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The MAP Research Project

Several years ago, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) embarked on a

project to help Filipino voters make their choice for President in the national elections of

2004. MAP appointed one of its most active members, Vic Magdaraog, who was the COO

of the Development Dimensions International (DDI) then, to head the task force and the

research team that conducted the study on what the “must” roles are of the Philippine

President. Volunteers from FINEX and PMAP were invited to join the research project. Once completed and approved by the MAP, a team was organized to spread the research

output in as many fora as possible including universities, rotary clubs and other

organizations all over the country.

MAP Methodology

Since the project was essentially a leadership issue, Vic and his team looked at the various

leadership models of various authors popular with management professionals. DDI had its

own (Navigator, Strategist, Entrepreneur, Mobilizer, Talent Advocate, Captivator, Global

Thinker); so did Covey (Pathfinding, Aligning, Empowering, Modelling); Belbin (Planner,

Company Worker, Resource Investigator, Chairman, Shaper, Monitor-Evaluator); Gallup

(Formulation, Strategic Thinking, Creativity, Activator, Simulator); and Mintzberg

(Disseminator, Entrepreneur, Liaison, Leader, Spokesperson). These were the sources of

primary data.

The team, knowing the Philippine context and applying these to the task at hand, narrowed

down the “must” roles of a successful President to five: (1) Navigator/Strategist, (2)

Mobilizer, (3) Servant Leader, (4) Captivator and, (5) Guardian of the National

Wealth, Patrimony and Law and Order. These five roles were then defined and clarified,

Volume 5 Issue No. 13 map.org.ph April 2, 2019

“CHOOSING OUR SENATORS” April 1, 2019

Mr. REX C. DRILON II

“MAPping the Future” Column in the INQUIRER

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the rationale for each was explained and the team agreed on the behaviors and competencies

associated with each role.

Various subgroups in the team were then formed to vet the findings with personalities who

had been presidents (FVR and Erap), who had front-seat views of the Presidency (Senate

President, Chief Justice, Cabinet members, Comelec Chairman), those in and out of media

who follow the art and science of politics (a publisher, journalists, political analysts) and

leading personalities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (university presidents, Muslim

leaders, women sector, etc.). These were used as secondary data and helped contextualize

the study.

Just identifying the Roles of a Successful President is not enough, however. Just as

important are the attributes of the person who would be president. These 5 attributes

identified then were: (1) Character, (2) Competence, (3) Commitment, (4) Sense of

Country, and (5) Responsible Citizenship.

A scoresheet was then developed that showed all the 10 roles and attributes of a successful

leader. The voter could rate each candidate in a matrix and compare said ratings among

competing candidates. The scoresheet was and could be used for rating the candidates in

subsequent national and local elections. This could be applied to candidates for President,

Vice President, Senators, Congressmen, Governors and Mayors.

The 2019 People’s Choice Movement Project to Select the Ten Best Senatorial Candidates

Last March 15, about 150 individuals gathered together in a convention to select the Ten

Best Senatorial Candidates. The event was organized by the People’s Choice Movement

(PCM), a group of lay leaders coming mostly from different faith-based organizations from

the catholic, evangelical and protestant communities in the country. Also invited were

personalities from the business and civil society sectors. Participation in the PCM is by

individuals, not organizations. Thus, the PCM participants in the convention joined in their

personal capacities and not as representatives of their respective organizations. It was made

very clear to the participants that this was not a Church activity but an initiative of the

leaders of the Laity.

The PCM Methodology

All the sixty-two (62) senatorial candidates went through two layers of screening. The first

screen was two (2) knock-out issues. The candidate must (1) believe in God, and (2) be

against Charter Change / Federalism in the various versions under the present administration

(especially the GMA/House version). A third knock-out issue suggested on the floor was

not adopted. The proponent suggested that since the President had been attacking the Church

and its teachings and actually suggested to kill bishops and priests, then any candidate who

is supported by him should likewise be knocked out. This proposal was defeated.

Only those senatorial candidates who passed the above two knock-out issues were included

in the pool of senatorial candidates from which the Selection Convention chose the 10 best

senatorial candidates. All 62 candidates passed the “belief in God” criterion. Thirty (30)

candidates who have declared their support for Cha-cha and Federalism were removed from

the pool. There were 17 candidates who have declared to be against ChaCha/Federalism

while 15 others had no declared position on the issue. Because the 15 others do not have a

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declared position, the convenors suggested and the body approved that only the 17 should

be subjected to the selection process. They did not want to risk including in the list

candidates who did not declare his or her position against Chacha but who turns out to be

for charter change after all.

The 17 remaining candidates in the pool were then subjected to the second screening. They

were rated using a common criteria called GabayKristo, a guide comprised of 20 specific

questions which fall into four (4) categories – (1) Character & Honor, (2) Competence &

Abilities, (3) Faithfulness to Public Service, and (4) Faithfulness to God, the Constitution

and the Law. The summarized curriculum vitae of the candidates were provided to the

participants. In each of the 20 questions, the candidates were graded from 1 to 5, with 1

being the lowest and 5 the highest. The ten candidates with the highest scores were then

declared the selected Ten Best candidates.

The list of the selected Ten Best Senatorial Candidates will be made available, with the

permission of the Church hierarchy (bishops and parish priests), to all the dioceses, parishes

and other church communities. The Catholic schools and other faith-based educational

institutions will also be furnished a copy of the list. All the lay or faith-based organizations,

including all their chapters and household prayer groups nationwide, will also be furnished

with the list of 10 candidates, with a request to consider voting and campaigning for them

since they were a product of a collective discernment of a community of lay leaders.

The CBCP, in its January 28, 2019 Pastoral Statement, encouraged the laity to conduct

circles of discernment in choosing the best leaders who can serve our country and defend

the faith. The bishops also took a stand against continuing attacks, insults and threats hurled

against the church, its bishops and priests. The People’s Choice Movement (PCM) is the

answer of the Laity to the call to action of the Church and its leaders.

Conclusion

Once every three years, the Filipino voter is given the right and the duty to choose the leaders

of this country. The people’s vote has awesome power – it has the potential, if exercised

properly, to transform Philippine society by making sure that the leaders they elect are pro-

God, pro-poor, pro-life and pro-country (as opposed to pro-self), pro-democracy and

inclusive. It is the obligation of every responsible citizen to vote wisely, not to sell that vote

and to make sure the vote is counted properly. Whether the voter uses the MAP, the PCM

or any other method in making a choice, what is clear is that such vote is sacred and is the

exercise of real people power.

(This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand

of the Management Association of the Philippines or MAP. The author is a member of the

MAP National Issues Committee. Feedback at and

. For previous articles, please visit ).

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April 15 is the deadline for the most important type of tax payment – the annual filing of

income tax returns (ITRs). Almost all registered taxpayers are required to pay this tax, with

only a few exceptions. For the government, the income tax is where the bulk of the Bureau

of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) collections come from.

Given that “April 15” is a deadline, it is not necessary to wait until the last day to handle

your tax filings. In fact, it is usually better to file your returns and pay the taxes due as soon

as possible. The BIR might reject your filing if you used wrong and outdated forms, or if

you failed to submit attachments.

If you had waited for the last minute before filing your returns, then you may not have time

to correct them.

It is especially important to learn about ITRs now in light of the changes prescribed by

TRAIN Law. Under the tax reform, new rates, forms, and deadlines were implemented. For

the Annual Filing of ITRs, only the rates and forms were affected.

BIR Form No. 1701A

The first of the Annual ITR forms to be updated was BIR Form No. 1701A. Disseminated

under Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 17-2019, the new form partially replaces

BIR Form No. 1701.

Unlike the old BIR Form No. 1701, it does not cover all self-employed and professionals.

Only taxpayers availing the 8% rate and taxpayers availing the Optional Standard

Deductions under the graduated rates should use 1701A. Notably, it also does not cover

mixed income earners.

BIR Form No. 1700

A few days after issuing RMC 17-2019, the BIR released another set of new forms under

RMC 19-2019. Among these new forms is BIR Form No. 1700 or the Annual ITR for

Compensation Income Earners.

Generally, employers take care of filing the ITRs of their employees under substituted filing.

However, certain employees are not qualified for substituted filing and, as such, are still

required to file their own returns. For these types of employees, they are now required to

use the new BIR Form No. 1700.

“MAP Insights” Column in BUSINESSWORLD

“What’s New on April 15?” April 2, 2019

Mr. RAYMOND A. ABREA

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BIR Form No. 1702-RT

Another form released under RMC 19-2019 is BIR Form No. 1702-RT. The form is used

by corporations, partnerships, and other non-individuals subjected to regular income tax

rates. The new form cuts down the pages in half, retaining only four pages instead of the

previous eight.

BIR Form No. 1702-EX

For tax-exempt corporations, partnerships, or non-individuals, the BIR has also issued the

new form for BIR Form No. 1702-EX. This was also released under RMC 19-2019

alongside BIR Forms No. 1700 and 1702-RT.

The form is only three pages long, cut down from seven pages.

BIR Form No. 1701

For self-employed and professionals not covered by 1701A, the BIR has released an updated

BIR Form No. 1701. As disseminated under RMC 37-2019, BIR Form No. 1701 will cover

individuals (including mixed income earners), estates and trusts.

Note that BIR Form No. 1701A is different from BIR Form No. 1701 and covers different

types of taxpayers. Self-employed and professionals need to make sure that they are using

the right form for annual ITRs.

Individuals availing neither the Optional Standard Deduction nor the 8% Income Tax should

use this form, not 1701A. This means, for example, individual taxpayers availing itemized

deductions.

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Ease of Paying Taxes

Making tax returns simpler is not just about making tax compliance easier. Improving the

ease of paying taxes can affect a country’s business competitiveness and even improve its

revenue collections.

One of the most notable studies that measures the ease of paying taxes is the World Bank’s

Doing Business report. In its latest release, the Philippines – despite dropping in the overall

rank – increased its score on Paying Taxes. From a score of 69.27 in 2018, the Philippines

raised its score to 71.80 in 2019.

As might be surmised, improving the scores here could attract more entrepreneurs to invest

in the country.

The other potential effect of improving the ease of paying taxes is broadening the taxpayer

base. Shortening tax returns and making sure that tax compliance is easy can encourage

taxpayers to comply. With a broader taxpayer base comes more taxpayers to collect from

and, therefore, higher revenues.

As of the BIR’s latest annual report, there are only 19 million registered taxpayers despite

having a working population of over 40 million. If these taxpayers were encouraged to

comply and pay their taxes, the government could see an increase in its revenue collections.

However, shortening tax returns is not the key to improving the ease of paying taxes. To

actually make a significant impact, the tax system needs to be modernized.

For example, Singapore, one of the leading scorers in the Doing Business report, conducts

almost its entire tax compliance electronically. As of 2017, 100% of Singapore’s Value-

Added Tax returns, 97% of Personal ITRs, and 69% of Corporate ITRs are filed

electronically.

Already, the BIR has taken steps toward this by initiating the Electronic Tax Software

Providers Certification System. Under this new initiative, the BIR authorizes the

development of third-party software for the automation of tax compliance. Applications,

such as the TaxWhizPH mobile app, will enable their users to file their returns anytime and

anywhere.

The TaxWhizPH mobile app is free to use and can be downloaded at the Play Store for

Android users and App Store for iOS users.

(This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand

of the Management Association of the Philippines or the MAP.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The author is a member of the MAP Tax Committee and one of the 2017 Outstanding Young

Persons of the World, a Move Awards 2016 Digital Mover, one of the 2015 The Outstanding

Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM), an Asia CEO Young Leader of the Year, and

Founding President of the Asian Consulting Group (ACG) and the Center for Strategic

Reforms of the Philippines (CSR Philippines).

consult@acg.ph.

map@map.org.ph

http://map.org.ph

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Business groups support measures to resolve water interruption

as ordered by PRRD

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The May 13, 2019 national elections will definitely have a critical impact on the future of our country, people, industries and businesses. It is therefore very important that all enlightened citizens, like MAP members, participate in ensuring credible elections. In line with the MAP’s advocacy for credible elections, the MAP Board of Governors has agreed to call on MAP members for voluntary contributions to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV). The MAP Board also agreed that the MAP will match the total contributions of MAP members up to P200,000. The PPRCV is a bona-fide, non-partisan, parish-based association duly organized by and composed of civic-minded citizens drawn from the various sectors of Philippine society, mandated to help form the civic conscience of the Filipino voters and campaign for an honest, meaningful, and peaceful elections. It holds office at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in UN Avenue. As a non-partisan organization, it does not support any candidate, political party, organization, or coalition of political parties involved in the forthcoming elections. Your support will be most beneficial to the trainers and PPCRV volunteers who are fulfilling PPCRV’s mission of serving as the citizen’s arm of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in maintaining the integrity of the forthcoming elections. The PPCRV has a triple mandate of conducting voters’ education, candidates’ forum, and poll watching and canvassing. Your contribution will finance the meals for the trainers, trainees, volunteers and staff who will be conducting voters’ education, candidates’ forum, and poll watching and canvassing during the May 2019 Elections. The schedule of the Training of Trainers is as follows: February 27 – March 1 (Luzon 1), March 6 – 8 (Luzon 2), March 13 - 15 (Visayas), and March 20 – 22 (Mindanao). After the elections, the volunteers tasked with data entry of election returns at the PPCRV Command Center will be about 200 each day starting the night of the election. They will be at the Command Center for a month until all election returns have been sent by precincts. Please make your check donation payable to “Management Association of the Philippines” and send to the MAP Secretariat. If you need a Statement of Account to process your payment, please call MAP Staff Assistant Milo Dapilos via +63927-002-3413 or milo.dapilos@map.org.ph. If you have questions, you may contact PPCRV Chair MYLA C. VILLANUEVA and PPCRV Trustee for Ways and Means Committee THERESA CURIA via +632 536-5819, PPCRV91@yahoo.com or mgcuria@kofc.org.ph

Let us help PPCRV please

mailto:mgcuria@kofc.org.ph

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Earlier, we issued a circular asking for your contribution to PPCRV. We are reaching out to you again, this time for NAMFREL. The National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) has been accredited by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as a citizen’s arm for the May 13, 2019 elections. The accreditation authorizes NAMFREL to monitor the entire electoral process and gather data and results, which can then be made accessible to all election stakeholders. NAMFREL has identified three very important activities to secure the integrity of the process, thus contributing to the credibility of the forthcoming elections. These are: 1. Monitoring the conduct and implementation of the Automated Election System (AES) 2. Designing and implementing an Open Election Data Website project, where election data posted

shall be made available to all stakeholders and interested groups 3. Partnering with COMELEC in the conduct of the Random Manual Audit (RMA), which is considered

the last safeguard in assessing the accuracy of the voting machine. NAMFREL volunteers will likewise be involved in election activities before, during, and after election day, which will include the review of the computerized voter list, voters’ education, observation of the testing of the automated voting machines, and the mock elections that will be conducted before the elections. But while NAMFREL volunteers have the experience and expertise in all of the above activities, they would however need sufficient financial resources to carry them out in a more thorough and effective manner. NAMFREL needs your support to carry out the huge tasks of mobilizing some 50,000 volunteers to monitor the election activities in 123,350 clustered precincts during the election period, and most especially those on election day. The MAP Board agreed that the MAP will match the total contributions of MAP members up to P200,000. Please make your check donation payable to “Management Association of the Philippines” and send to the MAP Secretariat. If you need a Statement of Account to process your payment, please call MAP Staff Assistant Milo Dapilos via +63927-002-3413 or milo.dapilos@map.org.ph. If you want to deposit your contribution, please use the following bank account details and kindly email to us the scanned copy of the deposit slip or the screenshot in case of an online transfer: Depository Bank/Branch : BPI Ayala Triangle Account Name : Management Association of the Philippines Account Number : 002593-1055-74 If you have questions, you may contact NAMFREL Secretary-General ERIC ALVIA via +632 470-4151; +632 736-0969, +632 788-3484, or secretariat@namfrel.com.ph. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Let us help NAMFREL also please

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Forthcoming Events

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1. “Never waste a good crisis”

from MAP National Issues Committee Co-Vice Chair ROMEO “Romy” L.

BERNARDO’s “INTROSPECTIVE” Column in BUSINESSWORLD on

April 1, 2019

THE leadership and the management of Manila Water squarely took responsibility for

inability to provide 24-7 service in many parts of its concession area. And voluntarily

waived fees in the several hundreds of millions, despite the absence of any such obligation

under its concession agreement. Such act of corporate governance and responsibility is

exemplary, and from my recall, unprecedented in the Philippines. Especially since, in the

view of many, the fundamental shortcoming is not theirs, but government’s. More precisely,

that of the MWSS in the last administration. Despite repeated warnings of the two

concessionaires at that time, MWSS abysmally failed to develop a single water source, not

a single stone was turned or a shovel lifted, even as they barred the concessionaires from

developing such. The “original sin.”

I reprint below excerpts from my October 2013 column, “Being Water Secure.” MAP

President Riza Mantaring described it as “prescient.” I do so to provide perspective on where

we were, why we are where we are, and most importantly, the way forward.

Quote:

Water security is ensured only when long-term investment and financing for the sector are

sustainably and efficiently done to meet the needs of a growing population, the economy

and the environment. This was the clear message delivered at a recent forum on Water

Security organized by Finex.

IFC Resident Representative Jesse Ang said in the forum that while the Philippines is not

yet considered a water-scarce country, management of the resource needs to be

strengthened. Former MWSS Administrator Dr. Lito Lazaro explained why: “With the

improved efficiency of both Manila Water and Maynilad in reducing previously big leakages

(non-revenue water) the gain to Metro Manila is almost like building a new huge dam.”

Dr. Lazaro was too modest to discuss the benefits reaped over 16 years of the highly

successful “largest water privatization” in the world: the broad public welfare gains, not

just in water security, but in environmental protection, health, and outreach to poor

communities. In short, clean water made available to Mang Juan. As CEO of MWSS, he

was one of the three architects, under the direction of President Ramos, who made this

privatization happen. The other two were then DPWH Secretary Virgilio Vigilar, and Mark

Dumol, his Chief of Staff.

Articles/Papers from MAP Members

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The success story of this privatization is objectively and engagingly told in a book Built on

Dreams, Grounded in Reality, by former UP School of Economics Dean and our only living

National Scientist in Economics, Dr. Raul Fabella. Chapter 4, “The Privatization of MWSS:

How and Why It Was Won” had this to say:

“The privatization of MWSS was clearly a triumph of the principle of comparative

competence-the private sector proved more competent at the delivery of water and sewage

services than the state. It is now considered a singularly successful structural reform in the

annals of Philippine political economy.”

The welfare gains for the public is a matter of public record. In the Joint Statement on Water

Public Private Partnership (PPP), the Foundation for Economic Freedom, the Management

Association of the Philippines, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries noted that the water PPP has

“contributed much to improve public welfare by having more than doubled the number of

customers served, provided 24 hour water service availability that meets health standards,

while addressing the needs of millions in the poor communities. The improvements in

service delivery came after the two concessionaires poured in a combined P105 billion in

investments to expand and upgrade the water and sewage network, achieved without adding

to government’s fiscal burden or public debt exposure.” They further lamented that it’s a

pity that this “successful, internationally recognized model PPP has not been replicated

outside Metro Manila where the water situation remains at pre-privatization MWSS

standards.”

It is disturbing indeed that instead of building on this success and nurturing the greater

water security achieved over the years, we now observe populist myopic demands, not just

by the usual suspects from the protest industry, but by MWSS itself, for arbitrary reductions

in water rates — already the lowest in the country, and compare favorably internationally.

This will inevitably compromise water security over the medium and long term as needed

investments for maintaining service quality and protecting the environment are neglected.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry was quite emphatic in this regard: “We

view the MWSS’ unilateral and arbitrary act of changing the terms or interpretation of the

concession agreement, in total disregard of the contractual rights and intent of the parties,

with grave concern.” Such unilateral populist action by government agents is referred to in

regulatory economics literature as “administrative expropriation,” a form of “government

opportunism” inflicted on captive investors in utilities. ( Spiller and Tommasi, Handbook

of New Institutional Economics).

There are a number of issues in the dispute notices that the two concessionaires submitted

for international arbitration, ranging from the computation of the appropriate discount rate

(allowed rate of return) to the disallowances pertaining to past and future investments, and

incredibly, a reinterpretation 16 years hence, of treatment of corporate income taxes.

The one item of contention that calls for comment is on who is responsible for investing in

new raw water sources — a key element to water security. The insistence of the current

MWSS management that investments in such are excluded under the Concession

Agreements, and therefore disallowed in the tariff rate setting, squarely contradict the intent

of the Agreements. More fundamentally, given MWSS, and government’s, dismal track

record in public service provision — especially when contrasted with the two

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concessionaires’ — such revisionist interpretation will certainly bring us back to pre-

privatization water insecurity.

Mark Dumol was categorical on what they had in mind: “Without any doubt, the original

intent of the MWSS concession agreement was that all aspects of the provision of potable

water, from raw water sourcing to treatment to distribution would be the responsibility of

the concessionaires.”

I also consulted Dr. Lito Lazaro on this and he said “in my mind it was clear that raw water

development is the responsibility of the concessionaires. How can the concessionaires be

held to their targets if they are not responsible for the raw water development, since

complying with the targets assumes that water is available?”

This unilateral reinterpretation by MWSS now risks all the gains achieved in one and half

decades.

End of quote.

Sadly prophetic. But all is not lost. Thanks to short term measures being undertaken

collaboratively by MWSS, Manila Water and Maynilad, the current supply deficit of 9

percent will likely be brought down to zero by June.

But this crisis would have been wasted, if we fail to address the roots of the problem, the

non-development of new water sources. Two musts:

a) Government must fast-track the development of the Kaliwa project. We need the

Duterte political will referred to by Sec Dominguez recently in connection with

BBB.

b) “The private water concessionaires, being accountable for rendering water service to

the public, should be allowed the option to provide raw water supply for their

respective zones” ( MAP, Finex, FEF et al March 25 Press Statement).

Finally, this “crisis” would be a good trigger for government to review its basic approach

for funding water and sewage. The three T’s, Taxes, Tariffs and Transfers, and the proper

shares are a policy/political decision. Angat was funded by taxes. Transfers, usually from

donor institutions, are limited and unpredictable. The literature is full of robust findings that

tariff mode is the most sustainable. Given the still regressive Philippine tax system, and

coupled with a “lifeline” rate for the poor that we have, the tariff mode is the most equitable

and most conducive to conservation efforts.

In the same way that the “inflation blip” last year led to the game-changing reform of rice

policy, let’s use this “water shortage blip” to address the underlying problem of lack of raw

water and failure to adhere faithfully to the Concession Agreements in language and spirit.

My plea to authorities: “Never waste a good crisis.”

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Romeo L. Bernardo is Vice-Chairman of the Foundation for Economic Freedom and

GlobalSource Partners Philippine Advisor. He was Finance Undersecretary during the

Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos administrations.

romeo.lopez.bernardo@gmail.com

2. “The lifeblood of a nation” from MAP Governor PETER WALLACE’s “Like it is” Column in the

PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER on March 27, 2019

Water. Man can live for about three weeks without food, he/she dies after three to four days

without water. Water is essential to life. We here, in Manila, are fortunate that the Ramos

administration turned over supply of it to the private sector. They turned a government-run

disaster with only about a quarter of the population with on-tap water 24 hours a day to

today where 98 percent of the Manila service area has 24‐hour potable water access. At least they did until the first week of March when supply to some 280,000 households ran out or

became intermittent. This happened because sources of supply remained unchanged, even

as there was a three-fold increase in Manila Water’s service connections – from 325,000 in

1997 to about 990,000 in 2019.

Manila Water has been blamed for the debacle, it shouldn’t be. The water concessionaires

Maynilad and Manila Water have won a number of global awards for the excellence of their

performance, considered world‐class for a developing country. I blame previous governments. It’s been known for decades Manila needs more water sources. Yet

government after government has dithered and done nothing. That’s where you put the

blame. In fact the original concession agreement of 1997 required the government to provide

an additional dam within 10 years. They didn’t. Manila Water saw the crisis coming and

asked permission to develop other sources in February 2017, the National Water Resources

Board (NWRB) denied the requests until March 2019, two years lost.

I don’t want to underplay the suffering of all the people who went through days without

water. It’s not something we should ever have to experience. But we would have years ago

if water supply hadn’t been privatized. MWSS did a lousy job. When MWSS managed it

only 67 percent of the population was connected to the MWSS system of these only 26

percent had 24/7 water service. System losses stood at an incredible 63 percent of total

water production. With Manila Water running it it’s 12 percent.

It’s human nature to fly off the handle when things go wrong, but a little more balance could

have been exhibited. Yes, it was bad that about 280,000 households suffered poorer service

but they’d had 24/7 water practically uninterrupted for about 22 years. The exaggerated

threat that there’d be no water worsened the situation as people scrambled to store more

water than they needed, even those outside the affected area, draining La Mesa dam which

is an important source for Manila Water.

What happened was the fault of previous governments sitting on their hands, not doing what

was blatantly obvious: build another dam and its delivery systems. Not the present MWSS

leadership and the concessionaires who warned of the impending disaster of it. So why want

the head of MWSS Administrator Rey Velasco, he’s only been in MWSS for two years. Go

after his predecessors.

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The water crisis we are now facing boils down to a root problem ─ the source. Our one and

only source, Angat Dam and La Mesa that it feeds. They cannot support the (too rapidly)

growing population. And what if there’s a massive earthquake, as Indonesia experienced,

and the one dam we have is damaged. We’ll have no water, then millions will die. So it’s a

relief that the Duterte government did act and a contract has been signed to build the Kaliwa

dam—finally. But that will take about five years, so a quicker solution is needed.

The only feasible short term solution is to tap Laguna Lake, and that can be done. In the

longer term, though, Laguna de Bay must be cleaned of its fish pens and dredged. President

Arroyo did issue a contract to a Belgian firm to do just that. President Aquino, bless his

heart, cancelled it due to alleged irregularities. But in his do nothing style, never replaced it

with someone else. Laguna has gone from 10 to 12 meters deep to 2.5 to 3.

The water regulatory setup is a mess. Water regulation and management needs to be under

one authority, with one law. And it should be adequately funded to deal with the chronic

water woes. The Speaker has introduced a bill to create a Water Department. It should be

supported we need a single agency with overall control of our water systems.

New clean water sources are needed with urgency. And people have to pay for it. People

also have to conserve it, far too much is wasted. And I’ve seen no discussions of being more

thoughtful in our use of Water. Reducing our personal use is a whole, major subject in itself

and needs government to act on also.

Read my previous columns: www.wallacebusinessforum.com

E-mail: wallace_likeitis@wbf.ph

3. “Trailblazing a path toward digital transformation” by Bjorn Biel M. Beltran, Special Features Writer, in the BUSINESSWORLD on

April 1, 2019

Technology has already made itself integral to modern business. From fields of health care,

to automobiles, to agriculture, among many others, technology has disrupted how

established companies have traditionally run their businesses, opening the way for digital

natives and future-forward entrepreneurs to take center stage.

Even in the Philippines, the impact of technology has changed the nature of modern

business, driving companies to seek innovation and to shift to new strategies to adapt to a

changing world. In the field of accounting, things are no different.

“Because of technology, the traditional brick-and-mortar model of doing business no longer

applies. With this change in doing business, risks that face companies and the related

services that businesses require have correspondingly changed as well,” Roman Felipe S.

Reyes, chairman of Reyes Tacandong & Co. (RT&Co.), told BusinessWorld in an e-mail.

The accounting firm, which first started operations in mid-2010 with only 20 employees,

has grown to over 800 employees across multiple branches in the country. After only eight

years of operations, the firm has established itself as among the country’s most trusted

experts in digital transformation, due diligence, tax, advisory services and audit, with

branches in key cities like Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, and a recently opened office in Clark.

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In its short history, RT&Co. has accumulated extensive experience in all industries, both

public and private, including general manufacturing, semiconductors, telecommunications,

power generation, real estate, mining, transportation, utilities, media and entertainment,

hotels, services, health care and shipping, including those companies registered in special

economic zones or the Board of Investments.

The knowledge and expertise puts the firm in a good position to face the future considering

the technological changes in this age of disruption. It aims to grow to a thousand people by

2020, to become a professional services firm that can offer guidance to companies in an

increasingly digital world.

“In any business, competition will always be present. As we do not want to lose focus of

what we want to achieve and where we want to be, we do not look at competition. Instead,

we only look at ourselves and evaluate our performance with the measurements we have

set for ourselves.”

“When RT&Co. initially started, we wanted to be known as the go-to firm for due diligence

services. With technological development we have seen around us, our direction now is to

become the first truly Filipino digital transformation consulting firm of CPAs, lawyers and

other professionals,” Mr. Reyes said.

“To date, we are on track with our projected growth. By 2020, our target is to be 1,000 in

number so that we will have competent professionals to provide the relevant services needed

by businesses in this age of disruption,” he added.

RT&Co.’s main strategy relies on the fundamental principle in business that the right people

can achieve great results. In striving to become a firm of 1,000 professionals in the fields of

digital transformation, due diligence, tax, advisory services and audit, the firm ensures that

the future it will create for its business is healthy and sustainable, one with a strong core

value offering and a skilled and principled team that is dedicated to helping clients achieve

their goals.

“In RT&Co., we treat our employees like family because as a professional services firm,

our people are our key asset,” Mr. Reyes said.

“As such, in line with the technological changes, we are preparing our people for the

competencies needed by our clients. Talent retention, however, remains to be a key concern

particularly when we are competing with employment opportunities abroad and

multinational companies with business process outsourcing and shared services operations

in the Philippines,” he added.

Through a clear, shared vision of providing the very best solutions for its people, RT&Co.

hopes that its value-laden approach to business can help it attract more talent and clients

looking for a trusted partner in navigating a changing world.

After all, thriving in a progressively more complex environment does not only rely on

offering the best skills needed for the job. It also needs a company putting value into the

relationships it builds with its team and its clients and looking forward to a future where it

can continually exceed the expectations it sets for itself.

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“In any business, competition will always be present. As we do not want to lose focus of

what we want to achieve and where we want to be, we do not look at competition. Instead,

we only look at ourselves and evaluate our performance with the measurements we have set

for ourselves,” Mr. Reyes said.

4. “Always responding to the needs of the times” by Bjorn Biel M. Beltran, Special Features Writer, in the BUSINESSWORLD on

April 1, 2019

In the ever-competitive Philippine accounting scene, Isla Lipana & Co. enjoys a level of

prestige that is hard to rival. Its inspiring longevity has a lot to do with it.

Founded in 1922, it is the oldest operating professional services firm in the country. Its near-

century of existence speaks volumes about its ability to keep up with the rapidly changing

times and even with cutthroat competition.

The firm, formerly known as Joaquin Cunanan & Co., also owes its high repute to an

unwavering commitment to quality, not only in the field of accounting, but also in audit and

assurance, deals and corporate finance, consulting and tax planning.

And as a member of 250,000-people-strong transnational network of the professional

services juggernaut PwC, the firm holds itself to high local and international standards.

As it approaches its 97th year, Isla Lipana & Co. aims to “disrupt” and “constantly

transform” itself — terms that are so frequently heard from tech companies. “Agility and

developing new expertise quickly are critical to being responsive to client needs in this age

of automation and speed,” said Atty. Alexander Cabrera, chairman and senior partner of Isla

Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines.

Atty. Alexander Cabrera, chairman and senior partner of Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines

“Agility and developing new expertise quickly are critical to being responsive to client

needs in this age of automation and speed.”

He sees growth opportunities particularly in auditing and the need to recruit the talent to

perform it. “For example, auditing a bank, a technology company, or an organization that is

leveraging blockchain requires a huge amount of expertise. And if you don’t have that

expertise because all you have are people who only understand the numbers, we miss the

bigger risks, including: ‘Are they actually doing the right things?’ ’How is this company

able to perform at the level they do, and report the way they do?’ ‘And do these things

coincide?’,” he said.

Data will be critical to Isla Lipana & Co.’s endeavor. Atty. Cabrera said that lack of clean,

relevant and stable data is holding back organizations from moving aggressively on artificial

intelligence, which he believes will have significant impact on businesses in the next five

years.

“The availability of key skills to achieve that kind of data does affect growth prospects,”

Atty. Cabrera said.

33

The firm also strives to further enhance its work culture. “We know there is always more

we can do to improve the experience of working at PwC. Making sure our people have a

good work-life balance remains a priority,” he said.

He continued, “Here, we need to work harder as our global survey says that only 65% of

PwC people feel that the people they work for are considerate of their life outside work,

which is not as high as we would like. That’s why we invest in programs to help our people

work flexibly and manage their energy and personal well-being so they can be their best

selves at home and at work.”

Even as the firm addresses that critical internal concern, Isla Lipana & Co. manages external

issues, including increasing competition, especially from those that employ the tactic of

undercutting prices, and pressure brought about by regulations.

“These drive us to keep our focus on quality by continuously conducting stringent

monitoring of engagement quality and delivery capability, involving the more senior

members (i.e., partners) of the engagement team, and embedding PwC professional

behavior in everyone’s DNA while being supported by technology,” Atty. Cabrera said.

The same determination is shown by the firm in its efforts to create positive social change.

Among its notable corporate social responsibility programs is the “Seat of Hope” project,

in which the firm donates chairs and desks to select schools in different parts of the country,

hoping to make even a small dent in the chronic shortage of basic school equipment

affecting public schools.

Another education-related initiative of the firm is its scholarship program. Under it,

financial assistance is extended to undergraduates studying accountancy and those

reviewing for the certified public accountant licensure exam.

In addition to these, the firm conducts tree-planting and tree-potting activities, provides

financial help to victims of calamities, backs shelter reconstruction programs in different

communities, and trains farmers and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises in the

basics of business and accounting.

Isla Lipana & Co., which in 2017 was the second most sought-after auditing firm by

corporates in the country, according to the 2018 edition of the Top 1000 Corporations in the

Philippines of BusinessWorld, is all set to reach greater heights this year.

“We see more opportunities to grow our practice by increasing our market share, both in

audit, risk assurance, tax and advisory services, while guided by our purpose to build trust

in society and solve important problems,” Atty. Cabrera said.

5. “P&A Grant Thornton: Unlocking the potential for growth of its clients and people” by Bjorn Biel M. Beltran, Special Features Writer, in the BUSINESSWORLD on

April 1, 2019

In its 31 years of providing outstanding assistance, insights, and expertise to its clients, P&A

Grant Thornton continues to be a leading professional services firm that constantly aims to

unlock the potential for growth of its partner companies, its communities, and its people.

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Formed in 1988 as Punongbayan & Araullo (P&A) by two prominent figures in the

accounting profession — Benjamin R. Punongbayan and Jose G. Araullo — P&A Grant

Thornton has made its mark in the professional services industry, supporting and

contributing to the development of organizations throughout its history.

Not only does P&A Grant Thornton makes its mark locally, but also on a global scale when

it joined as a member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd., one of the world’s leading

organizations of independent assurance, tax, and advisory firms.

The clientele of P&A Grant Thornton consists of privately owned enterprises, listed

companies, and public sector organizations. These organizations go to the well-known firm

for its “global scale, quality, industry insight, and deep technical expertise.”

P&A Grant Thornton offers services such as audit and assurance covering annual and short-

period audits, review engagement, due diligence and acquisition audit, and special audit

using agreed-upon procedures, among others; tax advisory, compliance, education, and

advocacy; business process solutions that include accounting, staff augmentation,

offshoring, and payroll processing; and advisory services covering business risk, business

consulting, transactions, and human capital.

Its head office is located on Ayala Avenue in Makati City, with offices located at

Dasmariñas City in Cavite, Cebu City, and Davao City.

As it goes past its third decade carrying a well-nurtured heritage, P&A Grant Thornton

commits to providing a distinctive client experience that sets the firm apart from others,

while building better working relationships with dynamic organizations.

In an e-mail to BusinessWorld, Maria Victoria C. Españo, chairperson and chief executive

officer of P&A Grant Thornton, shared the firm’s plans for this year that are in line with its

vision to be the preferred business advisor of dynamic organizations.

“We will engage and update our clients on the latest business developments and

opportunities through our annual CEO Business Forum, our thought leadership columns,

our technical and regulatory alerts, our client seminars and, most importantly, through

discussions, conversations and fora,” Ms. Españo announced.

Maria Victoria C. Españo, chairperson and chief executive officer of P&A Grant Thornton

“We will engage and update our clients on the latest business developments and

opportunities through our annual CEO Business Forum, our thought leadership columns,

our technical and regulatory alerts, our client seminars and, most importantly, through

discussions, conversations, and fora.”

Ms. Españo added that P&A Grant Thornton aims to provide actionable insights into how

their clients can take advantage of trends and innovations in order to pursue their business

goals.

The firm, Ms. Españo observed, has encompassed over an entire generation in the business

scene; and as time saw changes, she pointed out that the biggest change in the industry is

the outlook of Filipino enterprises.

35

“They no longer think local, or even regional, but global. They’ve also invested in various

industries, rather than just banking on one expertise,” Ms. Españo explained.

With this, P&A Grant Thornton stays ahead of the game “by keeping our ears on the ground

and collaborating with our stakeholders, such as government agencies, professional bodies

and organizations, and clients,” said Ms. Españo.

As P&A Grant Thornton banners its commitment to unlock the growth potential of its

clients, the firm looks at two opportunities. First, an opportunity lies in sustainability

reports, which publicly listed companies are mandated by the government to publish. “One

of the opportunities that we see is helping such large enterprises report their sustainability

efforts both in their financial statements and in their sustainability report,” Ms. Españo said.

The firm also spots another avenue of opportunity in threats that might infiltrate technology.

“With the increasing use of technology in our lives, we also see a rise in the use of

technology with malicious intent,” Ms. Españo added. “Cybersecurity and technology risks

are a growing concern of our clients, and we see a lot of potential advising companies on

protecting themselves from cyberattacks and data breaches.”

As much as the firm strives to contribute to the growth of its clients, it also aspires to develop

the full potential of its people.

“We prepare our new CPAs to be ready and to continuously keep themselves abreast of

developments. Most importantly, we want our people to have a business mind-set of

understanding what matters most to clients,” Ms. Españo said.

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You can also view the following videos under “MAP Talks” via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMAPph

1. Acceptance Speech of Mr. HENRY SY, SR. as “MAP Management Man of the Year 1999.”

2. Acceptance Speech of Mr. FERNANDO ZOBEL DE AYALA as “MAP Management man of the Year 2018.”

3. Acceptance Speech of Dr. GEORGE S.K. TY as “MAP Management man of the Year 2006.”

4. Acceptance Speech of Mr. DAVID M. CONSUNJI as “MAP Management man of the Year 1996.”

5. Speech of Gov. NESTOR A. ESPENILLA JR. at the MAP GMM on March 6, 2018

6. Keynote Speech of Malaysia former Deputy Prime Minister ANWAR IBRAHIM at the MAP International CEO Conference on September 4, 2018

7. The MAP Lifestyle Masters on Living Well and Aging Well

8. Interview of MAP President RIZALINA “Riza” G. MANTARING on ANC's "Early Edition" on January 15, 2019

1. March 26 Meeting of the MAP Sub-Committee for Golf https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2300457163561997&type=3

2. March 26 Joint Forum on “REVISED CORPORATION CODE: Changes and Challenges”

https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2300457163561997&type=3

3. March 27 Dialogue of the MAP Ad Hoc Committee on Innovations with DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development, Dr. ROWENA CRISTINA L GUEVARA

https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2300474850226895&type=3

“MAP Talks” on YouTube

PICTURES uploaded in the MAP Facebook account

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMAPphhttps://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2300457163561997&type=3https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2300457163561997&type=3https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2300474850226895&type=3

37

4. March 27 MAP Climate Change and Sustainable Development Committee Meeting on the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan with NEDA Assistant Secretary and

Chair Technical Committee for MBSDMP, Asec. RODERICK M. PLANTA, and UPLB

College of Forestry Professor, Dr. REX VICTOR O. CRUZ https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2301049296836117&type=3

5. March 28 Meeting of the MAP Energy Committee https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2301157700158610&type=3&

uploaded=7

6. March 28 Meeting of the MAP Trade, Investments and Tourism Committee https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2301161766824870&type=3&

uploaded=12

April 1

1. Ms. MARIA AILEEN “Mylene” ABIVA, President and CEO, FELTA Multi-Media, Inc.

2. Atty. LORNA PATAJO “Lorna” KAPUNAN, Senior Partner, Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices

April 2

3. Gen. JAIME S. “Jimmy” DE LOS SANTOS AFP (Ret), Trustee, University of the Philippines (UP)

Foundation

4. Mr. ANTONIO V. “Tony” DEL ROSARIO SR.

5. Mr. ANTONIO R. “Tony” SAMSON, Chair, Touch Media

April 3

6. Mr. JAMES GERARD OSMEÑA “James” DE JESUS, President, Jaric Marketing, Inc.

7. Mr. APOLLO S. “Cocoy” ENRIQUEZ, President and General Manager, A S Enriquez Engineering

Consultancy

8. Sec. CESAR V. PURISIMA, Asia Fellow, Milken Institute

9. Mr. KAUSHAL SURESH “Kaushal” SHETTY, Country Manager, ECU Worldwide Philippines

April 4

10. Mr. RICARDO S. “Ricky” GUEVARA, President and CEO, Guevent Investments Development

Corporation

11. Ms. JUDITH DUAVIT “Judy” VAZQUEZ, CEO, PHCOLO Inc.

April 5

12. Atty. CARLOS G. “Carlo” BANIQUED, Managing Partner, Baniqued Layug and Bello

April 6

13. Mr. JIMMY D. GO, President, MSI-ECS Phils., Inc.

14. Ms. CECILIA A. “Chechi” SANCHEZ, Chair and CEO, Leverage International (Consultants), Inc.

April 7

15. Mr. REYNALDO A. “Rey” MACLANG, Former President, Philippine National Bank (PNB)

Happy to the following MAP Members who are

celebrating their birthdays within April 1 to 30, 2019

https://www.facebook.com/mapphilippines/media_set?set=a.2301049296836117&type=3

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April 8

16. Mr. FELIX R. ANG, President, Auto Nation Group, Inc.

17. Mr. ROBERTO F. “Bobby” BATUNGBACAL, Country Director, Dow Chemical Pacific Limited

18. Mr. NICK GITSIS, President, Integrated Airline Group, Inc.

19. Mr. JOSE TEODORO K. “TG” LIMCAOCO, Managing Director and CFO, Ayala Corporation

20. Mr. MARIANO M. “Nonong” MARTIN, FICD

21. Ms. MA. CARMEN ALCUAZ “Nena” REYES, President and CEO - Philippines, FranklinCovey

22. Mr. ERNESTO B. “Ernest” RUFINO JR., Chair and CEO, Health Maintenance, Inc. (HMI)

April 9

23. Mr. SIXTO T. “Nonoy” BENEDICTO, Chair, Benedicto Steel Corporation

24. Ms. RACHELLE C. BLANCH, VP and Head - Market Operations Division, The Philippine Stock

Exchange, Inc.

25. Mr. KARLO G. MAGPAYO, President and COO, Mother Teresa Crematorium and Columbary

(MTCC)

26. Dr. MA. CRISTINA DAMASCO “Tina” PADOLINA, President, Centro Escolar University (CEU)

27. Ms. BETTINA T. “Tina” SALMO, Managing Director Mortgage Banking, JP Morgan Chase & Co.

April 10

28. Mr. RUBEN Y. “Rubby” LUGTU JR., President, Asia Link Finance Corporation

April 11

29. Mr. FILEMON T. “Jun” BERBA JR., President, Philippine Foundation for Science Technology

30. Mr. MIGUEL ANTONIO L. “Mike” OZAETA, Executive Director, Nomura Securities Philippines,

Inc.

31. Mr. REUBEN M. VALERIO, Chair and CEO, AC Corporation

April 12

32. Ms. MILDRED R. RAMOS, Managing Partner, Advisory Services, Reyes Tacandong & Co.

April 13

33. Mr. CHRISTIAN R. GONZALEZ, Head, Asia Pacific & the Subcontinent, ICTSI (International

Container Terminal Services, Inc.)

April 14

34. Engr. VERGIL J. “Verg” BARGOLA, President and CEO, Cargo Padala Express Forwarding

Services Corporation (CaPEx)

35. Mr. PAUL GERARD B. “Paul” DEL ROSARIO, President, Irma Fishing & Trading, Inc.

36. Arch. NESTOR S. “Nes” MANGIO, President and CEO, Central Country Estate, Inc.

37. Mr. FABRICIO PONCE, CEO, Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines

38. Dr. ELTON SEE “Elton” TAN, Chair, President and CEO, The E-Hotels Group

April 15

39. Mr. EVARISTO M. “Jun” NARVAEZ JR., Chair and President, Jackbilt Industries, Inc.

April 16

40. Mr. JAIME P. GARCHITORENA, President and CEO, Credit Information Corporation

April 17

41. Mr. NIKKOLAI MARI Z. “Nikko” ACOSTA, SVP - Enterprise Group, Globe Telecom, Inc.

42. Ms. GERALDINE HAMMOND “Gett” APOSTOL, Partner, Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines

39

43. Mr. CARLOS S. “Charlie” RUFINO, CEO, The NetGroup - Real Estate & Project Management

Corporation

44. Ms. JO-ANN Y. TACORDA, Chief Administrative Officer, P. J. Lhuillier Inc.

45. Dr. RODOLFO M. “Rudy” VILLARICA, President, Villarica Specialty Chemical Corporation

April 18

46. Mr. JOHNLU G. KOA, Founder and CEO, The French Baker, Inc.

47. Mr. CONRADO S. “Conrad” PERRERAS, Chair and CEO, Strategic Partners and Alliances, Inc.

48. Mr. OSCAR S. REYES, President and CEO, MERALCO

April 19

49. Mr. RAMONCITO S. “Mon” FERNANDEZ, President and CEO, Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

50. Mr. OSCAR M. “Oskie” LOPEZ, Chair Emeritus, First Philippine Holdings Corporation

51. Mr. EDGAR C. SEE, President, Halston Garments, Inc.

April 20

52. Dr. CIELITO F. “Ciel” HABITO, Chair, Brain Trust: Knowledge & Options for Sustainable

Development, Inc.

53. Mr. DAVID TAN “David” LEECHIU, President and CEO, Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc.

April 21

54. Mr. ERNEST K. “Ernie” CUYEGKENG, SVP and CFO, A. Soriano Corporation

55. Ms. SHEILA G. LOBIEN, CEO, Lobien Realty Group

April 23

56. Ms. MA. FE “Fe” PEREZ-AGUDO, President, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc.

57. Mr. EDWIN R. BAUTISTA, President and COO, Union Bank of the Philippines

58. Ms. ELENA MARI GINIA ROXAS “Ginia” DOMINGO, Managing Director, Ferrari - Autostrada

Motore, Inc.

59. Mr. JERICHO P. “Jerry” GO, SVP, Megaworld Corporation

60. Mr. DELFIN T. “Jun” HALLARE JR., President, Land Registration Systems, Inc. (LARES)

61. Mr. ALBERTO D. “Bert” LINA, Chair, Lina Group of Companies

62. Mr. YORK B. VITANGCOL, Treasurer and Director, St. Peter Life Plan, Inc.

63. Ms. JOSEPHINE GOTIANUN “Joji” YAP, President and CEO, Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI)

April 24

64. Mr. RAMON K. ILUSORIO, Chair Emeritus, Multinational Investment Bancorporation

65. Mr. TEODORO B. “Ted” PADILLA, Executive Director, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare

Association of the Philippines (PHAP)

66. Mr. DOMINGO PAREJA “Don” PANLILIO, President, D2B Multi-ventures Inc.

67. Cong. GUSTAVO S. “Gus” TAMBUNTING, Representative - 2nd District of Paraňaque City,

House of Representatives

April 25

68. Mr. ERNESTO R. “Eric” ALBERTO, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer, PLDT and SMART

69. Mr. ALDRIN DENNIS F. “Aldrin” DULIG, VP - Finance, ASIAPAC, Concentrix CVG

Philippines, Inc.

70. Mr. AMIT KUMAR “Amit” OBEROI, General Manager, EDSA Shangri-La Manila

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April 26

71. Ms. MARCELINA TOLENTINO “Ace” ITCHON, President and CEO, Aspen Philippines, Inc.

72. Atty. MARIA CRISTINA “Tina” SAMSON, Co-President, The NetGroup - Real Estate & Project

Management Corporation

April 27

73. Dr. JAMIL PAOLO S. “Paolo” FRANCISCO, Research Fellow, The Basant and Sarala Birla

Professional Chair on Asian Family Corporations, Asian Institute of Management (AIM)

74. Mr. PETER D. MAQUERA, SVP - Enterprise Group, Globe Telecom, Inc.

April 28

75. Mr. TIRSO D. “Jun” ANTIPORDA JR., Chair and CEO, Milestone Petroleum Marketing

Corporation

76. Mr. FRANCISCO F. “Popoy” DEL ROSARIO JR., Independent Director, Metropolitan Bank and

Trust Company

77. Mr. JAIME E. “Jimmy” YSMAEL, President and CEO, OCLP Holdings, Inc.

April 29

78. Mr. EMMANUEL C. “Manny” CUASAY, President and CEO, Capital Industries, Inc.

79. Mr. JOSE MA. K. “Joey” LIM, President and CEO, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation

80. Mr. JOSE MA. S. “Baby” LOPEZ, SVP - Finance, Lopez Sugar Corporation

April 30

81. Mr. AMADOR P. “Ador” CRUZ, Chair, ASPAC Advertising

82. Mr. LAWRENCE N. LEONIO, CEO, LNL Archipelago Minerals, Inc.

83. Ms. SALLY C. MONTEIRO, Trustee, Alliance for Family, Inc.

84. Mr. FERDINAND A. “Randy” NAGUE, Managing Partner, Nague Malic Magnawa & Associates

Customs Brokers

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