transfer of administrative jurisdiction from DENR to BFAR facilitates the issuance of Salt Production Tenurial Instruments (SPTI) to qualified salt producers. These instruments are exclusively designated for salt producers, ensuring that public lands are utilized solely for this purpose, with allowances made for fisheries and aquaculture activities. REGISTRATION AND REGULATORY OVERSIGHT Under RA 11985, all salt producers are required to register with BFAR. Concurrently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) retains jurisdiction over the registration of salt intended for human consumption, as stipulated by Republic Act No. 8172 and the “Food Safety Act of 2013.” REMOVAL OF IODIZATION REQUIREMENT A notable revision introduced by RA 11985 is the elimination of mandatory iodization for artisanal and non-food grade salt, as well as salt intended for export. Previously mandated under RA 8172, known as the “Asin Law,” iodization aimed to combat iodine deficiency but inadvertently imposed additional costs on non-food salt used for purposes such as sanitation and water filtration. This adjustment aims to enhance industry f lexibility and competitiveness. TARIFF ADJUSTMENTS TO PROMOTE LOCAL PRODUCTION Historically, imported salt has enjoyed tariff-free status since the late 1990s, rendering it economically advantageous over locally produced salt. With the enactment of RA 11985, imported salt will now be subject to a 9% ad valorem duty. This tariff adjustment is designed to stimulate domestic salt production, meeting the needs of commercial and industrial users and reducing reliance on imports. With RA 11985 in place, the government aims to significantly increase domestic salt production, achieve self-sufficiency, and position the Philippines as a potential exporter in the global salt market. This legislative initiative underscores the government’s commitment to boosting economic resilience, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring food security for all Filipinos. SOMETHING TO PONDER ON In the Philippines, the salt industry can significantly drive the country’s economy, providing employment to thousands of people and generating the production of a wide range of goods. Hence, a golden opportunity lies in this long-neglected, antiquated industry. Revival could be the most promising and ideal solution—thus the birth of RA 11985. The revival of the salt industry is not just about economic gains; it also has social implications. The industry’s growth will create numerous job opportunities, especially in rural areas, improving the livelihood of many Filipinos. Additionally, a robust salt industry can reduce the country’s dependence on imported salt, promoting self-sufficiency and food security. In essence, the salt industry holds immense potential for the Philippines. Addressing current issues and preventing future shortages through RA 11985 can lead to significant economic and social benefits. By revitalizing this essential industry, the Philippines can ensure a stable supply of salt, support local employment, and drive economic growth.

< Back Is It Time To Try Tandem Voting? BY GODFREY T. DANCEL ILLUSTRATION BY MICO FELICITAS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO ADOPT TANDEM VOTING FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT MUST INVOLVE THE NEED TO CONSIDER OTHER IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL SYSTEM. Almost a year into their respective terms, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte- Carpio have maintained the spirit of unity that served as the main theme of their campaign for the top two elective posts in the country. This bodes well for the country, as the top two leaders could concentrate on fulfilling their mandate without having to deal with grave personal differences. The Marcos-(Sara) Duterte tandem has avoided any major rift so far. The son of Ilocos and the daughter of Davao have made conscious efforts to not put themselves in situations that could trigger or fuel intrigues regarding their personal and/ or professional relationship. 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒 The UniTeam victory in the May 2022 elections marked the first time in the post-EDSA 1 era that the winning candidates for the country’s top two positions garnered a clear majority of the votes cast. This reflects the overwhelming mandate given to them by the electorate. Marcos received 31,629,783 votes while Duterte garnered 32,208,417. While their tandem clearly won, the more than half million vote difference raises some interesting points. This means, among others, that more than half a million of those who did not choose Marcos still voted for his running mate. Conversely, more than half-a-million voters chose Duterte but not Marcos—either voting for another candidate or abstaining in the vote for president. Those who voted for Duterte but not Marcos could have voted for then-Vice President Leni Robredo, supporting the RoSa (Robredo-Sara) tandem pushed by some quarters. They may also have voted for Senator Manny Pacquiao, opting for an all-Mindanao slate under the MaSa (Manny- Sara) tandem pushed by some Mindanaoan leaders. Whatever the actual reason for the vote difference between the president and vice president, it is perfectly normal and even expected under our present electoral system. SEPARATE VOTING The Philippines presently follows the system of individual or separate voting for the top two officials of the executive branch. Under this system, voters are free to choose the president and the vice president they want to vote for. This means that they could vote for a presidential candidate and his (or her) running mate, a vice presidential candidate running with another presidential candidate, or even an independent vice presidential candidate. They could even choose to abstain from voting for a vice presidential candidate. A practice related to separate voting is vote-splitting or split- ticket voting. This refers to voting for a presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate who come from different tickets or slates. Of the six elections held under the 1987 Constitution, four resulted in split- ticket winning pairs, with the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA)-Noli de Castro (2004) and Marcos-Duterte tandems as the exceptions. In the run-up to the May 2022 polls, various groups expressed support for split-ticket tandems, namely RoSa, MaSa, and Robredo-Tito Sotto (RoTi). None of these tandems, however, gained enough traction as all the formal tandems chose to stick with each other. TANDEM VOTING An alternative to individual voting is tandem voting. Simply put, the candidates for president and vice president campaign together and are elected together and not individually. This is the system that has been used in the United States since 1804, when the 12th Amendment was ratified. Prior to this, the presidential candidate with the second-highest number of votes became the vice president. This meant that they would have different political views, which could make governance difficult. The amendment sought to remedy this situation. As the top two leaders came from the same party, they shared the same political views and platform. Governance, thus, would be much smoother. The same view served as the basis for Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s proposal for the adoption of tandem voting in the Philippines in late 2021. Admitting that this was a case of testing the water as the proposal came near the end of the 18th Congress, Gatchalian said he just wanted to present the topic for discussion. In a nutshell, the senator’s proposal was meant “to ensure that the selection of the top two leaders will be based on platform and not on personalities.” “In choosing which presidential candidate to vote for, that candidate’s vice presidential running mate should already be a major consideration,” the senator said. He also stressed that the system could mean “better governance based on shared political views and platform, and assurance that the vice president would carry on with the president’s programs should anything happen to the latter during his incumbency. SPLIT ON TANDEM VOTING Then-presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, in the presidential debates repeatedly mentioned his preference for tandem voting. This will ensure better teamwork, and that more can be achieved, he said.Then-Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who himself ran for vice president, did not agree with the idea, saying the current system helps provide checks and balances between the top two government officials. The system of checks and balances refers to the system through which one branch of government can—and should—act to prevent another from abusing its powers. For example, the president may veto a bill approved by Congress if he sees infirmities in such. The Supreme Court, on the other hand, may declare a law enacted by Congress and signed by the president as unconstitutional. Sotto extended the concept to apply to the relationship between the president and vice president, implying that a president and vice president elected as a tandem could mean more harm than good for the country. As used in its original context, however, the system of checks balances does not rest on whether or not the leaders of the majority of one branch belong to the same party as (or are allied with) those of another. THE DUTERTE-ROBREDO EXPERIENCE A good argument against split voting could be based on the relationship between former President Rodrigo Duterte and former Vice President Leni Robredo. While it was not expected of them to really agree on most governmental concerns, there was hope for a good enough working relationship between them, at least during the very early part of their respective terms. In July 2016, Robredo was appointed as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). She resigned from the position after five months, after being asked to stop attending Cabinet meetings. In her resignation letter addressed to the president, she stressed that she had done her best to “put aside our differences, maintain a professional working relationship, and work effectively despite the constraints.” However, she also pointed out that the directive to “desist from attending all Cabinet meetings” had made it impossible for her to do her job, and that remaining in the Cabinet had become untenable. Robredo’s second stint as agency head came in November 2019, as she was appointed as co-chairperson of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti- Illegal Drugs. Her stint lasted no more than three weeks. By 2020, Robredo had dismissed any possibility that she and the president could work harmoniously, although she reiterated her readiness to carry on with the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s flagship Angat Buhay program. NO GUARANTEES The present reality notwithstanding, being political allies at the time of election does not guarantee a smooth relationship for the country’s two highest officials. Neither does having strong personal relationships. Take the case of President Corazon “Cory” Aquino and Vice President Salvador “Doy” Laurel, who were swept into power after the February 1986 People Power uprising. After uniting to unseat President Ferdinand Marcos, their relationship turned sour, with Laurel resigning as Foreign Affairs secretary in September 1987. Laurel accused Aquino of incompetence and corruption, and failing to deliver on the kind of leadership she had promised. Eleven months later, Laurel called on Aquino to resign and call for new elections, saying that the administration had failed to live up to its promises. Aquino, meanwhile, accused him of withholding support during the November 1986 and August 1987 coup attempts—by then two of the bloodiest attempts to topple the Aquino presidency. CURRENT EFFORTS AT THE LOWER HOUSE With Charter Change efforts in full swing at the Lower House, a couple of resolutions regarding tandem voting have also been filed. Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 0001 filed by Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales (Pampanga 3rd District) includes a provision that says a vote for the president shall also be a vote for the vice president who belongs to the same political party. Meanwhile, RBH0005 filed by Congressman Gus Tambunting (Parañaque 2nd District), argues that tandem voting would enhance national unity and avoid situations wherein the elected president and vice president come from different political parties. SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS Will tandem voting be enough to solve long- standing problems in Philippine governance and politics? While the system may have enough positive points to merit congressional consideration, a number of questions need to be answered up front. What if a presidential hopeful does not have a running mate? In the 2004 elections, both Senator Panfilo Lacson of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas ran without a vice presidential running mate. Norberto Gonzales of Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) and independent candidate Ernesto Abella did the same last year. With tandem voting, will it be compulsory for presidential hopefuls to have a vice presidential running mate? Related to the above, if a presidential or vice presidential candidate withdraws anytime between the filing of certificates of candidacy and the day of the elections, what happens to his or her running mates’ candidacy? Then again, even as lawmakers have their eyes set on constitutional change—whether by Constituent Assembly or Constitutional Convention—as the way to make tandem voting the new standard in presidential elections, some members of the academe are saying that this is not necessarily the case. A position paper released in January 2023 by faculty members of the University of the Philippines (UP) Department of Political Science on the congressional initiative to amend the constitution says that since “the constitution is silent on the joint election of the President and the Vice President, a constitutional amendment is not required to reform the election rules and include a provision for tandem voting for candidates on a common ticket.” In a separate paper, Professor Jorge Tigno of the aforementioned academic unit also points out that “the Constitution does not specify that the president and vice president have to be elected separately.” Consistent with some of the reasons cited by lawmakers for pushing for tandem voting, he says that “Electing these two separately has led to discontinuities and intrigue. Promoting tandem voting for president and vice president, while not specified in the 1987 Constitution, can lead to higher levels of continuity and cooperation between the two highest executive positions in the country.” REFORMING PHILIPPINE POLITICAL PARTIES Clear political ideologies and platforms of governance are the main anchors of tandem voting. With this, the proposal to adopt the system begs an important question: how ready are our political parties for such? Being links between the people and the government, political parties must be able to perform essential functions that facilitate entry into the political system and improving governance. These include representation and integration of voters into the political system; political education; recruitment and training of political leaders; as well as exercising control over government administration on one hand and organizing opposition on the other. Recent developments at the Lower House have highlighted the fragility of our political parties. The supposed plot to unseat House Speaker Martin Romualdez reportedly involving his fellow party leaders Vice President Sara Duterte and GMA has revealed cracks within Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). A strong and stable party would have been able to solve the issue internally, if not prevent it from arising in the first place. Meanwhile, the impending conversion of Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) into a political party could affect the once-dominant Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) as well as Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (KFP), which served as the vehicle for Marcos’presidential run. Formed last year as a socio-civic group supporting Marcos’call for unity, KNP initially listed 200 members. Accreditation as a party would open the floodgates for more members, many of whom are expected to come from PDP-Laban, from where most of the KNP’s founding officers come. With PFP a non-entity in the Lower House, could we see the president eventually becoming KNP chairperson and using the new party to consolidate his influence in Congress by fielding congressional and senatorial candidates in 2025? Will Lakas-CMD be able to weather other storms to come its way, and will KNP be able to gain enough steam to come up with viable presidential and vice-presidential tandems for 2028? The possibility that piecemeals changes in the way we choose our national leaders could still possibly have significant effects on governance cannot be disregarded. However, adopting tandem voting without predicating it on the existence of a strong and stable party system could bring about nothing but false hopes for most Filipinos.

74874fec-fee1-4c6b-b4b2-23d0bb09bd61 < Back FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO HELPING OTHERS Drawing from her own experiences, Shantal Dimayuga wishes to help others escape poverty through her foundation Yakap Foundation. BY ELAINE ESTRADA-FELICITAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA, JR. It's innate for people to help others the best way they can. This is also true with Rossel “Shantal” Dimayuga, a thirty-two-year-old businesswoman taking the reins as chief executive officer and president of multiple business ventures. Her story is one of a modest lass in the province who pushed her way to the top through hard work and resilience. Her goal to help the underprivileged reflects on Yakap Kalinga, a foundation she started herself, which reaches out to the needy in the rural areas, even during the pandemic. The early years Dimayuga grew up in a low-income household in the province of Batangas with just enough to get by. Guided by her strict father and hard-working mother, she developed into a woman who values discipline and hard work. With her humble background, Dimayuga knew that she needed to do more to achieve the financial freedom she wanted to have in her life. After college, she landed a job at the Manila Ocean Park, an achievement on its own as not everyone in the province is privileged to work in Manila. On the side, she started her first business to augment her monthly salary. She sold cellphones online via Facebook. Her experiences helped expand her business and taught her lessons that became instrumental to her success as a businesswoman and as a philanthropist later on. The fruits of labor Dimayuga realized that not everything is rosy when it comes to creating and operating your own business. Her laundromat business didn’t turn out the way she expected it to. However, this did not stop her from going on other business “adventures,” turning her fair share of failures into life lessons. Just like her mother who doesn’t shy away from hard work, she was able to turn things around. Her discipline and resilience shone through and helped her achieve the financial freedom she dreamed of as a young girl. She’s now a proud owner of multiple businesses such as manpower and security agency; trading company; and textile and garments manufacturing company, just to name a few. She recently received recognition from the ASEAN Excellence Achievers Awards for being an “outstanding woman of vision and inspiring business leader of the year.” That she achieved all of these at the age of 32 is a source of motivation especially for women and young individuals that anyone can do it with the right attitude. Advocacy to help others Helping others has been one of Dimayuga’s goals in life. She strives not only to provide resources to the underprivileged but also to impart her business knowledge to others. With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting people either physically or financially, she has observed that some of them would not have suffered much if they had a business of their own. Relying on financial assistance and jobs with uncertain tenure can put people in a quite unstable position during a pandemic and affect their ability to provide for their basic necessities. Understanding these conditions, her aim is to improve Filipinos’ knowledge of business and educate them on the importance of small- and medium-scale enterprises. Through this, people will have an opportunity to start on their own even with their limited financial capacity and eventually worry less about finances especially during trying times. Aside from this, her experience living a modest lifestyle has led to her advocacy for the poor. She knows how it is to have just enough to live by. From there, she started a foundation called Yakap Kalinga to further support her goal to lend a helping hand to others. The start of Yakap Kalinga From its name, which means “embrace” and “support” or “refuge” in Filipino, Yakap Kalinga sounds like a place of giving and understanding. Founded in 2019, it aims to support underprivileged children by providing materials needed for their schooling. It also aims to provide food for the less fortunate, and to connect to as many people in the rural areas as possible to help them deal with poverty. Even as the foundation is yet to be registered and officially established—with this year as target—the people behind it have launched a number of projects and outreach activities. Restrictions brought about by the pandemic, however, have made their activities more challenging. For now, they are realigning their plans and recalibrating their goals regarding projects to be executed in the coming months. Embracing changes Dimayuga mentioned that she wants to reach out to more people through Yakap Kalinga. It may be in its early stages but her initial goal was to feed 300 underprivileged families for every quarter of the year. That’s around 1,200 individuals as the average Filipino family has four members. In two years’ time, Yakap Kalinga’s goal is to increase the number of beneficiary families to 1000, which is three times more than what they had initially planned. Aside from their feeding program, they are also aiming to help the homeless by building shelters. Yakap Kalinga wants a safe haven for people in need of food and a sturdy roof over their heads. It’s the foundation’s way of helping maintain the dignity of individuals, particularly those who are financially challenged. The pandemic may have delayed some of Dimayuga’s and Yakap Kalinga’s plans, but one thing is for sure: driven by a firm desire to achieve their goals, we’ll be seeing more of Yakap Kalinga and Shantal Dimayuga in the future. BACK

< Back The Tide Turns Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu Mayor Abraham ‘Jess’ Burahan on changing preconceived notions about Muslims, and promoting peace and unity among Filipinos. BY MAIELLE MONTAYRE PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL DEL ROSARIO At the southern tip of the Philippines, seemingly at the edge of the world, lies the quiet, picturesque coastal town of Hadji Panglima Tahil. It is a cluster of islands found in the Sulu Archipelago, surrounded by pristine, azure waters and guarding precious aquatic gardens of the sea. Notwithstanding existing prejudices about the conflict in the area, this small seaside municipality lives to prove that peace, beauty, and wonder do exist in the province of Sulu. THE ISLETS AT THE SOUTHERN TIP The Municipality of Hadji Panglima Tahil is located in the first district of the island province of Sulu. Formerly known as Marunggas, it was renamed in November 13, 1995. According to the current town mayor, Abraham Burahan, the ‘Hadji Panglima’ is said to be a title more powerful than king. The coastal municipality is about half an hour boat ride from the capital of Jolo. As a sixth class municipality, it has a population of around 6,375 spread throughout five barangays, covering a land area of around 68 kilometers. There are Tausugs, Badjaos, Christians, and even Ilonggo people living in the locality. While each barangay does not share a common border with the other barangays, the islets are in close proximity to one another, around three to five minutes by speedboat. The main industry of Hadji Panglima Tahil is seaweed farming with farms on shallow waters. There is a business on buying and selling seaweed products. Because of the town’s 11 islets, the locals have a vast and wide fishing ground. “Nililigawan kami ng big-time fisherman para pumasok, to share in the profit pero hindi namin ginagawa kasi kawawa ang mga stakeholders doon. (Big-time fishermen entice us to allow them entry by having a share in the profits but we don’t let them do so for the sake of our local fishermen),” Mayor Burahan says. The palakaya is the archaic term for the fishing boat used by the locals. “[Sa lugar namin, ang mga tao doon] hanapbuhay lamang tapos kain, tapos hanapbuhay uli (Because it’s a rural area, the locals simply live day to day by earning a living),” the local chief executive explains. Hadji Panglima Tahil has a flea market, although only for a specific day of the week. Because of the town’s proximity to the capital of Jolo, the locals visit the capital town almost daily. “Doon sila namamalengke, pero kapag isda, mas mura sa amin. May mga tao din galing sa town namimili sa amin (The locals go to the capital to buy what they need, but when it comes to fish, ours is cheaper. There are also people from the capital who buy from us), Mayor Burahan says. Although the town is a fishing village, pyanggang or chicken in blackened coconut curry is said to be the local delicacy. As a result, Mayor Burahan established Our Zen Chicken to promote trading of poultry. Click here to read full article for free

< Back CONVERGE CEO DENNIS UYO Stronger networks, faster and smoother digital connectivity, and more responsive customer service—this is what Converge CEO Dennis Uy promises. BY MAIELLE MONTAYRE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAR CONCENGCO The telecommunications industry in the Philippines is constantly faced with the many demands of the modern age. Previously dubbed as the “texting capital of the world,” the Philippines saw mobile phone subscriptions skyrocket while installed telephone lines were drastically reduced. Now, with digital use on the rise, statistics show that Filipinos rank higher than their Asian counterparts in terms of time spent online. With many staying home for work and schooling due to health and safety concerns, the demand for high-speed internet access is at the forefront today. This is the market which Dennis Anthony Uy’s Converge seeks to dominate as a leader in pure end-to-end fiber internet service. A SINGLE FOCUS Converge ICT Solutions, Inc., commonly referred to as Converge, was founded in 2007 by Dennis Anthony H. Uy, and his wife, Maria Grace Y. Uy. Converge is affiliated with ComClark Network and Technology Corporation, which Uy also founded in Pampanga in 1996. Aside from being the founders of Converge, Uy also holds the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director of Converge, while his wife serves as President of Converge. This power couple—an engineer and a CPA—work to balance each other out in the operations of their technology company. “I’m an engineer so I like things done swiftly, but I lack the controls. She, on the other hand, as a CPA, is very systematic with everything. So, we balance out each other,” says the self-confessed tech guy with a degree in Electrical Engineering. “It’s a perfect combination. I provide the vision and she operationalizes it with the proper process and control systems. I handle all the tech, while she does all the finance. So, we each have our own specializations,” Uy adds. In 2009, Converge was granted a congressional franchise to operate as a telecommunications company. In 2012, Converge focused on broadband operations, providing high-speed broadband to Filipino households and businesses. In 2019, Converge successfully secured a $225 million investment from Warburg Pincus, a private equity firm, in order to fund its full-fiber optics network. Fiber-optic internet is the faster, more reliable, and more advanced solution to data transfer than the antiquated copper-based Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable internet. Since then, Converge has grown to make a name for itself as the fastest end-to-end fiber internet provider in the Philippines. “That is my competitive edge in this business. I have a single-minded focus,” Uy says. “I only have one product— fiber broadband. While other competitors have wireless mobile, landline, wireless fixed and prepaid, in my case, it is single-focus so I am able to bring the new technology to the consumer right away.” Converge offers its premium fiber internet to residences, businesses, and other enterprises. Whatever the name— FiberX for the home, iBiz for the office, and other digital services—the fact remains that Converge provides affordable and fast connection with unlimited bandwidth and quick installation. “The good thing about the fixed line is the single-port design infrastructure. This allows a single house to have fast, reliable, and sufficient connectivity for several users. Unlike wireless connections that can get congested and slowed down because of the shared signal,” Uy adds. At the end of 2020, Converge has more than doubled its fiber network to over 55,000 kilometers from the previous year, making high-speed broadband internet available to more areas in the country. With the growing demand for internet services, their residential subscriber base doubled during the year, reaching approximately 1,038,000 subscribers by December 2020. Using the greenfield approach, Uy aims to tap the unserved and underserved areas of the country. “A lot of the areas that we have gone to have never been connected with fiber. Never. At all,” he says. “As of today, 90% of our new subscribers are first-time users. So, you can see the blue ocean market that we are penetrating,” he adds. QUINTUPLE GROWTH As a result of the 2020 worldwide global pandemic, Converge more than quintupled its installations. For this reason, Converge reached over a million subscribers by the end of the year. However this surge in demand was not without its challenges. “Usually, we had around 20,000 to 30,000 [installations] monthly. But because of the pandemic, we were doing approximately 100,000 installations a month. Biglang nag-times five. We had to activate the manpower, logistics, and call centers to address the sudden surge in demand. This was even more difficult because of the lockdown and everyone was working off-site. But the growth was there, so we trained our staff, ordered a fleet of vehicles, and activated more call centers as fast as we could. We had our challenges, but we were able to address the concerns as quickly as we could,” Uy explains. Aside from addressing the sudden 500% growth in operations, Converge likewise had to comply with government and health regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Converge is in the broadband business, the company got the exemption from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), the government body deciding on COVID-19 protocols, to continue operations. Uy then worked doubly hard to get approval to open the business centers in order to address the surging demand. Converge implemented social distancing and an appointment-based system in the business centers. The applications, billing, and the services were in full-swing. “In the business centers, people could not just walk in. So, we implemented an appointment-based system to be able to maintain the health protocols and still attend to our customers,” Uy shared. The call center was integral for the business to run smoothly. So Converge converted offices into a stay-in set up. Agents were given dormitories and meals for the whole day while they were required to live in the premises for an extended period. Converge also opened multiple sites to address the social distancing requirements as well as the demand. The next issue was public transport. Converge then purchased buses in order to provide safe transportation for the employees. A set-up of pick-up points and schedules were put in place. “(For our workers), we had to provide safe transportation for them. In the office, they had to observe social distancing. From the previous 100% office capacity, we could only do 30%,” Uy recounts. “So, we immediately put measures in place to improve our operations. There were so many things, and since March, we did all those things, and we were able to overcome our challenges.” In response to the needs of their customers, Converge also improved the backend of their operations. “Because the scale of service is expanding, our backend had to keep up, especially our OSS (Operations Support System) and BSS (Business Support System).” The Converge CEO also ensures daily monitoring of business operations in real-time in order to make sound management decisions. PROACTIVE STANCE Converge practices a proactive response in its operations and installations. With multiple sites all over the country, Converge implements a logistical system whereby the crew and available resources are made available based on the number of ports and the customer-base per area. “Aside from fast installation, we have a proactive support system for our customers” Uy remarks. “In times when our ports are full, we need to augment and put proactive maintenance. If there are customer requests for transfers, upgrades, cut lines even fires—we are there within the locality,” he adds, enumerating the different scenarios that may arise. “Instead of waiting for the customers to call to report and issue, which is reactive, we address the issues immediately, so they don’t need to call, and the backend is flawless.” This proactive, rather than reactive, approach stems from Uy’s experiences in the province. In this manner, a more localized approach yields greater effectivity and efficiency. “Never mind the need to increase manpower, the bottom line is customer satisfaction,” he firmly declares. Converge likewise addresses all their growing concerns, particularly by having customer care services taken in-house rather than outsourcing to third parties. “We’re a technology company, and as we want to better service our customers, we also want to be able to track our performance.” This approach has yielded positive results after Converge reached its goal of a single-digit rate of drop calls. Previously, they were at 15% rate. Now, the IT leader has reached 9%. “We are aiming for 6-7% in drop calls. Konti nalang,” Uy remarks with a smile. “We also enhanced our digital platform systems in addressing customer issues on social media. We are investing substantially to upgrade our customer relationship management (CRM). So we are confident that no matter what platform the customer tries to reach—email, phone calls, social media, Viber, WhatApp—we are able to address them. We need to integrate whatever channels are available to the customer,” he narrates. Technology innovation is a priority of Converge’s thrust in customer care with P20 million dedicated to customer support. A SIMPLE PLAN “I want to deliver the best in the field of ICT, especially the infrastructure highway, in order to serve our consumers better,” Uy pronounces. He admits that in terms of infrastructure, the Philippines lags behind other countries. “I envision to bring first world infrastructure and connectivity to Filipino consumers. The Philippines deserves the same quality and highspeed connection as the other countries such as Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong. We have already started this and we will work tirelessly to see that this vision becomes reality.” “Filipinos are hungry for fast and reliable internet connection. I am happy if I am able to deliver that to everyone,” he adds. And so, Converge endeavors to promote their fiber revolution to 55% of the projected 24 million households by 2025. Currently, the Philippines is forecasted to have 21.8 million households by 2021. “Being the technology provider, I want to fulfill the needs of the individual consumer and they deserve superior service,” Uy further explains. The tech CEO targets only the A, B, C, and C-1 income class rather than the D and E market, which is a prepaid market. Referring to the market as the blue ocean, Uy insists that monopolizing the entire market is impossible and competition is encouraged. “The more players you have, the more you can help people. My goal is simple—get one-third of the pie and make those customers happy. If I’m able to do that, I have reached my goal.” For Uy, this number is conservative when compared to the underserved and unserved Filipinos in the country. “It’s very achievable. As of today, we have 1 million [customers] already. If we install 1.5 million new ports every year, that’s almost 7.5 million in five years,” Uy explains enthusiastically. “The math is there. It’s definitely achievable.” PUBLIC COLLABORATION Fresh from its successful Initial Public Offering (IPO), Converge is now one of the top 10 IPO companies in the Philippines. The decision to go public has also brought about a major culture change within Converge. “We have to be transparent and apply good governance because we are now a public company,” Uy says. There are now many independent and audit mechanisms in place to deliver investor trust. “It’s very important we have systematic direction, process, and vision approved by the entire board. We report to the board and are liable to the many investors. The pressure to meet targets is there. We cannot promise a number and fail to deliver. We had to instill discipline and professionalism while maintaining our trail-blazing ways,” he continues. Converge boasts of having one of the best IPO in the history of the Philippines. This was because Converge prepared its auditing, tax, and strict compliance with minimum requirements several years before going public. “The foreign investors trust us because of the growth we showed and the business opportunity. In fact, we have doubled the size of the IPO value,” Uy says. As Converge moves forward with its fiber revolution, Uy continues to partner and collaborate with international providers and multinational corporations. “I’m the pioneering founder of the FTTH (Fiber to the Home) Council AsiaPacific. I see to it that I can bring these technologies to share with everyone. Sharing best practices with your peers benefits everyone,” Uy proudly declares. “In 2018, I brought the whole conference of the FTTH Council to Manila with 600 international delegates. Through this collaboration with vendors, technology providers, and operators all over the world, we were able to pool our resources and talents. We shared best practices in regulations, government policies, and other success metrics. These are part of our advocacies and my legacy.” And it’s a legacy the country too, is excited to see.

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< Back PERSONA NON GRATA By Atty. Jose Maria Santos, Atty. Joey Ramos, and Sophia Muñoz During the campaign period earlier this year, a viral video of Filipino comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas portraying a character, Ligaya Delmonte, was the subject of heavy scrutiny. During the campaign period earlier this year, a viral video of Filipino comedienne character, Ligaya Delmonte, was the subject of heavy scrutiny. The short video, produced by renowned (some say infamous) content creator Darryl Yap, appeared to be a parody of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. However, the alleged parody of Belmonte was not the focus of the controversy. Instead, the apparent defacement of Quezon City's official seal which was edited to include the words "BBM" "SARA," and "KYUSI" and the drawings of a tiger and an eagle, known symbols of the BBM-Sara tandem, therein is what drew the ire of most netizens and eventually the Quezon City government. For the alleged malicious defacement and ridicule of the official seal of the city, delas Alas and Yap were both declared as personae non grata by the Quezon City Council.' This declaration was met with strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. Yet, despite the colorful commentary, several misconceptions have arisen regarding the declaration of persona non grata. WHAT IS PERSONA NON GRATA? Persona non grata is a Latin term which literally means "an unwelcome person." The term has a similar definition from a legal standpoint as it is defined as "a person not acceptable to the court or government." Having its legal origins in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), the concept of persona non grata is commonly observed in the context of international law. Article 9 of the VCDR grants the receiving state the power to declare any member of the diplomatic staff as unwelcome, after which the sending state must either recall the member or terminate his functions. This provision is invoked by the receiving state as a protection from diplomatic agents who violate or refuse to respect its laws or act or behave contrary to its interests. In the Philippine setting, however, the circumstances resulting in the declaration of such status are not as formal. For one, its application also covers non-diplomats like celebrities and ordinary civilians as the case with Yap and delas Alas. Second, the declaration is largely, if not wholly, discretionary on a governmental authority when it finds that a person has issued a statement or committed an act which it sees as derogatory. One of the most prominent cases involving this kind of declaration happened back in 1998 involving American actress Claire Danes. Danes issued offensive remarks against the City of Manila when she said that it "smelled of cockroaches, with rats all over, [had] no sewerage system, and [that] the people [did] not have anything-no arms, no legs, no eyes."" When Danes' remarks went public, the City Council of Manila declared her persona non grata. Another prominent incident happened in 2019 involving news anchor Erwin Tulfo when he was declared persona non grata by the Dapitan City Council following his demeaning comments against the city. Tulfo pointed out in a press conference that the sight of their police station almost made him cry as it harked back to the Guardia Civil from the Spanish occupation.' Just this year, the Davao City Council passed a resolution declaring vice presidential candidate Walden Bello persona non grata for describing the city as a "trading hub of illegal drugs." IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECLARATION: BINDING OR NON-BINDING? What does the declaration of persona non grata entail for its subjects? As previously pointed out, there are stark differences between how persona non grata is used internationally and here in the Philippines. Under international law, the sending state has an obligation to take action as provided under the VCDR once it receives a notification that one of the former's diplomatic representatives has been declared persona non grata. More importantly, the declaration of persona non grata is binding on the subject and, as a result, he/she is barred from entering the territory of the receiving state. On the other hand, being labeled a persona non grata through a resolution issued by an LGU has no real, actual, or legal consequences. In 2020, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) explained through a legal opinion' the implications of a resolution declaring someone a persona non grata. In its opinion, the DILG cited Municipality of Parañaque v. V.M. Realty Corp." wherein the difference between an ordinance and a resolution was explained. While an ordinance is a law, a resolution is merely a declaration of sentiment or opinion of a lawmaking body on a specific matter. Thus, while an LGU acts within its power and authority in issuing a resolution declaring someone as persona non grata, it has no tangible effect on the actual subject. Rather, the declaration is simply the LGU's way of expressing its sentiment or opinion against a certain individual which carries with it no repercussions. All in all, contrary to popular belief, the person declared as persona non grata is not actually restrained from entering the territory of the LGU which meted out the status. As it has no binding effect, the resolution cannot prevent the affected person from exercising the rights accorded by our constitution. To permit this restriction in movement would be to impair the constitutional right to travel as enshrined in our Bill of Rights. CAN THE DECLARATION BE LIFTED? In 2021, the local government of Barangay Bigte in Norzagaray, Bulacan lifted the persona non grata declaration on an Australian national after the authorities admitted that the passing of the resolution lacked basis and suffered from several procedural issues.' While an LGU acts within its power and authority in issuing a resolution declaring someone as persona non grata tangible effect on the subject. In the case of delas Alas and Yap, Quezon City’s 4th District Councilor Ivy Lagman said that a sincere public apology from the two could cause the lifting of the declaration of personae non grata. As of writing, there is no precedent as to the lifting of the declaration based on concrete grounds. It appears that the decision is likewise discretionary on the body that imposed the order. SOCIAL PRESSURE AND PUBLIC SHAME While an LGU resolution does not exact any punishment or penalty and does not produce any legal consequences whatsoever, a declaration of persona non grata places unwanted negative attention and heavy scrutiny on the subject. After all, what is being publicized is the subject is unwelcome, albeit not literally, in a particular jurisdiction. 1. See QC council declares Ai-Ai delas Alas, Darryl Yap ‘personae non gratae’, CNN Philippines, June 8, 2022, at https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/6/8/Ai-ai-Delas- Alas-Darryl-Yap-persona-non-grata-Quezon-City.html. 2. See Black’s Law Dictionary, 4th Ed., p. 1300. 3. See Manila is mad at Claire Danes, CBS News, Oct. 1, 1998, at https://www.cbsnews . com/news/manila-is-mad-at-claire-danes/. 4. See Bert Laput, News anchor Erwin Tulfo declared persona non grata in Dapitan, Rappler, May 8, 2019, at https://www.rappler.com/nation/229926-erwin-tulfo-declared- persona-non-grata-dapitan-comments-tourist-destination/ 5. See Grace Cantal-Albasin, Davao City declares Walden Bello persona non grata, Rappler, Mar. 22, 2022, at https://www.rappler.com/nation/davao-city-declares-walden-bello- persona-non-grata/ 6. DILG Opinion No. 30, s. 2020. February 7, 2020. 7. G.R. No. 127820, July 20, 1998. 8. See Eloi Samonte, ‘Persona non grata’ vs. Australian national lifted, FrontpagePH, May 13, 2021, at https://frontpageph.com/persona-non-grata-vs-australian-national-lifted/ . 9. See Christia Marie Ramos, QC’s Lagman: ‘Sincere public apology’ from Ai-Ai, Yap may lift ‘persona non grata’ status, Phil. Daily Inquirer, Jun. 8, 2022, at https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1608121/qcs-lagman-sincere-public-apology-from-ai-ai-yap may-lift-persona-non-grata-status Atty. Jose A. Ramos, Jr. Ramos graduated in 1996 from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in A.B. Philosophy, earning his Juris Doctor degree from the same university in 2000. He was then admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2001. Currently, Ramos is the co- Managing Partner of the GSE Law Firm. He heads the Litigation Practice Group and is a member of the Executive Committee. Atty. Jose Maria B. Santos Santos graduated in 2013 from the De Lasalle University with a degree in B.S. Legal Management. He then earned his Juris Doctor degree (with honors) from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2017 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2018. Santos joined GSE Law Firm’s Litigation, Labor, and Immigration Practice Groups in June 2019. Ms. Sophia P. Munoz Munoz is a legal intern in GSE Law Firm. She is an incoming fourth year law student in the University of the Philippines. Munoz graduated in 2015 from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in B.S. Legal Management.

VICE GOVERNOR JOSE "ANTONIO" MARK LEVISTE II TABLE OF CONTENTS BUY MAGAZINE NOW! FEATURES BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS BENJAMIN DIOKNO BY JOYCE REYES-AGUILA READ MORE FEATURES CHED CHAIRMAN PROSPERO DE VERA Life with No Limits READ MORE FEATURES ALCU VICE PRESIDENT DR. ELLEN PRESNEDI BY MARIEL ABANES READ MORE GOVERNANCE IN REVIEW BATANGAS VICE GOVERNOR MARC LEVISTE BY MARANE PLAZA READ MORE GOVERNANCE IN REVIEW BAGUIO CITY MAYOR BENJAMIN MAGALONG BY ANGELICA MONTORO READ MORE GOVERNANCE IN REVIEW FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL BY HELEN HERNANE READ MORE REGULARS BARANGAY CONNECTION BY ANGELICA MONTORO READ MORE REGULARS PROMOTING SHARED PROSPERITY BY GRACE BAUTISTA READ MORE REGULARS HATE IS A VIRUS BY HELEN HERNANE READ MORE REGULARS SPEAK YOUR MIND READ MORE REGULARS SPOTLIGHT BY ANGELICA MONTORO READ MORE REGULARS PHILIPPINE DIPLOMACY’S 123 YEARS BY ROMEL REGALADO BAGARES READ MORE REGULARS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BY HELEN HERNANE READ MORE

< Back ORMOC CITY MAYOR RICHARD GOMEZ BY LAKAMBINI BAUTISTA PHOTOGRAPHY BY RON MENDOZA GROOMING BY FLOE TAPAYAN Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez is out to prove that they can win the fight against drugs, corruption, and poverty For Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, the road to public service was a long, rough journey full of twists and turns. In 2001, he ran under the party list, Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD). It earned 1.52 million votes, but it was disqualified by the Supreme Court because it did not belong to or represent the so-called “marginalized” sector, the ruling said. In 2007, he ran for senator, but lost. He tried for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2010, but was disqualified due to residency issues. His wife Lucy then ran as his substitute and won. In 2013, he lost the mayoralty race to Edward Codilla by a slim margin of fewer than 3,000 votes. Finally, in the 2016 mayoralty race, he won against Liberal Party candidate Ondo Codilla. Two things can be gleaned from his story: first, there is a time and place for everything; and second, being a showbiz personality does not preclude one from becoming a qualified public servant. SHOWBIZ TO POLITICS Gomez’s foray into public service began in 1998, shortly after he got married to Lucy Torres. “I was appointed by then President Erap Estrada as a member of his Cabinet. Eventually, I created MAD and started this anti-drug campaign. At the same time, I was also a member of the national team, at doon ko nakita na if we don’t do anything, masisira talaga ang buhay ng younger generation with the proliferation of drugs. Under my office, I got to do different sports programs and projects, and I saw the effects. I realized that I can help more people through government resources,” he says. He admits that there were times when he felt frustrated—like when his partylist won but was not allowed to sit—but that only fired up his desire to do something more. “Sabi ko, even if we didn’t get to sit, I will just continue to do what I know best, which is to fight drugs and promote sports,” he adds. LEARNING THE ROPES Looking back on it now, Gomez believes that his past experiences and education have prepared him to become the mayor that Ormoc needs. “When Lucy became the congresswoman, I became her chief of staff. I was always in the district doing work,” he says. He also took three courses at UP National PROFILE College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), and finished his master’s degree in Business Administration.

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