The Standard - 2015 March 07 - Saturday

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK VOL. XXIX NO. 23 2 Sections 24 Pages P18 SATURdAy: MARCH 7, 2015 www.manilastandardtoday.com mst@mstandardtoday.com

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‘No politics in choosing new chief of PNP’

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Poverty worsened last year

CONGRESS, PANEL FIGHT OVER BBL Next page

Wrong place to land. Firemen inspect the cockpit of a plane that crashed on a golf course in Venice, California, reportedly piloted by US actor Harrison Ford on March 5. (Story on B5) AFP

Pacquiao: Mayweather can’t hide

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Real estate industry gets boost

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House, peace panel squabble

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon R. araneta

SPEAKER Feliciano Belmonte Jr. took strong exception Friday to remarks by government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who told a public forum she would rather have no Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) than have Congress pass a watered down version with some provisions removed.

40 days after. Students at the University Belt in Manila wore black on Friday to commemorate the 40th

day of the deaths of 44 police commandos who were slain in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in a firefight with Muslim rebels on Jan. 25. Danny Pata

“No BBL is better than a mangled BBL, because that is repeating history, and it is stupid to repeat history.

That’s not the kind of difference that we wanted to make here,” Ferrer said at a forum in Makati City Thursday.

Belmonte, however, insisted that the House of Representatives will not be a party to a constitutionally flawed BBL being pushed by the government peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Our obligation is to the Constitution. As long as we have a Constitution we have to abide by it,” Belmonte said.

He said congressmen were carefully considering the BBL and were also studying similar situations in other countries where autonomous regions were created.

“They are not dummies who can be led around,” Belmonte said of his colleagues in the House.

Later Friday, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles issued a statement saying the Executive branch fully respects Congress’ powers on deciding the final version of the proposed BBL. Belmonte said the proposed peace agreement submitted by the Palace to Congress cannot be passed as it is due to some provisions that were deemed unconstitutional.

“We want to accommodate [them] but not at the cost of violating our Constitution,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte also played down the pronouncement by Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF negotiator, that Congress should not set conditions for the passage of the BBL. Earlier, the chairman of the 75-man ad hoc committee on the BBL, said Congress would not vote on the law until the MILF had surrendered its fighters who were involved in the killing of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25, returned weapons and personal effects of the slain policemen, and surrendered Abdul Basit Usman, a wanted Filipino bomber who has taken refuge in MILFcontrolled areas.

Congressen said problematic provisions of the BBL include those on national defense and security, the police force, foreign relations, revenue sharing, the justice system and the legislature.

Rodriguez said his panel would remove provisions that it deemed unconstitutional.

He said these included the creation

of the Bangsamoro’s own internal audit body similar to the Commission on Audit; disciplining public officials, which is the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman, the establishment of another civil service, and human rights body, and the creation of a Bangsamoro police force.

Belmonte said the BBL would certainly face rough sailing.

He also said a June target date for the passage of the law did not mean it would be rammed through Congress.

“We have to put a target. We cannot have a floating target. That’s the most generous target we can think of this moment,” Belmonte said.

He said any attempt to pass an unconstitutional law on the Bangsamoro would reignite public ourage over the Mamasapano massacre.

“It looked like a good working target.

But nobody can guarantee anything because people’s emotion over the SAF 44 has not settled down,” Belmonte said.

In her statement, Deles also denied that the Palace was trying to railroad the BBL’s passage.

“As I have always been saying, the fate of the passage of the proposed BBL is in the hands of our lawmakers.

The proposed Bangsamoro law was submitted to them in recognition of their legislative power. They have the power to improve and strengthen the BBL in accordance with the Constitution that provides for the grant of meaningful autonomy to Muslim Mindanao,” Deles said.

In the Senate, the BBL also faced rough sailing over provisions that some senators felt violated the Constitution.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said it is mind boggling that MILF members who took part in the Mamasapano massacre could later become policemen themselves.

Marcos, chairman of the Senate local government committee, said this is a possibility under Article 10 of the BBL, which provides for two police forces, one regional force to protect the Bangsamoro territory, and the Philippine National Police.

Marcos added that it was strange that the chief of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority, who has the power to choose the head of the Bangsamoro police force, is also the MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, who said the SAF was to blame for the Mamasapano massacre.

Bishop slams ‘systematic cover-up’ of Mamasapano slays

By Francisco tuyay, Macon araneta and Maricel Cruz CALOOCAN Bishop Emeritus Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. scored the ongoing investigations into the covert Mamasapano operation that resulted in the death of 44 police commandos as a “systematic cover-up” more focused on protecting President Benigno Aquino III than getting at the truth.

The bishop issued the statement as the board of inquiry formed the Philippine National Police postponed the release of

its report which was supposed to have been completed by February 26.

BOI chairman, Director Benjamin Magalong, did not explain why the release of the report was delayed and only said Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II had already announced that the report would be submitted to Malacañang on Monday at the latest.

But Camp Crame sources confirmed that the report has already been completed and, the source claimed, one report was already submitted to Roxas on Friday although the source could not determine if the one

submitted to Roxas was a copy of the BOI report itself.

The source said the report focused mainly on tactical lapses and placed much of the blame on relieved Special Action Force commander Getulio Napeña and then-suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima, but it also included other officials who were “partly to blame.”

But Iñiguez, the first bishop of the Diocese of Caloocan who resigned because of health reasons, noted that while truths emerged in the congressional hearings that were conducted over the Mamasapano incident, they obviously excluded

references to Aquino.

“Systematic cover-up. That sums up the main takeaway from the legislative hearings into the January 25 Mamasapano tragedy,” Iñiguez said, adding that the House of Representatives even postponed the probe after a single session.

The bishop said hearings have shown that Aquino may have been “misguided, misled, [and] misinformed” on the operation but Congress should not “shield the president”.

“Mamasapano is not just about 68 persons slain on January 25. Mamasapano is also about the thrashing of a fragile

peace process. Above all, Mamasapano is a glaring example of the president’s willful violation of all tenets of good governance and accountability,” Iñiguez said.

“To ignore that would be a mockery of the Senate’s oversight functions. To ignore that would make lawmakers complicit in rewarding the corrupt,” Iñiguez said.

But Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public order, denied that her committee was trying to protect Aquino and the report on the hearings will touch on the accountability of all in-

volved, including Aquino.

Poe said that senators have their individual responsibilities and reputation to keep, and if they do not frame the committee report in its rightful perspective, they will lose the trust and confidence of the people.

“This is my report,” Poe told reporters on Friday. “This is the report of my committee. I will not allow any dilution of its content because this is part of my accountability to the people.”

“The committee report will not spare any party, at any level, who had any participation, whether by way of shortcomings or actions well,” she added.

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‘Tingting plotted to discredit 2013 polls’ By sara susanne D. Fabunan FORMER Tarlac governor Margarita Cojuangco, aunt of President Benigno Aquino III, was the mastermind of a massive propaganda campaign to discredit the results of the 2013 national and local elections, a former subordinate said Friday.

In an affidavit filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Cojuangco’s former executive assistant, Worthy Acosta, accused his former boss of trying to show there was massive election fraud by stealing and tampering with the ballots from Baguio City.

Worthy said Cojuangco was assisted by former Biliran congressman Glenn Chong.

“I, Tingting (Cojuangco), Glenn and the others started making propaganda materials such as Powerpoint presentations, leaflets, and video clips exposing election fraud in the automated elections,” said Acosta in his sworn statement.

“The intention of this propaganda was to convince the public to rally behind our cause and against the automated election system. The goal in view was to mobilize supporters and sow dissatisfaction towards the present administration using the issue of massive election fraud,” he added.

Acosta said he was instructed by Cojuangco, upon Chong’s suggestion, to go to Baguio City in June 2013 to retrieve ballots that were to prove election fraud.

He said Cojuangco had made arrangements with former Baguio City congressman Bernie Vergara, who he said was eager to prove election fraud after he placed third in the May 2013 polls.

Acosta said that, after meeting with Vergara, their group went to the warehouse with the people from the City Treasurer’s Office storing the ballot boxes.

“I put the ballots inside my backpack, closed the ballot box and carefully placed the packaging tape back around it. I carried it back to the corner, where it was stacked,” said Acosta.

Caged in the city. A stray dog is locked up in a dog pound in Cebu City, which had the highest number of animal bites in Central Visayas last year.

However, the number of bite victims in the city has decreased significantly. Ralph piezas

Poverty worsened in 2014

By Jennifer ambanta

POVERTY worsened in the first half of 2014 because of high food prices and the lingering effects of super typhoon Yolanda, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Friday.

Data from the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey showed that the incidence of poverty among individuals rose to 25.8 percent, from 24.6 percent, and among families to 20 percent, from 18.8 percent in the same period in 2013.

The poverty figures did not include data for Batanes, because it had fewer than 100 sample households, and Leyte, because no survey was conducted because of Yolanda.

To make the figures comparable, the Philippine Statistics Authority also excluded the poverty statistics for the two provinces in the 2013 as well.

NEDA director general Arsenio M. Balisacan said per capita income in the

first semester of 2014 was higher by 6.4 percent than in 2013.

Among the bottom 30 percent of income earners, per capita income increased by about 7.3 percent in the same period in the previous year.

The fastest growth rate was observed among those in the fifth income decile (8.5 percent) and the slowest increase was experienced by the top income decile (4 percent).

“Per capita income data in 2014 show that economic growth has benefitted the lower income groups, including the poor.

This means that the twin strategies of encouraging investments and production alongside the implementation of a largescale income redistribution program have worked,” said Balisacan.

However, the country’s inflation rate hovered near the higher-end of target in the first half of 2014.

The consumer price index for food went up to 6.5 percent and for non-food items by 2.7 percent, eroding any per capita income gains.

“The very high prices of food wiped out the gains in per capita income. This situation could have been avoided especially in the case of rice, which is a staple food for low-income and vulnerable families, usually accounting for 20

percent of their budget. Just at the time when the world price of rice was declining, the domestic price of rice was skyrocketing,” Balisacan said.

De La Salle University proffessor Angelo Taningco said the economy did not grow enough last year to reduce poverty.

To address poverty, the government should ensure price stability through low inflation and sustain robust economic growth, he said.

Balisacan, on the other hand stressed the need to revisit the government’s grains policy, particularly the quantitative restrictions (QR) policy on rice to achieve self-sufficiency, taking into consideration its broader impact on food prices and poverty.

“While we definitely need to support the agriculture sector in general, we should also maximize the gains from trade and globalization. The private sector should be allowed to take the driver’s seat while government simply facilitates the access to both the import and export markets,” Balisacan said.

Rice prices posted a double-digit growth of 11.9 percent in the first semester of 2014 from only 1.7 percent in the same period in 2013, on the back of a tight supply given lean harvests coupled

with less imports.

Inflation eased in the latter part of 2014 after measures to address supply constraints were implemented Higher food prices resulted in a huge increase in poverty thresholds.

The food poverty threshold rose by 9.5 percent while the overall poverty threshold increased by 9.4 percent yearon-year in the first six months of 2014.

Ten out of the 17 regions experienced double-digit increases in their poverty thresholds. The highest was observed in Region VIII with 14.2 percent, possibly due to the lingering effects of typhoon Yolanda, then in Metro Manila with 13.5 percent, as it had to face the highest rice prices for the period.

Balisacan also stressed the need of updating budget components of the government poverty reduction programs to balance the movement of prices and incomes of the poor.

“The government’s social development programs, particularly the Conditional Cash Transfer provided through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program, may have provided additional support to temper the rise in poverty but could have contributed more towards reducing poverty had the value of the grants increased with inflation,” he said.

3 more nurses down with MERS

By Vito Barcelo

Walk for a cause. National Youth Commissioner Dingdong Dantes joins Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders in a walk from the Santo Domingo Church to the Welcome Rotunda in Manila to call for the empowerment of Filipino women. Danny pata

THREE more Filipino health workers have been diagnosed with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia, but they have been quarantined and are already undergoing treatment, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“They were exposed to patients with MERS-CoV and they are all in isolation right now,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose told reporters in a briefing on Friday.

“Our embassy in Riyadh and consulate general in Jeddah continue to monitor the condition of new Filipino MERS cases,” Jose said, noting that 10 Filipinos, mostly from Saudi, have died from MERS-CoV. Jose said the first to be diagnosed with MERS-CoV was a

56-year Filipina nurse who was assigned to a hospital emergency room, but he declined to identify the nurse or the hospital where she was working.

“She is now under isolation in the hospital’s staff housing, while the second, is a respiratory technician, currently confined and undergoing medical tests,” Jose said.

The third Filipina nurse who contracted the deadly virus was assigned at the oncology section of a hospital.

“They were diagnosed just recently. It was discovered in the early stage. The three OFWs are in isolation right now,” Jose saud.

The DFA said they will get in touch with the families of the OFWs to inform them of any development, but visiting them would be prohibited in the meantime.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and its consulate general in Jeddah will continue to monitor the condition of new Filipino MERS cases, Jose said.

“Healthcare sector workers are advised to follow the infection prevention protocol in their hospital and to seek medical attention in case they experience any of the disease’s symptoms,” Jose said.

The DFA said there are hundreds of Filipino health workers employed in various hospitals across the Middle East, making them vulnerable to acquiring the virus.

Jose said there is no travel restrictions to the Saudi Arabia , but advised Filipino workers in the Middle East to exercise vigilance and practice health precautions for their own protection.

With agence France-presse

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Bill gives teachers new tax deduction

By Maricel V. Cruz

A party-list lawmaker has proposed the inclusion of incidental expenses of teachers as additional allowable deductions from their annual taxable income to help ease their financial burdens, particularly those in private schools.

1-SAGIP party-list Rep. Erlinda Santiago said her proposed tax incentive will provide immediate financial relief to teachers.

“One way to lessen the tax burden of teachers is to grant them additional allowable deduction on their taxable income for incidental expenses they incur in the exercise of their profession, such as expenses for books, school supplies, study tours, educational tours, conferences, seminars, training courses, masteral and doctoral courses and

similar studies necessary in their teaching profession and instructional activities,” Santiago said.

The House committee on ways and means has begun deliberations on Santiago’s House Bill 5484, which the author said is necessary to prevent their migration abroad.

“Due to low salaries and lack of benefits, teachers are migrating to foreign lands to seek greener pastures or finding other more lucrative undertaking instead of dedicating their lives to the vocation of

teaching,” said Santiago, vice chairperman of the House committee on women and gender equality.

In pushing for the passage of her measure, Santiago acknowledged the state’s policy to recognize the vital role of teachers in nation-building, and the service they provide to students as an essential factor in the growth of the nation.

“Teachers mold the minds of the youth to help them become active, informed and responsible citizens.

To ensure that our youth avail of quality and affordable education, our government should engage qualified, dedicated and intelligent teachers who act as mentors and molders of our students in their daily undertaking in school,” said Santiago.

HB 5484 proposed that all incidental expenses incurred by teachers in the exercise of their profession, such as the purchase of books

and school supplies and payments for attendance in study or educational tours, conferences, seminars, training courses, master and doctoral courses, and other continuing professional development programs during the taxable year, shall be deducted from their annual gross taxable income.

The bill provides that the allowable deduction shall not exceed P50,000 per taxable year. The expenses shall be substantiated with official receipts to indicate the amount of the expenses being deducted, the bill added.

The bill covers “all persons who are engaged in the personal development of students through the classroom in all educational institutions, including guidance counselors, aides, head teachers and principals employed in any level of the public and private educational institutions.”

Help from Makati. Mayor Jun Jun Binay of Makati City distributes relief goods at the Delpan Sports Complex in Tondo, Manila on Friday to the victims of a recent fire at Parola Compound in Tondo.DANNY PATA

High court upholds decision vs network

By Rey E. Requejo THE SUPREmE Court has upheld the ruling of a trial court dismissing the civil suit filed by GmA Network Films Inc. against a movie licensor and supplier.

The high court’s Second Division, through Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, granted the petition filed by Ricardo Honrado questioning a decision of the Court of Appeals that reversed and set aside a ruling of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, which dismissed the case against him for allegedly violating a TV rights agreement with GmA Films.

“The decision and resolution of the Court of Appeals are set aside.

The decision of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City (Branch 223) is reinstated with the modification that the award of attorney’s fees is deleted,” the high court ruled.

The controversy arose when GmA Films entered into an agreement with Honrado, as licensor of 36 films, which granted to GmA Films, for a fee of P60.75 million, the exclusive right to telecast the films for a designated period.

The parties also agreed to submit the films for review by the movie and Television Review and Classification Board (mTRCB).

GmA Films filed a complaint for payment and damages against Honrado with the lower court after he refused to refund payment for the movies “Evangeline Katorse” and “Bubot” in may 2003, after these were banned for airing by the mTRCB. Honrado tried to replace the two movies with “winasak na Pangarap,” which was also deemed unacceptable for airing.

The RTC dismissed the suit against the movie supplier and ordered the network to pay attorney’s fees worth P100,000, after giving credence to Honrado’s defense that he replaced the movies.

GmA Films filed an appeal with the appellate court, which granted GmA’s petition and ordered Honrado to pay P2 million plus interest, damages, fees and litigation costs.

More regulation for health facilities NEw types of health care facilities like diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative centers that are currently not being regulated by the Department of Health will soon be, if a bill filed by Senator Teofisto Guingona III becomes law.

Guingona said that the government’s Universal Health Care agenda, aside from expanding health insurance coverage, should also ensure that all health facilities deliver quality health services to those needing care.

The chairman of the senate committee on health and demography noted that it is not enough to just provide health care to Filipinos.

“The more important matter is the quality of services that we provide for them,” said Guingona. “we must also ensure that these facilities are up to par to provide ad-

equately for the needs of each and every Filipino needing health care services.”

Guingona’s Senate Bill No. 2654 seeks to expand the government’s power to health facilities. The bill, also known as the proposed Health Facilities Regulation Act, authorizes the DOH’s Bureau of Health Facilities and Services to establish and prescribe rules and standards for health facilities, to inspect and monitor these facilities, implement a classification system, approve building plans and construction design, provide advice and conduct administrative hearings and impose penalties.

“There is now a need to establish and prescribe rules, regulations, protocols and standards for all health facilities and services, and harmonize all these within one regulatory body,” added the senator. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Appreciation. Josephine Reyes (right). president of Aliw Broadcasting Corp., receives a plaque of appreciation given to Ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chua, chairman of CNN Philippines, from Estrellita Juliano-Tamano and Cecilia Dy of the Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines during the 16th International Cable Congress at the Manila Hotel last Friday. LINO SANTOS

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Fire-fighting equipment. Officials inspect 13 of 41 brand-new fire-fighting vehicles which arrived at the Port of Batangas for the use of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. The machines, which will be swent to various airports, were purchased from Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corp. ERIC APOLONIO

‘PNP chief picked on merits’

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

More protests set at hospital Rio N. Araja DOCTORS and other workers at the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City have warned of bigger protests against Health Secretary Janette Garin if she pushes through with the planned privatization of the government hospital.

Sean Herbert Velchez, president of the National Orthopedic Hospital Workers’ Union-Alliance of Health Workers, said hospital employees will put up a human barricade in front of the Department of Health central office in Manila on March 9 and a sit-down strike on March 13.

“We will also be inviting the health secretary to a breakfast during Monday’s barricade,” he said.

Velchez urged Garin to rescind the contract between the government and Megawide Corp. to “modernize” the POC under a public-private partnership using the sin tax fund.

Yesterday, resident doctors, employees, physical therapists and even patients joined Velchez at a news conference to protest the privatization plan at the hospital’s lobby.

“In our recent dialogue with Garin, she said she did not agree to the privatization of public hospitals, but she did not categorically state that she would stop the private takeover of POC. This did not give us any assurance that the people’s welfare would be prioritized.

This is an indication that the POC privatization will push through,” he said.

The Aquino administration must be held liable for the privatization of health and social services to favor big businesses at the expense of the poor, he explained.

POC is the only government hospital specializing in orthopedic disorders.

“According to bidding documents and bulletins, the ‘modernized’ POC will allocate only 70 beds for service (indigent) patients and 420 for sponsored (Philippine Health Insurance) patients – compared to the current 562 beds or 85 percent capacity for indigent patients. The new management would have the option not to accommodate poor patients if the 70 beds are already occupied,” Velchez said in a statement.

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POlITICAl ties will not affect President Benigno Aquino III’s choice for the next Philippine National Police chief, a Palace official assured on Friday.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte assured the public that Mr. Aquino will choose his next PNP chief based his track records and not through his political affiliations.

“I can assure you that whenever the President interviews or is in search of candidates for a particular

position, what he has in mind is the qualifications of any candidate as well as the demands of the office that is supposed to be filled,” Valte told the reporters in a press briefing at the Palace.

“Various sectors will always have their own choices or at least will appeal to the President appoint this per-

son [or] appoint this person, but the President always considers, again, first, the competencies of the person; and second, the demands of the position,” she added.

On Monday, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas revealed on Monday that Mr. Aquino has already started the vetting process for the next PNP chief, interviewing top two contenders holding the most senior three-star rank – Deputy Director leonardo General Espina and Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr. Valte’s statement came after the opposition United

Nationalist Alliance alleged that the Aquino administration and the ruling liberal Party are perpetuating the “bata-bata” or the patronage system in the selection process of the next PNP chief.

“There are indications that the lP would repeat what it had done in the 2013 elections, wherein it promoted its personal favorites in the PNP,” UNA interim president Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said in a statement on Thursday.

“They will start this by maneuvering the appointment of Gen. Garbo as PNP chief,” he added.

Updating of criminal fines urged

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Best music app. Spinnr, a music service introduced by wireless services leader Smart Communications, was named “Best Mobile Music App” by the prestigious GSMA telecoms industry association at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, dubbed the “Oscars” of the mobile industry. Photo shows Smart innovation and product development head Melissa Limcaoco accepting the award.

TO deter criminality, Senate President Franklin Drilon has filed a bill seeking to amend the country’s 85-year-old penal law by increasing fines for crimes committed.

Drilon’s Senate Bill No. 2680 seeks to adjust the threshold fines used in determining the criminal liability for various crimes and the amounts of imposable fines under the Revised Penal Code, which was enacted in 1930.

He noted that the deterrent effect of the imposable fines under the criminal code has diminished through the years due to various factors such as inflation.

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Parola fire victims get help Makati, Manila officials aid 10,000 homeless people

By Joel E. Zurbano

MAKATI City officials have joined the city government of Manila in extending help to more than 10,000 families affected by two fires that gutted the densely populated Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila, early this week.

40th day. Former vice president Teofisto Guingona, former Quezon City

vice mayor Charito Planas and peace advocates gather at the Quezon City Memorial Circle to observe the 40th day of the killing of 40 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25. MANNY PALMERO

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE

INVITATION TO BID NO. INFRA-010-2015 The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the General Fund10 intends to apply the below listed project w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Name of Project 1.

Repair/Rehabilitation of Earth Dike, Barangay Pulo, Hermosa, Bataan

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

Aside from donating some 5,000 relief packs, the city government of Makati also provided free medical services, medicines and safe drinking water to the affected families.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, who met Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada at the compound, led the distribution of relief.

“We feel for the families who have lost their homes and possessions. Right now, they need all the help they can get to cope with their difficult situation, including food, safe drinking water and medical services,” Binay said.

Social Welfare prepared 5,000 relief packs, each containing rice, canned goods and noodles, and 15,000 pairs of slippers for the victims.

The Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office brought a portable water filtration system installed on a trailer, which processed the water supplied by a fire truck of the Makati Fire Department.

Binay ordered his men to mobilize a team to conduct a medical mission in the area to help address the health concerns of the residents through free outpatient services and medicines.

=P=14,999,951.12

Republic of the Philippines

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Project.

Completion of works is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract.

Bidders should have completed, within Ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section ll. Instructions to Bidders Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specific in the implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

Request foR expRession of inteRest foR the pRocuRement of consultancy seRvices foR the KfW funded dof capacity development suppoRt pRoject foR Revenue opeRations and legal affaiRs 1.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Approved Budget for the Contract

500,000 and below

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00

More than 500.000 up to 1 Million

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5.000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10.000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25.000.00

More than 50 Million up to 500 Million

50,000.00

More than 500 Million

75.000.00

The medical team, composed of 22 doctors and 13 nurses from Ospital ng Makati and the Makati Health Department, brought medicines and medical supplies for treating cough, colds and fever, antibiotics, anti-hypertension drugs, burn ointments, antiseptic and bandages, among others. An ambulance was also deployed with the medical team.

The relief and medical teams from Makati were accompanied by uniformed personnel from the city Public Safety Department and the Makati Police Department in their patrol cars.

A number of residents believed that the two fires that happened last Monday and Tuesday were intentionally set.

The city government of Manila assured the victims that it would also provide them needed materials to rebuild their homes, aside from food and other assistance.

Metro Manila fire bureau officials said a total of 615 fire incidents happened in Metro Manila from January to February, killing 18 people and injuring 46 others. They added most of the fires happened mostly due to fault electrical lines, unattended gas lamps and cooking stoves and overheating appliances.

2.

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 10, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

3.

Bids must be delivered on or before March 23, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. At Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 and Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

The Procuring Entity’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the procurement of consulting services for the Project. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before March 17, 2015, 9:45 am at the BAC Secretariat, 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (R.A. No. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: I. Applicable Experience II. Quality of Personnel to be Assigned III. Capacity to Execute the Consultancy Project Total

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

The Government of the Philippines through the Department of Finance (hereinafter referred to as “DOF” or the “Procuring Entity”), has received a Grant (hereinafter called “funds”) from the Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbu (KfW) of the German Government toward the cost of hiring Consultancy Services to Manage the DOF Capacity Development Support Project. The DOF intends to apply a portion of the funds in the amount of Fifteen Million Pesos (Php15,000,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to eligible payments under the contract for Consultancy Services to Manage the KfW-Funded DOF Capacity Development Support Project for Revenue Operations and Legal Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the “Project”). Bids received in excess of Fifteen Million Pesos (Php15,000,000.00) shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

4.

– 30% – 20% – 50% – 100%

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of R.A. No. 9184.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities Schedule l. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid March 2 -March 8, 2015 2. Eligibility Check Refer to date of Opening of Bids 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents March 2 -March 23, 2015 4. Request for Clarification March 11, 2015 5. Opening of Bids March 23, 2015

5.

The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Based Evaluation/ Selection (QBE/QBS) procedure. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

6.

The contract shall be completed within a period of nine (9) months from issuance of Notice to Proceed.

7.

The Procuring Entity reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph (Sgd). ENRICO T. YUZON BAC Chairman (MST-MAR. 7, 2015)

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Ms. Lilia Tan, Tel No. 526-84-75 (MST-Mar. 7, 2015)

(SGD.) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

Taxis’ flag rate reduced to P30 THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Friday reduced the flagdown rate of taxis to P30 from P40 effective March 9 as a result of falling oil prices.

Ariel Enrile Inton Jr., one of the LTFRB’s board members, said the fare reduction will apply nationwide after its two-day consecutive publication today until Sunday.

But he said the prevailing rate of P3.50 for every succeeding 300 meters will stay.

“We want to inform the riding public that there will be no issuance of a new fare matrix since the fare cut is just provisional,” Inton said.

“Because of such nature of the order, there is no need for operators to calibrate taxi meters anew,” he said.

He urged taxi drivers to be honest and not to overcharge their passengers. He said the drivers should deduct P10 from the fare on the meter.

“If your taxi fare is P100, you have to pay P90 only,” Inton said.

Quezon City Councilor Jesus Manuel Suntay, president of the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association Inc., said they will soon file an appeal with the LTFRB. “It’s okay with us if he will be filing a motion,” Inton said. Rio N. Araja

CAAP gets 13 new fire trucks THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has received 13 out of the 41 brand-new fire-fighting vehicles at the Port of Batangas from Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corp. of the United States, an official said Friday.

CAAP Chief of Staff and Deputy Director General for Administration OIC Gen. Artemio Orosco and Col. Rey Avilla, CAAP executive assistant, on Friday inspected the 13 fire trucks equipped with eight sets of banker suits, forcible tools such as circular saw, ax, cutting tools, 75-kilo vaults generator sets and self contained breathing apparatus and two spare tires.

Orozco and Avilla said the arrival of the first 13 units will boost the fighting capabilities of the CAAP-run provincial airports in the country.

Eric B. Apolonio

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK s at u r D ay : m a r c h 7, 2 0 1 5

A7

news

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Panagbenga execs vow better festival

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY—Local executives in charge of the Panagbenga festival will think of ways to improve next year’s festival after a marked decrease in the the number of participants in the float parade and streetdance events last weekend.

Members of the League of Filipino Students(LFS) throw paint bombs at the gate of the Commission on Higher Education(CHED)office in Quezon City,to condemn the death of Cagayan State University(CSU) freshman Rosanna Sanfuego. Sanfuego killed herself February 27 for inability to pay school fees.

MANNY PALMERO

Abu Sayyaf takes two Zambo teachers PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—Two public school teachers were abducted by six gunmen suspected to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in an island municipality in the nearby province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the police reported Friday.

Senior Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, disclosed the victims were seized around 7:30 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Moalboal, Talusan municipality.

Gucela identified the victims as Reynadit Silvano, 34, and Russel Bagonoc, 22, both residents of Moalboal and teachers of the Tuburan Elementary School, Talusan.

Gucela said the victims were aboard a motorcycle on the way to Tuburan Elementary School when waylaid by the suspects.

Gucela said the suspects dragged the victims to the shore and forced them to board a motorized banca. The banca then left for an unknown destination.

He said that four of the suspects were identified as Naim Sabdani, Mansul Sabdani, Amadan Sabdani, and Edimar Isnain.

The Sabdanis are residents of Moalboal while Isnain and the other two unidentified suspects were members of the Abu Sayyaf ’s Urban Terrorist Group.

Gucela disclosed that the suspects’ identities were established through the help of Kapdul Hadjiula, the sister of the Sabdanis.

He added that Hadjiula’s statement was corroborated by another witness, who saw the incident.

He disclosed that the motorcycle of the suspects was recovered near the barangay hall and basketball court of Moalboal more or less 200 meters from the place where the victims’ motorcycle was found.

He said policemen in coordination with the military forces are tracking down the victims’ whereabouts.

Isabela board probes PIO’s fake grade ILAGAN CITY, Isabela —The provincial board on Tuesday began an inquiry into the public information officer sanctioned by the Civil Service Commission for dishonesty.

The provincial board’s probe stemmed from a news report headlined “Isabela PIO Takes Raps For Faking Documents” published in the Manila Standard Today on March 1.

According to the report, the CSC discovered that provincial information officer Jessie James Geronimo failed the civil service examinations five times, and that a dummy took the same exam for him in 1995. He obtained a grade of 92.6.

Lawyer and board member Randolph Ariola delivered a privilege speech asking presiding officer Vice Gov. Antonio Albano and his colleagues why Geronimo had not taken a leave of absence from his official duties for the gravity of the offense and for delicadeza’s sake.

Ariola said also questioned Geronimo’s continued stay in his office instead of being suspended. “I even invited him to come over to explain in person to the provincial board but he won’t budge.”

Albano however warned Ariola against maligning the person of Geronimo who he said graduated high school as valedictorian. The

vice governor urged Ariola to conduct further research instead of taking media reports at face value.

On March 2, the CSC in its Region 2 office decided against Geronimo and denied his motion for reconsideration.

The regional CSC legal department said Geronimo was guilty for serious dishonesty.

According to the commission, under the uniform rules on administrative cases in the civil service, section 52 states further that administrative offenses listed such as dishonesty and falsification of official documents are penalized with dismissal from service for the first offense.

Brenda Jocson

“Despite having 2 million visitors this year, we need recommendations on improving our presentations so that our tourists will be enticed and will be kept guessing,” said Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

He said high prices of local and imported flowers and belt-tightening measures of corporations resulted in only 16 floats this year, excluding three which were non-competing.

A competitive float would cost a minimum of P500,000, he said.

Freddie Alquiroz, co-chairman of the Panagbenga executive committee, said they are already generating ideas on how to increase the number of participating floats. This includes the participation of television, movie and telecommunication giants as well as additional categories for the contest.

Observers also noted the decreasing number of participating schools in the parade and deteriorating quality of their performances. Only four teams joined the secondary category while three joined the open category.

Alquiroz said they would invite high schools and colleges from the neighboring towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay to participate in the dancing competitions. The committee will also invite “outside performers”.

Domogan will urge the Department of Tourism to bring back its subsidy for visiting street dancing participants from the rest of Northern and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile, the influx of tourists created a mix of issues for the city and neighboring places.

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan said his province greatly benefited from crowd drawing events such as Panagbenga.

“Our agriculture sector has always been the primordial beneficiary because tourists patronize locally grown vegetables, flowers and strawberries,” he said.

He added that these visitors also bring home local goods such as vegetables, handicraft and other food products.

The temporary surge in population however exposed the city to a syndicate circulating fake peso bills. Local leaders have advised residents and visitors to be more vigilant in their dealings.

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In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published.

We will not be responsible for any incorrect a d s n o t reported to us immediately.

NAMES OF PERSONNEL: ABDULASIS L. AMPASO SOFIA C. RAMOS SALVADOR C. MAGANA CARREN M. MAGLAPID AISA S. ADTONG JOWHONG E. GAYAK ZUBAIDA N. MONINGTON

(MST-MAR. 7, 2015)

Municipality of Limay Limay, Bataan

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID T h e M u n i c i p a l i t y o f L i m ay, B a t a a n t h r o u g h i t s B i d s a n d A w a r d s C o m m i t t e e ( B AC) , i nv i t e s r e g i s t e r e d C o n t r a c t o r s t o a p p l y f o r e l i g i b i l i t y a n d i f f o u n d e l i g i b l e t o b i d , h e r e u n d e r t h e p r o j e c t s /c o n t r a c t s .

Approved Sources of Budget Cost of Bid Name of Project/Contract Location Duration FUNDS Cost(ABC) Documents 1.

Construction of New Canal from St. Francis Subdivison to Bo. Luz River along National Road

2.

3.

Brgy. Luz, Limay, Bataan

GENERAL FUND

180 Days

5,676,200.00

5,000.00

Construction of Drainage System and Roadway at Limay Sanitary Landfilll

Sitio Mamala, Brgy. St. Francis 1, Limay, Bataan

GENERAL FUND

180 Days

18,439,087.89

25,000.00

Construction of Perimeter Fence with Gate and Retaining Wall at Limay Sanitary Landfill

Sitio Mamala, Brgy. St. Francis 1, Limay, Bataan

GENERAL FUND

270 Days

28,145,500.00

25,000.00

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Awards of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).

ACTIVITY/PROGRAM

SCHEDULE

1

Issuance of Bid Documents

Up to March 30, 2015

2

Pre-Bid Conference

March 17, 2015; 10:00 A.M.

3

Receipt and Opening of Bids

March 30, 2015 , 2:00P.M.

Location of Bidding

Municipal Building, Limay, Bataan

The BAC will issue to prospective eligible bidder forms at Limay Municipal Hall, Limay, Bataan upon their submission of LOI, and upon their payment of non-refundable cost of bid documents to the Municipal Treasurer of Limay, Bataan. Prospective bidders shall submit the Eligible Requirements to the BAC at the said address. They may also obtain the results of the Eligible Check at the same address.

The Municipality of Limay reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further informations and querries, please refer to MR. RONNIE LATANAFRANCIA, Municipality of Limay at 613-8026.

(SGD.) ROMARIO C. PANANGUI Chairman, BAC (MST-MAR. 7, 2015)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A8

OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

WHY BANS BACKFIRE

THE logic is that if you want to generate unusual interest in something, you first have to prohibit its distribution.

History is not lacking in books and films banned by several countries for being offensive.

Some of them are works of literature, branded obscene for their explicit sexual content.

Some are movies depicting ominous situations or making caricatures out of supposedly revered individuals.

And then you have documentaries like India’s Daughter, scheduled to be aired on the BBC Channel tomorrow, March 8 – the International Day for Women -- but was banned by a New Delhi court earlier this week. Police feared that since it contained offensive remarks towards women, it could cause a public outcry.

India’s Daughter is an hour-long film by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin. It talks about the rape and eventual death of 23-year-old medical student Jyoti Singh in December 2012. Jyoti, who had just come from a mall after seeing a movie with her male friend, was raped inside a moving bus. She and her friend, who was likewise beaten by the assailants, were later thrown onto the side of the road.

Following widespread protests from women’s and youth groups and global condemnation, four of the six rapists were sentenced to death. One, a juvenile, was given three years in prison and is due for release in December, while another rapist committed suicide before trial began. The four men in death row are appealing their sentence.

The film contains interviews with Jyoti’s parents, with one of the rapists – bus driver Mukesh Singh – the families and lawyers of the rapists, among others. In his interview with the filmmaker, Mukesh does not show remorse. He instead blames the victim for being out so late at night and for putting up a fight with her rapists. If she had not fought, he implied she might still be alive. He said a girl always has more responsibility for a rape than the boy who rapes her.

Further, the documentary exposes the pervading mindset in India about girls and women being expected to dress and behave in a certain way, and about what must be done with them if they violated such norms. Jyoti’s parents, by these standards, are mavericks. They sent their daughter to school and allowed her certain freedoms that others would deem unthinkable.

In response, Indian authorities have threatened legal action against the BBC, asked YouTube to ban the film and proposed an inquiry into how Udwin was able to gain access to Tihar Jail, where Mukesh is held. They also said Udwin broke the terms of her agreement with prison officials when she aired the interview.

BBC, however, showed the documentary on Wednesday. It is now available online.

There is interest because of the ban; even without it, however, the message it delivers and the questions it asks are powerful in themselves.

This is not for whatever controversial graphic content the film might carry. This is, instead, so that we may be enlightened: While different cultures have different ways of viewing things, there are issues and questions that will be universal, regardless of from where one is speaking.

It does not pay to ban. In this age of information, open information and free discourse, it would be, as what some societies say – unnatural.

THE FRANKENSTEIN AQUINO CREATED BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO IT’S becoming quite clear that President Aquino has created a Frankenstein when his government panel signed the framework peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that laid the basis for the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

MILF chief negotiator and spokesman Mohagher Iqbal, in a tone befitting an official of a belligerent state, said that watering down the BBL is unacceptable even as Congress wants to review it to conform to the Constitution. Iqbal said Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the chairman of the ad hoc committee on the BBL, cannot set conditions for its passage.

Why would the MILF give up what was already pro-

vided in the Ferrer-Deles framework agreement—like having its own seaport, share in local revenues, defined territory that government forces cannot enter without MILF approval ?

But what can you expect ?

The politically savvy Iqbal knows the bumbling Aquino government accorded the MILF belligerent status of a state when it internationalized an internal problem by enlisting the help of foreign governments like Malaysia to mediate.

Poor PNoy! How can he soar like an eagle when he’s surrounded by turkeys? The MILF at least has legal eagles

How can the President soar like an eagle when he’s surrounded by turkeys?

like Iqbal advising it.

The Armed Forces which is on an all-out offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and

the Abu Sayyaf Group fears that the two would blend with the MILF and the civilian population to elude government troops. It is a natural recourse for both BIFF and the ASG to seek sanctuary within the MILF where they have relatives and friends. BIFF insurgents continue to wage war against government troops while the MILF poses as a “partner in peace.” Iqbal himself has stated that the MILF remains a revolutionary group even as it negotiates peace.

He has made clear to the clueless Aquino government that it should have no illusion as to whom it is dealing

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 7, 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

adellechua@gmail.com

A9

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

RADICAL SOLUTIONS (2):

with. It’s the Frankenstein Aquino himself has created.

The Muslims have a strong distaste for pork. They recoil at seeing it served on their plates. But our lawmakers who have an unabashed appetite for pork (the type that comes in a barrel) claim that creating the BBL and providing it with a startup P75-billion budget is actually allocating pork barrel funds for the proposed Bangsamoro.

Rep. Rodriguez (Cagayan de

Standard TODAY Manila

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Oro) wants these funds subject to scrutiny by Congress and auditing by the Commission on Audit. He said the MILF cannot be allowed to have its own audit body.

If Aquino wants to leave a legacy before he bows out in 2016, he could call for a constitutional convention to amend the charter now. To use his language, “NOW na!” But that may be expecting too much of Aquino who still has to appoint replacements for Comelec

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Commissioner Sixto Brillantes and COA chair Grace Pulido Tan. Instead of electing a President, Vice President, senators and congressmen in 2016, calling for a constitutional convention to elect delegates seems the better option.

It should not take too long for a transitional government to take charge since only relevant provisions of the charter are to be amended if and when it happens.

Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Ma. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

LAST week I asserted that we need to be bolder, more daring in pursuing for systemic and strategic solutions to the governance problems that perennially beset our country. I said that the shortcomings of our present form and system of government significantly contribute to the continuing political mess we have been struggling to get out from.

As a possible solution, I proposed that we seriously study federalism as our form of government. A federal form in my view is more attuned to the natural divisions we have -- ethnic, cultural, and geographic.

Federalism may also be more responsive to issues of too much dependence of LGUs on central government, political dynasties, and lack of representation from regions, ethnic groups, Moros, in government.

Having sub-states under the Philippine flag and constitution is an attractive solution. Sub-states exercising significant autonomy from but still answerable to national government may result in real decentralization and devolution of powers; assure representation of regions, indigenous peoples, and Moros; and faster, more efficient, and relevant services to the people.

Having federal states can also help weaken political dynasties, and curb corruption as it will lessen, if not completely eradicate the “padrino” system in government negotiations.

On the other hand, because LGUs and states will have more power to run their own affairs, the national government will be freer and can concentrate on the management of national affairs. Central government will no longer be blamed for the minutest of problems experienced by states and LGUs. Indeed, let us seriously look into federalism.

As a compliment to federalism, it will be good to also consider changing to parliamentary system of government. Some will argue that we tried it under Marcos but it was no good. As far as I am concerned, that was not a real shift in systems. Marcos, as a dictator, created that rubber-stamp parliament to perpetuate himself in power. It can no longer happen now.

A parliamentary system is a system of government where the head of state, the Prime Minister, is answerable to the parliament, the legislature, and can be removed by a no-confidence vote. Thus, if the prime minister gets involved in corruption, or if proven incapable, the parliament can just take a vote of no confidence.

There is no need for a long, protracted struggle. Definitely, there will no longer be a need for another EDSA. In this system, the executive (the PM and ministers, the latter as the equivalent of our present Department Secretaries) is designated, elected, or confirmed by, AND answerable to the parliament. I find this better and more democratic than our system where all import Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito Tomeldan Managing Editor Jojo A. L. Robles Editor-in-Chief Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor P. Palacios NewsEditors Editor Chin Wong/Ray Joel S. Eñano Associate Francis Lagniton Editor Francis Lagniton City City Editor Armero Senior Deskman ArmanArman Armero Senior Deskman A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Romel J.Leo Mendez Art Director Romel J. Mendez Director Roberto Cabrera ChiefArt Photographer Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

A10 TREASON? MOST stereotype lawyers whose pedestrian view on what the Constitution and the law say could be laughing at my two patriotic friends, lawyer Homobono Adaza and columnist Herman Tui Laurel. I state this because to file a case of treason against President Benigno Simeon “”Noynoy” Aquino III et al, is to act like that of the man from La Mancha. And for them, it would be futile to defend the Filipino people from these morons who are dead set in betraying the country.

But contrary to what the stereotype lawyers have to say, the two will have the last laugh because they could see how this government has treated the Constitution as a rug, that it even dares the opposition to go ahead with their threat to file charges against them. The clown knows he has been given the go-signal by the court to exercise freely his power to bribe, putting truism that it is not the magic of the majority that will decide our fate, but on how money could move things against us.

The clown remains unrepentant that he failed to measure the value of our sovereignty by making a travesty of the lives of those who sacrificed for this country.

As stereotype lawyers would argue, the clown has to be impeached first to demolish the shield of immunity that has been wrapped around him by the Constitution.

Only after the complaint or resolution has been forwarded, or that the resolution acted upon by one-third (1/3) of all the members of the House could it proceed to try the case in the Senate Impeachment Court, and convict him if found guilty. But that is only the theoretical side of it. The hard truth is that we have a politicized impeachment process of kicking out a leader that he could easily get away with it even if the crime he committed is serious to warrant the imposition of death penalty.

The House committee that is supposed to act on the complaint or the resolution, or the Senate impeachment court, has been so politicized that members vote not on the merits of the case but on the amount of cash consideration that awaits them should they vote in accordance to the wishes of Malacañang. The impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, Jr. has become a stare decisisof the gravity and dimension of corruption in this country. In fact, like the coup attempt rumors that have become a way to buy the loyalty of some enterprising generals, have been adopted by our politicians to make windfall profit of an impeachment proceeding.

That is the reason why Adaza and Laurel opted to file the complaint before the Ombudsman, for even if it will not prosper, the opportunists nonetheless were deprived of their windfall profit. Among the specific acts of treason committed by the clown are: a) For violating Article I of the Constitution, much that the approval of the BBL would grant the MILF a defined territory with sovereign powers; b) For violating Section 1, Article II because the BBL seeks to establish Islam as an official religion contrary to our democratic and republic form of government; c) For violating Article II of the Constitution about the sanctify of the family to which Islam promotes polygamy and divorce; d) For violating Section 20, Article II which seeks to develop a self-reliant economy controlled by Filipinos much that the MILF is funded by a foreign power; e) For violating Section 8, Article III of the Constitution because it seeks to establish Islam as the official religion in their proposed area; g) For violating Section 5 of Article VII of the Constitution for failing to observe his oath of allegiance which states to quote: “to preserve and defend the constitution, execute the laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the nation”; h) And for violating Article X of the constitution much that there is no other autonomous regions, except the autonomous regions of Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras or much more, allowing the creation of a new state called Bangsamoro.

The essential parts of the agreement concluded by the traitors are as follows: a) A Bangsamoro entity will be established in areas of Mindanao that will replace the current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); b) The Bangsamoro will have a ministerial form of government and its relationship with the central government will be “asymmetrical” (meaning not subordinate); c) The central government will have power over the following: defense, foreign policy, common market and global trade, coinage and monetary policy, citizenship and naturalization, and postal service, as well as additional powers that

BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 7, 2 0 1 5

OPINION adellechua@gmail.com

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

PATHWAYS FORWARD AFTER MAMASAPANO

YESTERDAY, the country and especially the island of Mindanao from where I wrote this column, commemorated a National Day of Healing for Unity and Peace. It has been 40 days since the Mamasapano battle when around 80 Filipinos - 44 SAF commandos and an undetermined number of MILF, BIFF and civilians – were killed in a controversial anti-terrorist operation.

In the Filipino Catholic context, 40 days is a significant anniversary, a milestone to encourage a family in grief to begin picking up the pieces after the death of a loved one. In some Eastern Orthodox traditions, there is a belief that a persons stays on purgatory for 40 days before going to the ultimate destination.

But is the country ready to move on? What are our pathways forward for closure on this terrible tragedy?

There is agreement that uncovering the truth, imposing justice (which includes accountability) and accomplishing peace are what our end goals. But what do we need to do to get to these endpoints?

The full truth of what happened that day is not yet known. But with the reports by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, ably headed by Senator Grace Poe, and by Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry, led also by a very competent Benjamin B. Magalong, Director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, we would have soon a fuller picture of what happened on January 25, 2014.

One important recommendation that the Poe and the BOI reports could probably include would be on whether any official is administratively and criminally liable for what happened in Mamasapano. Will they recommend that resigned PNP Chief Alan Purisima be charged with usurpation of authority? Will the President be implicated for conspiracy for such a crime if it is shown that he had authorized the operational involvement of Purisima?

There is also the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation on those who were responsible for the killings. It has been reported that the MILF and BIFF rebels who were involved in the battle had already been identified. If they are charged for various crimes, will the MILF surrender them? If not, what will that mean for the peace process?

And how about the lone SAF survivor who is now being accused by the MILF and civilians in Mamasapano of killing sleeping MILF rebels and innocent civilians - if these claims are backed by evidence, will the DOJ also charge him? How will the public react to that?

In the meantime, the peace process is in limbo, with the fate of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) now uncertain. It has been reported that Congress plans to enact the law by June before the State of the Nation Address of President Aquino. Before that happens, there are many hoops to jump, some very complex and even dangerous politically and legally.

On the political side, the most outrageous and insidious accusation I heard is the absurd claim that Presidential Peace Adviser and Secretary Ging Deles and government chief negotiator Prof. Miriam Coronel Ferrer have been lawyering for the MILF. This is blatantly false; what these two formidable women of peace have been doing is that they are defending the agreements and the processes that the government is a party to. How can they not do that when by definition, may be agreed upon by both parties; d) The Bangsamoro and the central government will negotiate on revenue and wealth sharing agreement; e) The territory of Bangsamoro will be expanded to include the current ARMM and other municipalities, cities, and contiguous areas in Mindanao. In other words, the signing of the agreement will not bring about a closure of the conflict; f) A Transition Commission will be created composed of 15 members, which will work on the drafting of the Basic Law, proposals to amend the current Philippine Constitution.

The Basic Law that will be submitted by the Transition Commission “shall be certified as an urgent bill by the Presi-

that is part of their jobs?

I will concede one thing. Externally, not just in the words but also in their body language, the two panels – the government and the MILF - seemed to have meshed together into a single unit. This can be explained by the joint ownership they have of the process and the trust they have built with each. But unfortunately it does not show how difficult and contentious it has been to get to where we are. For those of us who have followed how the details of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the draft BBL got put into place, we know that the two panels fought over many concepts, phrases, and words, and settled only with compromises after considerable time.

But all of that is lost with the public who sees the image of the two panels now locked into each other in what seems to be an unhealthy embrace.

Moreover, because there has been wide acceptance of the peace process for a long stretch, there has been no need and thus no practice by the government on how to defend it on multiple fronts. It is absolutely not true that the Aquino and OPAPP have not been transparent on the peace process. They have briefed Congress many times, certainly local officials and the Mindanao business and peace advocacy communities.

The congressional hearings on the BBL have also been very inclusive.

The truth is that, until Mamasapano, objections were muted and for most of these last five years, it has been mainly the government and the MILF talking to each other, with peace supporters cheering them on.

It was very different during my time in the peace panel in the last year of the GMA administration.

Because it happened right after the MOA-AD debacle, we had to coax a distrustful MILF back to the table while also responding to heavy criticisms from oppositors to the peace process who persistently reminded us of the Supreme Court decision.

We had to address an angry MILF and an engaged public of both supporters and critics. That necessitated a public strategy that clearly separated the two panels from each other, appearing opposed to each other and not bedfellows. It made sense for the two panels then to criticize each other publicly. That made it difficult to build trust with the MILF and so progress was very slow, and in the end no agreement could be reached as time ran out. On the other hand, we were able to keep at bay the critics who seemed satisfied that our offers to the MILF were within the contours of the 1987 Constitution and the MOA-AD decision of the Supreme Court.

My unsolicited advice now to both panels is to learn the lesson from that unfortunate period. The cat is out of the bag. Spoilers of the peace process are now on the loose. But there are many good, reasonable and patriotic, and pro-peace people, and mean well, who are also critics of the BBL. That’s how I would approach the revising of the BBL: not all its critics are enemies of peace; the current version can be improved by engaging even those who are against it and especially those who have cited its legal flaws. My next column will dwell on this challenge.

Facebook page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylav

The Aquino government has colluded and confederated with the MILF in trying to skirt the issue of ratification because they fear the BBL would not be ratified by the people.

dent” to the national legislature; g) a Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA) will be created and will be replaced in 2016 upon the election of members of the Bangsamoro legislative assembly; and h) A third party monitoring team composed of local and international bodies will be created to monitor the implementation of all agreements.

The specific acts of treason committed are as follows: a) His appointment of Marvic Leonen, now justice of the Supreme Court, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani, Dr. Hamid Barra, Yasmin Busran Lao, alternate Next page

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

adellechua@gmail.com

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

A11

WHY THE MILF SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED

EVERYBODY who wants law and order to prevail in Mindanao must realize that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should not be trusted. This is the lesson taught by the Mamasapano Massacre and the pretentiousness displayed by the MILF in the aftermath of this despicable mass murder of 44 law enforcers.

When President Benigno Aquino III assumed office, the MILF comported itself as the real force to reckon with in Muslim Mindanao. In doing so, the MILF conveyed the message that if the Philippine government wants genuine peace in the area, it must sign a deal with the MILF. Thus, President Aquino created the Transition Commission and instructed it to prepare a Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and a draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) – a law for a sub-state called the Bangsamoro which will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

It turned out that the MILF was not very candid to the government about its role in Muslim Mindanao because it excluded its rival, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), from any role in the Bangsamoro sub-state, and disregarded everything the MNLF worked for to establish the ARMM. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should have been represented in the peace negotiations because in war, it is the soldier who does the dying. Somehow, the MILF managed to get the government to exclude the AFP from the peace negotiations.

Eventually, the Transition Commission completed the Framework Agree-

ment on the Bangsamoro. For reasons unexplained by the MILF, however, some of the annexes to the Framework Agreement were not available for public scrutiny. No less than former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, a noted expert on Constitutional Law, denounced the clandestine manner the Framework Agreement was being promoted to the people.

Next, the Transition Commission finished a draft of the BBL and sent it to President Aquino. Its full text was not available to the public. Aquino eventually directed his lawyers to amend certain provisions of the original draft. When the alterations were finished, Malacañang sent the amended draft of the BBL to Congress for its approval. President Aquino himself called on his political allies in Congress, notably Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., to approve the palace’s version of the BBL without changes.

Public access to copies of the amended draft of the BBL was initially restricted.

Only excerpts of the amended draft, in the form of a primer prepared by the MILF, were circulated at first. The initial secrecy clouding the amended draft remains unexplained by the Transition Commission and the MILF. In January 2015, police commandos went to Mamasapano in Maguindanao to serve a warrant of arrest on Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, a Malaysian terrorist with a price on his head. The warrant was never served – 44 of the policemen were massacred by armed guerillas of the MILF and another Muslim separatist group called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). Their bodies

were mutilated and their firearms were taken away.

To add insult to injury, MILF chief peace panel negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal put the fault on the policemen for their failure to coordinate with the MILF guerillas in Mamasapano before they tried to enforce the warrant. Iqbal also denied that it was a massacre because the policemen also had firearms. He likewise failed to explain why police authorities need to coordinate with rebels in enforcing a warrant against a foreign terrorist in Philippine territory. Iqbal was obviously pretending not to know that armed policemen can still end up massacred if they are outnumbered. It was later revealed that most of the MILF and BIFF guerillas involved in the massacre are relatives.

Actually, police authorities had, on several occasions in the past, coordinated with the MILF in Maguindanao in their efforts to arrest Marwan. In all those instances, Marwan managed to escape the dragnet. The attempt to arrest Marwan last January was not coordinated with the MILF. As a result, Marwan was killed. This reveals that the MILF had been giving sanctuary to Marwan all along. It also shows that the MILF had been pretending to be a partner of the government in the peace process in Mindanao.

Days after the massacre, the MILF threatened the government with the likelihood of war in Mindanao if the amended draft of the BBL is not approved by Congress – strong language for an entity which purportedly seeks peace. The MILF also insisted that there

should be no changes in the draft. If the MILF sincerely wants peace, why does it have to threaten the government with war when President Aquino himself has consistently accommodated the MILF? In the ensuing investigation, the Senate demanded an explanation from the MILF. At first, the MILF refused to do so and declared that until and unless the BBL is in effect, the MILF remains a revolutionary group.

Eventually, the MILF purportedly conducted its own investigation and gave its explanation to the Senate in the form of an executive summary of its own findings. The actual findings were never submitted by the MILF on the lame excuse that the executive summary already speaks for itself. If that is so, then there was no reason for the MILF not to submit its actual findings with the executive summary. In all likelihood, its findings were withheld for possible alterations in the event that the executive summary was found to have damaging contents.

Despite a request from President Aquino, the MILF refuses to hand over to the government the guerillas responsible for the murder of the 44 policemen.

For the MILF, these guerillas fall under its exclusive jurisdiction – again strong language for a mere rebel group seeking peace with the government.

The MILF promised to return all the firearms taken from the 44 policemen slain at Mamasapano. So far, only a few firearms have been returned, and they have been cannibalized for their parts.

From these premises, one can readily see that the MILF cannot be trusted.

The Frankenstein..From A8

capagal Arroyo and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile who are old and sickly. They can be better remembered for the service they rendered to the country and not for the plunder charges that are still to be proven in a court of law. We cannot say the same of the other accused whose record for public service is dubious, to say the least.

This is still a free country despite its many flaws. Vice President Jejomar Binay could run as Prime Minister under a parliamentary setup. Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi was elected Prime Minister despite a slew of corruption charges against him.

If Binay is the one whom the people’s representatives choose to lead the country (and not because of what the conscript poll surveys say), so be it. At least, under a parliamentary system, there is no fixed term for the Prime Minister who can be easily replaced on a no- confidence by majority vote of MPs.

Radical...From A9

In turn, people vote not only on the basis of individual candidates’ qualifications. Party programs significantly matter as well.

Here, we complain about how useless our political parties are, how they do not have any ideology or at least concrete programs, and how they are just formed for political expediency of certain politicians.

Studies say that the parliamentary system is good for countries that are ethnically, racially, or ideologically divided. I believe that the Philippines is one such country.

Building program-based alliances among political parties is also easier in the parliamentary system. Negotiations happen between parties, not just individual politicians. Remember that the Prime Minister is elected or confirmed by parliament. A majority vote of its members is needed to get the prime ministership.

The party with the most number of parliamentarians is always at an advantage but if it does not have the majority (and this happens often), it will need to ally with other parties.

Thus, a coalition government is born. Executive positions are also negotiated and member parties of the coalition government will also have some positions. This results in a multi-party executive branch which may translate to less corruption because they will watch each other.

This is unlike the winner-takes-all thing that happens here where the winning president’s party, no matter how obscure and dysfunctional it is suddenly becomes the dominant party in Congress and also appoints all executive positions.

Thus, the powers of the president is immense.

More countries in fact use the parliamentary system than other political systems. Most developed and progressive countries especially in Europe use this system. Governments of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Thailand are all parliamentary. It will be easy for us to study the system.

For the Philippines, I favor the parliamentary system with federal form of government. Radical solutions indeed. We should not be afraid to study these.

A much better Philippines is what we owe the next generation.

Foremost of any amendment that should be undertaken is the change to a parliamentary form of government. The Supreme Court should be able to oversee a seamless transition should Congress be abolished after June 30, 2016. Local governments can continue to function while the Constitution is being amended.

But alas, this is all a pipe dream. Congress won’t abolish itself unless prodded

by People Power and a military that withdraws its support for the present leadership. Aquino could make a graceful exit and the people might forgive his lapses if he himself calls for a Constitutional Convention to amend the charter.

We can start with a clean slate by letting him ride into the sunset without the baggage of being prosecuted after his term. The same treatment could be accorded to former President Gloria Ma-

Treason?..From A10 members Ramon Piang, Sr., and Teresita Deles, head of the Peace Process, by seeking permission from other party in a kind of agreationwhich is not proper much that we are negotiating and not sending a diplomatic envoy; b) For giving P5 million to MILF chief Al Haj Ibrahim Murad in August 2011 for which no truce or peace agreement has been concluded by the government with the secessionist rebels. c) For committing the Philippines to sign an agreement last March 24, 2014 witnessed

by President Aquino and the broker of the MILF secessionist rebels, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak; and d) for failure to file and bring to court those responsible for the killing of the 44 members of the Special Action Force; e)

The statement by MIILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal that it will not submit the report to the Philippines government of the incident and his claim that he and the rest of the MILF rebels are not Filipinos and for which this government continues to negotiate.

All in all, the Aquino government has colluded and confederated with the MILF in trying to skirt the issue of ratification because they fear the BBL, whether in its original or amended form, would not be ratified by the people. Such act of treason to by-pass the people’s approval cannot be done because it is their territory that is about to be portioned, giving way to the desires of the Bangsamoro. Otherwise, it would be an unconditional surrender. rpkapunan@gmail.com

ant executive positions are appointed by a single person -- the president.

Thus, in a parliamentary system, if things like the horrible state of traffic and our dismal transport system occur, the minister of transportation will just be booted out by parliament.

The same will likely happen to the Minister of Energy if extreme power supply shortage (like what we are threatened with now) happens.

In our system, controversial secretaries often say that they serve “at the pleasure of the president”. What about the pleasure of the people?

With our present system, we have to wait until it becomes pleasurable for the president to remove erring appointees. Not so in a parliamentary system.

Members of the parliament, in turn, are elected by the people whether individually and/ or through their political parties via the party list system. Combine this with the federal form of government and we will surely get a parliament that is truly representative of the varying interests of the people.

The parliamentary system has other distinct advantages over our system.

Definitely, the legislative process is much simpler and shorter. Here, we virtually have three Houses: HoR, Senate, and the bicameral conference committee. This is the reason why passage of important bills, especially those emanating from the people, takes forever.

Many parliaments are unicameral; others, like Germany’s, are bicameral. The legislative process in unicameral parliaments is simplest.

Still, even where there are two houses, things are still simpler than what we have. This is because of the fact that political parties in most parliamentary countries operate as real political parties. Their legislative agenda are set. Thus, their parliamentarians follow party lines.

Another advantage of this system is that it is good for developing program or ideological political parties. Because many parliaments also employ the party list system of electing its members, political parties are forced to develop their programs and ideologies based on their constituents’ interests. Party discipline and ethics are nurtured and practiced.

bethangsioco@gmail.com and @bethangsioco

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SAT URDAY : M A Rch 7 , 2 0 1 5

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Moore lifts Bulls past Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) drives strong to the hoop against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Mar. 5. E’twaun Moore’s go-ahead three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining helped Chicago withstand another monster night from Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, who scored 43 points, in a 108-105 NBA triumph over the Thunder on Thursday. AFP

CHICAGO, USA - E’twaun Moore’s go-ahead three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining helped Chicago withstand another monster night from Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook in a 108-105 NBA triumph over the Thunder on Thursday.

Moore, whose on-court time has been boosted by the Bulls recent spate of injuries, scored 13 of his career-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Fellow reserve Nikola Mirotic, an NBA rookie from Montenegro, added 14 of his 216 points in the final period while Pau Gasol and Mike Dunleavey contributed 21 points apiece for Chicago.

The Bulls notched their third straight win, despite trailing by as many as 16 and by 10 with less than nine minutes left to play.

All-Star guard Westbrook rode a streak of four successive triple-doubles into the contest

-- the longest such stretch since former Bulls great Michael Jordan had seven on the trot from March 25-April 6, 1989.

Westbrook did notch a franchise-record third straight 40-point performance, pouring in 43. But he was shy of double-digits in two other statistical categories with seven assists and eight rebounds.

All but unstoppable early in the game, Westbrook connected on just two of nine shots from the floor in the fourth and turned the ball over after Moore’s three-pointer put the Bulls ahead.

“Just try to make him shoot tough shots,”

Moore said of the Bulls’ strategy for slowing Westbrook. “He’s a great player. He was on a streak with the triple-doubles. I know he wanted it tonight, but we needed the victory.”

Serge Ibaka added 25 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who battled to a 123-118 overtime win over Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Whether fatigue was setting in or not, the Thunder went scoreless for more than four minutes of the final 5:11.

Chicago scored eight straight points in that span to pull within 100-99, and Oklahoma City were still up by one, 105-104, with less than 30 seconds remaining.

After a Westbrook miss, the Bulls called timeout with 4.9 seconds remaining. On the ensuing inbounds pass to Gasol, the Spaniard made a quick throw to Moore in the corner.

Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr thinks guard Stephen Curry deserves Most Valuable Player consideration, but he won’t campaign for the honor.

“I think he deserves it, but I don’t think it’s our job to promote it,” Kerr said Thursday in Oakland, California, where the Warriors will host Dallas on Friday.

“We’re trying to win games. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” added Kerr, comparing his team’s focus on a strong push to the postseason to Houston general manager Daryl Morey’s public comments hyping Rockets forward James Harden’s claim to the award.

“We’re focused on other stuff,” Kerr said.

Last week, Morey said during a conference on sports analytics at the Massachusets Institute of Technology in Boston that Harden was MVP material.

“Take James Harden off our team, and we’re nowhere basically,” Morey said.

Morey had more praise for Harden after the Rockets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime on Sunday in a game in which Harden scored 33 points and Cavs superstar LeBron James scored 37. AFP

Belmonte: This could be Pacquiao’s last hurrah

By Maricel V. Cruz

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. addresses fellow legislators after being elected as the new Speaker at the opening session of the 15th Philippine Congress in Quezon City.

Belmonte said Congressman Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming fight against Floyd Mayweather could be his “last hurrah” in his “very illustrious boxing career.”

HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. expressed belief boxing icon and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao would do his best to ensure his victory over Floyd Mayweather, Jr., saying the upcoming fight could be his “last hurrah” in his “very illustrious boxing career.”

“If there is one fight, I really see this as Pacquiao’s last hurrah. Iyan ang tingin ko (That is my belief), he has to give his all. I’m very confident of it kasi sa tingin ko alam din n’ya na this is it (I believe he also knows that this is it). So I

wish we could be more help,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte also said he was expecting that a lot of House members—as a matter of tradition—would secure travel authority to be able to watch the much awaited PacquiaoMayweather on May 2, 2015.

But as of press time, Belmonte said he had not received any official request from his colleagues for the issuance of travel authority to watch Pacquiao’s fight.

“To be frank, walang nagpapaalam pero alam kong may pupunta kaya lang the biggest deterrent is napakamahal ng ticket (nobody has asked per-

mission but I know there will be some who will go. The biggest deterrent are expensive tickets). Somebody texted me that somehow the opponent (Mayweather) has some advantages with respect to the tickets to things like that, which maybe a deterrent to us to go there certainly,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte also expressed hope that Pacquiao will be able to return to his legislative function after the Mayweather fight. “That’s my hope with or without the fight,” Belmonte said.

Pacquiao has emerged as the top absentee in the House of Representatives.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

POC, LVPI gain AVC recognition THE decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee to recognize a new national sports association in volleyball must be respected.

Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) secretary-general Shanrit Wongprasert said this yesterday after he met with officials of the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc. “We have to respect the decision of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) because all the national federations have to work under the NOC, and the FIVB and the AVC. And we have to work with the group recognized by the POC,” said Wongprasert during yesterday’s draw of lots ceremony of the coming Asian Women’s U-23 Volleyball Championship at the Crowne Hotel in Ortigas.

Wongprasert and International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) president Ary Graca issued recognition to Romasanta’s group.

Last week, POC first vicepresident Joey Romasanta clinched the presidency while former Misamis Oriental congressman Victorico Chavez bagged the chairmanship during the LVPI polls.

Also elected were Peter Cayco of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as vice-president, Ricky Palou of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and Shakey’s V-League as secretary-general, Ariel Paredes of the Philippine Superliga as treasurer and Jeffrey Tamayo of NCAA as director.

The Philippines is expected to be involved in at least six international meets calendared by the AVC later this year, according to AVC Development and Marketing Committee chairman Ramon Suzara.

This includes the Asian under-23 men’s championship in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from May 12 to 20.

Suzara said the FIVB aims to provide another opportunity for age-group players to join international meets.

The tournaments will provide stepping-stones as qualifiers to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Peter Atencio

Tierro wins opening singles in Davis Cup. The Philippines’ No.1 PJ Tierro makes a return against talented Harshana Godamanna of Sri Lanka in the opening singles of the Asia Oceania Group II Davis Cup tie at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City.

Tierro came back from the dead to post a swashbuckling 3-2 victory for the host country (5-7, 3-6, 6-4,6-0, 6-3). The match was a virtual repeat of their duel last year won by Harshana Godamanna in a hard fought five set match in Colombo 6-3, 6-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Ronnie Nathanielsz/ Photo by Sonny Espiritu

Guevarra retains dunk title in All-Star games

By Jeric Lopez

YOUTHFUL exuberance was felt as several upand-coming stars ruled the Skills Challenge yesterday in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association All-Star weekend at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

High-flyer Rey Guevarra of Meralco defended his slam dunk crown while two other rising stars ruled the other skills events as they were able to provide the fans an entertaining basketball showcase.

Guevarra, who came in as co-defending champion with Purefoods’ Justin Melton, outdueled Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar to win the Slam Dunk Contest for the second consecutive year.

The defending champion from

Meralco won a dunk off against Aguilar after doing a between the legs slam that garnered a perfect score of 50 points while Aguilar got 46 points from a dunk where he took off from one step inside the free throw line. ‘’It feels good to repeat as champion. It was a tough contest and I’m lucky to get it again,’’ said Guevarra.

The two were tied after the two championship rounds as each of

them finished with 97 points each.

After the first round of the finals,Guevarra led Aguilar, 49 to 47 points, after he thre down a one-handed flush as he caught a lob pass from Meralco teammate Reynel Hugnatan who was sitting underneath the basket. Aguilar did a windmill off a self-serving lob pass off the glass for his first dunk in the initial round of the finals.

In the second finals round, Aguilar got a perfect 50 as he jumped over Texters’ Kevin Alas for a slam while Guevarra also jumped over teammate Simon Atkins for a hammer and got 48, forcing an extra round to break the count.

The two topped Melton, Barako Bull forward JC Intal and Talk ‘N text rookie Justin Melton in the first two rounds of the competition to advance to the title rounds.

GlobalPort star Terrence Romeo captured the three-point shootout as he out-shot tons of veteran shooters on the way to the title.

Romeo scored 18 points in the final round, besting former champion James Yap of Purefoods and JC Intal of Barako Bull, who finished with 14 and 11 points, respectively. ‘’Masarap sa pakiramdam manalo kasi sobra magagaling and veterans itong mga nakalaban ko (It feels good to win because I competed against some very good veterans),’’ said Romeo.

All three finalists scored 18 points in the first round to top the field and make the championship phase.

Defending champion Mark Macapagal only managed 16 points in the initial round as he failed to make the championship round and wasn’t able to claim a fifth title.

Fans team up to raise cash for Azkals

By Peter Atencio

Philippine National Football squad Azkals team manager Dan Palami expresses his gratitude to the fans who are supporting the team directly through the “Small Change, Big Change” drive.

A GROUP of fans are pitching in to directly help and provide financial assistance through crowd funding to the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team.

The group launched a fundraising campaign dubbed “Small Change, Big Change” through a Facebook page and a network of friends connected online.

The fans, according to one their chief organizers Tom Pinlac and the Azkals Foundation, started talking about

their concerns last October, and their online discussions even drew interest and support from supermarket giant Puregold.

“Malaki ang support nila (Azkals) dati nung nananalo sila sa Suzuki Cup (They received plenty of support especially when they won during the Suzuki Cup). But, we want to ensure that the support will still materialize and can be utilized by the team,” said Pinlac during the launch at the Lu Foo Restaurant inside Puregold QI Central complex in E.

Rodriguez, QC. Pinlac’s group of volunteers and friends touched base with team manager Dan Palami, coach Thomas Dooley and members of the team, and they were shown donation cans which can be used to solicit funds.

The cans are to be distributed to key commercial establishments and stores.

Palami and members of the Azkals got words of encouragement from Puregold executives, led Director Vincent Co.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 7, 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pacquiao says Floyd can’t hide

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

EIGHT division world champion Manny Pacquiao has vowed to pursue undefeated pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring when they clash in a multi-million dollar welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in May 2.

Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao works out under the watchful eye of the media at his boxing gym in Sampaloc, Manila Thursday Feb. 26. Pacquiao vows to pursue undefeated pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. all over the ring when they clash in a multi-million dollar welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in May 2. DANNY PATA PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) 2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound Lingayen, Pangasinan Tel. No. (075) 542-6918

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where he is hoping two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming will win the IBF flyweight title when he battles Thai champion Amnat Ruenroeng on Mar. 7, Pacquiao’s childhood friend and assistant trainer Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez is handling the training along with strength and conditioning coach and former world heavyweight contender Justin Fortune.

During their punch-mitts session at the Fortune Gym in Los Angeles on Wednesday, it was

Coach claims Ateneo will beat NU, La Salle

Website@biddingandawards.pangasinan gov.ph, E-mail address: ebmendoza57@yahoo.com

Project No. 1 Name of Project

Pacquiao whose hand-speed and punching power are believed to be his edge over the highly skilled Mayweather said his training has been geared for him to be in the best shape of his life for the biggest fight of is career. He doesn’t plan to let it slip.

Pacquiao said he will chase Mayweather around the ring if he has to pointing out that “he can run but he can’t hide.”

With celebrated Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach marking his 55th birthday in Macau

reported that Fernandez was often dazed because of the nonstop barrage of punches from Pacquiao who also suffered a cut on his mouth.

Fernandez said Pacquiao’s punches were sharper and stronger than in the past and he believes that Pacquiao will eventually break down Mayweather’s defense with his ability to throw powerful, rapid-fire punches.

Pacquiao himself was not bothered by reports of a cheap shot taken by Mayweaher’s handler Al Haymon who was alleged to have offered Pacquiao’s sparring partners who were capable of imitating Mayweather’s style more money just to stay away.

AFP quoted Pacquiao who said “It’s okay. I’m not bothered.

Coach Freddie [Roach] had already hired a few sparring partners,” who are capable of duplicating Mayweather’s style.

Construction of Residential Houses of Estuario Grande Village Project – Phase II Pangapisan Norte, Lingayen, Pangasinan LBP – Housing Projects Loan (PR#2014-11-12334)

: :

P 105,101,000.00 Fifty- Five (55) Calendar Days (for Model A) Twenty - Eight (28) Calendar Days (for Model B) Eighteen (18) Calendar Days (for Model C)

: : :

Land/Site Development Works of Estuario Grande Village, Phase I Pangapisan Norte, Lingayen, Pangasinan LBP – Housing Projects Loan (PR#2014-11-11989)

: :

P 45,447,000.00 Two Hundred Forty (240) Calendar Days

: : :

Construction of 317 Rowhouses Aplaya West Resettlement Project, Pangapisan Norte, Lingayen, Pangasinan LBP – Housing Projects Loan (PR#2014-11-12298)

: :

P 49,452,000.00 Fifty (50) Calendar Days (for 1 unit )

FOR coach Anusorn Bundit, the defending champion Ateneo Lady Eagles will be ready to face any team in the 77th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s vol-

leyball finals.

Bundit talked about his finals aspirations a day before National University and La Salle clash in a suddendeath semifinals match at 4 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“It could be NU or La Salle. But I believe Ateneo will win again,” said Bundit, who is Thailand’s national youth coach, in broken English.

The Lady Eagles made it to the finals via

PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) 2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound Lingayen, Pangasinan Tel. No. (075) 542-6918

Website@biddingandawards.pangasinan gov.ph, E-mail address: ebmendoza57@yahoo.com

INVITATION to BID The Province of Pangasinan, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/ manufacturers/distributors/contractors to bid for the project/s described hereunder: Project No. 1 Name of Project

:

Location

:

Delivery of 345 M.T. Asphalt Pre-Mix and 15 drums Emulsified Asphalt (refer to bid documents) PGO, Lingayen, Pangasinan (for use in the Asphalting of Bgy Victoria Road, Alaminos City, Pangasinan) Construction, Repair & Maintenance of Roads and Bridges (PR#2015-01-0131)

Source of Fund

:

Approved Budget for the Contract

:

P 2,113,500.00

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, organizations with at least sixty (60%) of the interest belongs to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizen/organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Project No. 2 Name of Project

:

The bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Location Source of Fund Approved Budget for the Contract

: :

Delivery of 1 unit Diesel Engine Assy. 6 Cyl. (Water Cooled, Turbo Charged, complete with all Standard Parts and Accessories, 24V Electrical System with Transmission, Brand New) (refer to bid documents) General Services Office, Lingayen, Pangasinan Spare Parts (PR#2014-12-13605)

:

P 2,520,000.00

All particulars relative to the Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, pre-Bidding Conference/s, Evaluating of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (as amended).

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, organizations with at least sixty (60%) of the interest belongs to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizen/organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

The bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

BAC Activities 1. Pre-Procurement Conference 2. Issuance of Bid Documents

Schedule

All particulars relative to the Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, preBidding Conference/s, Evaluating of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (as amended).

February 26, 2015; 10:00 am March 3, 2015 – March 23, 2015

3. Pre-Bid Conference

March 11, 2015; 10:00am

4. Opening of Bids

March 23, 2015; 10:00am

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: BAC Activities 1. Pre-Procurement Conference 2. Issuance of Bid Documents

The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two separate sealed envelopes at the abovementioned address. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

Bid Documents can be availed at the BAC Office, 2/F Malong Building, Capitol Compound, Lingayen, Pangasinan upon payment to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office the amount of P1,000.00 Accreditation Fee for new bidders, and a non-refundable amount of P50,000.00/ bidder/project for project no. 1; P46,000.00/bidder/project for project no. 2 and P50,000.00/bidder/project for project no. 3 to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office. Prospective bidders shall submit their Bid Documents to the BAC Office at the same address.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

The Province of Pangasinan assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation for their bids. Moreover, the Province of Pangasinan reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation without thereby incurring any liability in accordance with RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

March 6, 2015; 10:00 am

4. Opening of Bids

March 19, 2015; 10:00 am

5. Bid Evaluation

March 20, 2015

6. Post Qualification

March 23, 2015

The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two separate sealed envelopes at the abovementioned address. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

Bid Documents can be availed at the BAC Office, 2/F Malong Building, Capitol Compound, Lingayen, Pangasinan upon payment to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office the amount of P1,000.00 Accreditation Fee for new bidders, and a non-refundable amount of P3,000.00/bidder/project for project no. 1 & 2 to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office. Prospective bidders shall submit their Bid Documents to the BAC Office at the same address.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

The Province of Pangasinan assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation for their bids. Moreover, the Province of Pangasinan reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation without thereby incurring any liability in accordance with RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Approved by:

HILARIA J. CLAVERIA Provincial Budget Officer BAC Chairman

(SGD.) HILARIA J. CLAVERIA Provincial Budget Officer BAC Chairman

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

February 27, 2015 – March 19, 2015

3. Pre-Bid Conference

Approved by:

(MST-MAR. 7, 2015)

Schedule February 20, 2015; 10:00 am

(MST-MAR. 7, 2015)

a 14-game sweep of the eliminations.

On the other hand, the Blue Eagles seek their first-ever men’s championship against the Bulldogs in Game 2 of their best-of-three series at 2 p.m.

Roach celebrates birthday in Macau CELEBRATED Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who was recently named “Trainer of the Year” for 2014 by the prestigious Boxing Writers Association for an unprecedented seventh time, celebrates his 55th birthday today in Macau, China, doing what is closest to his heart—preparing China’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming for his IBF flyweight world title fight against Thai champion Amnat Ruenroeng on Mar. 7.

Roach’s dedication to improving the inherent skills of Zou Shiming as an amateur and turning him into a fiercely competitive pro boxer is very much like his efforts with his prized possession—eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

The moment Roach began to train Pacquiao, the exuberant Filipino southpaw with devastating punching power and incredible hand-speed, Pacquiao’s inherent skills were honed to near perfection.

The transformation of Pacquiao from a punching machine to a skilled boxerpuncher are the result of Roach’s work through the years and reflects the remarkable mutual respect and affection between trainer and fighter. Ronnie

Nathanielsz

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 7, 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

GAB head should protect the boxers fact that during a hearing Guanzon excused himself claiming he had to leave to catch a boat to Bacolod!

We refer to this slapping incident involving a waitress not to malign the GaB chairman but to demonstrate his abrasive manner and his arrogance which were evident when he told aBaP executive director Ed Picson and even myself “that’s your problem” if the two boxers followed his demand , applied for professional boxers licenses and because of this would be disqualified from competing in the Olympic Games qualifying tournaments. this position of aIBa was reiterated just the other day at an international conference.

Guanzon claims that if anything happens to either Barriga or Suarez the GaB would be blamed.

In the face of numerous anomalies in the GaB including mismatches, fighters under suspension being sneaked out of the country apparently with the connivance of GaB officials and violations of its basic rules, how can Guanzon have the temerity to claim he wishes to protect Barriga and Suarez. to begin with there is no rule that dictates they have to obtain pro boxers licenses. It’s a voluntary act on the part of any individual.

Besides, aBaP is a National Sports association under the Philippine Olympic Committee and has no obligation to be controlled and supervised by the GaB which would be considered government interference in sports which the IOC abhors and for which many National Sports associations and even countries have been suspended.

Just the other day we learned from promoter/manager Dante almario that the GaB had so far failed to reply to his demand for a full=blown-investigation into how his boxer angelito Merin was able to sneak out of the country and fight – and lose- in thailand when serving a 90 day medical suspension. It is one of numerous such cases to which the GaB has turned a blind eye.

We also learned that boxer Joan Imperial who fought on the same card as Merlin and suffered a 2nd round tKO to Myunggoo Yuh in a WBO asia Pacific light flyweight title bout on February 13 once again fought some 19 days later in thailand according to boxrec.com.. this is the Chairman of the GaB who claims he is mandated to protect fighters like Barriga and Suarez who are well looked after and play by the rules of the International governing body aIBa and the International Olympic Committee but who regrettably cannot put an end to the shenanigans within his own jurisdiction.

Maybe its time for Guanzon to start slapping some of the unscrupulous individuals involved in boxing both within and outside the GaB.

iNsidE spOrTs rONNiE NAThANiELsz

What manner of man is Juan Ramon Guanzon, the chairman of the Games and amusements Board which is an agency under the Office of the President and which is tasked with the supervision and control of professional sports including boxing.

Guanzon who is a member if the World Boxing Council and proudly displays its insignia on his jacket is vainly trying to carry the fight for the WBC against the International governing body for boxing—aIBa —which is under the aegis of the International Olympic Committee and has, by all accounts, its full support in the tournaments being staged as qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Guanzon, in serving his masters in the WBC and in the process antagonized the other major boxing organizations such as the WBO, IBF and WBa and apparently cares little about our country in its passionate quest for a coveted Olympic gold medal, has threatened to obtain a hold-departure order against two of our finest Olympic hopefuls—Mark anthony Barriga and Charly Suarez—who are competing in the aIBa tournaments.

Guanzon has denied that he had issued such a threat to obtain a hold departure from the Bureau of Immigration. to put it bluntly, the man is a liar because he told that to us as well as some other boxing people during a recent fight card in Davao City. In fact, he challenged the aBaP to take him to court when they see no reason to.

Its Guanzon, if he wishes to pursue his ridiculous stand who should take the aBaP and perhaps even aIBa and the IOC to court.

Guanzon is abrasive and arrogant and often trumpets the fact that the GaB is under the Office of the President as though that will scare the wits of those who go against him. as several boxing people including judges and referees have told us, what can you expect from Guanzon who was a student of ateneo and at the age of 18 was fired by the University after a waitress in the canteen filed a complaint when he used foul language against her and slapped her.

Since Guanzon was from a wellto do family whose father was a congressman, they exhausted all legal remedies to have the dismissal overturned and alleged that Ramon was not given due process. however, in the end the Supreme Court no less overturned the lower court’s decision and upheld his dismissal from ateneo and dismissed the claim that he was not given due process pointing to the

Tournament officials, from left: Ramon Suzara, Chairman, Development and Marketing Committee, Asian Volleyball Confederation; Jose Romasanta, President, Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. and Shanrit Wongprasert, Secretary General, Asian Volleyball Confederation draw lots for the team pairings of the 1st Asian Women’s U-23 Volleyball Championship. SONNY ESPIRITU

PH U-23 volleybelles return to Asian stage

By Peter Atencio

TEAM Philippines, led by members of the Ateneo Lady Eagles and the Arellano University Lady Chiefs, will face big challenges in the coming Asian Women’s U-23 Volleyball Championship. the tournament will organized with the support of the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, Inc., led by its president Joey Romasanta.

Romasanta hopes that by bring an asian-level competition here, the glory days of Philippine volleyball will be restored.

“We have been absent from the sport in the last four stagings of the Southeast asian Games. the LVPI hopes to bring Philippine volleyball back on

the regional track, and do justice to the athletes, and resurrect its glory days,” said Romasanta. the Filipina squad, which is expected to be reinforced by alyssa Valdez, Bea de Leon and Jia Morado, have been bracketed in Pool a with Kazakhstan and Iran, and when action gets going May 1 to 9.

National coach Sammy acaylar and co-mentor Roger Gorayeb have not come up with their final list for the

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, March 7, 2015

ACROSS 1 Stoneworker 6 Thick of things 11 ASAP 14 Light incense to 15 Ancient Phoenician port 16 Not I 17 Heaps kudos on 18 Broadcast again 19 Caustic solution 20 Tangle 22 Motel pluses 24 Bitterly cold 28 Car hood, to a Brit 29 Would prefer 30 Veld stalkers 32 Opposed 33 Protesters’ chorus 35 Drawn tight 39 Final Four org.

40 Mag execs 41 Clever ploy 42 “Jurassic Park” costar 43 Alluvial fan 45 Disney CEO Bob — 46 Import and export 48 Cookie cooks 50 A piece of the — 53 Setback

54 55 57 58 60 65 66 67 68 69 70

Flatten Comic-strip queen Endorser’s need Portable home Piano key DJ’s platters Correct errata Like a tablet When Paris sizzles Healthy-red Hazy conditions

DOWN 1 — de mer 2 Tooth-fillers’ org.

3 Worthless coin 4 California fort 5 Tabloids “monster” 6 Wall painting 7 Route for Ben-Hur 8 Gauge 9 — -fi flick 10 Ocean game fish 11 Traffic cone 12 Holmes’ creator 13 Medieval adventure 21 DEA operative 23 Not working (2 wds.)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

24 25 26 27 28 30 31 34 36 37 38 43 44 47 49 50 51 52 53 55 56 59

“— Theft Auto” Knight’s weapon Petal essence Trattoria wines Course in biol.

King-sized spoon Scholarly org.

Listen up Ice-fishing tool Software buyers Hardly wordy Karate level Egg on Roll-call list Is of benefit Mac maker Slunk Uptight Thin, as a voice Parroted What banks do Flightless bird 3-7-15

61 62 63 64

Vigor’s partner The Plastic — Band Avg. size Fabric meas.

PREVIOUS PUZZLE SOLVED

© 2015 UFS, Dist. by Univ. Uclick for UFS

national squad, but coaching staff of the Lady Eagles made assurance the three will be available for national duty. the team will be assembled after 77th University athletic association of the Philippines (UaaP) championship is over. “the players will come from arellano, San Sebastian and University of Perpetual help, and also from ateneo. But, we will have the full lineup known after the UaaP finals,” said acaylar. acaylar learned of the national squad’s opponents during a draw of lots held yesterday by organizers at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City. aVC secretary general Shanrit Wongprasert presided over the drawing of lots with Ramon Suzara,

chairman of the aVC’s Development and Marketing Committee. top seed China and no.

6 ranked India with Macau are in the “group of death” in Pool B. No. 2 seed Japan and 5th ranked Chinese-taipei are in Pool C with Maldives. In Pool B are third seed South Korea, Southeast asian powerhouse thailand and Uzbekistan. the winner of the total of 36-match event will qualify in the World Women’s U-23 Championship in ankara, turkey set on august 12 to 19.

In the preliminary round, teams in each pool will play in a single round robin format in which the top two squads in each group will advance in the quarterfinals divided in to Pool E and F.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 7, 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS C

ENTENNIAL III skippered by businessman Judes Echauz regained the lead while Ray Ordoveza’s Excel 53-designed Karakoa is now second place after the penultimate race of the four-day event Boracay Cup Regatta in Malay, Aklan.

But the challenges for this year’s tittles were still determined that their best was yet to come and make inroads on the leaders including chasing defending champion Frank Pong’s Jelik.

In the IRC 1 Class, right from the start, the pressure was on as Geoff Hill’s Custom Smith Antipodes and Ordoveza’s Karakoa rushed at the starting signal chasing two-day winner Jelik and Centennial III. American Race Officer Jerry Rollin Pong’s Jelik won during the first day of the regatta last Monday being backed by Standard Insurance, PLDT Alpha, Cebu Pafific, The Lighthouse Marina Hotel, and Seawind Resort Boracay.

Placing second in the first day race is Echauz’s Centennial while placing third.

On the second day, Jelik again took first in the official time sanctioned by the Asian Yatch Club. Taking the second spot is Centennial then followed by Antipodes.

Centennial III won on the third day race with a time of 4: 19: 05 followed by Karakoa (4: 21: 00) while placing third is Antipodes (4: 24: 06). On the other hand, Jelik only placed fourth.

The three big boats in the IRC 2 class continue to dominate proceedings. Both Fred Kinmonth / Nick Burns Sydney GTS 43 EFG Mandrake and Helmuth Hennig’s Marten 49 Vineta were caught over the start line.

While EFG Mandrake made a quick return, Vineta was delayed by boats to leeward and cost them some precious time.

As they returned through the Boracay Passage, EFG Mandrake led the way with Vineta less than a minute behind. EFGMandrake went on to claim the daily double and by adding another win to their tally, have a commanding lead in the IRC 2 Class.

Rollin said second place for Martin Tanco’s Sydney 46Centennial II secures them second overall but will need to find top gear in a hurry, to topple EFG Mandrake for the IRC 2 title.

Centennial III regains lead in Boracay Cup

LOTTO RESULTS

Pacquiao says Floyd can’t hide TURN TO A14 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Volleybelles P0.0 M+ participate 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 in AVC tilt TURN TO A15

3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

SATURDAY: MARCH 7, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

PSe comPoSite index Closing March 6, 2015

8000 7500 6840 7500 6180

7000

5520

6500

4860

6000 4200 3860 5500

7,861.33 42.29

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MARCH 6, 2015 45

P44.090

44

CLOSE

43 42 41

HIGH P44.090 LOW P44.170 AVERAGE P44.118 VOLUME 490.700M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.80-P43.35 Unleaded Gasoline

Labor awards. SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc., represented by plant support services manager Rose White (right), receives certificates from the Labor Department for being a child labor-free establishment as well as for its compliance to the General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Standards. Representing the government agency in the awarding ceremony held Feb 23, 2014 in Baguio City are (from left) Labor Assistant Regional Director Erwin Aquino, DOLE-Cordillera Administrative Region Director Henry John Jalbuena and DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz. SNAP-Benguet owns and operates the 105-megawatt Ambuklao Hydroelectric Power Plant in Bokod and the 125-MW Binga HEPP in Itogon. It is a joint venture between SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power Corp.

FOR A $1-B LNG TERMINAL IN BATANGAS

FGen investing P14.5b

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A UNIT of First Philippine Holdings Corp. of the Lopez Group is investing P14.5 billion in a liquefied natural gas project in Batangas province, the company said Friday.

The board of First Philippine cleared the planned investment of First Gen Corp. in pursuing the development of an LNG terminal in preparation for the eventual depletion of the natural gas reserves of the Malampaya field in northwest Palawan by 2024.

First Gen president Francis Giles Puno told reporters at the sidelines of the Natural Gas Summit 2015 that preparations for the LNG terminal were under way.

Puno said the First Gen had tapped Tractebel Engineering of France to do the detailed design of an onshore LNG terminal.

He said First Gen would use the design as basis for the construction of the terminal, estimated to cost around $1 billion.

“What we have to do by end this year is decide whether to go ahead or defer it next year,” Puno said, adding the bidding for the contract of the LNG terminal

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

would be held soon.

“The nice thing about it is that our site which is located beside the power plants is a feasible site.

We’ve done the study,” Puno said.

He said if the investment decision was made this year or early 2016, the terminal would be scheduled for completion by 2020 or 2021, or prior to the depletion of the Malampaya reserves.

The terminal will be located beside the company’s 1,000-MW Sta. Rita and 500-MW San Lorenzo natural gas powers plants in

Batangas.

“Once we bid it out, we will get proposals and when we get proposals then we will decide if [it’s] okay or not,” Puno said.

He said First Gen was also in talks with potential suppliers of LNG in the global market.

Puno said the company was open to joint venture partners in the project and in talks with European and Japanese energy companies.

“Currently it’s being undertaken by us First Gen [but] it doesn’t

mean we will not bring in partners. We will have to determine bankability [of the project] and on top of that determine [the] partners. For example, we need a technical partner who will assist us in the operations and maintenance of the LNG terminal,” he said.

Puno said First Gen planned to secure a majority stake in the project.

Frist Gen is pursuing the LNG project to ensure stable and reliable supply of natural gas over the long-term period.

P27.90-P31.20 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, March 6, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.1590

Japan

Yen

0.008324

0.3676

UK

Pound

1.523900

67.2939

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128961

5.6948

Switzerland

Franc

1.026589

45.3331

Canada

Dollar

0.800128

35.3329

Singapore

Dollar

0.729501

32.2140

Australia

Dollar

0.782411

34.5505

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

117.1326

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

11.7754

Brunei

Dollar

0.726850

32.0970

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030845

1.3621

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.0229

Euro

Euro

1.102800

48.6985

Korea

Won

0.000909

0.0401

China

Yuan

0.159586

7.0472

India

Rupee

0.016049

0.7087

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.274386

12.1166

New Zealand

Dollar

0.758380

33.4893

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031821

1.4052 Source: PDS Bridge

PH international reserves climb to $81.3b

By Julito G. Rada THE country’s gross international reserves increased to $81.3 billion as of end-February 2015 from $80.7 billion a month ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

“The increase in reserves was due mainly to the national government’s net foreign currency deposits and the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and income from investments abroad,” the Bangko Sentral said.

“These were partially offset by revaluation adjustments on the BSP’s gold holdings arising from the decrease in the price of gold in the international market as well as on its foreign currency-denominated reserves and payments

made by the NG for its maturing foreign exchange obligations,” it said.

The February reserves level was the highest since the $83.187 billion registered in December 2013.

The GIR level can cover 10.4 months’ worth of imports of

goods and payments of services and income. It was also equivalent to 8.6 times the country’s shortterm external debt based on original maturity and six times based on residual maturity.

Short-term debt based on residual maturity refers to outstanding

external debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on medium- and long-term loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months.

Data showed that the Bangko Sentral’s gold holdings dropped to $7.632 billion from $8.045 billion in January. But foreign investments increased to $71.371 billion from $70.359 billion.

Net international reserves, which refer to the difference between the GIR and total shortterm liabilities, also increased to $81.3 billion as of end-February 2015 from the end-January NIR of $80.7 billion.

The international reserves stood at $79.540 billion at the end of 2014.

SATURDAY: MARCH 7, 2015

B2

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Friday, March 6, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2.7 75.3 99.4 105.2 63 2.3 4.2 15.98 19.6 31.6 22.5 2.95 1.01 92.9 1.65 30.5 75 99 140 392 59 146.8 1700 130 2.8

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

42.6 6.1 1.66 2.3 17.98 17.2 125 15.8 56.8 4.57 39.5 14 12.98 8.15 12.34 2.5 17 27.1 90.5 27 0.014 15.74 9.4 199.8 10.98 5.2 45.45 30 90 14.7 317 6.49 5.37 14.48 7.5 14.5 7.03

1.55 63.5 67.5 82.5 50 1.9 1.1 8.58 14.5 23.2 6.84 1.75 0.175 69.35 1.2 20.45 58 76 119 276 41.5 105.1 1281 116 2.25

Close

High

4.4 69.8 113.90 99.55 47.8 2.49 2.51 10.5 16.28 25.85 7.93 1.80 0.550 92 0.96 19.20 32.00 84.00 95.30 359.8 47 168 1355.00 69.95 3.12

FINANCIAL 4.42 4.4 70 69.7 114.00 113.00 100.00 99.50 47.9 47.5 2.40 2.22 2.51 2.50 10.5 10.5 16.26 16.08 25.7 25.7 7.97 7.94 1.80 1.67 0.550 0.530 94.5 92.7 1.01 1.01 19.20 18.60 32.10 32.00 84.00 83.50 95.40 95.40 359 356.2 47.5 46.45 169 166.9 1355.00 1345.00 70.00 69.80 3.12 3.09 INDUSTRIAL 45.8 44.5 1.89 1.65 1.1 1.08 2.06 2.03 8.3 8.18 18.98 18.68 100 99 21 20.8 58.5 58 1.88 1.82 12.92 12.78 20.950 19.98 11.40 11.14 9.05 8.83 10.60 10.50 1.33 1.33 18.4 17.6 30.95 30.35 107.4 102.5 14.86 14.12 0.4750 0.4600 14.88 14.80 6.85 6.75 220.20 219.40 10.24 10.1 2.73 2.67 53.05 52.90 27.3 26.5 29.9 29.05 8.110 8.080 278.00 274.00 4.23 4.23 4.62 4.55 10.56 10.50 4.5 4.5 11.44 11.16 4.00 3.97 2.93 2.87 5.99 5.90 6.5 6.47 209.4 205 4.5 4.5 1.84 1.79 0.203 0.192 1.54 1.54 2.31 2.29 217.00 211.2 4.6 4.5 0.76 0.73 1.58 1.55 HOLDING FIRMS 0.480 0.475 59.00 58.00 24.00 23.80 1.49 1.45 7.15 7.12 1.65 1.56 2.82 2.70 732.5 730 9.64 9.27 15.78 15.56 4.85 4.82 0.405 0.385 1308 1280 6.42 6.35 67.30 66.80 9.18 8.9 0.7 0.69 16.24 16.1 0.63 0.62 5.12 4.79 5.29 5.2 0.0420 0.0420 1.430 1.430 0.720 0.720 75.00 74.10 912.50 906.50 1.21 1.21 107.00 105.50 0.6100 0.5800 0.2700 0.2600 0.325 0.325 PROPERTY 10.400 10.260 1.05 1.05 1.310 1.300 0.260 0.260 38.50 37.60 4.45 4.4 5.07 5.01 0.95 0.93 1.28 1.28 1.00 0.97

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

0.201 0.98 1.09 0.370 2.25 1.77 1.6 4.88 0.180 0.470 0.74 4.45 24.8 2.06 3.6 19.62 1.02 6.66 1.96 6.5

0.068 0.47 0.87 0.175 1.22 1.18 1.19 2.75 0.070 0.325 0.4 2.5 18.72 1.45 2.9 14.1 0.58 3.05 0.87 4.37

539,630.00 1,947,316.00

3.25 43.7 1.09 12.46 31.95 14 0.1640 4.05 71 12.3 3.28 9 1700 2008 9.04 2.02 118.9 12.5 0.017 0.0653 2.2800 6.99 9.67 2.85 2.2 1.97 2.45 14.46 0.62 1.040 6.6 2.85 18 107 11.3 3486 0.710 2.01 48.5 74

1.55 27 0.59 10 18 8.28 0.0960 2.97 44.8 10.14 1.99 4 1080 1580 7.12 1.2 94.4 8.72 0.012 0.026 1.560 1.95 5.82 1.15 1.1 0.485 1.42 10.14 0.35 0.36 5.2 1.85 8.8 81 4.39 2572 0.250 0.26 32.2 48

-3,970.00 -189,300.00 1,857,697.00

0.87 11.46 0.435 1.6

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SSI Group 0.59 STI Holdings 7.78 Travellers 0.305 Waterfront Phils.

1.04 Yehey

0.0086 5.45 17.24 0.325 12.7 1.2 1.73 10.98

0.0028 1.72 11.48 0.225 6 0.5 0.76 4.93

0.46 0.455 0.730 0.024 0.026 8.2 48.85 3.35 1.030 3.06 0.021 0.023 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.042 420 9 0.016

0.385 0.3000 0.2950 0.012 0.014 1.960 14.22 1.47 0.220 1.24 0.016 0.017 4.02 7.8 6.5 0.031 123 4.3 0.0087

4.42 70 114.00 100.00 47.5 2.32 2.50 10.5 16.08 25.7 7.96 1.67 0.550 94.5 1.01 18.60 32.00 84.00 95.40 356.4 47 167.5 1355.00 69.85 3.09

0.45 0.29 0.09 0.45 -0.63 -6.83 -0.40 0.00 -1.23 -0.58 0.38 -7.22 0.00 2.72 5.21 -3.12 0.00 0.00 0.10 -0.94 0.00 -0.30 0.00 -0.14 -0.96

73,000 31,590 3,722,130 3,836,360 61,600 242,000 275,000 1,000 14,900 73,400 8,500 35,000 685,000 2,678,050 820,000 63,600 29,000 50,520 1,100 28,470 232,000 923,190 260 36,000 147,000

45.8 1.7 1.09 2.05 8.3 18.88 100 21 58 1.83 12.8 20.500 11.18 8.86 10.56 1.33 18 30.8 106.2 14.12 0.4750 14.86 6.81 219.80 10.12 2.7 52.95 26.5 29.05 8.100 274.40 4.23 4.62 10.54 4.5 11.40 3.97 2.91 5.99 6.47 207 4.5 1.79 0.193 1.54 2.30 217 4.5 0.74 1.55

3.15 -5.56 -0.91 0.00 0.00 0.96 5.26 0.72 0.00 -2.66 0.00 2.81 -0.18 -0.56 0.57 0.00 -2.17 1.65 3.61 -0.56 3.26 0.00 0.15 0.55 0.20 1.12 0.09 -1.12 -1.36 -0.12 -0.22 4.96 0.00 0.19 0.45 0.35 0.00 0.34 1.87 -0.46 1.47 1.35 -2.72 -1.03 -0.65 -0.43 1.78 -3.23 -1.33 -2.52

2,975,000 670,000 1,575,000 1,050,000 14,200 742,300 90 240,600 45,860 402,000 59,200 9,075,400 5,685,600 13,741,800 49,300 3,000 101,900 4,190,700 1,936,860 22,900 150,000 466,800 446,400 796,140 1,004,200 37,000 23,530 8,431,500 602,900 126,500 422,370 2,000 440,000 1,289,900 1,000 139,000 347,000 2,394,000 355,000 2,200 855,190 100,000 205,000 12,970,000 2,000 397,000 1,381,870 13,000 932,000 349,000

0.475 59.00 24.00 1.49 7.12 1.65 2.75 732 9.27 15.68 4.82 0.395 1292 6.42 67.10 9.13 0.7 16.1 0.63 4.81 5.25 0.0420 1.430 0.720 74.20 911.00 1.21 106.00 0.5800 0.2600 0.325

1.06 1.55 0.63 2.76 0.28 3.12 -0.36 0.48 -2.01 -0.51 -0.41 1.28 1.57 0.00 1.59 1.78 1.45 0.00 5.00 -4.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.07 -0.16 0.00 -0.93 -3.33 -3.70 0.00

70,000 722,740 5,799,086.00 15,822,700 -53,539,670.00 100,000 70,900 241,000 391,000 323,320 57,986,295.00 2,968,100 -2,291,594.00 4,497,700 31,154,892.00 28,000 4,920,000 7,800.00 151,245 14,827,115.00 1,352,600 -6,420,000.00 2,094,290 -13,727,618.50 15,805,600 -2,628,828.00 31,000 2,808,900 -1,865,656.00 124,000 183,521,100 -306,925,687.00 140,100 100,000 30,000 42,900.00 198,000 309,480 -8,699,538.00 262,250 4,452,220.00 45,000 29,730 -2,680,891.00 12,914,000 630,000 470,000

10.360 1.05 1.300 0.260 38.25 4.41 5.07 0.94 1.28 1.00

-0.38 0.00 -0.76 -3.70 1.46 -0.23 1.20 0.00 0.00 3.09

327,900 193,000 245,000 120,000 5,819,300 1,848,000 130,200 8,467,000 2,000 41,000

1,091,250.50 -6,864,540.00 331,698,520.00 152,370.00

153,160.00 -41,335.00

33,598,526.00

Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld Corp.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

High

Low

Close

0.164 0.480 0.910 0.216 1.61 1.78 1.44 5.6 0.131 0.3650 0.5000 7.65 29.00 1.75 3.17 19.80 0.93 7.23 1.060 7.500

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.164 0.158 0.160 0.495 0.475 0.475 0.910 0.900 0.900 0.216 0.216 0.216 1.65 1.62 1.65 1.83 1.75 1.75 1.46 1.43 1.43 5.63 5.49 5.56 0.135 0.130 0.132 0.3650 0.3600 0.3650 0.5000 0.5000 0.5000 7.75 7.65 7.65 29.00 28.50 28.65 1.77 1.75 1.77 3.20 3.19 3.20 19.94 19.76 19.90 0.96 0.93 0.96 7.29 7.11 7.28 1.080 1.030 1.060 7.500 7.380 7.490 SERVICES 8.3 8.35 8.2 8.35 64.7 65 64.45 64.45 0.700 0.700 0.690 0.700 12.74 12.84 12.74 12.84 28 28 23.15 27.95 10.90 11.08 10.88 11.04 0.1120 0.1140 0.1110 0.1130 4.28 4.34 4.2 4.34 88.5 89.35 88.4 89.3 10.84 10.86 10.84 10.84 1.79 1.67 1.67 1.67 6.50 6.60 6.39 6.39 1000 1020 1000 1010 1938 1948 1930 1940 6.46 6.61 6.45 6.46 1.63 1.64 1.62 1.63 112.5 112.5 112 112.4 11.36 11.96 11.86 11.86 0.015 0.015 0.014 0.014 0.305 0.315 0.295 0.300 1.3600 1.3700 1.3300 1.3500 2.8 2.97 2.8 2.8 9.36 9.42 9.35 9.35 2.00 1.96 1.95 1.96 1.69 1.72 1.6 1.69 0.700 0.700 0.700 0.700 2.02 2.07 2 2 10.5 10.6 10.4 10.4 0.370 0.375 0.365 0.375 0.530 0.520 0.510 0.520 4.65 4.65 4.60 4.60 3.2 3.45 3.2 3.45 8.9 9.5 9.5 9.5 101.00 98.50 98.50 98.50 13.82 13.90 13.80 13.88 3102.00 3108.00 3092.00 3100.00 0.600 0.600 0.590 0.600 1.670 1.720 1.670 1.670 41.00 41.00 40.30 40.80 85.80 86.50 84.00 84.20 10.22 10.86 10.24 10.86 0.70 0.72 0.70 0.71 7.04 7.49 7.03 7.49 0.375 0.380 0.365 0.370 1.390 1.390 1.390 1.390 MINING & OIL 0.0061 0.0063 0.0060 0.0061 3.00 2.91 2.90 2.90 9.80 9.94 9.79 9.94 0.265 0.275 0.265 0.265 7.4000 7.4 7.4 7.4000 1.11 1.19 1.11 1.12 0.9 0.91 0.89 0.9 7.60 7.64 7.50 7.62 2.92 2.98 2.65 2.71 0.355 0.360 0.345 0.345 0.260 0.260 0.255 0.255 0.265 0.260 0.255 0.260 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 0.0150 0.0160 0.0150 0.0160 5.89 5.89 5.68 5.7 28.4 29 28.4 28.75 3.23 3.31 3.19 3.3 0.7300 0.7500 0.7100 0.7100 2.310 2.310 2.280 2.300 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 5.82 5.86 5.75 5.86 8.3 8.4 8.16 8.16 3.95 3.95 3.8 3.9 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.016 166.80 168.70 165.50 166.40 4.32 4.35 4.29 4.35 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 PREFERRED 65.3 66.5 65 66 510 520 512 517 512 517 514 517 106.1 112 112 112 114 115 114.2 115 506 510 508 510 6.3 6.5 6.4 6.4 1.04 1.05 1.04 1.05 108.5 108 107.5 108 1030 1035 1035 1035 1060 1065 1059 1065 76.1 76.35 76.1 76.1 80 81 80 81 82.5 83.5 82.5 83 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.080 4.150 4.050 4.100 SME 7.73 7.8 7.7 7.8 68.4 74.95 68.95 71.95 11.34 11.6 11.3 11.4 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126.3 126.5 126.4 126.5

-2.44 -1.04 -1.10 0.00 2.48 -1.69 -0.69 -0.71 0.76 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.21 1.14 0.95 0.51 3.23 0.69 0.00 -0.13

79,650,000 2,030,000 321,870 50,000 734,000 49,439,000 333,000 45,838,400 3,910,000 15,000 9,000 348,300 2,462,700 183,000 452,000 7,266,600 7,042,000 10,074,200 249,000 5,806,200

-44,800.00

0.60 -0.39 0.00 0.78 -0.18 1.28 0.89 1.40 0.90 0.00 -6.70 -1.69 1.00 0.10 0.00 0.00 -0.09 4.40 -6.67 -1.64 -0.74 0.00 -0.11 -2.00 0.00 0.00 -0.99 -0.95 1.35 -1.89 -1.08 7.81 6.74 -2.48 0.43 -0.06 0.00 0.00 -0.49 -1.86 6.26 1.43 6.39 -1.33 0.00

964,300 62,160 978,000 9,900 16,000 7,175,900 25,310,000 500,000 304,930 5,300 1,000 529,600 9,880 23,165 302,800 205,000 1,808,770 50,000 30,200,000 38,130,500 803,000 238,000 369,100 21,000 111,000 110,000 538,000 6,953,700 210,000 468,700 53,000 98,000 210 210 245,900 99,510 665,000 58,570,000 1,106,700 1,296,600 12,999,100 3,125,000 4,339,900 450,000 60,000

0.00 -3.33 1.43 0.00 0.00 0.90 0.00 0.26 -7.19 -2.82 -1.92 -1.89 0.00 6.67 -3.23 1.23 2.17 -2.74 -0.43 0.00 0.00 0.69 -1.69 -1.27 0.00 -0.24 0.69 0.00

4,535,000,000 18,900.00 151,000 320,600 1,331,526.00 2,200,000 2,500 15,862,000 -1,669,830.00 478,980 14,100 37,076,000 2,238,340.00 570,000 5,660,000 449,200 279,300,000 70,100,000 1,479,300 24,540.00 7,905,200 -9,688,410.00 1,977,000 157,460.00 1,242,000 147,000 2,800,000 1,600,000 -1,400.00 13,000 856,600 83,100.00 221,000 11,400.00 33,500,000 468,410 -714,144.00 52,000 7,500,000 15,400.00

1.07 1.37 0.98 5.56 0.88 0.79 1.59 0.96 -0.46 0.49 0.47 0.00 1.25 0.61 -4.35

111,670 21,810 25,000 900 71,000 18,880 56,000 11,059,000 38,600 50 5,860 73,600 4,900 199,520 1,000

262,500.00

0.49

262,000

12,180.00

0.91 5.19 0.53

782,600 2,600 2,009,500

-1,190,000.00

0.16

49,240

-49,335.00

122,400.00 562,380.00 -37,885,483.00

-23,057,590.00 13,160.00 -15,950.00 48,798,048.00 -284,040.00

MST Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Jollibee Foods Corp.

Lafarge Rep LMG Chemicals Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor 4.88 RFM Corporation 2.28 Roxas Holdings 210 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 4.1 SPC Power Corp.

1.7 Splash Corporation 0.102 Swift Foods, Inc. 1.6 TKC Steel Corp.

1.37 Trans-Asia Oil 111.3 Universal Robina 1.58 Victorias Milling 0.550 Vitarich Corp.

1.33 Vulcan Ind’l.

44.4 1.8 1.1 2.05 8.3 18.7 95 20.85 58 1.88 12.8 19.940 11.20 8.91 10.50 1.33 18.4 30.3 102.5 14.20 0.4600 14.86 6.8 218.60 10.1 2.67 52.90 26.8 29.45 8.110 275.00 4.03 4.62 10.52 4.48 11.36 3.97 2.90 5.88 6.5 204 4.44 1.84 0.195 1.55 2.31 213.2 4.65 0.75 1.59

0.7 61.6 31.85 2.16 7.39 2.7 3.29 747 11.34 84 5.34 0.23 1060 7.1 59.8 6.55 0.9 19.9 0.75 5.4 5.35 0.0550 2.31 0.84 88 866 2.2 156 0.285 0.245 0.510

0.46 45.75 21.95 1.6 6.3 1.550 1.8 508 7.470 47.25 4 0.144 706 5.3 36.7 3.95 0.58 12.96 0.580 4.06 4.5 0.027 1.23 0.355 54.5 680 1.04 58.05 0.158 0.150 0.295

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.470 58.10 23.85 1.45 7.10 1.60 2.76 728.5 9.46 15.76 4.84 0.390 1272 6.42 66.05 8.97 0.69 16.1 0.6 5.04 5.25 0.0420 1.430 0.720 75.00 912.50 1.21 107.00 0.6000 0.2700 0.325

9.03 1.99 2.07 0.375 35.3 6.15 6.1 2 2.51 1.5

5.51 0.99 1 0.185 23.7 4.41 5 1.22 1.21 0.97

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’

10.400 1.05 1.310 0.270 37.70 4.42 5.01 0.94 1.28 0.97

6.68 8.1 275 5.5 2.25 0.191 2.5 2.68 188.6 5.5 1.3 2.17

Low

31.75 2.51 0.88 1.25 9.58 14.6 62.5 9.82 21.5 0.82 17.3 5.98 9.05 4.25 8.68 1.01 8.61 12.2 48.9 16 0.0097 12.8 2.05 150.8 8.55 2.8 16 20.35 12 10.1 246 3.37 4 11.56 5 9.94 4.33

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES 15,120,579 77,384,668 313,721,291 236,917,835 298,090,218 5,008,412,795 5,952,491,326

3,330,595.00

-9,859,320.00 8,882,665.00 -21,806,281.00

4,048,840.00 -195,790.00

2,146,098.00

-188,590.00 9,250.00 -1,290.00 43,618,945.00 16,898,012.00 17,206,440.00 -5.00 28,996,005.00 -96,931,160.00 -135,446.00 18,400.00

-63,156,176.00 222,714.00

-1,945,370.00 4,033,240.00 -895,051.00 -34,709,302.00

173,611,562.00

0.00

-64,144,352.00

760.00

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

44.1

26.3

60 118 116 511 9.04 9.67

30 101 102 480 6.76 5.82

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C Swift Pref

1,332,664.00

77.3 78.95 81.85 1.34

74.2 74.5 75 1

130,000.00

2.42

0.0010 LR Warrant

45,158,515.00 3,048,730.00 -506,000.00 -4,127,210.00

10.96 35

2.4 7.74

Double Dragon IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

119.6

94

First Metro ETF

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,373,371,122.82 1,952,936,857.97 3,091,601,347.87 1,041,891,550.31 1,280,885,941.92 490,795,443.224 9,266,931,773.11

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,806.48 (up) 9.41 INDUSTRIAL 12,893.66 (up) 131.44 HOLDING FIRMS 6,895.31 (up) 20.02 PROPERTY 3,159.82 (up) 18.24 SERVICES 2,212.38 (down) 0.07 MINING & OIL 16,648.59 (down) 20.85 PSEI 7,861.33 (up) 42.29 All Shares Index 4,565.99 (up) 18.39 Gainers: 94; Losers: 85; Unchanged: 50; Total: 229

-23,812,973.00

4,326,345.00 -7,000.00 5,096.00

-17,663,614.00 -71,560.00 -11,322,875.00 -1,151,000.00 21,935,335.00 11,104,237.00

2,680.00 28,000.00 46,936.00

-934,050.00 39,110,598.00

-105,550.00 20,685.00 20,685.00 -954,500.00 -31,311,640.00 29,325,400.00 -16,725,585.00 -54,086,807.00 5,464,598.00 1,462,010.00 244,570.00

309,298.00

-229,800.00

83,624.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Paxys Inc.

3.45

7.81

I-Remit Inc.

1.67

-7.22

Phil. Racing Club

9.5

6.74

Ferronickel

2.71

-7.19

Manila Mining `B'

0.0160

6.67

BDO Leasing & Fin. INc.

2.32

-6.83

Travellers

7.49

6.39

Discovery World

1.67

-6.70

SSI Group

10.86

6.26

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.014

-6.67

First Gen F

112

5.56

Agrinurture Inc.

1.7

-5.56

Chemphil

100

5.26

Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

4.81

-4.56

Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

1.01

5.21

Swift Pref

2.2

-4.35

IRipple E-Business Intl

71.95

5.19

Wellex Industries

0.2600

-3.70

Mabuhay Holdings `A'

0.63

5.00

Arthaland Corp.

0.260

-3.70

SATURDAY: MARCH 7, 2015

B3

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

M. Water ruling out soon Lucio Co biomass plant up N. Ecija

By Alena Mae S. Flores SAN Jose City I Power Corp., a renewable energy company controlled by supermarket chain owner Lucio Co, on Friday inaugurated a 12-megawatt biomass power plant in Nueva Ecija, a government official said.

Energy Department director Mario Marasigan told reporters the inauguration of the facility signaled the start of commercial operations of the biomass plant fueled by rice husks.

“Yes, officially commercial operations started Friday,” Marasigan said.

The start of operations of the biomass plant would help augment the much-needed capacity in Luzon, he said.

Marasigan said the second phase of the plant would involve another 12 MW and was also expected to start operations this year.

He said any future additional expansion would “depend on the availability of feedstock.”

SJC I Power chief operating officer Edgardo Alfonso earlier said the 12-MW facility would be expanded by another 12 MW and would be due for commissioning by 2016.

The first phase of the biomass plant is located in Tulat Road, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija and cost P1 billion to build.

Alfonso said the second phase for an additional 12 MW in the same area would be built at the same investment cost.

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE state-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System said Friday the arbitration proceedings with east zone concessionaire Manila Water Company Inc. is nearing its conclusion.

MWSS, however, said the confidentiality rules governing arbitration proceedings were still in force and that the agency would continue to respect them. “MWSS would make proper disclosure to the public as soon as a final arbitral award is received,” it said.

MWSS chief regulator Joel Yu said

with regards to the arbitration with west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc., the MWSSRegulatory Office suspended the implementation of the water tariff adjustment, despite the release of the final arbitral award, to ensure “just and equitable” water rates for consumers.

“The plain fact of the matter is that both arbitrations involve identical issues--whether or not the concessionaires are public utilities, and whether or not they may pass on their corporate income tax or CIT to the consumers. These are highly critical issues that impact significantly on the rates of both concessionaires,” Yu said.

Yu said Maynilad’s new rate rested on the finding that it was not a public utility and that its CIT was a recoverable expense that may be passed on to consumers.

“On the other hand, a contrary finding in the other arbitration case will lead to the opposite result,” Yu said.

“Simultaneously enforcing these contradictory rulings will immediately give rise to an absurd scenario, where Metro Manila’s west zone consumers are forced to bear the burden of Maynilad’s CIT, while east zone consumers are relieved of a similar burden altogether,” Yu said.

The MWSS regulator expressed disappointment over Maynilad’s continuing media assault against the agency.

Maynilad earlier denounced the refusal of MWSS to obey the decision of the arbitration panel, noting that the company was suffering substantial damages due to the delayed implementation of tariff increase.

Chefs congress.

Agriculture undersecretary for special concerns Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (fourth from left) shares light moments with Filipino and Philippine-based chefs at a news conference for the Madrid Fusión Manila, an international culinary arts event to be held on April 24 to 26, 2015 at the Mall of Asia’s SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The Agriculture Department collaborated with the chefs for the promotion of top agricultural exports and endemic agricultural products. Shown with Puyat are (from left) chefs Juan Carlos de Terry, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Bruce Ricketts, Margarita Fores, Myrna Dizon-Segismundo and Claude Tayag. They will join top chefs from Spain during the activities of the congress.

Market hits new record; Lopez firms lead gainers

School feeding.

The Wong Chu King Foundation, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cubao West and with the full participation of Cubao Elementary School, held its feeding activity for the month of February where hundreds of underweight students were fed with nutritious meals. The school year’s feeding program aims to give joy to and help students achieve the proper weight required for their age.

STOCKS rose to a new record Friday, its 19th time this year, after the government announced inflation settled at a manageable 2.5 percent in February and several conglomerates reported strong profit growth.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 42 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,861.33 on Friday. It was also up 8.7 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also climbed 18 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,565.99, on a value turnover of P9.3 billion.

Gainers outnumbered losers, 94 to 85, while 50 issues were unchanged.

First Philippine Holdings Corp. of the Lopez Group was the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks. It climbed 4.4 percent to P107. Lopez Holdings Corp. also

rose 2.2 percent to P9.17.

Chemical producer D&L Industries Inc. gained 3.3 percent to P20.60. Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., the country’s second largest lender, added 2.5 percent to close at P94.30. San Miguel Pure Foods Company Inc. rose 1.5 percent to P207.

Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly rose Friday following gains in New York, while the euro remained stuck at 11-year lows after the European Central Bank said it would launch its massive stimulus program next week.

While the euro struggled, the more upbeat mood provided support to the dollar ahead of the release later in the day of US jobs data, with a positive report seen supporting the Federal Reserve’s move to raise interest rate.

With AFP

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BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

In BrIef

Ilocos bank closed

THE Monetary Board, the policymaking body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday placed the Rural Bank of Magsingal (Ilocos Sur Inc.) under the custody of Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. because of unsound financial condition.

The state-run PDIC took over the bank on March 6, 2015, the second lender closed this year.

Rural Bank of Magsingal is a singleunit rural bank with head office in San Vicente, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur. Records as of Dec. 31, 2014 showed the bank was owned by Felicisimo Gorospe (19.15 percent), Mario Rosalino Gorospe (15.77 percent), Rolando Ramos (12.77 percent), Valentin Preza (10.64 percent), Luzanta Gorospe (10.21 percent), Leonilo Ines, Jr. (9.57 percent), Ma. Teresa Gorospe (7.45 percent) and Leonilo Sean Ines III (2.26 percent). Its president and chairman is Mario Rosalino Gorospe.

The bank had 458 accounts as of Dec. 31, 2014, with total deposit liabilities of P17.4 million. Julito G. Rada

Simplivity in PH SIMPLIVITY, the leader in hyper convergence infrastructure for softwaredefined data center, had it first debut into the Philippine market Friday.

The company expects to sign partnership and distributorship agreements within the next few weeks.

Simplivitybvice president for Asia Pacific Scott Morris said the company was bringing in technology in two weeks’ time after recently closing a deal with a buyer in Manila.

“We’re close to getting partners and distributors. And we hope to be able to set up a Philippine office in about a year,” he told reporters in a briefing Friday at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. Othel V. Campos

Century Pacific aid CENTURY Pacific Food Inc., the country’s largest canned food company, recently extended support to the 40th annual medical, dental and ophthalmic mission jointly organized by the Japan and Philippine chapters of Lions Club.

The missions were held on February 7 and 8 at the Marcelo H. Del Pilar Elementary School and Bagong Silangan District II Covered Court in Quezon City, Don Matias Fernando Memorial School in Bulacan, and Justice Vincent Santiago Elementary School in San Mateo, Rizal.

Some 10,500 people from poor communities around the schools benefited from P2.5 million worth of products donated by, among others, Century Pacific.

The mission was led by Japan Lions Club district governor Fumitake Kasahara and his Philippine counterpart Santiago Lim.

BPO partnership. Diversified Technology Solutions Internationals Inc. Group and Reed Elsevier Philippines formed a partnership to further expand their business process outsourcing services in the Philippines. DTSI is a pioneer business enabler of end-to-end solutions to global companies, while Reed Elsevier is a leading global provider of professional information solutions in the science, medical, legal, risk management and business sectors. Formalizing the partnership are (from left) Reed Elsevier’s Iloilo site managing director Irvin Riola, Reed Elsevier Philippines country head Eric Roberts, DTSI Group president and chief executive Miguel Garcia, Lexis Nexis CEO Mike Walsh, DTSI VP for sales Jon Miclat and DTSI business development manager Kharan Bharvani.

Del Monte completes P6.8-b rights offering

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FRUIT grower and canner Del Monte Pacific Ltd. successfully raised P6.8 billion through a stock rights offering amid a strong demand from investors.

Del Monte said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday it received applications for 720.645 million rights shares, or higher than the 641.935 million shares it had planned to issue.

The company accepted applications for 641.93 million shares, including 29.865 million from excess requests.

Del Monte will issue the rights shares at P10.60 apiece on March 10, 2015. The will be listed both in the Singapore Stock Exchange and Philippine Stock Exchange on March 11, 2015.

Del Monte plans to use proceeds from the fund raising activity to partially repay existing debts related to acquisitions.

Del Monte last month completed the acquisition of Del Monte Foods Inc. for $1.675 billion, transforming the company into a global branded firm. The deal was financed through debt worth $970 million and equity of $750 million.

NutriAsia Pacific Ltd., a company owned by condiments king Joselito Campos, holds an aggregate interest in 869.315 million common shares in Del Monte, representing 66.76 percent of the company’s issued and outstanding common shares.

NutriAsia earlier informed Del Monte that it would to subscribe for its pro-rata entitlements in the offering.

The group owns the Del Monte brand in the Philippines for processed products where it enjoys a leading market share for canned pineapple juice and juice drinks,

canned pineapple and tropical mixed fruits, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce and tomato ketchup.

It also owns, among other assets, the Del Monte brand rights for processed food products in the US and South America. Del Mont is one of the largest and most well-known producers and distributors of premium quality food products in the US, marketing and selling them under the iconic Del Monte, S&W, Contadina and College Inn brands.

With a 23,000-hectare pineapple plantation in the Philippines,

over 700,000-ton processing capacity and a port beside the cannery, the company’s subsidiary operates the world’s largest fullyintegrated pineapple operation.

Del Monte posted a net loss of $21.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 covering May to July, a reversal of the $4.2-million net income posted in the same period a year ago.

Del Monte said it expected the company to be in a transition period in fiscal year 2015, with its bottomline impacted by acquisition-related expenses.

Singapore’s Risco Energy still bullish

By Alena Mae S. Flores RISCO Energy Investments Pte. Ltd., a Singaporean oil and gas company, is scouting for investment opportunities in the Philippines despite its failure to take a stake in the Galoc oil project in northwest Palawan.

Tom Soulsby, Risco chief executive officer, told reporters at the sidelines of the Natural Gas Summit 2015 the company was still keen on investing in the country.

“We are still interested in the Philippines, we like the operating environment here. The opportunity is limited versus other countries but the procurement environment and operating environment is good and it is certainly a key factor

Oil company unfazed despite unsuccesful bid to buy into the Galoc oil project.

for Risco,” Soulsby said.

He said the Philippines had “less impositions from bureaucracy and government in conducting business.”

“I think the Philippines got one of the better regimes regionally,” he said.

Soulsby said Risco Energy was open to other oil and gas projects,

adding the “the main driver is quality project.”

Soulsby, however, said the company will not likely join the next auction for energy contracts, where several oil and gas blocks are offered for private sector development.

“Our appetite is more in projects and discoveries that are for commercialization and not sort of our expertise in those areas, so we don’t go for high risk explorations yet. We are not big enough in terms of balance sheet, that’s really the domain of large and major oil and gas companies,” he said.

Soulsby said Risco was also unfazed by the country’s territorial dispute with China.

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CeSAR bARRioqUinTo EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

world Myanmar defends crackdown YANGON—Myanmar authorities defended a crackdown on a Yangon rally, which saw police and men in civilian clothes beat unarmed protesters, as security forces made fresh arrests on Friday.

Actresses Sara Foster, Demi Moore and Tallulah Belle Willis, designer Nikki Erwin and actress Erin Foster attend the Established Jewelry By Nikki Erwin Launch Party hosted By Erin & Sara Foster on March 5 in West Hollywood, California. AFP

Harrison Ford ‘battered but OK’ after LA plane crash LOS ANGELES—Hollywood star Harrison Ford was injured Thursday when the small plane he was flying suffered engine failure and crashlanded on a golf course outside Los Angeles, officials said.

The 72-year-old “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” actor suffered multiple gashes to his head and was left bleeding after the crash of the vintage two-seater plane, according to the TMZ celebrity website.

“At the hospital. Dad is OK. Battered, but OK! He is every bit the man you would think he is. He is an incredibly strong man,” said Ford’s son Ben in a tweet.

“He was banged up and is in the hospital receiving medical care. The

injuries sustained are not life threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery,” added the star’s publicist, Ina Treciokas.

The striking yellow-silver plane— which was left with its nose cone ripped open after the crash—had just taken off from Santa Monica Airport.

In audio with air traffic control, Ford can be heard saying, in an urgent voice: “Engine failure,” before requesting “immediate return” to the airport.

The aircraft clipped trees only yards from houses, and a few hundred yards from the airport runway he was trying to return to, before crashing onto what looked like a fairway.

“I’m sure the pilot was glad that

there was a golf course here,” said Patrick Jones of the National Transportation Safety Board.

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman, who did not identify Ford, initially said the pilot was critically injured, but that was later changed to moderately hurt.

“When we arrived on scene we had a small aircraft that was down on Penmar Golf Course, near the Santa Monica Airport,” spokesman Erik Scott told AFP, recounting the early afternoon crash at the golf course in Venice, southwest of Los Angeles.

Another LAFD spokesman, Patrick Butler, speaking at the scene, described the injuries as “fair to moderate.”

“The patient left the scene conscious and breathing,” said Butler.

The KTLA television station cited witnesses as saying Ford was helped out of the plane by bystanders on the golf course, and that he could use his legs.

TV pictures of the aircraft showed that it had gashed a stretch of grass on the golf course before coming to a halt the right way up.

The crash is expected to be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, said the LAFD spokesman Scott.

Ford was flying a Ryan PT-22 twoplace open cockpit trainer, one of many hundreds manufactured during World War II to train US military pilots. AFP

In a defiant statement as authorities launched a third day of action against several demonstrations, the state-run Mirror newspaper said police acted legitimately to disperse a rally on Thursday in the heart of Yangon.

Several people were wounded in the incident and eight briefly detained.

“The authorities repeatedly asked the people to disperse. But because the protesters fought back against the authorities, there was a crackdown and some protesters were detained,” the report said.

Activists have insisted it was a peaceful protest.

Their rally in Yangon, held in solidarity with a rolling student demonstration calling for education reform, comes as several groups of workers also staged strikes over pay.

In the latest arrests early Friday, authorities in the central town of Letpadan detained five student protesters, according to activists.

“Some students sneaked out through police barriers and joined with the people who came to support our strike,” student leader Min Thway Thit told AFP, adding that the situation had since calmed.

Observers fear democratic reforms in Myanmar, which is gradually emerging from decades of authoritarian rule, are stalling in the run-up to a breakthrough general election slated for the end of this year.

The latest crackdown has deepened concerns that authorities have not lost the repressive reflex forged during the junta era.

‘Thugs’ law’ -President’s office director Zaw Htay sparked an angry online reaction after a post on his personal Facebook page suggested using deputised civilians against protesters was legal under Myanmar’s penal code.

“Law.. of the Thugs, by the Thugs, for the Thugs,” said one comment on Facebook responding to the post, which has since been deleted. AFP

Klimt’s masterpiece may be returned VIENNA—Austria could find itself Friday facing the loss of one of its most treasured artworks with an expert body due to make a recommendation on whether to return it to the descendants of its Jewish former owners.

If Austria’s Art Restitution Advisory Board decides Gustav Klimt’s monumental “Beethoven Frieze” should be given back, it would mark one of the most spectacular art restitution cases for works looted by the Nazis.

The fresco, 34 meters (112feet) long, two meters high and

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weighing several tons, is widely regarded as a central masterpiece of Viennese “Jugendstil” art nouveau from the early 20th century, drawing thousands of visitors every year.

The Nazis confiscated the 1902 work from the Jewish Lederer family in 1938. After 1945 it was returned by Austria to the family heir Erich Lederer, living in Switzerland, who then sold it to the Austrian Republic in 1972.

His descendants say however that Lederer sold it under pressure because Austria refused to allow him to take the frieze out

of the country, and that the reported sale price of $750,000 was too low.

If the advisory board recommends returning the work, which is now likely worth millions and is on public view at Vienna’s Secession Building gallery, the final decision will fall to Austria’s culture minister.

“Until now all ministers have always followed the recommendations of the advisory board, and this will be the case with the Beethoven Frieze too,” ministry spokeswoman Kerstin Hosa told AFP. AFP

An Indian woman reacts during Holi celebrations in Mumbai on March 6. Holi, the festival of colors, is a riotous celebration of the coming of spring and falls on the day after the full moon annually in March.

Revellers spray colored powder and water on each other with great gusto, while adults extend the hand of peace. AFP

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s at u r D aY : M a r c H 7, 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

Hong Kong democrats hail UK MPs after report HONG KONG—Hong Kong’s democrat lawmakers called British MPs “honorable” Friday for highlighting concern over the erosion of freedoms

by China in a new report -- but said the city has to fight its own battles.

China announced in August last year that candidates running for the city’s chief executive in 2017—the first ever public vote for leader—would be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee.

That decision sparked more than two months of mass pro-democracy rallies which brought parts of Hong Kong to a standstill.

A House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee report released late Thursday said the electoral proposals did not offer a “genuine choice” to the people of Hong Kong.

The committee’s report also said the city could face a “crisis of governance” unless tensions over how it is ruled are resolved.

“It’s the first honorable thing that the British have done in this Hong Kong fight for democracy,” said Alan Leong of Hong Kong’s Civic Party.

Lawmaker Albert Ho of the Democratic Party also welcomed the report.

“I can’t agree more with what they have said, they have certainly spoken out the truth,” pro-democracy legislator Albert Ho told AFP. British MPs from the committee were barred from entering Hong Kong

by China in December to research the report, with Chinese officials accusing them of acting like a colonial power.

Britain handed the city over to China in 1997 under a joint declaration signed in 1984 which guaranteed political, social and economic freedoms not enjoyed on the Chinese mainland.

The UK government has been criticised by some campaigners for failing to heed fears over increased Chinese influence on the city.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that there was still an opportunity for “a meaningful step forward for democracy”, despite Beijing’s restrictions, in a bi-annual report on the former colony published last week.

Civic Party legislator Claudia Mo said that she hoped the new Foreign Affairs Committee report would now “exert some pressure on the existing British administration on the Hong Kong question”.

But lawmakers added that the city could not rely on foreign support to force change. AFP

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Envoy attacker’s links to Pyongyang probed SEOUL—South Korean police said Friday they were investigating possible links the man behind a shocking knife attack on the US ambassador may have had with North Korea, as Seoul voiced disgust at Pyongyang’s reaction to the incident.

Kim Ki-Jong, 55, faces possible attempted murder charges after slashing ambassador Mark Lippert with a paring knife in an assault that left the US envoy needing 80 stitches to a deep gash on his face.

The profile painted of Kim is that of a lone assailant with strong nationalist views who saw the United States as one of the main obstacles to the reunification of the divided Korean peninsula.

But it also emerged that he had visited North Korea more than half-a-dozen times between 2006 and 2007, and had tried to erect a memorial to Kim Jong-Il in Seoul after the late North Korean leader’s death in 2011.

Any red flags such activities may have raised were only underlined by North Korea’s reaction to the attack, which the official KCNA news agency described as “just punishment” and a valid “expression of resistance” to ongoing USSouth Korea joint military exercises.

Lippert’s case is being handled by a special investigation team comprised of more than 100 prosecutors and police officers, and led by the anti-terrorism bureau of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

“We are investigating his possible connection with North Korea,” Yoon Myung-Soon, the police chief of the central Seoul district where the attack took place, told reporters.

“There is no evidence yet, but we are trying to find out whether he has violated the national security law,” Yoon said.

Enacted in 1948 to protect the fledgling South Korean state from infiltration by the communist North, the law prohibits the spoken or written promotion of North Korean ideology, deeming any such activity to be “anti-state” and subject to up to seven years imprisonment.

Kim’s home and office in western Seoul were searched early Friday, with documents and computer hard drives removed for further examination, police said.

As he was moved from the police station to court on Friday, Kim was asked if he had acted on the orders of North Korea.

“No, nothing like that,” he replied, saying the idea was “outrageous.”

Prosecutors said they would pursue a charge of attempted murder, given the premeditated nature of the attack. AFP

Russian anti-Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny leaves a detention center in Moscow on March 6.

Navalny was jailed on February 19 for 15 days for handing out flyers advertising the March 1 protest in the capital’s subway. AFP

Jihadists destroy jewel of Assyrian era BAGHDAD-Nimrud, which Iraq said was bulldozed Thursday by jihadists, was once the jewel of Assyria, home to a treasure considered one of the biggest archaeological finds of the 20th century.

On Thursday, the Islamic State group “bulldozed” the ancient ruins of Nimrud, which lie on the Tigris about 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul, according to the antiquities ministry.

Nimrud, founded in the 13th century BC, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in a country often described as the cradle of civiliZation.

“Nimrud was the capital of Assyria, during the new Assyrian era,” said Abdulamir Hamdani, an archaeologist from Stony Brook University in New York.

The city, which is on UNESCO’s tentative list of world heritage sites,

is the later Arab name given to a settlement which was originally called Kalhu.

The ancient city was first described in 1820 and plundered by Western explorers and officials over subsequent decades. It was also looted and damaged during the 2003 US invasion.

The extent of the damage done to Nimrud by the jihadists is unclear because guards and antiquities officials have not yet been able to assess it.

Most of Nimrud’s priceless artifacts were moved long ago to museums in Mosul, Baghdad, Paris, London and elsewhere but giant “lamassu” statues—winged bulls with human heads—and reliefs were still on site.

The destruction comes a week after a video was released in which IS militants wielding sledgehammers are seen gleefully smashing statues in the Mosul museum.

Many of the artifacts destroyed in the video came from Nimrud.

“It’s really a very important site in the history of Mesopotamia,” said Hamdani. “Many of Assyria’s greatest artistic treasures came from this site.”

The “treasure of Nimrud”, unearthed in 1988, is a collection of 613 precious stones, gold jewels and various ornaments which some archaeologists described as the most significant discovery since Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt in 1923.

The treasure, which dates back to the Assyrian empire’s heyday around 2,800 years ago, was briefly displayed at the National Museum in Baghdad before Iraq invaded Kuwait.

It was then hidden and its fate remained unknown until it was discovered in 2003, soon after US-led troops toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime, in a bombed out central bank building. AFP

A picture taken from the village of Awja on the outskirts of the city of Tikrit on March 5 shows smoke rising from a location in the city of Tikrit.

Some 30,000 Iraqi security force members and allied fighters launched an operation to retake Tikrit, the largest of its kind since Islamic State group forces overran swathes of territory last June. AFP

S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 0 7 : 2 0 1 5

PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

jdlacsamana@gmail.com

INNOVATION. “We focus on delivering value without pricing ourselves out of the market, and this requires a lot of creativity and critical thinking on the way we do things.”

Robert Lao, Alveo Land president.

BUCOLIC LIVING

JECO Construction recently unveiled M-5 Residences, a four-storey condominium development in Barangay Olympia, Makati. Architect Patricia Cosme brought M-5 Residences to life out of a wellspring of concepts and ideas, faithfully based on the basic essentials of the site, intended purpose, natural curve of the lot, climate dictates, and contemporary value of the area. The M5 Residences, composed of five townhouse units, is set in a quiet, closely-knit community setting, not far from Makati’s bustling Central Business District.

ROXACO LAND TO START THIRD PHASE OF LUXURY DEVELOPMENT IN TAGAYTAY

R

OXACO Land Corp., the property arm of publicly listed Roxas and Co., recently announced that it will go into the third phase of its development in its upscale property in Tagaytay.

The company said the third phase involves a limited vertical development of its Anya Resorts and Residences that consists of 124 “banded” residences.

The said development will feature bigger units of one to three bedrooms, all situated in three- to five-story buildings.

Floor areas will range from 52 square meters to a comfortable 105 sq m, and priced from P9 million upward, the company said.

“Hard-working entrepreneurs looking for a quick escape from the stresses of city life now have an option with this

SPLENDID VIEW. Business people and executives looking for a quick escape will find refuge in the Anya community in Tagaytay.

low-density, low-rise condominium cluster within our flagship community in Tagaytay,” Roxaco Executive Vice President Santiago Elizalde said.

As part of a private, self-contained community accessible only on foot or via golf cart, phase three residents full access to the resort restaurants, spa and valet services, Elizalde added.

Documents from Roxaco said based on a commissioned study, the luxury market enjoyed a compounded annual growth of 80 percent in the past three years due to the consistent appreciation in capital values of real estate.

The study also showed that the expatriate and end-user markets remained underserved, thereby creating an untapped market that has significant purchasing power, while there is an increase in demand for leisure and lux-

ury weekend getaways, which include the wellness and spa sector.

“When taken together with the projected 16-percent compounded annual growth rate in this market segment, as well as the country’s target increase of tourist arrivals to 10 million by 2016, there is a notable growth sector in this property segment. This, together with the lack of upscale short-stay developments within an hour’s travel from Manila makes for a winning equation that Roxaco intends to capitalize upon,” the company said.

“No other accommodations of its kind has yet been built in Tagaytay. We intend to show the way in this area via the international-grade amenities, impeccable dining experience and worldclass wellness and spa services that our brand represents,” Elizalde said.

STURDY SCHOOLS FOR YOLANDA-HIT COMMUNITIES. De La Salle University Philippines (DLSP) and fiber cement building products maker, James Hardie, recently partnered to help Yolanda survivors from Samar and Leyte to get back on their feet.

James Hardie, maker of HardieFlex, together with DLSP, launched an initiative called “Rebuilding the Future,” where communities in the two provinces were adopted and given assistance to rebuild safer and sturdier schools. The partnership called for ceiling installation workshops for carpenters involved in the rebuilding. James Hardie is currently planning for a series of workshops to help locals in their reconstruction efforts, and to upgrade the skills of carpenters in Samar and Leyte.

SAFE STRUCTURE. Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), locally represented by Pimentel & Associates Engineering Consultant, recently pronounced The Royalton at Capitol Commons, as one of Metro Manila’s safest residential structures. The structural report by MKA said the Royalton tower can withstand strong wind and seismic forces after using the Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) process.The 10-hectare Royalton, is developed by Ortigas& Co. It has units that range from 34 square meters to 118 square meters, and will rise at Capitol Commons, the P25billion mixed-use development in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

NEW MANAGEMENT, NEW DIRECTIONS. Andrew Alcid—former CEO of PhilRealty’s controlling shareholder, Greenhills Properties, Inc.—was recently appointed as head of Philippine Realty and Holdings Corp. (PhilRealty), a publicly listed real estate firm responsible for landmark projects such as the Philippine Stock Exchange Centre (Tektite Towers), and The Alexandra.. PhilRealty will also have Gerardo Domenico Lanuza as executive vice president and chief operating officer, Vincent Fisher as chief financial officer, Jose Ramon Olives as chief brand officer and Erwin Ciar as vice president for construction.

PhilRealty’s newest project, Sky Villas at One Balete in New Manila, Quezon City is currently nearing the final phase of construction.

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ALVEO LAND TO LAUNCH NEW PROJECTS WORTH P40B IN 2015 Alveo Land Corp., the upper-middle income property developer of Ayala Land,Inc., is gunning for sales revenues by as much as P40 billion in 2015.

This is a significant growth for the company ,” said Robert Lao, Alveo Land president. In a press briefing this week, Lao said the company eyes to launch projects in the first half of 2015 with an estimated value of P25 billion. Last year, the company launched projects worth P33 billion.

Alveo achieved its highest-grossing year to date in 2014, over P36B in sales, with the launches of Park Triangle Corporate Plaza and Verve Residences Tower Two in BGC, The Veranda West and South Towers in Arca South, Solstice Tower Two in Circuit Makati, and High Park Tower One in Vertis North, Quezon City. Alveo also introduced Lumira Phases 1 and 2 in NUVALI, and Westborough in Cavite.

GROWING MARKET

Alveo Land targets the A and AA market as its products are priced between P150,000 and P200,000 per square meter.

“It’s growing. Actually, that’s one of the beneficiaries of economic growth. They are the SME (small and medium enterprises), entrepreneurs, so economic growth continues to grow by 6 to 7 percent per year (and) they’re the first to benefit. It will continue. I don’t see any reason for that growth to taper,” said Lao. He added this particular market comprises 5 percent of the population and includes both second home and end users, though not much of the supply backlog most developers would normally point to as reason for putting up projects.

“But when you talk of second home, it’s usually more on leisure. I think it’s more proper to call it investment. There are also primary, those that buy for their children because in Metro Manila sites are very expensive already. You cannot buy two or three houses, so they buy condos,” Lao said.

Lao said Alveo Land would be aggressive in further introducing key developments throughout the country, averaging about 10 project launches per year.

Alveo Land is also confident of the consistent growing interest from both local and foreign investors.

With the country’s upgraded credit rating, real estate values are also relatively lower in the Philippines compared to neighboring countries, yielding better return on investments.

Jenylle Tupaz, Alveo Land project development head, said the company looks to have 15 percent of its revenues from horizontal projects, 24 percent from office space and 55 percent from vertical projects.

“There will be higher contribution from horizontal and office sales,” Tupaz noted.

SIGNATURE PROJECT. Solstice in Circuit Makati

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he hospitality, gaming and retail sectors are opening up opportunities for multinational investors in the Philippine real estate and property scene in 2015, according to CBRE Philippines.

A CBRE report highlighted a steady flow of investments , particularly in gaming and retail, which are new and emerging sectors. It also saw a possible uptrend in the hospitality and office sectors.

S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 0 7 : 2 0 1 5

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

ASEAN INTEGRATION

But observers in the real estate, property development and construction scene also noted that the planned ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) economic integration in 2015 would require more commercial and residential infrastructure for highly urbanized cities within the region, including key cities of the Philippines.

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), the country’s largest organization of key players in the domestic real estate industry, expects the Philippine real estate industry to grow further next year because of the ASEAN integration and the region’s increasing role in global economy.

ASEAN integration will change the economic landscape of the whole region, particularly the real estate market, with the elimination of tariffs on goods and services by a single ASEAN economy. This would theoretically drive consumer spending higher.

The demand for residential spaces adjacent to malls, retail complexes and other recreational spaces would go up.

The influx of investment and elimination of trade barriers will allow each country in ASEAN to enjoy free flow of goods, services, labor and capital.

But CREBA reiterated the country must continue to pursue relevant market reforms in order to be competitive.

Chief among these are possible amendments to foreign ownership restrictions in the Philippine constitution which reportedly hinder the growth of foreign direct investments.

PH REAL ESTATE GETS BOOST

FROM BPOS, HOSPITALITY, GAMING, RETAIL But more infra needed for ASEAN economic integration

STILL BPO

The business process outsourcing (BPO) sector of the Philippines remains the top driver for investment in the country, with demand being sustained by the country’s costeffectiveness and demographic dividend.

In the last quarter of 2014, vacancy rates in key business districts – Makati, Boni-

facio Global City, Ortigas, Quezon City, Pasay, and Alabang – dropped. Overall vacancy rates for Prime and Grade A buildings in Metro Manila slipped from 2.53% to 2.13% quarter-on-quarter.

With demand for office space on an upward trajectory, landlords increased rents to PhP 1,306.08 per square meter for Prime office space and PhP 898.87 for Grade A in Makati CBD; PhP 848.34 per square meter in Bonifacio Global City; PhP 604.71 per square meter in Ortigas; and PhP 606.84 per square meter in Alabang. Meanwhile, rates in Quezon City are at PhP 627 per square meter and in Pasay at PhP 650.47 per square meter.

“Even with the increase in rental rates across all business districts, the good news remains that investors are willing to pay for the quality and value that they can get in the Philippines,” shared Rick Santos, Chairman, Founder, and CEO of CBRE Philippines.

In response to this demand, developers are augmenting supply through their projects within and outside the metro’s business districts.

Parallel to the continued strengthening of the Philippine BPO sector is the heightened investor interest in the ‘sunshine’ industries of hotel & leisure, gaming, and retail.

HOTEL AND GAMING SECTOR

With the upbeat performance of Philippine tourism, interest has likewise increased for investments. Inbound tourists hit the 4.7 million mark in 2013 and are expected to be surpassed when the full 2014 results are released. Visitor receipts accelerated by 7.14% to USD 3.895 billion. In October, it rose by 8.02% to USD 333.10 million compared to last year’s USD 308.38 million.

“The Philippines, with its world-renowned beaches and bustling commercial activity, is being noticed on the global stage,” said Santos. “Through the combined efforts of public and private organizations and partnerships, the newly-discovered goldmine of the hospitality and tourism sectors continue to attract large investments into the country.”

Luxury and budget hotel brands are aggressively competing for market shares in key tourist destinations in the Philippines.

These include World Hotel and Residences (Makati), Shangri-la Hotel (Bonifacio Global City), Grand Hyatt (Bonifacio Global City), GoHotel (Paranaque), Conrad Hotel (Pasay), Hotel101 (Pasay), Savoy Hotel New Port City (Pasay) and Microtel (Pasig).

Meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) activities are likewise expected to spur in additional demand for

WANTED: MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, REFORMS

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he ASEAN economic integration in 2015 would require more commercial and residential infrastructure for highly urbanized cities within the region including key cities of the Philippines, according to property developers.

Noel Cariño, President of Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), said the Philippine real estate industry to grow further next year because of the ASEAN integration and the region’s increasing role in global economy.

Carino said the ASEAN integration will change the economic landscape of the whole region, particularly the real estate market.

“Residential, commercial and retail developers, which will be exposed to international market, will expand their operations and acquire properties inside and outside the country. While foreign investors and corporate executives with local operations in the country will look for residential spaces for a place to stay,” he added.

Carino explained that the elimination of tariffs on goods and services by a single ASEAN economy would drive consumer spending higher.

“The demand for residential spaces adjacent to malls, retail complexes and other recreational spaces would go up and will likely increase the already healthy real estate market,” Cariño added.

SHOT IN THE ARM. Strong macroeconomic growth, as well as political stability, contribute to the positive appeal of the Philippines to investors.

supply. Revenue from MICE activities is expected to grow, especially with the entry of new developments such as the City of Dreams Resort Complex, Philippine Arena, Aseana City, PAGCOR City, Circuit Makati, Marriot Grand Ballroom, Resorts World Bayshore, and the Iloilo Convention Center.

On top of MICE development in the Philippines, the emergence of the gaming sector is one of the most exciting activities currently happening in real estate. Industry analysts are expecting double-digit revenues as licensed casino operators – Travellers International Hotel Group, Bloombery Resorts Corp., Melco Crown Philippines Resorts Corp., and Tiger Resorts – come online.

“The gaming sector of the Philippines, when developed, is expected to rival that of Macau and other Asian countries. The aggressive take-up of these players only reflects the bullish outlook on the country’s ability to meet and sustain the demand. This is the ‘sunshine’ industry of the country today,” shared Santos.

SHOPPING BRAND HAVEN

As the hotel, leisure, and gaming sector are up to speed, the Philippine retail industry remains upbeat. Its doors remain open for both local and international brands vying for market share. Strengthened interest in tourism has encouraged retail investors to enter and expand in the country.

Malls such as Megamall, Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons, Robinson’s Place Las Pinas, and City of Dreams Manila add retail space to occupiers.

Taking advantage of the ‘retail-tainment’ concept, developers are tailoring their projects to integrate residential and office spaces into one community. The incorporation of these sectors reflects the strong activity in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and overseas remittances.

Overall, the Metro Manila retail market is seen to remain strong and stable for the remainder of the year empowered by the expanding BPO industry, OFW remittances, boosting tourism and growing middleincome market.

Ending 2014 on a positive note and with the sustained demand across all sectors, the Philippine real estate industry now looks to a stronger 2015 especially with the upcoming ASEAN integration and national elections.

The influx of investment and elimination of trade barriers will allow each country in ASEAN to enjoy free flow of goods, services, labor and capital.

CREBA, however, reiterated the country must continue to pursue relevant market reforms in order to remain competitive.

Charlie Gorayeb, national chairman of CREBA said, “Foreign ownership restrictions in the Philippine constitution will hinder the growth of foreign direct investments, so we need to continue to improve the business environment in the country in order to attract more investors.”

CREBA has also been pushing for the passage of a bill that will consolidate the function and powers of major housing and urban agencies of the government to address effectively the needs of both consumers and developers.