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Tuesday, October 5, 2021

On the report released by the PCIJ and various media outlets on offshore investments


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Official Statement of DOTr Secretary Art Tugade


"First, I would like to acknowledge that due to an administrative oversight, I was not made aware of the interview request letter sent by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ). Had it reached my personal attention, I would have acted on the same swiftly.

Second, allow me to clarify the issues raised in the articles published online by various media outlets:

1. On the matter of offshore investments, yes this is a matter of public record, and the subject offshore investments in Solart Holdings was a personal financial move that was established long before I joined government.

2. Solart Holdings was organized in 2003 to hold a portion of our family’s cash assets. Of

3. Having some of our family’s savings invested in Solart Holdings was our legitimate attempt to grow our financial portfolio like what any astute and judicious entrepreneurs would do to diversify their investments. We decided to have a portion of our savings invested outside the Philippines, which is valid and legal.

4. The same has consistently been disclosed in my Sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) under "Personal Properties - Intangible", particularly, as "Offshore Investments" from 2012 to 2020. In the said period, the account barely moved.

As an appointed public servant, I have taken an oath to uphold transparency, honesty, integrity and good governance. These are cherished values that I personally believe in, and I have made it a lifelong commitment to sustain and carry around myself.

Wala po akong tinatago, at sasagutin ko ang anumang paratang at katanungan in appropriate forums and manner."

SSS salutes top employers, media partners in the first virtual Balikat ng Bayan Awards


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The Social Security System (SSS) recognized top employers and media partners in ensuring the social security protection of Filipino workers in the country during its first virtual Balikat ng Bayan Awards held on September 30, 2021, as the culminating activity for its month-long anniversary celebration.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio expressed her gratitude to the winners of this year’s Balikat ng Bayan Awards in the said virtual ceremony. “The Balikat ng Bayan Awards is one of the highlights of our 64th anniversary. Our anniversary celebration will be incomplete if we fail to honor these employers and organizations that helped SSS fulfill its mandate. Through this Balikat ng Bayan Awards, we have shown them how grateful we are for their significant contributions and strong partnership in achieving our goals and fulfilling our corporate mandate for the good of our members,” Ignacio said.

SSS honored four awardees under two categories, with two additional special citations.

Three winners emerged as Top Employers. BDO Unibank, Inc., the country’s leading universal bank, bagged the Top Employer award for the large account category. Makilala Medical Specialists, a Cotabato-based Level 1 hospital, won in the medium account category. EVA Airways Corporation, a Makati-based airline company, received the award for the small account category.


“The Top Employer awardees have demonstrated faithful compliance with the Social Security Law by reporting their employees within 30 days from the start of their employment. They also have a proven track record of regular contributions and loan payments. They should be covered by the SSS not later than 2015, submitting their collection lists online and registered on My.SSS,” Ignacio explained. “Moreover, they have supported SSS’ digitalization initiatives and actively promoted these to their employees.”

Likewise, SSS also honored its outstanding media partners who have helped disseminate SSS programs and services among its members and stakeholders for the past year.

The Best Media Partner was granted to Business Mirror of the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., which has been a key media partner by providing a free weekly column for SSS in their newspaper since 2016.

Special citations were also given to the country’s top tabloid, Bulgar of Sison’s Publishing House, Inc., and the regional radio station DXRD Sonshine Radio Davao of the SwaraSug Media Corporation for their invaluable support to SSS. Bulgar provides a free column in their newspaper every Sunday, while DXRD Sonshine Radio Davao provides free airtime every Monday, among others.

“We want to thank our media partners who provided us media mileage which SSS used to promote SSS programs, discuss relevant issues, answer member queries, and solicit favorable insights on SSS campaigns for the benefit of all our stakeholders,” Ignacio concluded.

Instituted in 1995, the SSS Balikat ng Bayan Awards acknowledge the valuable contributions of individuals and organizations in helping SSS deliver quality service and programs to its members here and abroad. The late Dr. Antonino Raymundo, a well-renowned and respected Filipino sculptor, designed the Balikat ng Bayan plaque given to the major awardees.

Circular in shape, the plaque signifies the SSS’ vision of universal coverage, while the encircling cord represents the pension fund’s stability and commitment to its mandate. The map of the Philippines depicts the efforts of the SSS to bring its services closer to its members.

For accurate information and updates on SSS programs and benefits, visit and follow SSS on Facebook and YouTube at “Philippine Social Security System,” Instagram at “mysssph,” Twitter at “PHLSSS,” join its Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates,” or visit the uSSSapTayo Portal at https://crms.sss.gov.ph/.



Enjoy Clean Air Indoors for Healthier Living with New Philips Air Purifiers


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As the Philippines is still in the middle of the fight against rising COVID-19 cases, more methods and strategies must be employed to help curb transmission of the virus among Filipinos. Findings show that the virus can be transmitted not only through droplets, but also aerosols – extremely small solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere[1]. 

The virus is also known to spread in poorly ventilated or crowded indoor settings where people tend to spend longer periods of time. Indoor air is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air[2], and its possibly numerous contaminants can give rise to chronic health conditions such as asthma or allergic rhinitis[3].

As part of local efforts to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in indoor and enclosed spaces, the government has released guidelines on the improvement of ventilation in offices, public transportation, and commercial areas. The guidelines highlight the need for access to natural ventilation as well as the use of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC) and devices with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters[4].

In order to empower individuals and businesses to make healthy and clean air a priority, Philips has stepped up its innovations in air purification by offering the new Philips 800 Series Air Purifier (AC0820/10) and Philips 2000i Series Air Purifier (AC2936/13) in the Philippines. 

 



99% Virus, Allergen, and Pollutant Removal with NanoProtect HEPA Filters

Both the Philips models are equipped with multi-layered NanoProtect HEPA filters which employ a combination of mechanical and electrostatic filtration to capture both large and small particles from the air. Used in all Philips Air Purifiers, this air filter design can remove 99.97% of particles as small as 3 nanometers (nm) - smaller than the smallest known virus[5] - from the air.  Aside from performance benefits, the use of this air filter design allows for optimal size, increased air purification speed, and lower energy consumption. The size of SARS-CoV-2 virus is estimated to be between 50 –140 nm.

 

Clean Air Delivered at High Speeds

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is the key performance indicator of any air purifier: the clean airflow generated in one hour. The higher the CADR, the faster the cleaning. With its CADR of 190m³/h, the Philips AC0820/10 delivers powerful air circulation and distributes clean up in every corner of a room up to 49m² in under 16 minutes. On the other hand, with its 360-degree airflow intake, the Philips AC2936/13 model performs with a CADR of 380m³/h – capable of effectively purifying air in spaces up to 98m² in less than 8 minutes.

 

Smart Sensors for Intelligent Purification

Both the Philips AC0820/10 and Philips AC2936/13 Air Purifiers scan air 1000x a second to detect ultra-fine particles. When set to auto mode, air quality is reported in real time and both devices intelligently choose the right speed of filtration based on your needs.

 

Low Energy Consumption and Quiet Operation

Thanks to their energy-efficient design, the Philips AC0820/10 runs at a max of 20W while the  Philips AC2936/13 runs at a max of 46W – both equivalent to the energy consumption of a standard light bulb. For non-stop cleaning even during the wee hours of the night, both models are equipped with Sleep Mode functions that dim lights and leave the purifiers to operate in near silence.

 

Thoroughly Tested for Quality you can Trust

All Philips Air Purifiers go through 170 mandatory and strict inspections before their release from factories[6]. They are subjected to rigorous life and durability tests to ensure continuous operation 24/7.

 

“Philips Domestic Appliances is committed to developing innovations that improve people’s lives. With a renewed focus on health in today’s times, helping people stay healthy is a key thrust in the products we create,” said Nicholas Lee, vice president & market leader Asia Pacific, Philips Domestic Appliances. “Alongside masks and proper social distancing, for modern indoor environments such as homes, offices, and other spaces reliant on air-conditioning, air purifiers can serve as an extra layer of protection from airborne viruses and bacteria. This contributes to a healthier, cleaner, indoor air environment,” he added.

 

The range of Philips Air Purifiers are available on Lazada and Shopee. Follow us on our Facebook (Philips Home Living) and Instagram Pages (@PhilipshomelivingPh).

 

For more stories about Philips Domestic Appliances, follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. 



[2] The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EFA)

[5] Supporting literature for the size of coronavirus [// Ref source: s Vargaet al. The Lancet 2020, Vol 395, May 30, e100 Dimension of SARS-CoV-2: 60 -140 nanometer].

[6] https://www.philips.com.ph/c-p/AC2936_13/2000i-series-air-purifier#see-all-benefits

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