Businessmirror april 12, 2016 by BusinessMirror

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What Filipinos should know about this thing called ‘QR’ By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Part Three

T all started with a despot. In 1972 former strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree (PD) 4, creating the National Grains Authority (NGA), which was mandated to ensure stability of the country’s rice supply. Marcos also designated the NGA as the sole entity to import rice whenever there’s a deemed shortage in supply. Nine years later, Marcos issued PD 1770 and converted the NGA into what is now the National Food Authority (NFA). The order expanded the powers of the NFA, and allowed the agency to oversee the markets of nongrains commodities, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. In 1985, through Executive Order 1028, the NFA was deregulated; its capacity to control the nongrains-commodity markets removed, leaving only rice and corn under its jurisdiction. In 1991 Republic Act 7607, or the Magna Carta of Small Farmers,

AN irrigation canal cuts through a vast expanse of green rice fields in this aerial photo over Bulacan. NONIE REYES

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Continued on A2

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Wednesday, April 12, 2017 Vol. 12 No. 182

Duterte to steer PHL’s ‘golden age of infra’ ₧392.93B R By Cai U. Ordinario

@cuo_bm

OADS built roughshod and bridges that connect to nothing: a thing of the past if the Duterte administration achieves its dream of the “golden age of infrastructure”. T he cur rent administration plans to achieve this dream by increasing the country’s infrastructure-to-GDP ratio to 7.4 percent.

CHINA FACTORY-PRICE ‘SWEET SPOT’ TO WANE, TIGHTENING REAL RATES C hina’s economy has received a shot in the arm from rising producer prices and the easier financial conditions they spawned. The bad news: That boost to the global reflation outlook is poised to wane in the second half as low year-earlier numbers are removed from the equation. But there’s good news, too: Chinese policy-makers bent on ensuring a smooth leadership reshuffle later in the year are poised to keep the economy ticking, underpinning domestic and thereby global demand. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News forecast factory-gate inflation will ease back slightly to 7.5 percent in March from a year earlier and dial back to 3.8 percent in the fourth quarter as yearearlier comparisons rise. That means real interest rates for industrial companies—as measured against the Producer Price Index (PPI) that most impacts them— are projected to tighten from -3.45 percent in February to +0.55 percent in the final quarter, assuming benchmark lending rates remain unchanged. “The first half of 2017 is likely to be a sweet spot,” said Andrew

Polk, director of China research at Medley Global Advisors Llc. in Beijing. “Real financial conditions will automatically tighten due to slower PPI growth in the second half of the year, so policy will shift back into a holding pattern in order to avoid overtightening.” Surging commodity prices from oil to iron, a weakening yuan and government stimulus helped fuel a spike in producer prices after years of deep deflation, boosting profits for industrial companies and triggering a recovery of investment. For downstream manufacturers, it was a mixed blessing as they paid more for inputs, but couldn’t always pass on their higher costs to final buyers. Purchasing managers’ reports have showed smaller firms still reporting deteriorating conditions in recent months, even as life got better for medium and larger companies—often state-owned. Producer prices will turn negative in March on a month-onmonth basis for the first time since June, indicating a peak for the corporate earnings cycle, said Larry Hu, head of China economics at Macquarie Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong. Continued on A3

PESO exchange rates n US 49.7790

This could easily amount to as much as P8 trillion to P9 trillion by the end of President Duterte’s term in 2022. Based on latest data from the

The cost of 17 infrastructure projects approved by the Duterte administration, based on latest data from the National Economic and Development Authority

National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), the Duterte administration has approved 17 infrastructure projects worth P392.93 billion. See “Duterte,” A2

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verybody talks big about what individuals want, what communities need, what’s imperative for national progress and world peace—this is why beauty contests are held, for beautiful faces to remind us. Actually, what people want is just to go home again, and be loved and feel safe again, like when first they wandered off to strike out on their own. Continued on A9

Passage of bills creating DHUD seen wiping out housing backlog By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

one other than the 1987 Constitution mandates that the State shall make available at affordable cost decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban center and resettlement areas. Despite this, the housing needs of Filipinos could not be met by the government, and the backlog could even balloon to 6.8 million units by the time President Duterte steps down from office in 2022. House Committee on Housing and Urban Development Chairman and PDP-Laban Rep. Alfredo B. Benitez of Negros Occidental, citing the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said the housing backlog reached 2 million units last year. For this year, the figure could expand by 760,400 units. In 2018 Benitez said the country’s additional housing needs would hit 774,441 units; 788,773 in 2019; 803,405 in 2020; 818,363 in 2021; and 833,619 in 2022. “However, we need to properly validate this data, because, I think, our housing needs are more than

Children of informal settlers play on the sprawling government mass-housing project for the police and the military, which they occupied since March 8, in Pandi, Bulacan, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Manila. More than a thousand informal settlers occupied the still-unfinished housing project, and vowed to resist any attempts by authorities to evict them. AP/Bullit Marquez

that [6.8 million]. We need to work together to address this immediately,” he said. To erase this backlog, Benitez said the government, with the help of the private sector, should construct at

least 1 million housing units a year. He added this could be achieved with the passage of several housingrelated measures. These include the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

(DHUD); transferring government offices to the provinces; establishing an on-site, in-city or near-city resettlement program for informalsettler families; and a resolution See “Passage of bills,” A3

n japan 0.4488 n UK 61.8205 n HK 6.4064 n CHINA 7.2091 n singapore 35.4324 n australia 37.3343 n EU 52.7608 n SAUDI arabia 13.2751

Source: BSP (11 April 2017 )

A2 Wednesday, April 12, 2017

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OceanaGold’s mine in Nueva Vizcaya compliant with latest ISO certification

ceanaGold Philippines Inc., the local unit of Australian mining company OceanaGold Corp., is now compliant with the latest international environment standard certificate for its Nueva Vizcaya mine.

OceanaGold Philippines Senior Vice President for Communication and External Affairs Chito Gozar said its Didipio mine is now certified with ISO 14001:2015—the new version of ISO’s environmental management system standard. “This certification is OceanaGold’s proof of hard work in establishing the culture of responsible mining. Didipio mine is a world-class operation that uses systems in accordance with the highest level of efficiency in extracting minerals while ensuring environmental sustainability, as well as the safety of our people,” Gozar said. OceanaGold Philippines Country Director Bradley Norman, Environment Manager Jason Magdaong and

Tenements Manager Odette Caidic received the ISO 14001:2015 certification from Certification Inter nat iona l Phi l ippines Ma nag ing Director Renato Navarrete. The company received its first ISO certification in December 2014, which was due for renewal by next year (September 2018). Gozar said one year before the renewal period, the company was awarded the latest version of ISO certification. ISO 14001:2015 is the latest version of ISO certification for environmental management system (EMS) that proposes an increasingly strategic approach to environmental management. Among the key features in the new ISO:14001:2015 are revised requirements for strategic environmental management, leadership, protection of the environment, life-cycle thinking, communication and documentation.

“The sooner we make the transition, the quicker we reap the full rewards of ISO 14001:2015 and we even get greater value out of our EMS,” Gozar said. The final version of ISO 14001:2015 was published in September 2015. Organizations certified with the old ISO 14001:2004 were given three years from the date of publication to transfer to the new version. Mining companies were told to secure ISO certifications by Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez in line with a previous order issued by the agency. Former Department of Environment and Natural Resources chief Ramon Paje signed Department Administrative Order 2015-07 requiring all mining contractors to secure the ISO 14001:2015 certification to show that mining operations meet the international standards and have good environmental management system.

What Filipinos should know about this thing called ‘QR’ Continued from A1

mandated the government to provide production support for small farmers. On top of that, a certain provision under RA 7607 prohibited all importation of agricultural products produced loca l ly “ in sufficient quantity”. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Research Fellow Roehlano M. Briones explained that the importation of agricultural commodities was only allowed under R A 7607 if there would be an established “domestic shortage”. However, Briones said, shortage is relative and could only be measured with reference to a certain price level. Another law, Republic Act (RA) 8178, further defined the mechanics around the importation of agriculture products. That was after more than two decades of RA 7607.

Duterte. . .

Continued from A1

However, the majority or 12 of these projects were inherited from previous administrations. Around 11 were inherited from the Aquino administration worth P323.15 billion and one from the Arroyo administration worth P5.44 billion. The five projects, worth P64.34 billion, designed under the current administration and approved by the Neda Board are just a handful compared to whats currently being prepared for implementation in the coming years. For one, the current administration has identified over 50 flagship projects, initially worth P1.2 trillion, with more than half still not having any cost estimates.

Ensuring quality

NEDA Undersecretary Rolando G. Tungpalan said the Duterte administration is not fixated on besting previous administrations in terms of the number of projects approved. Tungpalan said the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) commits to complete the evaluation and approval of projects over a six-week period. However, should a particular agency be unresponsive to the requirements of the ICC, the interagency committee will write them a letter stating why the body will not be able to meet its commitment of completing its evaluation during the six-week period. Agencies can also pitch in and shorten the approval process, especially for projects that have already been studied. Projects require feasibility studies prior to entering the ICC process. Creating a feasibility study from scratch will require a maximum of one year but if there have been

To import or not

CURRENTLY, rice importations are done through the private sector and the government. The NFA allows the private sector to import rice through Manila’s minimum access volume (MAV) commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO). “Under a MAV scheme, a relatively low tariff rate was imposed on imported sensitive agricultural products up to a minimum import level [the so-called in-quota tariff rate], while a higher tariff rate was levied beyond the minimum import level [the so-called out-quota tariff rate],” the WTO said. It was via RA 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, that the Philippines is able to use the MAV scheme in rice imports. The law mandates the conversion to tariffs of all quantitative restrictions (QR) on agricultural commodities, except for rice. studies previously done on certain projects, updating these studies will only take as short as three months. “We are selecting good projects but the approval is faster,” Tungpalan told the BusinessMirror. “So it’s not so much the approval of projects but more so the specific projects that go through the ICC are thought out. We guarantee that the approval process is faster without sacrificing quality.”

Faster approvals

HASTENING the approval process for infrastructure projects was part of the President’s State of the Nation Address last year when he committed to cutting red tape across the bureaucracy. Duterte stressed the need to cut processes and reduce requirements to improve doing business nationwide, as well as in the evaluation of government projects. Further, apart from faster approvals, the government is keen on addressing connectivity, particularly through the building of mass transport and bridge projects. The Duterte administration is also keen on addressing the urban-rural divide through the increase of agriculture-related infrastructure projects. The five projects that were designed, evaluated and approved by the Neda Board included the P23.46-billion Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase I and the P9.195billion New Cebu International Container Port. The three agriculture projects were the P10.15-billion Inclusive Partnership for Agricultural Competitiveness; P601.09-million scaling up of the second Cordillera Highlands Agricultural Resources Management Project; and P20.93-billion expansion of the Philippine Rural Development Project. But more of these projects will arrive. This

The NFA conducts governmentt o - g o v e r n m e nt p r o c u r e m e nt transactions to ensure that it has enough supply for the country’s rice requirement. Manila’s initial rice quota in 1995 was at 59,730 MT with 50 percent tariff, which eventually increased to 119,460 MT by 1999 with the same tariff rate.

Protection, funds

AGRICULTURE Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano said the QR on rice serves as a protection against trade distorting measures imposed by foreign countries. Groups like the Rice Watch and Action Network and Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF) have, likewise, supported the government in its bid to extend the QR on rice, saying such scheme protects small-scale farmers and in line with the spirit behind RA 7607. “The extension of rice QRs clearly includes one of the biggest mass transportation projects, the Mindanao Railway System. The 2,000-kilometer railway will be constructed in phases for easier implementation and funding.

Better prepared

TUNGPALAN said the feasibility study for the first phase has already been completed and is currently being reviewed by the Department of Transportation. The list also includes another rail project, the North-South Railway Project South line, which has been on the table for many years. While the project is not new and there is an existing Southline that runs from Metro Manila to Legazpi City in Albay province, the focus of projects involving the railway centered on maintenance, and not expansion. The project involves the construction of a 581-km standard-gauge longhaul railway from Manila to Legazpi. The line will also have an extension to Matnog in Sorsogon. More than ensuring that there are enough projects to meet the country’s investment and infrastructure requirements, the government is keen on ensuring that projects are “better prepared”, implemented and completed. Tungpalan said the government is now securing a technical assistance grant from the Asian Development Bank to ensure that the projects evaluated and approved by the ICC are above board. The Neda Secretariat, he said, will also be doing milestone monitoring for all big ticket infrastructure projects. While this will require additional manpower and resources in general, this will solve many implementation problems in the long run.

Remains realistic

TUNGPALAN said oftentimes the status of projects waiting for the terms of reference or signing of contracts or even securing permits are identified as “not being implemented”. That status currently prevents agencies and the Neda from being proactive in addressing project problems. These problems, particularly for Official Development Assistance-funded projects, result in cost overruns. These are additional costs incurred by projects that are delayed. Apart from these, delays can also cost the government additional commitment fees paid to lending institutions. “It will entail a lot of work and people to get to those milestones,” Tungpalan said. “[But this will allow us] to gauge whether the implementation period remains realistic and if we have to do something about it.” Tungpalan said if there is one thing the current administration will focus on in terms of infrastructure projects, it is to simply get projects on the ground. Already, there are signs that projects conceptualized long ago are given new life in this government. This

was needed to protect our own rice farmers from cheap highly subsidized rice imports coming from neighboring countries,” the IRDF said. “The QR prevents a drastic drop in domestic rice prices.” Another safety net created is the Agriculture Competitive Enhancement Fund, established through RA 8178. The proceeds of the importation through the MAV shall constitute the ACEF with the National Treasury handling the totality of the fund. “The entire proceeds shall be set aside and earmarked by Congress for irrigation, farm-to-market roads, postharvest equipment and facilities, credit, research and development, other marketing infrastructure, provision of market information, retraining, extension services and other forms of assistance and support to the agricultural sector,” Section 8 of the RA 8178 read. To be continued

include the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, which has been part of the Aquino administration’s Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project. A similar project, the Chico River Irrigation Project was approved for World Bank funding as far back as March 1976.

More choices

UNDER the current administration, the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project is being proposed for Chinese loan financing. The P2.696 billionworth project aims to irrigate 8,700 hectares and benefit some 4,350 farmers. It will serve 21 barangays in Tuao and Piat in Cagayan and Pinukpuk in Kalinga. “I don’t think the list [of Duterte projects] will include many entirely new projects because the Philippines has been an expert in planning, but not in doing. So its hard to reinvent the wheel except in a few cases,” Tungpalan said. These instances included the creation of an additional 10 to 12 bridges that will cross Pasig River. Two of these bridges will be financed by the Chinese government, the Binondo-Intramuros bridge and the Estrella-Pantaleon bridge. The Japanese government will also finance one new bridge near the existing Guadalupe bridge, while the government intends to finance construction of the Santa Monica bridge through the national budget. Tungpalan said these bridges will be a welcome development for motorists who need to cross the Pasig River on a daily basis. This means more choices in terms of routes they can take to and from work.

Operationalizing access

TUNGPALAN said the current administration has set its sights on undertaking airport projects, railways, bridges and farm-to-market roads that are considered the best ways to “operationalize” access to goods and services. The government also plans to build more roads connecting islands nationwide. These include the Matnog, Sorsogon and Allen, Samar and Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges, among others. Bridges, Tungpalan said, are considered “all-weather”infrastructure. This means they can be used even if there are typhoons, unlike the Roll-on/roll-off system, which can only operate in good weather conditions. There is no doubt that good infrastructure projects can make or break the economy and a country. But with over 100-million Filipinos depending on roads, bridges and mass transport for health, education, livelihood and their futures, the government cannot afford to underdeliver. But until that time comes when these projects no longer just paint a bright future but form every Filipino’s reality, city dwellers and rural folk just need to gird their loins, grit their teeth and hope for the best.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2017 A3

‘Focus on rice stunted PHL agri productivity’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

F the government is keen on hiking the farm sector’s productivity, then it must do away with allocating a chunk of its budget to specific commodities, particularly rice, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In its review of the Philippines’s agricultural policies, the OECD said the approach of providing budgetary support by commodity “distorts incentives and production choices”. “To ensure an effective allocation of resources and better adaptability to climate change, the commodity focus in budget allocations should be discontinued and be replaced with the broader provision of public goods,” the OECD said in its report, titled “Agricultural Policies in the Philippines”, published on April 7. The OECD urged the government to consider reallocating budget set aside for variable input subsidies. “While budgetary support to agriculture is relatively low, a large part of it consists of subsidies to variable and fixed inputs, potentially the most distorting type of support.” The OECD noted that the Food Staples Sufficiency Program implemented by the previous administration, which phased out seed and fertilizer subsidies, did not improve resource allocation. “It reduces farmers’ incentives to improve efficiency growth and does not have lasting effect on productivity gains.

Sustainable productivity growth can be achieved by shifting budgetary support toward public investments in infrastructure, agricultural research, extension services and food safety,” the report read. The OECD said the government should boost its efforts, particularly financial resources, on improving the country’s agro-supply chain. “Agro-food supply chains in the Philippines are interrupted by infrastructure gaps, which remain widespread, in particular in such areas as road and rail connectivity, and logistics and energy,” the report read. “Improved connectivity is essential to lower postharvest losses, increase farmer income, increase farmers’ incentive to produce, and for the creation of an efficient domestic market,” it added. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said he is cognizant of the problems of the Philippine farm sector raised by the OECD. However, Piñol said the “crucial” part in addressing these woes “is the sixletter word called budget”. Piñol has repeatedly said the Department of Agriculture (DA) will not be able

China factory-price ‘sweet spot’ to wane, tightening real rates continued from a1

It’s “the turning point for reflation,” Hu wrote in a research note on Monday. “We don’t particularly worry about the near term, as cement prices and power production still look robust entering April. But we expect more headwinds” in the second half. The swing away from deflation helped fuel an 8.5-percent increase in profits at industrial enterprises last year, after a fall of 2.3 percent a year earlier. It also lowered borrowing costs on corporate debts that reached 156 percent of GDP last year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence estimates. Historically, China’s factory prices have swung sharply. While economists don’t anticipate a return to falling prices, they do expect gains to moderate sharply, with an annual pace of 2.1 percent seen in 2018 and 1.8 percent in 2019, according to a March survey.

The coming drag on growth from slowing producer-price gains from a year earlier is likely to be countered by policy measures, as Communist Party leaders begin a twicea-decade leadership shuffle later this year. By setting a consumer price inflation target of about 3 percent for 2017, compared to the average of 2 percent last year, the central bank has the flexibility to keep monetary policy supportive, said Li Wei, the China and Asia economist for Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. The 12-percent growth target for M2 money supply also is above nominal growth, giving ample scope for supportive policy, he said. “We expect Chinese policy-makers to be highly risk averse in 2017, with little appetite for economic weakness,” said Li. “The political backdrop is very progrowth in 2017.” Bloomberg News

Passage of bills. . . continued from a1

standardizing the definitions of housing terminologies. Currently, the five bills, which seek to create the DHUD, are pending with a technical working group. Liberal Party Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City, one of the authors of the bills creating the housing agency, said his proposal seeks to consolidate, rationalize and coordinate the functions and powers of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), Home Guaranty Corp. (HGC), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), National Housing Authority (NHA) and Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). Belmonte said the bill will be a step toward providing decent and affordable housing to every Filipino family the soonest possible time. Another author of the measure, Lakas Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga said the creation of the housing department will establish an efficient, effective, comprehensive and integrated national and local housing, planning and urban development programs aimed at adequately addressing the basic housing needs and requirement of the Filipino family. “The ultimate goal is to provide decent and affordable houses to every Filipino family,” Arroyo said. “Corollary to this is the provision of livelihood opportunities, mass transportation, public safety, education, health care and a clean environment, thereby bringing about family dignity and stability, peace and order, population control and decongestion of urban centers and the generation of employment and taxes,” she added. PDP-Laban Rep. Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa noted that, despite the enactment of Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, the problems of urban blight and homelessness continue to confront the Philippines. Biazon said the creation of a housing department would

help expedite the implementation of various policies and programs for the sector. “While we face a huge housing backlog, it is ironic that therearegovernmenthousingunitsthatremainunoccupied to this day. While many of our poor countrymen continue to suffer homelessness, we have thousands of housing units lying idle,” Biazon said. “These idle government assets were acquired with the people’s money and represent wastage of scarce government resources,” he added. Rep. Michael Romero of 1-Pacman said there is a need to reorganize the housing or shelter agencies by consolidating the functions of NHMFC, HGC, HDMF, NHA and HLURB. “The creation of the department of housing will address the absence of an adequate and coherent institutional setup that formulates and implements a comprehensive, integrated, inclusive and sustainable management of the housing and urban development sector,” Romero said. Rep. Cristal Bagatsing of PDP-Laban said the creation of a housing agency has been pitched before in previous Congresses but the measure was not passed. Bagatsing said it is high time for the 17th Congress to consider enacting the measure. Citing the Constitution, Bagatsing said the State is supposed to ensure that urban areas have affordable housing, sustainable physical and social infrastructure and services. Apart from the creation of a housing department, Benitez also pushed for the enactment of the proposed Administrative Capital City Planning Act to solve the country’s housing problems. Under his proposal, the Administrative Capital City Planning Commission will be created to lead the development of a comprehensive plan to relocate the government agencies and establish an administrative capital city outside Metro Manila.

to produce enough food for the country if it would continue to be given a “minimal budget”. “My challenge to [the national government] is that if you want the DA to produce food for this country then give us the budget, give us the money.” Apparently, President Duterte had listened to Piñol. The DA chief said the President had promised his department that his budget for next year could quintuple. “Here is my quotation of what the President said during his speech in Talavera, he said: I will give the DA a budget similar to that of [the] DepEd [Department of Education], [the] DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] and [the] DOH [Department of Health],” Piñol said in a recent interview with reporters. “That’s so big, in fact, the DepEd’s budget is P600 billion, but we are not asking for that. We are only asking for P213 billion for 2018,” Piñol added. Earlier, Piñol said the DA would need a total of P400 billion in the next two years so the government could hit its rice selfsufficiency goal. This year Piñol said he requested for a budget of P71 billion. However, the DA's approved budget was pared down to P45.29 billion, which is 7.46 percent lower than the agency’s 2016 budget of P48.94 billion. Because of insufficient funds, Piñol had to push back the government’s target of achieving rice sufficiency to 2020.

For his part, Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo R. Serrano said the DA is proposing a “radically different budget” for next year. When asked on how the policy recommendations of OECD would affect the budgeting of DA for next year, Serrano said: “You will still see a lot of things going to rice.” “It’s a reality in this business. We have to work with what is there,” he told reporters in a recent news briefing. Serrano said there would be “innovations” in the DA’s 2018 budget. However, he did not disclose the specifics of the budget, saying it is “premature” to discuss the proposed budget, as it has to undergo formal approval procedures. “There’s a formal process that we have to undergo and Secretary Piñol will have to defend that budget tooth and nail,” Serrano said. “In fact, we have already given very explicit instructions to our people who will be involved in the budget defense process not to act like sheep, but to fight also tooth and nail to get the budget we need,” he added. Serrano also disclosed that the DA sought the help of the OECD last year to review the Philippines’s current agricultural policies. OECD Senior Agricultural Policy Analyst Andrzej Kwiecinski said they have already completed the review of agricultural policies for 52 countries, which represent 90 percent of the total global agricultural output. “Our interest is in providing information to those who wish to improve their policy package.

Provide information to improve their performance on their food and agriculture policies in light with other policies around the world,” Kwiecinski said in recent news briefing. “Share of rice in the production increase, driven by lots of policy measures focused on just rice which was blocking or discouraging diversification to other crops, which potentially could possibly bring higher income to farmers,” Kwiecinski said. “In our report, we are not really discussing the choice between rice or corn, we are discussing the rice against other crops,” Kwiecinski added. The OECD said in its report that diversification from rice production into high-value crops would allow farmers to earn higher incomes from a given amount of land, thus improving their access to food; improve farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate change; enhance agricultural productivity growth; and release resources to increase supply of higher-value products for domestic and international markets. “Overall, diversification would improve the security of the country,” the OECD said in its report. Citing the case of Vietnam, Kwiecinski said from the three cropping seasons of rice, Vietnam ventured into two cropping seasons of rice while the last cropping season was dedicated to corn production. “We are hoping with that the new the policies to be implemented, when the quantitative restriction on rice is lifted, would allow stronger diversification, which would improve the income of farmers,” Kwiecinski said.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Tillerson, diplomats meet on Syrian crisis

UCCA, Italy—With fresh urgency but scant solutions, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and top foreign diplomats held an urgent meeting on Tuesday to strategize on a way forward to end the protracted civil war in Syria. A meeting of the “likeminded” countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of a Group-of-7 (G-7) industrialized economies in Italy, days after the US, for the first time, launched air strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. It came hours before Tillerson was to make a tense trip to Moscow to press Russia’s leaders to finally abandon their support for Assad. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical-weapons attack, the US strikes last week served to refocus the world’s attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as US officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional US military action if Assad’s government continues attacking civilians. At Tuesday’s meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G-7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim-majority nations, including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the US strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Mideast nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is defeated. Seated around long tables in an ornate, red-walled room, the diplomats smiled and exchanged pleasantries but made no remarks as photographers were allowed in briefly for the start of the meeting. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad’s strongest ally, which has used its own military to prop up Assad in Syria. AP

The World BusinessMirror

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With Britain leaving Europe, can London remain a capital of the world?

ONDON—Saint Pancras International rail station, a wonder of Victorian architecture resurrected for the 21st century, opened 10 years ago as the embodiment of a particular notion: that Britain is part of something bigger than itself, and that belonging to a fellowship of nations is as easy and natural as stepping onto a train. It was both shocking and thrilling, at first, that you could catch a Eurostar from a platform in London, slide under the English Channel, hurtle through the French countryside and less than three hours later, pull into the Gare du Nord in Paris. To ride the Eurostar was to marvel that the capitals—London so prosaic and straightforward, Paris so romantic and mysterious, the two with their long history of rivalry and discord—were part of the same larger enterprise. Eurostar symbolized an era in which London seemed to be

inevitably rushing toward Europe, too. At least, that was the idea until now, and the beginning of the process known as Brexit. The trains are still running, but the era that created modern London appears to be over. “We’ve made a horrible statement to the rest of the world, and it’s ver y sad,” said Martin Eden, a publisher waiting to catch the Eurostar to Paris the other day, to celebrate his 43rd birthday. “We should be moving together,” he said of Europe, “ instead of moving apart.”

I met Eden as I wandered around Saint Pancras at the moment Britain officially filed for divorce from the European Union. It was lunchtime on March 29, Brexit Day, as you might call it, when Britain delivered a letter to Brussels and opened two years of negotiations over the rules of disengagement. But as Britain tries to bid farewell to its now-estranged partner of 44 years, London faces a different sort of challenge: how a great global city whose residents voted overwhelmingly against Brexit in last summer’s referendum should adjust to an uncertain future governed by principles that feel antithetical to its very being. Brexit has divided Britain from Europe but also divided Britain from itself, with London on one side and much of England on the other (Scotland and Northern Ireland, which also voted to remain, are another story). To many people in the capital, the vote last year feels like a rejection, not just of Europe, but also of the values embodied by London, perhaps the world’s most vibrantly and exuberantly cosmopolitan city: values like openness, tolerance, internationalism and the sense that it is better to look outward than to gaze inward. Even as a sense of melancholy seemed to descend on Saint Pancras when I walked around the other day, much of the rest of Britain was celebrating. Here are Britain’s richest people, and many of its poorest, living side by side in relative peace. London is stuffed with British landmarks—Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Saint Paul’s Cathedral— but also with people comprising 270 nationalities, 8.7 million inhabitants in all. Brexit has thrown into disarray this great experiment in tolerance. Nobody can predict what the city will look like in 10, 20 or 30 years. If spontaneous travel between Europe and Britain no longer seems so simple, neither does the easy exchange of people, capital, jobs, businesses and languages. Perhaps more significantly, it is no longer clear that these are meant to be admirable things, here or anywhere. “London is a weird place at the moment,” said the writer Nikesh Shukla, whose book The Good Immigrant is made up of essays by nonwhite Britons about a country from which they feel increasingly alienated. He lives in Bristol now,

but grew up in London, and the city, he says, “feels like a uniquely encapsulated version of what Britain means to me.” “The government says it’s trying to get the country back, but in the process, it’s losing the heart of its people in London,” Shukla said in a telephone interview. “People feel uneasy because there are a lot of futures at stake. These are people who live in the city who contribute to society, who have families, social structures and financial commitments, whose futures are now in doubt.” I lived in London for more than 15 years, returning home to New York in 2013. The city changed a great deal in that time, and the city I left felt markedly different from the one I found when I arrived. It felt more open, more international, more enthusiastic, more exciting. The food got better, and places stayed open later. My neighbors seemed to come from a United Nations’ worth of countries, our differences somehow erased because we all shared them. The city also grew a lot richer, which was not necessarily a good thing: The center of town became all but unaffordable. Russian oligarchs and other members of the world’s ultrarich elite dug up the streets to build subterranean complexes filled with swimming pools and parking garages for homes they planned to live in only a couple of weeks each year. Europe, which had seemed like a distant concept, suddenly seemed right there on the doorstep. Crowds of French people, and then Poles and Spaniards and, later and more contentiously, Romanians moved in. Any time you went to an art gallery or a movie, you saw how British culture was benefiting from European financing. The rise of laughably cheap no-frills airlines made air travel to Europe almost easier than train travel. Tony Blair, prime minister for much of that time, liked to take his vacations in places like Tuscany, in Italy. London is big and unwieldy, and constantly changing. It resists easy definition. Blair’s election as prime minister, in 1997, ended 18 years of Tory rule and ushered in an era when belonging to Europe felt like something verging on cool. Speaking a foreign language was suddenly, briefly, OK. A nd then in 2012 London hosted the Summer Olympics,

advertising itself as a city for the world and proving how smoothly and joyfully this polyglot place worked when it put its mind to something, and how unusually well the people who lived here got along. Here, despite the anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant sentiments that helped fuel the Brexit vote, is London’s first Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, whose parents, a bus driver and a seamstress, came from Pakistan. Here are international financiers and playboys, Eurocrats and Eurotrash, as well as economic migrants from Spain and Portugal and other depressed European countries crowding into tiny flats on the edges of town and taking jobs in cafes, on construction sites, in hotels. “In London I never feel like an outsider, because everyone’s an outsider,” said Paolo Martini, 32, a hairdresser I met in Kentish Town who comes from Brazil and has a Polish wife and a British (by virtue of her birth) daughter. He has lived here for more than a decade; who knows what Brexit will mean for his family? Part of what makes London different is how closely it all knits together people from different economic backgrounds as much as different ethnic ones. Every borough has its grand houses and its public housing projects, sometimes right around the corner from one another. “It’s not just me and you and rich and poor,” said Dara Djarian, 25, a real estate agent in Kilburn whose parents are French and Iranian. He compared the jumbledup neighborhoods of London with the more uniform banlieues at the periphery of Paris, centers mostly for Arab immigrants. “Everyone’s all mixed up here.” I looked down Kilburn High Road from his office and saw what he meant. A Polish delicatessen was next to an Italian rest au ra nt ac ross t he st reet from a traditional London pub beside a ha la l butcher shop. There was the Shah furniture store, a classic fish-and-chips place, a ladies-only hairdresser, a luxury bathroom-fixture store, some fancy coffee shops and the highbrow Tricycle Cinema, with a program that appeals to hipsters and cineastes. “The one thing we don’t actually see a lot of here is English people,” Djarian said. “They’ve moved out to the countryside, or to the suburbs.” New York Times News Service

N. Korea calls US aircraft carrier dispatch outrageous P YONGYA NG, Nor t h Ko rea—North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula. The statement from Pyongyang comes as tensions on the divided peninsula are high because of USSouth Korea war games now underway, and recent ballistic missile launches by the North. Pyongyang sees the annual maneuvers as a dress rehearsal for invasion, while the North’s missile launches violate UN resolutions. “We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions,” a spokesman for its Foreign Ministry was

quoted as saying by the state-run Korean Central News Agency late last Monday. The statement comes just after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said US missile strikes against a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack carry a message for any nation operating outside of international norms. He didn’t specify North Korea, but the context was clear enough. “If you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken,” Tillerson told ABC’s This Week. The North has long claimed the US is preparing some kind of assault against it, and justifies its nuclear weapons as defensive in nature. “This goes to prove that

the US’s reckless moves for invading the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] have reached a serious phase of its scenario,” the North’s statement said. “If the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for ‘preemptive attack’ and ‘removal of the headquarters’, the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US.” US Navy ships are a common presence in the Korean region, and are in part a show of force. On Saturday night the Pentagon said a Navy carrier strike group was moving toward the western Pacific Ocean to provide more of a physical presence in the region. President Donald J. Trump’s n ational security adviser, H.R. McMaster, described the decision to send the carr ier group as “prudent.” AP

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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Man dragged from United, stirring furor

he disturbing scene captured on cell-phone videos by United Airlines passengers last Sunday went beyond the typical nightmares of travelers on an overbooked flight.

An unidentified man who refused to be bumped from a plane screamed as a security officer wrestled him out of his seat and dragged him down the aisle by his arms. His glasses slid down his face, and his shirt rose above his midriff as uniformed officers followed. At least two passengers documented the physical confrontation and the man’s anguished protests, and their videos spread rapidly online on Monday as people criticized the airline’s tactics. A security officer involved in the episode has been placed on leave, authorities said, and the federal Transportation Department is investigating whether the airline complied with rules regarding overbooking. Tyler Bridges, a passenger last Sunday’s flight who posted a video to Twitter, said in a telephone interview on Monday that “it felt like something the world needed to see”. The shocking scene raised questions about the common practice of overbooking and how far airlines will go to sell all of their seats. Particularly annoying, Bridges said, was that the airline was looking for extra seats for some of its employees. The videos show a security officer removing the unidentified man from his seat and dragging him off the plane as he screams. The flight was scheduled to depart O’Hare International Airport in Chicago for Louisville, Kentucky, at 5:40 p.m., but was delayed two hours. Charlie Hobart, a United spokesman, said in a telephone interview on Monday that “we had asked several times, politely”, for the man to give up his seat before force was used. “We had a customer who refused to leave the aircraft,” he said. “We have a number of customers on board that aircraft, and they want to get to their destination on time and safely, and we want to work to get them there. “Since that customer refused to leave the aircraft, we had to call the police, and they came onboard”, he said. The Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement on Monday that the incident “was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure” and an officer had been placed on leave pending a review of the matter. The department declined to identify the officer. Airlines routinely sell tickets to more people than the plane can seat, counting on several people not to arrive. When there are not enough no-shows, airlines first try to offer rewards to customers willing to reschedule their plans, usually in the form of travel vouchers, gift cards or cash. The arrangement—which is usually negotiated before passengers board the plane—can be lucrative to flexible travelers and is crucial for airlines to maximize profit. “A bakery doesn’t want to have a lot of extra pastries at the end of the day they have to throw out,” said Seth Kaplan, managing partner at Airline Weekly, an industry publication. “To an airline, an empty seat is basically the same thing as stale bread. It’s something they can never sell again.” But involuntarily bumping passengers is rare. In 2016 United involuntarily denied boarding to 3,765 people of its more than 86 million passengers on oversold flights, according to the Transportation Department. An additional 62,895 people voluntarily gave up their seats. The event on Sunday was the second social media stir for United in two weeks. In March two girls were barred from a flight because they were wearing leggings, which the company said violated its dress code for a benefit for United employees and their dependents. Critics called the policy sexist and overbearing. On Sunday Bridges said when he arrived at the gate about 20 minutes before boarding, United had announced that the flight was overbooked; the airline was offering $400 vouchers to anyone who would give up their seat, Bridges said. As the passengers boarded the plane, “there was no indication anything was wrong”, Bridges said. An airline employee came on board and said United needed four people to get off, Bridges said, adding the airline had by then increased its incentive to an $800 voucher. The airline later said it offered up to $1,000 in compensation. Hobart, the United spokesman, confirmed that United sought passengers willing to give up their seats with compensation but that none stepped forward. Another United employee told passengers the plane would not leave until four people got off, Bridges said. The employee specified that the airline had four United employees who needed to get to Louisville, he said. Four passengers were selected to be bumped, and three left without incident, Hobart said. Hobart would not say whether the bumped passengers were chosen by a computer, an employee or some combination of the two. But factors can include how long a customer would have to stay at the airport before being rebooked, he said, and the airline looks to avoid separating families or leaving unaccompanied minors. A United employee first approached a couple who appeared to be in their mid-20s, Bridges said, and the pair begrudgingly got off the plane. Then the United employee went to a man five rows behind Bridges and told him he needed to get off the plane. Bridges said the man told the employee, “I’m not getting off the plane. I’m a doctor; I have to see patients in the morning.” Hobart said, “We explained the scenario to the customer. That customer chose not to get out of his seat.”

The United employee then told the man that if he did not get off the plane, she would call security. As she turned to leave, the man shouted after her, Bridges said. Specifically, he said, the passenger complained that he had been singled out because he was Chinese. “It was really intense, really uncomfortable,” he said. The situation also became uncomfortable for the United employees who then got on board and took

the vacated seats, Bridges said. They were berated by passengers and told they should be ashamed, he said. The man who had been removed returned to the f light brief ly, Bridges said. Video shows him jogging through the aisle, repeatedly saying, “I have to go home.” Jayse Anspach, a seminary student who was also on the flight, said when the man returned to the plane, he ran toward the back.

It was not clear how the man had managed to board again. At one point, authorities and medics surrounded the man and gave him tissues for his mouth, which was bleeding, Anspach said. Eventually the man moved to the front of the plane and collapsed sideways into a seat before being taken off the plane on a stretcher, Anspach said. New York Times News Service

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

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‘Fate of the Furious’ cast say Johnson/Diesel feud overblown dWaYne Johnson and Vin diesel AP

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Zayn Malik, 25; Naya Rivera, 31; Oliver Platt, 58; Kirstie Alley, 67. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Look for new ways to express your talents, skills and knowledge. Don’t let a lack of confidence deplete your ability to advance when you have as much, if not more, to offer. Believe and trust in your abilities and promote your strengths to maximize your chance to get ahead. Don’t let negativity defeat your chance to advance. Your lucky numbers are 5, 17, 21, 28, 32, 44, 46.

By JOHN CaRUCCi The Associated Press

EW YORK—The Fast and the Furious franchise has seen its share of drama outside of the films, but rumored infighting between the series’s biggest stars, Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The rock” Johnson, is uncharted territory for the long-running series. The riff was put into the spotlight last year when Johnson, while shooting The Fate of the Furious, took to Instagram to both express appreciation for his female costars and embarrass some of his male counterparts for unprofessional behavior, calling them “candy asses”. It’s alleged he was referring to Diesel. But at the film’s world premiere last Saturday night in New York, many attributed the situation between the two stars as nothing more than “business as usual” on a film set. Johnson and Diesel were not seen together during promotional appearances, nor did they pose together on the red carpet. Johnson walked the carpet at the beginning of the premiere, while Diesel arrived later. Michelle rodriguez, who plays letty in the series, equated it to a family squabble. “If you know a family that never fights, then I think...you just met a Stepford family, and that family is [expletive],” rodriguez said. “It’s not real.” Kurt russell, who is back as Mr. Nobody, didn’t notice any bad blood on the set. But he also said conflict is not an unusual thing on movie sets in general. “I didn’t see that, and I was there a lot. I would tell you. If there was, I would tell you, ‘Yeah, they got into it pretty good,’” russel said. “I’ll tell you what I can tell you: All movies are the same. Sometimes they are not an easy ride.” russell feels the public paid attention to the rumors simply because of the popularity of the eight-

today’s Horoscope

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get organized and move forward with your plans. Learn as you go, but don’t let pride stand between you and your success. Take care of personal matters pertaining to taxes, investments and dealing with institutions. ★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Emotions will surface, making it easier for you to say exactly what you think and what you want to see happen to people who sometimes make it difficult for you to stand up for yourself. Follow through with your demands. ★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do some factfinding before you discuss your plans or the changes you are going to put in place. Knowing what you are up against before you make a promise to take part in a challenge will be necessary. ★★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be prepared to voice your opinion if someone tries to force you into something you don’t feel is in your best interest. Stay focused on what’s important to you and bring about the changes that will help you get ahead. ★★★★★

movie franchise. Director F. Gary Gray, a newcomer to the franchise, thinks the situation was overblown in the media. “When you’re striving for perfection, the process isn’t always perfect, but we are all proud of what ended up on the screen,” Gray said. But when asked

if the two stars got along in the end, Gray simply said “ask them” before walking off. Off-screen intrigue isn’t expected to hamper boxoffice results, however. The latest installment in the $3.9-billion franchise is expected to earn over $110 million when it speeds into theaters on April 14. ■

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be ready to prove your point. Have your facts ready and prepare for battle. Once you establish your position, it will be much easier to manipulate the situation to suit your needs. ★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Make a point to show interest in someone who looks up to you. How you handle youngsters and peers will determine how much help you receive. Sharing personal information or taking a day trip to visit someone you miss is favored. ★★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Use past experiences to deal with personal issues. Once you isolate what the problem is, it will be easier to find a workable solution. Change can be good if everyone agrees. ★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Dreams can turn into reality. Let your imagination lead the way and your intense and passionate approach to your goals carry you to the finish line. Victory will be yours, but it should be shared with someone you love. ★★★

rep Holds suMMer worKsHops for all ages

Present at the Moa-signing were (from left) airfreight 2100 inc. (air21) comptroller ariel agcaoili, YesPinoy Foundation inc. executive director Pebbles sanchez, don Bosco technical college deputy director for institutional affairs engr. emmanuel averilla, gMa chairman and ceo atty. Felipe l. gozon, angeles university Foundation President dr. Joseph emmanuel l. angeles, university of the Philippines college of Mass communication Foundation inc. President dr. elena e. Pernia, gnea ambassador Benjamin alves, and gMa vice President for corporate affairs and communications angela Javier cruz.

PREMIER theater company Repertory Philippines (REP) is offering an array of summer workshops for all ages beginning April 17, in sessions of two hours each over the course of six weeks at Active Fun, 9th Street and High Street at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Kids can join the Repertory Philippines Workshop for Performing Arts, which feature the Kiddie Class for students ages 5 to 8, the Pre-Teens Class for the 9 to 12 age group, while older kids aged 13 to 16 are welcome to enroll in REP’s Teen Class. A Teens Master Class with Joel Trinidad and Nicky Treviño is open for teens who would like to take their theater skills to a more advanced level. An open audition will be held for interested applicants of the Master Class. Adults looking to gain confidence not only onstage but also in their daily interactions are invited to sign up for the Adult Basic Acting Class, where they will receive holistic training in the skills for theater acting. Those who have had previous workshop experience and are seriously considering a career in theater are invited to sign up for the Advanced Acting program, where participants will be exposed to advanced acting principles. Registration for the REP’s summer workshops is on a first-come, first-served basis. For information, call 843-3570 or 584-8458 or e-mail rep.repandrep@gmail.com.

GMA Network Excellence Award welcomes students of technology-based courses THe GMA Network excellence Award (GNeA) has expanded its scope on its 15th year to now include of the technology-based courses to vie for the annual recognition. This was announced during the recent signing of the memorandum of agreement between GMA Network and its partner-organizations—Airfreight 2100 Inc. (Air21), Yespinoy Foundation Inc., Don Bosco Technical College, Angeles University Foundation and University of the philippines College of Mass Communication Foundation Inc.—which formalized the collaboration for this year’s GNeA program. With this development, the GNeA is now

conferring two awards—one for the best Communications student (Mass Communication, Multimedia Arts, or Advertising) and another for the outstanding student of technology-based courses (electronics and Communications engineering, Computer Science, Computer engineering and Information Technology). The two winners shall each receive a cash prize of p50,000 and a plaque. The GNeA honors academically excellent graduating students with outstanding track record in leadership and sociocivic activities. For details, visit www.gmanetwork.com.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll have trouble facing up to facts when it comes to emotional matters and the way someone treats you. Don’t believe everything you hear when it comes to someone who is using emotional manipulation to get his or her way. ★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look for alternative options when dealing with workrelated problems. Working quietly on your own will help you avoid interference. Finish what you start before you decide to put your work on display. Romance will lift your spirits. ★★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Emotions will be difficult to control once you let them out into the open. Think before you say something you might regret. Stay focused on making personal changes that will lead to greater satisfaction and confidence. Avoid senseless arguments. ★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Speak up about the way you feel. Share your expectations and put together a plan that will help you reach your goals. You will gain ground as well as funds to help you turn your ideas into a reality. ★★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are passionate, original and insightful. You are farsighted and persistent.

‘guy stuff’ BY TIMOTHY E. PARKER The Universal Crossword/Edited by Timothy E. Parker

ACROSS 1 Tears For ___ 6 Ride the waves 10 Scot’s sun blocker 13 “As You Like It” girl 14 Santa ___, California 16 They’re fertilized, in biology 17 When a certain guy takes a lady’s coat, he puts it on a... 19 Encountered for the first time 20 Regional wildlife 21 Puts jam on bread 23 “___ Man in Havana” 26 No longer in the U.S.N., briefly 27 Sound from an active washing machine 28 Major problem 30 Fastest felines 33 Mexican snacks 34 Comes down in buckets 35 Miniature 36 Sound boomerang 37 Quaffs from soda jerks 38 Having similar qualities 39 Up to, informally

40 41 42 44 45 46 47 48 50 52 53

Clark of old Hollywood Process coffee beans Bratislava’s land Campfire treat Moved like sap Mr.’s towel designation “Aw” follower Foot joints Sight, for one Pasty Hawaiian dish When a certain guy fixes your choppers, you’ve been... 58 Thing to confess 59 Circle a planet 60 Maternally related 61 Measurement of work 62 Perceive with one’s eyes 63 Evil one down below DOWN 1 Govt. airwaves agency 2 Sushi fish 3 Boxing legend 4 Musical phrase 5 Exotic hunting vacations 6 Hardly enough

7 8 9 10 11 12 15 18 22 23 24 25 27 29 30 31 32 34 37 38 40 41 43

Arm bone Good thing for an oil spill Renews, as air When a certain guy is out there just a-selling, he’s... Strongly say it’s so Many pins are produced on them Some fighting forces Color choices Suffix with “rich” or “poor” Groupings of eight RNA component When a certain wealthy guy is wifehunting, he’s... Like a flag of surrender “Annnyway...” Lily type You can fall back on it Letter receiver Like some foamy-mouthed dogs Double-check “___ you hearing this?” Elegant garden structure with a roof Plaster of Paris preparations Abbr. on many remotes

44 46 48 49 50 51 54 55 56 57

Grape-loving sot Green, the “Witch of Wall Street” It usually contains the altar Pinot ___ One way to get to grade school Italian stack blower “Scorpion” network Scalp warmer Landing guesstimate Hangout for some animals

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Personal Tech BusinessMirror

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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Huawei’s newest flagships hit stores

Can better advice keep you safer online? M

By Elissa Redmiles University of Maryland

ANY people are worried about their online privacy and security. And rightly so: In the US nearly half of Americans have encountered at least one serious problem with online safety. There are a wide range of potential problems: Some people fall victim to criminally malicious attackers who steal personal information, like Social Security or bank-account numbers, compromise online accounts and conduct online scams stealing people’s money. Other people find friends or family members have shared private information without their consent. And still others lose jobs or other opportunities because prospective employers find unflattering information about them online. What all these situations have in common is simple: We do not have control over the information we believe to be private. One key to staying safer online may be getting advice from the right places—people and sources with accurate, helpful information that can let you take control of your online privacy and security. My own research, in collaboration with Sean Kross and Michelle Mazurek, explores where people get their advice about online security, and how useful it actually is. Those sources include librarians, government web sites and coworkers. They offer a wide range of advice, such as customizing socialmedia privacy settings and using password managers, which can make it easier to use strong, complex passwords without having to remember them. We analyzed a survey of 3,000 Internet users across the US, and found that where people get advice has a lot to do with their online safety experiences.

We found that no matter how wealthy or how poor a person is, no matter her education level, the speed of her Internet service or whether she has a smartphone, a person’s online safety is closely related to where, and from whom, she gets advice about online security. Finding good advice Approximately 70 percent of Americans learn about online-security behaviors as a result of advice shared by friends, family and coworkers, or on web sites they visit. Often they get this advice in casual conversation or Web browsing. The advice they get can influence their behavior, ideally making them better at protecting themselves in the future. Many people get privacy and security advice from their friends and relatives: 38 percent of Americans received assistance from people close to them. But they may not get very good information: 49 percent of them reported at least one online safety incident, such as identity theft or falling victim to an online scam. Emotional closeness doesn’t necessarily mean someone has good information to share. Twenty percent of Americans sought out advice from their coworkers. One in four of those who did so also reported an online safety incident—half as many as those who took advice from friends and family. The 25 percent of Americans who take advice from web sites report fewer incidents than those who took advice from friends and coworkers. Only 14 percent of people who took advice from a government web site reported an online safety problem. And just more than one in five people who took advice from a non-governmental web site reported an online safety incident. The 13 percent of Americans who get advice from teachers or librarians, however, report the lowest

frequency of online negative experiences: 8 percent of them had an online safety problem. Evaluate the source WITH so much security advice available, of such varied quality, our research suggests people should not just follow their friends’ advice, or do something they read about online. Instead, when asking for advice from coworkers, friends and family, people should also ask how they learned this information. And they should think critically about the answers they get. Do those answers jibe with other advice from other sources? Seeking out people who work in Internet or technology fields can also give useful perspectives, either about others’ advice or their own suggestions. Our findings also suggest that librarians are underutilized but potentially very valuable sources of online safety information. We asked local librarians for a few suggestions of good resources for getting started with protecting your information. They recommended Get Started With Privacy, the Security Cheat Sheet and Security Starter Pack & Tutorials as good first steps to making an online security plan. To help keep children safe online, the librarians also recommended the National Cybersecurity Alliance web site, with security and privacy activities and information for kids and parents alike. Our research also suggests that teachers may be a good source of high-quality online security advice. Research suggests that people should keep their software updated, use a password manager to assist with having strong and unique passwords and use two-factor authentication to further secure their online accounts. With better advice from better sources, more people will stay safer online. AP

Google Maps already tracks you; now other people can, too SAN FRANCISCO—Google Maps users will soon be able to broadcast their movements to friends and family—the latest test of how much privacy people are willing to sacrifice in an era of rampant sharing. The location-monitoring feature began rolling out last Wednesday in an update to the Google Maps mobile app, which is already installed on most of the world’s smartphones. It will also be available on personal computers. Google believes the new tool will be a more convenient way for people to let someone know where they are without having to text or call them. The Mountain View, California, company has set up the controls so individuals can decide with whom they want to share their whereabouts and for how long—anywhere from a few minutes to indefinitely. But location sharing in one of the world’s most popular apps could cause friction in marriages and other relationships if one partner demands to know where the other is at all times. Similar tensions could arise

if parents insist their teenagers turn on the location-sharing option before they go out. It could also be turned into a way to stalk someone entangled in an abusive relationship, warned Ruth Glenn, executive director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “It has the potential to be another tool in an abuser’s toolkit,” she said. Similar tracking is already available on other apps; Glympse, founded by former Microsoft employees, has offered this function for years. Although it isn’t as wide-ranging, Apple also offers a tracking option called “Find My Friends” on its iPhone, iPad and Watch. That’s one of the reasons Google isn’t expecting a lot of complaints about adding the option to Maps, especially since everyone can decide when to turn it on and who can monitor them. “We don’t feel like we are changing the game,” said Jen Fitzpatrick, Google vice president of maps. Maps users will be able to activate

the location-sharing feature by tapping a button near the search bar and then picking a person from their contact list to text with the information. If the recipient doesn’t have the Google Maps app on their phone, it will text them a link to open the location on the map in a browser. The settings also allow users to

determine how long their movements can be tracked each time a location is shared. If no time limit is selected, Google will periodically send people e-mail reminders that they’re still sharing their location, a step that Glenn said may help anyone who didn’t know an abusive partner was still following them. AP

THE game-changer in the world of smartphone photography is finally arriving in the Philippines. An upgrade to the P series and another mobile phone masterpiece coengineered with Leica Camera AG, the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus are set to hit Philippine shores in a few days, and are now available for preordering. Packed with the latest mobile technology in the form of the Kirin 960 chipset with 4GB RAM, the second generation Leica Dual-Camera system of the P10 and P10 Plus allows vivid, artistic portrait shots. The Leica Dual-Camera 2.0 system features a 12MP RGB sensor paired with a 20MP monochrome sensor to produce crisp, detailed images popping with natural colors, even in low light. Optical Image Stabilization also ensures stable focus and sharper shots. Moreover, advanced 3D facial mapping technology highlights unique facial features, in combination with Dynamic Illumination to create artistic portrait shots, complemented by Leica-style bokeh effects. With either of these new smartphones, you might as well have a studio in your pocket. The front 8MP camera also benefits from Leica technology, and the P10 Plus now comes equipped with the new SUMMILUX-H F1.8 aperture lens for brighter, detailed selfie images in low light. Making every shot a cover shot has never been more effortless. These powerhouse features and plenty more are wrapped in Huawei’s signature approach to smartphone design, taken to the next step with the revolutionary Hyper Diamond-Cut finish. These breakthrough devices are now available for preorders until April 20. The first 500 to preorder a Huawei P10 or P10 Plus in any Huawei Experience Store, Kiosk, Leica Store Philippines and participating Memoxpress stores nationwide are entitled to receive an exclusive Huawei P10 travel kit and a 10 percent Leica Store Philippines discount voucher on selected Leica cameras or lenses. A nonrefundable deposit of P3,000 is required. Preordered units may be redeemed starting on April 21. Preorders from Lazada will also be accepted until April 20, with shipping starting on April 15. Huawei’s award-winning new flagships will be retailed nationwide at P28,990 (P10) and P36,990 (P10 Plus). For information, visit https://goo.gl/Vaavtb.

(FROM left) Gerard Milan, Smart Prepaid brand marketing head; Miriam Choa, Smart Prepaid marketing head; Hazel Bascon, Vivo Philippines vice president and head of sales; and Annie Lim, Vivo Philippines brand director, sign the contract finalizing their partnership.

More LTE-capable devices for data-hungry consumers WITH a vision of providing the optimum smartphone experience for Filipino consumers, global smartphone brand Vivo Mobile Tech Inc. (www.vivoglobal.ph) inked a partnership with leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. on March 22 at the PLDT Ramon Cojuangco Building in Makati City. “As part of our aggressive rollout of our LTE network across the country, we are excited to work with top smartphone manufacturers like Vivo to bring more LTE-capable devices into the local market,” said Patrick Tang, vice president and head for Smart Postpaid Brand and Device Management. “LTE gives the best mobile data experience to our customers, and more LTE devices in the market means that more people will be able to take advantage of and enjoy the powerful LTE network that Smart is putting in place,” he added. Meanwhile, Hazel Bascon, Vivo Philippines vice president and head of sales, said this partnership means better connections for consumers. “With this tie-up, our customers will be able to make improved connections, whether on the Web or with each other, because Smart has always been known for its premium service.” “The high-quality features of Vivo mobile phones, combined with Smart’s exclusive promos, and speedy and reliable services, ensure a greatly enhanced smartphone experience for Filipino customers,” she added. Also present during the signing event were Annie Lim, Vivo brand director; Miriam Choa, prepaid marketing head; and Gerard Milan, Smart Prepaid brand marketing head. In this tie-up, Smart will provide Vivo with LTE prepaid SIMs that will feature the following exclusive add-ons for 12 months: Free 100MB data per month upon activation of SIM, and a reward of an additional 300MB data for every accumulated P150 worth of load within a month. The Smart LTE prepaid SIMs will be given to customers for free with every purchase of Vivo handsets, with specific units to be announced soon.

Sports BusinessMirror

A8 Wednesday, April 12, 2017 | Editor: Jun Lomibao

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Al Mendoza alsol47@yahoo.com

THAT’S ALL

Garcia drama in Masters win

AS Masters champ, Sergio Garcia has dumped the coarsest cloak of irony. It took him almost 20 years to free himself from that palpable prison called the best golfer ever not to win a major. And what could be a more fitting tournament to do it than in the Masters, long considered the most prestigious of the four majors—the other three being the British Open, US Open and Professional Golfers Association Championship. Garcia’s win ended golf’s longest drought in a major—70 majors as a pro without a win until Sunday in Augusta, Georgia. I labored to wake up at dawn, as I always do whenever the Masters Week is with us—the Masters having a special spot in my heart. I covered live the 1991 Masters, with Welsh Ian Woosnam winning it. Even on TV, it was a delight watching Garcia beat Justin Rose in a title playoff yesterday after both closed out with similar 69s to tie at 9-under totals. Garcia did his thing in style in the final 18 holes, particularly the last six—embellishing his victory with drama and, yes, trauma. Garcia was three strokes up, only to see his lead erased by Rose’s three straight birdies on the front nine. He was even two shots behind Rose with six holes left to play. But in golf, no lead is safe. On the par-five 13th—the third and final hole of Augusta National’s dreaded Amen Corner (I was right there 26 years ago)—drama started unfolding. Garcia drove left into the woods, took a drop and, to many unbelievers, the Spaniard would finally sink to his grave. But after punching from the pine straws to within feet before the creek, Garcia would wedge to pin high from 89 yards. Par. And just as almost everybody thought Rose would expand his two-shot lead into four in this hole with an eagle within grasp, he would miss. Even flubbing a fivefoot birdie coming back. Energized, Garcia birdied 14 to get to within one. Pumped up, Garcia eagled 15 from 14 feet after stringing up a monster drive and a wondrous 8-iron. That cushioned Rose’s birdie on the same hole as both headed to 16 all tied up. Rose would retake the lead with an 8-foot birdie on the 70th hole, only to give the stroke back with a bogey on the 71st from 7 feet. Rose would be hounded by that horrendous miscue as he went on to muff the title-clinching putt from the same distance on the 72nd and final hole. He got a reprieve when Garcia also missed a downhill 5-footer for the outright win. Have I not repeatedly said that putts win tournaments? Lose tournaments, too, as when Rose missed a scrambling par from 12 feet in the first playoff hole at 18. That came about after Rose, Britain’s current Olympic champion and 2013 US Open winner, had earlier drove right to the trees, pitched under a Magnolia tree and chipped poorly. In contrast, Garcia, by now rejuvenated by a blistering drive into the middle of the fairway 146 yards to the green, safely landed his approach 10 feet past the hole. After watching Rose’s putt veer left, Garcia, needing two putts to win, sank his—the ball swirling a bit before dropping for a touch of drama. Garcia crouched, head bowed, and half-raised both his clenched fists—his emotion-charged shout of joy completely drowned out by cheers of “Seer-geoh! Seer-geoh!” Rose reached out, lovingly cupped Garcia’s left cheek before gently tapping the Spaniard’s heart—the same heart that came close to winning but coming out only second four times previously in a major. “I thought this would never happen,” said Garcia, who was born 37 years ago when compatriot Seve Ballesteros won his first of two Masters in 1980. “I was almost resigned to not winning a major and to go on living without it. And then it happened. Amazing!” That it took him 74 starts in a major before finally winning one is a story as compelling for Garcia, the third Spaniard to win the Masters after Ballesteros and the now-retired Jose Ma. Olazabal (winner in 1994 and 1999). But what more drama can beat the fact that Garcia’s win came on the very day that the late Ballesteros, who died of brain cancer in 2012, was born 60 years ago on April 9? “I believe Seve has guided me to this victory,” said Garcia. nnn THAT’S IT Congrats to Jam Tario for piloting the Red Team past the Blue Team in the finals of the recent MTRCB Volleyball Championships! Jam’s triumphant squad was led no less by MTRCB Chairman Rachel Arenas, whose school-day skill-experience in the game obviously showed during the title showdown. The other winning Red Team members are Vice Chairman Maning Borlaza; BMs Raymond Aquino, Allan Bengzon, Kate Cabuga, Manet Dayrit Njel de Mesa and Atty. Jojo Salomon; Jenny Remendado, Riza Santiago, Vina Salazar, Aimee Villarosa, Joan Villaver, Enchong David, Arjay de los Santos, Pol del Mundo, Edgario Galicia, Jorlan Glomar, Alvin Malto, Arnel Montecalbo, Cocoy Tonog and Arman Villas. Cheers!

FILIPINAS

MAKE HISTORY

HE national women’s football team is hardly noticed unlike their male counterparts, the Azkals. But what the men couldn’t do, the women did—in historic fashion. The Philippines drew, 1-1, with Bahrain to nail a ticket to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018. It marked the first time in Philippine football history that the women’s team is playing in one of the continent’s most prestigious tournaments. The Filipinas needed a victory, or at least a draw, to make history on their ninth attempt to advance to the Cup. And Sara Castañeda was there to give the team the lift it badly needed. Castañeda drilled the equalizer in the 82nd minute in the final Group A match of the qualifier at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Monday night. “It was a crazy match. It was like playing for the title,” Philippine Team Coach Letecia Bautista told the AFC web

NBA RESULTS Indiana 120, Philadelphia 111 Boston 114, Brooklyn 105 Miami 124, Cleveland 121, OT Chicago 122, Orlando 75 Milwaukee 89, Charlotte 79 Washington 105, Detroit 101 Portland 99, San Antonio 98 LA Clippers 125, Houston 96 Utah 105, Golden State 99

site. “We wanted this more, so we were able to bounce back and I am just thankful for the win. I am speechless.” The Bahrainis were the more aggressive team and threatened the Filipinas with several chances and more possessions in the first half that went scoreless. Noora Sami Al Dossary found a brace inside the penalty area to give Bahrain the go-ahead in the 56th minute. But the Filipinas never wavered and avoided another heartbreaker. “At halftime, I told my players that they need to find some composure. Bahrain also really wanted the slot [to the Cup], and we just had to remember how we played in the last three games,” Bautista said. The Filipinas were a revelation in the group qualifiers with shutout victories earlier in the tournament—4-0 over the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, followed by an 8-0 demotion of host Tajikistan. With 10 points, the Philippines could top the group if it beats Jordan in its final assignment on Tuesday.

Jordan leads the group with 12 points but obviously wanted to pile up more to earn momentum when it hosts the tournament. Japan, the 2014 champion, along with runner-up Australia and third placer China are guaranteed for the Cup final. Also advancing was Group C winner Thailand. The 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is a qualifier for the Fifa Women’s World Cup France 2019. Two more spot are still up for grabs as of press time as Vietnam and Myanmar disputed one of two remaining slots in Group D, while South Korea and Uzbekistan battled for the last berth in separate venues on Tuesday. Lance Agcaoili

members of the national women’s football team »areTHE ecstatic after earning a berth to the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018. AFC-COM

SO AMAZING G RANDMASTER (GM) Wesley So stopped GM Alex Onischuk, 1.5-.5, to pocket his first US Chess National Championship in a rapid playoff match on Tuesday at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. Now playing for the US Federation, the 23-year-old Caviteño So foiled Onischuk’s attempt of tying the playoff match in the second game. They were tied at 7-4 won-lost after the eliminations. So won the first of the tiebreak match with a superb middle-game attack. Onischuk played white in the second

JAJA SANTIAGO looks to skip her final season for National University, while Roger Gorayeb has tendered his courtesy resignation.

game and had a two-pawn advantage but So maneuvered for a perpetual check to force a draw. The Filipino took $50,000, while his opponent, 18 years his senior, got $35,000. Tied for third places were GMs Varuzhan Akobian, Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, who received $20,000. As a sign of respect for his mother country, So wore barong Tagalog during the awarding ceremony. In the April Fide ranking, So stood at No. 2 in the world with an ELO 2822, behind Norwegian star Magnus Carlsen (2838). Ramon Rafael Bonilla

JAJA, GORAYEB PONDER FUTURE

OLLEYBALL star Jaja Santiago is uncertain to return for a final season in a National University (NU) uniform and so is Roger Gorayeb, who failed to steer the Lady Bulldogs to the Final Four of the Season 79 University Athletic Association of the Philippines tournament. “I’m still undecided. I still don’t know if I will still return next season,” said Santiago, who cried as she and her teammates sang their alma mater hymn after squandering a two-set lead for a heartbreaking 25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 12-15 loss to University of Santo Tomas last Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The loss sent NU crashing out of the semifinal picture while sending UST to the Final Four for the first time in four seasons. The Tigresses clash with the defending champions De La Salle Lady Spikers next weekend, while the Ateneo Lady Eagles tangle with the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the other half of the Final Four. A 6-foot-5 middle blocker, Santiago was vastly improved this season with enviable numbers of 268 points in 14 games she built around 195 spikes, 49 blocks and 24 aces to lead the Most Valuable Player race. Gorayeb, on the other hand, tendered his courtesy resignation to allow NU management to evaluate his performance that saw him recording 7-7 won-lost records for consecutive seasons. NU missed the semifinals on both occasions. “[NU management] should have a free hand to reassess me, because it has been two years,” Gorayeb said. “But I’ll be glad if I would be the coach again, because I already started a better program for this team. We were better this season than last year. But if they won’t sign me, it’s okay.” Lance Agcaoili

Batang Pier take on Road Warriors in battle of winless teams

LOBALPORT and NLEX collide in a battle of winless teams, while Rain or Shine and Phoenix try to regain their momentum in the last playing day before a Lenten break today in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Batang Pier (0-4) clash with the Road Warriors (0-5) at 4:15 p.m., while the Elasto Painters (3-2) and Fuel Masters (2-3) take the floor at 6 p.m. “It’s a must-win for us to stay in the hunt for the playoffs,”

GlobalPort Head Coach Franz Pumaren said. Terrence Romeo came out with a bout with the flu in GlobalPort’s first game in the conference and churned in a 20.67 points average in three games with 6.33 assists in 31 minutes of action. But Romeo couldn’t tow GlobalPort to the win column. His last output, a 35-point, 13-of-18 performance against Blackwater, went to a waste as the Elite escaped with a 118-113 victory on Saturday. Malcolm White, who replaced Sean Williams, also

Villavicencio on hoops and hockey Rick Olivares bleachersbrew@gmail.com

Bleachers’ Brew I SAT down with Flying V Chairman Ramon “Chito” Villavicencio at his oil company’s corporate headquarters in Santa Mesa Heights on Monday to have a chat about their sponsorship of the Philippine Ice Hockey team, as well as the newest Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Developmental League squad, the Flying V Thunder. Villavicencio, who played football and basketball during his school days, admitted that sponsoring sports teams and related activities was a natural. “It is something I enjoy and am very passionate about,” succinctly put the businessman. “I also happen to believe that in sports, there are so many values that we can learn and apply in real life.” With the Flying V Thunder, it is different as opposed to his company’s sponsorship of the De La Salle Green Archers. “This is a new team and, well, the goal is to win, but we don’t know if we can. It is a process,” Villavicencio said. “The idea is unity through diversity, because we have players from different

FLYING V Chairman Ramon “Chito” Villavicencio says sponsoring sports teams and related activities is a natural.

had monster numbers of 33 points and 17 rebounds, but his Elite counterpart, Greg Smith, did better with 40 points and 19 boards. “I don’t think we have a problem scoring. We just got to be better defensively. That’s the main thing,” White said. NLEX, on the other hand, just couldn’t get the job done. The team even blew away a 29-point lead to sister-team TNT five days ago for a 121-126 setback. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

schools who were collegiate rivals and who will now play together under one team.” The businessman squelched any immediate notion of joining the pro basketball ranks. “In the D-League, you can easily come in unlike in the PBA, you have to first prove yourself and you apply.” For the Flying V Thunder, it is supposedly a long-term plan and a goal. But the brain trust will assess after its initial foray in the penultimate step before the big league itself. “We want to win, but that isn’t going to be easy,” Villavicencio said. While the Thunder is a work in progress, there was surprise when the Philippine Ice Hockey Team bagged the bronze in January’s Asian Winter Games help in Saporro, Japan. The Philippines thrashed Macau, 9-2, to win its first-ever medal. The feat is even more amazing, as the team is composed of business professionals and students. “We are the only tropical country that won a medal,” glowed Philippine Sports Commission’s Ramon Fernandez of the sparkling achievement. But there is a bolder step. According to Villavicencio, the goal is a gold in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where ice hockey will be a firsttime sport. “That is a target. Bold? Maybe. But it’s good to give one’s self goals. And it is doable. Hopefully, ice hockey will one day be as popular as volleyball.” Villavicencio first got interested when his grandson,

Mikey Sy, began playing the game. Villavicencio’s son-inlaw, Christopher, is the president of the Federation of Ice Hockey League. “My son-in-law got involved and when he asked if we’d like to sponsor, we said, ‘Why not?’ The rest is history.” Aside from basketball and ice hockey, Flying V is looking to revive a preseason football tournament it sponsored a couple of years ago. Should the football field in La Salle Canlubang be done in the next year or so, the tournament will be revived. Right now the focus is on the Flying Thunder’s debut in the D-League Foundation Cup, as well as the upcoming Filoil Flying V Premier Cup that is entering its 11th year. That tournament went from being small fry to one eagerly anticipated on the annual sporting calendar. “We are proud of that, too. And, hopefully, we’ll find success in our other sports ventures.”

A9 Wednesday, April 12, 2017 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

editorial

Rice against time

efore leaving on Monday for a weeklong state visit to the Middle East, President Duterte denied that his officials are quarreling over the issue of rice importation. The President also directed the National Food Authority (NFA) to prioritize the purchase of paddy rice from farmers to beef up the food agency’s buffer stock during the calamity-prone lean months of July to September. That same day, NFA Administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino made a case for rice importation before the media. Aquino said the food agency would find it difficult to comply with the mandate of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) to maintain a rice inventory equivalent to 30 days of consumption during the lean months if the NFA would rely on its procurement program. The NFA could not prop up its buffer stock via local procurement because farmers are not selling their harvest to the food agency. According to Aquino, private traders are purchasing unmilled rice at P18 to P20 per kilogram (kg), higher than the food agency’s buying price of P17 per kg. This resulted in the failure of the NFA to reach its procurement target of 4.6 million bags of paddy rice for the first quarter. The Department of Agriculture (DA), however, said the government should not rush into buying rice from farmers in Thailand and Vietnam. In a statement on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the recommendation of Aquino to import 250,000 metric ton of rice would have to be reviewed and validated, given the DA’s expectations of a bumper harvest. Apart from his visual inspection of rice fields, Piñol said good weather and the absence of pest infestation would ensure that paddy-rice harvest before June 30 should be enough to hike the NFA’s rice supply. The DA is backed by the NFA Council (NFAC), led by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., who serves as its ex-officio chairman. How long it would take for the DA and other concerned government agencies to complete its assessment of the rice supplyand-demand situation is anybody’s guess. What’s certain at this point is that time is no longer on the side of the government. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the farm-gate price of paddy rice had gone up to nearly P19 per kg in the last week of March, indicating that private traders are willing to pay a premium for the staple. While this is good for farmers because they’re earning more, the absence of enough buffer could embolden some unscrupulous traders to hoard rice and sell it a higher price, particularly in times of calamities. The buffer stock prepositioned by the NFA before July helps ensure that this would not happen. Should the NFAC gives the go signal for rice importation, it could take anywhere from 30 to 60 days for shipments to arrive in the Philippines. If the President is really wary about importing rice, he can consider Piñol’s suggestion to allocate more funds for the NFA’s palay procurement. The NFA could use the money to increase its buying price so it could compete with private traders. But the decision should be made soon, before the lean season kicks in.

Still a beautiful place Teddy Locsin Jr.

Free fire Continued from A1

ouella Mae Smith of the Independent writes that Ginger Sprouse, who runs The Art of the Meal in Clear Lake, Texas, drove past Victor Hubbard four times a day standing on a street corner, no matter the weather. The corner was the last place Victor saw his mother. He stood there three years waiting her to return. But winter was coming, so Ginger Sprouse worried. She would visit Vic-

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ing out to her house to get out of the bad weather. “And that’s how we started,” Ginger said in a radio show. She started a Facebook page to introduce Victor to the community, and get him the help he needed. He had mental-health issues. The community responded. She gave him a job in her small business. She sent him to mental-health clinics and raised $15,000 for his living expens-

es. Two hundred people turned up at a block par t y to show their support for the man they had seen stand on the same corner for years. Now he gets eye tests, clothes and regular visits to the doctors. He still hasn’t seen his mother. But, he says, “I got to talk to her and I really feel like I accomplished something.” They say you can’t go home again, you can’t turn back time, and what’s lost cannot be regained. But where there is kindness, something like all that can be gotten back. Despite t he mad ness of politics and the evil of men, the world is still a beautiful place. It is people who make it that way.

Publicity stunts aren’t policy

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

tor on the corner during her lunch brea k and they str uck up a friendship. She asked him how he would feel about com-

They say you can’t go home again, you can’t turn back time, and what’s lost cannot be regained. But where there is kindness, something like all that can be gotten back.

Paul Krugman

new york times

oes anyone still remember the Carrier deal? Back in December, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced, triumphantly, that he had reached a deal with the airconditioner manufacturer to keep 1,100 jobs in America rather than moving them to Mexico. And the media spent days celebrating the achievement. Actually, the number of jobs involved was more like 700, but who’s counting? Around 75,000 US workers are laid off or fired every working day, so a few hundred here or there hardly matter for the overall picture. Whatever Trump did or didn’t achieve with Carrier, the real question was whether he would take steps to make a lasting difference. So far, he hasn’t; there isn’t even the vague outline of a real Trumpist jobs policy. And corporations and investors seem to have decided that the Carrier deal was all show, no substance, that for all his protectionist rhetoric Trump is a paper tiger in practice. After pausing briefly, the ongoing move of manufacturing to Mexico has resumed, while the Mexican peso, whose value is a barometer of expected US trade policy, has recovered almost all its post-November losses. In other words, showy actions that win a news cycle or two are

no substitute for actual, coherent policies. Indeed, their main lasting effect can be to squander a government’s credibility. Which brings us to last week’s missile strike on Syria. The attack instantly transformed news coverage of the Trump administration. Suddenly stories about infighting and dysfunction were replaced with screaming headlines about the president’s toughness and footage of Tomahawk launches. But outside its effect on the news cycle, how much did the strike actually accomplish? A few hours after the attack, Syrian warplanes were taking off from the same airfield, and air strikes resumed on the town where use of poison gas provoked Trump into action. No doubt the Assad forces took some real losses, but there’s no reason to believe that a onetime action will have any effect the course of Syria’s civil war. In fact, if last week’s action

was the end of the story, the eventual effect may well be to strengthen the Assad regime— Look, they stood up to a superpower!—and weaken American credibility. To achieve any lasting result, Trump would have to get involved on a sustained basis in Syria. Doing what, you ask? Well, that’s the big question—and the lack of good answers to that question is the reason President Barack Obama decided not to start something nobody knew how to finish. So what have we learned from the Syria attack and its aftermath? No, we haven’t learned that Trump is an effective leader. Ordering the US military to fire off some missiles is easy. Doing so in a way that actually serves American interests is the hard part, and we’ve seen no indicat ion whatsoever t hat Tr ump and his advisers have figured that part out. Actually, what we know of the decision-making process is anything but reassuring. Just days before the strike, the Trump administration seemed to be signaling lack of interest in Syrian regime change. What changed? The images of poison-gas victims were horrible, but Syria has been an incredible horror story for years. Is Trump making life-and-death national security decisions based on TV coverage? One thing is certain: The media reaction to the Syria strike showed that many pundits and news organizations have learned nothing

from past failures. Trump may like to claim that the media are biased against him, but the truth is that they’ve bent over backward in his favor. They want to seem balanced, even when there is no balance; they have been desperate for excuses to ignore the dubious circumstances of his election and his erratic behavior in office, and start treating him as a normal president. You may recall how, a monthand-a-half ago, pundits eagerly declared that Trump “became the president of the United States today” because he managed to read a speech off a teleprompter without going off script. Then he started tweeting again. One might have expected that experience to serve as a lesson. But no: The US fired off some missiles, and once again Trump “became president”. Aside from everything else, think about the incentives this creates. The Trump administration now knows that it can always crowd out reporting about its scandals and failures by bombing someone. So here’s a hint: Real leadership means devising and carrying out sustained policies that make the world a better place. Publicity stunts may generate a few days of favorable media coverage, but they end up making America weaker, not stronger, because they show the world that we have a government that can’t follow through. And has anyone seen a sign, any sign, that Trump is ready to provide real leadership in that sense? I haven’t.

Opinion BusinessMirror

A10 Wednesday, April 12, 2017

opinion@businessmirror.com.ph

India loses faith in trade Issues plaguing the surety-bond industry By Mihir Sharma Bloomberg

ill fairly recently, it looked like two massive new agreements would compete to define the future of world trade. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), backed by the US, would try to move the global trade architecture toward new norms, with harmonized regulations at its center. Meanwhile, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), backed by China, would drastically reduce remaining tariffs across a swathe of Asia and push the existing model of trade and manufacturing as far as it could go. The TPP is now history, thanks to Donald J. Trump. But the RCEP can’t exactly declare victory, yet. The 16 countries involved—China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and much of Southeast Asia—have discovered a familiar hurdle in their path: India. India has a long history of grumbling about trade agreements. In the past, it has almost single-handedly held up consensus at various World Trade Organization meetings. But it seemed much of that was changing in the past decade or so. Under its previous prime minister, Manmohan Singh, an understanding had begun to develop in New Delhi that trade agreements aren’t just about the mechanics of who gains and loses; they’re about international relations, and how to tie countries and economies closer together. Under Singh, India negotiated dozens of freetrade agreements—including one with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which he hoped would lead to a “pan-Asian” agreement. But he never won over his bureaucrats or even many within his own party. And his successors seem far less enthusiastic about the possibilities of free trade. Partly that’s because of India’s experience with the Asean deal, which began in 2010. It infuriated domestic industry and farmers’ organizations. One chamber of commerce claimed that, since 2010, India’s exports to Asean had stagnated, while imports had grown by a third. Farmers in the south, meanwhile, have argued that they can’t compete with spices and vegetable oil from Southeast Asia. The government failed to stand up to these voices; it announced a “review” of existing trade deals early on in Narendra Modi’s tenure, and there was the strong suggestion that new ones would be frowned on—effectively ending Singh’s policy of economic integration. This same skepticism seems to be guiding the government’s behavior at the RCEP negotiations. If Asean decimated Indian plantation farming and caused Indian companies to struggle, the argument goes, just imagine what free trade with China could do. India has been worried about Chinese overcapacity and its tendency to dump goods for awhile. Thus, when Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak flew to New

Delhi last week, he was prepared to push hard on behalf of RCEP. But it didn’t quite work. Modi, standing next to Najib, never even mentioned the negotiations. Other Indian officials made all the right noises, but it was clear that the only sort of agreement they were willing to countenance was a very weak one, indeed. India is hoping to drive a wedge between China and Asean—for instance, by offering the latter deeper tariff cuts than China would receive—though it seems Indian diplomats found few takers for their cunning plan. Unless New Delhi feels it has more levers to keep Chinese imports out, it appears that it will simply not agree to any draft, and keep negotiations dragging on as long as possible. There are grow ing mur murs that India should just be dumped from the process altogether, and that the other countr ies shou ld move on to a deal that they already largely agree on. Modi, when he took office in 2014, declared that Singh’s “Look East” policy would be replaced with an “Act East” policy of more engagement with Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim. As is often the case with India’s government, when you look behind the slogans, there’s not much there. In fact, Modi’s government has been moving backward on trade. This is a pity—because Singh was right. His much-maligned deal with Southeast Asia may not have boosted exports. But tapping into foreign supplies of vegetable oils, for example, has helped ensure that consumers enjoyed low and stable prices for an essential part of their diet. Moreover, India’s engagement with the thriving commercial networks of Southeast Asia and southern China is the only way it can possibly develop an exportfocused, job-generating manufacturing sector. Of course, it needs to operate in parallel with domestic reform—freeing up labor and land markets, and further reforming taxes. The government needs to open Indian industries up to competition, give them the tools to compete and then be confident that they will. But, judging by its response to RCEP, it doesn’t intend to do that at all. Is Modi’s India really so much less confident than Singh’s?

Atty. Dennis B. Funa

INSURANCE FORUM

here are two main issues, involving the general public, hounding the surety-bond industry. First is the proliferation of fake bonds. Second is the presence of delinquent bonding companies. With respect to fake bonds, it is usually government offices that fall victim to this nefarious activity. A number of administrative circulars have been issued by the Insurance Commission (IC) to counter this practice. At present, the principal regulation is Insurance Memorandum Circular (IMC) 1-77, dated March 1, 1977, which provides for the rules and regulations governing the issuance of bonds in the Philippines. The circular provides for the following measures: a) to set in place a system of verification, bond forms must be issued in duplicate and they must be consecutively and serially prenumbered (with serial numbers); b) a bond-registry book must be maintained, which may be inspected by the public and by the IC. Every bond issued by an insurance company

shall be entered and recorded in numerical and chronological order. Other data are required to be indicated; c) issuance of signed blank bond forms are prohibited; and d) nine liability registers corresponding to the general classification of bonds shall be maintained; Another precautionary measure that government offices are required to take was provided for by Circular Letter (CL) dated February 21, 1973, implementing Memorandum Circular 622 of the Office of the President of the Philippines. This provides that government agencies dealing with insurance companies must furnish the IC with reports of their transactions within three days from their consummation indicating a number of information. Conversely, surety companies

were required to submit monthly reports of bonds issued in favor of the government in CL 2015-04, dated January 22, 2015. Having been victimized by fake bonds so often, the Supreme Court (SC), through its administrator, issued a memorandum dated September 10, 1993, for which the IC issued a counterpart CL 8-2000 to regulate the issuance of judicial bonds. Under this circular, surety companies issuing judicial bonds shall confirm every first 10 days of the following month the bonds it had issued to a particular court copy furnished the SC and the IC. The surety company is sanctioned for failing to submit the list of judicial bonds it has issued for a particular month. Under the memorandum dated September 10, 1993, the Clerk of Court is tasked to determine the authenticity of every judicial bond and to submit to the court administrator a quarterly report. The second problem plaguing the surety-bond industry is presence of delinquent bonding companies. Under Administrative Order 96, dated June 4, 1964, (Amendment to Authority Granted to Insurance and Surety Companies to Become Sureties Upon Official Recognizances, Stipulations, Bonds and Undertakings), “The moment a surety company becomes indebted to any government instrumental-

ity or political subdivision thereof, or to any government-owned or -controlled corporation in the total amount of P50,000 accruing from the issuance of bonds, the same having been due and demandable, the insurance company must voluntarily desist from writing or issuing all kinds of bonds until the outstanding liabilities in government bonds shall have been fully paid or settled”. Under CL 7-2000, dated June 5, 2000, the settlement of customs bond liabilities may be made a requirement for the renewal of the Certificate of Authority of nonlife-insurance companies. However, in Department of Justice Opinion 287, dated October 21, 1954, it was opined that a head of government agency may not unilaterally refuse to accept surety bonds issued by a surety company that has a pending obligation with the said government office. The power to deal with delinquent insurers and bonding companies is a prerogative of the IC and not of the unpaid government agencies. Atty. Dennis B. Funa is the current insurance commissioner. Atty. Funa was appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as the new insurance commissioner in December 2016. E-mail: dennisfuna@yahoo.com.

Impressive market resilience shouldn’t be taken for granted Mohamed A. El-Erian

BLOOMBERG

dd me to those who, once again, were impressed by the resilience that financial markets demonstrated to unanticipated news last week. Remember the May 2013 “Taper Tantrum”? It used to take weeks for markets to digest unexpected events and bounce back. Now, reflecting in large part a deeply engrained “buy-on-dips” mentality, it takes just a few hours, if that. The initial market reaction to the news of a US strike on Syria last week had all the elements of a “riskoff” move: a selloff in stock futures, lower yields on US Treasury bonds and higher gold prices. A few hours later, however, markets were well on their way to rebounding—only to be hit by a headline job-creation number of just 98,000 for March, or almost half the consensus estimate of 180,000. Once again, the initial risk-off reaction wore off quickly, even after Russia’s angry reaction to the Syria attacks and the news of a terrorist attack in Sweden. Indeed, the major US stock indices ended Friday’s trading session essentially unchanged from where they were before this sequence of

events. Meanwhile, bond yields closed higher (rather than lower) on the day, and gold prices pared their gains to just 0.2 percent. Admittedly, the negative impact on risk assets of all four news items was offset by individual considerations. Specifically: the US strike on Syria was narrowly targeted, tactical and deemed appropriate by the vast majority of the international community. As such, markets did not consider it a prelude to new conflicts involving the US. n The disappointing headline jobs number was offset by better internals, together with solid wage growth. It was not seen as an indicator of a fundamental weakening of the labor market. n The Russian reaction was

Growing exposure to market risk is gradually being borne by a slowly shrinking base of investors. This is not much of a concern as long as unanticipated shocks remain relatively infrequent and containable. seen as political theater for domestic consumption, rather than as a signal of significant tensions in the country’s relations with the US. n The tragic attack in Stockholm was viewed as the sick act of a lone wolf rather than indicative of a broader terrorist threat. Nonetheless, the price action also serves as yet another illustration of one of the markets’ distinguishing features in the recent past: resilience. And it is the result of behavior that, at least so far, has served traders and investors well when it comes to making money— that of buying on dips. This investor reaction is underpinned by strongly held beliefs in the marketplace regarding the underlying stability of global growth dynamics; the continued backing of central banks; the likelihood of large inflows of corporate cash; and the containment of adverse political spillovers. Yet, recent data also point to some potential cash flow strains, including the largest weekly out-

flow of retail-investor funds from US stocks for more than 18 months. Moreover, the original August deadline set by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for tax reform looks less certain, raising questions about the timetable for the repatriation of corporate cash held abroad. Meanwhile, the low growth equilibrium risks are becoming less stable and central banks are less able and less willing to continuously repress financial volatility. For all these reasons, growing exposure to market risk is gradually being borne by a slowly shrinking base of investors. This is not much of a concern as long as unanticipated shocks remain relatively infrequent and containable. Indeed, the minority of investors who have reduced their portfolio exposures could even be attracted back in. The picture changes significantly, however, if negative shocks become more frequent and more generalized. As such, market participants would be well advised not to lose sight of the uncertain political outlook in Europe; the potential quick sand in the crisisridden countries of the Middle East; rising tensions over North Korea, and the economic policy pivots that Europe and the US need to make to place their economies on firmer footing and validate high asset prices.

Hot issue on compilation reports

ith the busy tax season, a controversial issue that seems of interest to everyone in the accounting profession is the requirement by the Board of Accountancy (BOA), under BOA Resolution 3-2016, for the issuance of a certified public accountant (CPA) report on the compilation service that the CPA provides the client. This is a hot issue, since two government agencies, namely, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, issued statements that they are not requiring these compilation reports by a CPA when the 2016 income-tax returns and financial statements are filed on or before the deadline of April 17. With these, certain taxpayers and even CPAs felt that the compilation report is no longer necessary. Fifty-two petitioners filed writs of preliminary prohibitory injunction on the implementation in November 2016 and on February 13, 2017, that were received by the BOA on March 17, 2017. The

Regional Trial Court in Manila (Branch 27) denied the petitions, and affirmed the compilation resolution. But why did the BOA saw the need to require compilation reports for taxpayers with P10 million and above gross revenue? In a paper prepared by the Auditing

Standards and Practices Council on Philippine Standards on Related Services 4410 “Engagements to Compile Financial Information”, stated that the main objective of a compilation “is for the accountant to use his accounting expertise, as opposed to auditing expertise, to collect, classify and summarize financial information”. This means the CPA should be able to assist the taxpayer in preparing financial reports that can be readily understood or comprehend and prepared in accordance with the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards. In other words, the ultimate objective is to improve the quality of financial reports. Since this is based on International Standard on Auditing 930 and adopted in the Philippines as Philippine Standards on Auditing

FINEX free enterprise Wilma C. Inventor-Miranda 930, compilation requirements are also required in other countries that adopted the International Financial Reporting Standards. Thus, it is not only in the Philippines where compilation reports are required. The compilation report may be issued either by a CPA under the employ of the taxpayer or by an independent CPA. The format and

the content of the report issued by the CPA under the employ of the taxpayer differ from that issued by an independent CPA, although independence is not a requirement for a compilation engagement. The past few years, the BOA had been busy disseminating information on the new requirements that include this compilation report. In fact, many seminars were held for the members of the accountancy profession in order for them to be accredited as issuers of the compiler’s report. On one hand, certain sectors considered this an added cost to their business, since they will have to pay a separate fee for the compiler, aside from the fee for external auditors—that is, if they hire a CPA who is not employed as an accountant in their business. On

the other, some taxpayers requested for more time, because to them this was quite abrupt, allowing them little time for preparation. Whether this requirement is a boost to better-quality reports and benefit many remains to be seen. Meanwhile, as members of the accountancy profession, compliance is the name of the game. The decision of the RTC will certainly affect the decisions of those involved and affected by the resolution. Wilma Miranda is the chairman of the Media Affairs Committee of Finex, treasurer of KPS Outsourcing Inc. and a managing partner of Inventor, Miranda & Associates, CPAs. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 A11

FPLA hosts the Wharton School of Business Global Strategic Leadership Program

ITH the global business landscape set to shift and undergo significant changes over the next few years, how do organizations anticipate market trends and identify vital strategies to become a significant global player? First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA), the first corporate university in the Philippines, established by Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, partnered with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business to grant an exclusive four-day “Global Strategic Leadership Program.” Held from February 6 to 9, the program was led by renowned Wharton Business School professors, Witold Henisz and Ravi Aron, Ph.D. who trained the first batch of business leaders. The participants were executives from different industries, including agriculture, utilities, food, steel, education, telecommunications, footwear and the government. The Global Strategic Leadership Program covered four main points: the globalization of doing business in the 21st century, corporate diplomacy, strategy, and digital transformation. “The battlefield of tomorrow is not dictated by who has the biggest resources, but who has the best ideas that matter. We are in the midst of a battlefield of ideals and ideas,” shared FPLA’s General Manager and Executive Director Roy Agustin K. Evalle, stressing the need to continually develop one’s understanding of business and the world. The Wharton professors shared how prosperity and growth is correlated to the economic development and the health of the populace. History has shown great examples of this: European and US showed great development, particularly through colonization. In contrast, most Asian and African countries showed little progress as many –like the Philippines – were largely affected by episodes of war and colonization. After viewing the global stage through a historical lens, the program focused on the relationships of an organization through corporate diplomacy. The Wharton professors discussed how to manage stakeholders within an organization. Witold Henisz and Ravi Aron stressed the importance of communicating with stakeholders as their viewpoint on any given situation is essential. Effective crisis management includes understanding who to manage and who to follow. It

is necessary to identify the organization’s stakeholders because they affect and are affected by the organization. With regard to strategy, Professor Ravi Aron provides a fresh viewpoint. Most companies view strategies as must-dos to meet company objectives and earn profit, while Professor Aron argues the opposite. In the face of changing trends, strategies should address the must-not-dos when changes occur to keep a company afloat despite the global shifts. He said that, “Operational effectiveness is not always the best strategy; it can easily be copied through benchmarking and best practice sharing.” Instead, companies must determine their unique strategic and market positioning to create a tailored system of activities, harder for competitors to copy. Finally, in this age of technology, digital transformations are commonplace. This is not just the switch to digital tools and technology, but refers to the effect of strategy on the business model. Wharton shared, “Digital transformation of business often brings with it a significant change to the core value proposition such as benefit to customers, reason for payment, etc.” To achieve digital transformation, a corporation must know the challenges faced in today’s digital age, the capabilities needed to implement digital transformation, how to acquire those capabilities, and the decision-making styles of senior management to effectively implement strategies. Through scenario planning, crisis management simulation, developing new ideas, and assessing organizational readiness, the participants of the FPLA-Wharton leadership program were made to apply the four-point pedagogical approach. With their knowledge of the world’s economic history, the importance of corporate diplomacy, the proper way of making strategies, and implementing digital transformation, they came up with potential company projects. “I believe that the global leadership program was a clear success, with all 22 participants graduating at the end of the 4-day program. We thank the Wharton Professors, Witold Henisz and Ravi Aron, Ph.D. , for their game-changing lectures. Our students at FPLA can be assured that more leadership programs of this kind will be pursued,” Evalle ends.

The original icons

r. Martens has championing individuality since 1960 when the first pair of 1460 boots rolled of the production line at its original Cobbs Lane factory in Northamptonshire, England. Manufactured using AirWair’s traditional “Bouncing sole” and the brands unique industrial construction process. The 1460 8-eye boot, named after the date it was created on the 1st of April 1960, sets the precedent for the Dr. Martens Originals offer. The next year at the same date, the 1461 3-eye shoe was introduced, first marketed as “a stout shoe which can be worn for working or sporting occasions.” Dr. Martens Originals encapsulate all of the brands key styles, including the Church Monkey boot, the 1490 10eye boot and 1914 14-eye boot as well as the Polley T-bar shoe especially for women. Offered in the classic Black and Cherry Red Smooth leather with all the details replicated accurately, right down to the yellow welt stitch. Featuring all the classic Dr. Martens components, the air-cushioned sole providing comfort, durability and traction and the unique Goodyear-welt where the upper and sole are stitched and heat sealed for a durable construction.

For SS17, three further silhouettes have been re-introduced to the range from the brand archive, made again in Black and Cherry Red Smooth leather and manufactured with the iconic yellow welt thread stitch. The 3989 Brogue was first made in the mid1960s and is a so-called ‘longwing’ style brogue, meaning the side panelling on either side of the length of the shoe meets at the back of the heel with a centre seam. The 2976 Chelsea Boot was first produced by Dr. Martens in the early 1970s, and has its origins as far back as 1851 when it was patented by Queen Victoria’s shoemaker J. Sparkes Hall. Worn originally as a horse-riding boot, the style then became popular as both an agricultural work-wear and walking boot, because the elasticated gusset on either side of the ankle made wearing and then removing the boot quick and easy. The ever-popular Adrian Tassel Loafer was first manufactured at

Herbalife global nutrition expert talks in upcoming wellness tour

ERBALIFE, a global nutrition company, announces that Dr. Rocio Medina, Herbalife Vice President, Worldwide Nutrition Training, will be the guest speaker in the Philippine leg of the upcoming Asia Pacific Wellness Tour. Held from April 5 to May 15, the Herbalife Asia Pacific Wellness Tour will feature a series of medical symposia, nutrition talks and health workshops held in 23 cities across Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. At the symposia, six Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) experts including Dr. Medina will share their expertise on a variety of health-related topics.Specialized in nutrition and obesity, Dr. Media will

SSS INAUGURATES NEWEST BRANCH IN ILAGAN The Social Security System (SSS) formally opened its fullservice branch at the first and second floor of North Star Mall in Alibagu, Ilagan City last March 17. SSS Ilagan branch caters to nearly 2,000 registered employers and more than 17,000 members and pensioners in over 295 barangays. With its bigger location, SSS Ilagan is more accessible and provides services like issuance of Social Security (SS) number, employer ID number and certificate of registration; payment of contributions and loan; availment of data capture services; issuance of Unified Multi-purpose Identification (UMID) Card; and receipt of salary loan, sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death and funeral benefit applications.Pictured are Social Security Commission Chairman Dean Amado Valdez (center) and SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Dooc (second from left) during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Joining the top officials were (from left) North Star Mall owner Mr. Alexander Cruz, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary and Ex-officio member of SS Commission Silvestre Bello III, and SS Commissioners Gonzalo Duque and Michael Regino.

Malayan Insurance, JLT R.e. hold talk on Fine-Art insurance

N service to the Filipino insuring public, leading Philippine nonlife insurer Malayan Insurance teamed up with top global reinsurance broker JLT Re to discuss the growing importance of insuring fine art. The event at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel kicked off with opening remarks from Trickie Lopa, co-founder of Art Fair Philippines, and was attended by dozens of key figures in the Philippine art scene, such as collectors, and gallerists, as well as insurance agents and brokers. Ricky Miller, JLT Re’s Director of Marine and Aviation-Asia Pacific, delivered an in-depth presentation dubbed “The Art

of Insuring Fine Art.” Miller discussed the crucial differences between standard property policies and specialized insurance policies that protect fine art. The latter features better benefits such as automatic inclusion of new acquisitions, cover for depreciation and restoration costs, and multiple transit cover, and can be tailored to the insured’s needs. The talk was conducted on the occasion of the Art Fair Philippines 2017. Malayan Insurance was the official insurance provider of the event. To learn more about Fine Arts Insurance, interested parties may visit the dedicated page on www.malayan.com.

the original Dr. Martens Cobb’s Lane factory in 1980, and has been repeatedly worn by office workers and style-conscious teenagers alike. Early British youth subcultures as far back as 1969 wore the style with a short trouser length and white sock, harking back to the Rude Boys of Jamaica—a smart look which resurfaced again in the Two Tone scene of the late 1970s. All of these styles have been championed by subcultures for many decades and have therefore been a long-standing and staple part of the Dr. Martens range. Recognised worldwide for their uncompromising look, durability and comfort. Engineered from industry, championed through music, worn by individuals.

focus on balanced nutrition and how its relationship to one’s metabolism plays an important role in our overall well-being. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Rocio Medina visiting our country. With her deep expertise in nutrition and obesity treatment, we look forward to having her share her insights and perspectives, and connecting with local professionals and consumers on this edition of the Wellness Tour,” said Rosalio Valenzuela,General Manager,Herbalife Philippines. Medina is a member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board, which is composed of leading experts worldwide in the fields of nutrition and health whose role is to educate Herbalifemembers on the principles of good nutrition and how to live a healthy life.

Everscapes unveils the latest lifestyle strip at Ever Commonwealth

VERSCAPES, a subsidiary group of Ever Gotesco Group of Companies, develops Calle Bistro, the latest lifestyle strip in the area that aims to provide ideal and distinct dining options poised to cater family and friends residing just minutes away from Ever Commonwealth mall. The community will soon feel the flavors at Calle Bistro as it soft opens in the last quarter of 2017. A scene of a new stretch of choices; spices that soothe your senses; a sweet gathering for all ages; Great moments deserve great experiences. Indulge to Great Eats, this way to Calle Bistro. Ever gives more dining and feast selections as we launch a mid-scale family dining zone that will captivate the heart of North Quezon City. The latest lifestyle strip in the area is a vast panorama of classy food and beverage choices that will soon rise adjacent to the Ever Gotesco Commonwealth Center. For 23 years, Ever Commonwealth Center has been a provider of family’s needs. It was part of the long-term vision of the company, which is to develop, conduct, and maintain affordable and accessible commercial shopping centers for the Filipino. Ever Commonwealth Center resides in the midst of neighborhood, rightly serving as the community’s second home. With its concept of a comfort venue within minutes from home—family and friends come together for relaxation and recreation. The theme-park, castle-like

architectural design evokes the feeling of fun and leisure, a kind of airiness ideal for pleasurable entertainment, shopping and dining experience. “The Filipino lifestyles evolve and change. There will be new and exciting things beyond us, our loyal and most faithful neighbors will be offered options where they would pledge their loyalty anew,” says Joel T. Go, Ever Malls President, who continues the legacy of the GO family- who pioneered the first one stop shop concept in the industry. With this concept, Everscapes group was formed to make basic essentials and quality services accessible; enhancing the lives of everyone in the community and envision to become a prime mover in community innovation. Go also added, “Some give in, but a generous number stays.

Why? Because Ever is not just a shopping mall or a structure. We are a landscape of vibrant and growing community—employees and customers—that are engaged to provide great moments together, and to offer something better than ever. Ever is your home.” Pictured are (from left) Engr. Ramil Aburquez (Topway Builders Inc.), Arch. Gabriel Vitales (DQA Design and Planning Inc.), Cynthia T. Dizon (Everscapes AVP controller), Joel T. Go (Everscapes president), QC Councilor Precious HipolitoCastelo, Arch. Barnaby Kaw (Topway Builders Inc. VP for operations), Diana T Huang (Everscapes AVP for corporate planning), Maura F. Guiron (Everscapes leasing manager), Ronelo M. Alvarez (Asst. Mall operations manager for Ever Commonwealth).

A12 Wednesday, April 12, 2017

SM Advantage tieS up with DHL Express Philippines at SM Supermalls LandBank distributes water-filtration systems to Yolanda-hit community in Tacloban

IFTY-seven families in Villa Diana in TaclobanCity,Leytewholosttheirhomes to supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013 were given access to clean drinking water through LandBank’s Gawad Katubigan program. Led by LandBank Director Victor Gerardo Bulatao, the Bank turned over 57 water filtrations systems and four rain catchment tanks to Villa Diana, one of the government’s housing projects in the city. “This is part of our commitment to be of service not only to our clients but to the Filipino people. And we at LandBank, as well as our partners, believe that disaster preparedness is one area that we really have to focus our efforts on since we are frequently hit by typhoons, especially this region,” Bulatao said. Kaakibat na Tulong sa Bayan para sa Inuming Kailangan (Gawad Katubigan) is one of LandBank’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs implemented in partnership with Waves for Water (W4W)—a US-based international NGO that supplies the water filtration systems—and with the support of Philippine Disaster

Resilience Foundation (PDRF). Initially a disaster response program, Gawad Katubigan launched its disaster preparedness component last year to include knowledge transfer, especially to community leaders and health workers, on how to use and maintain the water filtration systems. The program hopes to empower community leaders as overseers of the filtration systems that are vital especially in times of calamities. Tacloban City is the last of the three pilot rollout sites for the Gawad Katubigan Phase 1—along with Baguio City and Coron, Palawan—being one of the areas in Visayas usually hit by typhoons. Villa Diana is also a PDRF-assisted community under its program called Breach or Building Resilient and Economically Adept Communities & Households. Gawad Katubigan was successfully rolled out in Baguio City and Coron, Palawan respectively in October and November 2016 wherein a total of 305 water filtration systems were distributed and six rain catchment tanks were installed. “Through these rollouts and community development implementations, we have reached 37 citiesandmunicipalities.Welookforwardtoreaching more communities as we bring clean drinking water

to, hopefully, every Filipino,” W4W Philippines Country Director Carlo Delantar said. Under the program’s disaster response component, LandBank and its partners have distributed a total of 310 water filtration systems to 32 cities and municipalities heavily affected by strong typhoons Lando and Nona in 2015, and typhoons Ferdie, Lawin, and Nina in 2016. The program has so far benefitted more than 31,000 individuals. In February, 70 water filtration systems were also distributed to 7,000 residents in 15 barangays affected by the magnitude-6.8 earthquake that hit Surigaodel Norte. According to reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, the recent earthquake caused around P7 million worth of damage in infrastructure, also affecting major sources of clean water. LandBank also distributed 40 water filtration systems tosix typhoon-hit municipalities in Catanduanes and Camarines Sur earlier this year, benefitting roughly 4,000 Bicolanos. Touted as the strongest typhoon to hit the region in the past 10 years, Typhoon Nina battered several Bicol provinces on Christmas day in 2016, displacing thousands and leaving several communities with no access to potable water. Accredited by the Department of Health, the water filtration systems have the ability to remove 99.99999 percent of bacteria that cause water-borne diseases such as cholera, salmonella, E. coli, among others. Each water filtration system, which can filter one million gallons of water, can provide clean drinking water for 100 people a day and can last for five to 10 years, if properly maintained. Gawad Katubigan has won for LandBank the “Most Socially Responsible Bank” award for 2016 from the International Finance Magazine in Singapore.

HOPPERS at the SM Supermalls can now enjoy exclusive perks and discounts on their courier needs with the latest partnership between SM Advantage and SM Supermalls and DHL Express Philippines. By simply presenting their SM Advantage, SM Prestige, BDO Rewards, Global Pinoy and E-Plus cards, they can avail of a 10-percent discount on published rates from the leading global brand in the logistic industry. This is part of the SM Supermalls Follow the Yellow Dot show card privilege program for the existing 12 million SM loyalty cardholders that offers exclusive discounts and freebies from fashion, to beauty, to delicious dining, as well as

exciting lifestyle offers. With that, SM Advantage, SM Prestige, BDO Rewards, Global Pinoy or e-Plus cardholders can shop, dine, and earn rewards at over 500 participating stores across all 59 SM malls nationwide. Simply Follow the Yellow Dot inside the SM Malls, present your SM Advantage, SM Prestige, BDO Rewards, Global Pinoy and E-Plus Cards and get freebies and exciting treats from the participating stores like DHL. Its exclusive offer is available at DHL branches in SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, SM City Lipa, SM City Molino, SM City Sta. Rosa and SM Seaside City Cebu.

FIRST METRO SECURITIES LAUNCHES MUTUAL FUNDS ONLINE TRADING PLATFORM First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. (First Metro Sec), the stock brokerage arm of the Metrobank Group, recently launched its online trading platform for investing in mutual funds, FundsMart. The new platform allows clients to invest in more than 25 mutual funds provided by the leading fund houses through their online trading facility, www.firstmetrosec.com.ph. With FundsMart, clients gain exclusive access to unique and sophisticated tools for analyzing, screening and comparing mutual funds. The intuitiveness and elegance of these tools are firsts in the Philippines. Together with Funds Mart, First Metro Sec also launched its new margin trading facility and the enhanced version of its mobile trading app. In photo is First Metro Investment Corporation chairman Francisco Sebastian (front row, fourth from left) leading a toast during the Grand Unveiling event at Valkyrie at The Palace, where he was joined by Metrobank Group executives and partners from ALFM-BPI Investment Management Inc., ATR Asset Management Inc., First Metro Asset Management Inc., Philequity Management Inc., Philam Asset Management Inc. and Sun Life Asset Management Co. Inc.